Life Sciences Commons^™

Population Structure And Conservation Genetics Of The Oregon Spotted Frog, Rana Pretiosa, Michael S. Blouin, Ivan C. Phillipsen, Kirsten Monsen

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) is one of the most threatened amphibians in the Pacific Northwest. Here we analyzed data from 13 microsatellite loci and 298 bp of mitochondrial DNA in frogs collected from 23 of the remaining R. pretiosa populations in order to (1) assess levels of genetic diversity within populations of R. pretiosa, (2) identify the major genetic groups in the species, (3) estimate levels of genetic differentiation and gene flow among populations within each major group, and (4) compare the pattern of differentiation among R. pretiosa populations with that among populations of R. cascadae, a non-endangered …

The Life Of An Unknown Assassin: Leon Czolgosz And The Death Of William Mckinley, Cary Federman

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this essay is to examine the discourses that surrounded the life of Leon Czolgosz, the assassin of President William McKinley. The gaps in Czolgosz’s life, his peculiar silences, his poor health and the ambiguity and thinness of his confession, rather than taken as instances of mental and physical distress, have, instead, been understood as signs of a revolutionary anarchistic assassin. Czolgosz is an expression of a cultural tradition in somatic form. I argue that the discursive construction of criminality, already present in the late nineteenth century within the medical and human sciences, is what shaped Czolgosz’s life …

Predicting Intentions To Continue Exclusive Breastfeeding For 6 Months: A Comparison Among Racial/Ethnic Groups, Yeon Bai, Shahla M. Wunderlich, Alyce D. Fly

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

The purpose of this study was to explore how mothers of different races/ethnicities make decisions to continue exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for 6 months under the Theory of Planned Behavior. Participants were recruited from hospitals and WIC clinics in Central Indiana and Southern New Jersey from 2008 to 2009. Mothers (N = 236: 93 non-Hispanic African American, 72 non-Hispanic white, 71 Hispanic/Latina) completed a self-administered questionnaire that measured theoretical constructs and beliefs related to their intention to practice EBF for 6 months. Intentions to continue EBF for 6 months were similar (P = 0.15) across racial/ethnic groups. Significant proportions of the …

Heavy Metals Zinc And Cadmium Resistance And Metal Effects Within Synechococcus Sp. Iu 625, Jose Leovigildo Perez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Heavy metal resistance within cyanobacteria is often observed because cyanobacteria are good indicators of pollutants in the environment. Their ability to recognize the presence of many heavy metals makes cyanobacteria an important source of study. Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metals. Cadmium inhibits spontaneous protein folding, binds to sulphydryl groups (found in nucleic acids, proteins, and enzymes), and outcompetes essential metals for important binding sites. The effects of cadmium (CdCl₂) on the growth and coupled permeability of Synechococcus sp. IU 625 was shown to inhibit Syn. sp. IU 625 cells at CdCl₂ concentration 30 …

Development Of A Rapid Method For Detection Of Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria And Algae In Selected New Jersey Waterbodies, Ben Nyabwari Ondimu

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Harmful algal blooms have been reported in many parts of the world affecting water quality, human and animal health. Timely intervention depends on early detection of bloom-forming algae and cyanobacteria. Water samples were collected from 15 northern New Jersey freshwater bodies and each processed through coarse (3.0um) and fine (0.45um) pore filters which were dried then frozen at -20°C. Five small discs punched from the filters were resuspended in 500ul water for microscopic observation. Many microorganisms-cyanobacteria and algae were detected, whose distinction and identification based on morphology was not conclusive. Two genes of interest (The cyanobacterial phycocyanin and the 16S …

The Role Of Movement Scaling On Quiet Eye Duration During An Aiming Task, Michelle Sachiko Okumura

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

No abstract provided.

A Combined Fmri And Dti Examination Of Functional Language Lateralization And Arcuate Fasciculus Structure: Effects Of Degree Versus Direction Of Hand Preference Author Links Open Overlay Panel, Ruth E. Propper, Lauren J. O'Donnell, Stephen Whalen, Yanmei Tie, Isaiah Norton, Ralph O. Suarez, Lilla Zollei, Alireza Radmanesh, Alexandra Golby

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The present study examined the relationship between hand preference degree and direction, functional language lateralization in Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, and structural measures of the arcuate fasciculus. Results revealed an effect of degree of hand preference on arcuate fasciculus structure, such that consistently-handed individuals, regardless of the direction of hand preference, demonstrated the most asymmetric arcuate fasciculus, with larger left versus right arcuate, as measured by DTI. Functional language lateralization in Wernicke’s area, measured via fMRI, was related to arcuate fasciculus volume in consistent-left-handers only, and only in people who were not right hemisphere lateralized for language; given the …

Animal-Human Relationships In Child Protective Services: Getting A Baseline, Lisa Anne Zilney, Christina Risley-Curtiss, Rebecca Hornung

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The inclusion of certain aspects of animal-human relationships (AHR), such as animal abuse and animal-assisted interventions, can enhance child welfare practice and there are resources available to promote such inclusion. However, there is little knowledge of whether this is being accomplished. This study sought to fill this gap by conducting a national survey of state public child welfare agencies to examine AHR in child protective services practice, their assessment tools, and cross-reporting policies.

Observation Of Growth Characteristics And Identification Of Mercuric Resistance Genes In Synechococcus Elongatus Sp. 625, Chiedozie Okafor

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Due to high levels of heavy metal pollution in the environment, there has always been a high interest in organisms that have developed resistance to certain heavy metals of interest. Microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, E. coli, and Ralstonia, have been identified as being resistant to one or more heavy metals. Extensive work has been done with respect to mechanisms of resistance to heavy metals in a wide array of microorganisms. However, mechanisms of resistance are yet to be fully explored in some other microorganisms. One such example is the Cyanobacteria, Synechococcus sp. 625 (SIU 625), formerly classified under Anastycis nidulans. …

Initial Analysis O F The 3' Spliced Region Of The Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Ret, Ananya Sengupta

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The RET proto-oncogene is expressed in the developing kidney and enteric nervous system during vertebrate embryogenesis. It has two major splicing variants; RET9 and RET51. The expression pattern of the two variants appears to vary among the developing organisms. RET9 plays a major role in development of kidney and excretory system whereas the role of RET 51 seems to be of maintenance of these systems after development. The protein RET is a transmembrane receptor which expresses itself in the cell surface and initiates the signal transduction pathways for cellular differentiation and proliferation of the cell. The different expression patterns shown …

The Effects Of Triptolide On Cancer Cells, Michael E. Messina Jr.

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, and with the rates of breast cancer increasing steadily over time there is a need to develop new anticancer treatments. This research seeks to investigate how triptolide, an extract from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, induces apoptosis in human breast cancer cells. Studies have shown that triptolide can act as an anti-proliferative, antiinflammatory, and anti-cancer agent in many different clinical applications. It has been used for over two centuries in Chinese medicine and is now used to treat certain autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. With …

Analysis Of Potential Mutagenic Effects Of World Trade Center Dust On In Vitro Systems, Barbara Domingos Soares

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Ever since the 1950s, air pollution has been linked to decreased lung function and increased cancer risk. Air pollution can consist of natural or artificial materials that range in chemical as well as physical properties. Inhaled pollutants can have a variety of effects on organisms ranging from minor irritation, to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even cancer or death. Historically, it has been noted that increased levels of air pollution are associated with decreases in human health and increases in mortality.

Following the World Trade Center tragedy, rescue workers as well as New York City residents were exposed to thousands …

A Novel Filarial Parasite (B. Malayi) Stress-Activated Protein Kinase As A Potential Drug Target, Akruti Patel

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Lymphatic filariasis (or elephantiasis) is a major neglected disease with an estimated 120 million individuals infected and approximately 1.5 billion at risk in endemic regions. It is a highly disfiguring and debilitating disease and one of the major causes of global morbidity. Treatment options for this disease are few and new drug targets and therapies need to be identified. We have identified a protein kinase ortholog of human p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38) expressed in the filarial parasite, Brugia malayi (B. malayi), one of three causative agent of lymphatic filariasis. We hypothesize that this protein kinase, BmMPKl, is important for …

Conformational Motion Associated With Catalysis In Indole-3-Glycerol Phosphate Synthase From S. Solfataricus, Tomasz Kurcon

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase from Sulfolobus solfataricus (SsIGPS) belongs to a broad family of (βα)₈-barrel enzymes. It catalyzes the fifth step in tryptophan biosynthesis, converting l-(o-carboxylphenylamino)-l-deoxyribulose-5-phosphate (CdRP) to indole-3-glycerol phosphate (IGP). Site selective mutagenesis was used to introduce a single cysteine in two loops near the active site, generating two recombinant proteins, each containing a single cysteine handle. The two construct were labeled, each with two different thiol-reactive probes generating four labeled constructs that were used for this study. Steady-state kinetic parameters of the labeled mutants and the wild type SsIGPS were well characterized using fluorescence spectroscopy. Subsequent experiments …

Locus Of Control And The Age Difference In Free Recall From Episodic Memory, Paul Amrhein, Judith K. Bond, Derek Hamilton

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The authors investigated the relation of locus of control (LOC) to age differences in free-recall memory performance. Older and younger participants completed P. C. Duttweiler's (1984) Internal Control Index (ICI) and subsequently performed free-recall memory tasks. Compared with the younger participants, the older participants exhibited poorer recall with more intrusions and uncorrected repetition errors as well as reduced categorical clustering. For the older participants with less internal LOC, recall proportion and item-pair associative recall clustering were lower than for the older participants with more internal LOC. By contrast, the younger participants did not exhibit any LOC effects in their recall …

Range Extension Parameters Of The Opportunistic Bivalve Corbicula Fluminea (Müller, 1774) In New Jersey, Katie Elizabeth Vazquez

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The invasive freshwater bivalve Corbicula fluminea has gained notoriety as a macro-fouler of industrial waterways across the United States. Little is known about the specific habitat requirements that contribute to its successful colonization of riverine systems. Small, often immature clams (shell length <14 mm) passively drift downstream. Settlement in unsuitable habitat can limit burrowing, growth and reproduction, and lead to juvenile mortality. Settlement in suitable habitat however can result in population densities in excess of 10,000 ind./m . Sampling was conducted in diverse Northern New Jersey waterways between May and mid-October 2008 to assess the habitat conditions conducive to establishment of new populations. Within these sites there was a significant correlation between clam density and both dissolved oxygen level and Ambient Biological Monitoring Network EPT scores. There was no correlation between clam density and dominant grain size, substratum organic content or turbidity. It appears stochastic events largely governed the dispersal and settlement of juvenile and small mature Asian clams while microhabitat conditions can be associated with population density. Live specimens of C. fluminea were collected at 8 sites half of which appear to house stable reproducing populations of C. fluminea. The remaining sites could represent interim “stops” likely containing specimens that entered as a result of downstream drift. Anthropogenic disturbance regimes in New Jersey waterways may contribute to the successful invasion by the Asian clam. An understanding of the habitat and physicochemical characteristics associated with the spread of juvenile C. fluminea is crucial to predictive modeling of dispersal patterns.

Allochronic Isolation And Incipient Hybrid Speciation In Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies, Gabriel James Ording, Rodrigo J. Mercader, Matthew Aardema, J. M. Scriber

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Hybridization leading to reproductively isolated, novel genotypes is poorly understood as a means of speciation and few empirical examples have been studied. In 1999, a previously non-existent delayed flight of what appeared to be the Canadian tiger swallowtail butterfly, Papilio canadensis, was observed in the Battenkill River Valley, USA. Allozyme frequencies and morphology suggest that this delayed flight was the product of hybridization between Papilio canadensis and its sibling species Papilio glaucus. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction fragment length polymorphisms presented here indicate that only P. canadensis-like mtDNA occurs in this population, suggesting that introgression likely occurred from hybrid males …

Zostera Marina Population Genetics In Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, And Implications For Grass Bed Restoration, James Campanella, Paul Bologna, Stephanie M. Smith, Eric B. Rosenzweig, John V. Smalley

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Within Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, Zostera marina populations have declined by 62% over the last 20 years, and restoration efforts have met with mixed success. We have completed a microsatellite-based genetic investigation of eight populations of Z. marina within Barnegat Bay to determine whether the genetic stock origins of the plants used in management projects may affect restoration success. Additionally, we assessed the genetic diversity of Z. marina in Barnegat Bay to better understand its population structure. Clonal diversity ranged from 0.70 to 0.95 for the populations studied. Individually, Barnegat Bay populations are not genetically diverse, and there is also …

A Spectrographic Analysis Of American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius) Vocalizations : Do Broodmates Sound More Like Each Other Than Non-Related Broods?, Erica Gloria Mueller

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Using spectrographic analysis, I studied the vocalizations of American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) chicks to determine if siblings sounded more like each other than nonrelated chicks. I also performed a feasibility study on obtaining and analyzing vocalizations of wild adult kestrels. A total of 144 vocal recordings was obtained from 67 female and 77 male kestrel chicks in the 2005 and 2006 kestrel breeding seasons. Sixteen adult kestrel vocal samples were also obtained from eleven females and five males, each a parent to one of the broods that were audio-recorded.

Fifteen vocal parameters were analyzed through spectrographic analysis for each individual …

Purification And Characterization Of A Leishmania Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase : A Potentially New Anti-Parasitic Drug Target, Sailaja Sankabathula

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Synthetic inhibitors of the human mitogen activated protein kinase, p38 MAPK may represent a new class of anti-parasitic agents. p38 MAPK inhibitors have been shown to inhibit replication of Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii), the causative agent of taxoplasmosis, in vitro and in vivo. Inhibition of parasite replication was due to the inhibition of a T.gondii p38 MAPK homolog called tgmapk-1. Other parasites have MAPKs homologous to tgmapk-1 and these MAPKs may represent novel drug targets for new therapeutics in treating parasitic diseases. We have focused on a MAPK from, Leishmania mexicana (L.mexicana), the causative agent for one form of leishmaniasis. The …