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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Locomotor Biomechanics In Stream Gobies, Rhinogobius Sp.: Functional Performance Of Waterfall-Climbing Behavior, Ernest W. Murphy
Locomotor Biomechanics In Stream Gobies, Rhinogobius Sp.: Functional Performance Of Waterfall-Climbing Behavior, Ernest W. Murphy
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Gobiidae is the taxonomic classification of a large fish family comprising over 2,000 species. A few goby species have the unique ability of scaling waterfalls using pelvic fins that are fused into a suction disc (pelvic sucker) located on the ventral side of the body, aiding them in upstream migration to freshwater feeding and reproduction locations. This study aimed to investigate the locomotor biomechanics of Rhinogobius goby fish due to the lack of literature in the area. In particular, climbing performance variables (pressure differential, force, endurance, and kinematics of attachment), pelvic sucker fatigability, and ontogenetic patterns of physical development and …
The Effect Of Ethanolic Echinacea Purpurea Root Extracts On The Production Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Trey T. Nguyen
The Effect Of Ethanolic Echinacea Purpurea Root Extracts On The Production Of Pro-Inflammatory Mediators In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages, Trey T. Nguyen
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Echinacea purpurea, commonly known as the purple coneflower, is utilized in medicinal preparations due to potential immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Present bioactive metabolites such as alkamides, polysaccharides, and caffeic acid derivatives provide pharmacological elements essential to mitigating symptoms produced by upper respiratory illnesses. The chemical composition of E. purpurea holds medicinal value, but there remains controversy surrounding the efficacy of its use in medicine. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an 75% ethanolic E. purpurea root extract on LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Treatment groups included ethanolic E. purpurea extract (3µL, 15µL, 30µL), …
The Plant And The Pathogen: Elucidating The Relationship Between Root-Knot Nematodes, Ph Levels, And Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Rachel Garnett
The Plant And The Pathogen: Elucidating The Relationship Between Root-Knot Nematodes, Ph Levels, And Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Rachel Garnett
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Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) within the Meloidogyne genus are considered one of the largest threats to plant health and subsequent crop yield and profit (Forghani and Hajihassani 2020; Bernard et al. 2017). As a pest that presents global consequences, its mitigation through sustainable interventions may confer results for the treatment of similar plant pathogens. A member of the Brassicaeae family, Arabidopsis thaliana, was chosen for this study to determine plant responses to RKN-standard pH media. pH was varied between control and experimental groups, and phenotypic variables of primary root length and plant height were observed and analyzed. Wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana …
The Relationship Between Insect Visitors And Chemical Fragrance Composition Of Cypripedium Parviflorum Var. Pubescens In Central Virginia., Ruth Elkins
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Due to its rarity, little is known regarding which insects pollinate Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens, large yellow lady slipper orchids, and why they do so when offered no reward. Insect identification and fragrance composition data have been collected from two populations of large yellow lady slippers in Central Virginia for more than a decade. This research analyzed data in order to determine potential relationships between visiting insects and fragrance compositions of the orchid. The results of this research can be used to establish and protect populations of Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens.
Comparative Methodology For Analyzing Nitric Oxide Production In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages In Response To Lipopolysaccharide Treatment, Cassandra Robertson
Comparative Methodology For Analyzing Nitric Oxide Production In Raw 264.7 Murine Macrophages In Response To Lipopolysaccharide Treatment, Cassandra Robertson
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The purpose of this experiment is to develop comparative methodology for analyzing RAW 264.7 murine macrophage responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These results will yield two endpoints relative to nitric oxide production: nitrites in solution from the Greiss assay, and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The RAW 264.7 cell line is a standard culture model of macrophage activity and stimulation with LPS induces inflammatory reactions. This process has evolved to kill ingested pathogens and activate local immune responses, including the production of nitric oxide, synthesized by iNOS. RAW 264.7 cells are stimulated with LPS doses from 1 …
A Chemical In Filter Paper Interferes With Trail Following Behavior In The Termite Reticulitermes Hesperus (Banks), Kathryn Vest
A Chemical In Filter Paper Interferes With Trail Following Behavior In The Termite Reticulitermes Hesperus (Banks), Kathryn Vest
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Termites follow chemical trails. In previous experiments we dissolved and diluted chemicals in acetone to test if they elicited trail following. Each trail was a straight line across the arena drawn with 10 µl using a glass capillary (Microcaps). We noticed a minor but stable response to trails laid with pure acetone. The response could be caused by contaminated acetone or by a chemical in the filter paper (Watman #5) that lined our arena (petri dish, 10cm diameter). We could confirm that the termites respond to acetone alone. Soxkhlet extraction for 8 hours removed the signal from the filter paper. …
Co-Occurrence Of Manganese Oxidase Genes Indicates Lateral Transfer Between Classes Of Proteobacteria, Jacob Olichney
Co-Occurrence Of Manganese Oxidase Genes Indicates Lateral Transfer Between Classes Of Proteobacteria, Jacob Olichney
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Pseudomonas putida GB-1 is a model organism for the study of manganese oxidation in bacteria, however, the frequency of co-localization of multiple known and suspected manganese oxidizing proteins, as well as their occurrence between species, is unknown. Eight different genes isolated from known manganese oxidizing bacteria (MnxG, MopA, McoA, PputGB1_2552, PputGB1_2553, MoxA, MofA, and Bacillus MnxG) were tested individually using BioPython and BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) on multiple genomic databases. BLAST searches had an expect value cutoff of 1e-50, limiting gene homologs to those with high sequence similarity. The abundance of homologous genes across classes of proteobacteria point …
Effect Of Environmental Conditions On Biomass Of Symplocarpus Foetidus, Christy Lemay
Effect Of Environmental Conditions On Biomass Of Symplocarpus Foetidus, Christy Lemay
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Symplocarpus foetidus (skunk cabbage) is an obligate wetland plant that occurs sporadically in wetlands throughout Virginia. Its life cycle is well studied with flowers budding in late January to early February through a process known as thermogenesis that heats the soil surrounding the plant. Pollination of fruits by flies and distribution of fruits/seeds through wildlife. Leaves appear in March with full growth above ground by early May. The leaves die back by July. Reproduction and distribution is sensitive to disturbance and environmental factors such as soil moisture, hydrology, and seed distribution. We collected environmental data in eight designated wetland plots …
Creating A Predictive Model For Flowering Of Virginia Orchid, Cypripedium Pubescens, Emily Horton
Creating A Predictive Model For Flowering Of Virginia Orchid, Cypripedium Pubescens, Emily Horton
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No abstract provided.
Evaluating Effects Of Gene Mutation And Light Intensity On Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Carolanne Bekus
Evaluating Effects Of Gene Mutation And Light Intensity On Arabidopsis Thaliana Development, Carolanne Bekus
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The completion of sequencing Arabidopsis thaliana’s genome has led to the next crucial challenge of determining gene function in these plants. A. thaliana is a model organism often compared to commercial crops. The discovery of gene function within these plants will aid in giving insight on how gene function can affect commercial crop production. Presented here is an analysis comparing wild-type Columbia (Col-O), to single gene mutants when knocking-out transcriptional factors VPI/ABI3-like 1 (val1) and basic region/leucine zipper motif (bZIP). These single gene mutations may affect several traits that in turn can result in morphological changes and/or …
Analysis Of Downstream Signaling Of Tlrs After U0126 Inhibition, Brandy Frazier
Analysis Of Downstream Signaling Of Tlrs After U0126 Inhibition, Brandy Frazier
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Francisella tularensis (F. tularensis) is a pathogenic bacterium which causes the disease tularemia. F. tularensis is thought to be able to enter and multiply inside of liver cells because it interacts with toll-like receptors (TLRs). Examining the signaling pathway downstream of the TLRs will allow for better understanding of how this disease works and possible treatment strategies. In this study I propose to examine how molecular inhibitors affect signaling downstream of TLRs in HepG2 cells treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from E. coli. Mitogen-activated protein kinase is a cellular molecule in signaling cascades that directs cellular response mechanisms. MAPK can be …