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Animal Agriculture And American Health: The Search For Sustainable Protein, Britta Brinkmann

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This study examines the impact large-scale animal agriculture has on the environment. It links the environment and health. The goal is to find protein sources that are sustainable and nutritious in order to replace typical meat and dairy products. A study is proposed to measure the impact of the typical American diet, a vegan diet, an insect-supplemented diet and a diet heavy in seafood.

Rodent Responses To Drought In The Southwestern United States: Resource Utilization Strategies And Effects To Keystone Resources, Charles L. Hayes Iv

Biology ETDs

The role of abiotic and biotic factors in regulating community and population dynamics is a central question of ecological inquiry. In the southwestern United States, the North American monsoon supplies vital pulses of moisture to Sonoran desert, arid grassland, and montane communities. I evaluated abiotic limitation in prairie and montane populations of Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni) using stable isotope analysis to quantify foraging niche widths. Niche widths declined under periods of drought stress. Prairie dogs in montane habitats exhibited seasonal shifts in dietary niche width during favorable growth periods for more nutritious plants using the C_{3 …}

Importance Of Amphibians: A Synthesis Of Their Environmental Functions, Benefits To Humans, And Need For Conservation, Josh West

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Amphibians are among the most threatened species in the world and are subjected to a substantial number of studies that have underscored their ecological and anthropocentric importance. Yet a synthesis of those aspects is in need. In this study I conducted a comprehensive literature review to investigate the importance of amphibians, including medical applications such as tissue regeneration, biomimicry of pharmaceutically useful compounds, direct socio-economic benefits, and overall ecosystem values. It is my intention to promote amphibian conservation by detailing various ecosystem services provided by amphibians and their uses to humans. Amphibians have tissue regenerative abilities, such as the ability …

Morphological Comparison Of Fourth-Instar Larvae From Various Populations Of Wyeomyia Smithii, Kendra D. Moore

Honors College Theses

Populations of pitcher plant mosquitoes, Wyeomyia smithii, have exhibited recent shifts in blood-feeding behavior, likely in response to changes in climate and food availability. A comparison of various morphological structures in fourth-instar larvae was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that geographic and temporal dietary differences are reflected in changes in organismal size.

The Behavioral Response Of Mosquitoes To Different Snake Odors, Caitlyn E. Hicks

Honors College Theses

Due to it causing high mortality rates, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV) is considered to be one of the most medically important encephalitic viruses in the Eastern United States. In order to be able to control the transmission of this virus, understanding of vector behavior and feeding preferences is necessary. In this study, the response of Culex nigripalpus to different snake skin odors was tested to determine if this species of mosquito responded to particular snake species. Culex nigripalpus showed the greatest response to Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) and Cottonmouth (A. piscivorus) snakes, as compared to other venomous …

Preliminary Work On Infestation Dynamics And Stable Isotope Ecology Of A Coral Reef Micropredator, William Garrett Jenkins

Student Theses and Dissertations

Despite the significant ecological role that parasites likely play within their respective communities, little is understood about the role that they play within food webs. The studies presented herein sought to expand upon the understanding of the role that gnathiid isopods, a marine fish ectoparasite, play within coral reef ecological communities by: a) assessing the effect of host physical condition on susceptibility to exploitation by a gnathiid isopod and b) by conducting a comprehensive, preliminary, study on the stable isotope ecology of these micropredators. Host fish which were experimentally injured during field trials exhibited a higher probability of being parasitized …

Functional Studies Of The E. Coli Proc And A Putative Ortholog Mrub_1345, Maureen Azar, Dr. Lori Scott

Meiothermus ruber Genome Analysis Project

This project is part of the Meiothermus ruber genome analysis project, which uses the bioinformatics tools associated with the Guiding Education through Novel Investigation –Annotation Collaboration Toolkit (GENI-ACT) to predict gene function. We investigated the biological function of Escherichia coli and Meiothermus ruber proC genes using the complementation assay. In this research project, mutants of varying severity to the functional state of the protein were developed. The results showed that two or more amino acid deletions reduced or eliminated ProC function. Amino acid substitutions, on the other hand, were not severe enough to impact ProC function. Double and triple mutants …

Decreased Brood-Size Of Starvation-Induced Postdauer Adults Is Inherited Transgenerationally Via Hrde-1, Ibnul Rafi

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Environmental stress experienced in utero or in early life has profound effects on the behavior and physiology of an adult animal. Interestingly, genome-wide association studies in humans have shown that early-life stress not only affects the exposed individual, but also their future generations. However, the molecular mechanisms of how early-life stress can impact physiology transgenerationally in the absence of the original stress are not well understood. To study the mechanisms and consequences of environmental stress on adult phenotypes, we utilize the life cycle of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. In favorable conditions, the life cycle of C. elegans includes 5 …

Hypophosphatemic Rickets: A Targeted Literature Review To Characterize The Multiple Causes Of Phosphate Wasting Disorders And Identify Potential Disease Biomarkers, Christopher O'Mara

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Hypophosphatemic rickets is a rare, renal phosphate wasting disorder that presents various skeletal deformities. Although there are specific clinical presentations and biochemical findings used to identify hypophosphatemic rickets, there are various underlying renal phosphate wasting disorders that can lead to hypophosphatemic rickets making diagnosis extremely difficult. A targeted literature review through electronic search engines (e.g., BMC, PubMed, Google Scholar) was conducted to: 1) consolidate and summarize currently available data regarding the various renal phosphate wasting disorders, 2) identify current obstacles of successful diagnosis and treatment, and 3) propose directions for future hypophosphatemic rickets research into new biomarkers.

A Population Characterization Of Allegheny Woodrats (Neotoma Magister) In The Hudson River Palisades Of New Jersey, Amanda Menasion

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) are an endangered species within New Jersey, with a limited number of individuals found within one small area of suitable habitat along the Hudson River Palisades. There are very little detailed datum on the number of woodrats living at this location, however new conservation measures are being instituted to sustain this last remaining population in New Jersey. To gather additional data on the extent of the population of woodrats at this location, wildlife camera monitoring was conducted in two-week intervals at 10 separate locations that appeared to have satisfactory habitat for the woodrats but had not …

Increased Levels Of Oxidative Stress In Human Fibroblast Lung Cell Cultures And The Loss Of Mitochonndrial Function Due To Exposure To Particulate Matter From September 11, 2001, Lara Seder

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Not only did over 2,753 individuals perish on the morning of September 11, 2001, many have suffered from mental and physical illnesses ever since. Thousands of individuals experienced breathing complications, asthma and lung cancer. Clinical trials on cancer, including a patient who was exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) dust, have seen a decrease in the progression of tumor growth with the use of oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). NADH is naturally occurring within a cell’s mitochondria and aids in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy of the cell. NADH is an anti-aging, energy enhancing substance that …

Relationship Between Food Intake And Expression Of O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Transferase Messenger Rna In Channel Catfish, Oaklee Abernathy

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Food intake regulation is a complex neural process that involves the coordination of multiple mechanisms. O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase (OGT) is a neural nutrient sensor that aids in regulating satiety in mammals. Compared to mammals, little is known about function and regulation of OGT expression in fish. It was hypothesized changes in food intake are associated with changes in OGT expression in channel catfish. The objectives of this study were to examine tissue distribution of OGT mRNA and determine the possible relationship between food intake and OGT mRNA in channel catfish. Screening of the catfish genome database yielded four highly homologous …

Search For The Nuclear Localization Signal Of Ime4, Christian Monroy Hernandez

Senior Honors Theses

Ime4 is the catalytic subunit of a conserved methyltransferase (MTase) complex found in yeast, S. cerevisiae. This complex is responsible for creating the RNA modification N6- methyladenosine (m6A), the most common post-transcriptional modification in higher eukaryotes. There is evidence to suggest that m6A is an important mediator of gene expression control within the cell and has been associated with a diverse array of phenotypic effects, notably as a conserved determinant of cell fate. The MTase complex is known to be a nuclear protein, the compartment where it is believed to carry out most of its methylation activity. Recently, the nuclear …

Enhanced Production Of Pro-Il-1Βeta Contributes To Immunopathology During The Coinfection Of Influenza A Virus And Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Angeline E. Rodriguez

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Viral bacterial coinfections are known to cause severe pneumonia, especially in the elderly and in pediatric patients. Antibiotics like β-Lactams kill the bacteria but fail to improve symptoms suggesting a faulty immune system may play an important role in the disease. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is an important immune signaling cytokine responsible for inflammation. It exists as an inactive precursor that can be activated by caspase-1 containing inflammasomes (multi-protein complex). Influenza A virus (IAV) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) activate the inflammasome through the NOD-like receptor protein NLRP3 and/or AIM2. Previous reports in mice indicate that IL-1β levels are dramatically …

Evaluating In Situ Grazing Patterns Of Lytechinus Variegatus And Their Effects On Seagrass Beds Of Thalassia Testudinum, Adrianna Parson

Master of Science in Integrative Biology Theses

The sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus is a known grazer of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum, and has been known to denude vast stands of seagrass beds at high densities. Outside of these denudation events, the effects of sea urchins on seagrass are poorly understood. This study examines the effects of L. variegatus on T. testudinum in situ, to understand how sea urchins are affecting seagrasses in situ. Results indicate that urchins were found in the offshore portion of the seagrass bed at densities up to 4 urchins/m². Changes in temperature and sediment size in the bay indicate …

Periodontitis In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Simran Agarwal, Deepthi Gangaram, Mir Saleem

Biology Faculty Articles

Periodontitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that is characterized by swollen gums, degradation of jaw structure, and potentially tooth loss. Like Periodontitis, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is also highly prevalent and largely multifactorial. Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which higher than normal blood glucose levels cannot be properly maintained as the body’s normal mechanism of maintaining proper blood glucose levels, the release of insulin from pancreatic islet β-cells, becomes ineffective. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the relationship between the incidences of Periodontitis and Type 2 Diabetes. The risk that Type 2 Diabetes poses for …

Breaking Out From Tradition: Redesign Of Large Physiology Lecture Increases Engagement, Inclusion, And Student Outcomes, Jordyn Dickey, John Redden, Kristen Kimball

Honors Scholar Theses

The human digestive system is a diverse network of cells, tissues, and organs that is regulated by intrinsic (e.g. nervous and endocrine systems) and extrinsic factors (e.g. secretions, pH, and the microbiome). Given the volume of content and the dense physiology involved, this system is difficult for instructors to teach and equally challenging for students to understand. This is especially true in our two-semester Human Anatomy and Physiology course for pre-health students at the University of Connecticut. In the Spring 2017 semester, we developed and implemented an active learning based approach when teaching the histology and regulation of gastric secretions …

Identification Of Elements Essential For Replication Origin Activity In Escherichia Coli, Prassanna Rao

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing number of drug resistant pathogenic bacteria has created a growing health care crisis. Solving the crisis will require a number of solutions, among them being development of new antibiotics that target novel cell processes. Initiation of chromosomal DNA replication is one such unexploited process. Bacterial cells begin chromosome replication by building a nucleoprotein complex called the orisome which, unwinds replication origin DNA, and loads the replicative helicase. A greater understanding of how orisomes assemble, and how the assembly is regulated, should provide a source of druggable targets to be used in future antibiotic discovery efforts. However, although all …

A Role Of Vitamin B2 In Reducing Amyloid-Beta Toxicity In A Caenorhabditis Elegans Alzheimer’S Disease Model, Muhammad Tukur Ameen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is associated with amyloid-beta peptide deposition and loss of mitochondrial function. Using a transgenic C. elegans AD worm model expressing amyloid-beta in body wall muscle, we determined that supplementation with either of the forms of vitamin B₂, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) or flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) protected against amyloid-beta mediated paralysis. FMN and FAD were then assayed to determine effects on ATP, oxygen consumption, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with these compounds not significantly improving any of these mitochondrial bioenergetic functions. Knockdown of the daf-16/FOXO transcriptional regulator or the FAD synthase enzyme completely abrogated the …

Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency And Early Childhood Health Outcomes Including Autism Development, Kelsey L. Girardelli

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Many studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is associated with a variety of adverse maternal and pediatric outcomes. Disease outcomes that have been observed in pregnant women who are vitamin D deficient include increased risk of C-section, preeclampsia, bacterial vaginosis, and gestational diabetes. In children born to deficient mothers, increased rates of childhood asthma, type 1 diabetes, low birthweight, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been observed. Although there is much evidence to support these correlations, much is yet to be understood regarding the etiology of these outcomes. This paper specifically examines the relationships between risk factors …

Leaf Trichomes Affect Caterpillar Feeding In An Instar-Specific Manner, Rupesh R. Kariyat, Sean B. Hardison, Aisling B. Ryan, Andrew G. Stephenson, Consuelo M. De Moraes, Mark C. Mescher

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Leaf trichomes play well-established roles in defense against insect herbivores, both as a physical barrier that impedes herbivore movement and by mediating chemical defenses. However, little work has examined how different trichome types influence herbivory by herbivores at different stages of development. We examined whether caterpillar instar and trichome type (glandular or non-glandular) affected the ability of the specialist herbivore caterpillar Manduca sexta to initiate feeding on 11 Solanaceous species exhibiting variation in the density and type of leaf trichomes. Our results suggest that non-glandular trichomes are far more effective than glandular trichomes in deterring the initiation of feeding by …

Changes In The Microbial Community Of Lubomirskia Baicalensis Affected By Red Sponge Disease, Colin Rorex

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lake Baikal is the oldest known lake and a unique ecosystem, home to several species of fresh water sponge. A disease outbreak affecting the dominant species, Lubormirskia baialensis, was recently reported. The cause of the disease has not been determined but one of the current hypothesis is that the increase in methane concentration is correlated to the disease outbreak. This pilot study characterized the microbiomes of sick and healthy sponges through the use of 16S rRNA sequencing. Sick sponge microbiomes shared a conserved group of taxa while the healthy sponge microbiomes had greater diversity. Indicator species analysis identified two significant …

Comparison Of Staphylococcus Phage K With Close Phage Relatives Commonly Employed In Phage Therapeutics, Jude Ajuebor, Colin Buttimer, Sara Arroyo-Moreno, Nina Chanishvili, Emma M. Gabriel, Jim O'Mahony, Olivia Mcauliffe, Horst Neve, Charles Franz, Aidan Coffey

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

The increase in antibiotic resistance in pathogenic bacteria is a public health danger requiring alternative treatment options, and this has led to renewed interest in phage therapy. In this respect, we describe the distinct host ranges of Staphylococcus phage K, and two other K-like phages against 23 isolates, including 21 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) representative sequence types representing the Irish National MRSA Reference Laboratory collection. The two K-like phages were isolated from the Fersisi therapeutic phage mix from the Tbilisi Eliava Institute, and were designated B1 (vB_SauM_B1) and JA1 (vB_SauM_JA1). The sequence relatedness of B1 and JA1 to phage K …

Evaluating The Impact Of Eastern Hemlock Decline On Louisiana Waterthrush Demographics And Behavior In Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Lee Cotten Bryant

Student Theses and Dissertations

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) is declining throughout the eastern United States due to the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). In the southern Appalachians, hemlock is concentrated in moist ravines and its loss threatens riparian specialists and habitat quality. The Louisiana waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) is an obligate-riparian species that could be sensitive to hemlock condition in the southern Appalachians, but how hemlock decline might impact it is currently unknown. I addressed this knowledge gap by evaluating relationships between hemlock decline and waterthrushes. First, I evaluated the ultimate effects hemlock decline could have on waterthrushes, focusing on survival and habitat …

Calcium Concentration In Tree Sap Of Five Species Of Minnesota Trees As An Indicator Of Sugar Sand, Michael Ellman, Mark Ellman

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Tree sap can be collected from a variety of species (sugar maple, birch, ironwood, box elder, red maple) in Minnesota. When the sap of sugar maple trees and others are cooked into syrup, a cloudy mixture of minerals precipitates out. This precipitate, called sugar sand, gives syrup an unpleasant taste and can clog up machinery if improperly managed. Sugar sand primarily consists primarily of calcium malate. Thus, calcium concentration can be a good indicator of how much sugar sand would precipitate out if sap is processed into syrup. In general, previous literature has shown that sugar maple sap has the …

Investigating The Synergistic Effects Of Two Curcuminoids And Cisplatin On Cancer Cell Reactive Oxygen Species, Matthew Millay

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cisplatin is an anticancer drug which can cause the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that kill cancer cells. Curcumin is a naturally occurring plant compound that can increase ROS levels in cancer cells and enhance the activity of cisplatin against cancer, but it exhibits poor bioavailability. We investigated whether two synthetic curcumin analogs (curcuminoids), EF-24 and CLEFMA, with anti-cancer activity and improved bioavailability, increased cisplatin’s effect against cancer. A spectrophotometric fluorescent ROS assay was used to determine if cisplatin, the curcuminoids or combinations of cisplatin with a curcuminoid affected the level of ROS in the A549 non-small cell lung …

Effect Of A Pre-Dinner Walnut Snack On Nutrient Intake Among University Students, Michelle E. Lacasse, Mackenzie J. Weis, Lauren S. Devaan, Gabrielle L. Schnellman, Elizabeth M. Gile, Molly D. Ahmann, Ted Wilson, Tisha L. Hooks

Undergraduate Research Celebration 2018

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Shifts In C3 And C4 Resource Use By A Small Mammal Community Under Changing Precipitation Regimes, Alaina Dianne Pershall

Biology ETDs

In light of climate change and projections of increasing temperatures and aridity in the North American southwest, it is essential to understand how consumer populations will respond to changes in the resource landscape. Rainfall varies in timing and intensity and therefore the timing, proportion, phenology, and abundance of C₃ and C₄ plant resources vary seasonally and annually. Here we examine rodent resource use in the Chihuahuan desert and focus on two distinct precipitation pulses in this system, where spring C₃ plants increase production in response to winter rains and C₄ plants respond to summer monsoons. We …

Using Δ13c, Δ15n, And Δ2h To Better Understand The Ecology Of Green Sea Turtles, Laura Pagès Barceló

Biology ETDs

Many green sea turtle populations are slowly recuperating from a recent severe decline due to anthropogenic factors including human consumption and mortality related to the fishing industry. Despite being charismatic animals that have been extensively studied, there is still a limited understanding of their feeding strategies and diet plasticity. This research explores the use of hydrogen isotopes in marine ecosystems to better understand green sea turtle ecology. This study is presented in two chapters: I first examined the trophic discrimination factor (D²H_NET) for hydrogen isotope (d²H) as a tool to correct hydrogen isotope data …

Tgf-Β2 In Human Milk Research: Exploration Of A New Field Methodology And New Findings Of Biosimilar Tgf-Β2 In Non-Human Milk, Chlöe A. Sweetman

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: There are three aims for this thesis: the first is to develop a field and laboratory protocol for the storage and analysis of transforming growth factor–beta 2 (TGF-β2) in human breastmilk; second, to validate this protocol and the immunoassay used to assess this new method; and lastly, to explore the ramifications of biosimilar TGF-β2 across multiple milks on human health, growth, and immunity through the review of laboratory findings and previous literature.

Rational: Little anthropological research has been done on TGF-β2 in human milk. Anthropology as a discipline is well positioned to provide insight into TGF-β2, combining biocultural, evolutionary, …