Digital Commons Network^™

Predicted Protein-Protein Interactions In The Moss Physcomitrella Patens: A New Bioinformatic Resource., Scott Schuette, Brian Piatkowski, Aaron Corley, Daniel Lang, Matt Geisler

Publications

BACKGROUND: Physcomitrella patens, a haploid dominant plant, is fast becoming a useful molecular genetics and bioinformatics tool due to its key phylogenetic position as a bryophyte in the post-genomic era. Genome sequences from select reference species were compared bioinformatically to Physcomitrella patens using reciprocal blasts with the InParanoid software package. A reference protein interaction database assembled using MySQL by compiling BioGrid, BIND, DIP, and Intact databases was queried for moss orthologs existing for both interacting partners. This method has been used to successfully predict interactions for a number of angiosperm plants.

RESULTS: The first predicted protein-protein interactome for a bryophyte …

2014 Dahlberg Award Winner: The Effects Of Dietary Toughness On Occlusopalatal Variation In Savanna Baboons, Evan Muzzall, Ryan M. Campbell, Meadow Campbell, Robert S. Corruccini

Publications

This study investigates the relationship between dietary toughness and craniofacial variation in two groups of savanna baboons. Standard craniofacial and malocclusion data were collected from a captive, soft-diet experiment group (n=24) and a sample of wild-captured baboons, raised on tougher, natural foods (n=19). We tested the hypothesis that in the absence of normal masticatory stress experienced during the consumption of wild foods, the captive baboons would exhibit higher levels of facial and dental structural irregularities. Principal component analysis indicates separation of the two samples. The soft-diet sample exhibits significantly shorter palates, greater variability in palate position, and higher frequencies of …

Siu Alumni, Siu Alumni Association

SIU Alumni Magazine

No abstract provided.

Dispersing Agents Prevent Negative Impact Of Oil On Uptake Of Sinc By Duckweed (Lemna Minor), Chase D. Latour, Albert K. Urazarv, Amber L. Pond

Publications

Oil spills have had extremely negative effects upon the environment, affecting both animal and plant species living in and around the contaminated water. It is known that the oil can interfere with certain plant and animal functions, potentially causing death. Means developed to remove the oil from the water include physical methods such as skimmers and chemical approaches such as adsorbents and dispersants. In the cases of the chemical treatments, some people question whether the remedy may also cause problems. Here, we confirm that the aquatic duckweed plant (Lemna) can take up zinc from its environment and show …

Development And Evaluation Of Species Distribution Models For Fourteen Native Central U.S. Fish Species, Kristen L. Bouska, Gregory Whitledge, Christopher Lant

Publications

Environmental change has and will continue to adversely influence aquatic communities. Efforts to model impacts of environmental change on fisheries have largely focused on cold-water, commercial, and recreationally-valued species, even though warmwater, non-game species have important roles in ecosystem services and processes. We developed species distribution models for fourteen warmwater fish species native to the Central United States and evaluated environmental drivers and predictive performance. We used an ensemble model approach produced by combining forecasts of five single-model techniques. Response plots and variable importance calculations were used to evaluate the influence of individual variables. The predictive performance of the ensemble …

A New Species Of Telmatobius (Amphibia, Anura, Telmatobiidae) From The Pacific Slopes Of The Andes, Peru, Alessandro Catenazzi, Víctor Vargas García, Edgar Lehr

Publications

We describe a new species of Telmatobius from the Pacific slopes of the Andes in central Peru. Specimens were collected at 3900 m elevation near Huaytará, Huancavelica, in the upper drainage of the Pisco river. The new species has a snout–vent length of 52.5 ± 1.1 mm (49.3–55.7 mm, n = 6) in adult females, and 48.5 mm in the single adult male. The new species has bright yellow and orange coloration ventrally and is readily distinguished from all other central Peruvian Andean species of Telmatobius but T. intermedius by having vomerine teeth but lacking premaxillary and maxillary teeth, and …

Social Affiliation And Contact Patterns Among White-Tailed Deer In Disparate Landscapes: Implications For Disease Transmission, Eric M. Schauber, Clayton K. Nielsen, Lene Jung Kjaer, Charles W. Anderson, Daniel J. Storm

Publications

In social species, individuals contact members of the same group much more often than those of other groups, particularly for contacts that could directly transmit disease agents. This disparity in contact rates violates the assumptions of simple disease models, hinders disease spread between groups, and could decouple disease transmission from population density. Social behavior of white-tailed deer has important implications for the long-term dynamics and impact of diseases such as bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD), so expanding our understanding of their social system is important. White-tailed deer form matrilineal groups, which inhabit stable home ranges that overlap somewhat …

Disaster And Gender In Southern Illinois, Shiloh L. Deitz

The Simon Review (Occasional Papers of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute)

The unique needs of women in the context of disaster have been largely overlooked in disaster management. For this reason, women have been hard-hit by natural disasters in the United States and internationally. However, by learning from the mistakes of the past, the negative effects of disasters on women may be mitigated through disaster management that is sensitive to the different needs and experiences of women and men.

Illinois is at risk for a variety of natural disasters including floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and storms. Some areas of the state, including southern Illinois, are more vulnerable due to social characteristics such …

Spatial Dichotomies: Research Into The Development Of 3d Representation, Matthew G. Mcguire

Research Papers

Abstract

Matthew McGuire, for the Masters of Science degree in Professional Media & Media Management, presented on Friday, November 14^th 2014, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Spatial Dichotomies: Research into the Development of 3D Representation

Chair of Committee: Robert Spahr

This research paper covers how 3D technology influences different industries over time. Key points within the research find that over time humans consistently gravitate toward increasing their ability to recreate depth, texture and image. Industry leaders in education, film, medical, television, and the Web will find literature and discussion of how to adjust their modes of production and manufacturing …

Biomarkers Of Animal Health: Integrating Nutritional Ecology, Endocrine Ecophysiology, Ecoimmunology, And Geospatial Ecology, Robin Warne, Glenn Proudfoot, Erica Crespi

Publications

Diverse biomarkers including stable isotope, hormonal, and ecoimmunological assays are powerful tools to assess animal condition. However, an integrative approach is necessary to provide the context essential to understanding how biomarkers reveal animal health in varied ecological conditions. A barrier to such integration is a general lack of awareness of how shared extraction methods from across fields can provide material from the same animal tissues for diverse biomarker assays. In addition, the use of shared methods for extracting differing tissue fractions can also provide biomarkers for how animal health varies across time. Specifically, no study has explicitly illustrated the depth …

Alternative Splicing Of Mef2c Pre-Mrna Controls Its Activity In Normal Myogenesis And Promotes Tumorigenicity In Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells., Meiling Zhang, Bo Zhu, Judith Davie

Articles

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children. Many cellular disruptions contribute to the progression of this pediatric cancer, including aberrant alternative splicing. The MEF2 family of transcription factors regulates many developmental programs, including myogenesis. MEF2 gene transcripts are subject to alternate splicing to generate protein isoforms with divergent functions. We found that MEF2Cα1 was the ubiquitously expressed isoform that exhibited no myogenic activity and that MEF2Cα2, the muscle-specific MEF2C isoform, was required for efficient differentiation. We showed that exon α in MEF2C was aberrantly alternatively spliced in RMS cells, with the ratio of α2/α1 highly down-regulated …

Conspecific Aggression By Beavers (Castor Canadensis) In The Sangamon River Basin In Central Illinois: Correlates With Habitat, Age, Sex And Season, Joanne C. Crawford, Robert D. Bluett, Eric M. Schauber

Publications

Conspecific aggression may play an important role in partitioning resources and maintaining territories among beavers (Castor canadensis), yet few studies have examined physical evidence of agonistic encounters. We trapped and examined pelts from 147 beavers harvested between 2006 and 2012 from the Sangamon River (n  =  96) and tributary streams (n  =  51) in central Illinois. We modeled the influence of sex, age class, season (predispersal or dispersal), and habitat (river or tributary stream) on the number of recent injuries caused by conspecifics. One-third (51/147) of beavers had ≥1 injury; of those, the median number of injuries was …

Seed Dispersal Of An Invasive Shrub, Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera Maackii ), By White-Tailed Deer In A Fragmented Agricultural-Forest Matrix, Peter Guiden, David L. Gorchov, Clayton K. Nielsen, Eric M. Schauber

Publications

Ungulates are potentially important seed dispersers for many invasive plant species. While our understanding of which invasive plant species are dispersed by ungulates has improved over the last decade, the factors influencing this process remain poorly understood. To address this, we explored whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) seed consumption and dispersal of an invasive shrub (Lonicera maackii) in fragmented agricultural-forest matrices in western Ohio. In a pairwise browse preference experiment, deer browsed at similar levels on branches of L. maackii with fruits removed and fruits intact (mean ± 95 % CI 57 ± 14 and 62 ± …

Comparing Permeability Of Matrix Cover Types For The Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys Palustris), Scott A. Cooney, Eric M. Schauber, Eric C. Hellgren

Publications

Context Matrix land cover types differ in permeability to animals moving between habitat patches, and animals may actually move faster across lesssuitable areas. Marsh rice rats are wetland specialists whose dispersal crosses upland matrix. Objectives Our objectives were to (1) compare matrix permeability for the marsh rice rat among upland cover types, (2) compare permeability within versus outside perceptual range of the wetland, and (3) explore intrinsic and extrinsic features influencing matrix use and permeability. Methods We quantified permeability of grassland, crop field, and forest to the marsh rice rat during 2011–2012, by marking rats in wetlands and estimating the …

Inflammatory And Glutamatergic Homeostasis Are Involved In Successful Aging, Erin R. Hascup, Feiya Wang, John J. Kopchick, Andrzej Bartke

Articles

Whole body studies using long-lived growth hormone receptor gene disrupted or knock out (GHR-KO) mice report global GH resistance, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and cognitive retention in old-age, however, little is known about the neurobiological status of these mice. The aim of this study was to determine if glutamatergic and inflammatory markers that are altered in aging and/or age-related diseases and disorders, are preserved in mice that experience increased healthspan. We examined messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression levels in the brain of 4- to 6-, 8- to 10-, and 20- to 22-month GHR-KO and normal …

Systematics Of The Tribe Hippotragini (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae), Wesley Holland

2015

The tribe Hippotragini consists of the so-called “Horse-like” antelopes, a specious group of large grazing antelopes characterized by striking facial coloration, thick tapering necks, erect manes, and highly specialized for arid regions of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Hippotragini consists of three genera: Addax+Oryx, and Hippotragus and currently includes eleven species although that number might increase as more molecular studies are undertaken. The taxonomic history of this group is ongoing as phylogenetic and comparative analyses and techniques continue to improve.

Paleontological evidence suggests that Hippotragini evolved in Eurasia during the early Miocene but it was not until the Pliocene …

Familiarity Breeds Contempt: Combining Proximity Loggers And Gps Reveals Female White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Avoiding Close Contact With Neighbors, Marie I. Tosa, Eric M. Schauber, Clayton K. Nielsen

Publications

Social interactions can influence infectious disease dynamics, particularly for directly transmitted pathogens. Therefore, reliable information on contact frequency within and among groups can better inform disease modeling and management. We compared three methods of assessing contact patterns: (1) space-use overlap (volume of interaction [VI]), (2) direct contact rates measured by simultaneous global positioning system (GPS) locations (apart), and (3) direct contact rates measured by proximity loggers (PLs; 1-m detection) among female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We calculated the PL∶GPS contact ratios to see whether both devices reveal similar contact patterns and thus predict similar pathogen transmission patterns. Contact …

Survival And Dispersal Of White-Tailed Deer In The Agricultural Landscape Of East-Central Illinois, Charles W. Anderson, Clayton K. Nielsen, Eric M. Schauber

Publications

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are a keystone species throughout their range in North America. The recent presence of diseases such as chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis in Midwestern North America dictates the examination of influences of those diseases on deer populations, and survival and dispersal rates are important parameters when modeling potential disease spread. We quantified survival and dispersal rates of 105 deer in agriculturally-dominated east-central Illinois during 2005-2009. We used Program MARK to estimate rates of annual survival, seasonal survival, and dispersal for fawn, yearling, and adult age-classes. Male and female seasonal (winter/spring [16 Dec–14 May], summer [15 …

Ranging Behavior Of Marsh Rice Rats In A Southern Illinois Wetland Complex, Scott A. Cooney, Eric M. Schauber, Eric Hellgren

Publications

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) inhabits wetlands that are often fragmented and isolated by upland cover types. Persistence of marsh rice rat populations and metapopulations likely depends on their ability to enter and traverse the upland matrix, yet basic information, such as home-range size and landcover use patterns, is lacking. Our goal was to quantify home-range size and habitat selection by marsh rice rats in southern Illinois. Between March and November 2011, we radiocollared 21 male rice rats (8 subadults and 13 adults) that were each located 7 to 24 times each via triangulation and homing. We estimated home-range …

Orchid–Pollinator Interactions And Potential Vulnerability To Biological Invasion, Adam D. Chupp, Loretta L. Battaglia, Eric M. Schauber, Sedonia D. Sipes

Publications

Mutualistic relationships between plants and their pollinators have played a major role in the evolution of biodiversity. While the vulnerability of these relationships to environmental change is a major concern, studies often lack a framework for predicting impacts from emerging threats (e.g. biological invasions). The objective of this study was to determine the reliance of Platanthera ciliaris (orange-fringed orchid) on Papilio palamedes (Palamedes swallowtail butterfly) for pollination and the relative availability of alternative pollinators. Recent declines of P. palamedes larval host plants due to laurel wilt disease (LWD) could endanger P. ciliaris populations that rely heavily on this butterfly for …

Altered Neurotransmission Prior To Cognitive Decline In Aβpp/Ps1 Mice, A Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Kevin N. Hascup, Erin R. Hascup

Articles

Indirect evidence supports altered glutamate signaling with Alzheimer's disease, however, it is not known if glutamate neurotransmission is impacted prior to cognitive decline. We examined cognition and glutamate neurotransmission in 2-4 month AβPP/PS1, an Alzheimer's disease model, and age-matched control mice. There were no differences in learning and memory as assessed by Morris water maze. However, in vivo electrochemical measures of potassium-evoked glutamate release in the CA1, but not the CA3 or dentate, was significantly elevated in AβPP/PS1 mice. These data support changes in the glutamatergic system that precedes cognitive decline in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

2015-2016 Southern Illinois University Bulletin Carbondale Campus (Undergraduate Catalog), Southern Illinois University Carbondale

SIU Bulletins and Course Catalogs Archives

No abstract provided.

2015-2016 Southern Illinois University Bulletin Carbondale Campus (Graduate Catalog), Southern Illinois University Carbondale

SIU Bulletins and Course Catalogs Archives

No abstract provided.

Persistent Muscle Fiber Regeneration In Long Term Denervation. Past, Present, Future., Ugo Carraro, Simona Boncompagni, Valerio Gobbo, Katia Rossini, Sandra Zampieri, Simone Mosole, Barbara Ravara, Alessandra Nori, Roberto Stratamare, Francesco Ambrosio, Francesco Piccione, Stefano Masiero, Vincenzo Vindigni, Paolo Gargulo, Felciiano Protasi, Helmut Kern, Amber Pond, Andrea Marcante

Publications

Despite the ravages of long term denervation there is structural and ultrastructural evidence for survival of muscle fibers in mammals, with some fibers surviving at least ten months in rodents and 3-6 years in humans. Further, in rodents there is evidence that muscle fibers may regenerate even after repeated damage in the absence of the nerve, and that this potential is maintained for several months after denervation. While in animal models permanently denervated muscle sooner or later loses the ability to contract, the muscles may maintain their size and ability to function if electrically stimulated soon after denervation. Whether in …

Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolutionary Strategy Optimization Of Patch Antenna For Wireless Communication, Ali Al-Azza, Frances J. Harackiewicz, Hemachandra Reddy Gorla

Articles

Covariance matrix adaptation evolutionary strategy algorithm is applied to optimize a dielectric loaded microstrip patch antenna. The optimization process performance is enhanced by not considering the symmetrical factor of the antenna structure. The antenna is optimized to work for IEEE 802.11a WLAN 5-6 GHz band. Experimental measurements have also been performed to validate the performance of the proposed antenna.

Japanese Aesthetics In The Age Of New Media, Ai Saito

Research Papers

The purpose of this project is to use new media as a platform for the values found in Western modernization and in Japanese traditional aesthetics to work together. Key points within the research find that with the advancement of technology our perspective, attitudes and aesthetics of time have drastically changed. The first part of the research investigates the fundamental effect of media brought into the human environment, how electric media has become so powerful as well as looking at the principles of new media. The second part of the research reveals the differences between Western and Japanese aesthetics by focusing …

Effects Of Multiple Concussions On Collegiate Football Players' Motor Behavior, Deborah Storm

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

The Human Footprint Of Our Daily Consumption: Defetishizing Commodities Through New Media, Kelly Mcguire

Research Papers

No abstract provided.

Views By St Louis County Residents Regarding The Police And Public Responses To The Shooting Of Michael Brown In Ferguson, Missouri On August 9, 2014, Tammy R. Kochel

Reports

In their own words, residents living in high crime, disadvantaged neighborhoods of St. Louis County, MO revealed how they were personally impacted by the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson and the police and public response to it during the first few weeks following the event last August. Three quarters of residents reported being impacted in some way. The most common negative effects were emotional, as well as the daily inconvenience brought on by closed stores and schools and traffic issues. Residents’ opinions about police also suffered. Concerns about the police response relate to a perceived overreaction and specifically, use …

Protein-Coated Nanoparticles Are Internalized By The Epithelial Cells Of The Female Reproductive Tract And Induce Systemic And Mucosal Immune Responses, Savannah E Howe, Vjollca Konjufca

Publications

The female reproductive tract (FRT) includes the oviducts (fallopian tubes), uterus, cervix and vagina. A layer of columnar epithelium separates the endocervix and uterus from the outside environment, while the vagina is lined with stratified squamous epithelium. The mucosa of the FRT is exposed to antigens originating from microflora, and occasionally from infectious microorganisms. Whether epithelial cells (ECs) of the FRT take up (sample) the lumen antigens is not known. To address this question, we examined the uptake of 20-40 nm nanoparticles (NPs) applied vaginally to mice which were not treated with hormones, epithelial disruptors, or adjuvants. We found that …