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Articles 1 - 30 of 127
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Potential Arm Preference Within Starfish Species Including Asterias Vulgaris And Luidia Clathrata: A Study And Summary, Rebecca Jones, Young Robert
Potential Arm Preference Within Starfish Species Including Asterias Vulgaris And Luidia Clathrata: A Study And Summary, Rebecca Jones, Young Robert
Honors Theses
Foraging arm preference was tested in two species of starfish: Asterias vulgaris and Luidia clathrata. No evidence was found for a species-wide preference or for a preference by individual sea stars, but trials were impacted by illness and resulting low sample size.
Microfiber Concentrations In Sand From Nesting Sea Turtle Beaches In Costa Rica, South Carolina, And Florida., Kaylin Leroy, George Boneillo
Microfiber Concentrations In Sand From Nesting Sea Turtle Beaches In Costa Rica, South Carolina, And Florida., Kaylin Leroy, George Boneillo
Honors Theses
Microplastics are an increasing threat to marine environments and the organisms that inhabit them. Since plastic pollution in the ocean is prominent throughout the globe, microplastic is washing ashore, affecting important sea turtle nesting sites. This study quantified microfibers in the sand of various sea turtle nesting sites around the world. Sand samples were collected in Myrtle Beach (South Carolina), Destin (Florida) and the Pacuare Reserve (Costa Rica). The microfibers were retrieved using a super saline solution and then filtered under a hood. Filters were then counted using microscopy. Microfibers were found at every sampling site, with the lowest surface …
Predation Effects On Mid-Marsh Ribbed Mussel Mortality, Cluster Size, And Facilitation Of Cordgrass Growth, Colten Winter, Keith Walters
Predation Effects On Mid-Marsh Ribbed Mussel Mortality, Cluster Size, And Facilitation Of Cordgrass Growth, Colten Winter, Keith Walters
Honors Theses
Reciprocal facilitation between Geukensia demissa, ribbed mussels, and Sporobolus alterniflorus, cordgrass, has a positive effect on salt marsh ecosystems. Mussel clusters enhance cordgrass growth and drought resistance and cordgrass provides attachment and shade for mussel aggregations. Along with benefits for both mussels and cordgrass, the mutualism facilitates increased biodiversity and shoreline stabilization and enhances marsh ecosystem functions. Aspects of mussel patch configuration including cluster size, perimeter and connectivity modulate the reciprocal facilitation effects of cordgrass and mussels on marsh ecosystems. In a northern South Carolina marsh system, mussel patch configuration positively influenced cordgrass biomass. Predation affected mussel patch …
Effects Of Temperature On Enzyme Activity Of Aquatic Litter-Associated Fungi, Nicholas Bautz
Effects Of Temperature On Enzyme Activity Of Aquatic Litter-Associated Fungi, Nicholas Bautz
Honors Theses
The decomposition of leaf litter in aquatic ecosystems is carried out mostly by microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Fungi, known as aquatic hyphomycetes, dominate microbial communities in the decomposition of leaf litter. These fungi produce extracellular enzymes that aid in the sequestration of carbon and nutrients and lead to the breakdown of complex plant polymers. We evaluated the effects of temperature on extracellular enzyme activity within the framework of the Metabolic Theory of Ecology (MTE). The activity of β-1,4-glucosidase and β-1,4-xylosidase was estimated fluorometrically using artificial substrate analogs. Phenol oxidase activity was estimated spectrophotometrically from oxidation of L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). We …
Pre-Juvenile Naked Goby (Gobiosoma Bosc) Age And Growth, Annamaria Deitz, Juliana Harding
Pre-Juvenile Naked Goby (Gobiosoma Bosc) Age And Growth, Annamaria Deitz, Juliana Harding
Honors Theses
Due to the abundance of larval naked gobies, Gobiosoma bosc, within the estuarine ichthyoplankton, it is important to understand their age and growth. Naked gobies are a largely distributed, both geographically and within an estuary, small, benthic fish species. There are 3 pairs of otoliths, calcium carbonate structures within the ear canal, that detect vibrations and record the age of the fish, both daily and annually. Using laboratory-reared gobies of a known age (Tremont et al. 2015), daily signatures on the sagittal otoliths were first validated to be daily, then a growth curve for the wild caught larvae was …
The Macroevolution Of Diadromous And Non-Diadromous Clupeiformes., Lindsey Dehaan
The Macroevolution Of Diadromous And Non-Diadromous Clupeiformes., Lindsey Dehaan
Honors Theses
Migration is a common life history strategy across the animal tree of life. This behavior is energetically demanding and may trigger strong selection for the evolution of an optimal ecomorphology to lessen energetic costs, yet the ecomorphology of migratory aquatic species remains poorly understood. Previous studies have demonstrated that migratory fishes exhibit predictable phenotypic patterns in body size evolution in response to evolving migration: migratory fishes are larger than non-migratory fishes. Migratory fishes may also have functional traits (e.g. fin shape) associated with locomotion that have experienced similar selective forces and exhibit predictable evolutionary patterns, resulting in migratory lineages sharing …
Is Natural Selection Shaping Florida Manatees? : An Investigation Into The Body Shapes Between The Subspecies Of The West Indian Manatee, Juliane Johnson
Is Natural Selection Shaping Florida Manatees? : An Investigation Into The Body Shapes Between The Subspecies Of The West Indian Manatee, Juliane Johnson
Honors Theses
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is currently divided into two subspecies: the Antillean (T. m. manatus) and Florida manatee (T. m. latirostris). Florida manatees are found at the northern extreme of the species range, primarily inhabiting the waters around the Florida peninsula, while the Antillean manatee inhabits the remaining range from the Caribbean islands to eastern Brazil. Only in the range of the Florida manatee does water temperature drop below 20°C during the winter, and these manatees have to seek warm water refuge for thermal regulation. Allen's rule predicts that in colder climates animals will adapt to have smaller …
Oil Preference In Ants And Arthropod Diversity In Urban Environments, Itzel Guzman-Hernandez
Oil Preference In Ants And Arthropod Diversity In Urban Environments, Itzel Guzman-Hernandez
Honors Theses
The success of certain ant species in urban areas is largely unknown. Available food in the environment could affect the composition of ants in urban areas due to a possible relationship between ant physiology and diet. I tested the oil preference of ants as a function of available arthropod prey in urban environments. I hypothesized that as arthropod diversity decreased, ant abundance at oil baits would decrease. Oil is an important nutrient that can affect ant body functions and activities. Ant foraging activities have been found to be affected by lipid depletion. A food source where ants can obtain oil …
Assessing Prevalence Of Eating Disorders Among College Students, Taylor Jordan Duncan
Assessing Prevalence Of Eating Disorders Among College Students, Taylor Jordan Duncan
Honors Theses
Eating disorders have become a subject of concern for college-aged young adults in recent years. Risk factors like social media use are contributing to an increase in affected students, and research suggests that gender along with other variables plays a significant role. This thesis examined the current research on eating disorders and risk factors associated with their development. Through an online survey, information from freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, and graduate students at The University of Southern Mississippi regarding their current eating behaviors, feelings toward food and body, and demographic information was collected. Data collected indicated the student population’s level of …
Instructional Focus And Task Load In Performance Of A Fine Motor Skill, Adam Linden
Instructional Focus And Task Load In Performance Of A Fine Motor Skill, Adam Linden
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Review Of Naturally Occurring Ammonia In Groundwater And Its Effect On Using Chloramines For Drinking Water Disinfection In Louisiana, Athena Lindsay
Review Of Naturally Occurring Ammonia In Groundwater And Its Effect On Using Chloramines For Drinking Water Disinfection In Louisiana, Athena Lindsay
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
Microrna Identification And Target Prediction In The Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci), Alexis Aleman
Microrna Identification And Target Prediction In The Whitefly (Bemisia Tabaci), Alexis Aleman
Honors Theses
RNA interference, referred to as RNAi, is a biological phenomenon whereby knock-down of gene expression can be achieved through the use of RNA molecules, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). The use of miRNAs is an endogenous pathway that results in the degradation of the miRNA strand’s complementary messenger RNA (mRNA), preventing the translation of the mRNA and therefore the production of the proteins necessary for gene expression. While RNAi is a biological phenomenon that occurs naturally, it is also a method that can be used and manipulated in the laboratory to try to control the expression of …
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Isolated From Michigan Birds - A High School Learning Experience, Cody Benfant
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Isolated From Michigan Birds - A High School Learning Experience, Cody Benfant
Honors Theses
Bacteria, extremely small prokaryotic cells, are everywhere throughout the world. One striking thing about bacteria is their size: comparing a 2-micrometer bacterial cell to a 6-foot-tall human is similar in scale to comparing a 6-foot-tall human to the distance between Chicago, IL and Denver, CO! Despite their small size, bacteria are found in almost every ecosystem and environment imaginable. From deep sea hydrothermal vents to the clouds miles in the sky, there are trillions of bacteria flourishing in all of Earth’s ecosystems, performing many important functions in global nutrient cycles. While the majority of bacteria are beneficial to humans, …
Investigation Of Even-Skipped, A Developmentally-Regulated Gene Controlling Neural Segmentation In Dragonflies, Kathryn Bangser
Investigation Of Even-Skipped, A Developmentally-Regulated Gene Controlling Neural Segmentation In Dragonflies, Kathryn Bangser
Honors Theses
A comprehensive understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying pattern formation and neurogenesis is necessary in order to trace the evolutionary history of insect embryogenesis.
One of the most important processes of embryogenesis is the organized pattern formation that allows for proper body segmentation and neural development. Proper segmentation, which relies on a series of specific gene expressions, is necessary for the development of an operational nervous system. Even-skipped (eve), one such regulatory gene, has been studied extensively in certain model organisms, and theories regarding the evolution of its functional role could be further elucidated by visualizing its expression …
Mutations In The Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Caveolin Interaction Motif Cause Increased Basal Activation, Elizabeth Altman
Mutations In The Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone Receptor Caveolin Interaction Motif Cause Increased Basal Activation, Elizabeth Altman
Honors Theses
Over twelve percent of women aged fifteen to forty-five in America suffer from infertility and/or impaired fecundity and over seven million women have used infertility services, such as intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization. Some cases of infertility may be due to dysfunctional human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) signaling. hFSH plays a role in spermatogenesis in males, as well as follicle maturation and estrogen production in females. Problems with either hFSH or the hFSH receptor (hFSHR) decrease fertility in males and cause complete infertility in females. As part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, hFSH is released from the pituitary gland and …
Diurnal Variation In Co2 Efflux By Pine Seedlings And Root-Associated Mycorrhizal Fungi, Richard Easterling
Diurnal Variation In Co2 Efflux By Pine Seedlings And Root-Associated Mycorrhizal Fungi, Richard Easterling
Honors Theses
This project was part of a larger experiment conducted by Amber Horning and Jason Hoeksema in the Department of Biology at the University of Mississippi, which was set up to investigate variation (over time, and with different light levels) in resource exchange between pine seedlings and two different species of ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber, with mycorrhizal pine seedlings growing in plexiglass "mycocosms." I worked with two EM fungal species (Rhizopogon roseolus and Pisolithus arhizus, hereafter "Rhizopogon" and "Pisolithus"), which were collected locally near Oxford, Mississippi under loblolly pine. I selected a subset of …
Analysis Of Septum Defects In Arabidopsis Organ Boundary Mutants, Katherine T. Anderson
Analysis Of Septum Defects In Arabidopsis Organ Boundary Mutants, Katherine T. Anderson
Honors Theses
Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant species, has been heavily studied to determine the genetic contributions that lead to gynoecium development. The Arabidopsis fruit is created from two carpels that form a gynoecium, which contains the stigma, style, and ovary. The ovary is divided into two sub-compartments by a septum, and the ovules develop within the ovary. The fruit’s purpose is to protect, nurture, and eventually disperse the mature ovules, or seeds, and if the septum does not fuse properly, the plant’s fertility will be impacted. SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) and ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX GENE1 (ATH1) are two genes that are known …
Auditory Radiation And Cognitive Decline: Probabilistic Tractography Study, Adryanna Tucker
Auditory Radiation And Cognitive Decline: Probabilistic Tractography Study, Adryanna Tucker
Honors Theses
The relationship between hearing loss and Alzheimer’s disease has been studied for many years. Previous studies have shown a negative correlation between the two. In our study, we investigated the relationship between the strength of the auditory radiation connections and the severity of cognitive decline. To do so, we assessed probabilistic tractography using DTI data of the primary auditory pathway. Further, we assessed the level of cognition using the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cog to determine the relationship between the auditory connections assessed in each patient and that patient’s level of cognitive decline. We found that FA and AD were positively …
An Investigation Of Possible Reservoirs Of Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus Of Turkeys In Mississippi, Walker Hyche
An Investigation Of Possible Reservoirs Of Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus Of Turkeys In Mississippi, Walker Hyche
Honors Theses
Emerging infectious diseases are a problem among wildlife and domestic populations. It is critical for these diseases to be studied. Lymphoproliferative disease virus is a retrovirus affecting turkeys and chickens. Prior research originally identified the virus in the United Kingdom and Israel. The first case of LPDV in the United States was found in 2009 in Arkansas. This study tests different reservoirs for the virus. DNA was extracted from samples of different origins and preservation types. Through PCR and gel electrophoresis analysis, different sample types from turkey populations were tested for LPDV. This study provides a method for submitting blood …
Investigation Of Origin And Growth Of Fungi In Coastal Beach Sand, Ruth L. Wright
Investigation Of Origin And Growth Of Fungi In Coastal Beach Sand, Ruth L. Wright
Honors Theses
In a previous study from this lab (Stevens, Evans, & Aguirre, 2012) yeast colonies were isolated and grown grown from sand collection at pristine, medium use and high use beaches along the grand strand. In that study greater yeast abundance and greater diversity both correlated with higher census of human use, suggesting that some yeast growth of sites was anthropogenic. However the sand matrix itself also varied from very fine, uniform, dark sand at the pristine beach to coarser, color varying, less tightly packed sand at residential and commercial beaches. This suggested an alternative hypothesis to differential colonization and growth …
Microplastics In Fiddler Crabs (Genus Uca), Gabrielle Forbes, Eric Rosch
Microplastics In Fiddler Crabs (Genus Uca), Gabrielle Forbes, Eric Rosch
Honors Theses
Microplastics, as defined by NOAA, are small plastic pieces less than five millimeters long, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. The production of plastic products and plastic use has exponentially increased since the start of plastic usage. Consequently, the amount of plastic waste has also increased greatly. Plastic waste that has been thrown out by humans into the environment breaks down into microscopic pieces, causing harm to organisms that live there. The purpose of this study was to see if there were microplastics passing through fiddler crabs (genus Uca), collected from the marsh at Waties Island, SC. Fecal …
Effects Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum On Experimentally Infected Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Meredith A. Fry
Effects Of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum On Experimentally Infected Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Meredith A. Fry
Honors Theses
The bacterium Mycoplasma gallisepticum is an avian respiratory pathogen that causes inflammation and swelling of conjunctiva in domestic poultry and wild finches. In the past, severity of conjunctivitis symptoms has been used to quantify infection severity and host resistance. However, many songbirds function as hosts to M. gallisepticum but do not develop this symptom at all. The absence of conjunctivitis, as well as other clinical signs, hinders our understanding of M. gallisepticum infection in the songbird community because some species are responding very differently than others. One such species is the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis), a common songbird of the …
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors And Breast Cancer Metastasis: A Review And Exploration Of Hdac(I)S And Other Chemotherapeutic Agents, William E. Sistrunk
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors And Breast Cancer Metastasis: A Review And Exploration Of Hdac(I)S And Other Chemotherapeutic Agents, William E. Sistrunk
Honors Theses
The traditional perspective of Histone Deacetylase enzymes is focused on their inherent epigenetic modification characteristics. While it is true that the histone modification these enzymes exhibit play a role in cancer and related diseases, Histone Deacetylase has a variety of non-histone targets. The non-histone targets include microtubules and are of specific interest because of the microtubules’ role in cell line differentiation, replication, apoptosis, and cancer metastasis. Using a variety of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) and other chemotherapeutic compounds, our research group explored the HDACi effect on breast cancer cell lines. Our goal was to indicate the presence of HDACi cell-line …
Screening For Mental Health Concerns Across Pregnancy : Factors Associated With Depression And Anxiety Symptons In A Large Obgyn Clinic, Addie Keller
Honors Theses
Depression and anxiety are prevalent among pregnant women, however, mental health continues to be a portion of care neglected in the obstetric setting. Depression is of-ten thought of as a disorder that leads to a persistent feeling of sadness. Anxiety is charac-terized by excessive fear and worry. Because of the many changes occurring throughout pregnancy, both physically and emotionally, it is not uncommon for pregnant women to struggle with depression, anxiety, or both. Previous studies have found that there are many factors associated with depression and anxiety throughout pregnancy. This study focuses on the relationship between age, gravida, and social …
Effects Of The Pathogen Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Transmission On Growth And Condition Of Eastern Bluebirds Nestlings (Sialia Sialis), Gurshan Kaur
Honors Theses
A critical aspect to understanding disease dynamics is to understand how transmission occurs between hosts. There are two basic modes of transmission: vertical and horizontal. Vertical transmission is the passage of a pathogen from mother to offspring before or during birth, whereas horizontal transmission occurs between an infected host to a susceptible host. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a common bacterial pathogen of poultry that causes respiratory disease. Infection of MG often results in weight loss, slowed growth rate, and increased mortality. Both vertical and horizontal transmission of MG have been found to occur in poultry. In the mid-90s, MG underwent …
The Effects Of An Animal Experience On State Anxiety In Female College Students, Angela Golio
The Effects Of An Animal Experience On State Anxiety In Female College Students, Angela Golio
Honors Theses
No abstract provided.
The Effect Of Simulated Storm Passage On The Behavior Of Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks, Chiloscyllium Plagiosum And Golden Shiners, Notemigonus Chrysoleucas, Jordan A. Healy
The Effect Of Simulated Storm Passage On The Behavior Of Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks, Chiloscyllium Plagiosum And Golden Shiners, Notemigonus Chrysoleucas, Jordan A. Healy
Honors Theses
Environmental changes during a storm can affect animal behavior; for example, tagged sharks leave shallow waters during tropical storms. While changes in shark behavior during storm passage have been documented, there have been no experimental tests to determine which environmental parameters are responsible. In this study, we experimentally manipulated two environmental cues: barometric pressure, and thunder sounds, to determine their effect on whitespotted bamboo sharks, Chiloscyllium plagiosum, and golden shiners, Notemigonus crysoleucas. Elasmobranchs do not have a swim bladder to detect pressure change; therefore, we used golden shiners to compare the reaction of a fish with a swim bladder. The …
The Effects Of Human Approach On Sanderling Foraging Behavior, Anne Hobdy, Eric Rosch
The Effects Of Human Approach On Sanderling Foraging Behavior, Anne Hobdy, Eric Rosch
Honors Theses
During low tide, sanderlings (Calidris alba) forage on small invertebrates in the sand of the intertidal zone. As a result, these common shorebirds frequently come into contact with humans who visit the beaches for a variety of activities, such as fishing or jogging. Here, the effects of three different approach types (undisturbed, passive, and aggressive) on sanderling foraging behavior were examined to help understand how human activities may be affecting their ability to search for food. At two local beaches, locomotory rate was recorded in addition to obvious changes in initial behavior. Treatments were defined as follows: 1) …
O-Glcnacylation Of Hif-1Α Protein In Human Breast Cancer Cells, Joshua D. Dolsen
O-Glcnacylation Of Hif-1Α Protein In Human Breast Cancer Cells, Joshua D. Dolsen
Honors Theses
Cancer is an insidious disease that, if not caught in time, can cause devastating effects on the human body, especially if it metastasizes. It is important to note that each cancer behaves and develops differently based on its location in the body and the cellular characteristics constitute the instance of the disease. However, the development of cancer can universally be characterized by the acquisition of different hallmark abilities that promote disease progression. Proteins known as hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) can influence progression through these hallmarks, but primarily provides cancer cells with the ability to alter its metabolism to survive and further …
The Upright Go Wearable Posture Device: An Evaluation Of Postural Health, Improvement Of Posture, And Salivary Cortisol Fluctuations In College Students, Alexandra Lauren Elliott
The Upright Go Wearable Posture Device: An Evaluation Of Postural Health, Improvement Of Posture, And Salivary Cortisol Fluctuations In College Students, Alexandra Lauren Elliott
Honors Theses
Health professionals consider improper posture as a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders, chronic pain, and additional health issues. The chief aim of my study was to investigate links between poor posture and health, particularly in college students. To collect data regarding postural health, I distributed an exploratory survey to Human Anatomy and Physiology II (BISC 207) students at the University of Mississippi in Spring 2018. Students reported significant concern with quality of personal posture and significant experience with negative side effects of poor posture. Results demonstrated a need for postural education, leading to phase 2 of my experiment, the evaluation …