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Abundance And Trends Of Woodpecker Populations In The Wright State Biology Preserve, Brittany Damron, Thomas P. Rooney

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Saturday In The Park With Franz And Joyce, Julie Trachman, William A. Casari, Nelson Nunez-Rodriguez, Flor Henderson, Yoel Rodriguez, Jason Libfeld

Touchstone

No abstract provided.

Section Abstracts: Biology With Microbiology And Molecular Biology

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Biology with Microbiology and Molecular Biology Section for the 89th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 25-27, 2011, University of Richmond, Richmond VA.

Draft Western Rock Lobster Fishery Environmental Management Strategy November 2010 – October 2015, Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Homocysteine And Cardiac Neural Crest Cell Cytoskeletal Proteins In The Chick Embryo, Anthony R. Mwakikunga, Amanda L. Clubine, Darrell J. Wiens

Faculty Work

Elevated serum homocysteine (Hcys) is correlated with cardiovascular disease and with embryonic malformations related to neural crest cells (NCCs). We predicted Hcys may alter the balance of actin networks, stress fibers and focal adhesions, altering migration. We cultured neural tube explants in control and Hcys-treated medium and visualized actin, α-actinin, vinculin, filamin, and LIM3 protein in NCCs migrating outward. In Hcys, phalloidin-stained actin in stress fibers was brighter, and vinculin was more abundant in focal adhesions and lamellipodia. α-actinin and LIM3 were also enhanced around nuclei and in focal adhesions, and α-actinin also in filopodia. Filamin was unchanged. Hcys caused …

Effect Of Animal Facility Construction On Basal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal And Renin-Aldosterone Activity In The Rat, Hershel Raff, Eric D. Bruder, William E. Cullinan, Dana R. Ziegler, Eric P. Cohen

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Nearby construction can cause subtle, but important activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in laboratory rats.

Although loud noise and intense vibration are known to alter the behavior and phenotype of laboratory animals, little is known about the effects of nearby construction. We studied the effect of a nearby construction project on the classic stress hormones ACTH, corticosterone, renin, and aldosterone in rats residing in a barrier animal facility before, for the first 3 months of a construction project, and at 1 month after all construction was completed. During some of the construction, noise and vibrations were not obvious to investigators …

Community And Ecosystem Ramifications Of Increasing Lianas In Neotropical Forests, Stefan A. Schnitzer, Frans Bongers, S. Joseph Wright

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Lianas (woody vines) are increasing in neotropical forests, representing one of the first large-scale structural changes documented for these important ecosystems. The potential ramifications of increasing lianas are huge, as lianas alter both tropical forest diversity and ecosystem functioning. At the community level, lianas affect tree species co-existence and diversity by competing more intensely with some tree species than others, and thus will likely alter tree species composition. At the ecosystem level, lianas affect forest carbon and nutrient storage and fluxes. A decrease in forest carbon storage and sequestration may be the most important ramification of liana increases. Lianas reduce …

Blood-Brain Barrier Impairment In An Animal Model Of Mps Iii B, Svitlana N. Garbuzova-Davis, Michael Louis, Edward M. Haller, Hiranya M. Derasari, Ashley E. Rawls, Paul R. Sanberg

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Background: Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPS III B) is caused by a deficiency of α-N-acetylglucosaminidase enzyme, leading to accumulation of heparan sulfate within lysosomes and eventual progressive cerebral and systemic multiple organ abnormalities. However, little is known about the competence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in MPS III B. BBB dysfunction in this devastating disorder could contribute to neuropathological disease manifestations.

Methodology/Principal Findings: In the present study, we investigated structural (electron microscope) and functional (vascular leakage) integrity of the BBB in a mouse model of MPS III B at different stages of disease, focusing on brain structures known to experience …

T-705 (Favipiravir) Inhibition Of Arenavirus Replication In Cell Culture, Michelle Mendenhall, Andrew Russell, Terry Juelich, Emily L. Messina, Donald F. Smee, Alexander N. Freiberg, Michael R. Holbrook, Yousuke Furuta, Juan-Carlos De La Torre, Jack H. Nunberg, Brian B. Gowen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A number of New World arenaviruses (Junin [JUNV], Machupo [MACV], and Guanarito [GTOV] viruses) can cause human disease ranging from mild febrile illness to a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever syndrome. These highly pathogenic viruses and the Old World Lassa fever virus pose a significant threat to public health and national security. The only licensed antiviral agent with activity against these viruses, ribavirin, has had mixed success in treating severe arenaviral disease and is associated with significant toxicities. A novel pyrazine derivative currently in clinical trials for the treatment of influenza virus infections, T-705 (favipiravir), has demonstrated broad-spectrum activity …

A Report Of The Effects Of Fishing Advisory Group (Efag) Meeting (2 – 3 November 2010) And The Western Rock Lobster Ecological Effects Of Fishing Research Plan Revised And Updated By The Effects Of Fishing Advisory Group (2 – 3 November 2010), Department Of Fisheries

Fisheries Occasional Publications

No abstract provided.

Casein Α S1 Is Expressed By Human Monocytes And Upregulates The Production Of Gm-Csf Via P38 Mapk, Stefan Vordenbäumen, Achim Braukmann, Klaudia Petermann, Andrea Scharf, Ellen Bleck, Anna Von Mikecz, Joachim Jose, Matthias Schneider

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Caseins are major constituents of mammalian milks that are thought to be exclusively expressed in mammary glands and to function primarily as a protein source, as well as to ameliorate intestinal calcium uptake. In addition, proinflammatory and immunomodulatory properties have been reported for bovine caseins. Our aim was to investigate whether human casein α s1 (CSN1S1) is expressed outside the mammary gland and possesses immunomodulatory functions in humans as well. For this purpose, CSN1S1 mRNA was detected in primary human monocytes and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, but not in CD19 + B cells. CSN1S1 protein was traceable in supernatants …

Temperature Increase Effects On Sagebrush Ecosystem Forbs: Exprimental Evidence And Range Manager Perspectives, Hilary Louise Whitcomb

Green Canyon Environmental Research Area, Logan Utah

No abstract provided.

Lifelines Winter 2011, Southern Adventist University

Lifelines - Biology Department Newsletter

The Winter 2011 issue of Lifelines includes articles on research done by the Ecology class, an alumni feature, the TriBeta National Biological Honor Society, and a pictorial directory of the 2011 biology and allied health graduates.

Chemical Characterization And In Vitro Fermentation Of Brassica Straw Treated With The Aerobic Fungus, Trametes Versicolor, J. E. Ramirez-Bribiesca, Y. Wang, L. Jin, Thomas Canam, J. R. Town, A. Tsang, T. J. Dumonceaux, T. A. Mcallister

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Brassica napus straw (BNS) was either not treated or was treated with two strains of Trametes versicolor; 52J (wild type) or m4D (a cellobiose dehydrogenase-deficient mutant) with four treatments. Glucose was provided to encourage growth of the mutant strain. All treatments with T. versicolor decreased (P<0.05) neutral-detergent fibre and increased (P<0.05) protein and the concentration of lignin degradation products in straw. Ergosterol was highest (P<0.05) in straw treated with B-52J, suggesting it generated the most fungal biomass. Insoluble lignin was reduced (P<0.05) in straw treated with B-52J and B-m4D, but not with B-m4Dg. Mannose and xylose concentration were generally higher (P<0.05) in straw treated with fungi, whereas glucose and galactose were lower as compared with C-BNS. The four treatments above were subsequently assessed in rumen in vitro fermentations, along with BNS treated with 5 N NaOH. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acids after 24 and 48h were lower (P<0.05) in incubations that contained BNS treated with T. versicolor as compared with C-BNSor NaOH-treated BNS. Compared with C-BNS, in vitrodry matter disappearance and gas production were increased (P<0.05) by NaOH, but not by treatment with either strain of T. versicolor. Although treatment with T. versicolor did release more lignin degradation products, it did not appear to provide more degradable carbohydrate to in vitro rumen microbial populations, even when a mutant strain with compromised carbohydrate metabolism was utilized. Production of secondary compounds by the aerobic fungi may inhibit rumen microbial fermentation.

Phylogeny Of The Clusioid Clade (Malpighiales): Evidence From The Plastid And Mitochonrial Genomes, Brad R. Ruhfel, Volker Bittrich, Claudia A. Bove, Mats H.G. Gustafsson, C. Thomas Philbrick, Rolf Rutsihauser, Zhenxiang Xi, Charles C. Davis

Biological Sciences Faculty and Staff Research

• Premise of the study : The clusioid clade includes five families (i.e., Bonnetiaceae, Calophyllaceae, Clusiaceae s.s., Hypericaceae, and Podostemaceae) represented by 94 genera and ~1900 species. Species in this clade form a conspicuous element of tropical forests worldwide and are important in horticulture, timber production, and pharmacology. We conducted a taxon-rich multigene phylogenetic analysis of the clusioids to clarify phylogenetic relationships in this clade. • Methods : We analyzed plastid ( matK , ndhF , and rbcL ) and mitochondrial ( matR ) nucleotide sequence data using parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Our combined data set included 194 …

Terrestrial Macrofungi Of Illinois Old-Growth Prairie Groves, Scott J. Meiners, Andrew Methven, Vincent P. Hustad

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

ABSTRACT.—Macrofungi from two old-growth prairie grove remnants in the Midwestern United States (Brownfield and Trelease Woods. Champaign Co., IL ) were surveyed over two summer and fall fruiting periods. Communities of Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Myxomycètes were sampled and compared using multivariate statistical analyses. Standard estimations of species richness were calculated for comparison with other studies of fungal diversity. Environmental factors (rainfall, humidity, air temperature and soil temperature at 10 cm depth) as well as leaf litter composition, and woody plant communities were surveyed to assess their impact on fungal communities. Fungal community structure was found to differ significandy both between …

The Deadly Effects Of ‘‘Nonlethal’’ Predators, Shannon J. Mccauley, Locke Rowe, Marie-Josee Fortin

Biological Sciences

Nonconsumptive predator effects are widespread and include plasticity as well as general stress responses. Caged predators are often used to estimate nonconsumptive effects, and numerous studies have focused on the larval stages of animals with complex life cycles. However, few of these studies test whether nonconsumptive predator effects, including stress responses, are exclusively sublethal. Nor have they assessed whether these effects extend beyond the larval stage, affecting success during stressful life-history transitions such as metamorphosis. We conducted experiments with larvae of a dragonfly (Leucorrhinia intacta) that exhibits predator-induced plasticity to assess whether the mere presence of predators affects …

Addressing Prey Selection And Predator Fitness: Ingestion By, And Growth Of Ochromonas Danica On Multiple Bacterial Prey, Briony L. Foster

Biology Theses - Archive

Nanoflagellates provide an important link in aquatic food webs by consuming bacterial biomass and subsequently providing nutrients to higher trophic levels by becoming prey themselves and regenerating nutrients consumed in excess of metabolic needs. Nanoflagellate predation has typically been addressed by examining one or two aspects of a seemingly complex prey identification process, and rarely has the subsequent fitness of the predator been quantified. In this work we examine how bacterial prey size, growth state, growth rate, nutritional composition, and phylogenetic class effect ingestion rate by, and growth rate of, the mixotrophic flagellate Ochromonas danica. A phylogenetically diverse group of …

Effects Of Xs® Energy Drink On Aerobic Exercise Capacity Of Athletes, Kevin M. Sheehan, Lynn K. Hartzler

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A small increase in performance is often the difference between winning and losing for athletes, and energy supplements are marketed to give them a competitive edge. One such supplement is XS® Energy Drink which contains B vitamins, caffeine, taurine, and an herbal adaptogen blend. XS® Energy Drink is primarily designed and marketed as an alertness stimulus; however, it is also marketed to athletes as a performance enhancing supplement. The hypothesis of this investigation was that the consumption of XS® Energy Drink before exercise would increase aerobic capacity (an increase in Vo2max) and time to fatigue, and would decrease time for …

Is Anthropogenic Habitat Change The Driving Force Of Rapid Evolution Of Southeastern U.S. Coastal Deer Populations?, Nicole L. Storm

Masters Theses

Many factors, such as genetics, food availability and the exact food species, can affect the growth rate and asymptotic size of animals. Since the I 960's, the coastal areas and islands in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have become vacation destinations with large and lavish resort communities built to accommodate the large number of visitors to areas that were once called home by just a small number of residents. These developments brought with them non-native plants and improved soil quality for both native and non-native plants. During this same time period, the whitetailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) native to …

Bringing The Dead Compartment Of A Plant Cell To Life: A Novel Imaging Technique Resurrects The Dynamic Nature Of The Apoplast, Doug Van Hoewyk

Biology

No abstract provided.

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

Turkish Journal of Biology

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

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

Turkish Journal of Biology

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

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

Turkish Journal of Biology

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

The Effect Of Diazinon On Egg Fertility And Development In Drosophila Melanogaster, Ayla Karataş, Zafer Bahçeci̇, Ensar Başpinar

Turkish Journal of Biology

This study investigated the effects of diazinon, an organic phosphoric insecticide, on some developmental features of Drosophila melanogaster. The aim was to determine if any developmental inhibition occurs when diazinon is applied and if so, to determine which developmental stages are affected. Therefore, diazinon was applied to Drosophila melanogaster eggs, larvae, and adults, and its effects were observed. During the experiments 3 concentrations with values lower than LC_{50} were utilized (6 × 10^{-5}, 6 × 10^{-6}, 6 × 10^{-7} ppm). Diazinon solution was applied to Drosophila melanogaster by means of nutrition, adding it to the culture medium. The results show …

Influence Of Process Parameters On The Production Of Detergent Compatible Alkaline Protease By A Newly Isolated Bacillus Sp. Y., Shivakumar Srividya, Majumdar Mala

Turkish Journal of Biology

Detergent compatible alkaline protease production by a newly isolated Bacillus sp.Y from laundry soil was studied under shake flask conditions in growth medium comprised (g/L): peptone, 1; NaCl, 5; skim milk, 100; Na_2CO_3, 4. Different environmental process parameters such as fermentation period, initial pH, incubation temperature, and nutritional parameters such as supplementation of different starch sources and nitrogen sources were standardized for the maximum yield of alkaline protease. Rice flour showed an almost 2.2-fold increase in protease activity followed by wheat flour, which showed a 1.85-fold increase over the basal media. However, supplementation of potato starch, corn starch, and ragi …

An Entomopathogenic Bacterium, Pseudomonas Putida, From Leptinotarsa Decemlineata, Hacer Muratoğlu, Zi̇hni̇ Demi̇rbağ, Kazim Sezen

Turkish Journal of Biology

The Colorado Potato Beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Col.: Chrysomelidae), is a pre-eminent pest on solanaceous crops worldwide, and much research has focused on the different components of its variable population dynamics. L. decemlineata has developed resistance to insecticides used for its control. Consequently, alternative methods are needed urgently for the control of this pest. In this study, in order to find a more effective and safer biological control agent against L. decemlineata, we isolated a new bacterial isolate (Ld4) from L. decemlineata, and tested it for insecticidal effects on L. decemlineata larvae. Also, the insecticidal effect of Ld4 was …

The Protective Effect Of Boric Acid On Aluminum-Induced Hepatotoxicity And Genotoxicity In Rats, Hasan Türkez, Fati̇me Geyi̇koğlu, Suat Çolak

Turkish Journal of Biology

The efficacy of boric acid (BA) was examined on liver marker enzymes in aluminum (Al)-treated rats. Also, a liver micronucleus assay was performed to evaluate the genotoxicity in hepatocytes. With these aims, Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into 10 groups of 5 animals. Aluminum chloride (5 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) AlCl3) and BA (3.25, 13, 36 and 58.5 mg/kg b.w.) alone were administered with injections to the experimental animals. Furthermore, the animals were also treated with Al for 4 consecutive days followed by BA exposure for 10 days. The rats were anesthetized after Al and BA injections and the levels …

Antagonistic Potential Of Marine Actinobacteria Against Fish And Shellfish Pathogens, Selvakumar Dharmaraj

Turkish Journal of Biology

A total of 94 marine actinobacterial isolates were found to be associated with 4 sponges: Callyspongia diffusa, Mycale mytilorum, Tedania anhelans, and Dysidea fragilis. Among the cultures 7 strains showed antagonism against fish and shellfish pathogens. Analysis of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and protein profile characteristics suggested that the actinobacterial strains belonged to the genus Streptomyces. The initial screening of the isolates by the spot inoculation method exhibited antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila. In vitro screening of the submerged culture extracts showed positive inhibition against the fish and shellfish pathogens Aeromonas hydrophila, Serratia sp., and Vibrio spp. The screening of bioactive …

Determination Of Antimicrobial And Antiproliferative Activities Of The Aquatic Moss Fontinalis Antipyretica Hedw., Fi̇li̇z Savaroğlu, Cansu Fi̇li̇k İşçen, Ayşe Pinar Öztopcu Vatan, Selda Kabadere, Semra İlhan, Ruhi̇ Uyar

Turkish Journal of Biology

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the possible antimicrobial and anticancer properties of the aquatic moss Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. (Fontinalaceae). We first obtained 8 different extracts (methanol; chloroform; acetone; ethyl acetate A, B, C, and D) by two different extraction processes. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was then assessed by using the well diffusion method against 8 bacterial and 7 fungal strains. The results of antimicrobial studies showed that extracts of chloroform, acetone, and ethyl acetate A and C were active against almost all the species tested. The most effective extract was C, which was then …