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Pharmacological Modulation Of Nad Alters Tnf-Α Responses In Macrophage Subsets, A Al-Shabany, Aj Moody, Ad Foey, Ra Billington Jan 2014

Pharmacological Modulation Of Nad Alters Tnf-Α Responses In Macrophage Subsets, A Al-Shabany, Aj Moody, Ad Foey, Ra Billington

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


What's In A Name? What Have Taxonomy And Systematics Ever Done For Us?, David T. Bilton Jan 2014

What's In A Name? What Have Taxonomy And Systematics Ever Done For Us?, David T. Bilton

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

There is increasingly little doubt that we are in the midst of an anthropogenically driven extinction event which may end up rivalling the mass extinctions of the geological past (Barnosky et al., 2011). Increasingly the world’s natural and seminatural habitats are being irreversibly transformed by human populations, meaning that much of global biodiversity is under threat (see Caro et al., 2011 on remaining intact ecosystems). Given this “biodiversity crisis” and the fact that biodiversity is ultimately essential to human survival on this planet (e.g. Juniper, 2013) one might expect that the basic science underpinning the study of biodiversity would be …


Towards Harmonic Extensions Of Pulsed Melodic Affective Processing Further Musical Structures For Increasing Transparency In Emotional Computation, Aj Kirke, Er Miranda Jan 2014

Towards Harmonic Extensions Of Pulsed Melodic Affective Processing Further Musical Structures For Increasing Transparency In Emotional Computation, Aj Kirke, Er Miranda

School of Art, Design and Architecture

No abstract provided.


The Personality Behind Cheating: Behavioural Types And The Feeding Ecology Of Cleaner Fish, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Jens Krause, Je Herbert‐Read, Ashley J.W. Ward Jan 2014

The Personality Behind Cheating: Behavioural Types And The Feeding Ecology Of Cleaner Fish, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Jens Krause, Je Herbert‐Read, Ashley J.W. Ward

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

AbstractThe complex mutualistic relationship between the cleaner fish (Labroides dimidiatus) and their ‘clients’ in many reef systems throughout the world has been the subject of debate and research interest for decades. Game‐theory models have long struggled with explaining how the mixed strategies of cheating and honesty might have evolved in such a system and while significant efforts have been made theoretically, demonstrating the nature of this relationship empirically remains an important research challenge. Using the experimental framework of behavioural syndromes, we sought to quantitatively assess the relationship between personality and the feeding ecology of cleaner fish to provide novel insights …


Cross-Shelf Exchange In The Northwestern Black Sea, Feng Zhou, Georgy Shapiro, Fred Wobus Jan 2014

Cross-Shelf Exchange In The Northwestern Black Sea, Feng Zhou, Georgy Shapiro, Fred Wobus

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Public Perceptions Of Sharks: Gathering Support For Shark Conservation, Laura A. Friedrich, Rebecca Jefferson, Gillian Glegg Jan 2014

Public Perceptions Of Sharks: Gathering Support For Shark Conservation, Laura A. Friedrich, Rebecca Jefferson, Gillian Glegg

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Overfishing And The Replacement Of Demersal Finfish By Shellfish: An Example From The English Channel., Carlotta Molfese, Doug Beare, Jason M. Hall-Spencer Jan 2014

Overfishing And The Replacement Of Demersal Finfish By Shellfish: An Example From The English Channel., Carlotta Molfese, Doug Beare, Jason M. Hall-Spencer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

The worldwide depletion of major fish stocks through intensive industrial fishing is thought to have profoundly altered the trophic structure of marine ecosystems. Here we assess changes in the trophic structure of the English Channel marine ecosystem using a 90-year time-series (1920-2010) of commercial fishery landings. Our analysis was based on estimates of the mean trophic level (mTL) of annual landings and the Fishing-in-Balance index (FiB). Food webs of the Channel ecosystem have been altered, as shown by a significant decline in the mTL of fishery landings whilst increases in the FiB index suggest increased fishing effort and fishery expansion. …


Recovery Of A Temperate Reef Assemblage In A Marine Protected Area Following The Exclusion Of Towed Demersal Fishing, Emma V. Sheehan, Timothy F. Stevens, Sarah C. Gall, Sophie L. Cousens, Martin J. Attrill Dec 2013

Recovery Of A Temperate Reef Assemblage In A Marine Protected Area Following The Exclusion Of Towed Demersal Fishing, Emma V. Sheehan, Timothy F. Stevens, Sarah C. Gall, Sophie L. Cousens, Martin J. Attrill

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Diamondoid Diacids ('O4' Species) In Oil Sands Process‐Affected Water, Sk Lengger, Ag Scarlett, Ce West, Sj Rowland Dec 2013

Diamondoid Diacids ('O4' Species) In Oil Sands Process‐Affected Water, Sk Lengger, Ag Scarlett, Ce West, Sj Rowland

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

RATIONALE As a by-product of oil sands extraction, large volumes of oil sands process water (OSPW) are generated, which are contaminated with a large range of water-soluble organic compounds. The acids are thought to be derived from hydrocarbons via natural biodegradation pathways such as α- and β-oxidation of alkyl substituents, which could produce mono- and diacids, for example. However, while several monoacids (‘O2’ species) have been identified, the presence of diacids (i.e. 'O4' species) has only been deduced from results obtained via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance high-resolution mass spectrometry (FTICR-HRMS) and nuclear magnetic resonance …


Actor-Network Theory, Tourism Organizations And The Development Of Sustainable Community Livelihoods, Mohamed Ahmed Dec 2013

Actor-Network Theory, Tourism Organizations And The Development Of Sustainable Community Livelihoods, Mohamed Ahmed

Plymouth Business School Theses

Research on existing actor-networks has focused traditionally on outcomes, achievements and success at the expense of a detailed consideration of their formation and ability to function. In recognition of this lacuna, this study examined the formation and functioning of tourism-related actor-networks involved in environmental protection and the management of tourism in the coastal city of Hurghada, Egypt. More specifically, it applied the actor-network theory (ANT). In particular, the study applied its four moments of translation – problematization, interessement, enrolment and mobilization – and used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) to analyse the influencing factors, whether positively or negatively, and the degree …


Assessing “Dangerous Climate Change”: Required Reduction Of Carbon Emissions To Protect Young People, Future Generations And Nature, J Hansen, P Kharecha, M Sato, V Masson-Delmotte, Et Al Dec 2013

Assessing “Dangerous Climate Change”: Required Reduction Of Carbon Emissions To Protect Young People, Future Generations And Nature, J Hansen, P Kharecha, M Sato, V Masson-Delmotte, Et Al

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

We assess climate impacts of global warming using ongoing observations and paleoclimate data. We use Earth's measured energy imbalance, paleoclimate data, and simple representations of the global carbon cycle and temperature to define emission reductions needed to stabilize climate and avoid potentially disastrous impacts on today's young people, future generations, and nature. A cumulative industrial-era limit of ∼500 GtC fossil fuel emissions and 100 GtC storage in the biosphere and soil would keep climate close to the Holocene range to which humanity and other species are adapted. Cumulative emissions of ∼1000 GtC, sometimes associated with 2°C global warming, would spur …


Investigation Into Toll Like Receptor Mechanisms Of Action, In Relation To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In Periodontitis, Jonathan Lane Dec 2013

Investigation Into Toll Like Receptor Mechanisms Of Action, In Relation To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In Periodontitis, Jonathan Lane

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacterial invasion of the gingival epithelial cells within the oral cavity (Bostanci and Belibasakis, 2012). A key bacterium responsible for this is Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a gram negative bacterium that evades the host immune system by cell infection. The chronic inflammation shown in periodontitis can cause tissue damage and bone degradation; this can lead to tooth loss (Hajishengallis et al 2011). Within this review P.gingivalis mechanisms of infection are outlined, along with its mediation of the immune system. Recognition by Toll like receptors is also investigated, and the literature on the …


What Factors Structure Anthozoan Microbial Communities?, Joanna Warwick-Dugdale Dec 2013

What Factors Structure Anthozoan Microbial Communities?, Joanna Warwick-Dugdale

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The coral holobiont is a complex and diverse composition of organisms including algae, bacteria and viruses. A number of factors suggested as vital in shaping these communities are considered here. The anthozoan host generates great diversity within its microbiota via spatial and metabolic structuring at both macro- and micro-scales; coral communities appear to be somewhat species-specific, yet spatial and temporal variation in coral microbiota suggests the significance of environmental agents. Increasing sea temperatures may cause fatal dissolution of the coral-algal partnership (coral bleaching), and although some adaptation to elevated temperature appears possible, anthropogenic stressors such as reduced pH and sedimentation …


Students. Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them, Adam Cook Dec 2013

Students. Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them, Adam Cook

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Guest editorial from the Director, The Science Assembly, and Head of Conservation & Research, Dartmoor Zoological Park.


The Medicinal And Pharmacological Screening Of Wheatgrass Juice (Triticum Aestivum L.): An Investigation Into Chlorophyll Content And Antimicrobial Activity, Patrick Wakeham Dec 2013

The Medicinal And Pharmacological Screening Of Wheatgrass Juice (Triticum Aestivum L.): An Investigation Into Chlorophyll Content And Antimicrobial Activity, Patrick Wakeham

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Plant products are of increasing interest in the search for new drugs and medicines in the treatment of disease; and the discovery of new alternatives to existing antibiotics is an important area of this research due to pathogen resistance. One example of a plant product currently under pharmacological investigation is wheatgrass juice; a dietary supplement derived from Triticum aestivum L. There is both anecdotal and scientific evidence to suggest that the medicinal efficacy of this plant may be due to its high chlorophyll concentrations. In this study chlorophyll fresh weight was determined in mg/100g for organic field grown wheatgrass juice …


The Effect Of Copper-Induced Oxidative Stress On Regeneration In Anemonia Viridis (Forskäl, 1775), Katharine Childs Dec 2013

The Effect Of Copper-Induced Oxidative Stress On Regeneration In Anemonia Viridis (Forskäl, 1775), Katharine Childs

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The release of pollutants such as metals into the aquatic environment has raised concerns over the health of coral reefs, as elevated concentrations of metals are known to cause oxidative stress and bleaching. This is an important issue to address as metals are continuously released into the environment and there is evidence that metals such as copper can still be prevalent after historical mining activities, particularly in estuaries around the Plymouth Sound, UK. Anemonia viridis is commonly found around this area and is used in the literature as a model organism for coral species. A.viridis harbours symbiotic zooxanthellae and is …


Heat Stress In Captive Endothermic Animals, Samantha Ward Dec 2013

Heat Stress In Captive Endothermic Animals, Samantha Ward

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Approximately 26 billion captive animals, spanning over 10, 000 species (Mason 2010) are housed in artificial habitats and face a wide range of potential environmental challenges. These include abiotic sources of stress, for instance, artificial lighting, exposure to loud or aversive sound, arousing odours and uncomfortable temperatures or substrates. In addition, confinement-specific stressors such as restricted movement, forced proximity to humans or conspecifics, reduced feeding opportunities and other behavioural restrictions (Morgan & Tromborg 2007). There is enormous variation between species in how they react to captivity, even among close taxonomic relatives (Mason 2010). Captive wild animals are often healthier, live …


An Investigation Of The Bioavailability Of Heavy Metals In Tailing Run-Off Sediment At Devon Great Consols, Chan Yin Chi Dec 2013

An Investigation Of The Bioavailability Of Heavy Metals In Tailing Run-Off Sediment At Devon Great Consols, Chan Yin Chi

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This project focuses on the environmental geochemistry of the Devon Great Consols by determination of the concentrations of chromium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, cadmium, arsenic, manganese and iron. BCR®701 is a certified reference material (CRM) which was treated by Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction to determine the accuracy and precision of the experiment. Moreover, the CRM was also employed to compare performance of instruments, namely ICP-AES and ICP-MS. The T-test was used to determine any significance of difference between experimental values and certified values. The F- test was used to determine any significance of difference between ICP-AES and …


Feeding Strategies In Sympatric Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta Seniculus), Saddleback Tamarins (Saguinus Fuscicollis) And Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri Boliviensis), In The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru, Aimee May Dec 2013

Feeding Strategies In Sympatric Red Howler Monkeys (Alouatta Seniculus), Saddleback Tamarins (Saguinus Fuscicollis) And Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri Boliviensis), In The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru, Aimee May

The Plymouth Student Scientist

This study investigated the feeding strategies of sympatric red howlers (Alouatta seniculus), saddleback tamarins (Saguinus fuscicollis) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri boliviensis) in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru. The habitat types occupied during all behaviours and purely when feeding differed significantly between the three species (p<0.005). The overall diet consumption was also shown to be significantly different between the three species (p<0.005). These results demonstrated that niche separation between these sympatric primates may be achieved through differences in habitat types used for foraging and food types consumed. Data from this study was compared with data collected at the same site using the same methods in 2011. The diet composition differed significantly within each of the species between 2011 and 2012 (p<0.005). It could be proposed that factors such as changes in climate may have an impact on the rainforest ecosystem, and consequently affect the feeding strategies of primates, however further research is required to determine if this is the case and the exact impacts this would have on the primates.


The Effectiveness Of Management Options In Reducing Human Disturbance To Wetland And Coastal Birds, Christopher Batey Dec 2013

The Effectiveness Of Management Options In Reducing Human Disturbance To Wetland And Coastal Birds, Christopher Batey

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Human disturbance to wildlife is a serious conservation issue for many groups of species. Birds inhabiting wetland and coastal environments may be of particular concern as they are exposed to disturbance both on land and on water, and due to growing pressure from tourism and leisure activities human disturbance in these environments may increase in the future. There are a wide variety of available management options referred to in the literature which aim to reduce or mitigate the negative impacts of disturbance to wetland and coastal birds. This review assesses the evidence for the effectiveness of these different management measures …


A Study Into The Impacts Of Water Table And Nitrogen Pulse On Cellulose Decomposition Rates And Carbon Release In Active Peatland, Matthew Culf Dec 2013

A Study Into The Impacts Of Water Table And Nitrogen Pulse On Cellulose Decomposition Rates And Carbon Release In Active Peatland, Matthew Culf

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Since the 1980s overstocking of sheep has become an increasing problem on UK uplands. This study examined the effect of livestock urination, and also water table depth, on active peatland on cellulose decomposition and fluvial carbon release. Urination was simulated using synthetic sheep urine (SSU) and applied to quadrats of active peatland at Redlake Mire on South Dartmoor and compared to quadrats without SSU treatment. Cellulose decomposition was measured using the cotton strip assay (CSA) method as a measure of microbial activity by examining a loss in tensile strength of cotton strips buried for 45 days from September 20th to …


Cold Pressor: Acceptance, Control And Expectations, Emily Williams Dec 2013

Cold Pressor: Acceptance, Control And Expectations, Emily Williams

The Plymouth Student Scientist

To begin to examine how non-specific therapy factors, in particular expectations, may impact on treatment outcomes for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for the treatment of chronic pain, an investigative analogue study was conducted; completed by Psychology undergraduates from the University of Plymouth (N=52). This study re-examined the effectiveness of Acceptance and Control-based instructions on cold pressor pain; but extended this to explore whether high or low expectations of these strategies impacts their effectiveness. Participants were exposed to a cold pressor task to determine baseline tolerance, followed by a Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ). Control or Acceptance-based instructions, with an embedded …


Investigating The Relative Importance Of Parentage Versus Environmental Factors On Heterochrony In Basommatophoran Freshwater Snails, Myriam Vanderzwalmen Dec 2013

Investigating The Relative Importance Of Parentage Versus Environmental Factors On Heterochrony In Basommatophoran Freshwater Snails, Myriam Vanderzwalmen

The Plymouth Student Scientist

The importance of genetics in inter-specific heterochrony is long known; however, intra-specific heterochrony was believed to be driven by environmental variation. Recent studies on Radix balthica showed higher similarity in developmental timing across generations in genetically similar embryos than in distantly related individuals. In the present study, the relative importance of parentage and egg-mass origin is compared with the environmental importance in generating the heterochrony in Radix balthica. Six developmental events were recorded daily. The analysis of the variations showed that parentage influencing variation in developmental timing to be more important than environmental conditions. Only hatching was affected by the …


Amap Assessment 2013: Arctic Ocean Acidification. Arctic Monitoring And Assessment Programme (Amap), Amap, Jason Hall-Spencer Dec 2013

Amap Assessment 2013: Arctic Ocean Acidification. Arctic Monitoring And Assessment Programme (Amap), Amap, Jason Hall-Spencer

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.


Alcohol Consumption In Young Adults: The Role Of Multisensory Imagery., Jp Connor, Dj Kavanagh, J Andrade, J May, Gfx Feeney, Mj Gullo, Am White, M-L Fry, J Drennan, J Previte, D Tjondronegoro Nov 2013

Alcohol Consumption In Young Adults: The Role Of Multisensory Imagery., Jp Connor, Dj Kavanagh, J Andrade, J May, Gfx Feeney, Mj Gullo, Am White, M-L Fry, J Drennan, J Previte, D Tjondronegoro

School of Psychology

Little is known about the subjective experience of alcohol desire and craving in young people. Descriptions of alcohol urges continue to be extensively used in the everyday lexicon of young, non-dependent drinkers. Elaborated Intrusion (EI) Theory contends that imagery is central to craving and desires, and predicts that alcohol-related imagery will be associated with greater frequency and amount of drinking. This study involved 1,535 age stratified 18- 25 year olds who completed an alcohol–related survey that included the Imagery scale of the Alcohol Craving Experience (ACE) questionnaire. Imagery items predicted 12-16% of the variance in concurrent alcohol consumption. Higher total …


Coastal Urbanization Leads To Remarkable Seaweed Species Loss And Community Shifts Along The Sw Atlantic., Fernando Scherner, Paulo Antunes Horta, Oliveira Ec De, José Carlos Simonassi, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Fungyi Chow, José Marcos C. Nunes, Sonia Maria Barreto Pereira Nov 2013

Coastal Urbanization Leads To Remarkable Seaweed Species Loss And Community Shifts Along The Sw Atlantic., Fernando Scherner, Paulo Antunes Horta, Oliveira Ec De, José Carlos Simonassi, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Fungyi Chow, José Marcos C. Nunes, Sonia Maria Barreto Pereira

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Coastal urbanization is rapidly expanding worldwide while its impacts on seaweed communities remain poorly understood. We assessed the impact of urbanization along an extensive latitudinal gradient encompassing three phycogeographical regions in the SW Atlantic. Human population density, number of dwellings, and terrestrial vegetation cover were determined for each survey area and correlated with diversity indices calculated from seaweed percent cover data. Urban areas had significantly lower calcareous algal cover (-38%), and there was significantly less carbonate in the sediment off urban areas than off reference areas. Seaweed richness averaged 26% less in urban areas than in areas with higher vegetation …


Drawing Lines At The Sand: Evidence For Functional Vs. Visual Reef Boundaries In Temperate Marine Protected Areas., E. V. Sheehan, S. L. Cousens, S. J. Nancollas, C. Stauss, J. Royle, M. J. Attrill Nov 2013

Drawing Lines At The Sand: Evidence For Functional Vs. Visual Reef Boundaries In Temperate Marine Protected Areas., E. V. Sheehan, S. L. Cousens, S. J. Nancollas, C. Stauss, J. Royle, M. J. Attrill

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) can either protect all seabed habitats within them or discrete features. If discrete features within the MPA are to be protected humans have to know where the boundaries are. In Lyme Bay, SW England a MPA excluded towed demersal fishing gear from 206 km(2) to protect rocky reef habitats and the associated species. The site comprised a mosaic of sedimentary and reef habitats and so 'non reef' habitat also benefited from the MPA. Following 3 years protection, video data showed that sessile Reef Associated Species (RAS) had colonised sedimentary habitat indicating that 'reef' was present. This …


Evaluation And Selection Of Barley Genotypes For Salt Stress Resistance Using Tissue Culture Techniques And Sds-Page Gel Electrophoresis, Emr Metwali, Smh Gowayed, Oa Almagrabi, Yy Mosleh, Mp Fuller Nov 2013

Evaluation And Selection Of Barley Genotypes For Salt Stress Resistance Using Tissue Culture Techniques And Sds-Page Gel Electrophoresis, Emr Metwali, Smh Gowayed, Oa Almagrabi, Yy Mosleh, Mp Fuller

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Genetic analysis was studied in a 5 × 5 diallel cross following Hayman's diallel analysis approach to obtain additive and dominance components of genetic variance using a mature embryo culture protocol. Different concentrations of NaCl at 5 and 10 g L-1 were added to each medium. Callus fresh weight (g), shoot length (cm), root length (cm), proline (μg g-1), sodium (mg g-1 and potassium (mg g-1) content were determined. Also, screening for non-water-soluble protein polymorphism was carried out using leaves derived via callus culture and analysis using SDS-PAGE. Results on the genetic behaviour for previously traits, indicating the differences among …


Understanding Long-Term Changes In Species Abundance Using A Niche-Based Approach, P Helaouët, G Beaugrand, M Edwards Nov 2013

Understanding Long-Term Changes In Species Abundance Using A Niche-Based Approach, P Helaouët, G Beaugrand, M Edwards

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

One of the major challenges to understanding population changes in ecology for assessment purposes is the difficulty in evaluating the suitability of an area for a given species. Here we used a new simple approach able to faithfully predict through time the abundance of two key zooplanktonic species by focusing on the relationship between the species' environmental preferences and their observed abundances. The approach is applied to the marine copepods Calanus finmarchicus and C. helgolandicus as a case study characterising the multidecadal dynamics of the North Sea ecosystem. We removed all North Sea data from the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) …


Neratinib Overcomes Trastuzumab Resistance In Her2 Amplified Breast Cancer, A Canonici, M Gijsen, M Mullooly, R Bennett, Et Al Oct 2013

Neratinib Overcomes Trastuzumab Resistance In Her2 Amplified Breast Cancer, A Canonici, M Gijsen, M Mullooly, R Bennett, Et Al

Peninsula Medical School

Trastuzumab has been shown to improve the survival outcomes of HER2 positive breast cancer patients. However, a significant proportion of HER2-positive patients are either inherently resistant or develop resistance to trastuzumab. We assessed the effects of neratinib, an irreversible panHER inhibitor, in a panel of 36 breast cancer cell lines. We further assessed its effects with or without trastuzumab in several sensitive and resistant breast cancer cells as well as a BT474 xenograft model. We confirmed that neratinib was significantly more active in HER2-amplified than HER2 non-amplified cell lines. Neratinib decreased the activation of the 4 HER receptors and inhibited …