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Investigation Of Fshr-1 Site Of Action And Signaling Initiation At The C. Elegans Neuromuscular Junction, Alyssa Lynn Ritter

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Millions of neurons in our bodies relay messages to various organ systems. Neuronal signaling involves a combination of electrical and chemical signals between neurons that create responses in the receiving neuron that are either inhibitory or excitatory. The nervous system relies on the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signaling (E:I balance) to maintain its function. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are cell surface proteins that play critical roles in regulating neuronal signaling by binding molecules that initiate intracellular relay pathways. One conserved GPCR known as FSHR-1, homologous to human follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) receptor, regulates neuromuscular signaling in Caenorhabditis elegans roundworms. …

Particle Tracking Reveals Pelagic Red Crabs As Indicators Of Climate-Driven Range Expansion In The California Current, Elizabeth Saraf

Senior Honors Projects

Since their first recorded occurrence in 1859, Pelagic Red Crabs (PRC; Pleuroncodes planipes) have experienced increased frequency of episodic mass stranding events in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. PRC’s are transported over 1,000 km northward of their central domain from the coast of central Baja California, Mexico. They have been reported by the thousands on the beaches of central and southern California. Their presence influences the surrounding ecosystem and commercial fisheries because they are nutritional prey items and large predators change their diet to incorporate PRC’s when they are available. Seasonal coastal currents and the California Undercurrent transport warmer waters …

Expert Level Microscopy For Everyone : Optimizing Microscopy Parameters With Modeling And Simulation, Ethan Woo

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Multiplexed fluorescent imaging (MFI) has transformed biological investigation by providing spatial context to labeled analytes, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins. Multiplexed imaging techniques can track multiple analytes at once and thus has the potential to provide an unprecedented view into the complex relationships between various molecules, cells, and tissues. However, most researchers rarely use more than 3 fluorophores at a time due to the complex technological and procedural requirements for highly multiplexed imaging. Currently, a major obstacle in the field is the inability to quantify uncertainty in fluorescent images, making it difficult to draw quantitative conclusions from the images. …

Isolating Oral Bacterial Species From A Single Donor Through A Multi-Step Detection Method, Khalid Al-Lakhen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The human oral microbiome is one of the most complex microbiome communities in the human body and its role in maintaining health is not fully understood. Previous research shows that the transition from health to disease is accompanied by changes in community abundance and structure. To fully understand the symbiotic relationship formed between bacterial species that leads to the formation of a functional healthy biofilm structure, we must study the various structural relationships and subsequent molecular interactions among individual species within the biofilm. In this thesis, I have isolated a pure bacteria species from a single donor's dental plaque and …

Intergenerational Embodiment Of Stress : How The Broader Sociocultural Environment Can Shape Child Growth And Development, Elizabeth A. Holdsworth

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Childhood growth has been a means of identifying systemic, material inequalities within populations. The plasticity of growth is responsive to multiple environmental factors, most notably adequate nutrition, but also psychosocial stress. Psychosocial stress can be a function of the social and political economic ecology, reinforcing power hierarchies within societies. This dissertation proposes that childhood growth can also reflect inequality in the distribution of psychosocial stress exposure through mothers’ feelings of a chronically stressful environment conveyed through maternal-infant interactions.

Shelter Dogs Need A Home: The Effect Of Enrichment And Human Contact On The Welfare And Adoptability Of Shelter Dogs, Hannah G. Clark

Honors Projects

It comes as no surprise that an animal shelter can be a stressful place for dogs. Shelter conditions, accompanied by multiple, novel stimuli, produce a stressful environment that cause hormonal and behavioral responses in dogs housed in shelters. Many of the stereotypical behaviors produced by the stress of living in a shelter, which tend to worsen as length of stay increases, are undesirable to potential adopters. However, many studies have shown that enrichment with a variety of toys, exercise, and human interaction can buffer the stress response in shelter dogs and improve their well-being. Implementing obedience training and temporary fostering …

Climate-Driven Impacts On Himalayan Aquatic Biodiversity: A Case Study Involving Snowtrout (Cyprinidae: Schizothorax), Riri Wiyanti Retnaningtyas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring biodiversity, to include its relative dispersal and contraction, has become a conservation task of great importance, particularly given the catastrophic and ongoing loss of habitat due to climate change. However, the timing, direction, and magnitude of these rates vary across taxa and ecosystems. Predicting specific impacts of climate change can thus be difficult and this, in turn, hampers management action. Metrics are needed to not only quantify contemporary requirements of species, but also predict potential distributions that fluctuate in lockstep with climate.

Montane ecosystems in the Himalayas are highly impacted by climate change, yet remain largely understudied due to …

Harmful Algal Blooms In The Ohio River: Spatial And Temporal Differences., Bevin Hardy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been increasing across the globe, especially in river ecosystems. Although more common in lakes, more HABs have been reported in rivers in the past decade, particularly in the Ohio River. In 2019, a HAB stretched 200 to 300 miles throughout the Ohio River from September to October. Samples were collected for the duration of the 2019 bloom (August-October) in the McAlpine Pool in Louisville, KY to compare microcystis toxin (microcystin) concentrations on a temporal and spatial scale. Different habitats (bay, creek, river) were sampled throughout the bloom, and two additional sampling days, …

New Applications For The Kinetic Exclusion Assay (Kinexa), Mark Harrison Smith

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the fundamental principles and applicability of the kinetic exclusion assay (KinExA), developed and marketed by Sapidyne Instruments of Boise, Idaho, since 1995. Chapter One reviews and consolidates the manufacturer’s guidance and many early papers that delineate the practical and theoretical aspects of the technology. In brief, KinExA is a two stage analytical system. In stage one, a number of solutions are prepared, whereby one of the partners is kept constant (the constant binding partner, or CBP), while the other (the titrant) is varied, usually in serial dilution. As the titrant is increased, the free CBP decreases, and …

Natural Noise Can Influence Bird Foraging And Vigilance Behavior, Kate Antonia Sweet

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Natural sounds are an often overlooked, yet important component of an animal’s habitat. The acoustic environment may be especially significant during foraging, because a noisy world can limit auditory surveillance. Here, we investigated how natural noise structures the foraging vigilance trade-off to understand how intense acoustic environments may have shaped antipredator behavior across the evolutionary past, and better inform conservation efforts in the present.

First, in Chapter 1, I directly compared the foraging and vigilance behaviors of captive song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in anthropogenic and natural noise. We recorded foraging trials in 4 playback conditions (roadway traffic, whitewater …

Leaf Phenology And Freeze Tolerance Of The Invasive Tree Pyrus Calleryana (Rosaceae) And Potential Native Competitors, Abby E. Hay

Honors Theses

Pyrus calleryana is quickly becoming one of the most problematic invasive species in the Eastern and Central part of the United States. Pyrus calleryana is an early successional species that quickly proliferates in highly disturbed soils such as old fields and younger prairies. Currently, this species poses a large threat to land managers as it changes the successional trajectories of forest and prairie systems, creating new novel ecosystems. Pyrus calleryana outcompetes most native early successional species and is relatively understudied. The mechanism in which Pyrus calleryana utilizes to dominate ecosystems are not fully understood, but one theory is Pyrus calleryana …

Determine The Effects Of Propionate On The Interactions Between Macrophages And Listeria Monocytogenes, Stephanie M. Johnson

Honors Theses

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic and intracellular foodborne pathogen that can be deadly in high risk populations. During infection in the human body, L. monocytogenes may encounter macrophages, a type of white blood cell that is critical in innate immune response both by directly targeting invading pathogens and by eliciting adaptive immune responses. During intestinal as well as peripheral infections, both L. monocytogenes and macrophages may encounter propionate, a common gut microbiome metabolite. Although propionate is shown to have various regulatory and nutritional functions, its effects on infection outcome is not well understood. Therefore, the goal of this research is …

An Exploration Of The Widely Observed Mechanisms Permitting Freeze Tolerance & The Potential Of Cope’S Gray Treefrog, Dryophytes Chrysoscelis, Samuel A. Ripley

Honors Theses

Over 80% of the Earth’s surface is exposed to seasonal cold temperatures less than 5.0oC. Ectotherms implement a variety of strategies to survive seasonal, or permanent, cold exposure. Some of the most common overwintering strategies are migration, hibernation, and freeze avoiding behavior. However, freeze tolerance is a minority choice among ectotherms. This strategy permits organisms to survive between 50.0 to 70.0% of their total body water volumes frozen primarily in extracellular spaces for up to several months at a time. Freeze tolerant organisms undergo minimal supercooling of their body fluids to ensure ice formation is slow and produce a wide …

Effects Of Inducible Camp Early Repressor (Icer) On Herpes Simplex Virus -1 (Hsv-1) Replication, Rosalina Caba

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

While inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) is known for many roles, including inhibition of anti-apoptosis transcription and regulation of hormone signaling in human / animals, little is known of the role of ICER when interacting with viral cAMP responsive elements (CREs). Prior to this study, CRE sites were found in a variety of human viruses, in locations relating to DNA binding, DNA replication, and latency. A gel shift assay confirmed that ICER can bind to viral CRE sequences, and a reporter gene assay demonstrated that the presence of ICER on a viral promoter upregulates viral expression.

In an attempt to …

Assessing The Level Of Perception Of Knowledge About Ticks And Tick-Borne Diseases Among The Residents Of Several Cities In The Transboundary Region Of U.S.-Mexico, Consuelo Aguilar

Theses and Dissertations

The transboundary region of U.S.-Mexico possesses similar weather conditions and habitats favoring insects (vectors) like ticks. Several tick species found in the transboundary region of U.S.-Mexico can transmit pathogens. In the last three years, a total of 40 cases of Rickettsial infections, 28 in Tamaulipas and 12 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, have been reported. A low level of knowledge about diseases that ticks can transmit along with a lack of appropriate protection practices can severely affect human health. Limited surveys on ticks and tick-borne disease are available. Our goal was to (1) assess the perception of knowledge of …

An Assessment On Microplastic Pollution In The Resacas Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Wesley D. Franklin

Theses and Dissertations

Microplastic pollution is a serious issue that impacts most aquatic environments. Microplastics have the potential to cause numerous detriments to the fitness and reproductive capability of many organisms. The resacas of the Lower Rio Grande are an understudied area that could be sinks for large congregations of microplastics. We analyze microplastic pollution in two species of fish as well as the sediment and water of eleven different pools from four resaca systems. We find that microplastics are present in every pool sampled.

Altogether 218 microplastic pieces are found from the water, sediment and fish samples. We find that microplastics are …

Understanding An Inflammatory Pathway In Diabetic Retinopathy, Reanna Raye Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of its molecular pathway and how it attributes to increases in inflammatory response in the eye. One avenue we will investigate is the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway and its effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and cell viability. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concern that have arisen are the underlying effects of oxidants and antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes. In attempt to learn more, we evaluated how an …

Winners And Losers In Reforestation Efforts In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, And The Predictive Power Of Xylem Anatomy On Long-Term Growth And Survival, Clifton F. Albrecht

Theses and Dissertations

Reforestation has been ongoing in the Lower Rio Grande Valley annually since the 1980s, and to date over 6400 ha of land has been reforested in this area. However, there has been little subsequent study of the change and development of those forests as they mature. This thesis consists of two, interrelated, studies: (1) surveys of a five-site chronosequence of restored forests and (2) quantification of xylem anatomical traits of a subset of species present at the reforestation sites. Surveys showed a consistent reduction in species diversity and stem number density on the landscape, and identified a suite of species …

Opa1 Modulation Of Mitochondrial Dynamics In Ac16 Cardiomyocytes, Patrick De La Torre Schutz

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores mitochondrial dynamics in the AC16 cardiomyocytes. Mitochondria are capable of fission and fusion, controlled by specific proteins that respond to cell stress. The transmembrane potential(∆ψm) of the mitochondria is responsible for both bioenergetic functions and regulating the activation of the OMA-1 protein, which regulates the cutting of OPA-1. OPA- 1 has two isoforms: a long (active) and short (inactive) isoforms. Our research is exploring the impact of the levels of OPA1 expression on the observed ∆ψm threshold of mitochondrial fusion. Our laboratory has demonstrated that 143B cells lose L-OPA1 isoforms at [CCCP]> 4.75 µM and …

Understanding The Ecological Role, Population Dynamics, And Geographic Distribution Of Manihot Walkerae, Gisel Garza

Theses and Dissertations

Walker’s Manihot, Manihot walkerae Croizat (Euphorbiaceae), is an endangered plant that is endemic to the Tamaulipan thornscrub ecoregion. Understanding M. walkerae’s geographic distribution, populations, and species interactions can provide essential information for the development of sound conservation strategies. To this aim, I asked the following questions: 1) What is the potential geographic distribution for M. walkerae? and, will it be affected by climate change? 2) Using global and regional extinction risk assessments, what is the extinction risk category for M. walkerae after incorporating species distribution models? 3) What do natural history observations reveal about M. walkerae’s population …

Physical And Chemical Defense Mechanisms In Aloe Barbadensis Against Insect Herbivores, Zachary Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter provides an overview of insect herbivore impacts on plants and plant defense mechanisms to combat them. I particularly focused on physical and chemical defenses in the broader sense.

Chapter 2: This chapter describes the experiments that showed the effects of extracts from Aloe barbadensis on the growth and development of tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), model herbivores used to understand herbivore growth and plant defenses. This study shows that extracts from the Aloe differentially affected the growth and development of M. sexta and S. frugiperda. This chapter …

Characterization Of A Novel Glycerol-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Gpd2) In The Alga Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Itzela A. Cruz Powell

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, like many eukaryotic microalgae, accumulates triacylglycerol (TAG) under certain environmental stresses, such as nitrogen deprivation. TAG is of interest because it is an essential precursor for biofuel production. Canonical glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenases catalyze the synthesis of glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P), a key precursor for glycerolipid and TAG synthesis in eukaryotes. The C. reinhardtii genome encodes six GPD homologs. Interestingly, GPD2 is a novel multidomain enzyme, consisting of a phosphatase motif fused to a G3P dehydrogenase domain. GPD2 expression is significantly up-regulated under nutrient deprivation or high salinity, coincidental with the accumulation of TAG or glycerol. Conversely, RNA-mediated …

Examining The Role Of The Drosophila Melanogaster Unc13 Protein In Open Field Activity Using Rnai, Islam Orabi

Honors Theses

Unc13 are proteins in the presynaptic neurons essential in controlling synaptic vesicle fusion and synaptic transmission. Recently, the reduction of Drosophila melanogaster Unc13 proteins (Dunc13), were found to result in a resistance to alcohol, highly reminiscent of tolerance formation. I investigated whether genetically reducing Dunc13 activity in Drosophila brain regions leads to different forms of behavioral plasticity using an open field activity paradigm. In my approach, a Dunc13 RNAi transgene was expressed in the Drosophila brain within the mushroom body, the ellipsoid body, and in all neurons. The activities of the flies were examined in the open field paradigm to …

Effectiveness Of Visual Representations In Undergraduate Human Anatomy And Physiology I & Ii, Mary Agnes Mestayer

Honors Theses

The objective of this project was to explore intersections between student preferences and student performance on anatomical visual representations in Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II. Visual representations are a critical resource for the formation of relationships between function and structure furthermore; students interpret these representations uniquely based on specific factors (learning objective, prior knowledge, the diagram studied, etc.). Phase I of this project gathered undergraduate responses to ten Likert-style questions on their opinions on diagrams and their use in the A&P classroom. Phase II of this project presented participants with twelve manipulated diagrams sourced from three diagram with …

Synthetic Viral Pyrogen Induces Behavioral Fever In Plethodon Glutinosus Salamanders, Nicholas Britt

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Behavioral fever is an essential coping mechanism across ectothermic phyla to aid in combating pathogenic threats. Ectotherms lack internal temperature regulation associated with fever in endotherms; thus, ectotherms can exhibit a behavioral fever response when immunocompromised to thermoregulate by moving to warmer locations. The salamander order Caudata, tend to be keystone species in their resident ecosystems through their role as secondary consumers of invertebrates to maintain the food chain. With growing interest about ecology and conservation of salamanders as species diversity declines, this study was designed to determine if salamanders use their environment to take advantage of behavioral fever. The …

The Effects Of Timing And Long-Term Estrogen Deficiency On Cardiac Fibrosis Following Chronic Sympathetic Stimulation, Samuel Wisecarver

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Evidence in animal studies show that estrogen in women is cardioprotective, but discrepancies remain between clinical and animal studies regarding progression of cardiovascular disease after menopause. Cardiac fibrosis, the build-up of type I and III collagen fibers, is a staple of cardiac remodeling. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of long-term estrogen loss in the heart; this study includes two time points (1-month and 5-month) post-ovariectomy. Mice were randomly selected for 4 treatment groups: SHAM, Ovariectomy (OVX), Isoproterenol (ISO) (a β-adrenergic agonist used to mimic chronic sympathetic stimulation) and OVX+ISO. Mice were infused with either Saline …

Roles Of Holocene Climate And Pastoralism In Shaping Andean Landscapes, Courtney Renee Shadik

Theses and Dissertations

The Holocene (c. 11,700years ago –present) was a time rich in Andean climatic, environmental, and cultural changes. Assemblages were reforming after the last ice age, millennial scale wet and dry events caused the largest changes in lake level of the last 100,000 years, and humans came to dominate the landscape. Against the backdrop of ecological change, this study asks the following questions-Was the onset of camelid domestication associated with mid-Holocene aridity? Are modern, high-elevation vegetation assemblages a product of manufactured landscapes? What are the long-term effects of intense agropastoralism on paleoecological reconstructions of Andean landscapes? Did Holocene agropastoral domesticates coevolve? …

Effects Of Sex And Autism On Oxytocin Receptors In The Substantia Nigra Of The Human Brain, Kip Dooley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Oxytocin, a hormone present in the mammalian brain, has been shown to be a vital component of social function in animals and may have a role in the social deficits associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder in humans. Based on previous studies from our lab, there are oxytocin receptors in the human substantia nigra, a basal ganglia structure in the midbrain that is important in both movement and reward pathways. The substantia nigra contains two subsections that are defined by the neurotransmitters they contain: the pars compacta, which is dopaminergic, and the pars reticulata, which is GABAergic. By localizing oxytocin receptors …

Chanism Of G-Βγ-Dependent Regulation Of Neuronal Differentiation And Neurodegeneration, Diana Olivas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neurodegeneration is a pathological condition associated with a progressive loss of neurons, and occurs in many neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). It is the most common cause of dementia among people 65 and older. With the increasing of life expectancy, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases is also increasing rapidly. However, the cause of this disorder is largely unknown, and no effective drugs are available to treat the disease process. Therefore, it is crucial to identify new target(s) and strategies for therapeutic interventions. Cytoskeletal defects followed by dysfunction is a major characteristic …

Development And Characterization Of The Next Generation Drug For The Direct Targeting Of The Fkbp52 Co-Chaperone For The Treatment Of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer, Ashley Nichole Payan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men, the third highest mortality rate. Current treatment options consist of androgen deprivation therapies, actual or chemical castration, and the use of androgen blockers called anti-androgens. Ultimately the disease advances to a hormone-independent state known as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The folding, activation, and nuclear translocation of steroid hormone receptors requires the sequential action and cooperation of at least twelve proteins that make up four distinct complexes. At least one of these proteins, the FKBP52 cochaperone, is a promising therapeutic target for disrupting several mechanisms important in prostate cancer (PCa). FKBP52 …