Digital Commons Network^™

Sperm Morphometrics, Spermatogenesis, And Testicular Cycle Of The Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys Aestivus), John Douglas Konvalina

Student Theses and Dissertations

Spermatogenesis in ophidians is understudied, with little information on the rough greensnake, Opheodrys aestivus available. A cell wheel showing the chronological development of germ cell stages for this species was constructed. Sperm morphometrics were completed and compared with those of Nerodia rhombifer, the diamondback watersnake. Both species had similar sperm head length, while Opheodrys aestivus had significantly longer total sperm length. Total sperm length was positively correlated (r = 0.997, p < 0.001) with sperm tail length. Seminiferous tubule diameter and seminiferous tubule epithelial height were measured from Arkansas (AR) specimens and compared with those of Alabama (AL) specimens and AR measurements were found to be significantly greater in length. Future studies of O. aestivus need to investigate the testicular cycle in other parts of its geographic distribution to see if the monthly pattern is consistent and sperm morphometrics should be examined for other species within the family Colubridae.

The Effects Of Drought On Diets Of Apex Predators In The South African Lowveld Inferred By Fecal Hair Analysis, Shelby Wade

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

To properly manage offtake quotas and conservation efforts, Balule Nature Reserve (South Africa) instituted a study in 2014 to determine prey species selection by megapredators. In 2015, Balule Nature Reserve received about 190 mm less rainfall between the months of January and June than in 2014 (116 mm less than average). This study compares the diets of lions and hyaenas between 2014 and 2015. Prey species consumed were determined by fecal analysis, and results were compared to prey availability. Sixteen, 1 km2 plots were chosen from the 400 km2 Reserve. Between June and August 2015, we walked three, 1 km …

Identification Of Pathway-Specific Serum Biomarkers Of Response To Glucocorticoid And Infliximab Treatment In Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Christopher R. Heier, Alyson A. Fiorillo, Ellen Chaisson, Heather A. Gordish-Dressman, Yetrib Hathout, Jesse M. Damsker, Eric P. Hoffman, Laurie S. Conklin

Genomics and Precision Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective:

Serum biomarkers may serve to predict early response to therapy, identify relapse, and facilitate drug development in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Biomarkers are particularly important in children, in whom achieving early remission and minimizing procedures are especially beneficial.

Methods:

We profiled protein and micro RNA (miRNA) in serum from patients pre- and post-therapy, to identify molecular markers of pharmacodynamic effect. Serum was obtained from children with IBD before and after treatment with either corticosteroids (prednisone; n=12) or anti-tumor necrosis factor-α biologic (infliximab; n=7). Over 1,100 serum proteins were assayed using aptamer-based SOMAscan proteomics, and 22 miRNAs analyzed …

A Phylum-Level Phylogenetic Classification Of Zygomycete Fungi Based On Genome-Scale Data, Merlin M. White

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Zygomycete fungi were classified as a single phylum, Zygomycota, based on sexual reproduction by zygospores, frequent asexual reproduction by sporangia, absence of multicellular sporocarps, and production of coenocytic hyphae, all with some exceptions. Molecular phylogenies based on one or a few genes did not support themonophyly of the phylum, however, and the phylum was subsequently abandoned. Here we present phylogenetic analyses of a genome-scale data set for 46 taxa, including 25 zygomycetes and 192 proteins, and we demonstrate that zygomycetes comprise two major clades that form a paraphyletic grade. A formal phylogenetic classification is proposed herein and includes two phyla, …

Trade-Offs Between Water Transport Capacity And Drought Resistance In Neotropical Canopy Liana And Tree Species, Mark E. De Guzman, Louis S. Santiago, Stefan A. Schnitzer, Leonor Álvarez-Cansino

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

In tropical forest canopies, it is critical for upper shoots to efficiently provide water to leaves for physiological function while safely preventing loss of hydraulic conductivity due to cavitation during periods of soil water deficit or high evaporative demand. We compared hydraulic physiology of upper canopy trees and lianas in a seasonally dry tropical forest to test whether trade-offs between safety and efficiency of water transport shape differences in hydraulic function between these two major tropical woody growth forms. We found that lianas showed greater maximum stem-specific hydraulic conductivity than trees, but lost hydraulic conductivity at less negative water potentials …

Hypothalamic Vitamin D Improves Glucose Homeostasis And Reduces Weight, Stephanie R. Sisley, Deanna M. Arble, Adam P. Chambers, Ruth Gutierrez-Aguilar, Yanlin He, Yong Xu, David Gardner, David D. Moore, Randy J. Seeley, Darleen A. Sandoval

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Despite clear associations between vitamin D deficiency and obesity and/or type 2 diabetes, a causal relationship is not established. Vitamin D receptors (VDRs) are found within multiple tissues, including the brain. Given the importance of the brain in controlling both glucose levels and body weight, we hypothesized that activation of central VDR links vitamin D to the regulation of glucose and energy homeostasis. Indeed, we found that small doses of active vitamin D, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25D₃) (calcitriol), into the third ventricle of the brain improved glucose tolerance and markedly increased hepatic insulin sensitivity, an effect that is …

Measures Of Relative Dentary Strength In Rancho La Brea Smilodon Fatalis Over Time, Wendy J. Binder, Kassaundra S. Cervantes, Julie A. Meachen

Biology Faculty Works

The late Pleistocene megafaunal extinction of approximately 12,000 years ago, included the demise of Smilodon fatalis, a hypercarnivore from the Rancho La Brea deposits, which has been studied across time by looking at different deposits or pits to determine morphological size and shape changes and trends during this time. To better understand functional aspects of these changes, this study focused on a measure of jaw strength over time, which can give an indication of morphological changes within the jaw that cannot be seen using surface morphometrics. By radiographing dentaries, cortical bone can be seen, which provides an estimate of resistance …

Genetic And Transcriptional Analysis Of Human Host Response To Healthy Gut Microbiota, Michael B. Burns, Allison L. Richards, Adnan Alazizi, Luis B. Barreiro, Roger Pique-Regi, Ran Blekhman, Francesca Luca

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Many studies have demonstrated the importance of the gut microbiota in healthy and disease states. However, establishing the causality of host-microbiota interactions in humans is still challenging. Here, we describe a novel experimental system to define the transcriptional response induced by the microbiota for human cells and to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying host-gut microbiota interactions. In primary human colonic epithelial cells, we identified over 6,000 genes whose expression changed at various time points following coculturing with the gut microbiota of a healthy individual. Among the differentially expressed genes we found a 1.8-fold enrichment of genes associated with …

Exercise To The Rescue: An Analysis Of Altered Metabolic Gene Regulation Post-Exercise In Lean And Obese Individuals, Brandon Mudd

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The skeletal muscle of obese individuals exhibits a depressed ability to metabolize fats. Exercise training is thought to rescue this dampened ability to metabolize fats; mediated by a coordinated increase in the expression of a network of genes that regulate metabolism and fuel utilization. The purpose of this study is to determine the exercise-induced regulation of metabolically important genes in lean and obese individuals. Muscle biopsies (one pre-exercise/baseline and one immediately post-exercise) were obtained from 4 lean (BF% 24.4 ± 5.5; 23.5 yrs ± 1.9) and 13 obese (BF% 39.7 ± 2.4; 26.1 yrs ± 2.3), age-matched, relatively young subjects, …

Molecular Mechanisms Mediating The Effects Of Acute Dietary Vitamin A Deficiency On A Defined Model Human Gut Microbiota, Matthew Charles Hibberd

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Micronutrient deficiencies represent a form of "hidden hunger" that afflict two billion people worldwide. To test the hypothesis that dietary micronutrient deficiency has differential effects on members of the human gut microbiota, a consortium containing 92 sequenced phylogenetically diverse bacterial strains was introduced into germ-free mice. Recipient animals were subjected to a diet oscillation that began with highly defined micronutrient-sufficient diet followed by a derivative diet with one of four types of single micronutrient deficiency, or a diet representing combined deficiencies, followed by return to the original sufficient diet. Times-series studies of microbial community structure and transcriptome revealed that acute …

The Design Of The Mosquito And Its Dangers, Alan L. Gillen, Frank Sherwin

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mosquitoes (Family Culicidae) have been the scourge of mankind since the Fall. Although seemingly designed to inflict suffering and pain via rapid reproduction and formidable mouthparts, evidence mounts that this creature was not always the deadly vector it is today. Mosquitoes are currently and have always been pollinators. The majority of their lives they feed on plants, nectar, pollen, and microbes even in today's world. The Zika virus is but the latest of a significant list of pathogens spread by “the world’s most dangerous animal.” In the past, Christians have been involved in key discoveries linking mosquitoes to diseases.

Investigations Of Storage Root Development In Cassava (Manihot Esculenta Crantz), Yeetoh Chaweewan

Dissertations

The tropical root crop cassava is cultivated for its large starchy storage roots. Understanding critical processes in root tuberization is essential if improvement programs are to secure future yields for farmers. Studies were undertaken to identify critical components of storage root development at the anatomical and gene expression levels. Two types of roots were identified from greenhouse-grown stem cuttings: basal roots, which develop from the stem cut end and are prolific in nature, and nodal roots, which originate from the region of the buried axillary bud. Only nodal roots develop to produce storage organs. Anatomical sectioning was performed to determine …

Effects Of Human Disturbance On Physiology, Behavior, And Ornamentation In The Eastern Bluebird, Lauren Marjorie Gillespie

Dissertations

Overall, few studies have focused on anthropogenic disturbance on wildlife physiology. Research has typically focused on how environmentally contaminated areas or anthropogenic disturbance (e.g. noise, human activity) influences biodiversity, community structure and behavior of individual animals. However, understanding how disturbance influences some aspects of physiology can require sacrifice of the animal, prohibiting ecologically relevant measures of behavior and reproductive success. This research strives to examine covariation between testosterone (T) and corticosterone (CORT), plumage ornamentation, and behavior in two populations of eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) that differ in degree to which their habitat is modified by human activity.

In …

Phenotypic Plasticity And Population Differentiation In Response To Salinity In The Invasive Cordgrass Spartina Densiflora, Rebecca E. Drenovsky, Brenda J. Grewell, Jesus M. Castillo, Meghan J. Skaer Thomason

Biology

Salinity and tidal inundation induce physiological stress in vascular plant species and influence their distribution and productivity in estuarine wetlands. Climate change-induced sea level rise may magnify these abiotic stressors and the physiological stresses they can cause. Understanding the potential of invasive plants to respond to predicted salinity increases will elucidate their potential niche breadth. To examine potential phenotypic plasticity and functional trait responses to salinity stress in the invasive cordgrass Spartina densiflora, we collected rhizomes from four invasive populations occurring from California to Vancouver Island, British Columbia on the Pacific Coast of North America. In a glasshouse common …

Guideline For Stakeholder Engagement On Aquatic Resource Management-Related Processes, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Experimental Assessment Of Floating Seagrass Wrack As Potential Habitat For Benthic Organisms, Joseph R. Mcginnis

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

During the summer, seagrass blades are frequently released into the water column as a method to reduce respiration demands of the plant and through physical disruption of the bed (e.g., crab foraging, boat propellers). This wrack has the potential to serve as both food and habitat for organisms dislodged or actively moving within the system. The purpose of this research was to determine how benthic organisms may use floating wrack as a food resource and shelter. Three experimental floating wrack bag treatments were assembled containing using artificial Zoster a marina (i.e., poly-ribbon), Z. marina blades, and a wrack bag control …

Do Novel Weapons That Degrade Mycorrhizal Mutualisms Explain Invasive Species Success?, Philip L. Pinzone Mr.

Biology Theses

Invasive plants often dominate novel habitats where they did not co-evolve with local species. Several hypotheses suggest mechanisms that explain increased exotic plant success, including 'novel weapons' and 'degraded mutualisms'. Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) and European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) are widespread plant invaders in North America that can dominate ecosystems. The goal of this study is to test whether these impacts are more consistent with novel weapons or degraded mutualism hypotheses. I examine tree seedling recruitment, (germination and initial survival) growth, (biomass) and mycorrhizal invasion (AMF content) as a function of F. japonica and R. cathartica …

Selective Foraging By Pogonomyrmex Salinus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) In Semiarid Grassland: Implications For A Rare Plant, Matthew S. Schmasow, Ian C. Robertson

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Selective foraging by granivores can have important consequences for the structure and composition of plant communities, and potentially severe consequences for rare plant species. To understand how granivore foraging behavior affects common and rare plant species, diet selection should be viewed relative to the availability of alternative seed options, and with consideration of the individual attributes of those seeds (e.g., morphology, nutrient content). We examined the foraging decisions of Owyhee harvester ants, Pogonomyrmex salinus [Olsen], in semiarid grassland dominated by two species of grass, Poa secunda and Bromus tectorum, and two species of mustard, Sisymbrium altissimum and Lepidium papilliferum …

Examining The Effect Of Climate Change On The Upper Mesophotic Coral Montastrea Cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767), John Skutnik

Masters Theses

Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from global climate change. In particular, ocean warming is having a deleterious effect on many of the world’s shallow reefs. Some authors suggest that acute exposure is more detrimental than chronic, versus others who indicate the opposite. However, little knowledge exists regarding heat induced stress on deeper mesophotic reefs. Here, I examined the effect of acute (72 hrs.) and chronic (480 hrs.) heat stress using laboratory experiments on coral Montastraea cavernosa (Linnaeus 1767) collected from an upper mesophotic (~30 m) reef off Islamorada Florida. I examined a variety of putative immune and stress genes …

A Review On The Invasion Ecology Of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii, Caprifoliaceae), A Case Study Of Ecological Impacts At Multiple Scales, Rachel E. Mcneish, Ryan W. Mcewan

Biology Faculty Publications

Invasive species are of global importance because of their impacts on ecological communities, habitat structure, native community dynamics, and ecosystem processes and function. Scientists and conservation managers are increasingly focusing on the biological impacts of invasive species and on devising management practices that emphasize the health of ecosystems based on measured biological processes. Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii (Rupr.) Herder) is a highly successful invasive shrub in forests of eastern North America. The scientific literature surrounding this species has grown in the past several decades as researchers have investigated L. maackii impacts across multiple ecological scales. In this review we …

The Role Of Mfd In Stationary-Phase Oxidative Damage Repair In Bacillus Subtilis, Katelyn E. Porter

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the 1950’s it has been shown that bacterial cells accumulate mutations even in non- dividing conditions, but how this type of mutation occurs is still highly debated. In Bacillus subtilis, Mfd, a precursor of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system, mediates the formation of mutations in stationary-phase or non-replicating cells. In growing cells, Mfd recruits repair when RNA polymerase is stalled during transcription; it then recruits proteins from NER to repair damage. Here, we examine the hypothesis that Mfd mediates the formation of mutations by interacting with cellular components that repair reactive oxygen species (ROS), a natural byproduct of …

Switchgrass Cultivar And Intraspecific Diversity Impacts On Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Aislinn Johns

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Bioenergy feedstock production is an important component of the national renewable energy strategy, which is based on biomass supply. Biofuels for ethanol production may be produced in high-input crop production systems, but the efficacy of these systems for increasing net energy yields over its full life-cycle compared to traditional fuels is under debate, because it is now evident that the benefits of feedstock production are maximized only when biofuels are derived from feedstocks produced with much lower life-cycle greenhouse-gas emissions than traditional fossil fuels. To this end, the reduction of agricultural inputs is key to developing an effective biofuel feedstock …

Characterization Of The Role Of Host And Dietary Factors In The Establishment Of Bacteria In The Gastrointestinal Tract, Janina A. Krumbeck

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

Probiotic bacteria and synbiotics are used as therapeutic and prophylactic agents. The majority of probiotic and synbiotic applications contain bacterial strains that are allochthonous to the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Accordingly, many bacterial strains do not survive digestion, or are not capable of persisting and competing the resident gut microbiota, and are therefore washed out of the GI tract shortly after the treatment is discontinued. This might reduce the health effects of these treatments. Therefore, research is needed to address the ecological challenges that probiotic strains encounter in the GI tract in order to develop probiotic regimens. Determining which ecological …

The Effect Of Manganese (Mn) On Cell Proliferation And Migration In The Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (Mcf-7) Human Breast Cancer Cell Line In Vitro, Justin Lloyd Wendel

Theses and Dissertations

Manganese (Mn) is a common environmental element necessary for mammalian physiological processes. However, dietary excess or deficiency can lead to detrimental health effects. Therefore, I investigated the effect Mn has on breast cancer progression in vitro. Utilizing MCF-7 breast cancer cells an MTT assay was performed to identify proliferative potential. After 5 days, results showed 100 nM manganese chloride (MnCl2) had a significant (p<0.01) increase in cell number over control. Using a scratch wound-healing assay, 100 nM MnCl2 was found to increase cellular motility as well as induce a possible change in morphology and cytoskeletal organization. Given Mn was shown to localize in the mitochondrial, we investigated Mn-induced ROS expression. 500 nM Mn significantly decreased (p<0.05) ROS levels. Collectively, I provide evidence that Mn may potentially drive less aggressive cancer cells towards a more invasive phenotype.

Manganese-Reducing Bacterial Communities From A Hypersaline Estuary In South Texas Under Conditions Of Changing Salinity, Omar R. Elizondo, Rebecca Vasquez Villarreal, Sonia Y. Del Rio, Kristine L. Lowe

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

Manganese reducing bacteria were quantified and enriched from sediments at two sites (ABC and LMT050) in the Laguna Madre of South Texas. Bacteria were tested for Mn(IV) reduction under different salinities. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to profile bacterial communities from Mn(IV) saline enrichments. Results showed that the density of manganese reducing bacteria at ABC was 30X greater than LMT050. The ABC bacteria were able to reduce Mn(IV) at similar rates at different salinities; however, at LMT050, Mn(IV) reduction rates decreased at higher salinities. Three population genotypes were observed by DGGE. All were present and similarly abundant in …

Coevolution Of Cyanogenic Bamboos And Bamboo Lemurs On Madagascar, Daniel J. Ballhorn, Fanny Patrika Rakotoarivelo, Stefanie Kautz

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Feeding strategies of specialist herbivores often originate from the coevolutionary arms race of plant defenses and counter-adaptations of herbivores. The interaction between bamboo lemurs and cyanogenic bamboos on Madagascar represents a unique system to study diffuse coevolutionary processes between mammalian herbivores and plant defenses. Bamboo lemurs have different degrees of dietary specialization while bamboos show different levels of chemical defense. In this study, we found variation in cyanogenic potential (HCNp) and nutritive characteristics among five sympatric bamboo species in the Ranomafana area, southeastern Madagascar. The HCNp ranged from 209±72 μmol cyanide* g^-1 dwt in Cathariostachys madagascariensis to no cyanide …

Identification Of Tanzanian Saprophytic Edible Mushrooms By Amplification And Sequencing Of Its/Lsu Regions Of Ribosomal Rna Operon, Ibrahim Juma, Anthony Manoni Mshandete, Donatha Damiani Tibuhwa, Amelia Kajumulo Kivaisi

Tanzania Journal of Science

In this study, ten wild saprophytic edible mushrooms samples, collected from Tanzania natural forests and planted trees, and their two domesticated forms were characterized by in-vitro/in-vivo amplification and sequencing of ITS/LSU regions. Mushroom genomic DNA was extracted by ZR Fungal/Bacterial DNA MniPrep Kit. ITS and LSU regions were amplified using ITS-4/ITS-5 and LR16/LROR primers, respectively and sequenced. The amplicons with messy sequences were cloned. For analyzing recombinant E. coli DH5α cells, colony PCR and sequencing were done using M13-F/M13-R primers. The studied mushrooms were identified as Amylosporus sp. IJ-2014, Polyporales sp., Polyporus tenuiculus, Pleurotus cystidiosus, Laetiporus sp. IJ-2014, Lentinus sajor-caju, …

Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation Upon Exposure To Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Annie Kopera

Biology Summer Fellows

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) can cause adverse health effects by tampering with the body’s endocrine system, which controls growth, development, and overall homeostasis. Bisphenols are a group of chemicals that are structurally similar; some are known endocrine disrupters. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common chemical found in thermoplastics and epoxy resins, and can be found in products such as hard-plastic water bottles, the inside lining of food cans, medical equipment, dental sealants, and thermal receipt paper. The release of studies detailing the estrogenic activity of BPA prompted both scientists and consumers to campaign for a BPA-free movement. Producers looking for …

The Effects Of Estrogen (E2), Bisphenol A (Bpa), Bisphenol S (Bps), And Bisphenol F (Bpf) On The Proliferation Of Mcf-7 Cells, Colleen Leahy

Biology Summer Fellows

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals that disturb the endocrine system and exhibit adverse effects throughout the body. EDCs exert their effects by displaying hormone-like activity and can act as agonists or antagonists to normal hormonal function. Those EDCs that disturb the activity of estrogen are of particular interest. Estrogen, also known as 17β-estradiol, is a steroid hormone responsible for the development of the female sexual organs, secondary sexual characteristics, bone development and maintenance, and cardiovascular development. It has also been shown to play a role in the growth of certain breast cancers. Endocrine disrupting compounds that are structurally similar …

P53 Alters The Cytotoxicity And Genotoxicity For Oxidized Graphene In Human B Lymphoblastoid Cells, Dayton Matthew Petibone

Theses and Dissertations

Widespread use of oxidized graphene nanomaterials in industry, medicine, and consumer products raises concern about potential adverse impacts on human health. The p53 tumor suppressor protein is crucial to maintaining cellular and genetic stability to prevent carcinogenesis. Here, we show that oxygen functionalized graphene (f-G) absorption and p53 functional status correlate with cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in human B-lymphoblastoid cells. Trends in f G absorption by were dose-dependent. Cells with functional p53 exposed to f-G arrested in G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, suppressed f-G induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and had elevated apoptosis. While compared to p53 competent cells, the …