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Articles 1 - 15 of 15
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Deep Learning For Human Microrna Precursor Prediction: A Systematic Literature Review, Martina Ojonah
Deep Learning For Human Microrna Precursor Prediction: A Systematic Literature Review, Martina Ojonah
Master of Science in Information Technology Theses
The discovery of MicroRNA (miRNA) sparked medical breakthroughs, leading to the development of drugs/vaccines and biomarkers for some terminal diseases such as cancer. Due to the relatively short length of microRNAs, research has shown that discovering them on their own is a difficult task; thus, the focus has shifted to predicting precursor miRNAs, which are longer than miRNAs. Computational techniques evolve because of flaws discovered in existing designs, discoveries, and the desire to make the process as seamless as possible. Most researchers in recent studies indicated that the use of few input features and a lack of domain understanding of …
Exploring The Biofilm Of Candida Auris As It Relates To Persistence In Clinical Setting And Susceptibility To Antimicrobials, Bethany Butts
Exploring The Biofilm Of Candida Auris As It Relates To Persistence In Clinical Setting And Susceptibility To Antimicrobials, Bethany Butts
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
The rapid rise of drug-resistant pathogens is a global health concern. Known pathogens are acquiring resistance to many commonly used drugs, while new drug-resistant pathogens are emerging. These resistant pathogens are responsible for many healthcare-associated infections (HAI) [1, 2]. Candida auris is among these emerging drug-resistant pathogens, first described in 2009. The CDC labels C. auris at the highest level of global public health threat [3,4]. Effective methods of decolonization and control of the organisms have yet to be established, as it is resistant to many agents used for microbial control. Recent research has found that C. auris has the …
The Evolutionary Origins Of Autism Associated Genes And Their Role In Great Ape Socio-Communicative Behavior, Azeeza Abdulrauf
The Evolutionary Origins Of Autism Associated Genes And Their Role In Great Ape Socio-Communicative Behavior, Azeeza Abdulrauf
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a set of neurological disorders characterized by reduced social interactions and deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication. Although there are no clear genetic markers for ASD, studies have found associations between gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and patients diagnosed with ASD. For this study, the focus is on OXTR, AVPR1A, and FOXP2. OXTR is reported to regulate empathy and stress reactivity while AVPR1A is reported to regulate stress management and territorial aggression, as well as social bonding and recognition. FOXP2 is one of the first genes to be associated with both speech and language recognition …
Assessment Of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Species As Secondary Fermenters In Beer, Paul J. Clark
Assessment Of Non-Saccharomyces Yeast Species As Secondary Fermenters In Beer, Paul J. Clark
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Secondary fermentation of beer is traditionally used to condition and refine the sensory profile of a beer. During methods such as barrel aging or lagering, the yeast continues to produce flavor-active compounds. Some methods include the intentional inoculation of microorganisms or the utilization of natural consortia associated with a barrel, fruit, or additive for the generation of desired sensory profiles. As unique products increase in popularity, brewers have begun to experiment with secondary fermentation using alternative yeast species as bioflavorants. To assess the viability of an organism’s application to brewing, the physiochemical properties of beer and their impact on the …
A 10-Year Post-Analysis Of The Maya Health Toolkit For Medical Providers, Lorenna Garcia-Bochas
A 10-Year Post-Analysis Of The Maya Health Toolkit For Medical Providers, Lorenna Garcia-Bochas
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Researchers have often overlooked America's Indigenous community when conducting health disparities research. In Central and South America, The World Bank 2015 report identifies 774 indigenous groups living today (Davis-Castro, n.d.). One of the oldest known is the Maya people. The Maya have been through various cultural struggles, from the Spanish conquistadors of the past to current anti-indigenous discrimination, violence, and rhetoric. The historical conflict and prejudice have contributed to why many Maya migrate north to the United States for a better opportunity and a more peaceful life for their families. In doing so, they face many health risks to their …
Racial And Socioeconomic Disparities Influencing Obesity Amongst Middle-Aged Women, Morgan Woods
Racial And Socioeconomic Disparities Influencing Obesity Amongst Middle-Aged Women, Morgan Woods
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Many studies have examined the effects of racial and socioeconomic differences on health-related disparities involving obesity but, few have examined the mental and physical well-being intersection. Obesity is a disease that affects many Americans and has become an epidemic affecting the American population. Obesity, especially morbid obesity, is a risk factor for many other obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and more. Using the 2018 Healthcare Avoidance Study, differences were found between two racial groups, Caucasian and African-American women. Race was found as a significant factor for both level of physical activity and ideal body image perception
Evaluating Volatile Organic Compounds For Contact-Independent Antagonism Of Pseudogymnoascus Destructans And Assessing The Impact Of Fungal Pigmentation On Antifungal Susceptibility, Ashley Mcdonald
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
White-nose syndrome (WNS), caused by the psychrophilic fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has been implicated in the massive decline of hibernating bat populations across North America and has led to the listing of impacted species under the US endangered Species Act. Due to the importance of bats to biodiversity and their ecosystem services in agricultural systems, researchers, in conjunction with wildlife management agencies, have been actively exploring disease control methods to mitigate the impact of WNS on susceptible bat species. The accessibility and ecology of bat hibernacula pose unique complications for application of disease management approaches, contributing to the need for …
Quantifying Resource Use Among Insectivorous Bat Species With Overlapping Distributions, Shannon Whitney
Quantifying Resource Use Among Insectivorous Bat Species With Overlapping Distributions, Shannon Whitney
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Bats make up 20% of all mammalian species, are globally distributed, and are the only mammals capable of sustained flight. Bats have adapted to feed on insects, scorpions, aquatic arthropods, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, blood, carrion, fruit, flowers, nectar, pollen, and even seeds and foliage. However, the feeding ecology of these organisms is not well understood. Most bat species in North America rely on the same method of foraging and locomotion. The geographical range and habitats of these bats also commonly overlap. Bat feeding ecology studies have used fecal analysis to identify consumed prey species. Factors such as time …
Yakety Sacs: Laryngeal Air Sac Usage In Great Apes, Chelsea Trenbeath
Yakety Sacs: Laryngeal Air Sac Usage In Great Apes, Chelsea Trenbeath
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Except for humans, extant great apes have evolutionarily conserved lateral ventricular air sacs extending from laryngeal saccules. Humans are the only species of Hominidae that lack this anatomical feature attached to the primary vocal apparatus. As we are the only species that produces spoken language, this association has led to the hypothesis that the loss of lateral ventricular air sacs was necessary for the evolution of spoken language. However, why these sacs are conserved in all other hominids remains unclear. Computer modeling has indicated that air sacs may increase resonance properties, but there are no data from great apes indicating …
Binding Affinity Of Flavins To The Dehydrogenase Domain Of Spnox, Quinesha Williams
Binding Affinity Of Flavins To The Dehydrogenase Domain Of Spnox, Quinesha Williams
Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses
NADPH oxidases (NOX’s) are enzymes that catalyze the production of superoxide through single electron transfer. This superoxide production leads to the production of other reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS affect many metabolic processes throughout the body that can cause several different diseases, making this an ideal target for drug discovery. The general structure of NOX contains a transmembrane (TM) domain and a dehydrogenase (DH) domain connected by a linker. The DH domain contains binding sites for FAD and NADPH/NADH that both participate in the electron transfer necessary for producing superoxide. Structural information of NOX’s is still relatively new to the …
Designing A Reactive Warhead To Bind And Inhibit Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’S Periplasmic Protein, Inhibitor Of Vertebrate Lysozyme, Leah Greinke
Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium commonly found throughout the environment. It is a significant cause of disease and mortality in immunodeficient patients such as those suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF). Due to the emerging antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa, it is becoming increasingly more challenging to treat an infection by traditional means. Further complicating treatment, P. aeruginosa secretes a protein known as Inhibitor of Vertebrate Lysozyme (PaIVY) that binds to and inhibits C-type lysozyme, thus preventing the degradation of the bacterium. A reactive chemical warhead was synthesized from a rhenium(I) tricarbonyl derivative inorder to bind to and irreversibly …
Analysis Of Foki Cleavage Resistance Observed In Dna Sequences Generated Via The Combinatorial Selection Method, Repsa, Andre Berry
Master of Science in Chemical Sciences Theses
FokI is a thoroughly investigated and highly utilized restriction endonuclease that recognizes the DNA sequence, 5’-GGATG-3’, and cleaves outside of this site 9 and 13 base-pairs downstream. The shifted cleavage function possessed by this kind of endonuclease is utilized in many applications including the combinatorial selection method, REPSA. FokI employment in the REPSA procedure has demonstrated the tendency to select for an unmodified sequence that possesses the recognition site yet is refractory to cleavage by the enzyme. Sequencing of the cleavage resistant DNA has revealed the inhibitory event to be induced by the presence of an additional inversely oriented recognition …
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Probing Interactions Between Canonical Nox Domains, Akua Acheampong
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
NAPDH oxidase enzymes (NOXes) reduce molecular oxygen to superoxide and other ROS. NOXes contain a catalytic core comprising a heme-containing transmembrane (TM) domain and a cytoplasmic dehydrogenase (DH) domain that binds the substrate NADPH and the cofactor. Previously, NOXes were only characterized in eukaryotes, but have recently been identified in prokaryotes, namely bacteria. Due to their constitutive activity and solubility in detergent, bacterial NOXes, such as Streptococcus Pneumoniae NOX, have emerged as a model for studying NOXes. Past research studies in NOXes have identified conserved, putative interacting regions at the interface of the TM and DH domains: the TM B-loop, …
Investigation Into The Akirin Subcellular Localization And Developmental Interactions, Riley Wildeman
Investigation Into The Akirin Subcellular Localization And Developmental Interactions, Riley Wildeman
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Akirin is a highly conserved nuclear protein ubiquitously expressed in nonfungal eukaryotic species and is known to be involved in many biological processes such as embryonic muscle patterning and innate immune function. Akirin functionality is essential for the prevention of disease and developmental defects. This investigation focused on both the subcellular localization of Akirin based on a putative nuclear localization signal and the genetic interaction between Akirin and the Nucleosome Remodeling Deacetylase (NuRD) complex. Through transfection of Drosophila S2 cells with Akirin mutant constructs we were able to visualize the localization patterns of Akirin and how the patterns relate to …
The Contribution Of The Pectoral Fins, Body, And The Ribbon Fin To Turning Maneuvers Of A Gymnotiform Swimmer, Olivia Hawkins
The Contribution Of The Pectoral Fins, Body, And The Ribbon Fin To Turning Maneuvers Of A Gymnotiform Swimmer, Olivia Hawkins
Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses
Turning is an ecologically important maneuver in fishes as it is used in prey detection, predator avoidance, and to navigate complex environments. Fishes with traditional control surfaces primarily use body bending and pectoral fins to turn. However, little is known about how fishes with atypical control surfaces facilitate turning. This study investigated the weakly electric Black ghost knifefish (Apteronotus albifrons: Apteronotidae) with an atypical control surface, namely a ribbon fin. To investigate how a fish with an atypical control surface performs turning maneuvers, A. albifrons was filmed performing small and large turns and during steady swimming using high …