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Arsenite Regulates Cystic Fibrosis Transmem­Brane Conductance Regulator And P-Glycoprotein: Evidence Of Pathway Independence, Rangan Maitra, Joshua Hamilton

Dartmouth Scholarship

In the past, people have argued for and against the theory of reciprocal regulation of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) and P-glycoprotein (Pgp). Data have indicated that this may occur in vitro during drug-induced selection of cells, and in vivo during development. Much of this debate has been caused by a severe lack of mechanistic details involved in such regulation. Our past data indicate that certain Pgp modulators can affect CFTR expression and function. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of trivalent arsenic (arsenite), a known transcriptional activator of Pgp, on CFTR expression. In …

Cascading Effects Of Predator Removal On The Ecology Of Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches, Brandon Barton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional views of food web dynamics have characterized species interactions as linear and direct. However, modern food web theory suggests that interactions can also be nonlinear and indirect, so that disturbance at one trophic level is transmitted throughout the community. Many previous studies have demonstrated that the removal of top predators from terrestrial ecosystems can have broad-scale impacts on community ecology. I examined the direct and indirect effects of raccoon removal from sea turtle nesting beaches in east-central Florida during the summers of 2003 and 2004. Raccoon and ghost crab predation are among the highest causes of egg mortality for …

Assessing The Impact Of University Technology Incubator Practices On Client Performance, Thomas O'Neal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research is designed to distinguish and describe or explain incubator practices that affect the performance of incubator clients of university technology incubator programs. The research focuses on understanding which practices significantly contribute to increasing job creation for the firms located in university based technology incubators. An increasing number of communities are embracing economic development strategies that target the high tech sector with high wage, high value jobs as a way to diversify their economies and boost local and regional economies. New economic development strategies include the notion of a creation strategy or "growing your own" instead of relying on …

Advances In The Opto-Mechanical Design And Alignment Of The Hehsi Imaging Spectrometer Based On A Sagnac Interferometer, Michael Stuart Schreiber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The High Efficiency HyperSpectral Imager (HEHSI) is a Fourier Transform hyperspectral imager based on a Sagnac interferometer. This thesis research concentrates on the design upgrade and calibration of HEHSI from a proof of concept instrument to a prototype field instrument. Stability is enhanced by removing degrees of freedom and alignment is enhanced by providing for in-situ adjustments. The use of off the shelf components allows for reduced development time and cost constraints. HEHSI is capable of multiple configurations to accommodate sensors and optics with specialized capabilities for multiple wavelength ranges and viewing conditions. With a spectral response of 400 to …

Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy As A Tool For The Investigation Of Tetracycline Fluorescence In Archaeologicalhuman Bone, Corey Maggiano

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fluorochromes such as tetracycline have been used to label bone for histomorphometric analysis, measuring bone formation, growth, maintenance, and pathology. More recently, similar fluorescence has been observed in ancient human bone. Attributed to tetracycline (TC) exposure, this phenomenon could affect various aspects of health during life and/or preservation of remains postmortem. Standard epifluorescence microscopy is the most common tool employed in the analysis of these labels. Though valuable, this technique is limited by its inability to penetrate bone three-dimensionally and its inclusion of out-of-focus light, possibly disrupting accurate analysis. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) has been demonstrated as a valuable …

Panarchy And Adaptive Change: Around The Loop And Back Again, Bradley C. Karkkainen

Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Nicarbazin Absorption In Chickens, Mallards, And Canada Geese, C. A. Yoder, L. A. Miller, K. S. Bynum

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Nicarbazin (NCZ), a coccidiostat commonly used in the poultry industry, causes reduced hatchability and egg quality in layer hens at a concentration of 125 ppm (8.4 mg/kg) in the feed. Although this effect is undesirable in the poultry industry, NCZ could provide a useful wildlife contraception tool for waterfowl, particularly urban geese. We tested the absorption of NCZ in chickens (Gallus gallus), mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), and Canada geese (Branta canadensis) gavaged with 8.4 mg of NCZ/kg per bird each day for 8 d. Plasma levels of 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) differed significantly among species. Peak plasma …

A Comparison Of Three Trap Designs For Capturing Brown Treesnakes On Guam, Daniel S. Vice, Richard M. Engeman, Diane L. Vice

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The accidental introduction of the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) to Guam has resulted in the extirpation of most native terrestrial vertebrates on the island, thousands of power outages, and significant ecological changes. In addition, Guam now serves as a source population for the dispersal of snakes to other islands. Control of the brown treesnake is dependent upon the use of traps in a variety of settings, including port environments and in forested habitat A variety of snake traps have been used on Guam; most consist of a modified crawfish or minnow trap, housing a live mouse that serves as a …

Potential Consequences Of The Coqui Frog Invasion In Hawaii, Karen H. Beard, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The Puerto Rican frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui , has invaded Hawaii and has negatively impacted the state’s multimillion dollar floriculture, nursery and tourist industries; however, little is known about the ecological consequences of the invasion. Using data from Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the authors summarize the potential consequences of the invasion and describe future research needs. It could be predicted that the coqui would reduce the abundance of Hawaii’s endemic invertebrates. However, data suggest that coquis are mostly consuming non-native invertebrates, and not invertebrate pests, such as mosquitoes and termites. Endemic invertebrates are likely to represent a portion of the coqui …

Daughter Of Invention : Storytelling As Identity Negation And Negotion In Julia Alvarez's How The Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents And Yo!, Jordan Craven

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Autonomy In Relation To Utilitarian Ceramics, Jonathan A. Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Transformation Of Maize With The P1 Transcription Factor Directs Production Of Silk Maysin, A Corn Earworm Resistance Factor, In Concordance With A Hierarchy Of Floral Organ Pigmentation, Suzy M. Cocciolone, Dan Nettleton, Maurice E. Snook, Thomas Peterson

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The maize p1 gene encodes an R2R3-MYB transcription factor that controls the biosynthesis of red flavonoid pigments in floral tissues of the maize plant. Genetic and quantitative trait locus analyses have also associated the p1 gene with the synthesis of maysin, a flavone glycoside from maize silks that confers natural resistance to corn earworm. Here, we show directly that the p1 gene induces maysin accumulation in silk tissues. Transformation of maize plants that had low or no silk maysin with p1 transgenes elevated silk maysin concentrations to levels sufficient for corn earworm abiosis. The p1 transgenes also conferred red pigment …

Synthetic Host Volatiles Increase Efficacy Of Trap Cropping For Management Of Colorado Potato Beetle, Leptinotarsa Decemlineata (Say), J. W. Martel, A. R. Alford, J. C. Dickens

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

1 The attractiveness of pitfall traps baited with a synthetic host volatile attractant to colonizing adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) was evaluated in a field setting.

2 Significantly more postdiapause, colonizing adult L. decemlineata were captured in baited than unbaited pitfall traps.

3The potential for this synthetic kairomone to enhance the efficacy of trap cropping as a management tool was evaluated by comparing conventionally managed plots with like-sized plots bordered by either attractant-treated trap crop or untreated trap crop.

4 More postdiapause, colonizing adults, egg masses and small larvae were present in attractant-treated trap crops than in untreated …

Art, Aesthetics, And Ecology : Creating A High School Curriculum, Ashley Elizabeth Kalemjian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Carrion Beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) Of The Konza Prairie Biological Station, David A. Rintoul, Laura M. Krueger, Chari Woodard, James E. Throne

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Pitfall traps were used to determine diversity, seasonality, and numbers of burying beetles on the Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) during the summers of 1997 and 1998. Traps were baited with either beef liver (1997) or whole mouse carcasses (1997 and 1998); significantly more carrion beetles were found in traps baited with carcasses. A total of 1003 carrion beetles, representing 8 species, were trapped over the course of 1556 trap nights. One of these species, Necrophila americana Linneaus, had not previously been recorded in Riley County. One additional species was found at sites where pitfall trap bait was discarded, …

Trichinella Nativa In A Black Bear From Plymouth, New Hampshire, D.E. Hill, H.R. Gamble, D.S. Zarlenga, C. Cross, J. Finnigan

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

A suspected case of trichinellosis was identified in a single patient by the New Hampshire Public Health Laboratories in Concord, NH. The patient was thought to have become infected by consumption of muscle larvae (ML) in undercooked meat from a black bear killed in Plymouth, NH in October 2003 and stored frozen at 􏰀20 8C fro 4 months. In January 2004, a 600 g sample of the meat was thawed at 4 8C, digested in hydrochloric acid and pepsin, and larvae were collected by sedimentation. Intact, coiled, and motile ML were recovered (366 larvae per gram (lpg) of tissue), which …

Isolation And Characterization Of A Bovine Visceral Endoderm Cell Line Derived From A Parthenogenetic Blastocyst, Neil C. Talbot, Thomas J. Caperna, Anne M. Powell, Alan D. Ealy, Le Ann Blomberg, Wesley M. Garrett

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

A cell line, BPE-1, was derived from a parthenogenetic 8-d in vitro-produced bovine blastocyst that produced a cell outgrowth on STO feeder cells. The BPE-1 cells resembled visceral endoderm previously cultured from blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Analysis of the BPE-1 cells demonstrated that they produced serum proteins and were negative for interferon-tau production (a marker of trophectoderm). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cells were a polarized epithelium connected by complex junctions resembling tight junctions in conjunction with desmosomes. Rough endoplasmic reticulum was prominent within the cells as were lipid vacuoles. Immunocytochemistry indicated the BPE-1 cells …

Plant Availability Of Phosphorus In Swine Slurry And Cattle Feedlot Manure, Bahman Eghball, Brian J. Wienhold, Bryan L. Woodbury, Roger A. Eigenberg

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

To utilize manure P for crop production, P release and plant availability needs to be quantified. An incubation study was conducted to determine P availability from swine (Sus scrofa) and cattle (Bos taurus) feedlot manure in three soils. Treatments for each manure included temperature (11, 18, 25, and 32°C), water regime [constant 60% water-filled pore space (WFPS) vs. four dry-down cycles of 60 to 30% WFPS], time, and soils (Catlin silt loam, Sharpsburg silty clay loam, and Valentine fine sand). In another study, synthetic P fertilizer was used to determine the fraction of P that becomes …

Changes In Soil Attributes Following Low Phosphorus Swine Slurry Application To No-Tillage Sorghum, Brian J. Wienhold

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Swine (Sus scrofa) slurry can serve as an excellent fertilizer source. Application at rates to meet crop N requirements can result in excess soil P due to low manure N/P ratios. Low phytate corn (LPC) (Zea mays L.) stores a greater proportion of P as phosphate than does traditional corn (TC) increasing bioavailability of P in pig feed grain. Improved utilization of feed P reduces P concentration in manure and soil P accumulation. However, the potential effects of LPC manure on other soil properties are not known. Changes in soil attributes over 3 yr were compared for …

Laboratory Bioassays Of Entomopathogenic Fungi For Control Of Delia Radicum (L.) Larvae, Denny J. Bruck, Jane E. Snelling, Amy J. Dreves, Stefan T. Jaronski

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Laboratory soil bioassays were performed at economic Weld rates for in-furrow (3.85 x 10⁶ spores/g dry soil) and broadcast (3.85 x 10⁵ spores/g dry soil) applications with three isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae (F52, ATCC62176, and ARSEF5520) and one isolate of Beauveria bassiana (GHA). All isolates tested were infective to second instar Delia radicum (L.). The conditionally registered M. anisopliae isolate (F52) performed best killing an average of 85 and 72% of D. radicum larvae at the high and low concentration, respectively. The mean LC50 and LC95 of F52 against second instar D. radicum was 2.7 x 10^{6 …}

Apoplastic Redox Metabolism: Synergistic Phenolic Oxidation And A Novel Oxidative Burst, C. Jacyn Baker, Daniel P. Roberts, Norton M. Mock, Bruce D. Whitaker, Kenneth L. Deahl, Andrey A. Aver'yanov

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The plant apoplast is an important mediator of communication between the cell cytoplasm and its surroundings. Plant cell suspensions offer a convenient model system to gain insight into apoplastic physiology. Here, we describe a novel phenomenon that took place when two naturally occurring phenolics were added together to either soybean or tobacco cell suspensions. Acetosyringone (AS) and/or hydroxyacetophenone (HAP), phenolics found in the extracellular/apoplast of tobacco cells, were added to soybean or tobacco cell suspensions undergoing an oxidative burst. Individually, AS appeared to be utilized as a typical peroxidase substrate to scavenge hydrogen peroxide, while HAP was utilized at a …

From Metchnikoff To Monsanto And Beyond: The Path Of Microbial Control, Jeffrey C. Lord

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

In 125 years since Metchnikoff proposed the use of Metarhizium anisopliae to control the wheat cockchafer and brought about the first field trials, microbial control has progressed from the application of naturalists’ observations to biotechnology and precision delivery. This review highlights major milestones in its evolution and presents a perspective on its current direction. Fungal pathogens, the most eye-catching agents, dominated the early period, but major mycological control efforts for chinch bugs and citrus pests in the US had questionable success, and interest waned. The discoveries of Bacillus popilliae and Bacillus thuringiensis began the era of practical and commercially viable …

Composition Of Irrigation Water Salinity Affects Growth Characteristics And Uptake Of Selenium And Salt Ions By Soybean, D. Wang, C. M. Grieve, D. L. Suarez

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the effects of irrigation waters differing in salt composition on growth characteristics, salt ion and selenium (Se) accumulation, and distribution in plant components of the soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) cultivar “Manokin.” Plants were grown in sand cultures and irrigated with isoosmotic solutions containing (1) Cl⁻ as the dominant anion, or (2) a mixture of salts containing equal molar amounts of SO_^2-4  and Cl⁻. Six treatments of each salinity type were imposed. Electrical conductivities of the irrigation waters ranged from 2.1 to 13.0 dSm⁻¹. Selenium …

Assessment Of Rarity Of The Blackmouth Shiner Notropis Melanostomus (Cyprinidae) Based On Museum And Recent Survey Data, Martin O'Connell

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Accurate knowledge of an organism's distribution is necessary for conserving species with small or isolated populations. A perceived rarity may only reflect inadequate sampling effort and suggest the need for more research. We used a recently developed method to evaluate the distribution of a rare fish species, the blackmouth shiner Notropis melanostomus Bortone 1989 (Cyprinidae), which occurs in disjunct populations in Mississippi and Florida. Until 1995, N. melanostomus had been collected from only three localities in Mississippi, but in 1995, eight new localities were discovered. We analyzed museum records of fish collections from Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama to compare sampling …

Broad-Scale Non-Indigenous Species Monitoring Along The West Coast In National Marine Sanctuaries And National Estuarine Research Reserves, Catherine E. De Rivera, Greg Ruiz, Jeff Crooks, Kerstin Wasson, Steve Lonhart, Paul Fofonoff, Brian Steves, Steven S. Rumrill, Mary Sue Brancato, Scott Pegau, Doug Bulthuis, Rikke Kvist Preisler, Carl Schoch, Ed Bowlby, Andrew Devogelaere, Maurice Crawford, Steve Gittings, Anson Hines, Lynn Takata, Kristen Larson, Tami Huber, Anne Marie Leyman, Esther Collinetti, Tiffany Pascot, Suzanne Shull, Mary Anderson, Sue Powell

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Nonindigenous species have caused substantial environmental and economic damage to coastal areas. Moreover, the extent and impacts of nonindigenous species are increasing over time. To develop predictive models and to identify which areas should be targeted for impact mitigation or early detection, we need a basic foundation of knowledge about the spatial and temporal patterns of invasions. This project was developed because we lacked the necessary data to rigorously evaluate the patterns of coastal invasions. This collaborative project, between the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) and the National Marine Sanctuary Program (NMSP), established a …

Silencing Of Retrotransposons In Dictyostelium By Dna Methylation And Rnai, Markus Kuhlmann, Branimira E. Borisova, Markus Kaller, Pontus Larsson, Dirk Stach, Jianbo Na, Ludwig Eichinger, Frank Lyko, Victor Ambros, Fredrik Soderbom, Christian Hammann, Wolfgang Nellen

Dartmouth Scholarship

We have identified a DNA methyltransferase of the Dnmt2 family in Dictyostelium that was denominated DnmA. Expression of the dnmA gene is downregulated during the developmental cycle. Overall DNA methylation in Dictyostelium is ∼0.2% of the cytosine residues, which indicates its restriction to a limited set of genomic loci. Bisulfite sequencing of specific sites revealed that DnmA is responsible for methylation of mostly asymmetric C-residues in the retrotransposons DIRS-1 and Skipper. Disruption of the gene resulted in a loss of methylation and in increased transcription and mobilization of Skipper. Skipper transcription was also upregulated in strains that had genes encoding …

A Novel Binding Interaction For The Paxillin Ld3 Motif: Paxillin Ld3 Mediates Merlin-Paxillin Binding At Paxillin Binding Domain 1, Sandra E. Beattie Geden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurofibromatosis type 2, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, causes predisposed individuals to develop various benign central and peripheral nervous system tumors. The characteristic tumors of this disease are schwannomas, which are tumors of the Schwann cells, typically on the vestibular nerve. These and the other associated tumors slowly compress nervous system structures causing deafness and loss of balance, resulting in an average life-span of less than 40 years. The product of the Nf2 gene is the protein named merlin or schwannomin. In individuals diagnosed with NF2, merlin is either absent or mutated to the point of inactivation. As such, merlin …

The Influence Of Past Abuse On Heterosexual Cohabiting Couples' Relationship Types, Page Thanasiu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the influence of past witnessed or experienced abuse on heterosexual cohabiting couples' Premarital Personal and Relationship Evaluation for Cohabiting Couples (PREPARE-CC) couple relationship types. The researcher utilized preexisting data from 5,000 cohabiting couples who had previously participated in the PREPARE marriage preparation program and had completed the PREPARE-CC inventory including a demographic section that elicited information about past abuse. Discriminant analysis was conducted in SPSS to answer the question of whether the presence of past witnessed or experienced abuse could successfully predict relationship type among cohabiting couples. Results of the discriminant analysis yielded no significant ability to …

Simulation Studies Of Self-Assembly And Phase Diagram Of Amphiphilic Molecules, Geuorgui Kostadinov Bourov

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate self-assembled structures and the phase diagram of amphiphilic molecules of diverse geometric shapes using a number of different computer simulation methods. The semi-realistic coarse-grained model, used extensively for simulation of polymers and surfactant molecules, is adopted in an off-lattice approach to study how the geometric structure of amphiphiles affects the aggregation properties. The results of simulations show that the model system behavior is consistent with theoretical predictions, experiments and lattice simulation models. We demonstrate that by modifying the geometry of the molecules, self-assembled aggregates are altered in a way close to theoretical …

Regional Readiness For Intelligence Information Sharing To Support Homeland Security, Christine Genet Kemp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age was created to produce recommendations on how to best leverage intelligence and information to improve security without compromising existing civil liberties. Their second report proposed that the government set up an information-sharing network using currently available technology to improve our ability to prevent terrorist attacks, while protecting civil liberties. The Markle recommendations have been incorporated into the recent Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The proposition is that the Markle task force recommendations are sufficient to achieve the required data integration in the United States. To affirm …