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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Ppar Agonists Down-Regulate The Expression Of Atp10c Mrna During Adipogenesis, A Peretich, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, S Hurst, Sj Baek, Madhu Dahr Nov 2009

Ppar Agonists Down-Regulate The Expression Of Atp10c Mrna During Adipogenesis, A Peretich, Maria Cekanova Ms, Rndr, Phd, S Hurst, Sj Baek, Madhu Dahr

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

No abstract provided.


The Role Of Temperature And Desiccation Stress In Limiting The Local-Scale Distribution Of The Owl Limpet, Lottia Gigantea, Luke P. Miller, Christopher D. G. Harley, Mark W. Denny Aug 2009

The Role Of Temperature And Desiccation Stress In Limiting The Local-Scale Distribution Of The Owl Limpet, Lottia Gigantea, Luke P. Miller, Christopher D. G. Harley, Mark W. Denny

Luke P. Miller

1 Small-scale distributions of rocky intertidal organisms may be determined in part by temperature and desiccation stress during low tide and the ability of organisms to resist such stresses. Biophysical modelling techniques, coupled with data on the physiological tolerance of organisms can be used to predict the frequency and severity of abiotic stress events. 2 The limpet Lottia gigantea is a major competitor for primary space on rocky shores along the west coast of North America. The goal of this study was to quantify the thermal and desiccation tolerance of this species and to predict the frequency of stressful events …


On The Prediction Of Extreme Ecological Events, Mark W. Denny, Luke J. H. Hunt, Luke P. Miller, Christopher D. G. Harley Aug 2009

On The Prediction Of Extreme Ecological Events, Mark W. Denny, Luke J. H. Hunt, Luke P. Miller, Christopher D. G. Harley

Luke P. Miller

Ecological studies often focus on average effects of environmental factors, but ecological dynamics may depend as much upon environmental extremes. Ecology would therefore benefit from the ability to predict the frequency and severity of extreme environmental events. Some extreme events (e.g., earthquakes) are simple events: either they happen or they don't, and they are generally difficult to predict. In contrast, extreme ecological events are often compound events, resulting from the chance coincidence of run-of-the-mill factors. Here we present an environmental bootstrap method for resampling short-term environmental data (rolling the environmental dice) to calculate an ensemble of hypothetical time series that …


E-Science @ Umass: Anticipating And Supporting E-Science Activities At The University Of Massachusetts, Maxine G. Schmidt, Rebecca Reznik-Zellen Jul 2009

E-Science @ Umass: Anticipating And Supporting E-Science Activities At The University Of Massachusetts, Maxine G. Schmidt, Rebecca Reznik-Zellen

Maxine G Schmidt

In March of 2008 an Ad Hoccommittee of Science Librarians from the University of Massachusetts Five Campus System convened to discuss the challenges of e-science and prepare the Libraries for their role in e-science initiatives. Three primary outcomes intended to support e-science activities emerged from the work of the Ad Hoc committee.


Influence Of Reproductive And Environmental Factors On Population Size .. Of Wild Hyacinth [Camassia Angusta (Engelm.· And A. Gray) Blank. (Liliaceae)], An Illinois Endangered Species, Kevin M. Franken, Janice M. Coons, Henry R. Owen, Eric L. Smith, John E. Ebinger Jun 2009

Influence Of Reproductive And Environmental Factors On Population Size .. Of Wild Hyacinth [Camassia Angusta (Engelm.· And A. Gray) Blank. (Liliaceae)], An Illinois Endangered Species, Kevin M. Franken, Janice M. Coons, Henry R. Owen, Eric L. Smith, John E. Ebinger

Henry R. Owen

Wild hyacinth (Camassia angusta) is a perennial species native to mesic prairies of the midwestern and south-central United States. In Illinois, the only extant population of this state-endangered species is in a small section of degraded black-soil prairie along a railroad track right-of-way south of Elwin, Macon County. The objectives of this study were to determine the population status, seed production, and effects of scarification and stratification on germination of C. angusta. The population was surveyed from 1990 to 2007. A survey of other plant species present was conducted in 1999. The site consisted of approximately 75% native and 25% …


E-Science @ The University Of Massachusetts, Maxine G. Schmidt, Rebecca Reznik-Zellen, Raquel Rivera, Cecilia P. Mullen Mar 2009

E-Science @ The University Of Massachusetts, Maxine G. Schmidt, Rebecca Reznik-Zellen, Raquel Rivera, Cecilia P. Mullen

Maxine G Schmidt

e-Science @ the University of Massachusetts Abstract: What is e-Science and how can libraries and librarians support it? The University of Massachusetts takes a proactive approach to support network-enabled research on its campuses and provides examples where e-Science is already at work. Statement: “e-Science” is a term commonly used to describe research in a networked environment, a growing trend not only in the sciences, but the arts and humanities as well. e-Science creates both opportunities and challenges for academic libraries. The opportunities lie in leveraging the basic skill set that libraries and librarians already possess: the knowledge of and practical …


Thermoregulation Of Male Elaphe Spiloides In An Agriculturally-Fragmented Forest In Illinois, C. Drew Foster, Sarabeth Kleuh, Stephen J. Mullin Jan 2009

Thermoregulation Of Male Elaphe Spiloides In An Agriculturally-Fragmented Forest In Illinois, C. Drew Foster, Sarabeth Kleuh, Stephen J. Mullin

Stephen J. Mullin

Anthropogenic forest fragmentation increases the amount of edge habitat. Although edges are harsh environments for many native species, ratsnakes often prefer this habitat. We examined thermoregulatory effectiveness of Central Ratsnakes (Elaphe spiloides) using forest edges preferentially to determine if edge preference is driven by increased thermoregulatory efficiencies. Six male subjects were located every 1-2 days using radio-telemetry and temperature sensitive transmitters. Subjects did not thermoregulate more efficiently in edges than in forest. Snakes were thermoconformers in both habitat types suggesting edge preference might be driven by other factors.


Demographics Of A Geographically-Isolated Population Of Threatened Salamander (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) In Central Illinois, Stephen J. Mullin, Sarabeth Klueh Jan 2009

Demographics Of A Geographically-Isolated Population Of Threatened Salamander (Caudata: Ambystomatidae) In Central Illinois, Stephen J. Mullin, Sarabeth Klueh

Stephen J. Mullin

Amphibian populations that use small isolated wetlands are often small in size, susceptible to stochastic extinction processes, and have little to no contact with other populations. One can ascertain the persistence of such populations only by obtaining data that allow the prediction of future changes in population’s size, and propensity to achieve a sustainable number of individuals. The number of metamorphosing larvae leaving a pond predicts the viability of a salamander population, and thus, the number recruited into the terrestrial adult population. The Jefferson Salamander, Ambystoma jeffersonianum, is a listed threatened species in Illinois, occurring at fewer than 15 ponds …


Seasonal Variation In The Maximum Rate Of Leaf Gas Exchange Of Canopy And Understory Trees In An Amazonian Semideciduous Forest, Kerrie M. Sendall, George L. Vourlitis, Francisco A. Lobo Jan 2009

Seasonal Variation In The Maximum Rate Of Leaf Gas Exchange Of Canopy And Understory Trees In An Amazonian Semideciduous Forest, Kerrie M. Sendall, George L. Vourlitis, Francisco A. Lobo

Kerrie M Sendall

Leaf gas exchange, water potential, and specific leaf area of two tropical semi-deciduous tree species, Brosimum lactescens S. Moore and Tovomita schomburgkii Planch & Triana, were quantified to establish how these properties were affected by seasonal variations in rainfall and leaf canopy position. The study was conducted at a site near Sinop Mato Grosso, Brazil, which is located within the ecotone of savanna and tropical rain forest. Both species exhibited significant declines in leaf water potential (ΨL), specific leaf area, area- and mass-based light saturated photosynthesis and dark respiration, and maximum stomatal conductance during the dry-season, suggesting that leaf structural …


Natural History Notes: Rhinocheilus Lecontei Tesselatus (Longevity), Stephen J. Mullin Jan 2009

Natural History Notes: Rhinocheilus Lecontei Tesselatus (Longevity), Stephen J. Mullin

Stephen J. Mullin

No abstract provided.


Uniqueprimer - A Web Utility For Design Of Specific Pcr Primers And Probes, Torstein Tengs Jan 2009

Uniqueprimer - A Web Utility For Design Of Specific Pcr Primers And Probes, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

We have developed a web-based tool for design of specific PCR primers and probes. The program allows you to enter primer sequence information as well as an optional probe, and sequence similarity searches (MegaBLAST) will be performed to see if the sequences match the same sequence entry in the specified database. If primers (and probe) match, this will be reported. The program can handle overlapping amplicons, amplification from a single primer, ambiguous bases and other problematic cases.


Potential Of Spent Mushroom Substrate In Vermicomposting, Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin, Noor Zalina Mahmood Jan 2009

Potential Of Spent Mushroom Substrate In Vermicomposting, Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin, Noor Zalina Mahmood

Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin

The potential of spent mushroom substrate from saw dust in vermicomposting were found out through the growth and reproduction of earthworms including the nutrient elements of vermicompost produced at the end of vermicomposting. Five treatments in different ratio of cow dung : spent mushroom substrate were prepared as feed materials with four replicates for each treatment namely; 80:20 (T1), 60:40 (T2), 50:50 (T3), 40:60 (T4) and 20:80 (T5). After 3 weeks of pre-composting followed by 7 weeks of vermicomposting, T4 showed the highest percentage of growth and reproduction where mean of earthworms’ numbers increases (M = 295.00, SD = 17.32, …


Waste Recycling: Utilization Of Coffee Grounds And Kitchen Waste In Vermicomposting., Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin, Noor Zalina Mahmood Jan 2009

Waste Recycling: Utilization Of Coffee Grounds And Kitchen Waste In Vermicomposting., Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin, Noor Zalina Mahmood

Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin

Vermicomposting using Lumbricus rubellus for 49 days was conducted after 21 days of pre-composting. Three different combination of treatments were prepared with eight replicates for each treatment namely cow dung : kitchen waste in 30:70 ratio (T1), cow dung : coffee grounds in 30:70 ratio (T2), and cow dung : kitchen waste : coffee grounds in 30:35:35 ratio (T3). The multiplication of earthworms in terms of numbers and weight were measured at the end of vermicomposting. Consequently, only T2 showed significant increase (from it initial stage) compared to other treatments. The presence of coffee grounds in T2 and T3 showed …


Vermicomposting - Toward A Sustainable World, Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin Jan 2009

Vermicomposting - Toward A Sustainable World, Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin

Adi Ainurzaman Jamaludin

No abstract provided.


Laboratory Bioefficacy Of Nine Commercial Formulations Of Temephos Against Larvae Of Aedes Aegypti (L.), Aedes Albopictus Skuse And Culex Quinquefasciatus Say, Chen Chee Dhang Jan 2009

Laboratory Bioefficacy Of Nine Commercial Formulations Of Temephos Against Larvae Of Aedes Aegypti (L.), Aedes Albopictus Skuse And Culex Quinquefasciatus Say, Chen Chee Dhang

Chen Chee Dhang

The bioefficacy of nine commercial formulations of temephos against Aedes agypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were evaluated in the laboratory. WHO larval bioassay with operational dosage of temephos at 1 mg/L was performed. The larval mortality was recorded every 5 minutes until complete mortality was achieved. All formulations of temephos exhibited various toxicity level against Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Cx. quiquefasciatus. Generally, larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus was susceptible to all formulations of temephos, followed by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.


Surveillance Of Aedes Mosquitoes In A University Campus In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Chen Chee Dhang Jan 2009

Surveillance Of Aedes Mosquitoes In A University Campus In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Chen Chee Dhang

Chen Chee Dhang

Ovitrap surveillance was initiated for eight continuous weeks to determine the distribution and abundance of Aedes sp. mosquitoes in the University of Malaya campus, Kuala Lumpur and the impact of meteorological conditions on the Aedes populations. Two study areas within the campus were selected: Varsity Lake and Seventh Residential College. The abundance of Aedes populations in Varsity Lake was indicated by ovitrap index (OI) which ranged from 60.00% - 90.00%. The mean number of larvae per ovitrap, of Aedes albopictus in Varsity Lake ranged from 11.23 +/- 2.42 - 43.80 +/- 6.22. On the other hand, the outdoor OI for …


A Quantitative Taqman Mgb Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Based Assay For Detection Of The Causative Agent Of Crayfish Plague Aphanomyces Astaci, Torstein Tengs Jan 2009

A Quantitative Taqman Mgb Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Based Assay For Detection Of The Causative Agent Of Crayfish Plague Aphanomyces Astaci, Torstein Tengs

Dr. Torstein Tengs

Here we present the development and first validation of a TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method for quantitative and highly specific detection of Aphanomyces astaci, the causative agent of crayfish plague. The assay specificity was experimentally assessed by testing against DNA representative of closely related oomycetes, and theoretically assessed by additional sequence similarity analyses comparing the primers and probe sequences to available sequences in EMBL/GenBank. The target of the assay is a 59 bp unique sequence motif of A. astaci found in the internal transcribed spacer 1 of the nuclear ribosomal gene cluster. A standard …


Umass Libraries 2009, Maxine G. Schmidt Jan 2009

Umass Libraries 2009, Maxine G. Schmidt

Maxine G Schmidt

No abstract provided.