Life Sciences Commons^™

Fluctuating Temperatures Alter Environmental Pathogen Transmission In A Daphnia–Pathogen System, Tad Dallas, John M. Drake

Faculty Publications

Environmental conditions are rarely constant, but instead vary spatially and temporally. This variation influences ecological interactions and epidemiological dynamics, yet most experimental studies examine interactions under constant conditions. We examined the effects of variability in temperature on the host–pathogen relationship between an aquatic zooplankton host (Daphnia laevis) and an environmentally transmitted fungal pathogen (Metschnikowia bicuspidata). We manipulated temperature variability by exposing all populations to mean temperatures of 20°C for the length of the experiments, but introducing periods of 1, 2, and 4 hr each day where the populations were exposed to 28°C followed by periods of …

Ordination Obscures The Influence Of Environment On Plankton Metacommunity Structure, Tad Dallas, Andrew M. Kramer, Marcus Zokan, John M. Drake

Faculty Publications

The composition of plankton communities in individual habitats is often influenced by environmental conditions like pH or hydroperiod. At larger scales, environmental gradients can influence community structure across interconnected local communities. Detecting the role of environmental and spatial factors on metacommunity structure depends on the ordering of sites and species prior to analysis. We investigated this ordination in two wetland metacommunities; a well-sampled, hyper-diverse zooplankton metacommunity, and a Central American phytoplankton metacommunity. We calculated coherence, turnover, and boundary clumping to classify the structure of the metacommunity, and we propose a statistic that responds to variation in both coherence and turnover. …

The Mirror-Based Eyes Of Scallops Demonstrate A Light-Evoked Pupillary Response, M. Desmond Ramirez, Autum N. Pairett, M. Sabrina Pankey, Jeanne M. Serb, Daniel Isaac Speiser, Andrew J. Swafford, Todd H. Oakley

Faculty Publications

The opsin gene family encodes key proteins animals use to sense light and has expanded dramatically as it originated early in animal evolution. Understanding the origins of opsin diversity can offer clues to how separate lineages of animals have repurposed different opsin paralogs for different light-detecting functions. However, the more we look for opsins outside of eyes and from additional animal phyla, the more opsins we uncover, suggesting we still do not know the true extent of opsin diversity, nor the ancestry of opsin diversity in animals. To estimate the number of opsin paralogs present in both the last common …

Sources, Distributions And Dynamics Of Dissolved Organic Matter In The Canada And Makarov Basins, Yuan Shen, Ronald Benner, Lisa L. Robbins, Jonathan G. Wynn

Faculty Publications

A comprehensive survey of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) was conducted in the Canada and Makarov Basins and adjacent seas during 2010–2012 to investigate the dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the Arctic Ocean. Sources and distributions of DOM in polar surface waters were very heterogeneous and closely linked to hydrological conditions. Canada Basin surface waters had relatively low DOC concentrations (69 ± 6 μmol L−1), CDOM absorption (a325: 0.32 ± 0.07 m−1) and CDOM-derived lignin phenols (3 ± 0.4 nmol L−1), and high spectral slope values (S275–295: 31.7 ± …

Coastal Wetland Response To Sea‐Level Rise In A Fluvial Estuarine System, Karim Alizad, Scott C. Hagen, James T. Morris, Stephen C. Medeiros, Matthew V. Bilskie, John F. Weishampel

Faculty Publications

Coastal wetlands are likely to lose productivity under increasing rates of sea‐level rise (SLR). This study assessed a fluvial estuarine salt marsh system using the Hydro‐MEM model under four SLR scenarios. The Hydro‐MEM model was developed to apply the dynamics of SLR as well as capture the effects associated with the rate of SLR in the simulation. Additionally, the model uses constants derived from a 2‐year bioassay in the Apalachicola marsh system. In order to increase accuracy, the lidar‐based marsh platform topography was adjusted using Real Time Kinematic survey data. A river inflow boundary condition was also imposed to simulate …

The Effect Of Survey Date On Assessing Calling Activity Of Hylidae, M. Kyle Brown, Amelia L. Russell, Adrian K.O. Hayes, Elliot P. Gibbs, Melissa A. Pilgrim

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Alteration Of The Ping And Pong Orf1 Proteins Allows For Hyperactive Transposition Of Mping, Lisette Payero, Giselle Outten, Courtney Burckhalter, C. Nathan Hancock

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Examining The Effects Of Chromatic Aberration, Object Distance, And Eye Shape On Image-Formation In The Mirror-Based Eyes Of The Bay Scallop Argopecten Irradians, Daniel Isaac Speiser, Yakir Luc Gagnon, Raghav K. Chhetri, Amy L. Oldenburg, Sönke Johnsen

Faculty Publications

The eyes of scallops form images using a concave spherical mirror and contain two separate retinas, one layered on top of the other. Behavioral and electrophysiological studies indicate that the images formed by these eyes have angular resolutions of about 2°. Based on previous ray-tracing models, it has been thought that the more distal of the two retinas lies near the focal point of the mirror and that the proximal retina, positioned closer to the mirror at the back of the eye, receives light that is out-of-focus. Here, we propose three mechanisms through which both retinas may receive focused light: …

Examining The Effects Of Chromatic Aberration, Object Distance, And Eye Shape On Image-Formation In The Mirror-Based Eyes Of The Bay Scallop Argopecten Irradians, Daniel Isaac Speiser, Yakir Luc Gagnon, Raghav K. Chhetri, Amy L. Oldenburg, Sönke Johnsen

Faculty Publications

The eyes of scallops form images using a concave spherical mirror and contain two separate retinas, one layered on top of the other. Behavioral and electrophysiological studies indicate that the images formed by these eyes have angular resolutions of about 28. Based on previous ray-tracing models, it has been thought that the more distal of the two retinas lies near the focal point of the mirror and that the proximal retina, positioned closer to the mirror at the back of the eye, receives light that is out-of-focus. Here, we propose three mechanisms through which both retinas may receive focused light: …

Developmental Functions Of Mir156-Regulated Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein-Like (Spl) Genes In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Mingli Xu, Tieqiang Hu, Jianfei Zhao, Mee-Yeon Park, Keith W. Earley, Gang Wu, Li Yang, R. Scott Poethig

Faculty Publications

Correct developmental timing is essential for plant fitness and reproductive success. Two important transitions in shoot development—the juvenile-to-adult vegetative transition and the vegetative-to-reproductive transition—are mediated by a group of genes targeted by miR156, SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN (SBP) genes. To determine the developmental functions of these genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, we characterized their expression patterns, and their gain-of-function and loss-of-function phenotypes. Our results reveal that SBP-LIKE (SPL) genes in Arabidopsis can be divided into three functionally distinct groups: 1) SPL2, SPL9, SPL10, SPL11, SPL13 and SPL15 contribute to both the juvenile-to-adult vegetative transition …

Enhancing The Efficacy Of Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitors By Genetic Modulation Or Pharmacological Inhibition Of Bone Marrow Derived Cells In The Tumor Stroma, Nikeya Lashanna Tisdale

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of tumor associated stromal cells in tumor formation, progression, and response to therapy has led to a paradigm shift in cancer therapy. For many years, tumors were considered as a mass consisting only of actively proliferating cancer cells and therapies were design to target these cells. However, research in the last two decades has shown that tumors are not only comprised of a heterogeneous population of neoplastic cells, but they are also comprised of and infiltrated by a heterogeneous population of non-tumor cells that contribute to tumor progression and potentially affect the efficacy of tumor-directed chemotherapies. Tumors are …

The Cranial Morphology Of The Black-Footed Ferret: A Comparison Of Wild And Captive Specimens, Tyler Antonelli

Theses and Dissertations

The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a North American mustelid species, was once found abundantly throughout the Midwest until extreme decline in prairie dogs, the black-footed ferrets primary food source, brought the species to near-extinction. This resulted in the development of the Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Program which included bringing the entire species into captivity with the intention of breeding the species back to sufficient numbers to allow for successful reintroduction. While in captivity, many components of the ferrets’ health were accounted for, but the current study aims to address the effects that captivity may have had on the cranial morphology of …

Individual Movement Rates Are Sufficient To Determine And Maintain Dynamic Spatial Positioning Within Uca Pugilator Herds, Eilea R. Knotts

Theses and Dissertations

Spatial location within aggregations (i.e. periphery, central) is of biological significance to gregarious animals. Because these positions are a potential consequence of consistent individual behavioral differences, or personality, a better understanding of potential mechanisms concerning personality is central to predicting an individuals’ location. To determine the effects of individual personality on the dynamic spatial positioning of Uca pugilator while herding, field data collection and agent-based modeling were employed. Individuals were assayed to establish their personalities and returned to the field for observation as a means of identifying location preference within selfish herds. There was a significant difference between the extreme …

Defensive Roles And Factors That Affect The Production Of Monoterpenes In Morella Cerifera, Florence C. Anoruo

Theses and Dissertations

Plants as sessile organisms encounter myriad biotic and abiotic challenges in their habitats. Pathogen and herbivore attack are among the prominent biotic challenges that plants face in their environment. Plants respond to these attacks by using chemical compounds including monoterpenes that are constitutively and inductively produced in some plants, and stored inside glands on their leaves. Among the abiotic factors that influence the production of defense compounds, especially monoterpenes are light intensity and nutrient availability.

The objectives of this dissertation are to 1) comprehend the defensive role of monoterpenes, specifically investigating the associational defense of a non-odorous species (Ilex vomitoria) …

Interactions Between Hiv-1 Tat And Tumor Suppressor P53, Kristen Lane Spotts

Theses and Dissertations

The most well studied cancer-related gene in history, p53, is responsible for protecting the integrity of the genome. A variety of different stresses are detected by p53 and its regulators, allowing for numerous post-translational modifications that activate p53. After activation p53 can then regulate transcription of a myriad downstream targets, resulting in either cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. One of the stress signals that activates p53 is viral infection in part through the induction of type-1 interferon. However some viruses, like the DNA tumor viruses have evolved factors capable of binding to p53 and inhibiting its ability to regulate its …

Assessment Of The Probability Of Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta Caretta) Recovery In The Northwest Atlantic Ocean Within 50 Years Of Federal And State Protection In The Us, Michael D. Arendt

Theses and Dissertations

Systematic implementation of sea turtle conservation measures have occurred in the U.S. since the 1970’s. As such, this dissertation assessed the probability that loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in the NW Atlantic will meet or exceed recovery criteria in the minimum timeframe (i.e., 50 years) specified by the Recovery Plan. Mathematical modeling (Chapter 1) of a theoretical population resembling an important nesting assemblage in a stochastic environment for 200 years revealed broad (<20k to >106k) fluctuation in annual nest counts without extinction, as well as strong contemporary environmental influence on annual nest counts. Modeling also substantiated the importance of monitoring the …

Sources And Transformations Of Dissolved Lignin Phenols And Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter In Otsuchi Bay, Japan, Chia-Jung Lu, Ronald Benner, Cedric Fichot, Hideki Fukuda, Youhei Yamashita, Hiroshi Ogawa

Faculty Publications

Dissolved lignin phenols and optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were measured to investigate the sources and transformations of terrigenous DOM (tDOM) in Otsuchi Bay, Japan. Three rivers discharge into the bay, and relatively high values of syringyl:vanillyl phenols (0.73 ± 0.07) and cinnamyl:vanillyl phenols (0.33 ± 0.10) indicated large contributions of non-woody angiosperm tissues to lignin and tDOM. The physical mixing of river and seawater played an important role in controlling the concentrations and distributions of lignin phenols and chromophoric DOM (CDOM) optical properties in the bay. Lignin phenol concentrations and the CDOM absorption coefficient at 350 nm, …

Design Proposal: Peer Mentoring Program In Schc, Kylie Anna Stevens

Senior Theses

Peer mentoring programs have been shown to be successful at universities across the country. This present paper proposes the creation of a peer mentoring program within the South Carolina Honors College. This program has been designed to enhance the first-year experience for incoming Honors College freshmen by pairing them with an upperclassmen student mentor that can help guide them through their first year and beyond. The role of these mentors would be to provide valuable guidance for students on how to be successful as a student of the Honors College and the University of South Carolina. This mentoring program aims …

Challenging Authoritative Perceptions: The Story Of Philip James Evans, Michael Nicklas Goyda

Senior Theses

This senior thesis is an extension on a previous work I have done for Honors Creative Writing (ENGL 360). The story takes you through the early life of Philip James Evans, a young man born in 1976 in Pittsburgh, PA. An alcoholic in remission, he is killed one day and wakes up in a mysterious building which is actually the headquarters of The Illuminati in Purgatory. Philip faces a tough decision: remain dead and await judgment for his wrongdoings and risk being sent to Hell, or work for The Illuminati to pay off the debt of his sins and receive …

The Vascular Flora Of The Gills Creek Watershed, Austin Corbett Williams

Senior Theses

This is a floral inventory of the Gills creek watershed. It was conducted from fall 2014 through spring 2016. The final product is a list of plants that are known to presently or historically exist in the watershed. The list is comprised of 250 native species and 36 introduced and invasive species. The results indicate that Gills creek watershed’s plant diversity is severely threatened by introduced and invasive species, but still retains sizable native diversity.

The Effect Of The Elevated Circulating Levels Of Il-33 On Metastasis Of Colorectal Cancer, Christina-Lin Marie Brown

Senior Theses

In the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women¹. The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer begins with the development of polyps in the innermost colorectal lining and progresses to the final stage when metastasis occurs². Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells to other organs, and has been shown to be organ specific rather than a random process. Genes that direct tumor cells to target specific organs have been identified. The primary tumor is thought to secrete molecules that promote the establishment of liver metastasis even before …

The Effects Of Β2 Adrenergic Receptor Activation On Macrophage Cholesterol Accumulation And Inflammatory Responses, Crystal Alece Wood

Senior Theses

With the number of cases of cardiovascular diseases, which are most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, continuously rising, it is important to see how different lifestyle factors can contribute to one’s health. If limiting the amount of social stress an individual experiences can cause a decrease in the prevalence of these diseases, it will be important for physicians to encourage patients to avoid possible stressors or determine ways to cope with psychosocial stress in order to decrease their risks for such diseases. In this study, Clenbuterol, a β2 adrenergic agonist, was used to activate the β2 adrenergic receptor on macrophages in …

Foodshare Columbia: Fostering A Healthier Community, Mavinder Kaur Guram

Senior Theses

For my thesis project, I developed a wholesale produce co-op to provide fresh produce to low-income families in Columbia with Dr. Gregg Talente and Ms. Beverly Wilson at the USC School of Medicine. Low-income populations lack access to healthy foods due not only to cost, but also limited proficiencies in skills required to prepare healthy foods. In an effort to address these issues, FoodShare Columbia was created. A community-based co-op, FoodShare was formed to foster a healthier community by improving access to nutritious, affordable foods. The program functions through the use of a Fresh Food Box (box of fresh produce …

Tales Of The Atom!: An Analysis Of Nuclear Discourage In Early Marvel Comics, Kelly Elizabeth Shepherd

Senior Theses

In 1961 the editor of Atlas Comics, Martin Goodman, approached his nephew and staff writer Stan Lee with a pitch. Goodman wanted Lee to create a super hero team to rival DC Comics’, Justice League of America. Lee came up with the Fantastic Four who debuted in November of 1961. The super hero team led by physicist Bruce Banner was the first of many successful titles from Marvel Comics. Much of the popularity of Marvel Comics stemmed from the company’s focus on the characters rather than only action like other superhero comics at the time. Lee developed characters that …

The Removal Kinetics Of Dissolved Organic Matter And The Optical Clarity Of Groundwater, Francis H. Chapelle, Yuan Shen, Eric W. Strom, Ronald Benner

Faculty Publications

Concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and ultraviolet/visible light absorbance decrease systematically as groundwater moves through the unsaturated zones overlying aquifers and along flowpaths within aquifers. These changes occur over distances of tens of meters (m) implying rapid removal kinetics of the chromophoric DOM that imparts color to groundwater. A one-compartment input-output model was used to derive a differential equation describing the removal of DOM from the dissolved phase due to the combined effects of biodegradation and sorption. The general solution to the equation was parameterized using a 2-year record of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration changes in groundwater at …

Xenoestrogens From Household Plastics Bind Estrogen Receptors And Affect Cell Proliferation, Susan G. Hurley, Brett R. Lackey, Patricia L. Tate, Sandra L. Gray

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Xenoestrogens are “foreign” chemicals or compounds that interact with estrogen receptors as either agonists or antagonists to interfere with endocrine system function. Xenoestrogens include phytoestrogens, pesticides, industrial by- products and synthetic estrogens. In this study, consumer plasticware, including baby bottles and food storage containers, were found to release xenoestrogenic compounds that bound to ERα and ERβ and affected cell proliferation.

Novel Strategies To Promote Smoking Cessation, Matthew J. Carpenter

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Predicting Dissolved Lignin Phenol Concentrations In The Coastal Ocean From Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter (Cdom) Absorption Coefficients, Cédric G. Fichot, Ronald Benner, Karl Kaiser, Yuan Shen, Rainer M. W. Amon, Hiroshi Ogawa, Chua-Jung Lu

Faculty Publications

Dissolved lignin is a well-established biomarker of terrigenous dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ocean, and a chromophoric component of DOM. Although evidence suggests there is a strong linkage between lignin concentrations and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption coefficients in coastal waters, the characteristics of this linkage and the existence of a relationship that is applicable across coastal oceans remain unclear. Here, 421 paired measurements of dissolved lignin concentrations (sum of nine lignin phenols) and CDOM absorption coefficients [ag(λ)] were used to examine their relationship along the river-ocean continuum (0–37 salinity) and across contrasting coastal oceans (sub-tropical, temperate, high-latitude). …

Costs Of Resistance And Infection By A Generalist Pathogen, Tad Dallas, Mathieu Holtackers, John M. Drake

Faculty Publications

Pathogen infection is typically costly to hosts, resulting in reduced fitness. However, pathogen exposure may also come at a cost even if the host does not become infected. These fitness reductions, referred to as “resistance costs”, are inducible physiological costs expressed as a result of a trade-off between resistance to a pathogen and aspects of host fitness (e.g., reproduction). Here, we examine resistance and infection costs of a generalist fungal pathogen (Metschnikowia bicuspidata) capable of infecting a number of host species. Costs were quantified as reductions in host lifespan, total reproduction, and mean clutch size as a function …

The Role Of Nuclear Factor-Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2 In Sensitivity To Thymidylate Synthase Inhibitors In Colon Cancer Cells, Sarah Ashley Clinton

Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear factor-erythroid-2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a member of the cap ‘n’ collar family of bZIP transcription factors, confers protection against oxidative and electrophilic stress. NRF2 is of great interest in cancer research, due to its role in response to chemotherapy. The class of drugs targeting thymidylate synthase (TYMS) has been useful in the treatment of colorectal cancer, among other cancers. It has long been known that inhibition of TYMS leads to depletion of thymidine levels and the onset of programmed cell death, deriving from the enzyme’s function as the sole de novo source of thymidine for DNA replication and repair. …