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A Heuristic Ontological Model Of Protein Complexes A Case Study Based On The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Protein Complexes Of Arabidopsis Thaliana, Claudia Dinatale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ontology (with a capital O) is the philosophical study of the nature of existence that was derived to define the relationships of entities that can be said to exist in nature. The concept of an ontology was later adopted by the biological sciences to formally represent knowledge within a biological domain in order to standardize the annotation of biological data, and further, enable more efficient and easier data collection, sharing, and reuse across biological and model organism databases. The Protein Ontology (PRO) is a specific biological ontology developed to represent the relationships between proteins and protein complexes. This thesis presents …

Multiple Achromatic Plumage Signals Of Male Quality In The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax Nivalis), Sarah Guindre-Parker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although males can produce many ornaments, the evolution of multiple ornaments is not well understood. We investigated achromatic plumage traits in the context of multiple ornaments in Arctic-breeding snow buntings ( Plectrophenax nivalis ). We examined whether multiple ornaments: are providing multiple messages, are redundant, are unreliable signals or are aimed at different receivers. We measured plumage reflectance and pigmentation patterns that are differentially, but conspicuously advertised during male inter- and intra-sexual displays. Our results indicate that although several signals are redundant, different body regions appear aimed at different receivers. The wings of males--displayed during courtship--indicate male expected reproductive performance. …

Song As An Honest Indicator Of Oxidative Damage And Anti-Oxidant Capacity: Exploring The Relationships Between Signal Quality, Oxidative Status, And Reproduction In The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax Nivalis), Sarah Baldo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sexual selection has led to the evolution of elaborate signals which enhance mate attraction and reproductive success. Often there is marked variation in signal quality between individuals yet little is known about the physiological mechanisms underlying this variation. Bird song is a signal used to attract mates and repel rivals and can vary between individuals in both content and performance. Oxidative stress is a potential mechanism that may affect song content and performance, explaining some of the inter-individual variation in signal quality. I investigated the relationship between song, oxidative status, and reproduction in the Snow Bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) …

Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity Tasks Successfully Predict The Hypotensive Response Of Isometric Handgrip Training In Hypertensive Individuals, Mark Badrov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this thesis was to replicate findings that isometric handgrip (IHG) training lowers resting blood pressure (BP), determine whether cardiovascular reactivity to a serial subtraction task (SST), IHG task (IHGT), and cold-pressor task (CPT) predict the post-IHG training hypotensive response in hypertensives, and investigate whether cardiovascular reactivity is attenuated following training. Resting BP and cardiovascular reactivity to a SST, IHGT, and CPT were determined prior-to and following 10-weeks of IHG training (n=12) or non-exercising control (n=12). Post-IHG training reductions in BP were observed ( P <0.05), whereby reductions in systolic BP were related to pre-training cardiovascular reactivity to the SST (P <0.05) and IHGT (P <0.05), but not the CPT (P >0.05). Systolic BP reactivity to the SST and IHGT was significantly reduced in …

Evolutionary Toxicology: Implications Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls In Fishes From The Lower Great Lakes, Michelle Farwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ability to withstand a range of environmental contaminants has been documented in numerous taxa. Until recently, the field of ecotoxicology has focused, in part, on identifying adaptive traits of populations exposed to contaminants, with little emphasis on understanding mechanisms underlying individual-level variation in these traits. An emerging field, termed evolutionary toxicology, expands the scope of ecotoxicology by investigating such mechanisms and discussing their evolutionary implications. My thesis blends the fields of ecotoxicology and evolutionary toxicology by investigating novel avenues and addressing novel questions in these fields that remain to be explored, as discussed in my review article. To do …

A Model To Predict And Analyze Protein-Protein Interaction Types Using Electrostatic Energies, Gokul Vasudev

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prediction and analysis of types of protein-protein interactions (PPI) is an important problem in molecular biology because of its key role in many biological processes in living cells. In this thesis, I propose a model called PPIEE (Protein-protein interaction using electrostatic energies) to predict and analyze protein interaction types using electrostatic energies as properties to distinguish between these types of interactions. This prediction approach uses electrostatic energies for pairs of atoms and amino acids present in interfaces where the interaction occurs. Using this approach, the results on well-known datasets confirms that electrostatic energy is an important property to predict obligate …

Annual Patterns Of Movement And Distribution In The Arctic Breeding Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax Nivalis) , Christie Macdonald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arctic-nesting birds are declining and at risk due to predicted ecological effects of climate change at high latitudes. Tracking the migration of these small migratory birds can provide insight into the factors driving their spatial and behavioural patterns, but is a challenge due to their small body size, long-distance migrations and remote breeding locations. We integrated spatial and behavioural information from multiple concurrent sources (banding, stable isotopes and geolocators) from the sexually dimorphic snow bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) and found strong evidence for an east-west parallel migratory system in North America. Our results also suggest that observed wintering sex-segregation …

Physiological Roles Of Nitric Oxide And Protein Disulfide Isomerase Relevant To Vascular Function, Vasantha Madhuri Kallakunta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule that diffuses freely across the cell membrane to activate several cellular signaling pathways. S-nitrosothiols (RSNO), the storehouse of NO and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) catalyze release of NO from RSNO under physiological conditions. The objectives of the present study are to determine the role of NO signaling in hypoxic vasodilatation and to develop methods for detecting NO signaling.

We studied the role of red blood cell (RBC) PDI in hypoxic vasodilation. The data presented demonstrate that nitrite support S-nitrosation of PDI under oxygenated conditions; also PDI has high affinity for …

Aggressive Signalling Strategies In Black-Capped Chickadee Territorial Vocal Interactions/Stratégies Aggressive De Signalisation Dans Les Interactions Vocales Du Territoire En Mésange À Tête Noire., Tyne Marie Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The traditional view of birdsong indicates that it functions in territory defence and mate attraction. Recent literature focuses on aggressive signalling between males during territorial song contests. Using a protocol that simulates territorial intruders with song playback and a taxidermic model, four previous studies showed that quiet song predicts attack in several species. Using this protocol, I examined aggressive signals in black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus . I explored which signals predict attack on a taxidermic mount, a potential graded signalling system, and how individual rank affects aggressive signalling. I found song rate and gargle calling predict attack in chickadees. Also, …

Big Exit, Jordan Edward William Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Big Exit is a novella which chronicles the dialogic interactions of a series of narrator-protagonists from Vancouver, each using first-person points of view. This multi-voiced narrative showcases the often dysfunctional lifestyles of a small group of youths from the lower socio-economic group. The narrative structure rotates irregularly through the characters' perspectives and features spatiotemporal jumps to reflect the psychic dissarray of the community and the deeper psychological fragmentation of Luke, a character diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The juxtapositions of these differing narrative perspectives generate ironies that are not evident to the narrator-protagonists, but are apparent to readers as they move …

Novel Targets And Functions For Xenopus Pitx3 During Embryonic Development, Cristine Smoczer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pitx3 is a homeodomain transcription factor with an expression pattern conserved across phyla: in the dopaminergic neurons of the midbrain, in the lens during all stages of lens development and in the forming somites. In Xenopus laevis, this gene shows novel expression areas, such as the pituitary gland, the heart and the gut. Morpholino-based knockdown of pitx3 results in phenotypes characterized by small or absent lens, bent dorsal axis and randomized coiling of the heart and gut. Comparing gene expression changes in wild-type versus knockdown embryos by microarray, we generated a vast list of genes possible downstream targets for pitx3. …

Field Guide To Kleptoparasitism, Braydon Beaulieu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Field Guide to Kleptoparasitism is a collection of episodic fictions centring on a protagonist, Tony Gordon, who perceives himself as both human and ant. Tony's situation within the liminal space between human and nonhuman positions Field Guide to Kleptoparasitism in the absurdist tradition. The stories use various styles, formats, and lengths - mimicking the frenetic movements of insects within their structure - in order to explore nihilism and meaninglessness, as well as the importance of self-acceptance. Field Guide to Kleptoparasitism depicts a character that self-actualizes because of his unique metamorphoses and faults. The stories' focus on individualism serves to forward …

Inbreeding Depression And Segregation Distortion In Chinook Salmon: Conservation Implications Of Genetic Load, Kendra Komsa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Strong evidence that shows inbreeding in many plants and animals can lead to detrimental effects at the level of the organism as well as the population. Inbreeding and its effects have been the focus of much attention in terms of conservation and captive rearing and breeding programs for many endangered species. Inbreeding depression (ID) is the fitness loss associated with individuals and populations that have experienced inbreeding. Surprisingly, ID studies within salmonids are not extensive. Here, I used inbred offspring of self-fertilized hermaphrodite parents to study the effects of ID in Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) at an extreme …

Growth, Survival, And Community Composition Of Chironomidae (Diptera) Larvae In Selected Athabasca Oil Sands Process-Affected Wetland Waters Of Northeastern Alberta, Kaitlin D. Kennedy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oil sands process water (OSPW) is toxic to many aquatic organisms. The goal of this study is to determine if or how midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) productivity and community assemblages may differ between OSPW and reference wetlands and the effects of OSPW wetland water, naphthenic acids (NA), and salts on chironomid growth and survival. Although chironomids differed in size, abundance, and community composition among wetlands, the differences were not attributable to the presence or absence of OSPW. Community composition varied with respect to wetland-specific water chemistry attributes (e.g., dissolved oxygen). Ten-d Chironomus riparius laboratory bioassays indicated that larvae grew to a …

Reproductive Interactions Between Wild And Farmed Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha): Conservation And Ecological Implications, Sarah Lehnert

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wild Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) populations could be adversely affected through reproductive interactions with escaping farmed salmon. To determine the reproductive ability of farmed Chinook salmon relative to wild, I compared sperm traits, as well as fertilization and reproductive success in competitive spawning channels. Farmed Chinook salmon males had greater sperm performance relative to wild males, and they were equally successful at competing for mates and fertilizing eggs. However, farm-sired offspring experienced lower survival to the fry stage, which could mediate any impact on the wild populations. Given that hybridization can lead to negative genetic effects via outbreeding, I …

Prediction And Analysis Of Protein-Protein Interaction Types Using Short, Linear Motifs , Manish Kumer Pandit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play a key role in many biological processes and functions in living cells. Hence, identification, prediction, and analysis of PPIs are important problems in molecular biology. Traditional solutions (laboratory based experiments) to this problem are labor intensive and time consuming. As a result, the demand of a computational model to solve this problem is increasing day by day. In this thesis, I propose a computational model to predict biological PPI types using short, linear motifs (SLiMs). The information contained in a protein sequence is retrieved using the profiles of SLiMs. I use sequence information as a distinguishing …

Movement And Depth And Temperature Preferences Of Benthic, Deep Water Fish In An Arctic Marine Ecosystem, Iva Peklova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Given concerns about climate change and exploitation of Arctic marine resources, it is critical to elucidate the movements of deep-water Arctic marine species. This thesis analysed data from pop-off archival transmitting tags deployed on commercially exploited Greenland halibut ( Reinhardtius hippoglossoides ) and a bycatch species Arctic skate (Amblyraja hyperborea ) in Cumberland Sound, Nunavut tagged in August 2010-2011. Data collected for 40-300 days defined the preferred depth and temperature ranges for halibut (800-1300m, 1.5-2.5°C) and skates (500-1300m, 1.5-3.0°C) and suggested differences in activity levels and behaviour. Greenland halibut were more sedentary compared to more active skates and displayed high …

Adaptive Foraging Behaviour And Impact On Longevity Of An Omnivorous Insect In Response To The Extreme Temperature Fluctuation Events Associated With Climate Change, Jessica Sparkes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

One expected consequence of global climate change is an increased likelihood in extreme weather events, including higher amplitude temperature fluctuation. This work examined the effect of low and high amplitude temperature fluctuation on predation, foraging behaviour and longevity of Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae). Results indicate that temperature fluctuations do influence foraging behaviour and adult longevity but the degree to which these are influenced is affected by host plant species. The results from this work suggest that the role of temperature fluctuation should be considered in future research as constant temperature models may not be representative of what is currently …