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The Effects Of Milk Components On Lactoperoxidase Activity, Leonard Fweja, Michael Lewis, Alistair Grandison

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study examined the effects of storage conditions (in particular temperature and media composition) and changes in composition of each milk fraction, and of individual components on lactoperoxidase (LP) activity. The enzyme demonstrated a pulsing characteristic especially in samples stored at 5 °C, however, temperature and media composition did not have great effects on the pulsing behaviour of the enzyme. The results also indicated small but statistically significant variations (P ≤ 0.05) in LP activity between whole milk (control) and acid whey, rennet whey and cream and non-significant variations (P > 0.05) between the control and skimmed milk, and between skimmed …

Extraction, Derivatization, Characterization And Antifungal Investigation Of Limonene From Citrus Sinensis Peels, Ita Uwidia, Bodunde Owolabi, Richard Okafor

Tanzania Journal of Science

Limonene, a cyclic monoterpene is the main component in citrus oils. Oranges (Citrus sinensis) were sourced from a local market, peeled and the peels collected for this study. The orange peels were distilled using steam distillation to obtain the oil. The oil obtained was then distilled to obtain a pure colourless form of limonene (95%). The limonene (2 ml) was dissolved in dry chloroform (25 ml) and freshly distilled hydroiodic acid (57%; boiling point 127 °C) to give the derivative iodo-limonene (1.4 g; 30% yield). Another reaction of epoxidation of limonene was carried out by reacting limonene with hydrogen peroxide …

Variability Of Selected Mineral Contents In Marine Fish From Local Markets In Tanzania, Stella Shija, Matobola Mihale, Daniel Shilla

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mineral contents (K, Na, Ca and Mg) in selected marine fish species (Alectis ciliaris, Lethrinus harak, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Siganus canaliculatus) from local fish markets were analysed in wet and dry seasons. The processing methods (frying and boiling) were also assessed for their influence on the mineral contents. Samples were randomly collected from Tanga, Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara seaports, analysed using established methods and determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Mean mineral contents in individual and all analysed fish species were high during dry season compared to wet season except Ca and the difference was statistically significant …

Macronutrient Intake And Simulated Infection Threat Independently Affect Life History Traits Of Male Decorated Crickets, Kristin Duffield, Kylie J. Hampton, James Rapkin, John Hunt, Scott K. Sakaluk, Ben M. Sadd, Thomas M. Houslay

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Nutritional geometry has advanced our understanding of how macronutrients (e.g.,proteins and carbohydrates) influence the expression of life history traits and theircorresponding trade-offs. For example, recent work has revealed that reproduc-tion and immune function in male decorated crickets are optimized at very differentprotein:carbohydrate (P:C) dietary ratios. However, it is unclear how an individual'smacronutrient intake interacts with its perceived infection status to determine in-vestment in reproduction or other key life history traits. Here, we employed a fullyfactorial design in which calling effort and immune function were quantified formale crickets fed either diets previously demonstrated to maximize calling effort(P:C = 1:8) or immune …

Exopolysaccharide From The Liquid Culture Of Ganoderma Lucidum As Feed Additive For Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.), Thiran Jaganath Puvanen

Student Works (2020-2029)

Feed additive plays a significant role in sustaining fish production. Exopolysaccharide (EPS) obtained from the fermented mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum produced by using submerged-liquid fermentation (SLF) was proposed as a feed additive in this study for red hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Body composition, organosomatic indices, and haematological parameters were observed in fish fed with three different diets supplemented with EPS (1 g/kg, 2 g/kg, and 3 g/kg). Although higher concentration EPS feed was observed to produce minor effect on body composition and organosomatic indices, significant effect on both parameters was observed in fish fed with 1 g/kg diet. All diets …

Performance Of Mycelial Biomass From The Mushroom Ganoderma Lucidum As Feed Additive On Growth And Quality Of Red Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis Spp.), Yerima Grema

Student Works (2020-2029)

The present study describes the potentiality of dietary supplement of mycelial biomass of Ganoderma lucidum (MBGL) as functional feed additives formulated along with other feed ingredients at different inclusion levels (5g/kg diet, 10g/kg diet and 15g/kg diet). A hundred and twenty (120) red hybrid tilapia were used for this experiment in duplicates treatment. Fifteen fish were allocated to each tank with an average weight of 17.0g. A six (6) week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of GL biomass on red hybrid tilapia body composition, organosomatic index, as well as hematological indices. At the end of the feeding …

Elucidating The Role Of The High Aliphatic Glucosinolate ( Hag ) Genes In Pennycress ( Thlaspi Arvense L. ) Glucosinolate Production, Dalton Williams

Theses and Dissertations

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is a Brassica species being developed into an oilseed-producing winter cash cover crop. Similar to its relatives, rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and camelina (Camelina sativa L.), pennycress seeds produce high levels of oil and protein (~34% oil and ~19% protein dry weight). For pennycress to be economically viable and environmentally sustainable as a crop, both the oil and seed meal must be utilized. Pennycress like other Brassicaceae, produces high levels of glucosinolates in the seed coat. Glucosinolates taste bitter and can be metabolized by the enzyme, myrosinase, into toxic isothiocyanates, nitriles, and epithionitriles. Seed meal containing …

Flowering Plant Composition Shapes Pathogen Infection Intensity And Reproduction In Bumble Bee Colonies., Lynn S. Adler, Nicholas A. Barber, Olivia M. Biller, Rebecca E. Irwin

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

Pathogens pose significant threats to pollinator health and food security. Pollinators can transmit diseases during foraging, but the consequences of plant species composition for infection is unknown. In agroecosystems, flowering strips or hedgerows are often used to augment pollinator habitat. We used canola as a focal crop in tents and manipulated flowering strip composition using plant species we had previously shown to result in higher or lower bee infection in short-term trials. We also manipulated initial colony infection to assess impacts on foraging behavior. Flowering strips using high-infection plant species nearly doubled bumble bee colony infection intensity compared to low-infection …

Developmental Programming Effects Of Maternal Obesity, Carolle J. Kassab

University Honors Theses

Population studies within the United States indicate increasing rates of obesity, considerably prominent for women within reproductive age. Maternal obesity is associated with the offspring’s hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, which have chronic consequences. Obesity in pregnancy causes metabolic and epigenetic perturbations within the fetal environment, disrupting future health of offspring. This phenomenon is known as developmental programming. Although the relationship between maternal undernutrition and developmental programming has been demonstrated, its relationship to maternal obesity remains understudied.

Determining The Link Between Advanced Glycation Endproducts (Ages), Feeding, And Metabolism, Lauren Wimer

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Reactive a-dicarbonyls (a-DC’s), such as methylglyoxal (MGO), are unavoidable metabolites generated during glycolysis that accumulate with age and have been linked with chronic age-related metabolic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus is generally characterized by peripheral neuropathy and sustained hyperglycemia. Chronic hyperglycemia leads to an increase in glycolysis and a downstream increase in reactive a-DC’s. The human body has a natural method of detoxifying these a-DC’s. Glycolytic cells have enzymes which can detoxify a-DC’s, but if overwhelmed, a-DC’s can accumulate and react non-enzymatically with proteins, lipids and DNA to yield a group of molecules called advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). …

Outstanding Questions In Flower Metabolism, Monica Borghi, Alisdair R. Fernie

Biology Faculty Publications

The great diversity of flowers, their color, odor, taste, and shape, is mostly a result of the metabolic processes that occur in this reproductive organ when the flower and its tissues develop, grow, and finally die. Some of these metabolites serve to advertise flowers to animal pollinators, other confer protection towards abiotic stresses, and a large proportion of the molecules of the central metabolic pathways have bioenergetic and signaling functions that support growth and the transition to fruits and seeds. Although recent studies have advanced our general understanding of flower metabolism, several questions still await an answer. Here, we have …

Estimating Furbearer Density Using Trail-Cameras At The Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, Patrick M. Powers 9761971

Biology Theses

Density estimation is an important indicator of the health of wildlife populations and is commonly used to establish management practices. Trail-cameras offer a unique advantage in the density estimation of elusive animals as data can be collected without the need for physical capture. The objectives of this study were to estimate and compare furbearer density between two major habitats at the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (PNWR) and to compare computed density values from paired cameras located at off- and on-road locations. An additional goal was to assess the usefulness of trail-cameras as a viable technique to estimate population density on …

Identifying Determinants Of Target Specificity In Two Related Bacterial Peptide Toxins, Andrew D. Holmes

Honors Thesis

Toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems were originally identified as two-component systems ensuring the stable inheritance of plasmids in bacterial populations. Recently, they have been identified on bacterial chromosomes where their functions remain mostly undefined. The par locus of E. faecalis plasmid pAD1 (par_pAD1) was the first TA system defined in a Gram-positive bacterium and a homolog encoded on the E. faecalis chromosome (par_EF0409) was later described. Related loci numbering in the hundreds have been identified throughout Gram-positive bacteria based on homology to the toxin of the system, Fst, and similarities in genetic organization and regulation. Despite …

Ectomycorrhizal Fungi And Effects Of Soil Microbes Associated With Slash Pine Encroachment Into Native Longleaf Pine Habitat, Madison Brooke Woodruff

Honors Theses

Biological invasions can cause substantial changes to the environment: indigenous species can be reduced or even eliminated, soil characteristics shifted, and nutrient cycles altered. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi are thought to be key biological controllers of some plant invasions, especially benefiting Pinus species in invasions at exotic sites, but less is understood about the role of ECM fungi and other soil microbes in encroachment by one plant species into the habitat of another in their native ranges. In this study, soil was collected from three habitats in southern Mississippi, USA: native slash pine maritime forest, longleaf pine savanna encroached by slash …

Identifying Fluctuating Asymmetry And Developmental Rate As Indicators Of Developmental Stability In Drosophila Melanogaster, Carrie N. Reaver

Longwood Senior Theses

Developmental stability is the ability of an individual to maintain proper development despite various environmental conditions, and thus has important implications for the health of an individual. Individuals with less stable development are thought to be at higher risk for developing non-communicable disease, such as diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease, during adolescence and adulthood. In bilateral organisms, developmental stability can be assessed by measuring deviations from perfect symmetry between the left and right sides of the body, known as Fluctuating Asymmetry. In this project, we measured the developmental rate and Fluctuating Asymmetry of Drosophila melanogaster while subjected to varying metabolic …

Population And Reproductive Dynamics Of Zebra Mussels (Dreissena Polymorpha) In Texas Reservoirs: Predicting The Sustainability Of Zebra Mussel Populations In Warmer Waters, Heather Mae Arterburn

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are highly invasive freshwater bivalve mollusks, introduced to the United Sates in the late 1980’s, and known for forming dense colonies that can encrust boat hulls and motors, damage docks and marinas, and occlude raw water lines and intake pipes. In 2009, zebra mussels were discovered in Lake Texoma, TX/OK and have since infested twenty other lakes in Texas. Never before have zebra mussels been found in waters as warm as those in Texas, leading scientists, resource managers, and regulatory agencies to question the pervasiveness and persistence of this species in warm southwestern water bodies. To …

Aboveground-Belowground Interactions: Roles Of Soil Biotic And Abiotic Factors On Switchgrass's (Panicum Virgatum) Growth, Defense Against Herbivory And Cell Wall Chemistry., Binod Basyal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plants constantly interact with their biotic and abiotic soil environments. Most terrestrial plants form beneficial associations with soil microbes such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are widely known for their ability to transfer soil phosphorus and nitrogen to the host plants. They help plants tolerate drought stress and improve plant defense against herbivores such as plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs). This dissertation investigates the role of AM fungi on switchgrass’s (Panicum virgatum) growth, cell wall chemistry, and defense against PPNs using a combination of growth chamber and field studies. Switchgrass is a native warm-season species which is gaining traction as candidate …

The Effects Of An Applied Phyllosphere-Microbiome On Gas Exchange And Growth Of Soybean Infected With Pseudomonas Syringae: Harnessing The Power Of The Microbiome, Charles Agbavor

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The microbiome is an important determinant of plant health, growth and resistance to stress. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the phyllosphere-microbiome on managing Pseudomonas syringae pv. Glycinea (Psg), gas exchange and growth of Glycine max L. Merrill. A greenhouse study was conducted in the summer of 2019. A field isolated and cultured soybean phyllosphere-microbiome was applied to purposely infected and uninfected soybean. Gas exchange, Psg density, chlorophyll concentrations, and percent nitrogen and carbon in the leaves were measured during the V3-V6 stages of soybean. Not surprisingly, there was a two-fold reduction in copies of Pseudomonas …

Investigation Of The Individual Soybean Root Nodule Microbiome, Parris Mica Mayhood

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Soybean is a valuable crop that establishes a symbiotic association with nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. Previous research suggests members of the genus Bradyrhizobium are the major nitrogen-fixing inhabitants of soybean root nodules. However, results from recent studies identified the presence of other bacteria, so called non-rhizobial endophytes (NREs), inside root nodules. All previous research has pooled nodules of different plants for bacterial community analysis, but this study investigated the presence and relative abundance of rhizobia and NREs within multiple root nodules of a single plant. Three sites were selected on Kendrick Farm in Springfield, MO, where three plants and rhizosphere soil were …

Response To Phototaxic Stimulation In Relation To Sex And Reproductive State In The Urban Adapted Mosquito, Culex Pipiens F. Molestus, Karen M. Catalina

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The mosquito, Culex pipiens f. molestus, is a scientifically relevant species due to its impact upon both human and veterinary medicine. This city dwelling disease vector lives and reproduces in underground tunnels and sewer systems throughout the world. After reproducing, adults begin searching for food above ground, but little is known about the sensory signals that guide this seeking behavior. Because cues may have a major impact on feeding and reproduction, I compared the phototaxic response of adult male and female Cx. pipiens f. molestus at different reproductive states. Virgin females, mated females, virgin males, and mated males were monitored …

The Antiviral Effects Of Embelin On Hsv-1 In Cultured Vero Cells, Tony Elias

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a linear double stranded DNA virus that is responsible for one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases within the United States. However, treatment drugs for HSV-1 could be costly and may have side effects. In recent years the number of cases of drug resistant HSV-1 has increased, resulting in interest for novel treatments. This study aimed to investigate the antiviral effects of the reagent Embelin on HSV-1 infection in cultured Vero Cells. Embelin is a benzoquinone isolated from the plant Embelia ribes. Cell viability and cell proliferation assays were conducted to determine …

Tobacco Enhances Bacterial-Induced Periodontal Bone Loss In Mice., Mina Iskander

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Tobacco smoking is the leading environmental risk factor for periodontal diseases. Delineation of the mechanisms underlying tobacco-induced or exacerbated periodontitis is hampered by the lack of an appropriate and reliable animal model. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that Porphyromonas-gingivalis-infected, cigarette smoke-exposed mice would represent reproducible models of acute (ligature model) and chronic (oral gavage model) tobacco-enhanced periodontitis that reflect multiple aspects of the disease noted in human smokers. Methods: In a chronic oral gavage disease model, Balb/c mice (6-8 weeks, 4 groups of n = 6 per group) were exposed to smoke produced by a Teague-10 smoking machine from 1R6F research …

Laying-Sequence Variation In Yolk Carotenoids Of Eastern Bluebirds, Jessica Barkhouse

Theses and Dissertations

Carotenoids are naturally occurring, fat-soluble pigments that play an important role in the embryonic development of songbirds. Female songbirds use different strategies to allocate these important maternal resources to their eggs. Little research has been done on whether North American songbirds exhibit laying sequence patterns in their allocation of carotenoids. We studied the laying-sequence variation in yolk carotenoids and egg metrics of nine full clutches of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) in Columbus, Georgia. I predicted that Eastern Bluebirds would exhibit a brood reduction strategy, with the first-laid eggs containing a higher concentration of carotenoids than the last-laid eggs. …

Do Chemical Cues Influence Giant Waterbug Belostoma Flumineum Say (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) Turning Behavior?, Olivia Paradis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Lateral biases and alternation of directional turns influence impact navigation, foraging, and predator avoidance in diverse animal species. Extended alternating turn successions are known to reflect anti-predation escape behaviors of organisms in complex environments. This study examined the effects of chemosensory cues from bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus, red-eared slider turtles Trachemys scripta elegans, American bullfrogs, Rana catesbeiana, and conspecific giant waterbugs on turning behaviors of Belostoma flumineum in a multiple T-maze.

As a study population, B. flumineum were found to perform significantly different alternating turn behaviors than those predicted, but overall were not influenced by any one specific treatment. When …

Assessing The Influence Of Riparian Invasion By The Shrub Lonicera Maackii On Terrestrial Subsidies To Headwater Streams, Erin C. Rowekamp, Julia I. Chapman, Ryan Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Invasion of Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) into riparian areas of headwater streams creates strong potential for alterations of terrestrial subsidies that may drive bottom-up effects on aquatic biota. In this study, we analyzed effects of L. maackii on terrestrial subsidies in stream sites that represented a gradient of invasion intensity in temperate deciduous forests of southwestern Ohio (USA). Leaf litter biomass, terrestrial and aquatic fine woody debris (0.5–9.9 cm diameter) volume and count, and terrestrial and aquatic coarse woody debris (>9.9 cm diameter) volume were analyzed. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that sites with a higher …

Pismo Clams (Tivela Stultorum) In Califorina: Population Status, Habitat Associations, Reproduction, And Growth, Alexandria R. Marquardt

Master's Theses

Marine shellfish play a vital role in intertidal ecosystems and coastal communities, but many of these fisheries are small-scale and lack the necessary monitoring to ensure long-term sustainability. Effective management often requires information on key demographic parameters, such as population status, reproduction and growth. Pismo clams (Tivela stultorum) are a culturally important and iconic species in California, which supported a thriving commercial and recreational fishery throughout much of the 1900’s. However, Pismo clam populations have declined statewide in recent decades and are attributed to human harvest and predation by California sea otters (Enhydra lutris); However, no …

Exploring Interactions Of Phyllosphere Epiphytes With Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Pseudomonas And Xanthomonas On Tomato, Ashley D. Turner

Theses and Dissertations

Recent studies have indicated the importance of resident microflora of plants in contributing towards overall plant health. Among difference components of the plant microbiome, Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas have been recognized as common residents of the phyllosphere for many host plants, however their role in disease control needs to be further investigated. The purpose of this study was to conduct experiments investigating the effectiveness of phyllosphere Methylobacterium and Sphingomonas isolated from red clover against common tomato phyllosphere bacterial pathogens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and Xanthomonas perforans. Additionally, this study uses X. perforans wild-type and X. perforans type VI secretion system …

Body Composition Of Female Collegiate Track And Field Athletes, Adelaide Cooke

Biological Sciences

The aim of this study is to see if there is a correlation between an athlete's body compostion and the demands of their different track and field events. Track and field is arugably the most diverse when it comes to body types in a single sport, with distance runners tending to be leaner and smaller and throwers more muscular and larger. However, most data collected is not female specfic. Thirty-one female track and field athletes were asked to take part in a series of physical measurements, which included recording their height, weight, percent body fat, and muscle mass. They were …

The Effects Of Salvia Hispanica On Biochemical Markers Related To Immune System, Hormone Regulation, And Lumbar Vertebrae In Postmenopausal Rat Model, Daisy M. Mendez

Theses and Dissertations

In women, with age and menopause there is increase in body weight and decreased immunity and bone mass. Due to severe side effects of currently available drugs for obesity and bone loss, new therapies with less side effects are sought after and alternative medications are becoming more popular. Recently, Salvia hispanica (SH), a herbal supplement is implicated in losing body weight. Currently, there is no information on how SH modulates obesity or bone health. In this study, effects of SH seed extract was investigated in a postmenopausal rat model on certain hormones, immune markers, and fourth lumbar vertebrae. The highest …

Organizational Effects Of Exogenous Corticosterone On Vocal Development In A Wild Parrot, Rory Eggleston

Theses and Dissertations

Songbirds learn songs during a plastic phase in vocal development, similar to human vocal babbling. Research has focused on male song learning, a process influenced by gonadal steroids. Like humans, parrots are very plastic vocal learners and both sexes learn vocalizations throughout life. It is unclear how the endocrine system mediates environmental information with developing phenotypes in parrots. Corticosterone (CORT) is a sex-neutral hormone that can affect cognitive development, but its role in vocal development has not been experimentally tested in wild parrots. I quantified vocal babbling from nestling Green-rumped Parrotlets (Forpus passerinus) recorded in Venezuela. Nestlings received oral CORT-oil …