Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effect Of Freeze-Thaw Events On Dna Integrity In The Gray Treefrog (Hyla Versicolor), Georgia Ficarra

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Freeze-tolerant gray treefrogs survive winter by producing natural cryoprotectants and accommodating ice formation within extracellular spaces. While frozen, gray treefrogs endure hyperglycemia, dehydration, and anoxia due to the halt of all bodily functions. Upon thawing, the frogs’ anoxic cells receive a rapid influx of oxygen, which can cause oxidative damage to vital macromolecules including DNA. Previous studies have suggested freeze-tolerant frogs avoid oxidative damage after freeze-thaw events by elevating antioxidant activity, but recent work has shown upregulated DNA repair encoding genes in post-freeze frogs. The objective of this thesis is to assess the cellular costs of freezing by measuring oxidative …

Predictive Distributional Modeling Of Rare And Uncommon Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) Of The Central Appalachian Mountains Using Maximum Entropy, Phillip Nathaniel Hogan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Predicting where rare species may be found is important in addressing and directing conservation efforts. Knowledge of the distribution for many of these taxa is often lacking or unknown altogether. The use of species distributional modeling fills gaps in this knowledge by predicting where a species may be present by taking a correlative approach between presence/pseudoabsences and environmental data. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of several rare and uncommon aquatic insects using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling as human influences within the central Appalachian Mountains are increasing and isolating pockets of biodiversity. Species distribution modeling of …

The Relationship Between Mindfulness, Proprioceptive Awareness, And Interoceptive Awareness, Casey Ford

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The goal was to understand mindfulness mechanisms of emotion regulation and body awareness and how these relate to interoceptive and proprioceptive awareness. The 23 participants completed the Five Factor Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ; Baer et al., 2006) and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interceptive Awareness (MAIA; Mehling et al., 2012). Then, the participants completed a procedure on the purpose-built Active Movement Extent Discrimination Apparatus (AMEDA; Symes et al., 2010), a device used to measure proprioception at the ankle joint. The entire procedure took one hour to complete. Results did not support the hypothesis that higher levels of mindfulness were related to higher …

The Influence Of Prenatal Yoga On Mental Health In Pregnancy During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Cathryn Duchette

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic poses risks to the mental health of expecting mothers as studies have demonstrated increased levels of stress and anxiety for new and expectant mothers during the pandemic. Prenatal yoga has been shown to be effective for improving mental health during pregnancy, but no research has been done to determine its effect on mental health during a pandemic. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a 10-week prenatal yoga intervention on the mental health of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Baseline levels of anxiety and depression were high, with an average depression score …

Mining 30 Years Of Conifer Records At The Baker Arboretum, Monika Decker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Only limited data had been published on the survivability of specimens within public gardens. This may be due to not enough data collected or how vast the plant selections are in the gardens. The Baker Arboretum has collected data by accessioning plant collections over a period of 30 years. The Baker Arboretum has its specimens GIS mapped on the 115-acre property for easy location and detection of the the woody ornamental plants. However, little research is available to understand which coniferous specimens have the best success in the garden. In this study, six separate binomial logistic regressions were run to …

Evaluation Of Supplementing Whole Cottonseed Within Feedlot Rations During The Stockerphase Of Production With The Goal Of Increasing Average Daily Gain, Emily Lauren Cook

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Beef calves are weaned at 6-months of age and enter the stocker phase of beef production. Stocker producers have the primary goal of adding weight inexpensively to increase profit on weaned calves. Whole cottonseed is an inexpensive feed ingredient that is popularly top-dressed within dairy and finishing beef diets and is high in protein and energy. During three periods lasting 50-days (fall 2019, fall 2020, and spring 2020), freshly weaned calves were placed on a finishing ration with the goal of increasing average daily gain. Base rations were calculated at 25% tall fescue hay, 23% corn, and 52% distillers’ solubles. …

Effect Of Supplemental Garlic On The Incidence Of Anemia In Horses, Victoria Willis

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a spice that has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes or flavoring in food. Garlic has also been commonly used as a fly and pest control for horses and is still commonly used for that purpose today. Recent research has shown garlic may cause Heinz body anemia in horses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of Heinz body anemia in horses supplemented with varying rates of garlic. This study included 12 horses divided into 4 groups (control and 3 supplement rates: low (0.0625 g/kg), medium (0.125 g/kg), high (0.1875 g/kg)) …

Social Engagement Of Nursing Home Residents: A Comparison Of Two Observation Methods, Annika Gabbard

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In Kentucky, low levels of physical activity and social engagement negatively impact health. This problem led to the creation of Bingocize®, an exercise program that combines the game of Bingo with intermittent exercises in a group setting to increase levels of positive affect, physical health, and, the focus of this study, social engagement. Since clear benefits of social engagement have been established, measurement and documentation of this behavior can assist in determining the level of potential benefit from Bingocize®. The purpose of this study was to compare the opinions of healthcare workers who have experience with Bingocize® on two measures …

Serve-Specific Core Self-Evaluations: A Predictive Validation Study, Brandi Renee Forgione

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Core Self-Evaluations (CSE) is a broad personality trait used by industrial organizational psychologists to predict important organizational outcomes such as job performance and employee satisfaction. CSE comprises four elements: generalized self-efficacy, self-esteem, locus of control, and neuroticism. Task-specific versions of CSE have been proposed to better predict task-specific performance than general CSE. Accordingly, Serve-Specific Core Self- Evaluations (SS-CSE) was adapted specifically to predict serve performance of intercollegiate volleyball players. In this study, I explored the predictive validity of SS-CSE for serve performance by expanding a previous study that used a concurrent validation approach. Results indicated that SS-CSE scores collected pre-season …

Effects Of Solid Matrix One-Step Planting Practice On Cool Season Turfgrass Germination In Unfavorable Conditions, Ben Duncan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The transition zone in the United States is a difficult area to grow and establish turfgrasses. To establish or repair damaged turfgrass areas, seed priming is an often-used practice. Turfgrass companies and researchers are expanding the practice of solid matrix priming to the practice of one step planting. These products contain seed, fertilizers, and often some type of inert matter and/or mulch. This study took place in Bowling Green, KY and Knoxville, TN during the same period to investigate the effects of using these one step planting products compared to standard cool season turfgrass seeding practices. Two Pennington and two …

Visible Light Generation And Mechanistic Investigation Of High-Valent Metal-Oxo Species Supported By Different Ligands, Seth Ellis Klaine

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Numerous transition metal catalysts have been designed as biomimetic model compounds for the active site of metalloenzymes found throughout Nature, most notably cytochrome P450 monooxygenases that carry out the oxidative transformations of organic substrates with near-perfect chemo-, regio-, and stereo-selectivity. The primary active oxidants in catalytic and enzymatic cycles are fleeting high-valent metal-oxo intermediates where the oxo ligand can transfer to an organic substrate in a process known as oxygen atom transfer (OAT).

In the present work, porphyrin-manganese(III), salen-chromium(III), and salenmanganese( III) derivatives were successfully synthesized and spectroscopically characterized using 1H NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. A facile photochemical approach was …

Primary Reasons For Not Attending Farmers' Market. Do Market Features And Consumer Characteristics Matter?, Autumn Milliner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The number of farmers’ markets has been growing, but consumer attendance does not appear to rise at the same rate. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate primary reasons for not attending. Specific objectives were: (1) describe the consumer characteristics of individuals who do not attend farmers’ markets (2) investigate the consumer characteristics and market amenities that influence a consumer’s choice to not attend a farmers market (3) estimate the variables that impact a consumer’s level of interest in subscribing to a CSA and (4) assess and estimate the relationship between consumer characteristics and their willingness to pay …

Developing Novel Tale-Based Rapid Detection Of Pathogenic Dna Utilizing 2d Graphene Oxide Nanosheets And Quantum Dots, Narayan Neupane

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A faster method of quantitative detection of specific dsDNA of pathogenic bacteria such as the Shiga toxin 2 gene (stx2) present in E. coli O157:H7 is of great importance. There is a need for a simple and facile method for sensitive detection of pathogenic gene which is crucial for the prevention and earlier treatment of any infectious diseases. A Transcriptional Activator-Like Effector (TALE) is a novel class of DNA-binding proteins with the unique modularity, flexibility and easy programmability compared to previously discovered DNA- binding proteins. TALEs can bind to any DNA sequences through its unique variable di- residues …

Novel Application Of Graphene Oxide Based-Biosensor Utilizing Crispr/Dcas9 For Rapid Detection Of Antibiotic Resistance Genes, Joel Omage

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest public health challenges globally. To combat this threat, we have designed a method for the facile and rapid detection of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) in bacteria. We utilized an emerging tool termed the clusters of regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) in complex with deactivated CRISPR associated proteins (dCas9) on conjugated 2-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) sheets. Nuclease-deactivated Cas9 in complex with customized single guided RNA (sgRNA) was used for the target DNA recognition. The sgRNA was easy to design and we demonstrated that it is complementary to its target sequence by performing a …

Impacts Of Forest Management And Timber Harvest Practices On Karst Critical Zone Processes In Tongass National Forest, Alaska, Anna Gwendolyn Harris

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study characterizes the throughfall, hydrogeochemistry, dissolution rates, and carbon sources of two proximate temperate rainforest cave systems within the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska (Tongass). Study sites include: an old-growth forest, characterized by having never been logged (containing Walkabout Cave system); and a previously logged – within thirty years, second-growth forest (containing Zina Cave system). Precipitation data were recorded over a five-month period at 10-minute intervals, to understand the effects of throughfall between the altering old and second-growth canopies. At each major spring for the two cave systems, high-resolution data were collected from June 29 through November 21, …

Improved Antimicrobial Properties Of Silver Nanoparticles With Methylene Blue, Ermek Belekov

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Photosensitizing agents are the cornerstone of photodynamic therapy (PDT) that play essential role in deactivation process of multidrug resistant pathogens and tumor treatments. In this work we studied a photosensitizing agent made from mixture of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and methylene blue (MB) which possess improved important characteristics like high photostability and high singlet oxygen yield. Ag NPs were synthesized by pulsed laser ablation technique in different aqueous solutions like Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), citrate and Deionized (DI) water. The synthesized Ag NPs were characterized in depth using with transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UVVisible (UV-Vis), and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Ag NPs were …

Validation Of A Novel Vo2max Protocol, Griffin Green

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Though there are several to choose from, the Bruce protocol is the most commonly utilized treadmill protocol when assessing maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Originally developed for cardiac patients, the Bruce protocol may not be an appropriate treadmill protocol for young or trained individuals with higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. The steep grade used often leads localized muscular fatigue, which may cause participants to end the test prior to reaching their true VO2max. Another popular protocol, the Astrand, also utilizes a steep grade, but the speed remains constant. Similar to the Bruce, the Astrand protocol may not prompt a maximal cardiovascular …

Effects Of Alpha- And Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade Upon Inflammatory Responses To Acute And Chronic Sleep Fragmentation, Nicholas David Wheeler

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Generally, sleep is viewed as a recuperative process and its dysregulation has

cognitive, metabolic, immunological, and inflammatory implications that are largely deleterious to human health. Epidemiological and empirical studies have suggested that sleep fragmentation (SF) as result of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and other sleep abnormalities leads to pronounced systemic inflammatory responses, which are influenced by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to SNS regulation of SF-induced inflammatory states are not fully understood. To assess the effects of the SNS system, C57BL/6j female mice were placed in automated SF chambers (12L:12D) and subjected to either …

Effects Of Bingocize® On Overall Physical Activity, Functional Performance, Blood Glucose Level, Sleep Quantity, And Quality Among Older Adults In Assisted-Living Facilities, Sepehr Rassi

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bingocize® has been established as an effective falls prevention exercise program for older adults, but its effects on older adults residing in assisted-living facilities have not been examined. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of Bingocize® on overall physical activity level, functional performance, blood glucose level, sleep quantity and quality in older adults who live in assisted-living facilities. Participants (N = 13; mean age 86.23 ± 3.90) were asked to participate in Bingocize® while wearing activity trackers (Fitbit Charge 3 HR) for 10 weeks. The activity trackers were used to assess the average number of steps …

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis Using Metagenomic Classification, Michael Riggle

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a set of disorders that involve chronic inflammation of digestive tracts, e.g., Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Millions of people around the world have inflammatory bowel disease. However, it is still difficult to treat IBD due to its unknown cause. In fact, accurately diagnosing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be very challenging too since some of IBD symptoms can mimic those of other conditions. In this work, we apply classification methods to help improve the success rate of diagnosis. We study four formulations of IBD classification: i) IBD and non-IBD (binary classification), ii) …

Online Shoppers Spending On Fresh Produce; Do Those On Government Assistance Spend Less?, Wyatt Tucker Lucas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study applies an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to explain differences in the amount that online shoppers might spend per month on fresh produce, given specific consumer characteristics. It also uses a multinomial logit model to determine the relative probability of online shoppers spending more or less, given specific consumer characteristics. The independent variable of interest in both models is whether or not the respondent is a recipient of a government assistance food program. These analyses used data from a stratified random sample of 1,205 online shoppers residing in the southern region of the United States. “Online shoppers” in …

Bodyweight Management And Relationship To Health In The Horse (Equus Caballus), Beverly Ann Gartland

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The health of the horse is of interest to animal caretakers. Horses that fall within a prescribed range of bodyweight and body condition may be healthier than horses that are lower or higher. Two studies were conducted related to body weight and condition of the horse. The first study examined if restricting the amount of space available for horses to graze could reduce bodyweight without having a strong impact on time budgets of the horse or removing horses from pasture. This method was determined to be effective in preventing weight gain, although there was an increase in grazing behavior displayed …

Delineation Of Undescribed, Morphologically Cryptic Cave Beetles Of The Pseudanophthalmus Pubescens Species-Group (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Trechinae), Jedidiah John Nixon

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The genus Pseudanophthalmus Jeannel is a widespread and extremely diverse taxon of troglobiont beetle endemic to the karst of eastern North America, with its distribution centered in Tennessee and Kentucky. Despite lying near the heart of this region, the pubescens species-group was thought to contain many undescribed species. In this study, the validities of several of the late Dr. Thomas Barr’s unpublished putative new species in the pubescens-group were tested both morphologically and molecularly. Body measurements (length and width for head, thorax, and abdomen), as well as male genital morphology were compared to see if they reflected theorized species limits.. …

Reliability And Validity Of An Assessment Of Engagement In Nursing Home Residents During Bingocize®, Elizabeth Batson Apelt

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Research suggests nursing home residents are often socially isolated and physically inactive despite overwhelming evidence that both social engagement and physical activity are crucial for healthy aging (Jones, Sung, & Moyle, 2018; Yen & Lin, 2018; Ice, 2002; Jansson et al., 2017). Bingocize® is a program that combines exercise and the game of Bingo to improve the quality of life, physical health, and social engagement of certified nursing facility (CNF) residents. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of social engagement displayed by CNF residents during Bingocize® using the Fun and Social Engagement Evaluation (FUSE). Reliability and …

Does Infant Temperament And Parental Involvement Influence Infant Cardiac Physiological Regulation?, Mary Richter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The ability to self-regulate allows infants to stay at a baseline level during periods of stress (Porges, 1995). Baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) may be used as an indicator of self-regulation and how well an individual can respond to changes in the environment (Stifter & Corey, 2001). Differences in infant temperament can influence a child’s ability to self-regulate (Dale et al., 2011), but moderators of this relationship have not been thoroughly examined in the literature. Parents who are more involved might have more opportunities to teach children important regulatory strategies (Blandon et al., 2010). The current study examined the association …

Substrate-Borne Vibrational Communication In Veiled Chameleons (Chamaeleo Calyptratus) During Courtship, Breeding, And Territoriality, Lauren Kappel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Substrate-borne vibrations, or biotremors, are utilized by vertebrates found in unique environments because biotremors are an effective way to transmit signals through dense media. Previous studies have shown that veiled chameleons (Chamaeleo calyptratus) are able to produce biotremors via specialized neck muscles. I hypothesized that during courtship and/or breeding, the veiled chameleon, a tree-dwelling species, would communicate with biotremors through branches. Additionally, I hypothesized that female call characteristics would differ between reproductive condition (i.e., receptive and non-receptive), while male call characteristics would differ between behavioral contexts (i.e., territorial vs. courtship). Chameleons were paired (one male, one female) and placed on …

Effects Of Pharmacologically-Induced Sleep Loss On Parental Care In Arctic-Breeding Songbirds, Wesley Payette

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Sleep loss is well known to impair cognitive function, immunological responses, and general well-being in humans. However, sleep requirements in mammals and birds may vary dramatically, especially with changes in environment. In circumpolar regions with continuous light, sleep requirements may be little, particularly in breeding birds. The effects of sleep loss on several fitness parameters were examined in two species of Arctic-breeding passerine birds: Lapland longspurs (Calcarius lapponicus) and snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis). Adult males were implanted during the nestling phase (4 days post-hatch) with osmotic pumps containing an anti-narcolepsy drug, modafinil, to extend the active period for 72 h. …

Synthesis And Molecular Mechanics Study Of Platinum Triamine Complex With N-Acetyl-L-Methionine And Guanosine 5’Monophosphate, Nitin Tanajirao Katare

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cisplatin and its analogues have been used and tested over decades for cancer treatment, but because of the serious side effects, it is important to find ways to overcome those side effect by synthesizing a novel platinum molecule. We have synthesized triamine complex and conducted its reaction with biomolecules such as 5’GMP and Methionine in the lab as well as conducted molecular mechanics (MM). MM methods are used for predicting and designing new structures and properties, and to model geometries of small molecules. MM and dynamics calculations have been used to study the 9 Ethylguanine and N-Ac-Lmethionine complexes with platinum …

Toxicity Of Novel Platinum Compounds In Mammalian Cancer Cells, Vanesa Veletanlic

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

There are currently three FDA platinum compounds approved for use as chemotherapeutics, where each drug has variable efficacies for different cancer types depending on cancer’s tissue of origin. The approved compounds are platinum(II) complexes with four coordination sites on the platinum atom allowing two types of ligands to attach: leaving ligands, which are removed from the platinum atom in solution, and non-leaving ligands, which remain complexed to the platinum. Carboplatin, the preferred compound used to treat ovarian and small-cell lung cancers, has a characteristic cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid leaving ligand and two ammonia non-leaving ligands. A novel compound, 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylato(ethylenediamine)platinum (II), or Pt(en)CBDCA, …

Effects Of Stream Permanence On The Stoneflies (Plecoptera) Of The Mammoth Cave Region, Taylor Mcroberts

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) are often associated with cold perennial streams, but many species also inhabit intermittent streams that experience reduced or lack of flow during summer and autumn. In this study the influence of stream permanence on stonefly assemblage composition and spatial distribution in the Mammoth Cave region, Kentucky, USA, was addressed based on a 14 month sampling regime from the fullest range of stream sizes and habitable flow regions available. Adult stoneflies were collected monthly at Mammoth Cave National Park and the Western Kentucky University Green River Preserve. Collections were done from December 2018–October 2019 using a standard timed protocol …