Life Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Freshwater Ecosystems And Human Health Implications In Recreational Water Through Microbial Characterization, Source Tracking, And Sediment-Microbe Dynamics, Danielle Gleason

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contamination of natural aquatic ecosystems is a serious global concern as populations increase and the environment is impacted by climate change. Nonpoint source (NPS) contamination of allochthonous materials, such as sediments, nutrients, and microorganisms, is commonly introduced to a body of water through runoff and wash-off which cumulates over a large area, and is subsequently transported to surface waters (e.g., rivers, streams, lakes) and shorelines. The principal form of microbial contamination of water resources is often from fecal pollution derived from humans, domesticated animals, or wildlife, and contains a variety of human pathogens. There are also numerous factors (with limited …

The Design And Testing Of Fluorescence-Based Sensors For Phosphate And Phosphonate, Sara Hassanzadehroknabadi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is an essential compound for all living things, as it serves as a component of nucleic acids and ATP, which are required for plant growth and proliferation. However, when excess Pi enters the aquatic environment, it has severe detrimental effects through the induction of harmful algal blooms (HAB), which negatively impact aquatic life, the quality of drinking water as well as recreational activities. It is therefore critical to have fast, sensitive, and inexpensive sensors for Pi that quickly and quantitively measure its concentration in a field setting.

Phosphonates or organophosphorus compounds are phosphoric acids possessing alkyl or …

Structure And Mechanics Of Biomembrane Mimics In The Presence Of Vitamin E, Mitchell Dipasquale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the course of this dissertation, the fundamental behaviours and interactions between various analogs of vitamin E and biologically-relevant membranes will be explored. These analogs include the biologically active form, α-tocopherol; the most naturally abundant form γ-tocopherol; an oxidized product, α-tocopheryl quinone; and the synthetic stabile form, vitamin E acetate.

Beginning in Chapter 1, a foundation in membrane biophysics is established from a historical progression of the field. The importance of biomembranes is argued and a deep connection is established between structure and function. Key structural features of lipid assemblies, and role of lipid composition is defined, and with the …

Elucidating Mechanisms For S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Activity And Control In Plants Using O-Aminobenzoyl-S-Nitrosoglutathione And A Novel Photo-Sensitive Probe, Leslie Ventimiglia

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase, (GSNOR) is widely accepted as the master regulator of stress through NO signaling and protein S-nitrosylation. GSNOR mediates stress response through the catalysis of its principal substrate S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO). The instigation of various stressors in plants cause observable changes in plant phenotype, which are associated with changes in GSNOR activity. There are no current methods for measuring GSNOR activity directly in living plants. In this paper, a previously developed fluorogenic pseudo-substrate for human GSNOR, OAbz-GSNO, was applied to the Solanum lycopersicum plant model. OAbz-GSNO was identified as a promising novel pseudo- substrate to study changes …