Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Biology

Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 27811 - 27840 of 39121

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Jackprot Simulation Couples Mutation Rate With Natural Selection To Illustrate How Protein Evolution Is Not Random, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño C, Avelina Espinosa, Chunyan Bai Jan 2011

The Jackprot Simulation Couples Mutation Rate With Natural Selection To Illustrate How Protein Evolution Is Not Random, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño C, Avelina Espinosa, Chunyan Bai

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Protein evolution is not a random process. Views which attribute randomness to molecular change, deleterious nature to single-gene mutations, insufficient geological time, or population size for molecular improvements to occur, or invoke “design creationism” to account for complexity in molecular structures and biological processes, are unfounded. Scientific evidence suggests that natural selection tinkers with molecular improvements by retaining adaptive peptide sequence. We used slot-machine probabilities and ion channels to show biological directionality on molecular change. Because ion channels reside in the lipid bilayer of cell membranes, their residue location must be in balance with the membrane’s hydrophobic/philic nature; a selective …


On The Theory Of Evolution Versus The Concept Of Evolution: Three Observations, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño C, Avelina Espinosa Jan 2011

On The Theory Of Evolution Versus The Concept Of Evolution: Three Observations, Guillermo Paz-Y-Miño C, Avelina Espinosa

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Here we address three misconceptions stated by Rice et al. in their observations of our article Paz-y-Miño and Espinosa (Evo Edu Outreach 2:655–675, 2009), published in this journal. The five authors titled their note “The Theory of Evolution is Not an Explanation for the Origin of Life.” First, we argue that it is fallacious to believe that because the formulation of the theory of evolution, as conceived in the 1800s, did not include an explanation for the origin of life, nor of the universe, the concept of evolution would not allow us to hypothesize the possible beginnings of …


Protein Replacement Therapy Partially Corrects The Cholesterol-Storage Phenotype In A Mouse Model Of Niemann-Pict Type C2 Disease, Gitte Krogh Nielsen, Frederik Dagnaes-Hansen, Ida Elisabeth Holm, Steve Meaney, Derek Symula, Niels Trolle Andersen, Christian Wurtz Heegaard Jan 2011

Protein Replacement Therapy Partially Corrects The Cholesterol-Storage Phenotype In A Mouse Model Of Niemann-Pict Type C2 Disease, Gitte Krogh Nielsen, Frederik Dagnaes-Hansen, Ida Elisabeth Holm, Steve Meaney, Derek Symula, Niels Trolle Andersen, Christian Wurtz Heegaard

Articles

Niemann-Pick type C2 (NPC2) disease is a fatal autosomal recessive neurovisceral degenerative disorder characterized by late endosomal-lysosomal sequestration of low-density lipoprotein derived cholesterol. The breach in intracellular cholesterol homeostasis is caused by deficiency of functional NPC2, a soluble sterol binding protein targeted to the lysosomes by binding the mannose-6-phosphate receptor. As currently there is no effective treatment for the disorder, we have investigated the efficacy of NPC2 replacement therapy in a murine gene-trap model of NPC2-disease generated on the 129P2/OlaHsd genetic background. NPC2 was purified from bovine milk and its functional competence assured in NPC2-deficient fibroblasts using the specific cholesterol …


Quantification Of Unfractionated Heparin In Human Plasma And Whole Blood By Means Of Novel Fluorogenic Anti-Fxa Assays, Vanessa Castro-Lopez, Leanne F. Harris, James S. O'Donnell, Anthony J. Killard Jan 2011

Quantification Of Unfractionated Heparin In Human Plasma And Whole Blood By Means Of Novel Fluorogenic Anti-Fxa Assays, Vanessa Castro-Lopez, Leanne F. Harris, James S. O'Donnell, Anthony J. Killard

Articles

Novel and sensitive plate-based fluorogenic anti-factor Xa (FXa) assays were investigated to quantify unfractionated heparin (UFH) in human plasma and whole blood within the therapeutic ranges of 0–1.6 U/mL and 0–0.8 U/mL, respectively. Two fluorogenic anti-FXa assay methods were defined for low (0–0.6 U/mL) and high (0.6–1.2 U/mL) pharmacologically relevant UFH concentration ranges in pooled human plasma. In both cases significant differences were observed at intervals of 0.2 U/mL (P < 0.05). The semi-logarithmic plots of the calibration curves in the low and high UFH range were both fitted to linear regressions with correlation coefficients of 0.96 and >0.99, respectively. The assay was also optimized for whole blood which was capable of differentiating UFH concentrations at intervals of 0.2 U/mL (P < 0.05) in the range of 0–0.4 U/mL. The statistically different results were fitted to a linear regression with a correlation coefficient of >0.99. The results obtained in this study …


Evaluation Of The Antioxidant And Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities Of Arnebia Densiflora Ledeb., İlkay Orhan, F. Sezer Şenol, Ufuk Koca, Tuğba Erçeti̇n, Gülnur Toker Jan 2011

Evaluation Of The Antioxidant And Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities Of Arnebia Densiflora Ledeb., İlkay Orhan, F. Sezer Şenol, Ufuk Koca, Tuğba Erçeti̇n, Gülnur Toker

Turkish Journal of Biology

Arnebia densiflora Ledeb. (Boraginaceae), a medicinal plant growing in Turkey, has been reported to contain a well-known red pigment, shikonin, a naphthoquinone derivative. In the current study, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of the root, stem, and flowers of the plant, as well as shikonin, were investigated. AChE inhibition was tested using an ELISA microplate reader at 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 µg mL^{-1}. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test and the Fe+2-ferrozine test system for metal chelating power. The results indicated that the …


Chromosome Aberrations Induced By Curcumin And Aloin In Allium Cepa L. Root Meristem Cells, Loganathan Palanikumar, Irulappan Ragunathan, Natarajan Panneerselvam Jan 2011

Chromosome Aberrations Induced By Curcumin And Aloin In Allium Cepa L. Root Meristem Cells, Loganathan Palanikumar, Irulappan Ragunathan, Natarajan Panneerselvam

Turkish Journal of Biology

To date, a variety of plant compounds have been studied extensively with regard to anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-genotoxic activity. Nevertheless, very few of them have been studied in terms of clastogenicity. In the present study the clastogenic activity of curcumin (the active component of turmeric) and aloin (the active component of aloe) was evaluated at doses of 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 100 µg/mL for 4, 8, and 12 h. Both curcumin and aloin had significant dose- and time-dependent clastogenic effects on the test plant system (Allium cepa L.). Compared to curcumin, aloin was more clastogenic. Clastogenic activity was …


Isolation And Identification Of Trichoderma Species From Different Habitats And Their Use For Bioconversion Of Solid Waste, Ahsanur Rahman, Most. Ferdousi Begum, Matiur Rahman, M. A. Bari, G.N.M. Illias, M. Firoz Alam Jan 2011

Isolation And Identification Of Trichoderma Species From Different Habitats And Their Use For Bioconversion Of Solid Waste, Ahsanur Rahman, Most. Ferdousi Begum, Matiur Rahman, M. A. Bari, G.N.M. Illias, M. Firoz Alam

Turkish Journal of Biology

The native population of Trichoderma species collected from different habitats was quantified and characterised. The identified strains are T. harzianum (IMI-392432, 392433, 392434); T. pseudokoningii (IMI-392431) and T. virens (IMI-392430). Out of five strains, T. harzianum was the most common in all of the habitats. Colony forming units (cfu's) of Trichoderma species varied significantly (P = 0.05) in different habitats and were positively correlated with the physico-chemical characteristics of the habitat. Trichoderma was found to have adapted to an acidic habitat. In testing for an efficient bioconversion agent, T. harzianum (IMI-392432) was found to be the most effective in kitchen …


The Antioxidant And Dna Protection Potential Of Indian Tribal Medicinal Plants, Gunjan Guha, Venkatadri Rajkumar, Lazar Mathew, Rangasamy Ashok Kumar Jan 2011

The Antioxidant And Dna Protection Potential Of Indian Tribal Medicinal Plants, Gunjan Guha, Venkatadri Rajkumar, Lazar Mathew, Rangasamy Ashok Kumar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Prevention and treatment of various degenerative diseases using traditional medicines is increasingly generating interest, especially in geriatric clinical research. This study aimed to evaluate the free-radical scavenging properties and potential to prevent DNA damage (from oxidative stress) of 56 extracts (polar and non-polar) from 14 medicinal plants (from 12 families) used by diverse Indian tribes and ethnic groups. Although widely known for traditional uses, these plants have not been extensively used for clinical purposes. Scavenging of DPPH^{\bullet} radical by all the extracts was evaluated to estimate their antioxidant potential and rank them accordingly. Extracts occupying the top 10 ranks were …


Spectrum And Frequency Of Macromutations Induced In Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.), Aijaz A. Wani Jan 2011

Spectrum And Frequency Of Macromutations Induced In Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum L.), Aijaz A. Wani

Turkish Journal of Biology

The present investigation was undertaken to study the frequency and spectrum of morphological mutants induced by gamma rays and EMS in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). The seeds of 2 varieties of chickpea, Pusa-212 and Pusa-372, were treated with gamma rays (150 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy, and 400 Gy), EMS (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) and combination treatments (200Gy+0.2%EMS, 300Gy+0.2%EMS, 200Gy+0.3%EMS, and 300 Gy+0.3%EMS). The M2 population was carefully screened for various viable macromutations. A wide spectrum of viable morphological mutations affecting almost all parts of the plant were isolated in the M2 generation. The most striking mutants isolated included …


Total Phenolic Contents And Antioxidant Activities Of Prangos Lindl. (Umbelliferae) Species Growing In Konya Province (Turkey), Jehad Ahmed, Ayşegül Güvenç, Nurgün Küçükboyaci, Ayşe Baldemi̇r, Maksut Coşkun Jan 2011

Total Phenolic Contents And Antioxidant Activities Of Prangos Lindl. (Umbelliferae) Species Growing In Konya Province (Turkey), Jehad Ahmed, Ayşegül Güvenç, Nurgün Küçükboyaci, Ayşe Baldemi̇r, Maksut Coşkun

Turkish Journal of Biology

Prangos species are widely used as medicinal plants in Turkey, and 14 species of this genus grow naturally in Anatolia. In the present study, the phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of the water and methanol (MeOH) extracts obtained from the root, herb, and fruits of 4 species of Prangos (Prangos ferulacea, P. heyniae, P. meliocarpoides var. meliocarpoides, and P. uechtritzii) collected in Konya province were compared. The phenolic contents of the samples were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu's phenol reagent. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were studied by qualitative DPPH^. (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical) assay to detect the free radical scavenging activity and by …


Molecular Cloning, Characterization, And Expression Analysis Of A Gene Encoding A Ran Binding Protein (Ranbp) In Cucumis Melo L., Mehmet Cengi̇z Baloğlu, Florence Negre-Zakharov, Hüseyi̇n Avni̇ Öktem, Ayşe Meral Yücel Jan 2011

Molecular Cloning, Characterization, And Expression Analysis Of A Gene Encoding A Ran Binding Protein (Ranbp) In Cucumis Melo L., Mehmet Cengi̇z Baloğlu, Florence Negre-Zakharov, Hüseyi̇n Avni̇ Öktem, Ayşe Meral Yücel

Turkish Journal of Biology

Ran binding proteins (RanBPs) are highly conserved members of the GTP-binding protein family that are involved in nuclear protein export between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In this study, a CmRanBP gene from a melon was isolated (Cucumis melo L.) using the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method. The 778 basepair long melon, with a RanBP cDNA encoding consisting of 197 amino acids (22.2 kDa protein), was characterized (GenBank accession no: EU853459). The predicted amino acid sequence of CmRanBP was found to be 70% identical to VvRanBP, PtRanBP, and RcRanBP from Vitis vinifera, Populus trichocarpa, and Ricinus communis, respectively. …


Biochemical Response Of Olea Europaea Cv. Gemlik To Short-Term Salt Stress, Mehmet Ali̇ Demi̇ral, Deni̇z Aktaş Uygun, Murat Uygun, Erkan Kasirğa, Ari̇fe Alev Karagözler Jan 2011

Biochemical Response Of Olea Europaea Cv. Gemlik To Short-Term Salt Stress, Mehmet Ali̇ Demi̇ral, Deni̇z Aktaş Uygun, Murat Uygun, Erkan Kasirğa, Ari̇fe Alev Karagözler

Turkish Journal of Biology

One-year-old olive (Olea europaea L. cv. Gemlik) seedlings were exposed to increasing levels of salinity in pot culture. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 6 replicates. Dry matter (DM) percentage, sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) concentrations, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, reducing power (RP), total phenolic content (TPC), and proline (PRO) content were determined in the leaves of the plants. The results showed that the olive plant used physiological and biochemical mechanisms consecutively to alleviate the effects of salt stress. The type of mechanism used was related to the severity of the salt stress. Salinity-induced …


Biochemical Identification And Numerical Taxonomy Of Aeromonas Spp. Isolated From Food Samples In Turkey, Belgi̇n Erdem, Ergi̇n Kari̇ptaş, Eli̇f Çi̇l, Kami̇l Işik Jan 2011

Biochemical Identification And Numerical Taxonomy Of Aeromonas Spp. Isolated From Food Samples In Turkey, Belgi̇n Erdem, Ergi̇n Kari̇ptaş, Eli̇f Çi̇l, Kami̇l Işik

Turkish Journal of Biology

Numerical taxonomy was used to analyze phenotypic data obtained from 126 new isolates of Aeromonas strains taken from red meat, raw chicken, minced meat, and fish samples. Each strain was tested for 86 characters but only the final data including 63 characters were analysed using the S_{SM} coefficients and the UPGMA clustering algorithm. At S_{SM} values of => 83%, the strains clustered into 10 aggregate groups consisting of 7 major (5 and up strains) and 3 minor (2-4 strains), and 5 single member clusters, each of which was identified as A. hydrophila, A. caviae, and A. sobria, respectively. It was …


Numerical Classification Of Streptomycetes Isolated From Karstic Caves In Turkey, Mustafa Yamaç, Kami̇l Işik, Nevzat Şahi̇n Jan 2011

Numerical Classification Of Streptomycetes Isolated From Karstic Caves In Turkey, Mustafa Yamaç, Kami̇l Işik, Nevzat Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Biology

In the present study, a total of 290 actinomycetes isolates were obtained from 19 karstic caves in Turkey. Out of these, 131 were chosen for numerical classification studies according to their morphology and pigmentation properties. Representative isolates were compared with the reference Streptomyces strains based on their various taxonomic characteristics such as biochemical, physiological, nutritional, and morphological, totalling 134 unit characters. The data were evaluated using simple matching coefficients (S_{SM}), and clustering achieved using the Complete algorithm by X-Taxon and NTSys-pc programs. The test strains were assigned to 9 major (5-11 strains), 18 minor (2-4 strains), and 31 single membered …


Preliminary Studies On Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, And Antidiarrhoeal Properties Of Evolvulus Alsinoides, U.M.Dhana Lekshmi, P.Neelakanta Reddy Jan 2011

Preliminary Studies On Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic, And Antidiarrhoeal Properties Of Evolvulus Alsinoides, U.M.Dhana Lekshmi, P.Neelakanta Reddy

Turkish Journal of Biology

The ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides L. (Convolvulaceae) was investigated for antiinflammatory, antipyretic and antidiarrhoeal properties in female albino rats. Preliminary phytochemical studies were carried out to confirm the presence of active chemical constituents in the plant extract, and the result showed a positive report for the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. The pharmacological result showed that the ethanolic extract at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight and 500 mg/kg body weight caused a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema and a significant (P < 0.05) reduction of hyperpyrexia induced by Brewer's yeast in rats. The extract also elicited marked antidiarrhoeal activity against castor oil-induced diarrhoea at a dose of 500 mg/kg. This study has proved scientifically the ancient claim that the whole plant of Evolvulus alsinoides has antiinflammatory, antipyretic and antidiarrhoeal activities.


Investigation Of Legionella Pneumophila And Free Living Amoebas In The Domestic Hot Water Systems In İstanbul, Di̇lara Meryem Burak, Zuhal Zeybek Jan 2011

Investigation Of Legionella Pneumophila And Free Living Amoebas In The Domestic Hot Water Systems In İstanbul, Di̇lara Meryem Burak, Zuhal Zeybek

Turkish Journal of Biology

Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila), known to cause legionnaires' disease, has been found in various aquatic environments and man-made water systems. Free living amoebas (FLAs) live in the same environments and can cause infections such as encephalitis, keratitis. Moreover, FLAs play a major role in L. pneumophila transmission. In the present study, the presence of L. pneumophila and FLAs was examined in water and swab samples obtained from shower heads (hot water) in 61 houses in İstanbul. Nonnutrient agar (NNA) was used for isolation of FLAs in all samples and buffered charcoal yeast extract (BCYE) agar with addition of glycine, vancomycine, …


Utilization Of Cytochrome Oxidase I In Cephus Pygmeus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), Ertan Mahi̇r Korkmaz, Mahi̇r Budak, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Başibüyük Jan 2011

Utilization Of Cytochrome Oxidase I In Cephus Pygmeus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), Ertan Mahi̇r Korkmaz, Mahi̇r Budak, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Başibüyük

Turkish Journal of Biology

The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene region of Cephus pygmeus (L.) (Hymenoptera: Cephidae) was characterized at the nucleotide and amino acid levels. The partial sequence (687 bp) of the gene was determined and compared with other cephids and insect species at both the nucleic acid and amino acid sequence levels. The examined fragment was placed at an equal distance to both ends of the gene and consisted of 13 structural regions. The 5' end of the partial COI gene was more informative than the 3' end at the intraspecific level. Pairwise sequence divergences ranged from 0.15% to 1.17% at …


The Effects Of Leptin Hormone On Locomotor Activity In Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus), Bülent Gündüz, Alper Karakaş Jan 2011

The Effects Of Leptin Hormone On Locomotor Activity In Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus Auratus), Bülent Gündüz, Alper Karakaş

Turkish Journal of Biology

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) generates and controls the circadian rhythms in mammals including the rhythm of locomotor activity. Leptin is a hormone secreted by adipose tissue that informs the brain about the fat stores. SCN neurons express leptin receptors. Here we investigated the effects of 3 different leptin administrations on the locomotor activity of the Syrian hamsters maintained in constant darkness. Animals were intraperitoneally (ip) injected (4 µg/kg), subcutaneously (sc) infused (4 µg/kg), or intra-SCN infused (0.4 µg/kg) with leptin for 3 days at circadian time 10 whereas the controls received saline (0.9% NaCl) at the same time in order …


The Effects Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Inositol Pathway Mutants, Daniel Antonio Colon Hidalgo, Marlene Murray-Nseula Jan 2011

The Effects Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Inositol Pathway Mutants, Daniel Antonio Colon Hidalgo, Marlene Murray-Nseula

Honors Theses

Bipolar disease is a severe and chronic debilitating mental disorder affecting 1-3% of the population. Omega-3-fatty acids have been shown to relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder and are not associated with the negative side effects of lithium and valproate, two of the commonly used drugs for treating this condition. The mechanism of action of omega-3-fatty acids remains unknown. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine if, like lithium and valproate, omega-3-fatty acids affect inositol metabolism. This was accomplished by investigating the effect of the omega-3-fatty acid docosahexanoic acid (DHA) on the growth of inositol pathway mutants. To measure …


Characterization Of Basigin And The Interaction Between Embigin And Monocarboxylate Transporter-1, -2, And -4 (Mct1, Mct2, Mct4) In The Mouse Brain, L Nicole Little Jan 2011

Characterization Of Basigin And The Interaction Between Embigin And Monocarboxylate Transporter-1, -2, And -4 (Mct1, Mct2, Mct4) In The Mouse Brain, L Nicole Little

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Basigin and Embigin are members of the immunoglobulin superfamily that function as cell adhesion molecules. Studies of Basigin null mice revealed reproductive sterility, increased pain sensitivity, and blindness. It is thought that the mechanism causing blindness involves misexpression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in the absence of Basigin. It is known that the transmembrane domain of Basigin interacts with MCT1. In the absence of Basigin, MCT1 does not localize to the plasma membrane of expressing cells and photoreceptor function is disrupted. Studies of the Basigin null mouse brain suggest that MCT1 is properly expressed, which suggests a separate mechanism causes …


Comparison Of Measures Of Marker Informativeness For Ancestry And Admixture Mapping, Lili Ding, Howard Wiener, Tilahun Abebe, Mekbib Altaye, Rodney Cp Go, Carolyn Kercsmar, Greg Grabowski, Lisa J. Martin, Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Ranajit Chakorborty, Tesfaye M. Baye Jan 2011

Comparison Of Measures Of Marker Informativeness For Ancestry And Admixture Mapping, Lili Ding, Howard Wiener, Tilahun Abebe, Mekbib Altaye, Rodney Cp Go, Carolyn Kercsmar, Greg Grabowski, Lisa J. Martin, Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Ranajit Chakorborty, Tesfaye M. Baye

Faculty Work

Background: Admixture mapping is a powerful gene mapping approach for an admixed population formed from ancestral populations with different allele frequencies. The power of this method relies on the ability of ancestry informative markers (AIMs) to infer ancestry along the chromosomes of admixed individuals. In this study, more than one million SNPs from HapMap databases and simulated data have been interrogated in admixed populations using various measures of ancestry informativeness: Fisher Information Content (FIC), Shannon Information Content (SIC), F statistics (FST), Informativeness for Assignment Measure (In), and the Absolute Allele Frequency Differences (delta, δ). …


The Effects Of Hypergravity On Xenopus Embryo Growth And Cardiac Hypertrophy, Bryce Joseph Duchman Jan 2011

The Effects Of Hypergravity On Xenopus Embryo Growth And Cardiac Hypertrophy, Bryce Joseph Duchman

Honors Program Theses

All life on earth has developed and evolved in a 1 G environment. Therefore, any deviation below or above unit gravity will likely have an effect on the development of organisms, including the migration of cells and the dispersion of nutrients. The purpose of this research project is to analyze the effects of hypergravity on the overall body length and cardiac growth of Xenopus laevis embryos. I predict that cardiac hypertrophy will occur in embryos subjected to hypergravity because of the increased force required from the heart to adequately circulate blood and, thus, disperse nutrients. Upon reaching early gastrulation, embryos …


Analysis Of The Performance Of Peanut Fame In A Single Cylinder Idi Engine And Investigations Of Neat Methyl Ester Influence On Fuel Quality, Jeffery Lewis Jan 2011

Analysis Of The Performance Of Peanut Fame In A Single Cylinder Idi Engine And Investigations Of Neat Methyl Ester Influence On Fuel Quality, Jeffery Lewis

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Author's abstract: To meet evolving standards set forth by the U.S. EPA and U.S. Energy Policy it is necessary to consider a variety of feedstock for biofuels synthesis and to understand the role individual fatty acids contribute to the overall performance. It is the belief of the authors that excess peanut production would provide an excellent source for high quality biodiesel feedstock, and the complete property and combustion analysis of the fatty acid components will provide insight for future biofuel developments. The preliminary investigations of the project focused on the combustion performance and thermal efficiency of peanut FAME and its …


A Phylogenetic Assessment Of Breeding Systems And Floral Morphology Of North American Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), J. Andrew Mcdonald, Joshua R. Mcdill, Debra R. Hansen, Beryl B. Simpson Jan 2011

A Phylogenetic Assessment Of Breeding Systems And Floral Morphology Of North American Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae), J. Andrew Mcdonald, Joshua R. Mcdill, Debra R. Hansen, Beryl B. Simpson

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

A phylogenetic investigation of 68 species and two varieties of tropical and temperate North American Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) using sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) with parsimony and Bayesian analyses revealed multiple origins of autogamy. By assessing breeding systems and floral morphological characters in the context of this phylogeny, we estimate 16 independent origins of autogamy and 4 subsequent reversions to xenogamy. Transitions to autogamy are associated with reduced pollen-ovule ratios, decreased anther-stigma distance, and small flower size. Although the relationship between floral traits and breeding systems has been described in previous studies, this is the first investigation …


Linear Methods For Analysis And Quality Control Of Relative Expression Ratios From Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Experiments, Robert B. Page, A. J. Stromberg Jan 2011

Linear Methods For Analysis And Quality Control Of Relative Expression Ratios From Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Experiments, Robert B. Page, A. J. Stromberg

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Relative expression quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) experiments are a common means of estimating transcript abundances across biological groups and experimental treatments. One of the most frequently used expression measures that results from such experiments is the relative expression ratio (RE), which describes expression in experimental samples (i.e., RNA isolated from organisms, tissues, and/or cells that were exposed to one or more experimental or nonbaseline condition) in terms of fold change relative to calibrator samples (i.e., RNA isolated from organisms, tissues, and/or cells that were exposed to a control or baseline condition). Over the past decade, several models of …


Development Of A Semi-Field System For Contained Field Trials With Aedes Aegypti In Southern Mexico, L. Facchinelli, L. Valerio, J. G. Bond, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, L. C. Harrington, J. M. Ramsey, M. Casas-Martinez, T. W. Scott Jan 2011

Development Of A Semi-Field System For Contained Field Trials With Aedes Aegypti In Southern Mexico, L. Facchinelli, L. Valerio, J. G. Bond, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, L. C. Harrington, J. M. Ramsey, M. Casas-Martinez, T. W. Scott

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Development of new genetic approaches to either interfere with the ability of mosquitoes to transmit dengue virus or to reduce vector population density requires progressive evaluation from the laboratory to contained field trials, before open field release. Trials in contained outdoor facilities are an important part of this process because they can be used to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of modified strains in settings that include natural environmental variations without releasing mosquitoes into the open field. We describe a simple and cost-effective semi-field system designed to study Aedes aegypti carrying a dominant lethal gene (fsRIDL) in semi-field conditions. We …


Genetic Elimination Of Dengue Vector Mosquitoes, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, D. Nimmo, J. Betz, H.-F. Gong, A. A. James, L. Alphey, W. C. Black Iv Jan 2011

Genetic Elimination Of Dengue Vector Mosquitoes, Megan R. Wise De Valdez, D. Nimmo, J. Betz, H.-F. Gong, A. A. James, L. Alphey, W. C. Black Iv

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

An approach based on mosquitoes carrying a conditional dominant lethal gene (release of insects carrying a dominant lethal, RIDL) is being developed to control the transmission of dengue viruses by vector population suppression. A transgenic strain, designated OX3604C, of the major dengue vector, Aedes aegypti, was engineered to have a repressible female-specific flightless phenotype. This strain circumvents the need for radiation-induced sterilization, allows genetic sexing resulting in male-only releases, and permits the release of eggs instead of adult mosquitoes. OX3604C males introduced weekly into large laboratory cages containing stable target mosquito populations at initial ratios of 8.5-10:1 OX3604C:target eliminated the …


Simulation Of Spatial Movement That Potentially Maximizes Assessment, Presence, And Defence In Territorial And Home-Ranging Animals, With Special Reference To Territorial Sex-Changing Fishes, Thomas R. Brown, Joshua Jowers, Marvin M.F. Lutnesky Jan 2011

Simulation Of Spatial Movement That Potentially Maximizes Assessment, Presence, And Defence In Territorial And Home-Ranging Animals, With Special Reference To Territorial Sex-Changing Fishes, Thomas R. Brown, Joshua Jowers, Marvin M.F. Lutnesky

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Question: Are there territory sizes, shapes, and movement rules that animals can use to maximize their presence for territorial and reproductive purposes? Features of the model: Individual-oriented simulation model of a focal male, a female (his mate), and six other males in adjacent territories. Simulation variables were territory size and aspect (length-to-width ratio), velocity, step size, and potential movement angle. Each simulation represented 10,000 s of real time, and simulations were repeated until convergence on maximum mean encounter rates (MER) of a focal male with the female and other males was reached. Ranges of variables: Simulations consisted of three velocities …


Nest-Site Selection, Nocturnal Nest Desertion, And Productivity In A Common Tern (Sterna Hirundo) Colony At Detroit River, Michigan, Gregory J. Norwood Jan 2011

Nest-Site Selection, Nocturnal Nest Desertion, And Productivity In A Common Tern (Sterna Hirundo) Colony At Detroit River, Michigan, Gregory J. Norwood

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Common terns are declining in the Great Lakes region and represent a population relatively distinct from that of eastern North America. On an artificial site, I studied the substrate and vegetation preference and productivity of nesting terns at two scales: general habitat and nest-site. Terns nested later and less successfully in large river rock (13 to 25-cm diameter) compared to more diverse substrate and limestone (2.5-5.0 cm) when it was free of dead vegetation. Within a habitat, terns chose to nest where substrate was most diverse in rock size, soil, and non-vegetative debris. Percent standing cover did not affect hatching …


Diet Of Three Mormoopid Bats (Mormoops Blainvillei, Pteronotus Quadridens, And Pteronotus Portoricensis ) On Puerto Rico, Ashley K. Rolfe Jan 2011

Diet Of Three Mormoopid Bats (Mormoops Blainvillei, Pteronotus Quadridens, And Pteronotus Portoricensis ) On Puerto Rico, Ashley K. Rolfe

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study used visual analysis to determine the percent volume and percent frequency of orders of insects in the guano of the Antillean ghost-faced bat (Mormoops blainvillei), sooty mustached bat (Pteronotus quadridens), and Puerto Rican mustached bat (Pteronotus portoricensis). The most common orders for all three species were Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, and Lepidoptera, although the relative proportions of these orders differed among species. Variation in diet was primarily due to species, but season, habitat, and sex also affected the composition of insects in the feces. In addition, species-level identification of prey was achieved through molecular techniques …