Digital Commons Network^™

Invasive Shrubs Differentially Alter Autumnal Activity For Three Common Small-Mammal Species, Brian M. Connolly, Chad Zirbel, Carson Keller, Mark Fuka, John L. Orrock

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Seasonal variation in animal activity influences fitness and the intensity of ecological interactions (e.g., competition, predation), yet aspects of global change in the Anthropocene may catalyze shifts in seasonal activity. Invasive plants are components of global change and can modify animal daily activity, but their influence on animal seasonal activity is less understood. We examined how invasive woody shrubs (Autumn olive [Elaeagnus umbellata] and Amur honeysuckle [Lonicera maackii]) affect seasonal activity of three common small-mammal species by coupling experimental shrub removal with autumnal camera trapping for two consecutive years at six paired forest sites (total 12 …

The Combined Effects Of Nacl And Beet Juice On Germination And Early Seedling Growth Among Raphanus Sativus L., Justin Howell

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Salt pollution and soil salinization via secondary pathways is a global problem. One practice which contributes to increased salinity in soils and other natural systems is the application of road deicers in colder regions. Increased salinity in soils negatively affects plant growth and microbial activity. In an effort to decrease the amount of salt applied to roads, salts are applied as brine. Liquid organic additives are incorporated into these brines to foster better adherence of the salt to impermeable surfaces. One common additive is beet juice, a byproduct of sugar extraction. Beet juice contains high levels of phosphorus and organic …

Determining The Roles Of Whib-Like Transcription Factors In Mycobacterium Abscessus, Charity Lynn Mcmanaman

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Mycobacterium abscessus is a non-tuberculous mycobacteria that causes lung infections or skin and soft tissue infections. M. abscessus is innately resistant to antibiotics, requiring a long multi-antibiotic treatment regimen, with a low 45% cure rate for lung infections. The WhiB-like transcription factors are limited to the actinomycete class, which includes Mycobacteria. These proteins regulate multiple cellular processes, including growth and division, responses to oxidative, nitrosative or pH stress, and antibiotic resistance. Our work describes three WhiB-like transcription factors: WhiB7, which regulates antibiotic resistance, WhiB2, with a role in cell division, and Mab1756, an unstudied regulator similar to WhiB2. We used …

Comparative Population Genomics Of Bloodstream-Derived Staphylococcus Aureus From Disparate Geographic Origins In The United States, Milan Pfister

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal and an opportunistic pathogen that causes a variety of diseases in humans, from minor skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening invasive diseases. The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) complicate treatment options, which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality of patients. In this study, we compared the clonal lineages and genomic features of bloodstream-derived S. aureus populations from different locations. We leveraged 957 previously published genomes derived from bloodstream infections across six hospitals located in Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, and New York, USA. We carried out pan-genome analysis, …

Searching For Regulators Of Catalase Activity Using Enzymatic Screens, Aram Joseph Alaxanian

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Catalase is found in a plethora of organisms and plays a crucial role in safeguarding cells against oxidative stress-induced damage to proteins, RNA, and DNA. Catalase catalyzed the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into oxygen and water. Deficiencies in catalase have been linked to pathological conditions such as Diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Cancer, underscoring its significance in cellular health. In bacteria like Escherichia coli, catalase is encoded by two genes, KatG and KatE, both subject to regulation through transcription, translation, and post-translational modification. Our study focused on assessing the catalase activity of mutants lacking stress response genes (e.g., lexA, soxR, soxS, …

Senescence And The Senescence Associated Secretory Phenotype In Salivary Hypofunction, Quetsia Jean-Baptiste

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Cellular senescence, a triggered permanent cycle arrest, occurs with aging and is a component of many aging-related diseases. Triggers for senescence may include pathways involving DNA damage, telomere dysfunction, release of reactive oxygen species, and other additional internal/external stimuli. Senescence can have a positive effect as it plays a fundamental role in wound healing, tumor suppression, and promoting embryonic development. However, a prolonged consequence of senescence is the production of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), in which the cell secretes pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic factors that can have adverse effects on surrounding cells, which is known as the bystander effect. Eliminating …

Interplay Between Cellular Stress Mechanisms And Immune Responses In Restricting Zika Virus Infection, Pheonah Badu

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Flavivirus infections pose significant global health risks, often leading to serious neurological and congenital complications such as microcephaly. These viruses induce complex cellular stress responses pathways encompassing the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), Integrated Stress Response (ISR), autophagy, apoptosis, and the antiviral immune response, which dictate cell fate by either promoting survival to combat virus-induced damage or initiating cell death under prolonged stress. Despite the antagonizing functions, flaviviruses employ various subversion strategies, facilitated by viral proteins, to ensure successful infections even in the presence of activated cellular responses. Recent studies highlight dynamic interactions among stress response pathways during infection, emphasizing the …

Testing The Impact Of Actinomyces Naeslundii On The Proliferation Dynamics Of Corynebacterium And Revealing The Prescence Or Absence Of Inhibitory Properties, Quintin Hodge

ALL - Honors Theses

The gram-positive bacterium Actinomyces naeslundii is a core member of the oral microbiome and has been associated with states of health. In early human life, researchers unraveled the involvement of several different taxa of microbes present within the oral cavity in contributing to diseases including tooth destruction. Periodontitis is a prevalent oral disease that is proposed to be caused by dysbiosis, which is characterized by microbial shifts within the bacterial community resulting from changes in relative microbial abundance and spatial organization in the dental plaque microbiome, causing immense gum pain and inflammation. Corynebacterium matruchotii is also a gram-positive bacterium like …

Bilateral Asymmetry In The First Metacarpal: The Influence Of Handedness In Humans And Non-Human Primates, Lucyna A. Bowland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Muscle attachment sites (entheses) are often used to infer soft tissue anatomy and reconstruct behaviors within skeletal populations, but there remains a significant debate about whether and to what degree muscle use is accurately reflected in bony morphology. One of the most difficult problems in establishing the relationship between variation in muscle use and entheseal development is the inability to exclude a variety of external factors thought to influence enthesis development, including age, sex, body mass, and activity patterns. One way around this is to take advantage of the fact that humans are handed (preferentially using one hand over another, …

Season Of Grazing Interacts With Soil Texture, Selecting For Associations Of Biocrust Morphogroups, Lea A. Condon, Roger Rosentreter, Kari E. Veblen, Peter S. Coates

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Livestock grazing, a widespread land use in semi-arid systems, is often placed in opposition to the perpetuation of biological soil crusts (“biocrusts”: lichens, mosses, and algal crusts including cyanobacteria) that live on the soil surface and provide ecosystem functions. The composition of biocrusts and vascular plants varies with climate, soils, and disturbance. In general, ruderal mosses and light algal crusts make up greater proportions of biocrusts in the presence of disturbance, although morphogroups of biocrusts respond differently to various disturbances. It is unknown if there are scenarios under which grazing can occur and ruderal components of biocrust could be maintained. …

The Study Of Dmrt1 In Zebrafish And How It Impacts Sex Determination, Raymond Michael Poirier

Graduate Masters Theses

The dmrt1 gene is common amongst most animals and functions to determine or maintain male sex during development. Similarly, in zebrafish dmrt1 is important for male sex determination and maintaining proper testis morphology. This gene is expressed in two different cell types of the testis in zebrafish, germ cells and Sertoli cells. While we know where this gene is expressed and what its role is, it is not known if it is sufficient to drive male fate. If so, then in which cells is it sufficient to drive male fate in the testis? I aimed to answer this question by …

Simvastatin Induces Autophaghy-Mediated Cell Death In Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Jessica Allagoa

Theses (2016-Present)

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women. Due to the limited effectiveness of current anticancer drugs, ongoing research has extended towards alternative drug categories for potential treatments. Recent findings indicate that statins possess the ability to suppress tumors across various cell types. Traditionally, statins are known as a class of cholesterol-lowering agents and function by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. However, statins can also suppress cell proliferation and ultimately lead to cell death, which includes Type I apoptosis-induced cell death or Type II autophagy-induced cell death. Autophagy is …

Testing Functional Homology Of The Lga2 And Rga2 Genes Of Sporisorium Reilianum In Ustilago Maydis, Joshua Thomas

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Ustilago maydis, a basidiomycete fungus, infects corn and displays dimorphism, transitioning between nonpathogenic and pathogenic stages. Its life cycle involves mating of haploids with different alleles, resulting in the formation of galls/tumors filled with teliospores. The a1 and a2 alleles regulate pheromone recognition and mating. The lga2 and rga2 genes in the a2 allele are crucial for uniparental mitochondrial inheritance. Sporisorium reilianum, a related fungus, has homologs of lga2 and rga2 with U. maydis. To test the functional homology of the S. reilianum genes, protoplasts of U. maydis strains deleted for lga2 or lga2 and rga2 were transformed …

Stopping The Bleed At Uri, Emily Lefebre

Senior Honors Projects

The number one cause of preventable death is uncontrolled bleeding from traumatic injury. From the unlikely scenario of a school shooting, to a campus car accident or an injury during a sports or club event, possessing skills to effectively stop a life-threatening bleed becomes a matter of life or death. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) STOP THE BLEED® program is a campaign to teach communities how to respond effectively and efficiently to life-threatening bleeding in emergencies. STOP THE BLEED® aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills to stop severe bleeding by tourniquet application, …

Intra And Interspecific Competition Via Allelopathy Among Native And Non-Native Plants, Mimi Byrne, Robert Warren

Biology Theses

Invasive non- native species success often is attributed to their competitive superiority, potentially through allelochemical inhibition (allelopathy) of native species, as suggested by the novel weapons hypothesis. However, it is also possible that non- native species are able to be successful through decreased intraspecific competition. Decreased intraspecific competition could be attributed to a lack of genetic variation creating less variable allelopathic effects. I predict that if non- native species follow the novel weapons hypothesis, their allelochemicals will restrict more biomass and give them a competitive edge compared to native species. Additionally, I predict that if non- native species have lower …

A Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Population Dynamics Of A Captive Colony Of Diploptera Punctata., Nick Peterson

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

The unique milk production of Diploptera punctata makes this species a promising model species in entomology for studying the evolution of milk production and for insect endocrinology. Despite this, the genetic diversity of captive populations of the species is not well studied. To better evaluate the captive diversity and population dynamics of Diploptera punctata at UNO we extracted the DNA of 20 random individuals and amplified their DNA using 4 different primers before cleaning the amplified products and sequencing the genes of the samples for use in both individual and concatenated phylogenetic trees. Our results indicate the UNO colony of …

The Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin Disrupts Feeding And Sleeping Behaviors In Drosophila Melanogaster., Lucas Fitzgerald

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Dimethylbiguanide, also known as metformin, is the single most prescribed oral treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, in Western countries. The primary mechanism of action that metformin acts through is the activation of AMP kinase, an important regulator of energy homeostasis. While the anti-diabetic effects of metformin are well documented, its effects on feeding and sleeping behaviors are not well characterized. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, the mean daily quantity of food consumed was measured and compared between groups treated with several dosages of metformin. Feeding interactions such as meal frequency and length were …

Conserving One Of Hawai'i'S Last Endemic Ducks: Genetics And Habitat Associations Of Koloa, Feral Mallards, And Their Hybrids, Kristi Fukunaga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Increases in anthropogenic hybridization through introduced species have accelerated the loss of genetic diversity and reductions in population size of native species that are already threatened by population and genetic diversity decline. Fertile hybrids that are common among waterfowl (order Anseriformes) are especially worrisome. A prime example is the endangered Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana; “koloa maoli”), which is the remaining endemic duck species on the main Hawaiian Islands and is threatened by genetic extinction through ongoing hybridization with feral mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Of note, koloa populations are known to be strongly male-biased (3:1), and this sex bias is known to …

Synthesis Of Neoglycoproteins As Potential Biomarkers For Chagas Disease And Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused By Leishmania (Viannia) Braziliensis, Eileni Rodriguez Gil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Protozoan parasites are responsible for causing numerous diseases in humans and mammals worldwide. Among them are Chagas disease (CD), caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), and tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL), caused by the parasite Leishmania (Viannia). Both diseases coexist in many regions of Latin America, and current hurdles to differentially diagnose them and determine chemotherapy success need to be overcome. CD can be diagnosed by traditional serological tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but disadvantages of these methods are that they may produce false negatives because the antigens used in commercial CD kits are not conserved across all T.cruzi …

The Influence Of Researcher Disturbance On Raccoon Predation Of American Alligator Nests, Clarissa Tuten

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a dominant predator of American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) nests in the southeastern United States, using a combination of olfactory, visual, and tactile cues to identify nest locations. Studies on alligator nesting ecology typically require researchers to create paths through marsh habitat, potentially introducing visual and olfactory cues raccoons may use to locate nests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of human visitation to alligator nests on the frequency of raccoon nest predation at two sites in coastal South Carolina, Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center (TYWC) and Santee Coastal Reserve (SCR). We hypothesized that …

Cross-Pollination: Building A Co-Taught Course To Examine Art And Sex Through The Lens Of Botany, Christopher T. Martine, Diamanda A. Zizis, Anna K. Kell

Faculty Journal Articles

Driven by overlapping interests in plants, art, and diversity in sex expression, Anna Kell (Department of Art and Art History) and Chris Martine (Department of Biology) developed a course that integrates the perspectives of a visual artist and a botanist. Art & Sex Through the Lens of Botany seeks to impart the importance of making connections across disciplines and the value of visual literacy across academic lines. The course introduces foundational concepts in each field and encourages students to integrate and explore these different systems of knowledge and their intersections. In addition to developing fluencies related to both general botany …

How New Communication Behaviors Evolve: Androgens As Modifiers Of Neuromotor Structure And Function In Foot-Flagging Frogs, Lisa A. Mangiamele, Allex Andrya Dawn, Kerry M. Lecure, Gina E. Mantica, Riccardo Racicot, Matthew J. Fuxjager, Doris Preininger

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

How diverse animal communication signals have arisen is a question that has fascinated many. Xenopus frogs have been a model system used for three decades to reveal insights into the neuroendocrine mechanisms and evolution of vocal diversity. Due to the ease of studying central nervous system control of the laryngeal muscles in vitro, Xenopus has helped us understand how variation in vocal communication signals between sexes and between species is produced at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels. Yet, it is becoming easier to make similar advances in non-model organisms. In this paper, we summarize our research on a group …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Clonal Plants' Traits And Responses Following Fire Disturbance In Ponderosa Pine Ecosystems In The Colorado Front Range, Raymond Erskine

Master's Theses

Mountain ecosystems are currently experiencing increasing impacts of disturbances (e.g., wildfire) due to global changes in climate and land use, leading to significant changes in vegetation composition and landscape dynamics. Clonal plants, characterized by their vegetative reproduction strategies, offer a range of ecologically important traits to cope with disturbances. However, clonality is often excluded in studies of post-fire vegetation dynamics in mountain ecosystems, and our knowledge of the ability of clonal plants to respond to differing disturbance regimes is limited. Therefore, I examined the response of understory vegetation following fire disturbance in burned and unburned ponderosa pine stands of the …

Mate Guarding Against Strong Men Displaying Affiliative And Aggressive Humor, Jacob Pauley

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Mate retention behaviors serve to discourage partner defection from a current pairbond. Such behaviors are oftentimes more prevalent toward intrasexual rivals exhibiting physical and behavioral cues implicating that rival as an optimal mate. Among these features in men are their upper body strength, a feature diagnostic of heritable fitness, and men's ability to produce humor, a cue to their social competence. This study considered the intersection of these desirable features in shaping men's mate retention behavior toward an intrasexual rival. After learning of a hypothetical interloper exhibiting high or low upper body strength while similarly using humor in an affiliative …

Effect Of Progesterone On Cognition Among College Aged Women, Katelyn Helberg

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Women who have a reoccurring menstrual cycle and do not take hormonal birth control naturally experience changes in the amount of sex hormones that their body produces. These sex hormones help promote sexual development, fertility, and mood regulation, but can be hard to study due to their conflicting effects on each other. One such hormone, progesterone, is produced in different concentrations throughout the menstrual cycle to prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy. However, it also may have secondhand effects on how well women can complete everyday tasks involving memory, attention, processing speed, and more which is what we measured …

The Effect Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Dominance And Prestige Tactics, Carson Chappell

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and prestige and dominance status-seeking tactics. Existing literature has examined how the hormones estrogen and progesterone, especially in relation to the fertile window of the menstrual cycle, are associated with prestige and dominance but has yet to look in depth at how hormonal contraceptives might alter this impact. The current study asked participants to complete a 22- item questionnaire assessing dominance and prestige. I hypothesized that women on hormonal contraceptives would have lower scores for prestige and dominance compared to women who are naturally cycling. The results did not …

The Impact Of Brain Cholesterol (24-Hydroxycholesterol (24-Hc) And 27- Hydroxycholesterol (27-Hc)) On Invitro Phenotypes Of Brain Metastatic Breast Cancer Cells, Cherish Iroabuchi

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: Brain metastases is one of the leading causes of breast cancer mortality and rates continue to increase. It has been previously shown that cholesterol metabolism is an important regulator of cancer progression. 24(S)-hydroxycholesterol (24-HC) and 27- hydroxycholesterol (27-HC) are cholesterol derivatives primarily found in the brain but their role in regulating oncoprotein expression remains unclear. The goal of this thesis was to determine the effect of 24-HC and 27-HC on in-vitro metastatic phenotypes of breast cancer cells previously shown by the Bailey laboratory to metastasize to the brain in a hematogenous metastasis xenograft model.

Materials and Methods: Western blot …

Verifying The Taxonomic Validity And Resolving The Subspecific Boundaries Of The Lomatium Foeniculaceum Complex, Daniel Botello

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Plant species in western North America historically have been delimited using morphological differences and geographic distribution of the species’ populations. Historically, the subspecies rank was relegated to populations that are geographically coherent but morphologically intergradient at areas of sympatry, resulting in doubts on the taxonomic validity and usefulness of the subspecific rank. The Lomatium foeniculaceum complex of the Perennial Endemic North American clade (PENA) of Apiaceae is present across much of the Great Plains and Intermountain Region, and as far north as northeast British Columbia. It is comprised of five subspecies and is the most widely distributed complex in the …

Characterization Of Fibronectin Adhesion Isolated Dental Pulp Progenitor Cell Populations, Heoijin Kim

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: The DPSC constitutes a significantly small population, comprising approximately 1% of the total cells in the pulp tissue. Therefore, it is imperative to successfully culture and populate DPSCs in vitro before utilizing them for therapeutic purposes. Understanding DPSC heterogeneity is crucial for innovative regenerative therapies, prompting the investigation of mixed populations using fibronectin as a biological marker. It is reported that cellular phenotype and biological function may undergo alterations as cells replicate in a cultured environment or the substrate to which the cells adhere.

Objectives: In this study, we compared and analyzed the impact of various isolation methods on …