Life Sciences Commons^™

Identification Of Regions Responsible For The Open Conformation Of S100a10 Using Chimaeric S100a11/S100a10 Proteins, Liliana Santamaria-Kisiel

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

S100A11 is a dimeric, EF-hand calcium-binding protein. Calcium binding to S100A11 results in a large conformational change that uncovers a broad hydrophobic surface used to interact with phospholipid-binding proteins (annexins A1 and A2), and facilitate membrane vesiculation events. In contrast to other S100 proteins, S100A10 is unable to bind calcium due to deletion and substitution of calcium-ligating residues. Despite this, calcium-free S100A10 assumes an “open” conformation that is very similar to S100A11 in its calcium-bound state (Ca2+-S100A11). To understand how S100A10 is able to adopt an open conformation in the absence of calcium, seven chimeric proteins were constructed where regions …

Perception Meets Action: Fmri And Behavioural Investigations Of Human Tool Use, Kenneth F. Valyear

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Tool use is essential and culturally universal to human life, common to hunter-gatherer and modern advanced societies alike. Although the neuroscience of simpler visuomotor behaviors like reaching and grasping have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying learned tool use.

With learned tool use, stored knowledge of object function and use supervene requirements for action programming based on physical object properties. Contemporary models of tool use based primarily on evidence from the study of brain damaged individuals implicate a set of specialized brain areas underlying the planning and control of learned actions with objects, distinct …

Effects Of Acute Synchronous Whole-Body Vibration Exercise, Tom J. Hazell

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Recently, whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise has been gaining interest in the health/fitness community for its reported beneficial outcomes. However, most of these have not been evaluated scientifically leading to some reservation in promoting this new exercise modality. The purpose of this dissertation was to assess the viability of WBV exercise to enhance several selected indices of health.

Study 1 demonstrated that the addition of WBV to an isometric semi-squat in young healthy men (n = 8, 25±2.6 y, 177±7.0 cm, 84±12.1 kg) resulted in increases in femoral artery blood flow and leg skin temperature vs the same exercise without vibration …

Distribution And Molecular Analysis Of Avian Malaria Vectors On Four Central Virginia Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea) Breeding Sites, Catherine Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Avian malaria is a devastating disease that has decimated numerous bird species. This study sought to identify the vectors of avian malaria at four central Virginia Prothonotary warbler breeding sites. Twenty one thousand mosquitoes were collected and Culex salinarius, Cx. erraticus, and Cx. pipiens/restuans were found to be the dominant species at these sites. Geographic factors, such as crop land and forest type, were determined to be potential indicators for species abundance variation between sites. Of the mosquitoes collected, ninety one (0.4%) were identified as blood fed. The blood fed mosquitoes were found to have fed on avian, mammalian, amphibian, …

Structural Insights Into Dna Replication And Lesion Bypass By Y Family Dna Polymerases, Kevin N. Kirouac

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Y family DNA polymerases are specialized enzymes for replication through sites of DNA damage in the genome. Although the DNA damage bypass activity of these enzymes is important for genome maintenance and integrity, it is also responsible for DNA mutagenesis due to the error-prone nature of the Y family. Understanding how these enzymes select incoming nucleotides during DNA replication will give insight into their role in cancer formation, aging, and evolution. This work attempts to mechanistically explain, primarily through X-ray crystallography and enzymatic activity assays, how Y family polymerases select incoming nucleotides in various DNA replication contexts. Initially, we sought …

Regulation Of Akt And Wnt Signalling By The Dopamine D2 Receptor And Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 2/3, Laurie P. Sutton

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Akt and the Wnt pathway, two cascades that regulate GSK-3, have been implicated in schizophrenia and antipsychotic drug action. Although it is known that antipsychotic drugs alleviate psychosis by blocking the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) and that metabotropic glutamate receptor 2/3 (mGluR2/3) agonists may improve some of the symptoms of schizophrenia, it is unclear if both classes of drugs exert their effects through Akt, GSK-3 and/or the Wnt pathway or if changes in these pathways are mediated through the D2DR and mGluR2/3 respectively. In addition to antipsychotics, mood stabilizers and antidepressants also target GSK-3, suggesting that there must be something …

The Effects Of Whole Body Vibration On Strength Gains In The Bench Press, The Back Squat, And The Power Clean In Division I Football Players, Kelly S. Poppinga

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if whole body vibration effects strength gains in the bench press, the back squat, and the power clean in division 1 football players. Thirty-one NCAA Division 1 male football players volunteered for this study and were randomly assigned to a control group (C=16) or one of two vibration groups (V1=7, V2=8). Subjects followed the training program for eight weeks. A pre-test, mid-test, and post-test one repetition max was measured at 0, 4, and 8 weeks for the bench press, the back squat, and the power clean. A 3x3 factorial ANOVA revealed varied …

When Curiosity Kills More Than The Cat: The Perils Of Unchecked Scientific Inquiry, Jamie Shannon

Pomona Senior Theses

This work analyzes the ecological, physical, emotional and health impacts of the US nuclear testing done in the Marshall Islands in the mid-20th century.

Avian Developmental Endocrinology: The Effects And Role Of Yolk Hormones, Sibling Dynamics, And Life-History, Corinne Patricia Kozlowski

Dissertations

Inter-specific variation of the endocrine system is an underlying component for variation in avian life-history. Females deposit hormones into the yolks of their eggs, and embryonic exposure affects nestling phenotype. Hormones are also produced endogenously by developing nestlings, further influencing their behavior and physiology. This dissertation examines the role of the endocrine system in development by focusing on several different avian taxa. Yolk hormone concentrations often vary across the laying order and may mediate hatching asynchrony. These patterns were characterized in two species that lay asynchronously hatching clutches: Eastern screech owls (Megascops asio) and cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). The patterns described …

Gene Flow And Dispersal Of The Flatworm, Polycelis Coronata: A Multiscale Analysis, Jeffrey N. Moore

Theses and Dissertations

We determined genetic variance and gene flow across multiple scales (reaches, headwater segments, and catchments) to examine the dispersal ability of the flatworm Polycelis coronata along the Wasatch Mountains of Utah. Multiple models predict patterns of genetic differentiation in stream invertebrates based on dispersal traits and the spatial connectivity of the habitat. The stream hierarchy model predicts genetic differentiation to be low and gene flow to be high between reaches nested in segments, moderate among segments within catchments, and differentiation to be highest and gene flow lowest among catchments, whereas the headwater model predicts the greatest differentiation between headwater segments. …

A Novel Method To Detect Functional Subgraphs In Biomolecular Networks, Sterling Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Several biomolecular pathways governing the control of cellular processes have been discovered over the last several years. Additionally, advances resulting from combining these pathways into networks have produced new insights into the complex behaviors observed in cell function assays. Unfortunately, identification of important subnetworks, or “motifs”, in these networks has been slower in development. This study focused on identifying important network motifs and their rate of occurrence in two different biomolecular networks. The two networks evaluated for this study represented both ends of the spectrum of interaction knowledge by comparing a well defined network (apoptosis) with and poorly studied network …

Cardiac Adaptation To Chronic Blockade Of Voltage-Gated, L-Type Calcium Channels In The Sarcolemma, Ji Zhou

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

L-type Ca²⁺ channels (dihydropyridine receptors, DHPRs) in the sarcolemma are essential to cardiac excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. Thus, Ca²⁺ influx through DHPRs upon cardiomyocyte excitation triggers Ca²⁺ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) through ryanodine receptors (RyRs) to initiate myofilament activation and muscle contraction. Muscle relaxation occurs upon sequestration of Ca²⁺ back into the SR lumen by sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA) in the SR. As a treatment option for hypertension, long-term use of DHPR blockers is associated with increased risk of heart failure; underlying mechanisms are unknown. This research used male Wistar rats treated with verapamil (subcutaneously, …

Novel Constitutively Active Point Mutations In The Nh2 Domain Of Cxcr2 Capture The Receptor In Different Activation States, Giljun Park

Doctoral Dissertations

Chemokines are structurally and functionally related 8-10 kDa proteins defined by four conserved cysteine residues. They consist of a superfamily of proinflammatory mediators that promote the recruitment of various kinds of leukocytes and other cell types through binding to their respective chemokine receptor, a member of the GPCR family. Abnormal control of this system results in various diseases including tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. Deregulation can occur when constitutively active mutant (CAM) chemokine receptors are locked in the “on” position. This can lead to cellular transformation/tumorigenesis. A viral CAM receptor, ORF74, that can cause tumors in humans, also has homology to …

Biomechanical Risk Factors For Knee Osteoarthritis In Young Adults: The Influence Of Obesity And Gait Instruction, Julia Ann Freedman

Doctoral Dissertations

With increasing rates of obesity, research has begun to focus of co-morbidities of obesity such as osteoarthritis. The majority of existing research has focused on older adults as the group most likely to suffer from osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study was to determine if overweight and obese young adults exhibit biomechanical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis, and to determine if young adults with biomechanical risk factors of osteoarthritis can modify these with instruction. This purpose was divided into two separate studies.

Study 1: Thirty adults between 18-35 years old were recruited into three groups according to body mass index: …

Characterization Of The Extracellular Proteome Of A Natural Microbial Community With An Integrated Mass Spectrometric / Bioinformatic Approach, Brian Keith Erickson

Doctoral Dissertations

Proteomics comprises the identification and characterization of the complete suite of expressed proteins in a given cell, organism or community. The coupling of high performance liquid chromatography (LC) with high throughput mass spectrometry (MS) has provided the foundation for current proteomic progression. The transition from proteomic analysis of a single cultivated microbe to that of natural microbial assemblages has required significant advancement in technology and has provided greater biological understanding of microbial community diversity and function.

To enhance the capabilities of a mass spectrometric based proteomic analysis, an integrated approach combining bioinformatics with analytical preparations and experimental data collection was …

Human Decomposition Ecology At The University Of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility, Franklin Edward Damann

Doctoral Dissertations

The University of Tennessee Anthropology Research Facility (ARF) is well known for its unique history as a site of human decomposition research in a natural environment. It has been integral to our understanding of the processes of human decomposition. Over the last 30 years 1,089 bodies have decomposed at this 1.28 acre facility, producing a density of 850 corpses per acre of land. This project evaluated the abiotic and biotic characteristics of the soil exposed to various levels of human decomposition in order to determine the effect on the physicochemical properties and the indigenous bacterial communities.

Specifically, 75 soil samples …

Mechanisms Associated With The Chemotherapeutic Effects Of Zyflamend, A Multi-Herbal Extract, On Advanced Prostate Cancer, E-Chu Huang

Doctoral Dissertations

Advanced prostate cancer (PrC) is the second leading cause of death from cancer in US males. Advanced PrC cells are initially androgen-sensitive and thus androgen ablation therapy causes tumors to undergo regression and fall into a remission phase where residual cells remain dormant while androgen levels remain very low. Unfortunately, this phase usually lasts 3 to 5 years prior to tumor relapse, where the tumor cells re-grow in the absence of androgens. This form of the disease is aggressive and invariably fatal. In this study, we investigated the effects of a combination of herbal extracts on various stages of PrC, …

Sublethal Toxicity Of Microcystis And Microcystin-Lr In Fish, Emily Dawn Rogers

Doctoral Dissertations

The occurrence of blooms of toxic cyanobacteria in freshwater environments is a global ecological and public health concern. Species of Microcystis are of particular importance because blooms occur in many freshwater environments throughout the world and microcystin toxin concentrations can exceed World Health Organization advisory levels. While microcystin has been associated with fish kills, sublethal effects of chronic exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations are relatively unknown. The objective of this research was to evaluate toxicity of microcystin and Microcystis in fish during all life history stages. We evaluated global gene expression response in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio), and …

Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Nearctic Blepharicera Macquart (Diptera: Blephariceridae) With An Emphasis On The Eastern Blepharicera Tenuipes Group Hogue, Amanda Jane Jacobson

Doctoral Dissertations

The eastern Nearctic fauna of Blepharicera Macquart (Diptera: Blephariceridae) is revised to include twenty-three species, six of which are new to science. Descriptions of the larvae, pupae, and adults of B. amnicula n. sp., B. conifera n. sp., B. crista n. sp., B. enoristera n. sp., B. hillabee n. sp., and B. opistera n. sp. are presented. Keys to instar IV larvae, pupae, and adults of all eastern Blepharicera (except B. caudata Courtney) are provided. Phylogenetic studies were conducted to determine the relationships between eastern and western Nearctic Blepharicera and among species within these groups. Larvae, pupae, and adults were …

Novel Delivery Systems Of Nisin To Enhance Long-Term Efficacy Against Foodborne Pathogen Listeria Monocytogenes, Dan Xiao

Doctoral Dissertations

Novel intervention strategies such as food grade antimicrobials are used to enhance food safety. Nisin is a widely used naturally occurring antimicrobial effective against many pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. However, its antimicrobial efficacy in food matrices is much reduced because of interactions with food components. Novel delivery systems may overcome this problem by protecting nisin in capsules and releasing it in a controlled manner. The overall goal of this research was to develop delivery systems of nisin to improve its long-term antimicrobial effectiveness. The first objective was to develop a low-cost method to extract nisin from a commercial preparation containing …

Diagnosis And Management Of Horses With Equine Metabolic Syndrome (Ems), Kelly Ann Chameroy

Doctoral Dissertations

In horses, a painful and often debilitating disease known as laminitis can result in impaired function and, in severe cases, euthanasia. Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a syndrome in horses that results in development of laminitis and is characterized by the presence of general and/or regional adiposity (“cresty neck”), aberrations in blood lipid concentrations, insulin resistance (IR) and/ or hyperinsulinemia. Therapies have focused on improving the state of obesity and insulin resistance with the goal of diminishing the likelihood of laminitis development. A definitive cause for laminitis has not been established, but hyperinsulinemia and IR are likely candidates as experimental …

A Comparison Of Commonly Used Accelerometer Based Activity Monitors In Controlled And Free-Living Environment, Yuri Feito

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation was designed to determine the effects of body mass index (BMI) and walking speed on activity monitor outputs. A secondary purpose was to compare the activity monitors’ performance in a free-living environment. In the first experiment, 71 participants wore three waist-mounted activity monitors (Actical, ActiGraph, and NL-2000) and an ankle-mounted device (StepWatch 3) while walking on a treadmill (40, 67 and 94 m/min). The tilt angle of each device was measured. The Actical recorded 26% higher activity counts (P < 0.01) in obese persons with a tilt <10 degrees, compared to normal weight persons. The ActiGraph was unaffected by BMI or tilt angle. In the second experiment, the steps recorded by the devices were compared to actual steps. Speed had the greatest influence on the accuracy these devices. At 40 m/min, the ActiGraph was the least accurate device for normal weight (38%), overweight (46%) and obese (48%) individuals. The Actical, NL-2000 and StepWatch averaged 65%, 73% and 99% of steps taken, respectively. Lastly, several generations of the ActiGraph (7164, GT1M, and GT3X), and other research grade activity monitors (Actical; ActivPAL; and Digi-Walker) were compared to a criterion measure of steps. Fifty-six participants performed treadmill walking (40, 54, 67, 80 and 94 m/min) and wore the devices for 24-hours under free-living conditions. BMI did not affect step count accuracy during treadmill walking. The StepWatch, PAL, and the AG7164 were the most accurate across all speeds; the other devices were only accurate at the faster speeds. In the free-living environment, all devices recorded about 75% of StepWatch-determined steps, except the AG7164 (99%). Based on these findings, we conclude that BMI does not affect the output of these activity monitors. However, waist-borne activity monitors are highly susceptible to under-counting steps at walking speeds below 67 m/min, or stepping rates below 100 steps/min. An activity monitor worn on the ankle is less susceptible to these speed effects and provides the greatest accuracy for step counting.

Cinq Essais Sur Le Développement Durable, Sophie Oliver

World Languages and Cultures

My senior project is a combination of my major of Modern Languages and Literature and my minor in Sustainable Environments. I have tried to combine everything I learned in the following essays which explain different elements of the sustainable movement in the world. Currently there is a big push towards environmentalism which was started by a global desire to repair the damage done to our planet Earth. My goal is to explain some of the situations addressed by the sustainable movement and to propose some solutions based on what I’ve learned in my five years at Cal Poly. During my …

A Literature Review On Crossbreeding In Dairy Cattle, Philip Owens

Dairy Science

The objective of the literature review was to determine whether or not crossbreeding is a profitable and a viable option for the dairymen of today by reviewing the literature and experiments that have been conducted throughout the world by today’s dairy professionals and leaders. The Dairy market today is increasingly competitive and more and more dairymen are considering crossbreeding to decrease health costs and increase profitability. Price premiums from cheese plants are given to milk producers for high components like protein and fat. In recent studies done by universities and research facilities around the world, results have found promising numbers …

Burning Manure As An Economical Energy Source, Ron Machado

Dairy Science

The dairy industry is under pressure from increasing environmental regulations, falling prices, as well as very aggressive foreign competition. Manure management and electrical costs are one area dairymen can look to cut costs. My objective for this project was to determine how cost effective biomass gasification of manure is at generating electricity. The proposed project was designed for a manure production equal to a 3,000 cow herd. I used standard capital budgeting techniques to determine the efficiency of the project, primarily focusing on the net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period.

Institution Of Presynch Protocol, Justin Breedyk

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to compare factors of reproductive efficiency between two separate ovulation synchronization programs, with one that includes presynchronization of all fresh cows and one that does not ovsynch cows until they have been found open after initial insemination. In recent years, reproductive efficiency has declined as other areas of the dairy business have continued to excel. The investigation was performed on two dairies in Hart, Texas, White River Ranch and VB Dairy. The dairies include herds of 5,000 and 3,000 milking cows, respectively. Data was retrieved using Dairy Comp 305 and covered a two month …

A Comparison Between The Dhia Test For Somatic Cell Counts Compared To Porta Side Test On The Individual Quarters Of The High Scc Cows At The Cal Poly Dairy, Melissa Zimmer

Dairy Science

The objective of my senior project is to determine if California Mastitis Test (CMT) and the Porta Side Somatic Cell Count (SCC) Test is equivalent to the DHIA laboratory somatic cell test. The data was taken from the Cal Poly Dairy on October 19th, 2010. Samples were taken from eight Holstein cows during milking time and the tests were run in the barn. These eight cows were the highest somatic cell count cows at the Cal Poly Dairy on the previous test day October 9, 2010. During milking the cows were pre and post dipped before the samples were taken. …

Effectiveness Of A Presynchronization Program Implemented On A Modern Dairy Facility, R. (Robert) E. Thommen

Dairy Science

The objective of this study was to determine the success of a presynchronization program implemented on a modern dairy facility. The study was conducted on a 1,400 cow dairy in the central valley of California. 86 cows were involved in the study during the summer months of June through September. Cows were either assigned in the synchronization program or placed in a control group based on the last digit of their identification. At 43 DIM, presync cows were injected with their first treatment of the synchronization program. Estrous cycles of the presync group were manipulated with treatments of Prostaglandin and …

Cal Poly Embryo Recovery Record System, Kelsey Donahoo-Cheda

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Use Of Endovac-Bovi In Pre-Weaned Calves, Jena Glasgow

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.