Life Sciences Commons^™

Cystic Fibrosis: An Ecological Review, Christopher Bozer

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This article focuses on the mechanisms of cystic fibrosis and the resulting microbial dysbiosis created through this disease. Through mutations in the CFTR gene, chloride ion proteins become dysfunctional, and mucus secreted in the lungs become thick and heavy, allowing infectious and pathogenic bacteria to thrive. 16s rRNA has been the primary method of sequencing the lung microbiome. Researchers have relied on bronchoscopies to collect proper samples. It can be concluded through current research that chloride ion dysfunction allows for an abnormal lung environment to develop. This abnormal environment allows for chronic infection of the lungs, and the formation of …

Differential Expression Of Mtor Related Molecules In The Placenta Of Patients With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Or Preeclampsia, Katherine Price, Brent Kimbler, Nekel Knowlton, Kelsey Hirschi, Paul Reynolds, Juan Arroyo

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The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is involved in placental growth and function during pregnancy. The mTOR pathway responds to nutrient availability and growth factors regulating protein transcription and cell growth. mTOR disruptions are associated with the development of obstetric complications which may result in adverse health outcomes for the mother and/or fetus. The purpose of this study is to identify the differing placental expression of various mTOR-associated proteins during normal gestation (Control), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia (PE). Immunohistochemistry was used to stain human placenta for activated proteins (phospho; p)AKT, (p)ERK, (p)mTOR, (p)p70 …

Regulation Of Trophoblast Invasion By Pyruvate Kinase Isozyme M2 (Pkm2), Juan Mejia, Parker Hall, Kelsey Hirschi, Paul R. Reynolds, Juan Arroyo

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The Pyruvate kinase isozymes M2 (PKM2) protein is a metabolic enzyme that regulates the final step of glycolysis. This enzyme is present in highly proliferating cells such as those present in embryonic tissues, cancer and in the placental trophoblast. We recently studied PKM2 protein in the human placenta at term. Our results demonstrated upregulated placental PKM2 during preeclampsia (PE) where trophoblast invasion is decreased and hypoxia is present. Our objective was to determine the cytosolic and nuclear PKM2 expression pattern and determine PKM2 regulation of trophoblast cell invasion. Trophoblast cells were cultured in normoxic and hypoxic conditions and real time …

Povidone-Iodine Vapor Kills Mrsa, Benjamin Ogilvie, Jon Mitton, Jordan Tucker, Dennis L. Eggett, Richard A. Robison

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Povidone-iodine is an antiseptic that is frequently used to clean skin prior to surgery. Current FDA regulations require that hospitals dispense povidone-iodine from single-use bottles, rather than large, multi-use containers, to prevent microbial contamination. This results in hospitals generating lots of product waste. However, if povidone-iodine vapor can kill microbes, then multi-use containers may be safe to use, since any bacteria that contaminated the inside of the container would soon die. The purpose of this research was to determine whether vapor from povidone-iodine could kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a common cause of hospital-associated infections.

In summary, this experiment demonstrated …

Plasmid Dna Bind And Elute Chromatography Using Borosilicate Filters And Filter Holders, Stacey D. Floyd, Camille S. Baird, Jordan Finnell, Tsz Ming Tsang, Robert C. Davis, Kenneth A. Christensen

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This research has been completed to determine whether plasmid DNA will bind to a simple borosilicate filter in a reusable filter holder, and whether it can be released in a controlled procedure after a wash has been done to eliminate impurities.

The motivation for this is to help small research groups, both in educational settings as well as in other small research settings be able to study isolated DNA without much of the expense generally associated with purification kits and to remove the limitations on trial numbers imposed by the expense of each individual isolation kit.

Medical research, forensics, and …

Β-Cell Adaptation To Elevated Palmitate Concentrations (Hyperlipidemia), Daniel R. Lathen, Jeffery S. Tessem Ph.D.

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It is estimated that over 370 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and this number is increasing rapidly. Normally, β-cells in the pancreas secrete insulin, which is necessary for proper glucose absorption and storage. Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased functional β-cell mass and insulin production, and increased circulating glucose and fatty acid levels. Diabetics’ pancreata maintain small amounts of functional β-cells, but these surviving cells are damaged and destroyed over time due to the harmful effects of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. These β-cells must adapt to survive. Hence, diabetes is itself a selective process. We …

Delimiting Species And Varieties Of Cycladenia Humilis (Apocynaceae), Holly Kathryn Brabazon

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Taxonomic delimitation of rare species is vital for accurate assessments of diversity and for their conservation. Cycladenia humilis, the sole species of Cycladenia, is an enigmatic perennial widely dispersed across the western United States. Within this species there are three currently recognized varieties: C. humilis var. humilis in Northern California, C. humilis var. venusta in Southern California, and C. humilis var. jonesii in Utah and Northern Arizona. Some populations occur geographically in areas between the typical distribution of each variety and the presently accepted taxonomy inadequately addresses these populations. Using five nDNA regions, we seek to clarify relationships between current …

Environmental And Adaptive Buffers That Mediate The Response Of Subalpine Ecosystems To Environmental Change, Lafe G. Conner

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This document reports the results of 4 studies of subalpine ecosystem ecology, describing ways that spatial heterogeneity in soils and plant communities mediate ecosystem responses to environmental change. Ecosystem responses to environmental change are also mediated by regional climate patterns and interannual variability in weather. In the first chapter we report the results of an experiment to test for the mediating effects of associational resistance in a forest community that experienced wide-spread beetle kill. We found that Engelmann spruce were more likely to survive a beetle outbreak when growing in low densities (host dilution) and not through other types of …

The Amaranth (Amaranthus Hypochondriacus) Genome: Genome, Transcriptome And Physical Map Assembly, Jared William Clouse

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Amaranthus hypochondriacus is an emerging pseudo-cereal native to the New World which has garnered increased attention in recent years due to its nutritional quality, in particular its seed protein, and more specifically its high levels of the essential amino acid lysine. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, is an ancient paleotetraploid that shows amphidiploid inheritance (2n=32), and has an estimated genome size of 466 Mb. Here we present a high-quality draft genome sequence of the grain amaranth A. hypochondriacus. The genome assembly consisted of 377 Mb in 3,518 scaffolds with an N50 of 371 kb. Repetitive element analysis predicted that …

Ecological Factors Determining Nesting Habitat For American Avocets, Landon R. Jones

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The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a large shorebird that breeds and congregates in open, shallow, saline wetlands (Robinson et al. 1997). Its long, curved bill is well adapted for stirring up and feeding on invertebrates from the benthos. Because they fill such a narrow habitat niche, the majority of avocets concentrate in the thousands to breed in a few hot spots such as Mono Lake in California, and the Great Salt Lake in Utah (Robinson et al. 1997). Avocets arrive at the Great Salt Lake in late March and nest from mid-April to mid-July (Sordahl 1981). They require 15-20 …

Variables Associated With Northern Goshawk Nesting On The Dixie National Forest, J. Jorgensen, R. L. Rodriguez, Landon R. Jones

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The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter genii/is) is a large forest raptor in the northern hemisphere that preys on small to medium-sized birds and mammals in mature forests (Squires and Reynolds 1997). Because forest structure and composition in the southwest have undergone significant change since pre-settlement times due to fire suppression, timber harvesting, livestock grazing, mining, and recreational use (Reynolds et al. 1992), the goshawk has been listed as a Forest Service sensitive species for Region 4, which includes the Dixie National Forest in Utah. This ranking dictates that for all actions on the Forest, effects to the species must be addressed. …

Northern Goshawk Nest Activity As An Indicator Of Habitat Quality On Three National Forests In Southern Utah, K. S. Marvel, R. L. Rodriguez, Landon R. Jones

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The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) has been a species of concern in the western United States since it was thought to be in decline in the 1970s. Loss of critical breeding and wintering habitat has contributed, in part, to this decline. In the U.S., the goshawk was listed in 1991 as a sensitive species for the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service. This region includes all National Forests in Utah. The goshawk also holds the status of a Management Indicator Species (MIS) on all six National Forests in Utah (USDA Forest Service 1999). The aim of the Forest Service was …

Mammals Of Utah County, James W. Bee

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Based on the premises that an accurate determination and description of the mammals of Utah County is a prerequisite for subsequent research in ecology, geographic distribution and evolutionary taxonomy, this thesis is submitted. While it is essentially taxonomic, there are included related subjects to permit a more thorough interpretation of the subject as a whole.

Summarizing, the objectives are:

• a. To list and key the known mammals of Utah County with descriptions and measurements.
• b. To ascertain their geographic range within the county.
• c. To present significant ecological and geological data for the proper appreciation of the problems of evolutionary …