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Fine Characterization Of Leafing Phenology In The Brazilian Atlantic Forest By Optical And Microwave Remote Sensing, James B. Bell
Fine Characterization Of Leafing Phenology In The Brazilian Atlantic Forest By Optical And Microwave Remote Sensing, James B. Bell
Dissertations and Theses
Tropical forests provide important ecosystem functions in the global biosphere, but they remain among the most poorly understood elements of land surface models, especially with regard to their seasonal dynamics. For instance, in seasonally dry forests, the pattern of the annual green-up in their canopies closely follows annual patterns of rainfall. The same, however, does not occur in wet forest canopies which are dominated by evergreen trees. In the latter, water is not scarce enough to limit leaf photosynthetic function. Canopy leafing phenology in these forests is therefore poorly characterized by optical remote sensing methods which are not sensitive to …
The Role Of Rna Helicase Rhau In Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination, Sabine Jean Guillaume
The Role Of Rna Helicase Rhau In Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination, Sabine Jean Guillaume
Dissertations and Theses
B cells alter the expression of immunoglobulin isotypes through a process known as class switch recombination (CSR). In these cells, activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) binds Gquadruplex (G4) switch transcripts, which serve as guide RNAs to target AID to the immunoglobulin heavy chain switch (S) regions in the DNA for CSR. Sequence alignment revealed homology between the AID G4 binding domain and the RNA helicase associated with AU-rich element (RHAU) specific motif (RSM), which allows RHAU binding to G4 RNAs and subsequent unwinding of G4 RNA into single-stranded transcripts. We hypothesize that RHAU functions in CSR by binding G4 S …
Exosome- And Microrna-Based Therapeutic Approach For Tendinopathy, Angela Wang Ilaltdinov
Exosome- And Microrna-Based Therapeutic Approach For Tendinopathy, Angela Wang Ilaltdinov
Dissertations and Theses
Tendinopathy, characterized by degeneration and chronic inflammation, is a significant clinical burden. Current treatments focus on symptom management but do not sufficiently address its underlying pathology; however, stem cell-based approaches aimed at repairing diseased tissues may overcome this limitation. Therapeutic effects of stem cells may be due in part to paracrine actions, including some mediated by exosomes – extracellular vesicles secreted by cells that play a role in cell communication. MicroRNA (miRNA), small non-coding RNA carried by exosomes, are likely responsible for many exosome effects. Exosomes and miRNA therapies show promise in treating diseases such as cancer and arthritis, but …
There’S More Than One Way To Beat The Heat: What Anal Probes Reveal About Thermal Responses In Neotropical Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)., Emilie I. Dion
There’S More Than One Way To Beat The Heat: What Anal Probes Reveal About Thermal Responses In Neotropical Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)., Emilie I. Dion
Dissertations and Theses
Increasing global temperatures have been linked to shifts in the distributions and preferred microhabitats of terrestrial species. This trend is predicted to impact tropical forest insects, which may already be exposed to conditions that bring them close to their thermal maxima. Tropical microhabitats are linked to vertical stratification, because the canopy is hotter, winder, and less humid than the ground. In ectothermic organisms, such as beetles, thermoregulation is dependent on morphological and behavioral traits. This study investigates woodboring cerambycid beetles, to determine how behavioral thermoregulation through microhabitat selection (vertical stratification) is correlated to morphological attributes (color lightness, size, and pubescence) …
Analyzing Ultrastructural Characteristics Of Post-Synaptic Targets Of Pre-Identified Presynaptic Boutons In Layer 3 And Layer 4 Of The Ferret Primary Visual Cortex, Donia Shehab
Dissertations and Theses
The purpose of this study was to analyze the size and ultrastructural characteristics of post-synaptic elements apposed to previously characterized pre-synaptic elements in layers 3 and 4 of the primary visual cortex (PVC). We are aiming to quantify a range of values for synaptic element morphologies as well as to correlate pre- and post-synaptic elements to find a set of rules that is prevalent in the visual cortex that can also be upheld in other mammals. We hypothesize that bigger pre-synaptic elements correlate to bigger synapses and bigger post-synaptic elements. We compared these two different layers because they receive synaptic …
Optimizing Crispr/Cas9 Gene Targeting To Investigate Cone Photoreceptor Development In The Chick Retina, Diana Y. Kim
Optimizing Crispr/Cas9 Gene Targeting To Investigate Cone Photoreceptor Development In The Chick Retina, Diana Y. Kim
Dissertations and Theses
Many human eye conditions result in the loss of vision, due to the degeneration of cone photoreceptors in the retina. Thus, the development of methods to regenerate these cone photoreceptors is an active area of study. In order to find ways to regenerate cones, the molecular pathways and gene regulatory networks that a retinal progenitor cell takes to develop into a postmitotic cone photoreceptor needs to be well understood. In an attempt to answer this question, this paper studies the effect of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutagenesis of two key transcription factors, Otx2 and Nr2e3, on retinal progenitor cells and cone photoreceptors throughout …
Defining The Relationship Between Maternal Care Behavior And Hearing Development In Wistar Rats, Jingyun Qiu
Defining The Relationship Between Maternal Care Behavior And Hearing Development In Wistar Rats, Jingyun Qiu
Dissertations and Theses
Previous studies in rodents have demonstrated the profound effects that variations in maternal care play during the postnatal development of the brain. However, much less is known about how maternal care affects hearing development. Recently, manipulations of maternal care have been investigated to accelerate hearing onset. We hypothesized that accelerated hearing development results from changes in maternal care behavior. To test this hypothesis, we used a selection model in which natural variations in maternal care were identified in a large cohort of dams by measuring the frequency of different behaviors including LG followed by selection of dams with LG scores …
Revised Distributional Estimates For The Recently Discovered Olinguito (Bassaricyon Neblina), Using Museum And Science Records, Beth E. Gerstner
Revised Distributional Estimates For The Recently Discovered Olinguito (Bassaricyon Neblina), Using Museum And Science Records, Beth E. Gerstner
Dissertations and Theses
In the context of global change, a necessary first step for the conservation of species is gaining a good understanding of their distributional limits. This is especially important for biodiversity hotspots with high endemism such as the Northern Andes. The olinguito (Procyonidae: Bassaricyon neblina) is a recently described, medium-sized carnivoran found in Northern Andean cloud forests. A preliminary distributional model was published along with the original description, and I here provide revised distributional estimates using updated locality records and more current ENM methods. I build ecological niche models in Maxent using occurrence data (georeferenced museum records and citizen science-derived photo-vouchers) …
Synthetic Functionalized Scaffolds For Culture And Maintenance Of Primary Human Hepatocytes, Douglas Macpherson
Synthetic Functionalized Scaffolds For Culture And Maintenance Of Primary Human Hepatocytes, Douglas Macpherson
Dissertations and Theses
There is deficit in the number of human livers that are available for transplantation. Additionally, there is no reliable model for the liver environment available for laboratory research. Tissue engineering provides alternatives for organ transplantation. We have created a supramolecular biomaterial out of simple peptide and saccharide building blocks to act as a hydrogel scaffold to support culture of liver cells. Using a self-‐assembling peptide fiber decorated with functional molecules, we were able to culture primary human hepatocytes demonstrate their viability and maintenance of phenotype. The hydrogel material was formed by co-assembly in aqueous buffer and characterized using transmission electron …
"Molecular Analysis Of Virulence Factors Unique To Leptopilina Heterotoma-A Parasitic Wasp Of Drosophila Spp.", Noelle Dziedzic
"Molecular Analysis Of Virulence Factors Unique To Leptopilina Heterotoma-A Parasitic Wasp Of Drosophila Spp.", Noelle Dziedzic
Dissertations and Theses
Endoparasitioid wasps of Drosophila spp. frequently avoid or overcome the immune defense mechanisms of their fly hosts. Leptopilina heterotoma (Lh) is a generalist wasp species, successful on many Drosophila spp. world-wide. During oviposition, the female wasp introduces venom proteins and virus-like particles (VLPs) into developing fly larvae. VLPs are endocytosed by plasmatocytes, a macrophage-like blood cell that is the most abundant hemocyte present in the circulating hemolymph. Once internalized, VLPs destroy plasmatocytes by programmed cell death. To understand the contributions of VLP proteins in VLP trafficking within host cells, we took advantage of proteomic data from purified Lh VLPs. Two …
Expression And Function Of A Putative Cox-Like Gene In D. Melanogaster, Michelle S. Batchu
Expression And Function Of A Putative Cox-Like Gene In D. Melanogaster, Michelle S. Batchu
Dissertations and Theses
Cyclooxygenases (COX) are the enzymes that catalyze the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. In mammals, isoform COX-1 is constitutively expressed, whereas the isoform COX-2 gene expression is induced, primarily at sites of inflammation. While eicosanoids play a major role in inflammation in insects, their existence in fruit flies has not been reported. Recent computational analyses by Qi and Singh (2014) have identified putative COX-like enzymes in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Here we compare the expression patterns of these enzymes and the effects of their knockdown in immune cells of D. melanogaster third instar larvae. Because of high genetic …
Sex Dependent Efficacy Of Taurine As A Treatment For Cocaine Drug Use: A Study Of Reward, Kevin Uribe
Sex Dependent Efficacy Of Taurine As A Treatment For Cocaine Drug Use: A Study Of Reward, Kevin Uribe
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Effects Of Temperature Stress On Coral Fluorescence And Reflectance, Andrea Gomez
Effects Of Temperature Stress On Coral Fluorescence And Reflectance, Andrea Gomez
Dissertations and Theses
Around the world, climate change, land-based pollution and fishing impacts are recognized as principal threats to coral reef ecosystems. Sea surface temperatures, in particular, are expected to change dramatically over the next decades and result in high coral mortality in some regions. Through controlled experiments, I examined changes in coral fluorescence and reflectance in response to water temperature alterations to assess the potential of employing these signatures as a diagnostic tool to measure coral health. At the NOAA Coral Culture and Collaborative Research Facility, I conducted controlled laboratory-based heat stress experiments on three Caribbean species of coral: Acropora cervicornis, Orbicella …
Effects Of Acetyl Salicyclic Acid On Drosophila Models Of Cancer-Inflammation, Roma Rajwani
Effects Of Acetyl Salicyclic Acid On Drosophila Models Of Cancer-Inflammation, Roma Rajwani
Dissertations and Theses
Chronic inflammation is a fundamental condition underlying many human disease pathologies including diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Indeed, one of the most commonly-used anti-inflammatory drugs, aspirin, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of many cancers. To understand the mechanistic linkages between inflammation and cancer, we used Drosophila models in which hyperactive immune signaling causes overproliferation of the hematopoietic system leading to the production of inflammatory blood tumors. In mutant animals, hematopoietic cells divide uncontrollably and exhibit pre-mature differentiation giving rise to large sticky cells. Some mutant cells infiltrate and adhere to cells of the fat body. The fat …
Characterization Of The Interaction Between Ftsz-Ring Stabilizer Zapc And The Conserved Protease Clpxp In E. Coli Cytokinesis, Andrea Cardenas Arevalo
Characterization Of The Interaction Between Ftsz-Ring Stabilizer Zapc And The Conserved Protease Clpxp In E. Coli Cytokinesis, Andrea Cardenas Arevalo
Dissertations and Theses
Cell division in bacteria requires the assembly of a macromolecular protein machinery at midcell that is spatiotemporally regulated during the bacterial cell cycle. Central to the process of division is the assembly of a cytokinetic ring-like structure, termed the Z-ring, formed by polymers of the essential tubulin-homolog FtsZ. Polymerization of FtsZ is regulated by a number of proteins that bind FtsZ and regulate its assembly/disassembly mechanisms. Despite being extensively studied, the molecular nature of the diverse protein-protein interactions that regulate the assembly of FtsZ during early stages of division is not well understood. Here, I focus on an FtsZ-ring stabilizer …
"Model Complexity And Variable Selection In Maxent Niche Models: Analyses For Rodents In Madagascar", Peter Galante
"Model Complexity And Variable Selection In Maxent Niche Models: Analyses For Rodents In Madagascar", Peter Galante
Dissertations and Theses
Ecological niche models (ENMs) characterize the relationship between localities where a species is known to occur and the abiotic characteristics of these regions. While widely used, ENMs remain subject to several outstanding issues, including those related to model complexity and violation of modeling assumptions (e.g., representative sampling). Critical in resolving these issues is a better understanding of the effectiveness of model selection techniques. Here, I compare two strategies for optimizing ENMs: an information-criterion approach (AICc) and a sequential approach that assesses model performance on withheld data. I do so for a single species using two datasets, one with all available …
Development And Maintenance Of Thymic Epithelial Microenvironment, Varan J. Singh
Development And Maintenance Of Thymic Epithelial Microenvironment, Varan J. Singh
Dissertations and Theses
Thymus is a primary lymphoid organ responsible for proper development and selection Of T-‐cells. The thymic microenvironment, however, undergoes age related involution, Resulting in a reduction of the repertoire of T-‐cells that are produced, and a decreased Capacity to respond to new antigen. Even though significant thymic epithelial turnover occurs, it is unclear if postnatal thymic progenitors/stem cell are responsible for the maintenance of the TEC microenvironment. Here we use the K5rtTA:TetO-‐H2BGFP transgenic model to identify a slow cycling potential stem cells/progenitor population in the postnatal thymus. These cells were isolated, expanded in culture, and successfully differentiated into adipocytes, chondrocytes …
The Widespread Skink Mabuya Dorsivittata Reveals Complex Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In South America, Danielle Rivera
The Widespread Skink Mabuya Dorsivittata Reveals Complex Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In South America, Danielle Rivera
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
The Impact Of Forest Successional Status On Community Structure Of Neotropical Cerambycid Beetles, Lin Li
The Impact Of Forest Successional Status On Community Structure Of Neotropical Cerambycid Beetles, Lin Li
Dissertations and Theses
Due to anthropogenic activities, tropical rain forests face many challenges in sustaining biodiversity and maintaining global climates. This project examines how forest successional status affects community composition of saproxylic cerambycids, which, as early colonists of moribund trees, have an important role in nutrient cycling. In the lowland rain forest of Costa Rica, thirty-nine trees in five plant families (Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, and Sapotaceae) were sampled in a mosaic of old growth and secondary forest. They yielded 3545 cerambycid individuals in 49 species. Species richness was almost identical in old growth and secondary forest; but abundance was higher in old-growth. …
Refinement Of Feedforward Projections, Neuronal Density, And Characterization Of Synapsesin Layer 4 Of Ferret Primary Visual Cortex, Violeta Contreras Ramirez
Refinement Of Feedforward Projections, Neuronal Density, And Characterization Of Synapsesin Layer 4 Of Ferret Primary Visual Cortex, Violeta Contreras Ramirez
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
The Drosophila Dynamin, Shibire, Contributes To Blood Cell Division And Differentiation, But May Not Be Required For Host Defence Against Parasitic Wasps, Adam D. Hudgins
The Drosophila Dynamin, Shibire, Contributes To Blood Cell Division And Differentiation, But May Not Be Required For Host Defence Against Parasitic Wasps, Adam D. Hudgins
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Chytrid Loads, Pathogen Prevalence, And Contemporary Host Source-Sink Dynamics In Dry Vs. Wet Forests; Evaluating Refugia From Disease In Australian Torrent Frogs., Barbara Rizzo
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
The Impact Of Saccadic Eye Movement Training On Saccade Accuracy And Latency, Stephanie Montenegro
The Impact Of Saccadic Eye Movement Training On Saccade Accuracy And Latency, Stephanie Montenegro
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Kos Modulation Of Mitochondrial Fission And Fusion, Herman Kucharavy
Kos Modulation Of Mitochondrial Fission And Fusion, Herman Kucharavy
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Structure-Function Analysis Of Zapc, An Ftsz-Ring Stabilizer, In Escherichia Coli Cytokinesis, Lukasz Tchorzewski
Structure-Function Analysis Of Zapc, An Ftsz-Ring Stabilizer, In Escherichia Coli Cytokinesis, Lukasz Tchorzewski
Dissertations and Theses
In Escherichia coli, cell division is defined by the polymerization and constriction of a cytokinetic ring (Z ring) formed by FtsZ, a tubulin-like GTPase, at midcell. Division also involves the formation of a multi-protein complex at midcell known as the divisome. Several divisome proteins promote the assembly/disassembly processes of FtsZ, thereby exercising spatiotemporal control over division. Among FtsZ regulatory proteins are the FtsZ ringassociated proteins (Zap), which either directly or indirectly stabilize the Z-ring by increasing lateral interactions amongst FtsZ protofilaments in the Z-ring. ZapA-D are recruited during early cytokinesis and have overlapping functions in stabilizing FtsZ at midcell, but …
Investigating Innate Immune Signaling Cross-Talk In A Drosophila Tumor-Inflammation Model, Rebecca Moore
Investigating Innate Immune Signaling Cross-Talk In A Drosophila Tumor-Inflammation Model, Rebecca Moore
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Methodological Advancements For Improving Performance And Generating Ensemble Ecological Niche Models, Robert Boria
Methodological Advancements For Improving Performance And Generating Ensemble Ecological Niche Models, Robert Boria
Dissertations and Theses
This study employs spatial filtering of occurrence data with the aim of reducing overfitting to sampling bias in ecological niche models (ENMs). Sampling bias in geographic space leads to localities that may also be biased in environmental space. If so, the model can overfit to those biases. As a preliminary test addressing this issue, we used Maxent, bioclimatic variables, and occurrence localities of a broadly distributed Malagasy tenrec, Microgale cowani (Family Tenrecidae: Subfamily Oryzorictinae). We modeled the abiotically suitable area of this species using three distinct datasets: unfiltered, spatially filtered, and rarefied unfiltered localities. To quantify overfitting and model performance, …
Screen For Suppressors And Enhancers Of Excitotoxic Neurodegeneration, Anthony Omorodion Edokpolo
Screen For Suppressors And Enhancers Of Excitotoxic Neurodegeneration, Anthony Omorodion Edokpolo
Dissertations and Theses
Excitotoxicity is an important and frequently observed neurodegenerative process. Excitotoxicity mediates brain damage in a range of diseases and conditions including stroke, and is triggered by excessive stimulation of glutamatergic synapses. In spite of extensive studies, the molecular mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity following the over-activation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors are not well understood, and clinical trials based on our partial understanding of the process ended with disappointment. Genetic screens in simple animal models offer a powerful alternative approach, since screens are unbiased, analysis is facilitated by strong research tools, and cellular mechanisms are highly conserved through evolution. We produced a …
Caffeine's Attenuation Of Cocaine-Induced Deficiency In Acoustic Startle Response By Inhibition Of Adenosine In A Sex And Dose Dependent Manner, Lauren B. Malave
Caffeine's Attenuation Of Cocaine-Induced Deficiency In Acoustic Startle Response By Inhibition Of Adenosine In A Sex And Dose Dependent Manner, Lauren B. Malave
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.
Synaptic Physiology Of Glutamate Clearance In The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jenny (Chan Ying) Wong
Synaptic Physiology Of Glutamate Clearance In The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Jenny (Chan Ying) Wong
Dissertations and Theses
No abstract provided.