Digital Commons Network^™

Carotid Endothelial Responses To Proinflammatory Mediators, Susana M. Tente

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

No abstract provided.

The Learning Garden: A Case Study, Laurie Ann Kellogg Hayzlett

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

How do we best capture the interest of our students? Are there environments that would better serve the needs of our students and the objectives of our schools? Reflection on these questions led to the planning and development of the Leaming Garden. This research was a case study of the use of the Leaming Garden. Proposed and actual uses were identified using teacher questionnaires, student and teacher interviews and researcher field notes. Teachers and students were asked about their use of the Leaming Garden both in conjunction with classes and for activities during off-school hours. This study was conducted in …

Multiple Domains Of The Co-Chaperone Hop Are Important For Hsp70 Binding, Gregory M. Nelson, Patricia E. Carrigan, Patricia J. Roberts, Jha'nae Stoffer, Daniel L. Riggs, David F. Smith

Faculty Publications

The Hop/Sti1 co-chaperone binds to both Hsp70 and Hsp90. Biochemical and co-crystallographic studies have suggested that the EEVD-containing C terminus of Hsp70 or Hsp90 binds specifically to one of the Hop tetratricopeptide repeat domains, TPR1 or TPR2a, respectively. Mutational analyses of Hsp70 and Hop were undertaken to better characterize interactions between the C terminus of Hsp70 and Hop domains. Surprisingly, truncation of EEVD plus as many as 34 additional amino acids from the Hsp70 C terminus did not reduce the ability of Hsp70 mutants to co-immunoprecipitate with Hop, although further truncation eliminated Hop binding. Hop point mutations targeting a carboxylate …

Threatened Fishes Of The World: Iotichthys Phlegethontis Cope, 1874 (Cyprinidae), Joseph H. Hanks, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Common name: least chub.

Detection Of Five Common Cftr Mutations By Rapid-Cycle Real Time Amplification Refractory Mutation System Pcr., Eugene Dempsey, David Barton, Fergus Ryan

Articles

No abstract provided.

A Biochemical Study Of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Skin Mucus Proteins During Smoltification (1999 And 2001), Paul Kennedy

Masters

Smoltification is a complex process which involves morphological, physiological and behavioural changes which allow Atlantic salmon to migrate from fresh water to seawater. The biological interface between the salmon and their environment is the mucus coat, which is composed of a wide variety of biochemical secretions primarily from goblet cells on the surface of the epithelial layers, but also other cells such as sacciform cells and acidophilic granular cells. Skin mucus has been implicated in a diversity of roles including respiration, osmoregulation, reproduction, excretion, disease resistance, communication, feeding and protection ( Shepard, 1994). Further investigation is warranted with regard to …

Assessment Of Obesity And Fear Of Fatness Among Inner-City Dublin Schoolchildren In A One-Year-Follow-Up Study, Anne Griffin, Katherine Younger, Mary Flynn

Articles

Background: Positive secular trends in adolescent obesity and an increased prevalence of fear of fatness, particularly among girls, have been documented world-wide. There is a lack of consensus about assessment criteria for childhood obesity and no standard exists for assessing Irish children. In 1990, the Irish National Nutrition Survey used body mass index (BMI) $26 kgm22 to describe the prevalence of overweight among Irish adolescents.

Objectives: (1) To examine the range in classification of Dublin schoolchildren as overweight according to four standard assessment methods; (2) to assess changes in weight status, prevalence of fear of fatness and accompanying slimming practices …

Antibacterial Activities Of Constituents From Isolona Cauliflora And Cleistochlamys Kirkii, Ac Odebode, Sjm Mdachi, Cc Joseph, Bn Irungu

Tanzania Journal of Science

Antibacterial activities of caulindole D, a mixture of caulindole E and F, pinocembrin and an oxyheptanoid (cleistenolide), obtained from stem barks of Isolona cauliflora and Cleistochlamys kirkii, on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas phaseolicola were determined. An in vitro assay test by paper disc method showed that the caulindole D, E and F from Isolona cauliflora produced no inhibition zone on both bacteria pathogens at 100-200 ppm while cleistochlamic acid from C. kirkii showed weak to moderate inhibition zone at 100-200 ppm. At concentration above 200 ppm, the bacteria pathogens were inhibited by all the compounds isolated from the plant extracts. …

Insect Infestation Of Maize, Zea Mays (L.) In Indigenous Storage Structures In Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Cp Rugumamu

Tanzania Journal of Science

Insect infestations and losses of maize stored in four types of indigenous storage structures in Morogoro Region, Tanzania were investigated. Infestation levels and weight losses caused by the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.) were found to differ significantly in the four types of storage structures (Dari, Kihenge, Kichanja and Reli). Lower infestation levels by the two pests and less weight losses were observed inDari and Kihenge than in Kichanja and Reli. The infestations and weight losses exhibited a significant trend that was in the order, Dari< Kihenge < Kichanja < Reli. These findings suggest that Dari and Kihenge are more appropriate for the incorporation in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for P. truncatus and S. zeamais in Morogoro Region.

Metal Concentrations In Sediment And Fish Of Lake Victoria Near And Away From Catchments With Gold Mining Acctivities, Jf Machiwa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Concentrations of metals in sediment and fish as well as organic matter contents of sediment from Lake Victoria were investigated. The objective of the study was to compare levels of metals in sediment and fish from areas of the lake that are within and outside catchments with gold mining activities.The results showed that the concentration of As was less than 6 mg g-1 dw and Cd was below 1.9 mg g-1 dw in sediment samples. Lead, zinc and copper concentrations were highest (58.1±17.6 mg g-1 dw, 101.9±20.6 mg g-1 dw and 32.6±2.8 mg g-1 dw respectively) in sediment samples that …

Thermodynamic Characterization Of The Binding Of Activator Of G Protein Signaling 3 (Ags3) And Peptides Derived From Ags3 With G Alpha I1, Anirban Adhikari, Stephen R. Sprang

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Activator of G protein signaling 3 (AGS3) is a guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitor (GDI) that contains four G protein regulatory (GPR) or GoLoco motifs in its C-terminal domain. The entire C-terminal domain (AGS3-C) as well as certain peptides corresponding to individual GPR motifs of AGS3 bound to G alpha i1 and inhibited the binding of GTP by stabilizing the GDP-bound conformation of G alpha i1. The stoichiometry, free energy, enthalpy, and dissociation constant for binding of AGS3-C to G alpha i1 were determined using isothermal titration calorimetry. AGS3-C possesses two apparent high affinity (Kd approximately 20 nm) and two apparent …

A Comparison Of Bioaccumulation And Digestive Enzyme Solubilization Of Copper In Two Species Of Sea Cucumbers With Different Feeding Habits., John W. Bundridge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The mode of feeding exhibited by different organisms may influence the form or quantity of copper that is bioaccumulated. This hypothesis has been tested by exposing 2 species of sea cucumbers, Pentacta anceps and Stichopus chloronotus, which possess different feeding modes, to varying concentrations of copper.

The digestive tract and body wall were dissected and analyzed for copper concentration using atomic absorption spectroscopy. A trend was present, exhibiting a small dose dependent curve. The results did not show a significant difference between species or treatments. This study indicates that feeding mode may influence the amount of copper accumulated but …

Heat-Shock Protein 70 (Hsp70) As A Biochemical Stress Indicator: An Experimental Field Test In Two Congeneric Intertidal Gastropods (Genus: Tegula), Lars Tomanek, Eric Sanford

Biological Sciences

Although previous studies have demonstrated that heat-shock protein 70 (Hsp70) can be induced by environmental stress, little is known about natural variation in this response over short time scales. We examined how Hsp70 levels varied over days to weeks in two intertidal snail species of the genus Tegula. Sampling was conducted both under naturally changing environmental conditions and in different vertical zones on a rocky shore. The subtidal to low-intertidal T. brunnea was transplanted into shaded and unshaded mid-intertidal cages to assess temporal variation in Hsps under conditions of increased stress. For comparison, the low to mid-intertidal ,T. …

Mitogenic Effect Of Bartonella Bacilliformis On Human Vascular Endothelial Cells And Involvement Of Groel, Michael F. Minnick, Laura S. Smitherman, D. Scott Samuels

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Bartonellae are bacterial pathogens for a wide variety of mammals. In humans, bartonellosis can result in angioproliferative lesions that are potentially life threatening to the patient, including bacillary angiomatosis, bacillary peliosis, and verruga peruana. The results of this study show that Bartonella bacilliformis, the agent of Oroya fever and verruga peruana, produces a proteinaceous mitogen for human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) that acts in a dose-dependent fashion in vitro with maximal activity at >72 h of exposure and results in a 6- to 20-fold increase in cell numbers relative to controls. The mitogen increases bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into HUVECs …

Nectar Rewards Of Insect-Adapted Flowers In A Forest/Farm Landscape: Measurement Challenges And Ecological Questions, Theresa Bordenkecher Dailey

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Native forest wildflowers of the Midwestern United States forests now compete with agricultural weeds for the attention of insect pollinators. The tiny quantities of nectar secreted by these insect-pollinated flowers are measured using laboratory techniques such as colorimetry. However, these techniques are used with the tacit assumption that nectar sugar identity does not affect estimates of carbohydrate content. I tested this hypothesis using fructose, glucose, and sucrose and found that after reaction with anthrone, fructose products differed from those of other sugars in light absorbance measured by a spectrophotometer. Potential error from using an inappropriate sugar standard is greater than …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

A Molecular Phylogenomic Analysis Of The Ilri-Like Family Of Iaa Amidohydrolase Genes, James Campanella, Daniel Larko, John Smalley

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The ILR1-like family of hydrolase genes was initially isolated in Arabidopsis thaliana and is thought to help regulate levels of free indole-3-acetic-acid. We have investigated how this family has evolved in dicotyledon, monocotyledon and gymnosperm species by employing the GenBank and TIGR databases to retrieve orthologous genes. The relationships among these sequences were assessed employing phylogenomic analyses to examine molecular evolution and phylogeny. The members of the ILR1-like family analysed were ILL1, ILL2, ILL3, ILL6, ILR1. and IAR3. Present evidence suggests that IAR3 has undergone the least evolution and is most conserved. This conclusion is based on IAR3 having the …

Dynein’S Binding Ability To Microtubules In Budding Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Gregory Lyle Waltz

Masters Theses

Cytoplasmic dynein is a minus-end directed microtubule motor that recently has been described as a member of the AAA⁺ ATPase family. Dyn1p contains four ATP-binding consensus sequences. To understand the role of each ATP-binding site we have begun to systematically mutate the consensus sequence at each ATP-binding site. Thirty-two mutant alleles have been constructed and integrated into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have examined each mutant for ability to grow in rich media, to produce binucleate cells at 12°C, ability to grow in the absence of CIN8, and ability of Dyn1p to bind microtubules. Attempts to localize …

From Biology To Consciousness To Morality, Ursula Goodenough, Terrence W. Deacon

Biology Faculty Research

Social animals are provisioned with prosocial orientations that operate to transcend self-interest. Morality, as used here, describes human versions of such orientations. We explore the evolutionary antecedents of morality in the context of emergentism, giving considerable attention to the biological traits that undergird awareness and our emergent human forms of mind. We suggest that our moral frames of mind emerge from our primate prosocial capacities, transfigured and valenced by our symbolic languages, cultures, and religions.

Portions of this article were given by Deacon in a paper at the forty-ninth annual conference of IRAS, “Is Nature Enough? The Thirst for …

Yeast Oxa1 Interacts With Mitochondrial Ribosomes: The Importance Of The C‐Terminal Region Of Oxa1, Lixia Jia, Mary Kathryn Dienhart, Mark Schramp, Matthew Mccauley, Kai Hell, Rosemary A. Stuart

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The yeast mitochondrial Oxa1 protein is a member of the conserved Oxa1/YidC/Alb3 protein family involved in the membrane insertion of proteins. Oxa1 mediates the insertion of proteins (nuclearly and mitochondrially encoded) into the inner membrane. The mitochondrially encoded substrates interact directly with Oxa1 during their synthesis as nascent chains and in a manner that is supported by the associated ribosome. We have investigated if the Oxa1 complex interacts with the mitochondrial ribosome. Evidence to support a physical association between Oxa1 and the large ribosomal subunit is presented. Our data indicate that the matrix‐exposed C‐terminal region of Oxa1 plays an important …

Genetic Locus And Structural Characterization Of The Biochemical Defect In The O-Antigenic Polysaccharide Of The Symbiotically Deficient Rhizobium Etli Mutant, Ce166, Lennart Scott Forsberg, K. Dale Noel, Jodie M. Box, Russell W. Carlson

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

The O-antigen polysaccharide (OPS) of Rhizobium etli CE3 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is linked to the core oligosaccharide via an N-acetylquinovosaminosyl (QuiNAc) residue. A mutant of CE3, CE166, produces LPS with reduced amounts of OPS, and a suppressed mutant, CE166α, produces LPS with nearly normal OPS levels. Both mutants are deficient in QuiNAc production. Characterization of OPS from CE166 and CE166α showed that QuiNAc was replaced by its 4-keto derivative, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxyhexosyl-4-ulose. The identity of this residue was determined by NMR and mass spectrometry, and by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of its 2-acetamido-4-deutero-2,6-dideoxyhexosyl derivatives produced by reduction of the 4-keto group using …

Left-Sided Directional Bias Of Cloacal Contacts During House Sparrow Copulations, Karen B. Nyland, Michael P. Lombardo, Patrick A. Thorpe

Peer Reviewed Publications

Most female birds have only a left ovary and associated oviduct. The entry to the oviduct is on the left side of the urodeum of the cloaca. This arrangement may favor males that mount females from the left during copulation if it results in sperm being placed closer to the opening of the oviduct. Therefore, we predicted a left-sided directional bias of cloacal contacts during House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) copulations. Cloacal contacts from the left outnumbered those from the right 74 to 25 (3:1) during 25 bouts of copulation at 11 House Sparrow nests. While this pattern suggests …

Antipredator Behavior And Physiology Determine Lestes Species Turnover Along The Pond-Permanence Gradient, Robby Stoks, Mark A. Mcpeek

Dartmouth Scholarship

Identifying key traits that shape trade-offs that restrict species to only a subset of environmental gradients is crucial to understanding and predicting species turnover. Previous field experiments have shown that larvae of Lestes damselfly species segregate along the entire gradient of pond permanence and predator presence and that differential predation risk and life history constraints together shape their distribution. Here, we report laboratory experiments that identify key differences in behavior and physiology among species that structure their distributions along this gradient. The absence of adaptive antipredator behavioral responses against large dragonfly larvae and fish of Lestes dryas, the only species …

Proopiomelanocortin Physiological Roles: Pituitary Versus Hypathalamic Functions, James L. Smart

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

The fact that the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) gene is a critical component of energy homeostasis and the stress response, two distinct yet not exclusively separate biological functions, distinguishes this gene as very intriguing and unique for st lllldy. The POMC gene encodes a preprohormone that is post-translationally processed into multiple bioactive peptides. The tissue specific regulation and tissue specific post-translational modifications provide a means for the broad spectrum of the gene's biological activities. Understanding the POMC gene's cell-specific regulation and the physiological functions of its encoded peptides has been an ongoing project of multiple labs spanning the last two decades. Initial …

K+- Induced Dilation Of Cremasteric Arterioles Involves Na+/K+Atpase And Inward Rectifier K+ Channels, Wendy Burns

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible mechanisms involved in cremasteric arteriolar dilation as a result of increased concentrations of ([K⁺]_o) extracellular potassium. Many other studies suggested that Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase or K_IR channels are responsible for potassium-induced vasodilation in other systems (2, 12, 22, 40, 46, 52, 16, 17, 25, 33, 34, 85, 99, 151). However, these studies show only partial inhibition of dilation as a result of independent blockageof each mechanism. The hypothesis of this study was that both mechanisms contribute to potassium-induced dilation seen in cremasteric arterioles. …

Breeding Distribution And Habitat Use Of Audubon's Oriole In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Steven Gerald Monk

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Audubon's Oriole ( Icterus graduacauda ) was known historically throughout the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, but its breeding range has now declined to mainly riparian habitat in Starr County. Habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, and brood parasitism by Bronzed Cowbirds ( Molothrus aeneus ) are likely causes of this decline. Habitat patches where Audubon's Orioles were present were larger, with a larger vertical range of canopy, greater vegetation volume, greater richness of bird and woody plant species, less local deforestation, and less local habitat fragmentation than where Audubon's Orioles were absent. Bronzed Cowbirds showed no numeric correlation …

Body Mass Of Late Quaternary Mammals (Data Set), Felisa A. Smith, S. Kathleen Lyons, S.K. Morgan Ernest, Kate E. Jones, Kansas State University, Tamar Dayan, Pablo A. Marquet, James H. Brown, John P. Haskell

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this data set was to compile body mass information for all mammals on Earth so that we could investigate the patterns of body mass seen across geographic and taxonomic space and evolutionary time. We were interested in the heritability of body size across taxonomic groups (How conserved is body mass within a genus, family, and order?), in the overall pattern of body mass across continents (Do the moments and other descriptive statistics remain the same across geographic space?), and over evolutionary time (How quickly did body mass patterns iterate on the patterns seen today? Were the Pleistocene …

Development Of A Method For Determining Antioxidant Efficacy Against Hydroxyl Radicals, Cherie Hacker

Masters Theses

Hydroxyl free radicals are biologically important molecules in that they attack proteins, lipids and DNA to obtain an electron to fill their outer valence shell. The consequences of such attacks include protein degradation, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, which leads to many diseases and cancer. While there are many antioxidant assays available to predict anti-radical properties of compounds against different free radicals, the assessment of hydroxyl radical damage has been challenging. This is due to the extremely high reaction rate of hydroxyl radicals. The present study defines an in vitro assay that quantitatively detects antioxidant efficacy against hydroxyl free radicals, …

Continuous Hyperspectral Absorption Measurements Of Colored Dissolved Organic Material In Aquatic Systems, Gary J. Kirkpatrick, Cristina Orrico, Mark A. Moline, Matthew Oliver, Oscar M. Schofield

Biological Sciences

The majority of organic carbon in the oceans is present as dissolved organic matter (DOM); therefore understanding the distribution and dynamics of DOM is central to understanding global carbon cycles. Describing the time-space variability in colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) has been difficult, as standard spectrophotometric methods for CDOM determination are laborious and susceptible to methodological biases. Previously, measurements of CDOM absorption in discrete water samples by use of a liquid-waveguide capillary cell (LWCC) compared favorably with measurements made with a benchtop spectrophotometer. Given this, we focused on automating the LWCC technique to improve our spatial and temporal sampling capabilities …

Aada Confers Streptomycin Resistance In Borrelia Burgdorferi, Kristi L. Frank, Sharyl F. Bundle, Michele E. Kresge, Christian H. Eggers, D. Scott Samuels

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

To enhance genetic manipulation of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, we assayed the aadA gene for the ability to confer resistance to the antibiotics spectinomycin and streptomycin. Using the previously described pBSV2 as a backbone, a shuttle vector, termed pKFSS1, which carries the aadA open reading frame fused to the B. burgdorferi flgB promoter was constructed. The hybrid flgB promoter-aadA cassette confers resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin in both B. burgdorferi and Escherichia coli. pKFSS1 has a replication origin derived from the 9-kb circular plasmid and can be comaintained in B. burgdorferi with extant shuttle vector pCE320, which has …