Digital Commons Network^™

Use Of Lolium Multiflorum For Remediation Of Phosphorus From Poultry-Litter-Contaminated Media, Daniel L Starnes

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

No abstract provided.

Physiological And Behavioral Responses Of Eurycea Sosorum To Variation In Levels Of Conductivity, H. Arthur Woods, Mary F. Poteet

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

"This report summarizes our findings on the response of adult salamanders to conductivity and covers a portion of our work between February 21 and August 23, 2006. We also include our results on salamander activity levels in response to dissolved oxygen (DO) in order to justify the oxygen levels we are currently testing in the 28 day oxygen toxicity experiment. Our next report will provide a detailed discussion of the effects of DO on salamander behavior, physiology and mortality. In this report, we cover all aspects of adult salamander response to conductivity, but we do not address the response of …

Gonadal Histology And Reproductive Steroidogenesis Of Anurans Exposed To Potential Endocrine Disrupting Contaminants, Emily May La Fiandra

Doctoral Dissertations

The prevalence of malformed amphibians and the association of high incidences of malformation with the presence of environmental contaminants have raised questions about the effects of environmental contaminants on the development of larval amphibians. The potential endocrine disrupting effects of pesticides suggest that the reproductive and developmental abnormalities observed in larval anurans may be due at least in part to impacts on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The present studies investigate the effects of exposure to environmental contaminants including DDT and atrazine on the development, gonadal histology and reproductive steroidogenesis of larval anurans.

As previous monitoring at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge …

Physiological Bases Of Parental Care In The Burying Beetles, Nicrophorus Orbicollis, Stefania Carmen Panaitof

Doctoral Dissertations

Burying beetles, Nicrophorus orbicollis, have extended biparental care. They bury and prepare small vertebrate carcasses as food for their young. While females provide the most care, single males show a remarkable behavioral compensation after a mate loss. Here, I integrate behavioral and physiological analyses of parental behavior in burying beetles by exploring how hormonal and social factors may interact to mediate brood care.

In Chapter I, I establish Juvenile Hormone (JH) profiles during a breeding bout and show that after larvae hatch, JH titers of single males and paired females are similar. JH titers of single males also respond to …

Structural Analysis Of Cytokine Signaling Modulators, Cristina Ileana Silvescu

Doctoral Dissertations

The N-linked glycans attached to cytokine receptors modulate signal transduction by interacting with galectin-3 and generating a cell surface lattice. This opposes constitutive endocytosis and reduces the thresholds for cytokine signaling. The preferred ligands for galectin-3 are the poly-N-acetyl lactosaminylated tetra-antennary glycans which are synthesized by Mgat 5 and are present at high levels in tumor cells. A null mutation in Mgat 5 inhibits lattice formation and cancer progression in cells with an oncogenic background. GlcNAc feeding reestablishes lattice formation, cytokine signaling and tumorigenesis.

A MALDI-TOF analysis was employed to identify the N-glycans involved in modulating signal transduction in wild …

Cellular Uptake And Actions Of Bilberry Anthocyanins In Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, Paul Everett Milbury Jr.

Doctoral Dissertations

Inflammation and oxidative stress play a significant role in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In AMD, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells are damaged by oxidative stress and die via the process of apoptosis. Anthocyanins from fruits and berries, such as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), possess significant antioxidant activity in vitro and have been used in "traditional medicine" to treat AMD. It is not clear whether intracellular concentrations of anthocyanins are sufficient to quench radical species and mitigate oxidative stress in vivo. In this research project, human RPE cells in vitro were used to establish an oxidative stress model in …

Patterns And Process During The Diversification Of The Cichlid Fishes In Lake Malawi, Africa, Michael R. Kidd

Doctoral Dissertations

The 500-1000 cichlid species endemic to Lake Malawi constitute one of the most rapid and extensive radiations of vertebrates ever discovered. The objective of this dissertation was to test the assumptions and predictions of several recently published models of cichlid speciation. First, a novel assay of female choice was used to evaluate the role of visual cues during conspecific recognition. The results of this experiment demonstrate that females are able to identify conspecific mates using only visual cues. Second, the assumptions of a recent model of speciation via intrasexual selection were tested by comparing aggressive behavior during territorial contests among …

A Molecular And Morphological Investigation Of The Red Seaweed Genus Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) In The Northwest Atlantic, Troy Lee Bray

Doctoral Dissertations

To evaluate the possible occurrence of cryptic Porphyra taxa in the Northwest Atlantic, extensive field collections were made during winter and spring periods when relatively few previous collections had been made. Approximately 100 different sites extending from Chance Harbor, New Brunswick, Canada to Rye, New York, USA, were sampled during multiple years (2001-2005). Historical specimens from several herbaria (NHA, FH, BM, WTU, MICH, US) were also examined for possible cryptic taxa. A combination of morphological and molecular tools was used to screen both recent and historical collections.

Sequences from the plastid-encoded, ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase large subunit (rbcL) gene and rbcL- …

Risks Of Atrazine Use To Federally Listed Endangered Barton Springs Salamanders (Eurycea Sosorum)

KIP Data Sets and Technical Reports

The purpose of this assessment is to make an "effects determination" for the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) by evaluating the potential direct and indirect effects of the herbicide atrazine on the survival, growth, and reproduction of this Federally endangered species. This assessment was completed in accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Endangered Species Consultation Handbook (USFWS/NMFS, 1998), the August 5, 2004 Joint Counterpart Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation Regulations specified in 50 CFR Part 402 (USFWS/NMFS, 2004a; FR 69 47732-47762), and procedures outlined in the Agency's Overview Document (U.S. …

Panzea: A Database And Resource For Molecular And Functional Diversity In The Maize Genome, Wei Zhao, Payan Canaran, Rebecca Jurkuta, Theresa Fulton, Jeffrey Glaubitz, Edward Buckler, John Doebley, Brandon Gaut, Major Goodman, Jim Holland, Stephen Kresovich, Michael Mcmullen, Lincoln Stein, Doreen Ware

Faculty Publications

Serving as a community resource, Panzea is the bioinformatics arm of the Molecular and Functional Diversity in the Maize Genome project. Maize, a classical model for genetic studies, is an important crop species and also the most diverse crop species known. One average, two randomly chosen maize lines have one single-nucleotide polymorphism every ~100 bp; this divergence is roughly equivalent to the differences between humans and chimpanzees. This exceptional genotypic diversity underlies the phenotypic diversity maize needs to be cultivated in a wide range of environments. The Molecular and Functional Diversity in the Maize Genome project aims to understand how …

Contribution To The Taxonomical And Biological Characteristics Of Sciurus Anomalus In Turkey (Mammalia: Rodentia), İrfan Albayrak, Ati̇lla Arslan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study is based on 62 Sciurus anomalus specimens obtained from Konya, Karaman, Kütahya and Çorum provinces between 1997 and 2002. Some ecological and biological features of the species, including habitat, nest-sites, fur colour, baculum and phallus were investigated. In this species, the chromosome number (2n) is 40. For the taxonomical evaluation of Sciurus anomalus, morphometric data of the specimens were used. The specimens were discussed at the subspecies level, comparing to the relevant literature, and it was concluded that our specimens represent the nominate form.

Expression Profiling Of The Spermidine Synthase3 (Spds3) And Spermine Synthase ( Spms) Genes During The Life Of Arabidopsis, Charles F. Rice

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polyamines are low molecular weight nitrogenous compounds found in all living organisms. These omnipresent molecules have been extensively studied in plant systems and have been implicated in a number of physiological responses including growth, development, and stress response. The proposed role of polyamines in vital processes such as cell division and differentiation has sparked enthusiasm in further investigation of this relatively small biosynthetic pathway. Very little is known about the regulation of polyamine biosynthetic genes, an aspect that can elucidate further functions of these ubiquitous compounds. In the following study, the expression profiles of two of these genes, spermidine synthase3 …

Roles Of Wrky Proteins In Mediating The Crosstalk Of Hormone Signaling Pathways: An Approach Integrating Bioinformatics And Experimental Biology, Zhen Xie

UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations

The goal of my research is to understand the molecular mechanism by which hormones control seed germination. Gibberellins (GA) promote, while abscisic acid (ABA) and salicylic acid (SA) inhibit seed germination. Key molecules in these signaling pathways include receptors, secondary messengers, protein kinases and phosphatases, and transcription factors. My study focuses on how WRKY transcription factors modulate the expression of an alpha-amylase gene (Amy32b), which is up-regulated by GA, but down-regulated by ABA and SA in the aleurone cells of germinating seeds; Chapter 2 started with the annotation and phylogenetic analyses of the WRKY gene superfamily, followed by functional studies …

Transposable Elements: What Have You Done For Me Lately? A Genomics Based Investigation Into The Potential Functional Roles Of Transposable Elements Using The Model Organism Caenorhabditis Elegans, Sarah Prescott Kenick

Doctoral Dissertations

The genomes of all organisms contain discrete DNA sequences present as disperse repetitive elements called transposons. Transposons have the unique ability to move to new chromosomal locations. Problems of uncontrolled movement of transposons can result in mutations, rearrangement, and even broken chromosomes. Often termed "selfish parasites" that invade a host genome, there is a longstanding question of whether they have a functional role. As a first step in an effort to investigate this question, I identified and annotated 276 full length and partial elements in the C.elegans genome. I determined the genomic location of each and looked for patterns resulting …

The Expression Of Heat Shock Protein 70, Heat Shock Protein 90 And Heat Shock Factor 1 Within The Bovine Midcycle Corpus Luteum After Stimulation With Temperature In Vitro And Pgf2alpha In Vitro And In Vivo, Melissa N. Kopka

Master's Theses and Capstones

Environmental and biological stressors affect cellular function. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that safeguard cells against these stressors by protecting endogenous proteins from degradation. Heat shock factors (HSF) are their transcriptional regulators. In the present study, we evaluated whether heat (Experiment 1) or prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; Experiments 2 and 3) induces the expression of HSP 70, HSP 90 and HSF1 in the bovine corpus luteum (CL). In summary, in vitro heat treatment elicited a later response in luteal cells by increasing HSP 70 expression at 24 hrs, while in vivo PGF2alpha treatment leads to an earlier response by …

Native Gastropods And Introduced Crabs: Shell Morphology And Resistance To Predation In The New England Rocky Intertidal Zone, Sarah Joanne Teck

Master's Theses and Capstones

The impact of non-native species is one of the most critical issues facing management and conservation today. When these invaders are generalist predators, their impacts on native communities can be a major restructuring force for ecosystems. A new voracious predator the Asian crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus , joins another non-native established species, Carcinus maenas, along the majority of the New England coastline. What remains poorly understood is how the two introduced predators may modify local communities, especially considering their impact on native prey, such as the rough periwinkle snail, Littorina saxatilis. The goal of this research is to investigate the vulnerability …

The Effects Of Photoperiod And Water Temperature On The Reproductive Development Of Black Sea Bass, Centropristis Striata, Katie Strait

Master's Theses and Capstones

Black sea bass are a potential candidate for marine aquaculture due to their high market value, high demand, and limited seasonal supply. One of the most significant impediments to commercial production of black sea bass is the lack of a year-round supply of eggs and larvae. Further, control of reproductive development is poorly understood in this species. Black sea bass are protogynous hermaphrodites that change sex between 2-5 years of age. It is unclear why adult black sea bass undergo sex change in the wild. Therefore, the first part of study sought to determine if density is involved in sex …

Analysis Of Adc2 And Samdc1 Expression And The Effects Of Transgenic Manipulation Of Polyamine Biosynthesis On Flower Development In Arabidopsis, Vasavi Rani Challa

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polyamines are low molecular weight, aliphatic cationic molecules playing a vital role in all cellular and physiological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, abiotic stress, and somatic embryogenesis. The present study is aimed at unraveling their role during floral development in Arabidopsis thaliana by studying the temporal and spatial expression of ADC2 and SAMDC1 genes by promoter-reporter fusion analysis, and by the transgenic expression of mouse ODC and carrot SAMDC under tissue specific promoters AP1 and AP3, respectively. The expression of SAMDC1 was found to be prominent during different stages of development and in different whorls of flowers whereas ADC2 …

The Development And Utilization Of Est (Expressed Sequence Tag) Resources In The Diploid Strawberry Model System, Robin Leigh Brese

Master's Theses and Capstones

Enhancement of genomic resources is needed for the cultivated octoploid strawberry Fragaria x ananassa (2n=8x=56). A diploid (2n=2x=14) relative, Fragaria vesca, has been used as a model system for strawberry genomics because of its small (~200 Mb) basic genome size, ancestry to the octoploid strawberries and availability of inbred lines, among other favorable features.

In this study, a cDNA library was constructed from developing flower buds of Fragaria vesca ssp. vesca cv. 'Yellow Wonder'. A cDNA library of 7680 clones was created using the CLONTECH SMART cDNA Library Construction kit. Sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of 3298 clones resulted in 2717 …

Microvascular Endothelial Cells Of The Bovine Corpus Luteum: A Comparative Study Of The Estrous Cycle And Pregnancy, Jessica A. Cherry

Master's Theses and Capstones

Endothelial cells derived from the corpus luteum (CLENDOs) exhibit a diverse array of characteristics that seemingly complement their wide-ranging properties in luteal function and fate. Reproductive status of the animal (i.e., non-pregnant vs. pregnant) may contribute to the phenotypic/physiologic diversity of microvascular endothelial cells, but information in this regard is limited. Here, structural and functional attributes of CLENDOs derived from the estrous cycle (Days 9-12) were compared with those of pregnancy (Day 60). Initially, lectin binding properties were examined in the cells. Using fluorescent-tagged lectins for Bandeiraea simplicifolia I or concanavalin A, flow cytometric analysis indicated that lectin-binding on CLENDOs …

Effects Of Stz Induced Hyperglycemia And Hyperlipemia On Ppargamma And Abca1 In A Hamster Model Of Atherogenesis, Craig Lamarca

Master's Theses and Capstones

Diabetes mellitus accelerates atherogenesis, but the exact mechanisms involved are unknown. This study examined the effects of hyperglycemia on the inflammatory transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), known to be involved in atherogenesis, and the ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) protein that is a downstream product of PPARgamma. ABCA1 is a membrane bound transporter that is involved in reverse cholesterol transport via high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Hamsters were divided into two groups; hyperlipemic animals fed a high fat/high cholesterol control diet (C) and hyperlipemic/hyperglycemic animals that received the high fat diet and were administered streptozotocin. Half of …

Temporal Expression Of Protein Mediators During Pgf2alpha-Induced Luteolysis In Sheep, Bryon F. Ricketts

Master's Theses and Capstones

To study dynamic in vivo biochemical changes within the corpus luteum (CL) during luteolysis, a physiological model mimicking the onset of natural luteolysis was established, in which sheep received sequential systemic pulses of PGF2alpha (20ug/min/lhr) at mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle. We previously demonstrated that after one pulse of PGF2alpha, the protein levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) regulators, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) -1 and -2 decreased dramatically within one hour of PGF2alpha infusion, while matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity increased 4 hrs post infusion. In summary, the early and dramatic decrease in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 proteins, accompanied by an …

Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases In Physcomitrella Patens, Kathryn Chervincky

Master's Theses and Capstones

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are a group of plant serine-threonine kinases that are stimulated in response to increases in intracellular calcium concentrations. Physcomitrella patens is a moss and a member of the bryophyte family. Physcomitrella has gained popularity as a model research organism due to the simple morphology of the plant as well as many other desirable characteristics. My research utilized Physcomitrella to accomplish four goals. The first goal was to identify and obtain sequence for as many CDPKs as possible in Physcomitrella. The second goal was to confirm the calcium-activated protein kinase activity of the identified CDPKs. The third …

Correlating Sea Otter Density And Behavior To Habitat Attributes In Prince William Sound, Alaska: A Model For Prediction, Heather A. Coletti

Master's Theses and Capstones

As a benthic foraging marine mammal, sea otters ( Enhydra lutris) present a unique opportunity for conducting a quantitative assessment of behavior based on habitat use as well as developing a habitat based density model using GIS because of the sea otter's well defined habitat requirements. Several studies have documented sea otter behavior but none have calculated the probability of occurrence of a particular behavior based on habitat attributes. Previous predictive models of sea otter density have been constructed, however these models have excluded offshore habitat. Seven aerial surveys, that included offshore habitats, were conducted between 1995 and 2005 in …

Environmental Effects On Early Life Stages Of American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) And Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax ), Kristen Fuda

Master's Theses and Capstones

Recruitment of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) has steadily declined over the last few decades, possibly due to the construction of physical impediments to migration and increases in anthropogenic pollution. In order to elucidate environmental parameters influencing early life stages of anadromous fish, both laboratory and field studies were conducted. The effects of abiotic factors, including dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate, on hatch and survival of larval and juvenile American shad and rainbow smelt were examined in laboratory studies. Field studies on shad emigration were conducted in the Exeter River, and studies on …

An Experimental Approach To Understanding The Impact Of Vernal Pool Buffer Size On Wood Frogs (Rana Sylvatica), Nicole Alexis Freidenfelds

Master's Theses and Capstones

Strategies to conserve vernal pool-dependent amphibians emphasize the maintenance of adequate areas (buffers) of terrestrial habitat surrounding the pool. I conducted a large-scale field study that specifically examined the effects of buffer width manipulation on adult and metamorph wood frogs at eleven vernal pools in a managed forest in central Maine. Buffer width treatments were 30 m or 100 m forest buffer surrounded by a 100 m clearcut, or no cut (reference). I encircled pools with drift fences and monitored wood frogs from April--November, 2004 and 2005 using pitfall traps and radio-telemetry. Buffer width had no effect on the number …

Interactive 3d Multimedia Learning Tools In Biology / Chin Siaw Khim, Siaw Khim Chin

Student Works (2000-2009)

An interactive 3D Multimedia Learning tool in Biology is an application system to assist users in the brand new learning style for biology. Combination of the virtual and multimedia in the system can bring out the clear explanation of processes and delivery the information. Besides that, the system enables users to interactive with the system to help them in the learning biology. The web-based application also encourage sharing knowledge through distance learning between the user. An interactive 3D Multimedia Learning tools in Biology mainly focus on Biology Cell topic with SPM syllabus. The target user for this system is mainly …

Toxin-Producing Microcystis Aeruginosa: A Trade-Off In The Vertical Distribution Of Three Daphnia Species As Predicted By The Ideal Free Distribution With Costs Model, Sonya Claudine Carlson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Daphnia hyalina, D. galeata, and D. ambigua were exposed to the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in 30 cm temperature-stratified columns. Changes in egg ratio, lipid index, length, and growth were recorded over 3 day experiments. Spatial distributions were recorded during 6-hour constant light experiments and 3 day fluctuating light experiments. D. hyalina and D. galeata stayed in the upper half of the column in temperatures of 18--22°C when exposed to M. aeruginosa. D. ambigua remained between 10--19°C regardless of food type. For across all experiments, depth and temperature ranges were narrowest in treatments with M. aeruginosa. D. ambigua incurred costs to …

Effects Of Forest Clear Cutting On Spotted Salamander ( Ambystoma Maculatum) Migration, Jessica Susannah Veysey

Master's Theses and Capstones

Upland buffer zones are a proposed management tool for vernal-pool-breeding amphibians. Substantial validation of buffers, via experimental upland habitat disturbance, is lacking. Specifically, no studies have examined immediate effects of clear cutting on spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum ) migration. I used clear cutting to experimentally manipulate upland buffer widths at 11 vernal pools. I then radiotracked 40 adult spotted salamanders at these pools, and modeled their migration with mixed-effects regression. Mean maximum distance from the pool was 106.0 +/- 15.4 m (range = 1.6 to 427.6 m). At clear cut-treatment pools, mean percent of time in the cut was 27.2 …

Mhc (B) Complex Recombinant Immune Response, Nicole Gay Wilkinson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Recombination between chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I B-F and class IV B-G genes has enabled more precise identification of genes controlling immune responses. Congenic lines, each containing a unique MHC recombinant, were developed with 99.9% genetic uniformity to inbred Line UCD 003 (B17B17). A new recombinant, R13 (BF17-BG23), originated in the tenth backcross generation for R1 (BF24-BG23). Two experiments tested the R13 immune response to bovine red blood .cells (BRBC) and Rous sarcoma virus (RSV).

A single R13B17 sire mated to five R131317 dams produced progeny segregating for R13R13, R13B17, and B17B17 genotypes. These progeny were injected with …