Life Sciences Commons^™

Multidecadal Change In Aspen Experiencing Long-Unburned, Mixed-Severity Wildfire, And Reburn Disturbance Regimes, Cerena Brewen

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a valued, minor component on western landscapes. It provides a wide range of ecosystem services, and has been in decline for the last century. This decline may be explained partially by the lack of fire on the landscape as aspen benefit from fire that eliminates conifer competition and stimulates reproduction through root suckering. Managers are interested in aspen restoration but have a lack of knowledge about their spatial dynamics in response to fire. Improving our understanding of aspen stand spatial changes over time may be important for maintaining their presence on landscapes where …

Atmospheric Cold Plasma Interactions With Microbiological Risks In Fresh Food Processing, Apurva Patange

Doctoral

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is a novel emerging non-thermal technology that has attracted attention as a decontamination tool in several industrial, food and healthcare sectors. This study investigated the anti-microbial efficacy of ACP against microbiological risks associated with fresh foods. Treatment was performed using in-package ‘dry’ ACP technology and plasma functionalised liquid to decontaminate microorganisms, exploring the responses to real and challenging microbiological risks pertinent to both fresh foods themselves as well as the effluents generated from food processing industry. A range of critical control process parameters were investigated with respect to key pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms commonly implicated in …

Targeting Maladaptive Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury To Prevent The Development Of Autonomic Dysreflexia, Khalid C. Eldahan

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Vital autonomic and cardiovascular functions are susceptible to dysfunction after spinal cord injury (SCI), with cardiovascular dysregulation contributing to morbidity and mortality in the SCI population. Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a condition that develops after injury to the sixth thoracic spinal segment or higher and is characterized by potentially dangerous and volatile surges in arterial pressure often accompanied with irregular heart rate, headache, sweating, flushing of the skin, and nasal congestion. These symptoms occur in response to abnormal outflow of sympathetic activity from the decentralized spinal cord typically triggered by noxious, yet unperceived nociceptive stimulation beneath the level of lesion. …

Research Methods In Kinesiology And Sports Studies, Scott Ronspies

Faculty Research and Creative Activity

An exposure to various types of research methods in related subject areas, a critical evaluation of selected studies, and writing the research report.

Uridine Promotes Neurite Outgrowth In Neuro2a Cells, Jacquelyn Spathies

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are the main causes of age-related dementia. These diseases can be due to neuronal cell death and/or impairment of neurite outgrowth. Giant oyster mushroom (GOM), Pleurotus giganteus, is used as a nootropic to improve cognitive function. GOM can also be used to prevent the onset of dementia. The underlying mechanism behind the medicinal property of GOM is unclear. Previous studies have shown that GOM has a high concentration of uridine. In this study, I examined the effects of uridine on neurite outgrowth in the Neuro-2a (N2a) neuroblastoma cell line. We also examined …

Exploration Of Sonic Hedgehog Gene Expression In Fathead Minnows (Pimephales Promelas), Brooke Renee Greiner

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Pollutants, as a result of wastewater treatments, have been shown to have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. To better understand the possible consequences caused by effluents on ecosystems, it is important to examine ecotoxicology data. One of the most commonly used species for water quality testing is the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas. Ecotoxicology can then be taken one step further to understand the effects of pollutants on a molecular level. Previous research had identified effluents as causes for abnormal minnow fin morphology. In order to collect additional data on development, tanks with fathead minnows were placed at the Charleston …

Genet-Cnv: Boolean Implication Networks For Modeling Genome-Wide Co-Occurrence Of Dna Copy Number Variations, Salvi Singh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Lung cancer can be categorized as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC makes up about 80% to 85% of lung cancer cases diagnosed, whereas SCLC is responsible for 10% to 15% of the cases. It remains a challenge for physicians to identify patients who shall benefit from chemotherapy. In such a scenario, identifying genes that can facilitate therapeutic target discoveries and better understanding disease mechanisms and their regulation in different stages of lung cancer, remains an important topic of research.

In this …

Characterization Of Ovine Monocytes In Response To Haemonchus Contortus Larvae In Vitro And A Novel Role Of Interleukin-13 Inducing Larval Paralysis, Elizabeth Shepherd

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Haemonchus contortus is a hematophagous, gastrointestinal parasite affecting small ruminants. Parasitism by H. contortus is the greatest concern of sheep producers in the United States and accounts for billions of dollars in economic loss worldwide. However, different breeds of sheep display differences n natural resistance to H. contortus. St. Croix hair sheep have a remarkable ability to clear H. contortus without the aid of anthelmintics and develop a robust T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response, preventing establishment of infective stage 3 larvae (L3), when compared to susceptible Suffolk sheep. However, the mechanism of development of immune response and …

Elucidating Disease Dynamics In The Biocontrol Of Ailanthus Altissima While Confirming The Host Specificity Of The Vascular Wilt Pathogen Verticillium Nonalfalfae, Kristen L. Wickert

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Ailanthus altissima is a highly invasive exotic tree species entrenched throughout the United States. Since the discovery of a vascular wilt disease of Ailanthus in 2002, caused by the fungus Verticillium nonalfalfae, many studies are investigating its potential as a biocontrol focusing on efficacy, host specificity and disease transmission. This study addresses: the reproductive potential of Ailanthus; if V. dahliae alters Verticillium wilt progression; if hardiness zones influence the individual contributions of two Verticillium spp.; can a unique habitat affect biocontrol efficacy; and can the fungal proteome of V. nonalfalfae allow us to explain differences in host …

Apple Pomace As A Novel Aid For Western Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Young Female Sprague Dawley Rats, R. Chris Skinner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Apple pomace is a “waste” byproduct of apple processing that causes environmental pollution and is costly to dispose of. Yet, apple pomace is rich in dietary fibers and antioxidants. Analysis of apple pomace’s nutritional profile indicates suitability as a potential dietary treatment for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the more severe non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NAFLD is the most prevalent liver disease in the world with prevalence and severity expected to increase in both adults and children. Currently, there is no approved drug treatment for NAFLD and therefore, dietary intervention is the primary treatment. The study objectives were to determine …

Utilizing The Parts Of Common Food Products As Functional Ingredients Part 1: Separation And Concentration Of Ω-3 Pufa-Rich Phospholipids By Hydration Of Krill Oil Part 2: Functional Properties Of A Concentrated Egg Yolk Protein Powder Using A One-Step Organic Solvent Extraction Process, Casey Lynn Showman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The food industry separates food products into different parts to better utilize the functional and nutritional benefits of each fraction. The overall focus of this thesis is on separating and utilizing fractions and co-products from food manufacturing as functional ingredients. Therefore, the objective of this research was to 1) evaluate the effectiveness of water degumming to separate omega-3 PUFA-rich phospholipids from other lipids found in krill oil and 2) determine how different organic solvents would affect physiochemical and functional properties of egg yolk protein recovered from spray-dried egg yolk using a novel one-step organic solvent extraction method.

The aim of …

Role Of Extracellular Vesicles In Neuroinflammatory Progression And Mitochondrial Functional Alterations, Ashley E. Russell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS), termed neuroinflammation, is a defining characteristic of many neuropathological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and stroke. Certain inflammatory mediators activate the transcription factor NF-κB, which induces transcription of many pro-inflammatory genes, including miR-34a and miR-146a. Several target candidate genes of these miRNAs encode for proteins of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. In our studies, we demonstrate that in response to inflammatory stimuli, such as TNF-α, the expression of miR-34a and -146a is significantly increased in several CNS cell types, and in their secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs). Exposure to TNF-α-derived EVs significantly increases cellular …

Influence Of Climate Change And Prescribed Fire On Habitat Suitability And Abundance Of The High-Elevation Endemic Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon Punctatus), Carl David Jacobsen

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Amphibians are facing global declines due to climate change, loss and degradation of habitat, invasive species, and disease. The Appalachian region of the eastern USA is a global biodiversity hotspot for salamanders, which are considered keystone species that influence nutrient dynamics in terrestrial and aquatic food webs. There are high rates of salamander endemism in the Appalachian region, with many species restricted to isolated, high elevation areas. The Cow Knob Salamander (Plethodon punctatus) is one such species. It is only found at elevations >675 m (most populations are above 900 m) on Shenandoah Mountain, North Mountain, and Nathaniel …

Thermal Performance Of Growth At Consumption Maximum (C-Max) And Routine Metabolic Rate (Rmr) In Brook Trout Salvelinus Fontinalis From Four Populations In Central Appalachia, Cory Michael Hartman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Growth of an individual is the end result of many physiological processes stemming from the consumption of food items. These processes can be influenced by many variables including temperature. Current bioenergetics models for Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis suggest growth increases with temperature until an inflection point of 20.2°C. With a warming climate, and water temperatures expected to rise, the ability of a population to adapt to the warming environment is crucial to the survival of the species. For this study we sought to see how spatial variation would influence the specific consumption, conversion efficiency, and specific growth at consumption maximum …

Effect Of Rhizobacteria Treatments On Nutrient Content And Organic And Amino Acid Composition In Raspberry Plants, Muzaffer İpek

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been found to be beneficial to plant growth, yield, crop quality, the environment, and sustainable agricultural production. Therefore, six bacterial strains were tested to determine their effects on raspberry's nutrient content and organic and amino acid composition. The experiment was performed from 2015 to 2017. Two-year-old raspberry plants were inoculated with bacterial suspensions by a dipping method and were planted in 30-L pots. The mineral content and organic acid and amino acid composition of the leaf and root were compared in the Alcaligenes 637Ca, Staphylococcus MFDCa1 and MFDCa2, Agrobacterium A18, Pantoea FF1, and Bacillus M3 …

Effects Of Plant Growth Regulators On The Plant Height And Quantitative Properties Of Narcissus Tazetta, Sevi̇m Demi̇r, Fi̇sun Gürsel Çeli̇kel

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and ethephon treatment as soil drench on plant height and quantitative and other properties of native narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L.) plants grown in pots were investigated. When the plants were 7?10 cm tall, flurprimidol and paclobutrazol at 0, 1, and 2 mg/pot and ethephon at 0, 37.5, and 75 mg/pot were applied as soil drenches. The effects of plant growth retardant treatments on plant height, leaf length, time of flowering, number of flowers, and flower life were determined. In addition, quantitative measurements (leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf weight ratio, and stem …

Design, Development, And Evaluation Of A Target Oriented Weed Control System Usingmachine Vision, Ömer Bariş Özlüoymak, Ali̇ Bolat, Ali̇ Bayat, Emi̇n Güzel

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The objective of the study was to develop and test an automatic machine vision-based spraying robot for the detection, tracking, and spraying of artificial weeds by using LabVIEW programming language. The greenness method was used to distinguish green objects in the image. A time-controlled spray nozzle was run according to the presence of an artificial weed and its coordinates. A mobile test bench was built and the spraying system with a webcam was operated at speeds of 0.42, 0.54, 0.66, 0.78, and 0.90 km h-1, so as to be able to see the performance of the system. The amount of …

Individual Tree Measurements In A Planted Woodland With Terrestrial Laser Scanner, Hüseyi̇n Yurtseven, Süleyman Çoban, Mustafa Akgül, Anil Orhan Akay

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Terrestrial light detection and ranging technology provides an accurate measurement of individual tree parameters that are essential for managing forest resources, modeling forest fires, planning forest operations, etc. This study aimed to measure individual tree parameters to model a single tree using terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) data. A high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) was generated using point cloud data (2,800,430 points) to obtain the tree parameters. Next, the diameter of breast heights (DBH), tree heights, tree lengths, tree projection areas, and crown parameters were calculated using 3D Forest 0.42 software. In order to evaluate the capabilities of TLS data, estimated …

Effects Of Moisture Content, Internode Region, And Oblique Angle On The Mechanicalproperties Of Sainfoin Stem, Mustafa Gökalp Boydaş, Mustafa Çomakli, Bahadir Sayinci, Mazhar Kara

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of moisture content, internode region, and oblique angle on several mechanical properties of sainfoin stem were determined. The selected mechanical properties used were the shearing stress, specific shearing energy, bending stress, and modulus of elasticity when bending. The experiments were carried out with wet basis (WB) moisture contents of 71.76%, 45.57%, and 25.57%, at the third and second internode regions from the bottom up to the top, and 2 oblique angles (0° and 28°). The research results showed that the shearing stress of sainfoin stem increased as the moisture content increased, but decreased towards the upper internode of …

Mesophyll Protoplast Isolation Technique And Flow Cytometry Analysis Of Ancient Platycladus Orientalis (Cupressaceae), Qianyi Zhou, Zhaohong Jiang, Yiming Li, Tian Zhang, Hailan Zhu, Fei Zhao, Zhong Zhao

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae) is a native tree species used widely for landscaping and afforestation in arid and semiarid areas in Asia. Ancient P. orientalis trees not only have an important humanistic and historical value but also have a significant scientific value in aging mechanism research. Mesophyll protoplasts are an important material for studies of plant regeneration, transient gene expression, and senescence. Although an easy and effective technique of mesophyll protoplast isolation from mature trees is urgently needed, the isolation parameters have great material specificity. The young tissue of plants is an ideal material for protoplast preparation. In this study, we …

Authentication Of Gemlik Olive Cultivar Using 1h Nmr Spectroscopy Andchemometric Analysis, İbrahi̇m Sani̇ Özdemi̇r, Somer Beki̇roğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, 1H NMR spectroscopy was used to discriminate Gemlik olives cultivated in a protected designation of origin (PDO) region from those cultivated in non-PDO regions. For this purpose, 95 Gemlik olive samples (47 from PDO and 48 from non- PDO regions) were collected. 1H NMR spectral analysis was carried out on the oils extracted from these olive samples. The results of the partial least squares-discriminant analysis showed that olives from the PDO and non-PDO regions could be discriminated on the basis of their NMR profiles. The prediction ability of the model was better when olive samples from the …

The Applicability Of New Training Systems For Sweet Cherry In Turkey, Di̇lek Soysal, Leyla Demi̇rsoy, İdri̇s Maci̇t, Gregory Lang, Hüsnü Demi̇rsoy

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The use of training systems for cherry trees is significantly important, as they form the basis of future shoots, which are potential producers of fruits. Numerous studies have been carried out on training systems for cherries around the world. It is well known that new training systems result in a shorter fruiting time and ease mechanical operations, such as harvesting and pruning. Unfortunately, new systems have never been tried for sweet cherry in Turkey. This study was aimed at determining the effect of different training systems, such as tall spindle axe (TSA), super spindle axe (SSA), upright fruiting offshoots (UFO), …

Different Harvest Times Affect Market Quality Of Lycium Barbarum L. Berries, Ayşen Melda Çolak, Volkan Okatan, Mehmet Polat, Sultan Fi̇li̇z Güçlü

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Goji berry is a lesser-known fruit species and its berries have been used in traditional medicine for centuries as remedies to treat eye, liver, and kidney ailments, as well as for the prevention of cancer symptoms due to its high phytochemical content. This study aimed to investigate changes in the pomological, biochemical, and phytochemical properties of the berries of 4 goji berry genotypes harvested during 4 months (June, July, August, and September) of the same year. The results indicated that the highest berry dimensions (height and width) and soluble solid content were obtained from Genotype 2, harvested in June. The …

Effects Of Tillage Method And Fertilizer Type On The Yield Of Sudan Grass(Sorghum Bicolor L.), Bojan Stipesevic, Bojana Brozovic, Danijel Jug, Irena Jug, Vesna Vukadinovic, Boris Djurdjevic

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The Sudan grass plant (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench subsp. drummondii) density and yield were determined in this 2-year research with different tillage systems and fertilization at 3 locations. After harvesting the main crops, 3 tillage treatments were applied: conventional (CT) mouldboard ploughing (25-30 cm deep), followed by disk harrowing and sowing: reduced tillage 1 (HDH) with 2 passes by a disk harrow (15-20 cm deep), followed by seedbed preparation, and reduced tillage 2 (LDH) with a single pass by a disk harrow. Soil penetration resistance was measured at each tillage treatment. A total of 5 side dressing fertilizer treatments were …

Anti-C1q Autoantibodies Are Frequently Detected In Patients With Systemic Sclerosis Associated With Pulmonary Fibrosis, C. Liaskos, S. Rentouli, T. Simopoulou, A. Gkoutzourelas, G. L. Norman, A. Brotis, I. Alexiou, C. Katsiari, D. P. Bogdanos, L. I. Sakkas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Anti-C1q autoantibodies (autoAbs) are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but their presence in other rheumatic diseases has not been adequately investigated.

OBJECTIVE: We aim to assessanti-C1q autoAbs and circulating immune complexes (CICs) in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

METHODS: One hundred twenty four patients with SSc (106 females; median age 59.4 years, range 25-81.4; 75(60.5%) with limited cutaneous SSc[lcSSc], and 49(39.5%) with diffuse cutaneous SSc[dcSSc]), were studied. Twenty-five patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SjS), 29 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 38 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 53 healthy controls (NC) were also included. ELISAs with high and low salt …

Exosomes Mediate Zika Virus Transmission Through Smpd3 Neutral Sphingomyelinase In Cortical Neurons, Wenshuo Zhou, Michael Woodson, Michael B. Sherman, Girish Neelakanta, Hameeda Sultana

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The harmful effects of ZIKA virus (ZIKV) infection are reflected by severe neurological manifestations such as microcephaly in neonates and other complications associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. The transmission dynamics of ZIKV in or between neurons, or within the developing brains of the foetuses are not fully understood. Using primary cultures of murine cortical neurons, we show that ZIKV uses exosomes as mediators of viral transmission between neurons. Cryo-electron microscopy showed heterogeneous population of neuronal exosomes with a size range of 30-200 nm. Increased production of exosomes from neuronal cells was noted upon ZIKV infection. Neuronal exosomes contained both …

Does Helping-At-The-Nest Help? The Case Of The Acorn Woodpecker, Walter D. Koenig, Eric L. Walters, Sahas Barve

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Cooperative breeding groups often involve "helpers-at-the-nest"; indeed, such behavior typically defines this intriguing breeding system. In few cases, however, has it been demonstrated that feeding nestlings by helpers, rather than some other behavior associated with helpers' presence, leads to greater reproductive success. One prediction of the hypothesis that feeding behavior per se is responsible for the fitness benefits conferred by helpers is that there should be close congruence between the patterns of helping-at-the-nest and the fitness effects of helpers. Here we look for such a relationship in the cooperatively breeding acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) in order to begin …

Demographic Response Of The Gambian Gerbil To Seasonal Changes In Savannah Fallow Fields, Safianu Rabiu, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Savannah gerbil, Gerbilliscus gambianus (Muridae: Gerbillinae) is important to the ecological relations of the dry grassland ecosystem of West Africa, as well as, being a zoonotic agent of human diseases and po-tential crop pest. We examined the impact of seasonal changes on the population dynamics of G. gambianus in northern Nigeria, by completing population estimates using capture–mark–recapture (CMR) and indirect population density indices (PDI) methods. The latter included fecal pellet counts and limited spotlightening. During 1990–1992 we collected both CMR and PDI data, and established their relationship by regression, thus calibrating the PDI values to CMR estimator. We also …

A Survey On Horse Use And Management In Horse Clubs In China: A Pilot Study, Zhen Li, Zhen Li

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

During the past three decades, significant development of the Chinese equine industry has resulted in a rapid increase in the number of horses in the country. At the same time, many horse clubs face shortages of trained management personnel or specialists in equine science and technology. The objective of this survey was to document and evaluate horse management and use in Chinese horse clubs. A 29-question survey was developed using SurveyMonkey© and tested on a small pilot group before being revised and released to a general pool of participants. The questionnaire link was distributed through WeChat to specific personnel in …

Holocene Fire History Reconstruction Of A Mid-Evaluation Mixed-Conifer Forest In The Eastern Cascades, Washington, Zoe Rushton

All Master's Theses

Fire histories of mid-elevation mixed-conifer forests (MEMC) are uncommon, particularly in the eastern Cascades of Washington. As a result, fire regimes and the effects of 20th century fire suppression in these forests are not well understood. In the summer of 2014 a 7.80 meter-long sediment core was extracted from Long Lake, located approximately 45 km west of Yakima, WA, which exists in a grand fir-dominated mixed-conifer forest. Fire activity for the Long Lake watershed was reconstructed using macroscopic charcoal analysis and pollen analysis was used to reconstruct vegetation change through time. Charcoal results show low fire activity in the early …