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Electronic Theses and Dissertations

2016

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Articles 211 - 240 of 262

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Evaluation Of The Hypothalamic Kisspeptin System Throughout The Estrous Cycle And During The Attainment Of Puberty In Gilts, Eric Steven Jolitz Jan 2016

Evaluation Of The Hypothalamic Kisspeptin System Throughout The Estrous Cycle And During The Attainment Of Puberty In Gilts, Eric Steven Jolitz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kisspeptin has been demonstrated to affect reproductive cyclicity and the attainment of puberty in multiple species, presumably through its actions on GnRH and LH, as demonstrated in other species. Kisspeptin administration causes increased plasma concentrations of LH in pigs, sheep, and rats. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate 1) the hypothalamic kisspeptin system throughout various days of the estrous cycle and 2) the hypothalamic kisspeptin system during the peripubertal period in gilts. In experiment 1, 40 crossbred gilts (191 d, 121 kg) were administered an intramuscular injection of PG600. Twelve days after the administration of PG600, gilts were fed 15 …


The Contribution Of Missouri River Reservoir Side-Channel And Floodplain Habitats To Mainstem Fish Populations: The Effects Of Losing Connectivity Between Hipple Lake And Lake Sharpe, William Joseph Radigan Jan 2016

The Contribution Of Missouri River Reservoir Side-Channel And Floodplain Habitats To Mainstem Fish Populations: The Effects Of Losing Connectivity Between Hipple Lake And Lake Sharpe, William Joseph Radigan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catastrophic flooding of the Missouri River in 2011 has had lasting effects on floodplain habitats (i.e. floodplain lakes) and side-channel habitats (e.g. canals, side-channel embayments, stilling basins, and tributaries) in Lake Sharpe, SD. Floodplain and side-channel habitats are rare habitat in Lake Sharpe, a mainstem Missouri River reservoir, and are thought to be crucial habitat for prey and sport fish. Hipple Lake, the only warm-water floodplain embayment in Lake Sharpe, is in danger of losing connectivity to the reservoir because of sedimentation resulting from the 2011 flood. To evaluate Hipple Lake’s natal and adult contribution to Lake Sharpe’s fishery, otolith …


Evaluation And Identification Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Sources And Mapping Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Loci In Early Maturing Soybean Germplasm Accessions, Siddhi Jeewan Bhusal Jan 2016

Evaluation And Identification Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Sources And Mapping Of Soybean Aphid Resistance Loci In Early Maturing Soybean Germplasm Accessions, Siddhi Jeewan Bhusal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soybean aphid (Aphis glycines Matsumura) has been a major pest of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in North America particularly in the northern United States and three Canadian provinces. At least four biotypes of soybean aphid have been confirmed in the United States. Identification of soybean aphid resistance sources in early-maturing soybeans and genetic characterization of new sources of resistance will facilitate to expand the gene pool of soybean aphid resistance and thus will help to develop soybean aphid resistant cultivars. To identify new sources of resistance in early maturing soybeans, 330 soybean germplasm accessions from Maturity Group (MG) I, …


Colony Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor (Csf-1r) Expression, Degradation, And Signaling In Lipid-Laden Macrophages, Gregory Thompson Jan 2016

Colony Stimulating Factor-1 Receptor (Csf-1r) Expression, Degradation, And Signaling In Lipid-Laden Macrophages, Gregory Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Atherosclerosis is a serious disease affecting a large portion of the world’s population. In atherosclerosis, macrophages become filled with lipid droplets and form fatty plaques in artery walls. The formation of these atherosclerotic plaques is dependent on the macrophage growth factor colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1); however, understanding the changes in CSF-1 signaling and related pathways in foam cells remain poorly investigated. Lipid-laden macrophages were formed through exposure of murine bone marrow derived macrophages to 100 μg/ml acetylated LDL for 24 h. Non-LDL treated macrophages were grown in parallel for each experiment and used for comparison. Immunofluorescent staining was used to …


Cooperation And Punishment In The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Implications For Resource Exchange & Biological Market Dynamics, Jerry A. Mensah Jan 2016

Cooperation And Punishment In The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis: Implications For Resource Exchange & Biological Market Dynamics, Jerry A. Mensah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis is arguably the world’s most abundant and important mutualism, and brings together the roots of the majority of land plants and AM fungi to great mutual advantage. The AM symbiosis can increase the uptake of nutrients, such as phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), and improves the abiotic and biotic stress resistance of the host plant. AM fungi have the potential to act as biofertilizers and bioprotectors in sustainable agriculture. However, despite its significance, the mechanisms that control the resource exchange between both partners in the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis are largely unknown. The main aim of …


Evaluation Of Essential Oils (Stay Strong) For Dairy Calves, Kelly Ann Froehlich Jan 2016

Evaluation Of Essential Oils (Stay Strong) For Dairy Calves, Kelly Ann Froehlich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stay Strong (SS, Ralco Inc., Marshall, MN) is a blend of essential oils (EO) and prebiotic fiber technologies designed to promote immunity and stimulate appetite, helping to diminish health challenges and stresses experienced by newborn calves. Current feeding inclusion rates are unknown to achieve optimal performance in the first 8 weeks of life. The study objectives were to determine the optimal feeding inclusion rate of SS when added to milk replacer (MR) to achieve optimal performance when compared to a yeast cell wall (YCW). One hundred Holstein calves were blocked by birth date and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 …


Restoration Of Eroded Lands With Biochar As Soil Amendment In South Dakota, Saroop S. Sandhu Jan 2016

Restoration Of Eroded Lands With Biochar As Soil Amendment In South Dakota, Saroop S. Sandhu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biochar is produced from incomplete pyrolysis of plant biomass. Due to the unique properties of biochar such as a higher number of micropores, surface area and carbon content, and recalcitrant nature of carbon, biochar is hypothesized to improve physical and hydrological properties of soil. This study assesses the impact of biochar on soil organic carbon, physical and hydrological properties of two landscape positions under a corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation. Three types of biochar including corn stover, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson and C. Lawson) wood residue, and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) were applied in the field …


Evaluation Of Tillage, Crop Rotation, And Cover Crop Impacts On Corn Nitrogen Requirements In Southeastern South Dakota, Sara Louise Berg Jan 2016

Evaluation Of Tillage, Crop Rotation, And Cover Crop Impacts On Corn Nitrogen Requirements In Southeastern South Dakota, Sara Louise Berg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is a vital factor of corn (Zea mays) production. Previous work in South Dakota has shown that there is uncertainty as to whether nitrogen requirements are the same for corn raised under no-till (NT) versus conventional till (CT) production systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether N requirements continue to be greater under long-term NT versus CT production systems in southeastern South Dakota, while also considering effects from cover crops and crop rotation. This was a two year study conducted at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm near Beresford, SD; it was superimposed on a long-term …


Enhancing The Industrial Potential Of Filamentous Cyanobacteria, Tylor J. Johnson Jan 2016

Enhancing The Industrial Potential Of Filamentous Cyanobacteria, Tylor J. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this project were to improve the industrial potential of filamentous N2-fixing cyanobacteria by increasing its biofuel tolerance, and to evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental impacts of a theoretical, cyanobacteria-based biofuel production facility. To develop a method to quantify filamentous cyanobacteria in dilute culture media, a dual-stained fluorescence assay was evaluated. While the viable cell stain (SYTO® 9) was accurate, the non-viable cell stain (propidium iodide) also bound to viable cells. Additional non-viable cell stains were evaluated, but none were accurate at quantifying viability. Thus we concluded that the viable cell stain SYTO® 9 is a reliable …


Raptors In Temperate Grasslands: Ecology Of Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, And Northern Harrier In The Northern Great Plains, Shubham Datta Jan 2016

Raptors In Temperate Grasslands: Ecology Of Ferruginous Hawk, Golden Eagle, And Northern Harrier In The Northern Great Plains, Shubham Datta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) are a grassland and shrubland obligate nesting raptor and prefer lightly grazed pasture or idle areas for nesting. Their population reportedly declines in number if more than 30% of an area is cultivated and they rarely nest in areas dominated by croplands. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are long-lived raptors with high nest-site fidelity and relatively low reproductive success. Population trends of golden eagles in western United States are unclear although long-term monitoring of populations shows declines in occupancy and breeding performance. Northern harriers (Circus cyaneus) prefer relatively open grasslands and …


Development And Characterization Of A Recombinant Orf Virus Vector Expressing The Spike Protein Of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, Kyle Hain Jan 2016

Development And Characterization Of A Recombinant Orf Virus Vector Expressing The Spike Protein Of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus, Kyle Hain

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Orf virus (ORFV), the type member of the genus Parapoxvirus of the family Poxviridae, causes orf or cutaneous pustular dermatitis in sheep and goats. ORFV is a ubiquitous virus capable of re-infecting its hosts multiple times over time. ORFV causes a non-systemic, self-limiting disease which is usually restricted to the skin surrounding the virus entry sites. ORFV has evolved several immunomodulatory proteins (IMPs) that evade and/or modulate host immune responses to infection and contribute to virus virulence and disease pathogenesis. Given biological properties and unique immunomodula tor y properties, ORFV has gained significant attention in recent years for its …


Attitude Comparison Among South Dakota Family Members Regarding Estate Planning And Farm Transitions, Heather Gessner Jan 2016

Attitude Comparison Among South Dakota Family Members Regarding Estate Planning And Farm Transitions, Heather Gessner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Estate planning and intergenerational farm transitions are the focus of research and extension programs across the nation due to the potential tax consequences faced by farm operations, retirement funding options available and utilized by farmers, changes in asset transition tools available, and communication (or lack of communication) issues related to bringing an heir back to the family operation.
Past plans for research projects and extension programming developed across the nation and in South Dakota (SD), were created with many assumptions regarding the attitudes of farm family members towards the transition of ownership of the operational assets and personal assets of …


Morphologic And Transcriptomic Response To Weed Pressure In Multiple Maize (Zea Mays L.) Selections And Teosinte (Zea Mays L. Ssp Parviglumis) Lines, Stephanie A. Bruggeman Jan 2016

Morphologic And Transcriptomic Response To Weed Pressure In Multiple Maize (Zea Mays L.) Selections And Teosinte (Zea Mays L. Ssp Parviglumis) Lines, Stephanie A. Bruggeman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. convar. saccharata var. rugosa) and modern dent variants (field maize, Zea mays L. indentata) have varying degrees of weed tolerance (ability to maintain yield under weed stress). Maize retains ~30% of its ancestral teosinte’s (Zea mays ssp parviglumis) genetic base. Transcriptomic response to weed pressure in maize and teosinte can lead to manipulation of the maize genome to minimize crop yield loss due to weed presence. In maize and teosinte under weed-free and weedstressed conditions, the objectives of this study were: 1) to evaluate transcriptomic responses of 2 teosinte lines; 2) …


Inactivation Of Thermodynamic Sporeformers And Spores In Skim Milk By Continuous Ultrasonication And Hydrodynamic Cavitation In Combination With Thermal Treatments, Dikshi Bawa Jan 2016

Inactivation Of Thermodynamic Sporeformers And Spores In Skim Milk By Continuous Ultrasonication And Hydrodynamic Cavitation In Combination With Thermal Treatments, Dikshi Bawa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies were conducted to determine the effectiveness of ultrasonication and hydrodynamic cavitation, in a continuous mode, alone and in combination with thermal treatments, on heat resistant aerobic sporeformers and spores in skim milk, and skim milk concentrate. The first study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a continuous ultrasonication process to reduce thermoduric Bacillus coagulans cells in skim milk. A 25% reduction was obtained by lab pasteurization alone, whereas ultrasonication alone resulted in an inactivation of 92% after 12 passes (80 sec exposure time per pass). Ultrasonication when combined with pasteurization resulted in further increased inactivation to 99.98%. It …


Impact Of New Processing Technologies On The Physical And Functional Properties Of Skim Milk And Skim Milk Concentrate, Harsh Dahiya Jan 2016

Impact Of New Processing Technologies On The Physical And Functional Properties Of Skim Milk And Skim Milk Concentrate, Harsh Dahiya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

United States is one of the largest producer of cow’s milk in the world and a substantial portion of this milk is converted into dried milk products, a category that is becoming increasingly important to the dairy industry. The processing treatments on skim milk and skim milk concentrate affect the functionality of resultant powders made from them, therefore processing treatments are crucial to modify physical and functional properties of skim milk, skim milk concentrates and the powders made from them. The objective of this research was to explore impact of new processing technologies hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) …


The Search For Modifiers Of The Maze Gametophyte Factor Ga1-S And Quantitative Trait Polymorphisms Emerging From Doubled-Haploid Maize Lines, Vivek Shrestha Jan 2016

The Search For Modifiers Of The Maze Gametophyte Factor Ga1-S And Quantitative Trait Polymorphisms Emerging From Doubled-Haploid Maize Lines, Vivek Shrestha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The project was designed to conduct two independent projects. The first project was to identify the genomic localization of the modifiers of the maize gametophyte factor (Ga1-s) and the second project was to establish and identify heritable polymorphic lines that have descended from a single doubled-haploid B73 plant. The objectives were (1) to search for modifier genes and loci on the maize chromosomes for the trait and determine genetic effects of them using QTL mapping; (2) to demonstrate the heritable polymorphism of the quantitative traits emerged from the descendants of a single doubled-haploid maize plant. Regarding the QTL …


An Evaluation Of Feeding A Blend Of Essential Oils And Cobalt Lactate To Lactating Dairy Cows, Olivia Jayne Kuester Jan 2016

An Evaluation Of Feeding A Blend Of Essential Oils And Cobalt Lactate To Lactating Dairy Cows, Olivia Jayne Kuester

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine if the inclusion of a blend of essential oils and cobalt lactate (EOC) in the diet of lactating dairy cows could result in improved nutrient utilization and lactational performance in addition to assessing the application of EOC to control feed mycotoxins and spoilage. The trial was conducted in two experimental periods (Phase 1 (P1) and Phase 2 (P2)) on a commercial dairy in southwest Minnesota equipped with two robotic milking units. Phases 1 and 2 were cross over design trials with two pens. Cows were housed in two freestall pens (57 ± …


The Healthfulness Of Entrées And Students’ Purchases In The Campus Dining Environment, Krista Leischner Jan 2016

The Healthfulness Of Entrées And Students’ Purchases In The Campus Dining Environment, Krista Leischner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the availability of “more” versus “less healthful” entrée items in the campus dining environment and also to determine if students’ purchases are reflective of what is offered.
Entrée items were categorized as either “more” or “less healthful” according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Students’ entrée purchases from the 2014- 2015 school year were analyzed at a Midwestern university. The relationship between students’ demographics and food purchases was also analyzed in this observational study. Significant differences between more healthful and less healthful purchased and available items were determined using a Chi-square test. …


An Evaluation Of Rumen Modifiers For Lactational Performance And Nutrient Digestibility By Cows, Prakash Poudel Jan 2016

An Evaluation Of Rumen Modifiers For Lactational Performance And Nutrient Digestibility By Cows, Prakash Poudel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three studies were conducted to evaluate a commercial blend of essential oils, active dried yeast product and cobalt lactate on production performance, rumen fermentation and nutrient digestibility by cows by using in vivo and in vitro methods. The first study evaluated the lactational performance and nutrient digestibility of lactating Holstein dairy cows fed two commercial supplements: 1) a propriety blend of essential oils and Cobalt lactate (EOC) (Stay Strong, Ralco, Inc., Marshall, MN) and 2) active dried yeast (ADY) (Omnigen AF, Prince Agri Products, Inc., Quincy, IL). The 12-week experiment demonstrated no differences in milk production, milk composition, and feed …


Soybean Yield And Plant Response To Phosphorus Fertilization, Rebecca L. Helget Jan 2016

Soybean Yield And Plant Response To Phosphorus Fertilization, Rebecca L. Helget

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) is a key limiting nutrient for soybean production in South Dakota. Soil tests have been used as a baseline indicator for plant available P and fertilizer recommendations for over a century. Plant nutrient analysis may be used to complement a soil test as a way to validate fertilizer and management practices. Soybean nutrient sufficiency ranges have only been slightly adjusted since they were published in the 1960’s. The objectives of this study were to update the soil test P and soybean plant P sufficiency level in South Dakota and to recognize implications of improper plant sampling. We also …


The Endophytes Of Pediomelum Esculentum: A Unique Case In Legume Evolution, Tyrel Ryan Deutscher Jan 2016

The Endophytes Of Pediomelum Esculentum: A Unique Case In Legume Evolution, Tyrel Ryan Deutscher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pediomelum esculentum (commonly prairie turnip) is a perennial legume of the Great Plains, consisting of a deep taproot and large edible tuber, and has served as a nutritious staple in Native American diets. The tuber is capable of storing up to 20 percent protein by weight. P. esculentum is a legume, but not a prominent nodule former; instead, it grows in nitrogen-limited soils and produces large amounts of protein. This suggests the involvement of biological nitrogen fixation. We have investigated the presence of diazotrophic endophytes in P. esculentum. Bacteria were isolated from wild plants on nitrogen free media, identified …


The Efficacy Of Allopurinol In Suppressing Hypersensitive-Like Symptoms In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) And In Suppressing Sunflower Rust (Puccinia Helianthi) Symptoms, Thumbiko Walker Gambler Mkandawire Jan 2016

The Efficacy Of Allopurinol In Suppressing Hypersensitive-Like Symptoms In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) And In Suppressing Sunflower Rust (Puccinia Helianthi) Symptoms, Thumbiko Walker Gambler Mkandawire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A mutant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotype can constitutively produce hypersensitive-like flecks in the absence of any pathogen. The lesions of the mutant are thought to be the result of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which are similarly implicated in hypersensitive reactions to fungal pathogens. Allopurinol can suppress ROS. Consequently, allopurinol was applied to a wheat lesion mutant to test the hypothesis that the same ROS are involved, regardless of the presence of the pathogen. ‘Ning7840’, a lesion mutant and ‘Alsen’, a related genotype that does not express the mutant phenotype were treated with different concentrations of allopurinol under controlled …


Long-Term Impacts Of Annual Cattle Manure And Fertilizer On Soil Quality Under Corn-Soybean Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Ekrem Ozlu Jan 2016

Long-Term Impacts Of Annual Cattle Manure And Fertilizer On Soil Quality Under Corn-Soybean Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Ekrem Ozlu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dairy and beef manure have been used to enhance soil quality; however, their impacts under long-term application in corn-soybean rotation need to be evaluated. Nutrient based recommended rates of manure applications on soils are important and also need to be monitored. This study, therefore, was conducted at two long-term sites to assess the impacts of manure and inorganic fertilizer application rates on some of the soil quality indicators and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in a corn (Zea mays L.) - soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation system located at Beresford and Brookings in Eastern South Dakota. Study treatments included: …


Synthetic Biology For Autotrophic And Heterotrophic Production Of Ethanol, Nathanael Braselton Jan 2016

Synthetic Biology For Autotrophic And Heterotrophic Production Of Ethanol, Nathanael Braselton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Growing energy demand and rising levels of greenhouse gases has put massive strain on the global environment. Alternatives to fossil fuels are being developed in an attempt to curb climate change. Biotechnology has made large strides in order to create a completely renewable energy source by genetically modifying microbes to produce biofuels and other “green” high value compounds. In this thesis project, (1) E. coli ATCC9637 (E. coli W) was genetically modified to produce bioethanol from beet juice which contains mainly sucrose. The ethanol productivity by engineered E. coli W was 18.8 mg/L/H/OD600.
(2) Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC7120 …


Developing Management Guidelines That Balance Cattle And Timber Production With Ecological Interests In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Kurt M. Chowanski Jan 2016

Developing Management Guidelines That Balance Cattle And Timber Production With Ecological Interests In The Black Hills Of South Dakota, Kurt M. Chowanski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Forested lands contribute to the United States (US) economy by providing livestock and timber production. Livestock grazing of forested lands has been widespread throughout the western US since the settlement era, and currently occurs on 51.4 million hectares (ha) representing 16% of all US grazing land and 22% of all US forested land (Nickerson et al. 2011). While livestock grazing and timber harvest are occurring on a substantial amount of forested land, relationships between management practices, tree stocking, timber production, forage production, livestock grazing, wildlife, aesthetics, and ecological integrity are not well documented. Whether considering timber or cattle, finding a …


Role Of Silencing Rna Fgsir34 In Fusarium Graminearum's Pathogenicity To Wheat, Subha Dahal Jan 2016

Role Of Silencing Rna Fgsir34 In Fusarium Graminearum's Pathogenicity To Wheat, Subha Dahal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fusarium graminearum is an ascomycetous fungal pathogen that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) disease in wheat and other cereal grains. Mycotoxin produced by the fungus, predominantly deoxynivalenol (DON), is considered as an important virulence factor for the spread of disease. Our previous study of a Dicer-like 2 knockdown mutant has led to our hypothesis that a silencing RNA, fgsiR34, might play a key role in regulating DON biosynthesis and some other virulent factors. To test this hypothesis, we generated an fgsiR34 over-expressing mutant (ΔfgsiR34+) using Inverse Repeat Transgene method and studied the pathogenicity of the mutant in …


Impacts Of Wetland Characteristics On Duck Use In The Prairie Pothole Region (Ppr) 1987-2013, Fred Thomas Oslund Jan 2016

Impacts Of Wetland Characteristics On Duck Use In The Prairie Pothole Region (Ppr) 1987-2013, Fred Thomas Oslund

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since 1987 the Waterfowl Breeding Populations and Production Estimates, also called the Four Square Mile Survey, has been conducted annually in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region. The survey was designed to assess the influence of the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program on contributions to continental waterfowl populations (Cowardin et al. 1995). Each year cooperators visit sample wetlands during two survey periods, collecting data on observed waterfowl and pond conditions. Along with ground counts, aerial photography of sample areas is collected annually, capturing habitat conditions. My objective was to assess the influence of local and landscape factors on duck pair densities. Local …


Role Of Microglial Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator In Neuroinflammatory Pain Models In Mice, Muzaffar Abbas Jan 2016

Role Of Microglial Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulator In Neuroinflammatory Pain Models In Mice, Muzaffar Abbas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neuroinflammatory pain affects about 1.5% of the United States population. Around 20-40% patients having neurological disorders are affected with neuroinflammatory pain. As a part of the limbic system, hippocampus is known to play a critical role in pain perception and processing, and is densely populated with microglial cells and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Given the role of microglial α7 nAChRs in neuroinflammation, the α7 nAChRs have emerged as potential target for neuroinflammatory pain treatment. We hypothesized that microglial α7 nAChRs positive allosteric modulation in the hippocampus will decrease neuroinflammatory pain at behavioral, cellular, biochemical, and molecular level. The primary …


Root Rot Pathogens Of Wheat In South Dakota And Their Affect On Seed Germination And Seedling Blight In Spring Wheat Cultivars, Navjot Kaur Jan 2016

Root Rot Pathogens Of Wheat In South Dakota And Their Affect On Seed Germination And Seedling Blight In Spring Wheat Cultivars, Navjot Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Crown rot and common root rot are the important root diseases in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other cereals causing significant germination and yield losses in the Northern Great Plains and other parts of the world. Bipolaris sorokiniana (Bs) and Fusarium graminearum (Fg) cause common root rot and crown rot respectively, are the important wheat root pathogens that can affect seed germination, seedling establishment and impact crop productivity. A survey was conducted in the year 2014 and 2015 to study the distribution and the prevalence of root rot pathogens in South Dakota. Out of 31 and eight roots samples …


Effect Of Oil And Natural Gas Development On Survival And Health Of White-Tailed Deer In The Western Dakotas, Katherine L. Moratz Jan 2016

Effect Of Oil And Natural Gas Development On Survival And Health Of White-Tailed Deer In The Western Dakotas, Katherine L. Moratz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oil and gas development in North Dakota has resulted in the need for information regarding how increased activity has affected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations. We evaluated white-tailed deer ecology in response to energy development and hypothesized that oil and gas development would negatively affect adult and neonate white-tailed deer due to increased vehicle traffic and human-related effects. We captured and radio-collared adult female and neonate white-tailed deer across three study areas: Dunn County, North Dakota, an area influenced by energy development, and Grant County, North Dakota, and Perkins County, South Dakota, areas not impacted by energy development at this …