Life Sciences Commons^™

Overcompensation In Aedes Mosquitoes Populations: Field Tests On Likelihood And An Agent-Based Model To Investigate The Influence Of Cohort Structure, Katherine G. Evans

Theses and Dissertations

The number of individuals in a competitive environment can affect the growth rate, survival, size, and fecundity of those individuals, which is known as density-dependent effects. Overcompensation may occur if few juveniles survive to adulthood in a high-density environment. Overcompensation arises when density dependent survival interacts with extrinsic sources of mortality, such that more juveniles survive to adulthood than if no extrinsic mortality had occurred.

I tested the hypothesis that density dependent effects are common and strong in the field for three mosquito species: Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Aedes triseriatus. I surveyed naturally occurring densities in novel and established …

A Male-Female Genotype-By-Genotype Interaction Mediates The Effect Of Mating On Female Immunity In Decorated Crickets, Kylie J. Hampton

Theses and Dissertations

Sexually antagonistic coevolution should lead to the rapid divergence of male and female genotypes related to the effects of ejaculatory substances on female physiology. Hence, the outcome of mating should depend on an interaction between male and female genotypes. Although mating has been shown to influence female immune responses in diverse insect taxa, a male-female genotype-by-genotype effect on female immunity post-mating remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate both the effects of mating on female immunity and the potential for a male-by-female genotype interaction on the form and magnitude of this response in decorated crickets. Females from three distinct genotypic backgrounds …

Effects Of Video Technology On Cooking Self-Efficacy, Zakary Kaesberg

Theses and Dissertations

College students, on average, have poor nutritional habits associated with increasing risk of obesity and chronic disease later in life. Today’s average student has low self-efficacy for cooking meals in the home and thus, is highly dependent on convenience-type food items. A valuable technique for improving cooking skill in individuals is through the use of video technology to teach cooking. Undergraduate students are likely Millennials, and prefer to use technology for learning purposes. The objective of this study was to test the effect of video technology on cooking self-efficacy in undergraduate college students living off-campus at a public Midwestern University. …

Why Did The Eisenhower Administration Decide To Deploy Jupiter Missiles In Turkey: A Case Study In Nuclearization Of Nato Strategy, Murat Iplikci

Theses and Dissertations

Looking out at the international political landscape of the late 1940s and the early 1950s, the Eisenhower administration was determined to challenge the evident appeal of Communism, particularly in Western Europe. NATO, which was a fragile organization due to the devastation of World War II (WWII), and its members were prone to any communist attack, either by military forces or through political parties. They had to be defended. The Eisenhower administration saw nuclear weapons as the only means to defend the alliance against the massive threat of the Soviet Union. Therefore, President Eisenhower committed nuclear weapons to NATO as a …

Regulation Of The Microtubule Cytoskeleton And Cell Wall Development In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Christy J. Fornero

Theses and Dissertations

Regulation of the cortical microtubule cytoskeleton is critical for organized plant cell division. Arabidopsis ton1 and ton2 mutants display random cell division plane placement and lack the plant-specific cortical microtubule array that encircles the nucleus prior to mitosis. In wild type plants, this preprophase band (PPB) of cortical microtubules precisely marks the future division plane. The specific roles of TON1 and TON2 in PPB formation are not yet known. It is suspected that TON1 Recruiting Motif (TRM) proteins may be involved in TON1 and TON2 recruitment to the PPB. Here we describe results for the targeted disruption of a group …

Connecting The Dots: Exploring The Relationship Between Avian Eggshell Pigmentation And Paternal Provisioning Effort, Kara E. Hodges

Theses and Dissertations

In a number of bird species, eggs laid by females breeding in the same population can vary extensively in the extent of their eggshell pigmentation, but the adaptive significance of this intraspecific variation remains unknown. One hypothesis posits that shell pigmentation is an honest signal of female quality that reflects her level of oxidative stress, one that is used by males to inform their subsequent paternal investment. We employed a reciprocal clutch cross-fostering design to test whether provisioning by male house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) responds to the clutch pigmentation of their mates. In experimental replicates, dark clutches were swapped with …

Characterization Of Pth Type-2 Receptor ( Pth2rb ) And Its Endogenous Ligand Pth2 In Zebrafish Development, Nicholas Seitz

Theses and Dissertations

Members of the parathyroid hormone family of ligands, PTH (parathyroid hormone), PTH2, and PTHLH (parathyroid hormone-like hormone). These hormones interact with the class B GCPRs parathyroid hormone receptors PTH1R, PTH2R, and PTH3R to regulate a variety of biological processes. In mammals, PTH and PTHLH activate PTH1R and PTH3R to mediate serum calcium homeostasis, chondrogenesis, and bone maintenance. PTH2R activation by PTH2 has been studied primarily in regard to its neuroendocrine roles but is also found in the skin where it contributes to wound healing and keratinocyte differentiation. Still, little is known about the impacts of PTH2R signaling relative to PTH1R …

Examination Of Student-Athletes' Developmental Transition From Youth Sport To College Sport, Coleman Childers

Theses and Dissertations

The majority of research in developmental sport psychology has targeted the youth and adolescent age groups (aged five to 18) and has tended to avoid athletes in organized and highly competitive environment such as major college athletics. The transition from high school to college brings many challenges. Academically and socially, students encounter increased course rigor, decreased in-class time, and adjustment to new social groups. Additionally, student-athletes encounter scrutiny from the public, extensive time commitments, changing social dynamics, and physical and mental demands as they combine athletic and academic pursuits. This on-going study explores student-athletes’ perspectives of the developmental transition from …

Effects Of Electrical Stimulation On Glioma Cells In Vitro With Implications For Treating Chronic Pain: Development Of A Model System, David C. Platt

Theses and Dissertations

Glial cells comprise over 70% of the central nervous system cells and exhibit diverse functions including regulation of synaptic transmission, neuron protection/repair, maintenance of neuronal metabolism, and are implicated in the development of persistent neuropathic pain. In addition, a perturbation in the concentration of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) has likewise been associated with the development of a chronic pain state. This perturbation in ROS/RNS creates an environment of oxidative stress. However, the mechanism by which the pain signal transmission is modulated, and the roles ROS play in the perpetuation of the pain state are …

Hip Abductor To Hip Adductor Strength Ratio Measurements In Patients With Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Matthew Hugg

Theses and Dissertations

Background: The hip musculature is globally known to support the pelvis, which in turn can aid in reducing the occurrence of low back pain (LBP). Previous research has shown a decrease in strength of the hip abductors in patients with LBP. The hip abductors also have an important role in stabilizing the pelvis while walking. The hip adductors attach to the pubic symphysis and assist in stabilizing the pelvis. Due to the ability to activate and assist with hip and leg motions, the adductor muscles may have an effect on controlling hip motion to reduce LBP and sacroiliac dysfunction. The …

Effects Of Attentional Focus Cues On Soccer Trap Kinematics And Performance, Ladule Lako Losarah

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this research was to assess how the kinematic performance of an inside of the foot soccer ball control movement changed with an internal, external, or holistic attentional focus coaching cue. The researchers used pendulum catapult to launch a soccer ball from 8.5 meters at the participant. Ten female active NCAA division 1 soccer players received one of three cues, or no cue, and then had five trials to control the ball onto an artificial turf mat to score 1-3 points depending on where the ball landed. Participants completed a manipulation check survey to ascertain the efficacy …

Single Leg Hop Landing Analysis In Patients With Chronic Ankle Instability, Lateral Ankle Sprain Copers, And Healthy Individuals, Jordyn Ashlyn Rine

Theses and Dissertations

CONTEXT: There are an estimated 28,000 ankle injuries that occur per day in the United States, thus making the pathology one of the most common sports-related injuries. Lateral ankle sprains account for 80% of all athletic injuries and approximately 73% will suffer from a recurrent injury. The residual symptoms that linger following repetitive lateral ankle sprains are often correlated with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Lateral ankle sprain (LAS) copers successfully cope with the damage that results from sustaining a lateral ankle sprain, whereas CAI patients suffer from residual symptoms. Traditional measures of COP from force-plate data are useful in evaluating …

Body Mass As The Optimal Load Predictor For Power Clean Variations: A Practical Approach, Marcel Lopes Dos Santos

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of estimating the optimal load of the Hang Power Clean (HPC), Hang High Pull (HHP), and Mid-thigh Clean Pull (MTP) based on a relative percentage of the subjects’ body mass (BM). Fifteen males with experience in weightlifting (age: 21.8 ± 1.9 years; BM: 83.2 ± 9.0 kg; height: 175.4 ± 6.0 cm; 1-repetition maximum [1RM]: 93.0 ± 12.7 kg; 1RM to BM ratio: 1.12 ± 0.13) performed HPC, HHP, and MTP at intensities of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% BM. Kinematic data were collected through a 16-camera …

Impact Of Selected Financial Measures On The Term Debt Repayment Ability Of Illinois Grain Farms, Samuel Awortwe Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A clear and accurate assessment of the financial performance of a farm business is an important component of financial management at any time but becomes even more crucial in periods of economic downturn in the farm sector. Farmers continue to increase their debt even though the prices of commodities are low, and the prices of inputs are high (Krapf, Raab, & Zwilling, 2017). In addition, high family living expenses can also place financial pressure on farms (Scott, 2016). This study focused on identifying and estimating the impact of key factors which included financial measures and family living expenses on the …

Incidental Cardiac Arrhythmia Identification With Consumer Grade Heart Rate Monitors: A Case Study, Neal C. Phifer

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine instances of using chest strap type heart rate monitor (HRM) data as a means of identifying otherwise asymptomatic individuals with possible cardiac arrhythmias as examined across four division one collegiate sports teams. METHODS: Heart rate activity was tracked across an entire season of four different division one collegiate teams (men’s basketball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer and women’s volleyball). A total of 65 athletes were equipped with heart rate monitors that were worn as allowed during practices and games. Data were collected using chest strap mounted activity sensors (Polar Team Pro sensors …

The Effects Of Highlighting Healthy Options On Consumer Food Choices In A Food Bank Setting, Kaitlin Nicole Grabow

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of highlighting healthy food options on consumer food choices in a food bank setting.

Methods: Two community food banks participated in this study. One food bank served as the control, while a second food bank was rearranged so that fresh produce and other healthy products were the first options that shoppers encountered upon entering. After shopping, carts were inventoried for healthy vs non-healthy products. Composition of the carts from the control food bank were then compared to the contents of the carts from the intervention food bank.

Results: A …

Ice Cream Substitute For Patients With End Stage Renal Disease, Abby Iocca

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Quality of life for patients with end stage renal disease is less than similar-aged, general population counterparts. A large part of the decrease in quality of life is change of diet and nutritional restrictions, oral nutrition supplements are a way to combat this decrease in quality of life.

Methods: An ice cream substitute product was developed for patients with end stage renal disease and that are on dialysis. The product consisted of rice milk, egg whites, evaporated coconut milk, sugar, and vanilla bean paste. There were two flavors: cinnamon and lemon. These flavors were both tested subjectively and objectively. …

Fiber Intake In Hemodialysis Patients And Its Effects On Symptoms, Jennifer Langner

Theses and Dissertations

On average 30 million adults are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States (National Kidney Foundation, 2017). Patients in late stage kidney disease and on dialysis are placed on a restrictive diet to aid in the treatment of their disease. There are adverse symptoms associated with dialysis including nausea, constipation, diarrhea and fatigue. Fiber has been shown to decrease gastrointestinal symptoms such as reducing constipation and inflammation in the body in healthy populations. This study examined 19 hemodialysis dialysis patients and their fiber intake in relation to a variety of symptoms such as constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, …

Hydration Knowledge And Intake In High School Student Athletes, Erin Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: Heat related illness is one of the leading causes of death in high school athletes.

Proper hydration strategies have been shown to decrease heat related illness in college and

professional athletes. However, limited research has been conducted on the hydration habits of

high school athletes. The increase in high school sports participation has put more athletes at

risk for dehydration. The purpose of the study is to investigate the hydration status and impact of

an educational intervention on hydration habits of high school student athletes, by assessing their

current understanding of hydration and monitoring their fluid intake, during practice. …

Deciphering The Consequences Of Yolk Testosterone Metabolism In Birds, Nicole A. Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Maternal steroids transferred to eggs can elicit permanent effects on various aspects of offspring phenotype. Although, testosterone was thought to be a key mediator of maternal effects in birds, we now know that vertebrate embryos actively regulate their exposure to maternal testosterone through steroid metabolism, suggesting testosterone metabolites may elicit the observed phenotypic effects. To address the role steroid metabolism plays in mediating yolk testosterone effects, we used European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) eggs to characterize the timing of testosterone metabolism and determine whether etiocholanolone, a prominent testosterone metabolite in avian embryos, is capable of influencing early embryonic development. Tritiated testosterone …

Impact Of A Single Injury Prevention Instructional Session On The Incidence Of Injury Among U.S. Army Rotc Cadets, Joshua Wooldridge

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Musculoskeletal injuries are the leading health concern for the United States Army. These injuries are the third leading cause of hospitalizations for Army service members and the primary cause for the majority of service-connect disability discharges. Over 80% of musculoskeletal injuries are overuse injuries caused by physical training. The Joint Services Physical Training Injury Prevention Work Group considers education to be a mandatory component of all injury prevention efforts; however, little military research has investigated the impact of education as a primary intervention. Objective: To examine the effect of an injury prevention education class on the incidence of injuries …