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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Algal Biomass As A Binding Agent For The Densification Of Miscanthus, Sunil Thapa, Daniel B. Johnson, Peter Ping Liu, Thomas Canam Feb 2015

Algal Biomass As A Binding Agent For The Densification Of Miscanthus, Sunil Thapa, Daniel B. Johnson, Peter Ping Liu, Thomas Canam

Thomas Canam

Purpose: Lignocellulosic biomass has been regarded as an important future energy source due to its excessive availability; however, the wide application of this material for many applications is restricted by the high costs associated with densification, transportation, thermo-chemical pretreatment and conversion. In order to increase the density of lignocellulosic biomass, it is typically compressed into pellets or briquettes. This frequently requires the addition of additives, which may negatively impact the economics of the process. Environmentally-friendly binding agents that can be obtained inexpensively are therefore desirable. This study examines the change in physicochemical properties of densified Miscanthus straw where algae were …


Factors Affecting The Spatial Distribution Of Oviposition Sites For Tandem Black Saddlebags Dragonflies (Odonata: Libellulidae), Jessica L. Thornton, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2015

Factors Affecting The Spatial Distribution Of Oviposition Sites For Tandem Black Saddlebags Dragonflies (Odonata: Libellulidae), Jessica L. Thornton, Paul V. Switzer

Paul V. Switzer

Oviposition site location may be affected by (1) factors influencing the costs and benefits to the offspring (e.g., resource availability, competition, predation risk) and (2) factors influencing the costs and benefits to the female (e.g., predation risk or mate ha- rassment). In cases in which both the male and female are involved in locating a site, costs and benefits may differ for each parent and the resulting oviposition site location may represent the outcome of selection pressures on one or both of them. We studied oviposi- tion behavior in the black saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea lacerata Hagen), a species in which …


Male-Male Mounting And The Unreliability Of Body Size As A Character For Mate Choice In Male Japanese Beetles (Popillia Japonica Newman), Paul V. Switzer, Patrick S. Forsythe, Kipp C. Kruse Jan 2014

Male-Male Mounting And The Unreliability Of Body Size As A Character For Mate Choice In Male Japanese Beetles (Popillia Japonica Newman), Paul V. Switzer, Patrick S. Forsythe, Kipp C. Kruse

Paul V. Switzer

Background: Same-sex pairing is common in many animal species. In many insects, same-sex pairing is often thought to be a result of poor sexual discrimination (i.e., a mistake), but few detailed studies of the mechanisms underlying the mistaken pairing have been conducted. Previous studies have found that in the field, a small proportion of Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) mating pairs consist of two males instead of a male and a female. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between body size, the tendency to mount other males, and the duration of these mounts, in laboratory experiments on male Japanese …


Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming Jan 2014

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming

Paul V. Switzer

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …


Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung Apr 2013

Activities Of Methionine-Γ-Lyase In The Acidophilic Archaeon “Ferroplasma Acidarmanus” Strain Fer1, M. A. Khan, Madeline M. Lopez-Munoz, Charles W. Kaspar, Kai F. Hung

Kai F. Hung

Biogeochemical processes on exposed pyrite ores result in extremely high levels of sulfuric acid at these locations. Acidophiles that thrive in these conditions must overcome significant challenges, including an environment with proton concentrations at pH 3 or below. The role of sulfur metabolism in the archaeon “Ferroplasma acidarmanus” strain fer1’s ability to thrive in this environment was investigated due to its growth-dependent production of methanethiol, a volatile organic sulfur compound. Two putative sequences for methionine- γ-lyase (EC 4.4.1.11), an enzyme known to carry out α,γ-elimination on L-methionine to produce methanethiol, were identified in fer1. Bioinformatic analyses identified a conserved pyridoxal-5′-phosphate …


Phenotypic And Genotypic Characterization Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Untreated Surface Waters, Steven L. Daniel, Kai F. Hung, Kristopher J. Janezic, Blake Ferry, Eric W. Hendricks, Brian A. Janiga, Tiffany Johnson, Samantha Murphy, Morgan E. Roberts, Sarah M. Scott, Alexandra N. Theisen Jan 2013

Phenotypic And Genotypic Characterization Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Untreated Surface Waters, Steven L. Daniel, Kai F. Hung, Kristopher J. Janezic, Blake Ferry, Eric W. Hendricks, Brian A. Janiga, Tiffany Johnson, Samantha Murphy, Morgan E. Roberts, Sarah M. Scott, Alexandra N. Theisen

Steven L. Daniel

A common member of the intestinal microbiota in humans and animals is Escherichia coli. Based on the presence of virulence factors, E. coli can be potentially pathogenic. The focus of this study was to isolate E. coli from untreated surface waters (37 sites) in Illinois and Missouri and determine phenotypic and genotypic diversity among isolates. Water samples positive for fecal coliforms based on the Colisure® test were streaked directly onto Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar (37°C) or transferred to EC broth (44.5°C). EC broth cultures producing gas were then streaked onto EMB agar. Forty-five isolates were identified as E. coli …


Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan Jan 2013

Isoform-Specific Effects Of Apoe On Neurite Outgrowth In Olfactory Epithelium Culture, Aseem Hussain, Minh Luong, Apryl Pooley, Britto P. Nathan

Britto P. Nathan

The apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) genotype is a major risk factor for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Inheritance of apoE4 is also associated with impairments in olfactory function in early stages of AD. In this project we examined the effects of the three common isoforms of human apoE (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) on neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth in explant cultures of mouse olfactory epithelium (OE).


Phenotypic And Genotypic Characterization Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Untreated Surface Waters, Kai F. Hung, Steven L. Daniel, Kristopher J. Janezic, Blake Ferry, Eric W. Hendricks, Brian A. Janiga, Tiffany Johnson, Samantha Murphy, Morgan E. Roberts, Sarah M. Scott, Alexandra N. Theisen Jan 2013

Phenotypic And Genotypic Characterization Of Escherichia Coli Isolated From Untreated Surface Waters, Kai F. Hung, Steven L. Daniel, Kristopher J. Janezic, Blake Ferry, Eric W. Hendricks, Brian A. Janiga, Tiffany Johnson, Samantha Murphy, Morgan E. Roberts, Sarah M. Scott, Alexandra N. Theisen

Kai F. Hung

A common member of the intestinal microbiota in humans and animals is Escherichia coli. Based on the presence of virulence factors, E. coli can be potentially pathogenic. The focus of this study was to isolate E. coli from untreated surface waters (37 sites) in Illinois and Missouri and determine phenotypic and genotypic diversity among isolates. Water samples positive for fecal coliforms based on the Colisure® test were streaked directly onto Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar (37°C) or transferred to EC broth (44.5°C). EC broth cultures producing gas were then streaked onto EMB agar. Forty-five isolates were identified as E. coli …


Examining The Causes Of Rarity For The Odonata Of Illinois, Miranda R. White, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2013

Examining The Causes Of Rarity For The Odonata Of Illinois, Miranda R. White, Paul V. Switzer

Paul V. Switzer

Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) play an important role in habitat management and conservation, but our understanding of the causes of commonness versus rarity in this group is limited. In this study we examined the causes of rarity for the Odonata of Illinois. Using S-ratings for conservation status and published habitat classifications for Illinois odonates, we investigated whether habitat type (lotic versus lentic) or habitat specificity (whether they were limited to a specific type of aquatic habitat) was related to commonness. We found that lotic species and habitat specialists were more likely to be rare than lentic and generalist species. More …


The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer Jan 2013

The Spatial Distribution Of The Japanese Beetle, Popillia Japonica, In Soybean Fields, Stacey A. Sara, Emily B. Mccallen, Paul V. Switzer

Paul V. Switzer

The Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is a serious pest of many agricultural and horticultural plants. Relatively little research has investigated the distributions of Japanese beetles in agricultural fields, and this lack of information makes pest management more difficult. In the present study, the spatial distribution of Japanese beetles in soybean fields was examined. Specifically, how the distribution and abundance of beetles was affected by distance from an edge, edge direction, and edge type was examined. An edge effect for density was discovered; beetle numbers decreased significantly with increasing distance from the field edge. The east and south …


Long-Term Effects Of Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System, Britto P. Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert G. Struble Sep 2012

Long-Term Effects Of Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System, Britto P. Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert G. Struble

Britto P. Nathan

Olfactory dysfunction often precedes other clinical symptoms in chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Estrogen deficiency and apoE genotype are known risk factors in these diseases and these factors also affect olfaction. Therefore we examined the effects of estradiol replacement following ovariectomy on expression of apoE and markers of cell proliferation, neuronal maturation, synaptogenesis and reactive gliosis in the primary olfactory pathway of wild-type (WT) and apoE knockout (KO) mice. Estradiol replacement increased apoE staining in the olfactory nerve and glomerular layers. Estradiol increased astrocyte density and olfactory epithelium (OE) thickness regardless of the genotype. In addition estradiol …


A New Species Of Saphonecrus (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea) Associated With Plant Galls On Castanopsis (Fagaceae) In China, Zhiwei Liu, Xiao-Hui Yang, Dao-Hong Zhu, Yi-Yuan He Jul 2012

A New Species Of Saphonecrus (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea) Associated With Plant Galls On Castanopsis (Fagaceae) In China, Zhiwei Liu, Xiao-Hui Yang, Dao-Hong Zhu, Yi-Yuan He

Zhiwei Liu

A new cynipid species, Saphonecrus hupingshanensis Liu, Yang, et Zhu, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), is described from China. This is the first species of the inquilinous tribe Synergini ever known to have an association with chinquapins (Fagaceae: Castanopsis). The biology and implication to species diversity of Cynipidae in eastern and southeast Asia are discussed.


Taxonomic Revision Of True Morels (Morchella) In Canada And The United States, Michael Kuo, Damon R. Dewsbury, Kerry O'Donnell, M. Carol Carter, John David Moore, Stephen A. Renner, Jean-Marc Moncalvo, Stephen A. Canfield, Steven L. Stephenson, Andrew S. Methven, Thomas J. Volk Apr 2012

Taxonomic Revision Of True Morels (Morchella) In Canada And The United States, Michael Kuo, Damon R. Dewsbury, Kerry O'Donnell, M. Carol Carter, John David Moore, Stephen A. Renner, Jean-Marc Moncalvo, Stephen A. Canfield, Steven L. Stephenson, Andrew S. Methven, Thomas J. Volk

Andrew S. Methven

Recent molecular phylogenetic studies have revealed the existence of at least 50 species of Morchella worldwide and demonstrated a high degree of continental endemism within the genus. Here we describe 19 phylogenetic species of Morchella from North America, 14 of which are new (M. diminutiva, M. virginiana, M. esculentoides, M. prava, M. cryptica, M. frustrata, M. populiphila, M. sextelata, M. septimelata, M. capitata, M. importuna, M. snyderi, M. brunnea and M. septentrionalis). Existing species names (M. rufobrunnea, M. tomentosa, M. punctipes and M. angusticeps) are applied to four phylogenetic species, and formal description of one species (M. sp. "Mel-8") is …


Size Assortment In Mixed-Species Groups Of Juvenile-Phase Striped Parrotfish (Scarus Iserti) In The Bahamas, Paul Switzer, Daniel Quinn Jan 2012

Size Assortment In Mixed-Species Groups Of Juvenile-Phase Striped Parrotfish (Scarus Iserti) In The Bahamas, Paul Switzer, Daniel Quinn

Paul V. Switzer

Striped parrotfish (Scarus iserti) often form heterospecific groups with other reef fishes. In this study, we examined the species and body size composition of these groups on reefs in The Bahamas. Groups averaged approximately 4 S. iserti and 2 associated species, with surgeonfish (Acanthurus chirurgus and A. bahianus), slippery dick (Halichoeres bivittatus), and bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum) as the most common associates. Fewer groups than expected had only 1 associate; groups with 3 or more associates were more common than expected. Both the S. iserti and associated species tended to be closely sizematched within a group, perhaps due to benefits …


Using Comparative Genomics For Inquiry-Based Learning To Dissect Virulence Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 And Yersinia Pestis, David J. Baumler, Lois M. Banta, Kai F. Hung, Jodi A. Schwarz, Eric L. Cabot, Jeremy D. Glasner, Nicole T. Perna Jan 2012

Using Comparative Genomics For Inquiry-Based Learning To Dissect Virulence Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 And Yersinia Pestis, David J. Baumler, Lois M. Banta, Kai F. Hung, Jodi A. Schwarz, Eric L. Cabot, Jeremy D. Glasner, Nicole T. Perna

Kai F. Hung

Genomics and bioinformatics are topics of increasing interest in undergraduate biological science curricula. Many existing exercises focus on gene annotation and analysis of a single genome. In this paper, we present two educational modules designed to enable students to learn and apply fundamental concepts in comparative genomics using examples related to bacterial pathogenesis. Students first examine alignments of genomes of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from three food-poisoning outbreaks using the multiple-genome alignment tool Mauve. Students investigate conservation of virulence factors using the Mauve viewer and by browsing annotations available at the A Systematic Annotation Package for Community Analysis of …


Isolation And Characterization Of Galactinol Synthases From Hybrid Poplar, Faride Unda, Thomas Canam, Lindsay Preston, Shawn D. Mansfield Jan 2012

Isolation And Characterization Of Galactinol Synthases From Hybrid Poplar, Faride Unda, Thomas Canam, Lindsay Preston, Shawn D. Mansfield

Thomas Canam

The raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) serve as transport carbohydrates in the phloem, storage compounds in sink tissues, and putative biological agents to combat both abiotic and biotic stress in several plant species. To investigate further the functional roles of this class of compounds in trees, two cDNAs encoding galactinol synthase (GolS, EC 2.4.1.123), which catalyses the first step in the biosynthesis of RFOs, were identified and cloned from hybrid poplar (Populus alba3grandidentata). Phylogenetic analyses of the Populus GolS isoforms with other known GolS proteins suggested a putative role for these enzymes during biotic or abiotic stress in hybrid poplar. …


Sequencing And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Wsp Gene Of Wolbachia In Three Geographic Populations Of An Oak Gall Wasp, Andricus Mairei (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), From Hunan, South China, Xiao-Hui Yang, Dao-Hong Zhu, Zhiwei Liu, Ling Zhao Jan 2012

Sequencing And Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Wsp Gene Of Wolbachia In Three Geographic Populations Of An Oak Gall Wasp, Andricus Mairei (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), From Hunan, South China, Xiao-Hui Yang, Dao-Hong Zhu, Zhiwei Liu, Ling Zhao

Zhiwei Liu

To understand the effects of Wolbachia in Andricus mairei Kieffer , an oak gall wasp ( Cynipini, Cynipidae) that forms clusters of up to 30 monothalamous galls in the catkins of Quercus glandulifera var. brevipetiolata Nakai, we examined the presence and infection frequency of Wolbachia in three widely separated geographic populations of A. mairei in Hunan Province, South China, using polymerase chain reaction and sequence determination of the wsp gene of Wolbachia from the three populations. Our survey results showed that Wolbachia infection rates were unusually high in the three test populations : 100% for the male wasps from all …


The Swimming Behavior Of The Aquatic Larva Of Neoneuromus Ignobilis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae)., Cheng-Quan Cao, Zhiwei Liu, Shen-Zhi Chen, Chao Tong Jan 2012

The Swimming Behavior Of The Aquatic Larva Of Neoneuromus Ignobilis (Megaloptera: Corydalidae: Corydalinae)., Cheng-Quan Cao, Zhiwei Liu, Shen-Zhi Chen, Chao Tong

Zhiwei Liu

In order to explore the pattern and significance of swimming, through photos and videos we observed and recorded the swimming behavior of the aquatic larvae of Megaloptera in detail for the first time using the endemic Chinese species Neoneuromus ignobilis Navas, 1932 as the test insect, which were collected from the Dadu River and reared in nature-simulated environments. Four swimming postures are recognized and described herein in detail, i. e., vertical, parallel, back and side swimming, and these postures were used by the larvae disproportionately, with a frequency of 89.08%, 5. 49%, 4. 40% and 0. 61% , respectively. The …


Effects Of Hot Water On Breaking Seed Dormancy Of The Endangered Kankakee Mallow (Iliamna Remota Greene (Malvaceae), April Mcdonnell, Marissa Grant, Janice M. Coons Jan 2012

Effects Of Hot Water On Breaking Seed Dormancy Of The Endangered Kankakee Mallow (Iliamna Remota Greene (Malvaceae), April Mcdonnell, Marissa Grant, Janice M. Coons

Janice M. Coons

Iliamna remota Greene (Kankakee mallow, Malvaceae) is listed as endangered in Illinois and is endemic to Langham Island in the Kankakee River, Kankakee County, Illinois. Information on ways to break seed dormancy of I. remota would be useful for restoration and management. The purpose of this study was to determine if hot water at different temperatures and for different lengths of time would break seed dormancy. Seeds were dipped for 60 seconds into water at 70, 80, 90 or 100 degrees C with 22 degrees C dips as a control. In another trial, seeds were dipped into 80 degrees C …


Comparison Of Nutritive Value, Cost, Viscosity And Acceptability Among Developed Oral Nutritional Supplements And Commercially-Prepared Supplements, Melanie Burns, Christa R. Huxel, Kathleen A. O'Rourke, Linda D. Simpson Jan 2012

Comparison Of Nutritive Value, Cost, Viscosity And Acceptability Among Developed Oral Nutritional Supplements And Commercially-Prepared Supplements, Melanie Burns, Christa R. Huxel, Kathleen A. O'Rourke, Linda D. Simpson

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.


Terrestrial Macrofungi Of Illinois Old-Growth Prairie Groves, Scott J. Meiners, Andrew Methven, Vincent P. Hustad Jan 2011

Terrestrial Macrofungi Of Illinois Old-Growth Prairie Groves, Scott J. Meiners, Andrew Methven, Vincent P. Hustad

Scott J. Meiners

ABSTRACT.—Macrofungi from two old-growth prairie grove remnants in the Midwestern United States (Brownfield and Trelease Woods. Champaign Co., IL ) were surveyed over two summer and fall fruiting periods. Communities of Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Myxomycètes were sampled and compared using multivariate statistical analyses. Standard estimations of species richness were calculated for comparison with other studies of fungal diversity. Environmental factors (rainfall, humidity, air temperature and soil temperature at 10 cm depth) as well as leaf litter composition, and woody plant communities were surveyed to assess their impact on fungal communities. Fungal community structure was found to differ significandy both between …


Chemical Characterization And In Vitro Fermentation Of Brassica Straw Treated With The Aerobic Fungus, Trametes Versicolor, J. E. Ramirez-Bribiesca, Y. Wang, L. Jin, Thomas Canam, J. R. Town, A. Tsang, T. J. Dumonceaux, T. A. Mcallister Jan 2011

Chemical Characterization And In Vitro Fermentation Of Brassica Straw Treated With The Aerobic Fungus, Trametes Versicolor, J. E. Ramirez-Bribiesca, Y. Wang, L. Jin, Thomas Canam, J. R. Town, A. Tsang, T. J. Dumonceaux, T. A. Mcallister

Thomas Canam

Brassica napus straw (BNS) was either not treated or was treated with two strains of Trametes versicolor; 52J (wild type) or m4D (a cellobiose dehydrogenase-deficient mutant) with four treatments. Glucose was provided to encourage growth of the mutant strain. All treatments with T. versicolor decreased (P<0.05) neutral-detergent fibre and increased (P<0.05) protein and the concentration of lignin degradation products in straw. Ergosterol was highest (P<0.05) in straw treated with B-52J, suggesting it generated the most fungal biomass. Insoluble lignin was reduced (P<0.05) in straw treated with B-52J and B-m4D, but not with B-m4Dg. Mannose and xylose concentration were generally higher (P<0.05) in straw treated with fungi, whereas glucose and galactose were lower as compared with C-BNS. The four treatments above were subsequently assessed in rumen in vitro fermentations, along with BNS treated with 5 N NaOH. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids after 24 and 48h were lower (P<0.05) in incubations that contained BNS treated with T. versicolor as compared with C-BNSor NaOH-treated BNS. Compared with C-BNS, in vitrodry matter disappearance and gas production were increased (P<0.05) by NaOH, but not by treatment with either strain of T. versicolor. Although treatment with T. versicolor did release more lignin degradation products, it did not appear to provide more degradable carbohydrate to in vitro rumen microbial populations, even when a mutant strain with compromised carbohydrate metabolism was utilized. Production of secondary compounds by the aerobic fungi may inhibit rumen microbial fermentation.


Succession, Scott J. Meiners, Steward Pickett Jan 2011

Succession, Scott J. Meiners, Steward Pickett

Scott J. Meiners

Succession in a strict sense refers to the recovery and revegetation of an area following a disturbance such as the cessation of agriculture, the retreat of a glacier, or an intense forest fi re. Succession is a special case of vegetation dynamics, although many early ecologists referred to all vegetation change as succession. Succession includes a series of compositional and structural changes, often in a directional manner. The common occurrence of natural disturbances coupled with the extent of human activity on the planet makes succession one of the most ubiquitous ecological processes. Because invasion is a crucial feature of succession, …


Quantitative Analysis Of Lignocellulosic Components Of Non-Treated And Steam Exploded Barley, Canola, Oat And Wheat Straw Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, P. K. Adapa, L. G. Schonenau, Thomas Canam, T. Dumonceaux Jan 2011

Quantitative Analysis Of Lignocellulosic Components Of Non-Treated And Steam Exploded Barley, Canola, Oat And Wheat Straw Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, P. K. Adapa, L. G. Schonenau, Thomas Canam, T. Dumonceaux

Thomas Canam

Rapid and cost effective quantification of lignocellulosic components (cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin) of agricultural biomass (barley, canola, oat and wheat) is essential to determine the effect of various pre-treatments (such as steam explosion) on biomass used as feedstock for the biofuel industry. Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was considered as an option to achieve this objective. Regression equations having R2 values of 0.89, 0.99 and 0.98 were developed to predict the cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin compounds of biomass, respectively. The average absolute difference in predicted and measured cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin in agricultural biomass was 7.5%, 2.5%, and 3.8%, respectively.


Angiosperm Phylogeny: 17 Genes, 640 Taxa, Douglas E. Soltis, Steven A. Smith, Nico Cellinese, Kenneth J. Wurdack, David C. Tank, Samuel F. Brockington, Nancy F. Refulio-Rodriguez, Jay B. Walker, Michael J. Moore, Barbara S. Carlsward, Charles D. Bell, Maribeth Latvis, Sunny Crawley, Chelsea Black, Diaga Diouf, Zhenxiang Xi, Catherine A. Rushworth, Matthew A. Gitzendanner, Kenneth J. Sytsma, Yin-Long Qiu, Khidir W. Hilu, Charles C. Davis, Michael J. Sanderson, Reed S. Beaman, Richard G. Olmstead, Walter S. Judd, Michael S. Donoghue, Pamela S. Soltis Jan 2011

Angiosperm Phylogeny: 17 Genes, 640 Taxa, Douglas E. Soltis, Steven A. Smith, Nico Cellinese, Kenneth J. Wurdack, David C. Tank, Samuel F. Brockington, Nancy F. Refulio-Rodriguez, Jay B. Walker, Michael J. Moore, Barbara S. Carlsward, Charles D. Bell, Maribeth Latvis, Sunny Crawley, Chelsea Black, Diaga Diouf, Zhenxiang Xi, Catherine A. Rushworth, Matthew A. Gitzendanner, Kenneth J. Sytsma, Yin-Long Qiu, Khidir W. Hilu, Charles C. Davis, Michael J. Sanderson, Reed S. Beaman, Richard G. Olmstead, Walter S. Judd, Michael S. Donoghue, Pamela S. Soltis

Barbara S. Carlsward

• Premise of the study : Recent analyses employing up to fi ve genes have provided numerous insights into angiosperm phylogeny, but many relationships have remained unresolved or poorly supported. In the hope of improving our understanding of angiosperm phylogeny, we expanded sampling of taxa and genes beyond previous analyses.• Methods : We conducted two primary analyses based on 640 species representing 330 families. The fi rst included 25 260 aligned base pairs (bp) from 17 genes (representing all three plant genomes, i.e., nucleus, plastid, and mitochondrion). The second included 19 846 aligned bp from 13 genes (representing only the …


Domain And Propositions Of Succession Theory, Steward Pickett, Scott J. Meiners, Mary L. Cadenasso Jan 2011

Domain And Propositions Of Succession Theory, Steward Pickett, Scott J. Meiners, Mary L. Cadenasso

Scott J. Meiners

Succession is perhaps the oldest of ecological concepts, having arisen when ecology was emerging as a self-conscious discipline (Mcintosh 1985). Yet it continues to address many fundamental issues in ecology, to support important applications, and to synthesize the insights and perspectives of other theories. Thus, it fulfills two functions key in assessing the utility of a contemporary ecological theory. First, it exhibits the attributes of a mature, welldeveloped, and intensively tested theory (Glenn-Lewin et al. 1992; Pickett and Cadenasso 2005). Second, it provides a linkage among theories and applications that have usually been considered separately (Walker et al. 2007). For …


A Content Analysis Of Food Advertisements During Children’S Television Programming, Melanie Burns, Jillian Hurt Jan 2011

A Content Analysis Of Food Advertisements During Children’S Television Programming, Melanie Burns, Jillian Hurt

Melanie Burns

No abstract provided.


Acute Responses To Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System Of Apoe-Deficient And Wild-Type Mice, Britto P. Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert G. Struble Jul 2010

Acute Responses To Estradiol Replacement In The Olfactory System Of Apoe-Deficient And Wild-Type Mice, Britto P. Nathan, Michael Tonsor, Robert G. Struble

Britto P. Nathan

Epidemiological studies suggest that estrogen therapy protects against clinical expression of chronic neurological diseases. These beneficial effects of estrogen therapy are highly modified by apolipoprotein E (apoE) through an unknown mechanism. We examined the short-term effects of estradiol replacement in ovariectomized mice on apoE expression and markers for cell proliferation, reactive gliosis, neuronal maturation, and synaptogenesis in the primary olfactory pathway of wild-type (WT) and apoE knockout (KO) mice. Three days of estradiol replacement increased apoE expression in the olfactory nerve and in the glomerular layer. Estradiol treatment also increased cell proliferation, total cell numbers, number of mature neurons in …


A Sketch-Based Language For Representing Uncertainty In The Locations Of Origin Of Herbarium Specimens, Barry J. Kronenfeld, Andrew Weeks Jan 2010

A Sketch-Based Language For Representing Uncertainty In The Locations Of Origin Of Herbarium Specimens, Barry J. Kronenfeld, Andrew Weeks

Barry J. Kronenfeld

Uncertainty fields have been suggested as an appropriate model for retrospective georeferencing of herbarium specimens. Previous work has focused only on automated data capture methods, but techniques for manual data specification may be able to harness human spatial cognition skills to quickly interpret complex spatial propositions. This paper develops a formal modeling language by which location uncertainty fields can be derived from manually sketched features. The language consists of low-level specification of critical probability isolines from which a surface can be uniquely derived, and high-level specification of features and predicates from which low-level isolines can be derived. In a case …


Allelopathic Effects Of Goldenrod Species On Turnover In Successional Communities, Nikki Pisula, Scott J. Meiners Jan 2010

Allelopathic Effects Of Goldenrod Species On Turnover In Successional Communities, Nikki Pisula, Scott J. Meiners

Scott J. Meiners

While goldenrod species are often found to be allelopathic in laboratory settings, its importance in controlling plant community dynamics has been much more difficult to assess. We designed a study to determine whether allelopathy is related to the success of goldenrods in abandoned agricultural land. To accomplish this, we conducted laboratory bioassays for six co-occurring goldenrod species and compared these results to the cover and impacts of these species in the field. We determined the germination responses of two target species to a gradient of leaf extract concentrations to assess the allelopathic potential of these goldenrods. We also used long-term …