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Asynchronous Expression Of The Homeodomain Protein Cux1 In Sertoli Cells And Speratids During Spermatogenesis In Mice, Melissa R. Kroll, Engela S. Viss, Jonathan Lamb, Joy Horstman, Alexander Powell, Andrea Van Wyk, Kaarlo Hinkkala, Gregory B. Vanden Heuvel, Traci Hoogland, Matthew Schippers, Stephen Shannon, Carol G. Carlton, Madhulika Sharma, Aaron Taylor, Tony N. Jelsma

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

The homeodomain CUX1 protein exists as multiple isoforms that arise from proteolytic processing of a 200-kDa protein or an alternate splicing or from the use of an alternate promoter. The 200-kDa CUX1 protein is highly expressed in the developing kidney, where it functions to regulate cell proliferation. Transgenic mice ectopically expressing the 200-kDa CUX1 protein develop renal hyperplasia associated with reduced expression of the cyclin kinase inhibitor p27. A 55-kDa CUX1 isoform is expressed exclusively in the testes. We determined the pattern and timing of CUX1 protein expression in developing testes. CUX1 expression was continuous in Sertoli cells from prepubertal …

Evaluation Of Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (Aptt) Reagents For Application In Biomedical Diagnostic Device Development, Magdalena Dudek, Leanne F. Harris, Anthony J. Killard

Articles

Introduction: The most commonly used test for monitoring heparin therapy is the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). The response of available aPTT reagents to heparin varies significantly. The aim of this study was to highlight the differences between aPTT reagents stored in a dried format to select the most suitable formulations to be used for the development of point-of-care diagnostic devices used for monitoring of unfractionated heparin dose response. Methods: Ten reagents were analysed in terms of their performance in liquid and in dried form after storage for 24 h and 14 days. Performance was assessed by measurement of the …

The Conservation And Ecology Of Carnivorous Plants, David Jennings

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As discussed in Chapter 1, although our understanding of the ecology and evolution of carnivorous plants has greatly improved in recent years, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. Unfortunately, at the present time, many carnivorous plants are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. Indeed, over half of the carnivorous plant species assessed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are listed as `threatened', but the threats to carnivorous plants have not previously been quantified. In Chapter 2, I quantified the conservation threats to carnivorous plant taxa worldwide by searching peer-reviewed literature, and found data on the threats to 48 …

Underwater Hearing In The Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta Caretta): A Comparison Of Behavioral And Auditory Evoked Potential Audiograms, Kelly Martin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Methods for collecting behavioral audiograms are often time consuming and require trained, captive subjects. It is more practical to measure hearing sensitivity using electrophysiological methods, such as auditory evoked potential (AEP) testing, in which electrodes measure action potentials in response to acoustic stimuli. These data can be collected in a matter of hours. However, results should be verified through behavioral testing. Current knowledge of marine turtle auditory abilities is based on a few electrophysiological tests. The purpose of this study was to collect and compare behavioral and auditory evoked potential audiograms in a captive adult loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta …

Omega-3 Fatty Acids And The Neurovascular Responses To Mental Stress In Humans, Christopher Elmer Schwartz

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Hypertension is the most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the world, and is known to increase the risk for developing other diseases. Recently, the American Heart Association introduced a new classification of blood pressure, prehypertension (PHT). The criteria for PHT include a systolic of 120-139 mmHg and/or a diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg. It has been observed that individuals with PHT have a higher risk of developing hypertension later in life. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms contributing to PHT in order to possibly prevent hypertension. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils have been …

Response Of Riparian Plant Communities To Hydrological Alteration: Are Seed Banks A Means Of Restoration?, Siobhan Boyer Gorham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The effects of anthropogenic modifications of stream systems on in situ plant community composition and seed bank composition were examined at five riparian sites in the Yazoo River watershed in northern Mississippi. This analysis was performed to determine if the soil seed bank can provide a means for the restoration of riparian floodplain plant communities. The study sites represented five different kinds of hydrological alteration: a highly incised riparian terrace isolated from the stream channel, a deforested original stream with reduced flow due to channelization and standing water due to levees, a forested original stream with reduced flow due to …

Population Biology Of A Coastal Dune-Dwelling Spider (Arctosa Sanctaerosae) Along The Hurricane Disturbed Northern Gulf Of Mexico Coast, Robert A. Hataway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

With the continued increase in the number of tourists visiting the Northern Gulf coast in the last century and the resulting development of this coastline the habitat of Arctosa sanctaerosae has become fragmented; and the sprawl of large cities along the coast has further degraded available habitat. In addition to anthropogenic disturbance to this coastal region, hurricanes are an additional and natural perturbation to the ecosystem. This habitat has seen a number of major tropical storms over the last decade and I have sought to explore the impact of habitat destruction and storm-induced disturbance on a species of spider endemic …

Rox1 Function In Dosage Compensation: Structural / Functional Analysis Of A Non-Coding Rna, Ying Kong

Wayne State University Dissertations

roX1 is a long non-coding RNA involved in the chromosome-wide gene regulation that occurs during dosage compensation in Drosophila. Dosage compensation in Drosophila melanogaster occurs by a global two-fold increase of transcription from the single male X chromosome. This essential process compensates for X chromosome monosomy. The male-specific lethal (MSL) complex, containing five proteins, localizes to the male X chromosome and alters chromatin to modify gene expression. roX1 and roX2 RNAs are redundant components of MSL complex that are required for its exclusive X-localization. Recent studies in our lab have revealed a second role of roX RNAs in heterochromatic gene …

Oxygen Limitation And Tissue Metabolic Potential Of The African Fish Barbus Neumayeri: Roles Of Native Habitat And Acclimatization, Martinez M. L, Raynard E. L, Bernard B. Rees, Chapman L. J

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Oxygen availability in aquatic habitats is a major environmental factor influencing the ecology, behaviour, and physiology of fishes. This study evaluates the contribution of source population and hypoxic acclimatization of the African fish, Barbus neumayeri, in determining growth and tissue metabolic enzyme activities. Individuals were collected from two sites differing dramatically in concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO), Rwembaita Swamp (annual average DO 1.35 mgO2 L-1) and Inlet Stream West (annual average DO 5.58 mgO2 L-1) in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and reciprocally transplanted using a cage experiment in the field, allowing us to maintain individuals under natural conditions of …

Geographic Variation In The Effects Of Heat Exposure On Maximum Sprint Speed And Hsp70 Abundance In Populations Of The Western Fence Lizard, Scelopolus Occidentalis, D M. Mcmillan, D J. Irschick, Bernard B. Rees

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We examined whether western fence lizards Sceloporus occidentalis

occurring in thermally divergent environments display differential

responses to high temperature in locomotor performance

and heat-shock protein (Hsp) expression. We measured

maximum sprint speed in S. occidentalis from four populations

at paired latitudes and elevations before and after exposure to

an experimental heat treatment and then quantified hind-limb

muscle Hsp70 expression. Lizards collected from northern or

high-elevation collection sites suffered a greater reduction in

sprint speed after heat exposure than lizards collected from

southern or low-elevation sites. In addition, lizards from northern

collection sites also exhibited an increase in Hsp70 expression

after …

Effect Of Uv-A Irradiance On Lipid Accumulation In Nannochloropsis Oculata, Rathy Srinivas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The marine microalgae Nannochloropsis spp. are of both ecological and economic importance as they contribute to the base of the food chain of marine systems, and can accumulate a considerable amount of lipids. Their lipids can be grouped into two categories, storage lipids, which are mainly triglycerides (TGs), and structural lipids, which are composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are essential nutrients for both aquatic animals and humans, while TGs can be transesterified to produce biodiesel. Lipid formation in microalgae depends on several environmental factors and Nannochloropsis spp. have been shown to accumulate excess storage lipids under stressful conditions. …

Indirect Estimates Of Gene Flow And Its Conservation Implications In The Striped Newt (Notophthalmus Perstriatus), Sarah Elizabeth May

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study used indirect methods to estimate patterns of gene flow in a rare salamander species, the striped newt (Notophthalmus perstriatus). First, we used combined genetic and ecological methods to determine whether populations that appear to exist in two regions separated by 125 km, exhibited genetic and ecological distinctness such that the regions demarcate separate conservation units. Using mtDNA (cyt-b), we found that haplotypes were shared between localities within each region but none were shared between regions. Niche-based distribution modeling revealed significant differences in the ecological setting between the two regions. In combination, the absence of evidence for recent genetic …

The Effects Of Seasonal Changes And Turbidity On Swimming Performance In White Crappie Pomoxis Annularis And Black Crappie Pomoxis Nigromaculatus., Caleb Joseph Gaston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Factors that affect swimming performance in fish can also affect fitness. I tested the effects of time of day, season and turbidity on swimming performance in black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus and white crappie Pomoxis annularis. These closely related fish co-occur and their relative abundance is thought to be governed by the levels of turbidity in the form of suspended sediments. Black crappie predominate in clear bodies of water and exhibited significantly greater critical swimming speeds in clear water than did white crappie during spring days and winter nights. A significant reduction in critical swimming speed was observed in black crappie …

Distribution And Conservation Status Of Antillean Manatees (Trichechus Manatus Manatus) In Honduras, Daniel González-Socoloske, Cynthia R. Taylor, Olivia R. Rendon Thompson

Faculty Publications

The Antillean manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus, is among the most threatened mammals in Honduras, yet the last published study is from 1980. Since then, the North Coast of Honduras has experienced rapid population growth and land cover change possibly causing habitat loss for manatees. We conducted aerial, boat, and interview surveys between 2005-2007 along the northern and remote eastern coasts of Honduras to assess the current status and distribution of manatees. In addition, we compiled all available data on manatee mortality from museum specimens, unpublished reports, and interviews to determine current threats. We averaged 1.2 manatee sightings per survey hour …

Identification And Characterization Of Equine Rotaviruses In Southern Ireland, Crystal Cronin

Theses

Group A Rotaviruses(GARVs) are enteric pathogens which induce acute gastroenteritis in infants, neonates and the young of many animal species. During a 4 year study (2005-2009), 64 fecal samples from symptomatic foals, from several counties, in the south of Ireland, were molecularly characterized to determine the VP& (G type), VP4 (P type), and NSP4 antigenic specificities. Globally, G3 [P12] and G14[P12] are recognized as the predominant equine GARV strains. Twenty-two samples (34.38%) were found to contain G3 viruses, while 21 samples (32.81%) contained G14 viruses. In this study, there was a distinct increase in the incidence of mixed infections circulating …

Localization And Characterization Of The Interactions Between Basigin Gene Products And Monocarboxlate Transporters In The Olfactory Bulb Of The Mouse, Paul L. Gambon

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Basigin, the mouse form of the human protein EMMPRIN, is commonly found as a transmembrane homodimer with carboxy termini in the cytosol and extracellular amino-termini. Because of its important role as a cell-to-cell junction molecule, and possible implications for cancer research, a Basigin null mouse was developed in 1996 by Igakura et al., to aid in the study of this protein. Their early research demonstrated that Basigin plays a large role in embryonic development. Mice lacking the Basigin gene are blind from the time of eye opening, and have demonstrated a lack of aversion to offensive odors such as acetic …

Invasive Fish Effects On The Invertebrate Constituents Of Wetland Communities, Levi Bridges

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The purpose of this research was to assess the impacts of invasive fishes on wetland communities. Within this study we explored fish effects on the invertebrate constituents of these wetlands, and possible niche overlap of fish and dabbling waterfowl using stable isotope analysis. Brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) and pumpkinseed (Lipomis gibbosus) pose a potentially growing threat to temperate Pacific drainages of North America due to their ability to outcompete native fauna. Our study compares and contrasts the invertebrate constituents, their diversity, abundances, and stable isotope ecology among fish invaded and non-invaded wetlands. We found that brook stickleback and pumpkinseed are …

Efficacy Of Constructed Wetlands Of Various Depths For Natural Amphibian Community Conservation, Andrea Nicole Drayer

Online Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands provide critical habitat for a diverse group of amphibians and provide important ecosystem functions and services to humans. Despite this, most natural wetlands have been lost to land use practices. Consequently, constructing wetlands has become a common practice to mitigate for removed wetlands and to manage for wildlife. There were three primary objectives of this research: 1) to examine whether or not constructed wetlands located on ridge tops in eastern Kentucky in the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF) had amphibian communities comparable to natural ephemeral wetlands, 2) to examine amphibian predator-prey relationships within the constructed wetlands, and 3) to …

Ultraviolet Reflectance Of Nestling Plumage And The Provisioning Strategies Of Adult Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis Phoebe), Alyssa Rae Underwood

Online Theses and Dissertations

Most songbirds are visually sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths and, in some species, variation in the extent to which plumage reflects in the UV range provides information about individual quality that influences mate-choice decisions. Less is known about the possible importance of plumage UV reflectance in parent-offspring relationships. The lower breast and belly plumage of nestling Eastern Phoebes (Sayornis phoebe) reflects in the UV and adults may use variation in this reflectance to evaluate nestling quality and vary their provisioning behavior accordingly. To examine this possibility, I manipulated UV reflectance of nestling plumage by applying preen oil that …

Land Snail Species Diversity And Composition Between Different Forest Disturbance Regimes In Central And Eastern Kentucky Forests, Daniel Douglas

Online Theses and Dissertations

Land snails are cornerstone organisms that contribute to properly functioning ecosystems. However, habitat loss and destruction have led to these organisms being one of the most imperiled groups on the planet. Due to their relatively sedentary nature, land snails can be susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance and habitat fragmentation. Because of this, old-growth forests have the potential for being premiere habitat for these organisms, and snails have the potential to be good indicators of old-growth habitats. This study compared land snail species diversity and community composition in old-growth and second-growth forests in the Inner Bluegrass, Cumberland Plateau, and Pine Mountain ecoregions …

Effect Of Nestling Sex Ratio On The Provisioning Behavior Of Adult Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia Sialis), Barbara Ellen Kieffer

Online Theses and Dissertations

To maximize reproductive success, parents may, in some cases, differentially invest in sons and daughters, i.e., sex-biased parental investment. Preferential provisioning behavior has been reported in one population of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and attributed to local resource competition. To better understand this behavior, I studied the provisioning behavior of Eastern Bluebirds in Madison County, Kentucky, in 2004. I experimentally manipulated brood sex ratios in 24 bluebird nests, creating female-biased (N = 8), male-biased (N = 5), and control (N = 11) nests. Following manipulation, nests were video-taped to record adult provisioning behavior. Among experimental broods, the provisioning rates …

Resource Assessment Framework (Raf) For Finfish Resources In Western Australia, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Relationships Between Physiological Characteristics And Trace Metal Body Burdens Of Banded Garden Spiders Argiope Trifasciata (Araneae, Araneidae), Martina Ramirez, Jeremy Mccallum, James M. Landry, Viviana A. Vallin, Sarah H. Fukui, Heidi E. Gergus, Jaclyn D. Torres, Charisse L. Sy

Biology Faculty Works

Banded garden spiders (Argiope trifasciata) were collected at the Ballona Wetlands, a metal contaminated salt marsh. The relationship between spider body size and individual metal loads was investigated. Biochemical markers were identified in spider fecal material and found to correlate to body metal levels. Body metal dry weight concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and total metals in female A. trifasciata exhibited distinct patterns of spatial and annual variation during 2006 and 2007. Spider body size was homogeneous across sites in both years, while increased Cd and Cr concentrations were sometimes associated with a reduction in spider size, though the …

Multi-Locus Evidence Of A Late Pleistocene Divergence And Sex-Biased Dispersal In The North American Wood Duck (Aix Sponsa), Christopher T. Bigley

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The Pleistocene was characterized by fluctuations in climate causing repeated advances and retreats of glacial ice. The advancing ice sheets caused habitat fragmentation which initiated population divergence and speciation events between eastern and western avian populations within northern temperate forests. Based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences, North American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) populations fit this model of divergence. However, mtDNA is maternally inherited, and thus may not reflect the genomic history of this species, because of male biased-dispersal, selection, or stochastic lineage sorting. To test the "Late Pleistocene divergence" hypothesis, I sequenced 11 independent nuclear introns (nuDNA) for …

Epigenetic Regulatory Mechanisms In Plants, Zoya Avramova

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Genomes are defined by their primary sequence, which provides the genetic blueprint of a species. Eukaryotic DNA functions within the context of chromatin, which provides additional layers of gene regulation referred to as “epigenetic.” The commonly found definition of epigenetics is that of a “study of heritable changes in genome function that occur without a change in DNA sequence.” However, evidence that neuronal gene-expression states are also regulated by epigenetic mechanisms, despite evidence that neuronal cells do not divide, has opened space for a broader unifying definition that keeps “the sense of prevailing usage but avoids constraints imposed by stringently …

Sex Chromosome-Specific Regulation In The Drosophila Male Germline But Little Evidence For Chromosomal Dosage Compensation Or Meiotic Inactivation, Colin D. Meiklejohn, Emily L. Landeen, Jodi M. Cook, Sarah B. Kingan, Daven C. Presgraves

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The evolution of heteromorphic sex chromosomes (e.g., XY in males or ZW in females) has repeatedly elicited the evolution of two kinds of chromosome-specific regulation: dosage compensation—the equalization of X chromosome gene expression in males and females— and meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI)—the transcriptional silencing and heterochromatinization of the X during meiosis in the male (or Z in the female) germline. How the X chromosome is regulated in the Drosophila melanogaster male germline is unclear. Here we report three new findings concerning gene expression from the X in Drosophila testes. First, X chromosome-wide dosage compensation appears to be absent from …

Determination And Pathogenicity Of The Bacterial Flora Associated With The Spruce Bark Beetle, Ips Typographus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), Hacer Muratoğlu, Kazim Sezen, Zi̇hni̇ Demi̇rbağ

Turkish Journal of Biology

The Eurasian spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is one of the most serious pests of spruce trees. We identified 8 bacterial isolates from this pest using conventional bacteriological tests (API 20E and API 50CH strips, and VITEK system (bioMerieux) analysis) and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Based on these studies, all isolates could be identified to the genus or species level as Bacillus sphaericus (It1), Acinetobacter sp. (It2), Kluyvera cryocrescens (It3), Acinetobacter sp. (It4), Vagococcus sp. (It5), Acinetobacter sp. (It6), Proteus vulgaris (It7), and Serratia liquefaciens (It8). We also evaluated the pathogenicity of these bacteria on …

The Effects Of The Composition Of Growth Medium And Fermentation Conditions On The Production Of Lipase By R. Delemar, Ünsal Açikel, Mehtap Erşan, Yeşi̇m Sağ Açikel

Turkish Journal of Biology

Lipases (triacylglycerol hydrolases) are hydrolytic enzymes that can catalyze the hydrolysis of the ester bond of long-chain acylglycerols at the oil-water interface. The present study investigated the effects of inducers, surface-active materials, activators, and inhibitors in the fermentation medium on lipase activity in Rhizopus delemar. In the presence of certain commercial oils and tributyrin as an inducer, lipase activity decreased in the order of sunflower oil > soybean oil > hazelnut oil > corn oil > tributyrin > olive oil. In addition, the effects of the stirring and aeration rates on lipase activity were investigated. To investigate the effect of surface-active materials on lipase activity …

Phylogenetic Analysis Of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus (Pprv) Isolated In Iran Based On Partial Sequence Data From The Fusion (F) Protein Gene, Majid Esmaelizad, Saber Jelokhani-Niaraki, Rohani Kargar-Moakhar

Turkish Journal of Biology

In order to gain some insight into the origin of the peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) isolated in Iran, a selected region of the PPRV genome in a clinical sample collected from a sheep was amplified using RT-PCR, and the resulting amplicon was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The partial nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence of the Iranian isolate was aligned with the corresponding sequences of 16 previously published F genes. Sequence analysis of the strains showed that the Iranian isolate had the highest degree of homology with the majority of the strains, with the exception of Nigerian isolates …

Effects Of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Glomus Intraradices On Photosynthetic Pigments, Antioxidant Enzymes, Lipid Peroxidation, And Chromium Accumulation In Maize Plants Treated With Chromium, Raziyeh Rahmaty, Jalil Khara

Turkish Journal of Biology

Contamination of soil and ground water by chromium (Cr), due to its wide industrial use, has become a serious source of concern over the past decade. In this study a glasshouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices on Cr toxicity in maize plants. Half of the plants were inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). Cr was supplied in the form of potassium dichromate at 0.00, 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50 mM through irrigation water in a sand culture. At the end of the experiment, it was observed that Cr had significantly decreased the …