Life Sciences Commons^™

Biological Simulations And Biologically Inspired Adaptive Systems, Edgar Alfredo Duenez-Guzman

Doctoral Dissertations

Many of the most challenging problems in modern science lie at the interface of several fields. To study these problems, there is a pressing need for trans-disciplinary research incorporating computational and mathematical models. This dissertation presents a selection of new computational and mathematical techniques applied to biological simulations and problem solving: (i) The dynamics of alliance formation in primates are studied using a continuous time individual-based model. It is observed that increasing the cognitive abilities of individuals stabilizes alliances in a phase transition-like manner. Moreover, with strong cultural transmission an egalitarian regime is established in a few generations. (ii) A …

Morphological And Molecular Systematics Of Psychodidae (Diptera), Gregory Russel Curler

Doctoral Dissertations

A general overview of family Psychodidae is given. Genus Eurygarka Quate is revised to include three species. Genus Gondwanoscurus Jezek is revised to include seven species. The status of genus Stupkaiella Vaillant is revised. Eight new Nearctic species: Eurygarka cyphostylus sp. nov., E. nelderi sp. nov., Stupkaiella lasiostyla sp. nov., S. robinsoni sp. nov., S. capricorna sp. nov., Trichomyia rostrata sp. nov., Australopericoma delta sp. nov., and Threticus thelyceratus sp. nov., and two new Oriental species: Gondwanoscurus cruciferus sp. nov. and G. ornithostylus sp. nov. are described. Two Nearctic species: Eurygarka helicis (Dyar) and Stupkaiella bipunctata (Kincaid), and four Oriental …

Formation Of Multiple Dimer Interfaces In The Active And Inactive States Of A Model G Protein-Coupled Receptor, Hee Jung Kim

Doctoral Dissertations

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a class of integral membrane receptor proteins that are characterized by seven-transmembrane (7TM) domains connected by intracellular and extracellular loops, an extracellular N-terminus, and an intracellular Cterminus. GPCRs recognize neurotransmitters, sensory molecules and chemotactic agents and are involved in the control of many aspects of metabolism. Since GPCRs play important roles in diverse processes such as pain perception, growth and blood pressure regulation, and viral pathogenesis, GPCRs became important target for therapeutic agents. The tridecapeptide α-factor pheromone (W₁H₂W₃L₄Q₅L₆K₇P₈G_{9 …}

Laboratory Models Of Infection And Transmission Of Mycobacterium Ulcerans; Causative Agent Of Buruli Ulcer Disease, Lydia Mosi

Doctoral Dissertations

Identification of the environmental reservoir of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the etiological agent of Buruli ulcer, within the aquatic ecosystem has been a salient research area within the last five years. Based on extensive environmental sampling and elegant laboratory models, associations have been made between the bacterial DNA and aquatic invertebrates, biofilms, plants, fish and detritus material captured on 0.2μm pore filters. These studies have suggested that M. ulcerans is widely distributed within many functional feeding groups and may be concentrated through different trophic links; however, the specific route of transmission to humans remains a mystery. In this study we have …

“Saccharomyces Cerevisiae G Protein Coupled Receptor, Ste2p Interactions With Its Ligand, Α-Factor And Cognate Gα Protein, Gpa1p, George Kwabena Essien Umanah

Doctoral Dissertations

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae alpha-factor receptor, Ste2p, belongs to the G proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs), a class of integral membrane proteins that are characterized by seven-transmembrane (TM) domains. Ste2p-alpha-factor pair has been used extensively as a paradigm for investigating GPCRs structure and function. Upon binding of alpha-factor to Ste2p, a signal is transduced via an associated guanine-nucleotide binding protein, Gpa1p, initiating a cascade of events similar to those for mammalian GPCRs signal transduction. GPCRs are essential in many physiological processes associated with human diseases. Many aspects of structure and function are highly conserved across GPCRs, irrespective of primary amino acid sequence. This …

Nontarget Host Utilization Of Thistle Species By Introduced Biological Control Agents And Spatial Prediction Of Non-Target Feeding Habitats, Gregory J. Wiggins

Doctoral Dissertations

Rhinocyllus conicus Fröelich and Trichosirocalus horridus (Panzer) were introduced from Europe into North America as biological control agents of the exotic weed species Carduus nutans L. Concern exists over the feeding of these weevils on at least 25 species of native Cirsium thistles. Research was conducted to 1) estimate phenological synchrony of the eight thistle species in Tennessee with R. conicus and T. horridus, 2) investigate naturally-occurring populations of the five native Cirsium thistle species for non-target activity by R. conicus and T. horridus, 3) quantify the impacts to plants of each thistle species to feeding of R. …

Number 51 (December 2009), Southern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

(December 2009) - Post-impoundment Changes in the Cyprinid Fauna of the Lower Sabine River, Louisiana and Texas By Royal D. Suttkus and Maurice F. Mettee

The Desperate Dozen: Southeastern Freshwater Fishes on the Brink. By Bernard R. Kuhajda, Anna L. George, and James D. Williams

Prioritizing Areas of the Conasauga River Sub-basin in Georgia and Tennessee for Preservation and Restoration. By Seth J. Wenger, Megan M. Hagler, and Byron J. Freeman.

State Southeastern Fishes Council State Reports

Minutes, Business Meeting, 34th Annual Meeting, Southeastern Fishes Council

2008 Treasurer's Report for the Southeastern Fishes Council

Front Matter, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Post-Impoundment Changes In The Cyprinid Fauna Of The Lower Sabine River, Louisiana And Texas, Royal D. Suttkus, Maurice F. Mettee

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Prioritizing Areas Of The Conasauga River Sub-Basin In Georgia And Tennessee For Preservation And Restoration, Seth J. Wenger, Megan M. Hagler, Byron J. Freeman

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

The Desperate Dozen: Southeastern Freshwater Fishes On The Brink, Bernard R. Kuhajda, Anna L. George, James D. Williams

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Business Meeting Minutes, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

State Reports, Southeastern Fishes Council

Southeastern Fishes Council Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Sp639-2010-2009 Grain Sorghum Hybrid Tests In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

No abstract provided.

Sp618-2010-2009 Corn Hybrid & Sweet Sorghum Silage Tests In Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

No abstract provided.

Pb1768 2010 Insect Control Recommendations For Field Crops –, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program integrates control tactics including cultural practices, variety selection, biological control and insecticides to manage insect pest populations so that economic damage and harmful environmental side effects are minimized. Insecticides should only be used on an as-needed basis; therefore, insect scouting must be conducted regularly throughout the season to determine if an insecticide application is warranted.

Pb1580 2010 Weed Control Manual For Tennessee, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Field & Commercial Crops

This manual contains the 2010 University of Tennessee weed control recommendations for corn, grain sorghum, cotton, soybeans, burley and dark tobacco, wheat, forage crops, sunflowers and farm ponds. These recommendations are based on results of research and demonstrations conducted by the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Agricultural Extension Service. Decisions regarding recommendations are made by the University of Tennessee Weed Control Committee and are based on available data at various locations in the state.

This publication contains pesticide recommendations that are subject to change at any time. The recommendations in this publication are provided only as a guide. It is …

Comparison Of Threshold Selection Methods For Microarray Gene Co-Expression Matrices, Bhavesh R. Borate, Elissa J. Chesler, Michael A. Langston, Arnold M. Saxton, Brynn H. Voy

Animal Science Publications and Other Works

Background

Network and clustering analyses of microarray co-expression correlation data often require application of a threshold to discard small correlations, thus reducing computational demands and decreasing the number of uninformative correlations. This study investigated threshold selection in the context of combinatorial network analysis of transcriptome data.

Findings

Six conceptually diverse methods - based on number of maximal cliques, correlation of control spots with expressed genes, top 1% of correlations, spectral graph clustering, Bonferroni correction of p-values, and statistical power - were used to estimate a correlation threshold for three time-series microarray datasets. The validity of thresholds was tested by comparison …

Pb1772 A Hardwood Log Grading Handbook, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Forestry, Trees, and Timber

A good understanding of log valuation will help landowners, loggers, log buyers and saw millers agree on the fair value for a load of logs. This handbook briefly summarizes common log grading rules for hardwoods. Basic concepts in log scaling, lumber grading and log bucking optimization are also discussed because each of these topics relates to log grading.

The Effects Of Ultraviolet Radiation On Pigment Production, Growth, And Photochemical Efficiency In Allium Spp, Kristin Renee Abney

Masters Theses

In the 1970s, a push for research on the effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on food crops began. Since that time, multiple agricultural and horticultural crops have been studied with results showing that the morphological and physical reactions are species dependent. The purpose of these studies to determine how increasing UV radiation affects Allium fistulosum L. (scallion onions) and Allium tuberosum Rottl. (garlic chives), and how UV radiation affects 16 cultigens of A. fistulosum. The effects of UV radiation were determined by shoot height, fresh weight, carotenoid and chlorophyll pigment concentrations, and photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m). …

Effect Of Selenium On Glucosinolate And Isothiocyanate Concentrations In Arabidopsis Thaliana And Rapid-Cycling Brassica Oleracea, Thomas Casey Barickman

Masters Theses

Brassica vegetables play a unique nutritional and sensory role in human diets around the world. Their characteristic flavors come from the break down products of glucosinolate (GS) compounds, a large group of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) containing glucosides. Glucosinolates are hydrolyzed by myrosinase to isothiocyanates (ITCs) which are biologically active. Mounting evidence of this process is of scientific interest due to the potential for high consumption of Brassica vegetables containing several GSs and their respective hydrolysis products that are associated with cancer chemoprevention. Glucosinolates are sulfur-rich hydrophilic, nonvolatile plant secondary metabolites; and. over the past few decades, their importance …

Impacts Of American Student Teachers On Twelve Community Members In A Rural New South Wales Community Australia: A Qualitative Study, Tera Shenae Bunch

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of American student teachers on a rural community in New South Wales, Australia. The study analyzed interviews with twelve participants of the American student teacher program in A Rural New South Wales community, Australia. Two researchers worked together to complete this study. Both researchers were student teachers with the New South Wales community for ten weeks and taught Agriculture in one the community‟s two high schools. After allowing one year to pass, researcher one returned to the community to interview twelve individuals involved with the program. The interviewed participants were …

Calcitriol And The Renin Angiotensin System, And Adipose Tissue Inflammation, Christina Marie Caserio

Masters Theses

Adipose tissue is well recognized as an endocrine organ and a source of proinflammatory molecules ¹. We recently demonstrated calcitriol stimulates adipocte reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammatory stress (IS), while dietary calcium suppression of calcitriol exerted the opposite effect. These effects are mediated, in part, by calcitriol modulation of intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺) signaling and mitochondrial potential. However, adipocytes contain a functional RAS, and angiotensin II (ANGII) modulates ROS and IS. Accordingly, we investigated the role of ANGII in mediating calcitriol effects. Calcitriol (1 nM) stimulated NOX4 expression and ROS production in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by 67% …

In Vitro Analysis Of The Anti-Influenza Virus Activity Of Pomegranate Products And Fulvic Acid, Radha Ganapathy

Masters Theses

In traditional cuban medicine, pomegranate fruits have been used to treat acidosis, dysentery, microbial infections, diarrhoea, helminthiasis; haemorrhage and respiratory pathologies [Vuorela et al., 2003; Roig, 1974; Jimenez et al., 1979; Seoane, 1984].Pomegranates contain high levels of Polyphenolic compounds, which are largely responsible for the fruit’s antioxidant properties. A number of studies have demonstrated that polyphenolic complexes derived from other plants have antiviral effects, suggesting that antiviral activity may also reside in the polyphenol (PP) fraction of pomegranates.

The decay of organic matter generates an extremely heterogeneous mixture of organic molecules referred to as humic substances. They are sub-classified on …

Baseline Survey And Habitat Analysis Of Aquatic Salamanders In The Pigeon River, North Carolina, Nikki J. Maxwell

Masters Theses

The Pigeon River was severely impacted beginning in the early 1900s by a paper mill located in Canton, North Carolina. The mill discharged chemical byproducts into the Pigeon River until 1992 when the paper mill modified their processes. As a result, water quality improved but the status of salamander species in the Pigeon River was unknown. Worldwide amphibian declines over the last 20 years have drawn attention to the need for more research and a better understanding of species-specific habitat relationships. There is concern about amphibian population declines because amphibians are critical to the balance of ecosystems and are considered …

Applications Of Bret: The Detection And Visualization Of Protein Interactions And Intramolecular Conformational Changes, Lindsay Anne Staron

Masters Theses

Bioluminescence is a phenomenon in which chemical energy is converted into light energy. Here, the oxidation of a luciferin substrate, catalyzed by a luciferase enzyme, results in the emission of a photon. This biological process is exploited in a technology referred to as Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET). As its name implies, BRET depends on a nonradiative energy transfer event that occurs between a donor luciferase and an acceptor fluorophore. Fusion of the donor and acceptor molecules to a protein(s) of-interest allows one to identify and monitor molecular events, such as protein interactions or hormone binding events, based solely on …

Casein Micelles From Bovine Milk: Ethanol Induced Changes In Hydrophobicity And Interaction With Native Whey Proteins, Raymundo Trejo

Masters Theses

Caseins, in the form of micelles, are the most abundant milk protein. The nature of these micelles is still not fully understood and several models have been proposed. The first chapter discusses this topic, along with the importance of milk proteins to the food industry, and their allergenic properties.

In the second chapter the changes in the hydrophobicity of dissociated casein micelles are explored. As new applications for milk proteins are discovered, it becomes more important to understand their physicochemical properties when subjected to different treatments. It has been reported that casein micelles disassociate when heated in the presence of …

Identification And Characterization Of Novel Cellulases From Dissosteira Carolina (Orthoptera: Acrididae) And Molecular Cloning And Expression Of An Endo-Beta-1,4-Glucanase From Tribolium Castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Jonathan Duran Willis

Masters Theses

Cellulosic ethanol holds great potential as biofuel due to its sustainability and renewability, yet recalcitrance of cellulosic feedstocks prevents cost-efficient ethanol production. Enzymatic catalysis of lignocellulosic biomass has the greatest biotechnological potential for cost reductions to the production process. Even though numerous cellulolytic enzymes have been identified in bacteria, plant, and fungi, insects remain as a fairly unexplored prospecting resource. Many insects, either via endogenously or symbiotically derived enzymes, use cellulose as substrate for their energetic needs. Novel cellulases from insects may have the potential to be more efficient than alternative enzymes in the conversion of cellulose to fermentable sugars …

The Casein Micelle As An Encapsulation System For Triclosan: Methods Of Micelle Dissociation, Encapsulation, Release, And In Vitro Delivery, Adrienne L. Roach

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation reports on the use of the casein micelle as an encapsulation and potential delivery system for a low molecular weight hydrophobic compound, triclosan. The ability of the casein micelle to serve in this capacity was tested in a series of experiments investigating: 1) micelle dissociation to expose hydrophobic binding sites of interaction, 2) encapsulation of triclosan, 3) the release of triclosan under various conditions, and 4) the intercellular delivery of triclosan to human liver cells in vitro for the inactivation of a malaria-causing parasite. Casein micelle dissociation and reassociaiton was achieved through high pressure homogenization and solvent-mediated pressure-induced …

A Study Of The Effects Of Applying Flue Gas Desulphurization Gypsum To Various Agronomic Crops, Jordan Ryan Combs

Masters Theses

Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) gypsum is a potential soil amendment for agricultural use in the state of Tennessee. FGD gypsum is a potential source of calcium and sulfur that may improve the soil both chemically and physically. FGD gypsum has the potential to raise pH, improve soil structure, increase infiltration rates, ameliorate subsoil acidity and improve crop yields. However, the addition of gypsum can also lower pH in some circumstances and cause magnesium and potassium losses in soil. In this study FGD gypsum was applied at a single rate to fields on thirteen farms located on the northern and southern …