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The Evolution Of Life Histories And Phenotypic Plasticity Across Environmental Gradients In Daphnia Sp., Michelle Renee Swan Packer

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Understanding how environmentally-induced variation ultimately leads to speciation is a main component of evolutionary ecology. This dissertation uses Daphnia in experimental and comparative studies to address several theoretical questions concerning the role of phenotypic plasticity in the evolutionary process. Specifically, I explore novel environmental factors which induce plasticity and investigate the plastic response across systems to determine general hypotheses for understanding the mechanisms which may be involved. Additionally, this dissertation provides empirical results which add to the body of research investigating the transition between environmentally induced phenotypes and genetic adaptation. The results of this body of work show that ancestral …

Building Community-Based Approaches To Systemic Reform In Mathematical Biology Education, Olcay Akman, Carrie Diaz Eaton, Dan Hrozencik, Kristin P. Jenkins, Katerina V. Thompson

All Faculty Scholarship

Starting in the early 2000’s, several reports were released recognizing the convergence of mathematics, biology and computer science, and calling for a rethinking of how undergraduates are prepared for careers in research and the science and technology workforce. This call for change requires careful consideration of the mathematical biology education system to identify key components and leverage points for change. This paper demonstrates the wide range of resources and approaches available to the mathematical biology education community to create systemic change by highlighting the efforts of four community-based education reform organizations. A closer look at these organizations provides an opportunity …

Investigation Of A Novel Mitophagy Regulatory Pathway And Chemical Inducer, Jane E. Craig

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Mitochondria are vital organelles that coordinate cellular energy homeostasis and also have important roles in cell death. Therefore, the removal of damaged or excessive mitochondria through autophagy, a process called mitophagy, is critical for maintaining proper cellular function. Much of the research elucidating the mechanism and regulation of autophagy was performed in yeast cells, so there is still a lot of mystery surrounding how mitophagy is promoted and regulated in mammals in general and in different tissues. The most well understood mechanism involved in mitophagy is the PINK1-PARKN pathway. However, studies often rely on severe mitochondrial damage using CCCP that …

“Tomorrow Never Dies”: Recent Advances In Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention Modalities Against Coronavirus (Covid-19) Amid Controversies, Partha Laskar, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications

The outbreak of novel coronavirus disease (2019-nCoV or COVID-19) is responsible for severe health emergency throughout the world. The attack of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is found to be responsible for COVID-19. The World Health Organization has declared the ongoing global public health emergency as a pandemic. The whole world fights against this invincible enemy in various capacities to restore economy, lifestyle, and safe life. Enormous amount of scientific research work(s), administrative strategies, and economic measurements are in place to create a successful step against COVID-19. Furthermore, differences in opinion, facts, and implementation methods laid additional layers …

New River Conservancy Recognizes Dr. Tom Jones And Gwu Honors Students, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

For the last 18 years, Dr. Tom Jones, Gardner-Webb University professor of biology, has given Honors Students the opportunity to join the annual cleanup event at New River in West Jefferson, N.C. The weekend event is aptly name “Mud, Sweat and Volunteers.” Participants sleep in tents and spend a day paddling down the river in canoes picking up trash as they go. Last year, 27 GWU students and eight guests made the trip and were among a group of over 100 volunteers who covered approximately 23 river miles.

Fundamentals Of Biology Bio 110, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Hypothesis Type On Scientific Literacy In Nonscience Majors, Sharon Schmidt, Leanne Davis, Danyelle N. Dehner-Aganovic, Margaret (Meg) Smith

Georgia Journal of Science

The University System of Georgia has undergone nine consolidations of institutions of higher education in the past seven years. One consequence of a consolidation is that faculty from historically different institutions are brought together to work in newly-created units, and this requires merging of ideas, particularly at the departmental level. In the Department of Biology of our own institution, this manifested as differences in the types of hypotheses taught in nonmajors classes in which scientific literacy is a learning outcome of high priority. Data can be useful for resolving such differences, but there was limited data on the effect of …

Title Ix & Menstruation, Margaret E. Johnson, Emily Gold Waldman, Bridget J. Crawford

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

“Oh no. Could I borrow a tampon or pad?” These (or similar) words are familiar to almost everyone who has ever had a period. Even for adults, menstruation can at times be a challenge. For some schoolchildren, it can be an insurmountable obstacle to receiving an education. Students are subject to constant observation by classmates and teachers; they may not have autonomous access to a bathroom during the school day; or they may not be able to afford menstrual products. They may experience menstruation-related peer harassment, restrictive school policies, a lack of access to menstrual products, and inadequate menstruation-related education. …

Investigation Of Multiphasic 3d-Bioplotted Scaffolds For Site-Specific Chondrogenic And Osteogenic Differentiation Of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells For Osteochondral Tissue Engineering Applications, Julia T. Oxford

Biomedical Research Institute Publications and Presentations

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that limits mobility of the affected joint due to the degradation of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. The limited regenerative capacity of cartilage presents significant challenges when attempting to repair or reverse the effects of cartilage degradation. Tissue engineered medical products are a promising alternative to treat osteochondral degeneration due to their potential to integrate into the patient's existing tissue. The goal of this study was to create a scaffold that would induce site-specific osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) to generate a full osteochondral implant. Scaffolds were fabricated using …

Velvet Longhorned Beetle (Trichoferus Campestris (Faldermann), Taryn M. Rodman, Lori R. Spears, Diane G. Alston, Cami Cannon, Kristopher Watson, Joey Caputo

All Current Publications

The velvet longhorned beetle is an invasive wood-boring pest that is native to Asia and Russia. It infests fruit, forest, and ornamental trees, as well as green and dry wood, such as timber and lumber. This fact sheet provides a description, and information on life history, plant hosts, injury symptoms, monitoring, and management.

Estimation Of Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, And Immunoglobulin M Antibody Levels In Laboratory Mice Balb/C Infected With Entamoeba Histolytica And Treatment With Aqueous Extracts Of Cyperus Rotundus And Thymus Serpyllum, Farhan K. Hussein, Ashraf J. Mahmoud, Buthainah J. Yousif

Polytechnic Journal

Sixty Balb/c mice (Mus musculus) were used in the present study. It was conducted out in the animal house of the Department of Biology/College of Education for Women. The mice were infected with Entamoeba histolytica isolated from positive stool samples obtained from children in pediatric hospital in Kirkuk city governorate followed by treatment with aqueous extract of Cyperus rotundus and Thymus serpyllum. Results revealed a significant increase of P < 0.05 in immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G,, and immunoglobulin M antibody levels among infected mice when it was compared with the control and treated groups of aqueous extracts of studied plant. This indicates the efficacy of these extracts as treatment.

The Impact Of Probiotics In Respiratory Diseases, Rafee H. Askandar, Nasim Ebrahimi

Polytechnic Journal

Probiotics are viable microorganisms that, if adequately administered, confer great benefits to the host for the prevention or treatment of a wide range of human diseases, including recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI), cystic fibrosis, allergies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of the current problems is that the overuse of antibiotics during respiratory tract infection has led to increased resistance to them, which has been demonstrated in numerous examinations that specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB), one of the key probiotics, against bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, have a protective effect. On the other hand, …

The Impact Of Probiotics In Respiratory Diseases, Rafee H. Askandar, Nasim Ebrahimi

Polytechnic Journal

Probiotics are viable microorganisms that, if adequately administered, confer great benefits to the host for the prevention or treatment of a wide range of human diseases, including recurrent respiratory tract infection (RRTI), cystic fibrosis, allergies, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of the current problems is that the overuse of antibiotics during respiratory tract infection has led to increased resistance to them, which has been demonstrated in numerous examinations that specific lactic acid bacteria (LAB), one of the key probiotics, against bacterial and viral infections of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract, have a protective effect. On the other hand, …

Estimation Of Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, And Immunoglobulin M Antibody Levels In Laboratory Mice Balb/C Infected With Entamoeba Histolytica And Treatment With Aqueous Extracts Of Cyperus Rotundus And Thymus Serpyllum, Farhan K. Hussein, Ashraf J. Mahmoud, Buthainah J. Yousif

Polytechnic Journal

Sixty Balb/c mice (Mus musculus) were used in the present study. It was conducted out in the animal house of the Department of Biology/College of Education for Women. The mice were infected with Entamoeba histolytica isolated from positive stool samples obtained from children in pediatric hospital in Kirkuk city governorate followed by treatment with aqueous extract of Cyperus rotundus and Thymus serpyllum. Results revealed a significant increase of P < 0.05 in immunoglobulin A, immunoglobulin G,, and immunoglobulin M antibody levels among infected mice when it was compared with the control and treated groups of aqueous extracts of studied plant. This indicates the efficacy of these extracts as treatment.

Analisis Kebutuhan Pengembangan Multimedia Interaktif Berbasis Problem Based Learning Pada Materi Biologi Sma, Rinu Bhakti Dewantara, Endang Suarsini, Sri Rahayu Lestari

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The aim of research was to analyze the need for multimedia based on Problem Based Learning in biological matter. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. The method used is in the form of a questionnaire (questionnaire). Questionnaires were given to 67 students of SMAN 1 Way Jepara in August 2017. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. The results indicates that 67.2% of students stated that the material immune system was considered the most difficult, 93.3% of students wanted the development of new learning media, 54% of students wanted interactive multimedia. The conclusion of this study is that it …

Spring 2020: Global Manufacturer Builds Research Partnership With Snc, St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

A global private-label manufacturer of consumer wet wipes needed to conduct a quality assessment of a new supplier – something it couldn’t do in-house. So the manufacturer struck a partnership with St. Norbert College.

The Development Of An H1 Embryonic Stem Cell Line To Study The Role Of The Oncogenes Lmo1 And Mycn In Human Neuroblastoma Formation, Vincent Quiroz

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Neuroblastoma (NB) is an extracranial tumor that affects the nervous system and accounts for approximately 650 – 800 cases diagnosed per year in children under the age of 5 (www.cancer.org/cancer/neuroblastoma/about/key-statistics.html). NB occurs at a relatively rare rate of 10.2 per million children under 15 years old but accounts for 12-15% of pediatric cancer death because patients with high-risk NB (HRNB) have 5-year survival rates between 40-50%(Brodeur, 2003; Park et al. 2010). Developmental biology research has recognized neural crest cells (NCC) as the progenitor cells of NB, as tumors form in the trunk NC derived sympathetic nervous system (Dupin, 2013; Simões-Costa …

Handout Biologi Berbasis Potensi Lokal Pantai Ujong Blang Untuk Siswa Smk Perairan Dan Kelautan, Dini Annisha, Ibrohim Ibrohim, Fatchur Rochman

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The aim of the paper is to know the validity and practicality of handout biology based on local potential of Ujong Blang beach. This study adapted the ADDIE model of research & development. The validity of handout is known from the experts’ validation score, while the practicality is known from the student's response. The results showed that the validation scores of media and material experts and practitioners had a high level of validity value (mean> 90) so that was categorized as highly valid. While the test readability by students also showed highly valid level of the handout validity Based on …

Madrepora, Elizabeth Burmann Littin

Masters Theses

Exploring materiality and how we’re inextricably entangled with it, this thesis dive into bodily, aqueous, and political engagements for dissolving the human project of separating nature from culture and bodies from environments. This dematerialization practice driven by discursive means has served as an excuse for the industrial exploitation and abuse of the less seen.

Infused by the material turn in feminist theory, I propose to think with materiality in all its wet, slimy, and dusty ongoingness as a way to craft from the living and dying processes that we embody as current wanderers among contamination, scarcity, and ruins.

Proposing a …

Using Stable Isotopes To Determine Foraging Areas Of Leatherback Sea Turtles: Limitations Of The Isotope Tracking Technique In The Western Atlantic Ocean, Sharon Hsu

Master's Theses

Reproductive output has long been linked to habitat quality and resource availability. Individuals foraging in high-quality habitats with high resource availability will have better body conditions and higher survival rates, as well as greater reproductive output. Post-nesting, Western Caribbean leatherback turtles are known to migrate to at least two foraging regions: the western North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. This study had three objectives: [1] measure δ13C and δ15N values in bulk skin tissue of females nesting in Parismina, Costa Rica to reveal prior foraging region; [2] assess influence of foraging region on female body size and reproductive output; and …

Upcoming: Coming Spring 2018: Colby On Climate, Colby College

Colby Magazine

No abstract provided.

A Review Of Plant-Soil Feedbacks And Their Importance For Palouse Prairie Restoration And Management, Rachael Sv Pentico

2020 Symposium Posters

A plant-soil feedback (PSF) is the process in which plants alter both the biotic and abiotic characteristics of the soil they grow in. These changes in the soil composition alter which plants can grow and survive there in the future. Negative PSFs occur when plants struggle to grow in soil that was previously inhabited, due to a buildup of soil pathogens. Positive PSFs, however, provide benefits to the plants due to an abundance of soil microbes, such as AMF. Understanding the effects that PSFs have on plant communities and dynamics could be vital for restoring damaged ecosystems, like the Palouse …

Investigations In Phylogenetics: Tree Inference And Model Identifiability, Samaneh Yourdkhani

Mathematics and Statistics

This thesis presents two projects in mathematical phylogenetics. The first presents a new, statistically consistent, fast method for inferring species trees from topological gene trees under the multispecies coalescent model. The algorithm of this method takes a collection of unrooted topological gene trees, computes a novel intertaxon distance from them, and outputs a metric species tree. The second establishes that numerical and non-numerical parameters of a specic Prole Mixture Model of protein sequence evolution are generically identifiable. Algebraic techniques are used, especially a theorem of Kruskal on tensor decomposition.

Gwu Alumnus Opens Dental Practice With Emphasis On Giving Back To The Community, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

When Trey Miller graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 2008, the thought of becoming a dentist hadn’t entered his mind. The Kannapolis, N.C., resident certainly had no idea that in the middle of a pandemic he would open his own practice, Smile Solutions Dentistry in Harrisburg, N.C. Despite the uncertainty, Miller said people call his practice every day to schedule appointments.

Population Genetics Of A Recent Range Expansion By The Southern Pine Beetle, Dendroctonus Frontalis, Into The Northeastern United States, Megan Stubbs

Honors Theses

Population genetics as a field of study aims to determine the genetic variation among individuals in a population, and differences among populations. Certain population genetic analyses can provide such information and be used to better understand the biological aspects to a species’ expansion beyond its native range. The southern pine beetle (SPB), Dendroctonus frontalis, has become an invasive pest to pine forests in northeastern United States with its recent range expansion. Nine microsatellite loci were first developed and then used in analyses. To determine what the genetic variation is among individuals in SPB populations across its entire range, including …

Seminar In Biological Sciences Bio 228, Michael Cerbo

Library Impact Statements

No abstract provided.

A Genomic Analysis Of Bobcat Populations In North America With A Comparison To The Canada Lynx: An Assessment Of Local Adaptation To Unique Ecoregions And Phylogeography, Jennifer C. Broderick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are an ecologically and genetically diverse species with a large contiguous range throughout North America. The species not only has a wide array of phenotypic variation compared to other mammals, but shows marked adaptability across ecozones with differing ecological influences. It is these various selective pressures in distinctive parts of the continent that have likely led to localized adaptations within the bobcat metapopulations. The species is also marked by its ability to maintain connectivity and populations in anthropogenically developed areas, an advantage it has over other felids, including its close relative the Canada lynx ( …

Spring 2020: Public Health Partnership Offers Timely Opportunity, St. Norbert College

St. Norbert College Magazine 2019-2023

A new Master of Public Health partnership launches at St. Norbert at a time when the work of public health professionals has never been more in the collective consciousness. The new program, many months in the making, offers significant opportunity for qualified SNC students looking for an accelerated path into the profession.

Gardner-Webb Honors Student Presents Research On Campus Water Quality, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Celsea Reeder, ’20, of Salisbury, N.C., recently culminated her Gardner-Webb University experience by presenting her Honors thesis in a Zoom teleconference. The University’s Honors Program hosted the virtual event because of Coronavirus social distancing guidelines. Reeder earned a degree in biology with a concentration in biomedical sciences and minor in Spanish.

Gwu Honors Program Offers Various Opportunities To Connect And Learn, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Trevor Alexander, ’20, of Shelby, N.C., a student in the Gardner-Webb University Honors Program, recently joined other Honors students who presented their theses in a Zoom teleconference. The presentations were moved to the online format because of social distancing recommendations. Alexander’s topic was “An Investigation of Salmonids: Hybridization, Demands from Fish Markets, and Angler’s Influence on their Future.”