Life Sciences Commons^™

Accounting For False Positive Detection Error Induced By Transient Individuals, Chris Sutherland, D Elston, X. Lambin

Environmental Conservation Faculty Publication Series

Context. In metapopulations, colonisation is the result of dispersal from neighbouring occupied patches, typically juveniles dispersing from natal to breeding sites. When occupancy dynamics are dispersal driven, occupancy should refer to the presence of established, breeding populations. The detection of transient individuals at sites that are, by definition, unoccupied (i.e. false positive detections), may result in misleading conclusions about metapopulation dynamics. Until recently, the issue of false positives has been considered negligible and current efforts to account for such error have beenrestricted to the context of species misidentification. However, the detection of transient individuals visiting multiple siteswhile dispersing is a …

Synergistic Communities For Biochar, Albert Bates, Jonathan Bates, Peter Hirst

USBI Biochar Conferences

Biochar & Permaculture: Albert Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afaKoWXsRiU

Biochar & Aquaponics: Jonathan Bates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c21drA2KS4

Jonathan will present his experience using biochar as a powerful growing medium in aquaponic systems. Aquaponics being the culturing of fish and plants together ecologically in closed systems (the merging of aquaculture and hydroponics). Biochar grow media benefits aquaponic systems in multiple ways, including its light weight, local sourcing, bio-chemical qualities, ecological nature, and affordable price. Through pictures and discussion he will show how his experiment has faired, and offer ideas for economic opportunities of aquaponic biochar in the Northeast.

Biochar & the Klamath Hydro Settlement: Peter Hirst …

Why Is Charcoal So Effective For Plant Growth?, Makoto Ogawa

USBI Biochar Conferences

No abstract provided.

Birdsong Variation As A Source Of Information For Migrating Common Yellowthroats, Rachel Theresa Bolus

Open Access Dissertations

Social information affects the movement decisions of animals and is often an essential factor in habitat selection. Social information should be especially relevant to long-distance migrating birds that navigate over long distances through unfamiliar habitats to find resources to survive. This information likely varies in both availability and importance at the different spatial scales relevant to migrating birds. Using the common yellowthroat as a case study, I tested whether cues might be available in the songs of locally breeding birds at the continental, within-site, and within-territory scales. At the continental scale, I described the geographic variation in song among genetic …

Inhibition Of Lung Carcinogenesis By Polymethoxyflavones, Noppawat Charoensinphon

Open Access Dissertations

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Exclusively found in citrus peels, the inhibitory effects of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) on 3 human non-small cell lung cancer cells have been investigated. Results showed that monodemethylated PMFs at 5-position potently inhibited lung cancer cells than those of their permethoxylated counterparts. The inhibition of cancer cells caused by monodemethylated PMFs was associated with both extensive cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as a result of modulation of key oncogenic signaling proteins. Treatment with different bioactive compounds in combination may enhance inhibitory effects on lung cancer due to their synergistic interaction among these …

Understanding The Links Between Human Health And Climate Change: Agricultural Productivity And Allergenic Pollen Production Of Timothy Grass(Phleum Pratense L.) Under Future Predicted Levels Of Carbon Dioxide And Ozone, Jennifer M. Albertine

Open Access Dissertations

The prevalence of allergic disease is expected to increase with climate change. Grasses, which have highly allergenic pollen, are widely distributed across the globe. Changes in production and allergen content of grass pollen have not been specifically investigated. We tested the effects of elevated carbon dioxide and ozone on growth, pollen and allergen production of Timothy grass (Phleum pratense L.). Timothy is also used as an agricultural forage crop so changes in plant productivity can also affect humans indirectly. Plants were fumigated in eight chambers at two concentrations of ozone (O₃; 30 and 80 ppb) and carbon dioxide …

Recovery From Muscle Fatigue In Young And Older Adults: Implications For Physical Function, Stephen A. Foulis

Open Access Dissertations

As adults age, skeletal muscles become smaller and weaker, which can ultimately lead to declines in physical function and disability. In general, older adults produce less isometric force and dynamic power than younger adults. The effects of this weakness are amplified following a series of muscle contractions that result in muscle fatigue. Since daily routines consist of repeated series of activity followed by rest, it is important to understand how muscle recovers from fatigue. In particular, muscle power has been shown to be related to physical function and balance. Thus, understanding the process of recovery from muscle fatigue will help …

The Role Of Ykl-40 In The Progression Of Glioblastoma, Ralph Anthony Francescone

Open Access Dissertations

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most common brain cancer and one of the most fatal forms of cancer overall. The average survival time is 10-14 months, and less than 10% of patients survive more than 5 years after diagnosis. It is characterized by extreme vasculature, chemo/radioresistance, and invasiveness into the normal brain. The current standard of care, which includes surgical removal of tumor, radiation, and the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide, initially stunt tumor growth. Nevertheless, the tumor invariably rebounds and the patient succumbs to the disease. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies for this devastating disease.

YKL-40 …

Use Of Flame Cultivation As A Nonchemical Weed Control In Cranberry Cultivation, Katherine M. Ghantous

Open Access Dissertations

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a woody perennial crop that can remain productive for decades. Competition for resources between cranberries and weeds can depress cranberry farm yields, resulting in large annual crop losses. Renewed interest in reducing chemical inputs into cranberry systems has provided the motivation to evaluate methods, such as flame cultivation (FC), as potential nonchemical options for weed control. Also known as thermal weeding, FC exposes plants to brief periods of high temperature that causes the water in the plant tissue to expand rapidly, rupturing plant cells and leading to necrosis. Various FC methods have been used …

The Structure Of Consciousness, Lowell Keith Friesen

Open Access Dissertations

In this dissertation, I examine the nature and structure of consciousness. Conscious experience is often said to be phenomenally unified, and subjects of consciousness are often self-conscious. I ask whether these features necessarily accompany conscious experience. Is it necessarily the case, for instance, that all of a conscious subject's experiences at a time are phenomenally unified? And is it necessarily the case that subjects of consciousness are self-conscious whenever they are conscious? I argue that the answer to the former is affirmative and the latter negative.

In the first chapter, I set the stage by distinguishing phenomenal unity from other …

Performance And Signaling In The Green Anole Lizard, Justin P. Henningsen

Open Access Dissertations

Green anoles are small lizards of the Southeastern United States. They possess an extensible throat-fan called a dewlap. Males have larger dewlaps and display them more often than females. Displays occur during courtship, during agonistic interaction, and during encounters with potential predators. The size of the dewlap of male green anoles is positively correlated with maximum bite force capacity. Bite force capacity, in turn, is predictive of the winner during agonistic interactions. The correlation between these traits suggests that dewlap size may be used as a reliable signal of maximum bite force capacity. In this dissertation, I address three components …

Designing Novel Emulsion Performance By Controlled Hetero-Aggregation Of Mixed Biopolymer Systems, Yingyi Mao

Open Access Dissertations

The increase in obesity and overweight in many countries has led to an upsurge of interest in the development of reduced fat food products. However, the development of these products is challenging because of the many roles that fat droplets normally plays in these food products, including contributing to flavor, texture, appearance, and bioactivity. The goal of this research was to develop novel reduced-fat emulsions based on hetero-aggregation of oppositely charged food-grade colloidal particles or polymers.

Initially, lactoferrin (LF) and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) were selected as emulsifiers to form protein-coated fat droplets (d43 ≈ 0.38 μm) with opposite charges …

Molecular Characterization Of The Pathophysiology Of The Digital Laminae In Acute Carbohydrate-Induced Equine Laminitis, Erica Ann Pawlak

Open Access Dissertations

Equine laminitis is a devastating condition that results in the failure of the tissue responsible for suspending the skeleton within the hoof capsule. The digital laminae is composed of two interdigitated layers, the dermal lamellae surrounding the distal pedal bone, and the epidermal lamellae, which interfaces with the hoof wall. During laminitis, these layers separate, allowing for rotation and sinking of the pedal bone. While there are multiple diseases and physiological conditions associated with the development of laminitis, including sepsis, metabolic syndrome, and unequal weight bearing, the exact cause remains elusive. Prior work by our research group identified the metalloprotease …

Evolution Of Hybrid Incompatibilities In Gene Regulatory Networks, Alexander Y. Tulchinsky

Open Access Dissertations

Under the Dobzhansky-Muller model, postzygotic isolation results from incompatibility between interacting genes. Evidence points to regulatory networks as a rich source of incompatibilities that impact hybrid fitness. Pleiotropy is a natural feature of regulatory networks because regulatory elements generally have multiple targets. Both pleiotropy and hybrid incompatibility arise due to genetic interactions; therefore we can expect an intimate association between them. In the following chapters, I investigate the relationship between pleiotropy and hybrid incompatibility in the context of regulatory networks.

In chapter one, I extend a general network-based study of hybrid incompatibility by incorporating a sequence-based thermodynamic model of transcriptional …

Effects Of Phytochemicals From Rhodiola Crenulata On Highly Invasive Breast Cancer Cell Lines And Embryonic Models Of Migration, Adaris Rodriguez-Cortes

Open Access Dissertations

The root of the Tibetan plant Rhodiola crenulata is part of eastern traditional medicine. Studies have suggested that members of the Rhodiola genus display anticancer properties. In this study we examine the effect of R. crenulata in a cellular model of invasive breast cancer, this disease being the second cause of cancer death among women in the US. Deregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been frequently observed in breast cancers and appears to have a key role in the transformation of benign cells to a malignant form. Although mutations of the Wnt growth factor are rarely observed in cancer, the …

Evaluation Of A Split-Root Nutrition System To Optimize Nutrition Of Basil, Ganisher Djurakulovich Abbasov

Open Access Dissertations

The plant-nutrient-water optimum interaction always has been a problematic program for plant growth and development. This work investigates this interaction using a split root nutrition system to determine possible changes in traditional hydroponics to enhance plant growth and development. While split root nutrition systems have been used experimentally to answer some specific questions, the technique has never been used in a production system for optimizing plant, nutrient, and water interaction. The introduction of hydroponics almost a hundred fifty years ago has not changed this situation fundamentally. Moreover, the norm of fertilizer application on agricultural crops has the advantage of increased …

The Role Of Notch In Th17 Differentiation, Reem Suleiman

Open Access Dissertations

Th17 cells are pro-inflammatory cells that are characterized by the production of their signature cytokine, IL-17. Although they are thought to have arisen to protect against extracellular bacteria and fungi they have been shown to mediate autoimmune diseases such as EAE and psoarisis. Notch protein is a cell-surface receptor that has been widely conserved among species. It plays an essential role in determining multiple cell fates. More recently, it has been implicated in regulating peripheral CD4+ T-cell responses. In these studies, we report that blockade of Notch signaling significantly down-regulates the production of IL-17 and associated cytokines in both mouse …

Science And Policy On Endocrine Disrupters Must Not Be Mixed: A Reply To A "Common Sense" Intervention By Toxicology Journal Editors, Åke Bergman, Anna-Maria Andersson, Georg Becher, Martin Van Den Berg, Bruce Blumberg, Poul Bjerregaard, Carl-Gustaf Bornehag, Riana Bornman, Ingvar Brandt, Jayne V. Brian, Stephanie C. Casey, Paul A. Fowler, Heloise Frouin, Linda C. Giudice, Taisen Iguchi, Ulla Hass, Susan Jobling, Anders Juul, Karen A. Kidd, Andreas Kortenkamp, Monica Lind, Olwenn V. Martin, Derek Muir, Roseline Ochieng, Nicolas Olea, Leif Norrgren, Erik Ropstad, Peter S. Ross, Christina Rudén, Martin Scheringer, Niels Erik Skakkebaek, Olle Söder, Carlos Sonnenschein, Ana Soto, Shanna Swan, Jorma Toppari, Charles R. Tyler, Laura N. Vandenberg, Anne Marie Vinggaard, Karin Wiberg, R. Thomas Zoeller

R. Thomas Zoeller

The “common sense” intervention by toxicology journal editors regarding proposed European Union endocrine disrupter regulations ignores scientific evidence and well-established principles of chemical risk assessment. In this commentary, endocrine disrupter experts express their concerns about a recently published, and is in our considered opinion inaccurate and factually incorrect, editorial that has appeared in several journals in toxicology. Some of the shortcomings of the editorial are discussed in detail. We call for a better founded scientific debate which may help to overcome a polarisation of views detrimental to reaching a consensus about scientific foundations for endocrine disrupter regulation in the EU.

The Unavoidable Threat Of Aggregation: Implications For Folding And Function Of A Β-Rich Protein, Mylene Hazelle Anne Ferrolino

Open Access Dissertations

Protein aggregation has been implicated in several catastrophic diseases (neurodegeneration, diabetes, ALS) and its complexity has also become a major obstacle in large-scale production of protein-based therapeutics. Despite the generic behavior of proteins to aggregate, only a few globular proteins have known aggregation mechanisms. At present, there have been no clear connections between a protein folding, function and aggregation. We have tackled the challenge of understanding the links between a protein's natural tendency to fold and function with its propensity to misfold and aggregate. Using a predominantly beta-sheet protein whose in vitro folding has been explored in detail: cellular retinoic …

The Ecology And Conservation Of The Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus Holbrookii) In The Province Lands Of Cape Cod National Seashore, U.S.A., Brad Timm

Open Access Dissertations

The eastern spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii) is an ephemeral wetland breeding amphibian that ranges from southern Florida north and westward to southeastern Missouri and northward along the Atlantic coastal plain to Massachusetts. This species is listed as either "threatened" or "endangered" in the four states (Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island) in the northeastern United States where it is known to exist. Population declines and extirpations throughout the region over the past century have been documented and are largely believed to be the result of habitat loss and/or alteration.

Very limited empirical results exist on many life history attributes of …

Surface Modification Of Food Contact Materials For Processing And Packaging Applications, Jeffrey Alan Barish

Open Access Dissertations

This body of work investigates various techniques for the surface modification of food contact materials for use in food packaging and processing applications. Nanoscale changes to the surface of polymeric food packaging materials enables changes in adhesion, wettability, printability, chemical functionality, and bioactivity, while maintaining desirable bulk properties. Polymer surface modification is used in applications such as antimicrobial or non-fouling materials, biosensors, and active packaging. Non-migratory active packagings, in which bioactive components are tethered to the package, offer the potential to reduce the need for additives in food products while maintaining safety and quality. A challenge in developing non-migratory active …

Simple To Complex Modeling Of Breathing Volume Using A Motion Sensor, Dinesh John, John Staudenmayer, Patty Freedson

Patty S. Freedson

Purpose—To compare simple and complex modeling techniques to estimate categories of low, medium, and high ventilation (VE) from ActiGraph™ activity counts. Methods—Vertical axis ActiGraph™ GT1M activity counts, oxygen consumption and VE were measured during treadmill walking and running, sports, household chores and labor-intensive employment activities. Categories of low (<19.3 l/min), medium (19.3 to 35.4 l/min) and high (>35.4 l/min) VEs were derived from activity intensity classifications (light <2.9 METs, moderate 3.0 to 5.9 METs and vigorous >6.0 METs). We examined the accuracy of two simple techniques (multiple regression and activity count cut-point analyses) and one complex (random forest technique) modeling technique in predicting VE from activity counts. Results—Prediction accuracy of the complex random forest technique was marginally …

2013 Pesticide Safety - Zone Ii, Bogs & More, Brian Wick

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

2013 Pesticide Safety - Pathological Reminiscences Of 28 Growing Seasons, Frank L. Caruso

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

2013 Pesticide Safety - Mix This, Not That, Hilary A. Sandler

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

2013 Pesticide Safety - Herbicide Update, Hilary A. Sandler

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

2013 Grower Survey: Reduced Risk Pesticide Use And Ipm Survey, Hilary A. Sandler, Katherine Ghantous

Cranberry Station Research Reports and Surveys

No abstract provided.

Society Of The Quarter: Sustainable Agriculture Education Association, Madeleine K. Charney

Madeleine K. Charney

A expose of the organization's innovative educational approaches for sustainable agriculture through the development, application, and research of teaching and learning practices. Includes the history, past conferences, and plans for an open access curriculum library.

2013 Pesticide Safety - Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases, Martha Sylvia, Larry Dapsis

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.

2013 Pesticide Safety - Sprinkler Irrigation, Steve Spear

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.