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Physical Sciences and Mathematics

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Theses and Dissertations

2019

Biological sciences

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Effects Of Elevated Temperature On Gonadal Functions, Cellular Apoptosis, And Oxidative Stress In Atlantic Sea Urchin (Arbacia Punctulata), Jackson B. Johnstone May 2019

Effects Of Elevated Temperature On Gonadal Functions, Cellular Apoptosis, And Oxidative Stress In Atlantic Sea Urchin (Arbacia Punctulata), Jackson B. Johnstone

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing surface sea water temperatures effect on growth, reproduction and development in marine organisms. Sea urchins are excellent indicator species and ideal model organisms to focus on. In this study, I tested the effect of higher temperatures on reproductive functions, heat shock protein (HSP, a chaperone protein produced by cells in response to heat stress) and nitrotyrosine protein (NTP, an indicator of reactive nitrogen species, RNS) expressions, cellular apoptosis, and ceolomic fluid (CF, a body fluid which regulates important physiological processes) conditions in Atlantic sea urchin at three different temperatures. Ten sea urchins were placed in each of six aquariums …


Object Enhancement, Noise Reduction, Conversion And Collection Of Spatiotemporal Image Data, Michael Izaguirre Jr. May 2019

Object Enhancement, Noise Reduction, Conversion And Collection Of Spatiotemporal Image Data, Michael Izaguirre Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

In this report, a variety of cellular dynamics are enhanced and analyzed utilizing various algorithms and filter for contrast enhancement. This report will also illustrate the underlying complexities of processing compressed data received from certain type of sensors, their default applications, various methods in converting compressed data to compatible universal uncompressed formats allowed in scientific applications, various methods of image and video capture, guidelines in ethical image manipulation, various methods of frame extraction, and analyzing/processing video images. These methods and processes purposely utilize freeware and public domain software to lower the cost of reproducibility for all.


A Snapshot Of The Age, Growth, And Reproductive Status Of Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus, Gmelin 1789) On Three Artificial Reefs In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Adam M. Lee May 2019

A Snapshot Of The Age, Growth, And Reproductive Status Of Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus, Gmelin 1789) On Three Artificial Reefs In The Northwest Gulf Of Mexico, Adam M. Lee

Theses and Dissertations

Age, growth, and reproductive status of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) were identified from 2015-2016 on artificial reefs in the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Individuals ranged from 232-432 mm fork length with and a mean fork length of 319 mm. Individuals from age 0.2 to 5.2 yrs were observed with a weight to length relationship of Wg = 1.1 x -104 x FL2.7 (r2 = 0.94, n = 112), where FL = fork length (mm) and Wg = weight (g). A von Bertalanffy growth equation of Lt = 326(1 - e - 0.9 (t + 1.71)) was calculated irrespective …


High-Powered Led Assembly As Replacement For Conventional Hbo Lamps In High Resolution, High Magnification Microscopy System, Christian Y. Miranda Solis May 2019

High-Powered Led Assembly As Replacement For Conventional Hbo Lamps In High Resolution, High Magnification Microscopy System, Christian Y. Miranda Solis

Theses and Dissertations

Through decades, fluorescence microscopy has relied on mercury vapor lamps as its main light source due to their high power, broad spectrum, and bright bands generated. The use of mercury vapor lamps has remained fundamentally associated with the required lighting equipment of research laboratories. However, as time progresses, mercury vapor lamps have been slowly replaced with technologies that offered longer lifetimes, less hazardous waste, and output light at similar intensities. LED technology has been actively used in biological research, but was limited by price, lower intensities, and stability. The recent development of LED technology has allowed for further understanding and …


Effects Of Global Warming On Gonadal Functions, Cellular Apoptosis, And Oxidative Stress In The American Oyster, Sarah B. Nash May 2019

Effects Of Global Warming On Gonadal Functions, Cellular Apoptosis, And Oxidative Stress In The American Oyster, Sarah B. Nash

Theses and Dissertations

Global warming due to climate change is predicted to intensify the heat stress in marine and coastal organisms, affecting their development, growth and reproductive functions. In this study. I analyzed gonadal development, heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), nitrotyrosine protein (NTP), dinitrophenyl (DNP) expressions, cellular apoptosis, and coelomic fluid (CF) conditions in American oyster. Oysters were placed in six aquariums and exposed to control (24°C), medium (28°C), and high (32°C) temperatures for one week. Higher temperature significantly decreased the number of eggs and sperm. CF protein concentrations also declined compared to control. In contrast, CF pH and HSP70 expression in gonad …


Comparative, Lithology-Based Biogeography Of Phreatophytic And Non-Phreatophytic Matrices Along A North-South Gradient Of The South Texas Sand Sheet, Christopher Joaquin Munoz May 2019

Comparative, Lithology-Based Biogeography Of Phreatophytic And Non-Phreatophytic Matrices Along A North-South Gradient Of The South Texas Sand Sheet, Christopher Joaquin Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

A 70km-long, N-S stratigraphic cross-section spanning the entirety of the South Texas Sand Sheet (STSS) has been rendered along Texas Interstate 69C. The cross-section indicates localized zones of substantial STSS thickness (>4m) as well as zones where the underlying Goliad Formation is either exposed or just below the surface (<0.5m). Spatial patterns of both phreatophytic and non-phreatophytic vegetation assemblages were analyzed by means of remote sensing and in situ herbaceous species evaluations. Biogeographic patterns were comprised of three vegetation matrices: P. glandulosa-dominated, Q. virginiana-dominated and a matrix of herbaceous plants. The geographic distribution of vegetation assemblages corresponded to specific lithological parameters and features. Namely, Q. virginiana concentration exhibited a positive linear relationship with the lithological parameter of STSS thickness (P =2.122x10-11) (α = 0.05). P. glandulosa/V. farnesiana …


Studies On Regulation Of Dihydrotestosterone Binding To And Releasing From The Androgen Receptor, Tahyra M. Resto Santos May 2019

Studies On Regulation Of Dihydrotestosterone Binding To And Releasing From The Androgen Receptor, Tahyra M. Resto Santos

Theses and Dissertations

The androgen receptor (AR) is a nuclear receptor that responds to testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by modulating gene expression in a variety of cells, including prostate and muscle tissues. Studies of small molecule interaction with AR have shown diphenyl compounds inhibiting through a binding site labeled Binding Function 3 (BF3). The goal of this research is to analyze the interaction of the BF3 site with DDT and related compounds. Amino acids that are exposed on the surface of the BF3 that might interact with different compounds were mutated. Mutant proteins were tested experimentally for their impact on the inhibition the …