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Articles 1 - 18 of 18
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages In Selected New Jersey Springs, Yaritza R. Acosta Caraballo
Macroinvertebrate Assemblages In Selected New Jersey Springs, Yaritza R. Acosta Caraballo
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The springs included as part of this study are lotic systems where groundwater discharges to the surface. Spring water quality is influenced by the discharge and geologic origins of a spring. Biological indicators, such as aquatic macroinvertebrates, are used to assess the health of spring ecosystems due to their sensitivity to pollution. Currently, there are no published studies on the aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages in New Jersey springs. The objective of this study was to examine macroinvertebrate assemblages of New Jersey springs and to investigate the effects of geologic and hydrologic variables on macroinvertebrate community assemblages. We hypothesized that springs with …
Love That Dirty Water : A Preliminary Investigation Of Microbial Diversity In On-Street Hot Dog Water, Nelson S. Casanova
Love That Dirty Water : A Preliminary Investigation Of Microbial Diversity In On-Street Hot Dog Water, Nelson S. Casanova
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Standard microbiological methods were utilized to assess the microbial diversity and abundance in the hot dog water found in mobile food carts. Since we could not directly assay the water, we devised a method of washing hot dogs with sterile water to indirectly assess the presence of microorganisms both growing in the water and on the hot dogs. Plating on LB-agar and LB-agar supplemented with antibiotics was used to isolate microbes from hot dog water from randomly selected vendors in twenty-six Manhattan neighborhoods and the Bronx. In addition, five major hot dog brands were similarly tested as store-bought controls. As …
Experimental Assessment Of Floating Seagrass Wrack As Potential Habitat For Benthic Organisms, Joseph R. Mcginnis
Experimental Assessment Of Floating Seagrass Wrack As Potential Habitat For Benthic Organisms, Joseph R. Mcginnis
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
During the summer, seagrass blades are frequently released into the water column as a method to reduce respiration demands of the plant and through physical disruption of the bed (e.g., crab foraging, boat propellers). This wrack has the potential to serve as both food and habitat for organisms dislodged or actively moving within the system. The purpose of this research was to determine how benthic organisms may use floating wrack as a food resource and shelter. Three experimental floating wrack bag treatments were assembled containing using artificial Zoster a marina (i.e., poly-ribbon), Z. marina blades, and a wrack bag control …
Green Tea Polyphenols Inhibit The Growth Of The Dental Cavity Causing Bacteria Streptococcus Mutans, Amy Lynn Melok
Green Tea Polyphenols Inhibit The Growth Of The Dental Cavity Causing Bacteria Streptococcus Mutans, Amy Lynn Melok
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
An often overlooked disease, dental caries, or cavities, is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases across the globe. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the main etiological bacteria present in the oral cavity that leads to dental caries. All of the S. mutans in the oral cavity try to pool together to form an intelligent biofilm that adheres to the surfaces of teeth. S. mutans thrive on the sugary foods we eat and release acid by products that aid in the wearing away of the teeth’s enamel. As this enamel begins to wear away, the decaying process begins and cavities …
Characterization Of The Ubiquitination Of Icer, A Potential Anti-Cancer Protein, In Human Melanoma Cells, Joseph J. Bulatowicz Iii
Characterization Of The Ubiquitination Of Icer, A Potential Anti-Cancer Protein, In Human Melanoma Cells, Joseph J. Bulatowicz Iii
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Inducible cAMP Early Repressor (ICER) is a transcriptional repressor that regulates the expression of cAMP inducible genes. ICER has recently garnered attention because of cAMP’s implication in oncogenesis. ICER is shown to be downregulated in melanomas by the means of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. It is marked for degradation by ubiquitination on its lysine residues. By rescuing ICER levels in cancer cells, it is hypothesized that it may be possible to reverse the adverse progression of melanoma tumor growth. One possible way of rescuing ICER is by making it unavailable for ubiquitination by altering its ubiquitination sites. Special mutant ICERs that …
A Study Of Small Mammal Populations In The Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area, Jefferson Township, Nj, Alexis Rose Levorse
A Study Of Small Mammal Populations In The Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area, Jefferson Township, Nj, Alexis Rose Levorse
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Small mammal populations within the state of New Jersey have not been as thoroughly studied as avian, amphibian and reptile populations. The state list of species of special conservation concern includes very few mammals proportionally, and of those mammals that are listed only a handful are ground dwelling small mammals. This study sampled the small mammal population at the Rockaway River Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson Township, New Jersey and compared the sample to a similar study in Stokes State Forest. Pitfall traps were installed in four different kinds of habitats within the management area and the captures collected and …
A Novel Solution To Targeting Prosthetic Joint Infection, Christopher Chen
A Novel Solution To Targeting Prosthetic Joint Infection, Christopher Chen
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Prosthetic arthroplasty may be a life changing event for better or worse. The integrity of bone cartilages such as the lateral and medial meniscus found between the femur and tibia may degrade over time due to natural causes which may eventually result in bone on bone exposure causing excruciating pain. Prosthetics are used to replace the cartilage and bone damage using femoral and tibial component and a plastic spacer. A small percentage of all orthopedic replacement surgeries may lead to infections. These infections are caused by biofilm forming bacteria which allows bacteria to attach to abiotic surfaces and mature as …
Interaction Of Asic And Bk Channels In Human Glioma And Its Role In Cell Migration And Proliferation, Carola M. Springer
Interaction Of Asic And Bk Channels In Human Glioma And Its Role In Cell Migration And Proliferation, Carola M. Springer
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Acid sensing ion channels (ASICs) and large conductance calcium and voltage-activated potassium (BK) channels are expressed through out the nervous system. Studies have showed that ASICs can act as endogenous regulators of BK channels in a pH dependent manner. At physiological pH 7.4 ASIC blocks BK channels, when pH is reduced, ASIC channels are activated and the inhibition of BK is relieved (Petroff et ah, 2008). Our previous studies suggest that pH-dependent relieve of BK inhibition by ASICs increases cell proliferation in glial cells. Extracellular acidosis has been associated with cerebral trauma and brain cancer known as glioma (Andersen et …
Settling Patterns Of Chrysaora Quinquecirrha Polyps On Common Vinyl Construction Material : Potential Implications For Jellyfish Blooms And Coastal Development In Barnegat Bay New Jersey, Alexander Lawrence Soranno
Settling Patterns Of Chrysaora Quinquecirrha Polyps On Common Vinyl Construction Material : Potential Implications For Jellyfish Blooms And Coastal Development In Barnegat Bay New Jersey, Alexander Lawrence Soranno
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Coastal development in estuaries is altering abiotic and biotic factors that encourage the propagation of populations of Chrysaora quinquecirrha. Extensive coastal development results in the proliferation of vinyl bulkheads and plastic floating docks in the Barnegat Bay estuary system. The purpose of this study was to determine if the increase in artificial vinyl substrate can affect density of C. quinquecirrha polyp recruitment. Oyster shell and vinyl settling plates were submerged at ten sites in Barnegat Bay for six, two-week periods during the summer of 2014. Polyps showed a greater affinity for settling on vinyl plates (0.337 polyps/cm2) than oyster shell …
Green Tea Polyphenols : Potential Antibiotic Synergistic Agents For Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, Siti Ayuni Mohamed Yussof
Green Tea Polyphenols : Potential Antibiotic Synergistic Agents For Combatting Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, Siti Ayuni Mohamed Yussof
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The rise in antibiotic resistant cases has caused a global concern and researchers around the world are trying to find a novel alternative to combat this issue. Green tea with its many health benefits, including antibacterial and antiviral activity, has shown to be one of the most promising candidates to be used as an agent to solve this problem. Green tea commonly found throughout Asia is made from the unfermented leaves of Camellia sinensis and the polyphenols extracted from it can be divided into two categories: (1): Crude, which includes green tea polyphenols (GTP) and lipophilic green tea polyphenols (LTP), …
Characterization Of The Interaction Between Asic And Bk Channels In Glioma Derived Cell Lines, Michael Young
Characterization Of The Interaction Between Asic And Bk Channels In Glioma Derived Cell Lines, Michael Young
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Glioma are the most common form of brain tumor and carry a particularly poor prognosis that has remained unchanged over the past two decades. Increased activity of large conductance voltage gated and calcium activated potassium channels (BK channels) have been associated with the characteristic invasiveness and proliferation of the disease. Previous work has shown that these channels are inhibited by acid-sensing ion channels (ASIC) at physiological pH (7.4) and that this inhibition is relieved at acidic pH (6.0) commonly found in tumors (Petroff et al. 2008, Petroff et al. 2012). Previous work in our lab has shown that that this …
Linking Trophic Interactions In Above- And Below-Ground Systems, Savannah Bennett
Linking Trophic Interactions In Above- And Below-Ground Systems, Savannah Bennett
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
This study explored trophic interactions among herbivores, plants, and soil communities. Two experiments were conducted such that the below-ground effects of an above-ground herbivore, as well as the above-ground impacts of soil biota could be examined. The first project investigated the effects of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) herbivory on soil communities associated with oak trees (Quercus rubra L.). The goal of this study was to compare soil biota from defoliated oak trees with soil communities from undefoliated trees. The abundances of bacteria, bactivorous nematodes, and herbivorous nematodes were compared between a defoliated sampling site and an undefoliated site in …
Warmer Temperatures On American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius) Breeding Grounds Associated With Earlier Laying And Successful Reproduction, Marisa Del Corso
Warmer Temperatures On American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius) Breeding Grounds Associated With Earlier Laying And Successful Reproduction, Marisa Del Corso
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) recently has been discovered to be in decline and the reason is still unknown. Many studies have shown climate’s effect on migratory birds, but the relationship between climate and kestrel ecology has received little attention. This study sought to determine whether the climate in northwestern New Jersey and kestrel reproductive efforts have changed over the course of 20 years as well as determining whether these two factors are related. Monthly temperature, rainfall, and snowfall data were obtained from online databases. Breeding variables, including percentage of nest boxes used, clutch and brood size, percentage of successful …
Effects Of Researcher-Induced Disturbance On American Kestrels Breeding In Nest Boxes In Northwestern New Jersey, John Smallwood
Effects Of Researcher-Induced Disturbance On American Kestrels Breeding In Nest Boxes In Northwestern New Jersey, John Smallwood
Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works
Nest boxes for American Kestrels Falco sparverius may alleviate local nest site limitation, but there is concern that periodically opening nest boxes or handling adults may negatively affect nesting success. I monitored 536 kestrel breeding attempts ≥1 egg laid in about 100 nest boxes in northwestern New Jersey, 1995-2012. To study return rates, I opportunistically captured adults in nest boxes and marked them with U.S.G.S. leg bands and patagial tags. To examine possible effects of this disturbance, I compared nesting success ≥1 nestling surviving to banding age of marked and unmarked adults. Nesting success was 67% for 270 unmarked pairs, …
Drifting Communities : Relationships Between Soil Chemistry, Plant And Microbial Communities Along An Urban Watershed, Carolyn Haines-Klaube
Drifting Communities : Relationships Between Soil Chemistry, Plant And Microbial Communities Along An Urban Watershed, Carolyn Haines-Klaube
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
The goal of this study was to investigate plant and soil communities along a riparian corridor at four sites in the Toms River Watershed of Ocean County, NJ. This research assessed how these communities differ between the upland and floodplain habitats by examining both biotic and abiotic factors. To accomplish this, plant communities were assessed upon tree basal area, woody shrub cover, herbaceous cover and presence/absence of “all-vegetation”. Soil microbial community composition was also measured at the same four sites. At each of the four sites, I surveyed three transects that were parallel, perpendicular and upland from the river. These …
Leech Host Specificity And Its Effect On Rates Of Parasitism In Two Pond Turtle Species, Sternotherus Odoratus And Chrysemys Picta, Linda Valentina Araya
Leech Host Specificity And Its Effect On Rates Of Parasitism In Two Pond Turtle Species, Sternotherus Odoratus And Chrysemys Picta, Linda Valentina Araya
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Appropriate host selection by parasites is critical for ensuring offspring survival, optimal feeding location, and protection from predators. Leeches (Placobdella spp.) are known to parasitize bottom-dwelling turtle species more frequently than basking turtle species, but it is not known whether this bias is evolutionarily advantageous. I tested two potential factors that could influence host selection by leeches: differential chance of encounter due to habitat usage, and chemosensory bias of leeches toward bottom-dwelling species. I first confirmed that Chrysemys picta (Eastern painted turtle, a basking species) and Sternotherus odoratus (common musk turtle, a bottom-dwelling species) in Lake Wapalanne in Sussex County, …
Environmental Salinity Preference Of Rana Palustris, Stephanie Lee Zilinskis
Environmental Salinity Preference Of Rana Palustris, Stephanie Lee Zilinskis
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
Amphibians face many daily challenges in their natural habitats, ranging from escaping predators to finding suitable mates. In addition, they may also find themselves facing anthropogenic challenges, such as crossing busy highways and coping with polluted water. This study focuses on the impacts that water polluted with road salt may have on roadside amphibian populations, utilizing outdoor and laboratory experiments. Both experiments tested water salinity preference for the pickerel frog (Rana palustris), and found that R. palustris did not show preference for either low or high salinity in short-term choice trials. Therefore, it is possible that R. palustris are not …
Antagonistic Interactions Between Aquatic Turtles And Territorial Sunfish, Tara Jane Snyder
Antagonistic Interactions Between Aquatic Turtles And Territorial Sunfish, Tara Jane Snyder
Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects
When sunfish (Lepomis spp.) breed, parents defend nest sites and are highly aggressive and territorial against conspecifics and other fish and invertebrate species. However, little is known of their possible effects on sympatric turtle species. In this study I examined the relationship between the musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus), painted turtle (Chrysemys picta), pumpkinseed sunfish (.Lepomis gibbosus), and bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) within Lake Wapalanne, Sandyston, New Jersey. My hypotheses were: presence of musk and painted turtle individuals would diminish within the sunfish nest habitats during the breeding period and would revert back to normal numbers of captures post-sunfish breeding; musk …