Life Sciences Commons^™

Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) As A Functional Link Between Marine And Freshwater Ecosystems, Daniel M. Weaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anadromous sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus are native to Atlantic coastal systems and serve as a functional link between marine and freshwater ecosystems. Sea lamprey spend 1–2 years in the ocean parasitizing marine vertebrates before migrating into freshwaters during the spring to spawn. There they construct nests, spawn, then die shortly afterwards. Larvae hatch, bury into fine sediments and reside in streams for generally 6–8 years, but up to 14. Larvae then undergo metamorphosis, a non-feeding period characterized by a series of physical and physiological changes. The juveniles (macropthalmia) then migrate to the ocean to begin the parasitic juvenile phase.

Historically, …

Effect Of Protease Supplementation In Broiler Feed On Growth Performance, Carcass Yield And Total Nitrogen Retention In Fecal Matter And Litter, Jawad Al-Juboori

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of protease supplementation on commercial broiler performance, carcass yield, and nitrogen retention in fecal matter and litter. Total of 4,800 female (Ross 708) birds split into 96 floor pens, and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Birds were placed within 96, 5’x10’ floor pens in a randomized-block design at the SFASU Poultry Research Center. Birds were randomly divided among the pens at a stocking density of 1.00 ft2/bird (50 birds/pen*24 pens/treatment=1200 birds/treatment), and reared for 49 days on used pine shavings. The target average weight for the …

Survival, Harvest, And Drumming Ecology Of Ruffed Grouse In Central Maine, Usa, Samantha Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding population dynamics and how species interact with their environment are important components for conservation and management. Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) are a widely distributed and common game bird in North America and are a considered an important economic and cultural icon in Maine. Although they are a well-studied species, there has been little research focused on ruffed grouse population dynamics and habitat relationships in Maine. My thesis aims to improve this knowledge gap by focusing on research related to survival and harvest of ruffed grouse, as well as male ruffed grouse resource selection at breeding display sites. Ruffed grouse …

Expression Profiling Of Non-Coding Rna By Environmental Interactions In Innate Immunity, Jacob R. Longfellow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder that affects 30,000 people in the United States and currently has no cure. Although CF affects all of the body’s systems, it is largely characterized as a lung disease. CF is caused by a mutation in both copies of the gene for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). A mutation in the CFTR gene leads to improper movement of chloride ions and water into the airways, which dysregulates the airway surface liquid volume and composition. Individuals with CF are prone to lung infections due to inefficient bacterial clearance and by the age of …

Role Of Tlrs, Hippo-Yap1 Signaling, And Micrornas In Cardiac Repair And Regeneration Of Damaged Myocardium During Ischemic Injury, Xiaohui Wang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated pathways have been demonstrated to play a role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We and others have shown that PI3K/Akt signaling is involved in regulating cellular survival and protecting the myocardium from I/R induced injury. In this dissertation, we provide compelling evidence that miR-125b serves to “fine tune” TLR mediated NF-kB responses by repressing TNF-a and TRAF6 expression. We constructed lentiviral expressing miR-125b, delivered it into the myocardium. The data showed that delivery of lentivirus expressing miR-125b significantly reduces myocardial infarct size and improves cardiac …

A Study Of Salmonid Growth In Two Southern Appalachian Headwater Streams, Joshua Argo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sampled salmonid populations in two headwater streams in East Tennessee, Briar Creek and Left Prong Hampton Creek. Length and weight data were used to calculate the growth of these populations to determine if significant variation exists between isolated brook trout populations. Slope comparisons concluded that there was a difference in growth between brook trout populations of these streams (p

Investigating Factors Contributing To Reduced Embryo Survival In Farm Raised Atlantic Salmon, Salmo Salar L., Leeanne Thayer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Embryo mortality of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar Linnaeus 1758, has been increasing for more than a decade in the State of Maine, a leading producer of this species in the United States. Increasing embryo mortality not only creates a financial bottleneck for farms but also prevents the sale of surplus eggs as an additional source of revenue. Blood and egg samples were collected at three Maine Atlantic salmon farms from female broodstock at the time of spawning over a 2-year period. Correlative factors for reduced embryo survival were investigated by measuring egg and maternal plasma concentrations of 17-estradiol (E2), 11-ketotestosterone …

Molecular And Pathological Analyses Of Three New Mouse Mutations That Affect Ear Development And Function, Cong Tian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents three new mouse models that help to study the functions of Enpp1, Atp6v1b1, and Tbx1 for ear development and function. asj (aging with stiffened joints) carries a missense mutation in the mouse Enpp1 gene. Enpp1 encodes the enzyme ENPP1 that regulate soft-tissue calcification and bone mineralization, and is associated with generalized arterial calcification of infancy and hypophosphatemic rickets in human patients. asj mutant mice show severe middle ear infection and tissue calcification, which provide a new mouse model to study otitis media and tympanoscleorosis. Atp6v1b1 encode a protein that is a subunit of the V-ATPase …

Cultivar, Season Extension, Fertilizer Trials Of Swiss Chard And Pedagogy Of Assessing Cultivars Using Technology, Chanelle Angeny

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract. Diversity of species is a cornerstone of horticulture, and the constant stream of new plant cultivars broadens the palette of options available to the industry. Fifteen Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) cultivars were evaluated during the fall/winter of 2014-2015 season (season 1) and 27 cultivars during the fall/winter of 2015-2016 season (season 2) to determine the best performing cultivars for production and landscape use for east Texas and the southeast by assessing survivability and yield. There was an increase in production of 3.0 ± 0.5 g per plant per harvest under the low tunnel. The cultivar …

Quality And Yield Responses Of Seven Warm Season Forage Grasses To Partial Shading In A Simulated Silvopasture In East Texas, Jodi E. Hill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this project was to evaluate growth and nutritional characteristics of seven forages, including various warm season native grasses, grown under simulated partial shading (50%) typical of a loblolly pine silvopastoral system in East Texas. In order to meet the overall objective, slatted shade structures were constructed that simulated the quantity, quality, and overall light regime found beneath loblolly pine stands arranged for silvopasture. The forages selected for the study included ‘Tifton 9’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), ‘Tifton 85’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), ‘Alamo’ switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), ‘Kaw’ Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), ‘Americus’ …

Ecological Informatics: An Agent Based Model On Coexistence Dynamics, Shiva Thapa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The coexistence of species is probably one of the most interesting and complex phenomenon in nature. We constructed an agent based model to study the coexistence dynamics of prey - predator populations by varying productivity levels of producers in fragmented and connected habitats along with different levels of quality of predators. Our results indicated that productivity levels of producers in fragmented and connected habitats along with levels of predator quality are significantly responsible for overall predator - prey population size and survivorship. In the absence of predation, competition between identical prey populations is more probable in connected habitats than in …

A Novel Method For Synthesis Of Hydroxytyrosol, Emmanuel Onobun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydroxytyrosol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenolethanol, a naturally occurring polyphenol most common in olive tree (Olea europaea), is one of the most effective member of the polyphenols family, because of its remarkable antioxidant activity, its ability to inhibit oxidation of low density lipids (LDL), and its protection against DNA oxidative damage. Hydroxytyrosol, which is widely used in cosmetics and food supplements industries, can be purchased as an olive oil extract that contains low concentration of hydroxytyrosol besides other polyphenols. The price and low natural abundance of hydroxytyrosol make alternative synthetic sources very attractive. In this research, a novel method for the synthesis of pure …

Outcomes Of An Integrated Approach To Speed And Strength Training With An Elite-Level Sprinter, Eric D. Magrum

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe changes in sprint velocity, ground contact time, and peak force demonstrated by a competitive sprinter following an integrated approach to speed development and strength training. As part of an ongoing monitoring procedure the participant completed 20m sprint testing through an optical measurement system and isometric-strength testing before and after each phase of training. Sprint velocity, ground contact time and peak force were analysed using Tau-U, smallest worthwhile and percent change statistics. Results indicate sprinting velocity statistically improved while changes in peak force were practically significant and ground contact time remained trivial throughout …

Effects Of Acute Sepsis On Renal Structure And Sympathetic Innervation In Mice, Tuqa Alkhateeb

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sympathetic nerves are important for renal physiology and sepsis pathophysiology. A recent study showed sprouting of sympathetic nerves in spleen of septic mice. This study was done to test if renal sprouting of sympathetic nerves also happens and to investigate renal morphology in septic mice. Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to induce sepsis and kidneys were removed for evaluation. Bowman’s space was diminished with cortical bubble cells present suggestive of acute renal pathology, however, renal function was unchanged. Acute sepsis did not affect either renal sympathetic innervation or non-neuronal cholinergic cells. Mouse kidneys had more epinephrine (EPI) than …

Enemy Exacerbation: Effects Of Predator Stress On Sulfate Lethality In Freshwater Amphipods (Gammarus Minus), Trevor Chapman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Predator cues can influence how aquatic organisms respond to anthropogenic contaminants. This study examined the effects of predator cues on behavior, metabolic rate, and sulfate (as Na₂SO₄) toxicity in amphipods (Gammarus minus). Predator cues included alarm cue (macerated conspecifics) and kairomone from mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). Amphipods decreased activity and increased time in refuge when exposed to alarm cue, and increased time in refuge when exposed to kairomone. While median lethal concentrations (96-h LC₅₀) were not influenced by predator cues, analysis of dose response curves indicated that kairomone exposure increased amphipod …

Porphyromonas Gingivalis Infection In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus And Survival In Tobacco Smokers., Himabindu Gogeneni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains a clinical project and distinct basic science project. Gestational diabetes mellitus occurs in 4% of pregnancies and increases the risk of birth defects, pre-term birth, and miscarriage. Gingivitis during pregnancy also increases the risk for poor pregnancy outcome. Gingivitis is a bacterial-induced disease, and specific plaque pathogens have been associated with systemic sequelae to periodontal inflammation. Therefore, we set out to monitor oral infection with three key periodontopathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Filifactor alocis, and Treponema denticola) and the systemic inflammatory burden [C-reactive protein (CRP) in pregnant women with and without gingivitis and gestational diabetes. Gingivitis …

Targeting Fas Pathway As An Effective Means Of Inducing Tolerance To Pancreatic Islets., Kyle Blake Woodward

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Signaling through Fas/FasL is critical to immune homeostasis and tolerance to self-antigens. SA-FasL is a chimeric protein of FasL and streptavidin. SA-FasL exists as oligomers with potent apoptotic function on Fas expressing immune cells and tightly binds to biotinylated surfaces. Islet grafts engineered to transiently display SA-FasL on their surface established tolerance in allogeneic recipients with a short course of rapamycin. We hypothesized that SA-FasL on the islet allograft will induce apoptosis in alloreactive T effector (Teff) cells and phagocytes clearing apoptotic bodies will produce tolerogenic molecules, such as TGF-β, that will lead to the generation and/or expansion of Treg …

Characterization Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis Mfa1 Fimbriae., Jae Yong Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis, an obligate anaerobic bacterium associated with chronic periodontitis, utilizes various virulence factors to achieve pathogenicity, one of which is the Mfa1 fimbriae. As a surface structure comprising Mfa1 major subunit along with accessory fimbrial proteins Mfa2-5, the Mfa1 fimbriae has been shown to mediate the adherence of P. gingivalis to antecedent bacterial colonizers of the oral cavity to cause increased virulence. However, the spatial relationships amongst the individual subunits and their assembly mechanism have remained unclear. Through immuno-electron microscopy, Mfa1-4 were localized on the surface of P. gingivalis with Mfa1 localizing throughout the fimbriae and Mfa2 in …

Gene Expression Of Ammonium Transporters In Ustilago Maydis And Their Role In Pathogenicity And Virulence., Kirsten Richardson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The fungus, Ustilago maydis, a plant pathogen of Zea mays, is capable of a dimorphic switch, e.g., a transition between a yeast-like form and a filamentous form. This switch is activated when U. maydis cells are starved for their preferred nitrogen source - ammonium. U. maydis has two important genes that play a role in this switch, ump1 and ump2. Each gene is responsible for the uptake of ammonium and the latter is responsible for the filamentous response in the absence of ammonium. Ump2 deletion mutants are unable to filament in response to low ammonium while ump1 deletion …

The Dlk1-Meg3 Locus In Malignant Cells Of Proposed Primordial Germ Cell Origins., Zachariah Payne Sellers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are hypothesized to deposit hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) along their migration route through the embryo during the early stages of embryogenesis. PGCs also undergo global chromatin remodeling, including the erasure and reestablishment of genomic imprints, during this migration. While PGCs do not spontaneously form teratomas, their malignant development into germ cell tumors (GCTs) in vivo is often accompanied by the retention of hypomethylation at the IGF2-H19 imprinting control differentially methylated region (DMR). Previous studies in bimaternal embryos determined that proper genomic imprinting at two paternally imprinted loci was necessary for their growth and development: Igf2-H19 and …

Characterization Of Filifactor Alocis And Its Immune Evasion Strategies Employed Against Human Neutrophils., Cortney Linn Armstrong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is among the most common of inflammatory conditions and is caused by bacterial and host derived factors. The presence of bacteria drives the recruitment of neutrophils, professional phagocytes, to migrate to specific oral sites where they produce potent antimicrobials to kill their target. However, this inflammation and production of antimicrobials must be strictly regulated to minimize collateral host tissue damage. Human neutrophils recognized the oral pathogen Filifactor alocis through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and upon binding, activated both p38 MAPK and ERK signaling pathways, known to be involved in neutrophil cell migration and degranulation. F. alocis also stimulated …

Characterizing Reactive Glutamines In Fibrinogen And Elucidating Factor Xiii Substrate Specificity., Kelly Njine Mouapi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fibrinogen is the most abundant protein involved in blood coagulation and has been associated with many pathological implications in cardiovascular disease. At the final stages of blood clot formation, the transglutaminase Factor XIIIa introduces γ-glutamyl-ε-lysinyl covalent bonds between reactive glutamines and lysines in fibrin, which results in a tighter clot network that is resistant to fibrinolysis. Factor XIIIa crosslinks specific reactive glutamines on fibrinogen, selecting more reactive glutamines in the αC region of fibrinogen than any other chain. Although crosslinking pairs in the αC region have been identified, little is known about the extent of crosslinking and the role played …

Regulation Of Haplid Phenotypes In Ustilago Maydis By Ammonium Transporters And Components Of The B Mating Locus., Rena Margaret Wallen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fungi that can switch from budding to a filamentous infectious state have evolved mating type loci. Ustilago maydis, the maize pathogen, must mate with compatible partners possessing different alleles at two mating type loci for successful host infection. The a locus encodes pheromones and receptors, while the b locus encodes subunits of a heterodimeric transcription factor that regulates expression of virulence genes. Mating is triggered by environmental signals, including nutrient deprivation. My goal was to determine the fate of nitrogen starved haploid cells without a compatible mating partner. On solid low ammonium media, wild-type U. maydis filaments. I examined …

Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A'S Role In Heart Failure., George H. Kunkel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: An essential mitochondrial component, Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A (TFAM) is reduced within the failing heart. TFAM maintains regulatory functions of cardiomyocyte physiology and stability. Mitochondrial Transcription Factor A forms a mitochondrial nucleoid anti-oxidant structure and reduces pathophysiological abnormalities to structural and contractile proteins. Overall, this functions to physically stabilize mtDNA. Significant molecular changes such as a loss of TFAM drive pathophysiological concentrations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ and reactive oxygen species. Both of these factors induce proteolytic enzymes to degrade the physiological cardiomyocyte. In TFAMs absence, heart function deteriorates and hypertrophic expansion ensues: thereby changing the physiological myocardium to a pathological …

Algorithms For Automated Assignment Of Solution-State And Solid-State Protein Nmr Spectra., Andrey Smelter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Protein nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (Protein NMR) is an invaluable analytical technique for studying protein structure, function, and dynamics. There are two major types of NMR spectroscopy that are used for investigation of protein structure – solution-state and solid-state NMR. Solution-based NMR spectroscopy is typically applied to proteins of small and medium size that are soluble in water. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is amenable for proteins that are insoluble in water. In the vast majority NMR-based protein studies, the first step after experiment optimization is the assignment of protein resonances via the association of chemical shift values to specific atoms in …

Mechanism Investigation Of Pseudouridine Synthases Trub And Rlua With Rna Containing 5-Fluorouridine And 4-Thiouridine., Uyen T. Duong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pseudouridine synthases (Ψ synthases) are the enzymes that catalyze the isomerization of uridine (U) to pseudouridine (Ψ), which is the most prevalent post-transcriptional modification of RNA. The Ψ synthases fall into six different families that share no significant global sequence similarity; however, they all involve a conserved aspartic acid residue which is absolutely essential for activity. Tyrosine is a conserved residue in the active site in five of the six families of Ψ synthases (phenylalanine in the TruD family) and was hypothesized as the general base for the isomerization reaction. To confirm the function of Tyr-96, Y96F RluA was assayed …

Circuits For Active Vision : Parallel Tectothalamocortical Visual Pathways In The Mouse., Na Zhou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Vision is a critical sensation for the interaction between humans and their surrounding environment. The eyes connect with the brain via retinal ganglion cell axons, which transmit visual sensory information from the periphery into the central nervous system for further processing, eventually leading to visual perception and the visual guidance of movement. Two main targets of retinal axons are the superior colliculus (SC) and the dorsal thalamus. From the SC, visual information is conveyed to the dorsal thalamus, and from the dorsal thalamus visual information is conveyed to the cortex, striatum and amygdala. This dissertation is focused on the functional …

Novel Insight Into The Liver-Lung Axis In Alcohol-Enhanced Acute Lung Injury., Lauren G. Poole

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background. Individuals who chronically abuse alcohol are almost 4 times more likely to develop Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), the most severe form of Acute Lung Injury (ALI), but the mechanisms by which alcohol abuse sensitizes the lung to injury are poorly understood. However, the lung appears to share many parallel mechanisms of injury with the liver- a primary target of alcohol abuse. The overarching goal of this dissertation was therefore to expand on established mechanisms of alcohol-induced liver injury to ask innovative questions about mechanisms of alcohol-enhanced acute lung injury, as well as to develop new tools that may …

Advances In Tumor-Targeted Therapy Using Nanomedicine., Divya Karukonda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite continuous improvement and significant progress made in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for cancer, it is still the leading cause of death worldwide. Although conventional chemotherapy has made significant advances in improving patient survival the indiscriminate destruction of normal cells leads to severe side effects and poor clinical outcomes. Thus, there is a need for effective delivery of drugs to the tumor site avoiding normal tissues to reduce toxicity in the rest of the body. For this reason, a novel multidisciplinary field called Nanotechnology has evolved in recent years and advances in this field have contributed to the development of …

Prevention And Treatment Of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis And Colorectal Cancer By Bilberry-Derived Anthocyanidins., Ashley M. Mudd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths within the United States. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an inherited disorder which if left untreated will develop into colon cancer. The family of plant-derived compounds, anthocyanins, show significant therapeutic potential against a variety of diseases, however, they are limited by their instability and poor bioavailability. The goal of my Master’s research project was to determine whether anthocyanidins (non-glycosylated anthocyanins) are more effective than the native anthocyanins, and whether exosomal formulation of anthocyanidins (ExoAnthos) can enhance therapeutic potency compared with free Anthos against both FAP and CRC. The antiproliferative …