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Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Lizard Communities In A Shifting Landscape: The Current State Of Insectivorous Lizard Communities In The Jornada Basin Between Grassland, Mesquite Dune, And Creosote Bush Habitats In A Semi-Arid Landscape Undergoing Shrubification, Julie Marie Schlichte
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Lizard communities in arid lands can act as model systems of how diversity and abundance are impacted in the face of ongoing climate variability and change, as they are sensitive to shifts in precipitation, temperature, and changing vegetation structure. The main research question we hope to answer is how the community composition of lizards varies between dominant vegetation types (Mesquite dunes, grasslands, and Creosote Bush flats). Nine sites (3 of each dominant vegetation type) with 16 pitfall traps each (n = 144) were surveyed from June 2016 -- June 2017. 12 lizard species were captured, consisting of 923 total captures …
Activity Patterns Of Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis) Found In The Northern Chihuahuan Desert, Guillermo Alvarez
Activity Patterns Of Whiptail Lizards (Aspidoscelis) Found In The Northern Chihuahuan Desert, Guillermo Alvarez
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Traditional lizard pitfall traps were modified to allow organisms to escape, while collecting valuable ecological data. Modified camera traps were capable of detecting the same species as traditional traps in a semi-arid environment, without posing the associated mortality risks. Pitfall-camera traps were used to sample the activity of the Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana) and the Southwestern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus cowlesi) in an urban wetland during four continuous years. Evaluations on activity pattern and the activity overlap between the two species revealed extensive overlap, with minor but significant seasonal shifts mediating coexistence. Traps were also effective at detecting other reptiles, invertebrates, …
The Role Of The Cholesterol Synthesis Pathway In Primitive Erythropoiesis, Jose Hernandez
The Role Of The Cholesterol Synthesis Pathway In Primitive Erythropoiesis, Jose Hernandez
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Erythropoiesis is the process by which new red blood cells (RBCs) are formed and defects in this process can lead to anemia or thalassemia. The GATA1 transcription factor is an established mediator of RBC development. However, the upstream mechanisms that regulate the expression of GATA1 are not completely characterized. Cholesterol is 1 potential upstream mediator of GATA1 expression because previously published studies suggest that defects in cholesterol synthesis disrupt RBC differentiation. Here we characterize RBC development in a zebrafish harboring a single missense mutation in the hmgcs1 gene (Vu57 allele). Hmgcs1 encodes the first enzyme in the cholesterol synthesis pathway …
Development Of Synthetic Glycobiomarkers For The Follow-Up Of Chagas Disease Chemotherapy And Serological And Molecular Assays For Evaluation Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infections In The U.S-Mexico Border, Igor L. Estevao
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects 7-8 million people worldwide. Lately, the disease has been spread to nonendemic countries and regions, like the U.S. and Europe. The disease can be divided into two phases: the acute and chronic phases, which continue for years or even decades. There are two available drugs for CD treatment: benznidazole (BNZ) and nifurtimox (NFX). These drugs are highly effective in the acute phase but less efficient in the chronic stage. Other limitations of these drugs are their toxicity, leading to serious adverse events and premature treatment termination. Newer clinical trial …
Proteomic Analysis Reveals Fkbp51 And Fkbp52 Interactors Implicated In Androgen Receptor-Mediated Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer, Olga Soto
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Aberrant signaling mechanisms by the Androgen Receptor (AR) are attributed as the main culprits for the initiation and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Due to its dependence on androgens, research efforts have focused on developing strategies to directly target androgen-mediated receptor activity. However, given the recurrence and treatment resistance of PCa despite androgen targeted therapies, recent efforts have shifted to find novel targets against the disease. These efforts include further revealing the molecular components and their mechanisms underlying AR signaling in both normal and disease physiological settings. Hence, our lab's work is focused on characterizing and targeting molecular chaperones that …
Repositioning Propranolol To Block Mitogenic Signaling In Breast Cancer, Alexa Noel Montoya
Repositioning Propranolol To Block Mitogenic Signaling In Breast Cancer, Alexa Noel Montoya
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Breast cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among women and is about 30% of all new cases of female cancers each year. It is projected that 1 in 8 every U.S. woman (about 13%) develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. While advances in cancer research have made it possible to elucidate several breast cancer genomic subtypes, and develop new novel therapies, many of these agents are associated with significant toxicity, as well as high costs. A retrospective cross-sectional study of 404 breast cancer patients was performed to determine the effect of β-blocker usage on tumor …
Exploring Undergraduate Research Experiences And Perceptions Of Responsible And Ethical Conduct Of Research (Recr) Education In The Biological Sciences And (Bio)Chemistry Disciplines, Bernice Justina Caad
Exploring Undergraduate Research Experiences And Perceptions Of Responsible And Ethical Conduct Of Research (Recr) Education In The Biological Sciences And (Bio)Chemistry Disciplines, Bernice Justina Caad
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Increasing calls to reform undergraduate (UG) education within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines have emphasized the importance of early exposure to responsible and ethical conduct of research (RECR) education. Historically, RECR has primarily been presented at the post-baccalaureate level, leaving many students without a foundational understanding of what responsible research ethics entails during the course of their undergraduate experience. Over the last decade, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have emerged as a promising platform to establish expectations of responsible and ethical conduct through greater accessibility and inclusivity, starting at the freshman level. Interestingly, few studies have examined how …
The Importance Of Soil Carbon In Large-Scale Shrub Removal Practices In The Chihuahuan Desert, Kathleen Schaeffer
The Importance Of Soil Carbon In Large-Scale Shrub Removal Practices In The Chihuahuan Desert, Kathleen Schaeffer
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Shrub encroachment is a worldwide phenomenon that affects multiple biomes at different ecological and anthropogenic levels. In dryland ecosystems, shrub encroachment is a noted concern amongst land managers, as it can lead to a loss of soil resources and biodiversity. To mitigate the negative effects of shrub encroachment in Drylands, land managers can implement large-scale shrub removal practices. These land restoration practices can shift landscapes to novel ecosystems, where resulting plant communities can vary following treatments. Grass recovery or increasing herbaceous cover is often a primary goal of these treatments, however predicting which sites may show higher grass responses to …
Immunoreactivity Of The Serotonin-Like And Fmrf-Amide-Like Nervous Systems Of Four Gnesiotrochan Rotifers, Robert Neil Walsmith
Immunoreactivity Of The Serotonin-Like And Fmrf-Amide-Like Nervous Systems Of Four Gnesiotrochan Rotifers, Robert Neil Walsmith
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Reorganization of the nervous system during metamorphosis is a common phenomenon across taxa (species through phyla). In phylum Rotifera, sessile species belonging to the superorder Gnesiotrocha metamorphose from free-swimming larvae into sessile adults. Once mature, gnesiotrochan rotifers display an intricate corona or infundibulum associated with lifestyle modalities and feeding behaviors. Here, I examine serotonin-like immunoreactivity (SLIR) and FMRF-amide-like immunoreactivity (FLIR) of the gnesiotrochans Lacinularia flosculosa, Collotheca ferox, and Acyclus inquietus with a focus on life stage and sex. Based on previous research, I hypothesize that 1) innervation of the larval nervous system will vary according to the lifestyle constraints observed …
Functional Analysis Of The Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Subunit Alpha-1 (Gabra1) Gene During Zebrafish Development., Nayeli Gabriela Reyes-Nava
Functional Analysis Of The Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Subunit Alpha-1 (Gabra1) Gene During Zebrafish Development., Nayeli Gabriela Reyes-Nava
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
The GABRA1 gene encodes for the alpha-1 (α1) subunit of the Gamma-Aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR), which are the primary modulators of synaptic inhibition in the central nervous system (CNS). Alpha-1 subunits are essential for maintaining the normal function of native receptors and contribute to over 60% of all GABAARs in the CNS. Remarkably, a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental and epilepsy-associated disorders have been linked with mutations in the GABRA1 gene. However, the developmental, behavioral, and molecular mechanisms underlying GABRA1-associated epileptic disorders remain to be fully understood. Hence, the overarching goal of this dissertation is to investigate the behavioral …
Investigation Into The Roles Of Esxa N-Α-Acetylation In Pathogenesis Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis And Potential Host-Binding Proteins, Javier Aguilera
Investigation Into The Roles Of Esxa N-Α-Acetylation In Pathogenesis Of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis And Potential Host-Binding Proteins, Javier Aguilera
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
EsxA (6-kDa early secreted antigenic target, ESAT-6) is a critical virulence factor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). EsxA is secreted in a heterodimer with EsxB (10-kDa culture filtrate protein, CFP-10) through the Type VII secretion system of Mtb, called ESX-1. The dissociation of EsxA and EsxB heterodimer (EsxA:B), upon acidification, is required for EsxA to penetrate into the phagosomal membranes, which has been implicated in Mtb translocation from the phagosome to the cytosol. However, the mechanism of EsxA:B dissociation is not clear. In this study, we investigated the role of N-α-acetylation of EsxA in the heterodimer dissociation, mycobacterial cytosolic translocation, and …
Linking Decomposition Reactions In Arctic Soils To Microbial Enzyme Production, Jane Karen Martinez
Linking Decomposition Reactions In Arctic Soils To Microbial Enzyme Production, Jane Karen Martinez
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Microbial processes such as soil enzyme production are a major driver of decomposition and a current topic of interest in arctic soils due to the effects of climate warming. Despite the advances in understanding soil enzymes, there are still knowledge gaps regarding the role of enzymes in decomposition. In this dissertation, I addressed three of those gaps in the following chapters: (Ch.2) to explore the location of enzymes within the soil matrix, (Ch.3) to identify peptides matched to soil enzymes produced by microorganisms for organic matter decomposition, and (Ch.4) understand the longevity of enzymes in the soil after microbial production. …
Phylogenetics And Integrative Taxonomy Of African Water Snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Grayia), Teslin Chaney
Phylogenetics And Integrative Taxonomy Of African Water Snakes (Squamata: Colubridae: Grayia), Teslin Chaney
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Grayia is a genus of relatively large (1.5 - 2.5 m) aquatic Afrotropical snakes. Recent molecular phylogenies recovered Grayia in its own distinct subfamily (Grayiinae), which was strongly supported as the sister group to Colubrinae. Because tropical African snakes are generally understudied, the relationships within Grayia are poorly known. Due to high degrees of intra- and interspecies variation, identification is often difficult and previous studies involving Grayia included misidentified specimens in other genera. The goal of this study is to create a phylogenetic tree that can be used to understand the relationships and taxonomy of Grayia via an integrative taxonomic …
Neurogenetic Function Of Host Cell Factor-1, Victoria Lynn Castro
Neurogenetic Function Of Host Cell Factor-1, Victoria Lynn Castro
Open Access Theses & Dissertations
Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are the stem-like cells of the developing brain. These cells differentiate into the differentiated cell types of the central nervous system. If disruption occurs in the number of total NPCs formed or their survival, various disorders including learning disabilities, behavioral problems, or epilepsy can occur. This dissertation describes how the HCFC1 gene controls the proliferation and differentiation of NPCs. HCFC1 encodes for a transcriptional co-factor that regulates the growth and metabolism of stem cells, including NPCs. Mutations in HCFC1 cause cblX syndrome, a neural developmental disorder that affects the nervous system and causes microcephaly, epilepsy, and …