Life Sciences Commons^™

Trails And Physical Activity: A Review, Heather A. Starnes, Philip J. Troped, David B. Klenosky, Angela M. Doehring

Kinesiology and Public Health

To provide a synthesis of research on trails and physical activity from the public health, leisure sciences, urban planning, and transportation literatures. Methods: A search of databases was conducted to identify studies published between 1980 and 2008. Results: 52 studies were identified. The majority were cross-sectional (92*%) and published after 1999 (11%). The evidence for the effects of trails on physical activity was mixed among 3 intervention and 5 correlational studies. Correlates of trail use were examined in 13 studies. Several demographic (eg, race, education, income) and environmental factors (eg, land-use mix and distance to trail) were related to trail …

Perceived Built Environment And Physical Activity In U.S. Women By Sprawl And Region, Philip J. Troped, Kosuke Tamura, Heather A. Whitcomb, Francine Laden

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background

A number of studies have demonstrated relationships between the perceived built environment and physical activity among adults. However, little is known about whether these associations differ by U.S. region and level of urban sprawl.

Purpose

To examine associations between the perceived built environment and physical activity in U.S. women by region and urban sprawl.

Methods

Nurses' Health Study II participants (N=68,968) completed four perceived neighborhood environment survey items in 2005. Logistic regression was used to estimate associations with meeting physical activity recommendations, adjusting for demographic and weight-status variables, and stratifying by region and sprawl. Data analyses were completed in …

Analysis Of Pacific Harbor Seal Survival At Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Friday Harbor, Wa, Casey L. Martinez

Animal Science

The Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center cares for and releases dozens of Pacific Harbor Seals each year. Analysis of 161 seal records from mid-2004 to 2010 showed that the sex, weight, and age of the incoming seals are not statistically significant predictors of survival to release. The absence of wounds and injuries, on the other hand, is correlated with increased survival about two times greater than that of wounded seals.

Investigating The Roles Of Ndj1 And Tid1 In Crossover Assurance In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Rianna Knowles

Master's Theses

Meiosis is the specialized process of cell division utilized during gametogenesis in all sexually reproducing eukaryotes, which consists of one round of DNA replication followed by two rounds of chromosome segregation and results in four haploid cells. Crossovers between homologous chromosomes promote proper alignment and segregation of chromosomes during meiosis.

Crossover interference is a genetic phenomenon in which crossovers are non-randomly placed along chromosomes. Crossover assurance ensures that every homologous chromosome pair obtains at least one crossover during Prophase I. Crossovers physically connect homologous pairs, allowing spindle fibers to attach and separate homologs properly. However, some organisms have shown an …

Response Of Evergreen Perennial Tree Crops To Gibberellic Acid Is Crop Load-Dependent: Ii. Ga3 Increases Yield And Fruit Size Of ‘Hass’ Avocado Only In The On-Crop Year Of An Alternate Bearing Orchard, Lauren C. Garner, Grant Klein, Yusheng Zheng, Toan Khuong, Carol J. Lovatt

Horticulture and Crop Science

Despite problems of low fruit set, small fruit size and alternate bearing, the Hass cultivar dominates commercial avocado production worldwide. To increase yield and fruit size, gibberellic acid (GA₃) (25 mg L⁻¹) was applied at different stages of ‘Hass’ avocado tree phenology: (i) mid–late April (flower abscission), end of June–beginning of July (fruit abscission and beginning of the exponential phase of fruit growth), and mid-January (beginning of pre-harvest fruit drop); (ii) end of June–beginning of July; and (iii) mid-September (near the end of the major fruit abscission period; period of …

Capstone Experiences: Effects Of Adapted Physical Activity Design Projects On Attitudes And Learning, David W. Hey, Bridie Jean Mccarey, Lynne A. Slivovsky, J. Kevin Taylor, Brian Self, James Widmann

Kinesiology and Public Health

Eight innovative senior level capstone engineering projects were completed at California Polytechnic State University (2008-present) involving (n=28) students (23 male/5 female). All projects involved the design of equipment to facilitate physical activity for people with disabilities. The effects on: i) learning design, ii) attitude towards people with disabilities, and iii) motivation to complete team design projects were analyzed through eight one-hour focus groups. This paper presents focus group findings using a constructivist approach and grounded theory to explore the overall student “learn by doing” experience. Results: (1) Approximately 19 (70%) of the students claimed the adapted physical activity …

Cultured Cream Products Must Live Up To The Name, Phillip S. Tong

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Tannin Additions Postfermentation With Gelatin Remediation In Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon, Briana Heywood, Geraldine S.P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

The resultant color of a Cabernet Sauvignon wine connotes overall quality. Therefore, it is in the best interests of a winery to produce a well-balanced wine, containing the deepest color possible, using the least amount of additives. This experiment studied the effects of adding ColorPro, VRSupra, and Gelatin Extra No.1 to Cabernet Sauvignon fruit from Paso Robles to determine if anthocyanin and tannin levels changed with respect to the aforementioned supplements. To increase color and tannin extraction, ColorPro was added to the grape must prior to fermentation. A tannin powder, VRSupra, was added later in the winemaking process to reduce …

Educational Curriculum Standards & Standardized Educational Tests: Comparing Apples & Oranges?, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

Mandated biology curriculum standards and standardized tests may vary widely from one state to another, making academic-performance comparisons among the states problematic. This report outlines the effects of the “No Child Left Behind” law and uses California as a test case against which teachers in other states may make comparisons of their own biology curriculum standards and tests. Several sources are cited that offer sample multiple-choice questions that have appeared on previous California standardized tests for sciences/life sciences/biology. These examples, and critique thereof, may help teachers better prepare their own tests to improve student performance in meeting the state's curriculum …

Season And Sex Of Host Affect Intensities Of Ectoparasites In Western Fence Lizards (Sceloporus Occidentalis) On The Central Coast Of California, Anthony S. Lumbad, Larisa K. Vredevoe, Emily N. Taylor

Biological Sciences

Seasonal variability in intensities of ectoparasites of western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) was quantified in spring, summer, and autumn 2008. Lizards were suspended over pans of water in the laboratory to enumerate replete western black-legged ticks (Ixodes pacificus) and mites. Intensity of ectoparasites was greatest in spring. On average, mites comprised the greatest proportion of ectoparasites, followed by larval and nymphal ticks, respectively. Mites were on lizards year-round. Overall intensity of ticks was greatest in spring, but low during summer and autumn. Males were more heavily parasitized by ticks than females in spring, whereas females had …

The Proteomic Response Of Sea Squirts (Genus Ciona) To Acute Heat Stress: A Global Perspective On The Thermal Stability Of Proteins, Loredana Serafini, Jay B. Hann, Dietmar Kültz, Lars Tomanek

Biological Sciences

Congeners belonging to the genus Ciona have disparate distributions limited by temperature. Ciona intestinalis is more widespread with a cosmopolitan distribution ranging from tropical to sub-arctic zones, while Ciona savignyi is limited to temperate-latitudes of the northern Pacific Ocean. To compare the heat stress response between congeners, we quantified changes in protein expression using proteomics. Animals were exposed to 22 °C, 25 °C, and 28 °C for 6 h, then recovered at a control temperature (13 °C) for 16 h (high heat stress experiment). In a second experiment we exposed animals to lower levels of heat stress at 18 °C, …

Classifying And Mapping Diversity In A Species-Poor System: The Mangrove Meta-Community Of Laguna Chacahua National Park, Oaxaca, Mexico, Elizabeth Kay Weisgerber

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Classifying and Mapping Diversity in a Species-Poor System: the mangrove meta-community of Laguna Chacahua National Park, Oaxaca, Mexico

by

Elizabeth Kay Weisgerber

Both field transects and imagery grid plots were analyzed with the goal of creating a community classification map for the mangrove forest of Parque Nacional Lagunas de Chacahua. In total, data was collected in 49 sites throughout the park, recording measures such as DBH, basal area, estimated dominance, frequency, cover and relative dominance. Field locations were marked and georeferenced with a GPS and grid plots overlaid on satellite imagery of the park were generated via a random …

Impaired Resistance Artery Reactivity Following Arteriogenesis, Michael (Mike) Machado

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Preventative Fungicide Application For Control Of Dollar Spot On Creeping Bentgrass In Kansas, 2010, M Kennelly, Z Raudenbush, Cole Thompson

Horticulture and Crop Science

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Fungicides And Fungicide Programs For Control Of Dollar Spot Creeping Bentgrass In Kansas, 2010, M Kennelly, C Thompson, Z Raudenbush

Horticulture and Crop Science

No abstract provided.

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling For Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions, David M. Ng, Ali Navid

STAR Program Research Presentations

Dynamics of interactions between the drugs caffeine and ciprofloxacin are predicted using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Pharmacokinetic means the model determines where the drugs are distributed in the body over time. Physiologically-based means the anatomy and physiology of the human body is reflected in the structure and functioning of the model. Multiple drugs can interact to increase or decrease their beneficial and/or undesired effects. This is important because some common substances, such as caffeine in coffee and soft drinks, are actually drugs that affect the body. By implementing the model as a computer program, it is relatively straightforward to perform …

Discovery Of An Apoptosis Inducing Ligand For Burkitt Lymphoma, Carolyn Laymon, Kyla Bradylong, Mary Saunders, David Olivos, Kit Lam

STAR Program Research Presentations

One-bead two-compound (OB2C) combinatorial chemistry libraries enable the discovery of novel synthetic compounds which can be used to evoke specific signaling response in cells. The library configuration is composed of a fixed known cell adhesion ligand and a random chemical library displayed on the surface of Tentagel beads. The cell adhesion ligand binds to specific receptors located on the surface of cells enabling the random immobilized chemical molecules on each bead resin bead to evoke specific cellular responses such as apoptosis or cell death. To validate this concept, a OB2C combinatorial library comprised of an α4β1 integrin targeting ligand, LLP2A, …

Interspecies Comparison Of Αii-Spectrin Abundance Between Chinook Salmon And Steelhead, Brielle D. Kemis, Ann L. Miracle, Katie A. Wagner, Christa M. Woodley

STAR Program Research Presentations

Salmonids, such as Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss), are a staple economic, recreational, tribal, and environmental resource, yet many populations are unsustainable. This study was part of a broad scale effort to monitor the impact of downstream migration obstacles on juvenile salmonid health and survival, which is an essential step towards increasing Smolt-to-Adult Return ratios (SARs). The objective of this study was to determine if juvenile Chinook salmon and steelhead exhibit differing quantities of alphaII-Spectrin Breakdown Products (SBDPs) over two consecutive spring migration periods, indicative of neurogenesis rate and/or biological response to head …

Forward Osmosis Bag: Ground Testing The Prospect Of Using Alternative Water Sources For Drinking Water, Michaela Marie Brant, Ariella Yendler, Mona Hammoudeh, Michael T. Flynn

STAR Program Research Presentations

On the STS-135 Space Shuttle mission, to be launched July 8, 2011, a forward osmosis bag (FOB) study will be conducted. At NASA Ames this summer, the ground truth testing is being conducted for results comparisons. The FOB technology is derived from a commercial product, the X-Pack water filter. Forward osmosis operates by utilizing an established concentration gradient across a semi-permeable membrane to move water molecules from one side of the membrane to the other. This concept is exploited to harvest drinking water from grey water sources such as urine, sea water, or vehicle water. In this experiment, potassium chloride …

Relationship Of Maternal Flow Environment To Offspring Size In Botrylloides Violaceus, Damion J. Delton, Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Colonial botryllid tunicates, such as Botrylloides violaceus, brood large, non-feeding offspring with extremely limited larval life spans of minutes to perhaps one day. Despite the importance of this transitory life history stage, there is little information on how environmental factors such as ambient water flow affect larval size among invertebrates. Since adult tunicates feed by filtering particles from the water flowing around the siphons, we reasoned that colonies of B. violaceus in high water flow may produce larger offspring due to greater food availability. We tested to see whether there was a relationship between larval size and water motion in …

Computational Identification Of Protein Catalytic Sites: Tests, Validation, Dan Kirshner, Jerome Nilmeier, Felice Lightstone

STAR Program Research Presentations

This project is one element of the analysis “pipeline” to characterize an organism that previously has not been well-studied. Once a protein of unknown structure has been computationally modeled (based on its sequence similarity to proteins with solved structures), then catalytic sites are identified on the model by comparison to a library of known sites. This work tested the identification algorithms with a set of proteins that have known structures and catalytic sites.

Temperature Thresholds And Degree-Day Model For Marmara Gulosa (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), M. J. O'Neal, David H. Headrick, Gregory H. Montez, E.E. Grafton-Cardwell

Horticulture and Crop Science

The developmental thresholds for Marmara gulosa Guillen & Davis (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were investigated in the laboratory by using 17, 21, 25, 29, and 33°C. The lowest mortality occurred in cohorts exposed to 25 and 29°C. Other temperatures caused >10% mortality primarily in egg and Þrst and second instar sap-feeding larvae. Linear regression analysis approximated the lower developmental threshold at 12.2°C. High mortality and slow developmental rate at 33°C indicate the upper developmental threshold is near this temperature. The degree-day (DD) model indicated that a generation requires an accumulation of 322 DD for development from egg to adult emergence. Average daily …

The Proteomic Response Of Ciona Intestinalis To Ocean Acidification And Acute Heat Stress: Impacts Of Global Climate Change In Coastal Marine Systems, Michael Dennis Dwyer Jr.

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Growth And Hydrogen Production Of Rubrivivax Gelatinosus Cbs, Shannon A. Swanson, Karen Wawrousek

STAR Program Research Presentations

Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS is a purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium that has been found to produce substantial amounts of Hydrogen (H2) which could be used as a clean burning biofuel. CBS has been known to grow on a variety of carbon sources, but it is unknown as to which carbon sources it has the greatest potential to use, and this understanding could be helpful in engineering future strains of the bacteria. Hydrogen production in CBS occurs when carbon monoxide (CO) is present and is presumed to be under the control of the RcoM transcription factor. When CBS wild-type strains were grown …

Informing Carbon In Arctic Reservoirs Vulnerability Experiment Flight Schedule Based Upon Soil And Vegetation Freeze And Thaw Event Variation Along The Alaska Ecological Transect, Jessica Potter, Kyle Mcdonald, Erika Podest

STAR Program Research Presentations

Established in the 1990s, the Alaska Ecological Transect (ALECTRA) is composed of a series of ground stations extending from the Franklin Bluff on Alaska’s North Slope to the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage. At each station, sets of thermistors are deployed to monitor vegetation tissue temperature, air temperature, and soil profile temperatures. Also sensors are deployed for monitoring sap flow in individual trees. The stations are automated, with data loggers recording this data approximately every two hours. Dates marking the spring thaw and fall freeze transitions in soil and vegetation tissues from sites in Coldfoot, Dietrich Valley, and Bonanza Creek …

Addressing Biased Occurrence Data In Predicting Potential Sierra Nevada Red Fox Habitat For Survey Prioritization, Casey Cleve, John D. Perrine, Barbara Holzman, Ellen Hines

Biological Sciences

The Sierra Nevada red fox Vulpes vulpes necator is listed as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act. It originally occurred throughout California’s Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain regions. Its current distribution is unknown but should be determined in order to guide management actions. We used occurrence data from the only known population, in the Lassen Peak region of northern California, combined with climatic and remotely sensed variables, to predict the species’ potential distribution throughout its historic range. These model predictions can guide future surveys to locate additional fox populations. Moreover, they allow us to compare the relative …

Diabetes Prevalence Is Associated With Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D And 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D In Us Middle-Aged Caucasian Men And Women: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Within The Prostate, Lung, Colorectal And Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial, Kaye E. Brock, Wen-Yi Huang, David R. Fraser, Liang Ke, Marilyn Tseng, Rebecca S. Mason, Rachael Z. Stolzenberg-Solomon, D. Michal Freedman, Jiyoung Ahn, Ulrike Peters, Catherine Mccarty, Bruce W. Hollis, Regina G. Ziegler, Mark P. Purdue, Barry I. Graubard

Kinesiology and Public Health

Hypovitaminosis D may be associated with diabetes, hypertension and CHD. However, because studies examining the associations of all three chronic conditions with circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(0H)D) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(0H)₂D) are limited, we examined these associations in the US Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial (n 2465). Caucasian PLCO participants selected as controls in previous nested case-control studies of 25(0H)D and 1,25(0H)₂D were included in this analysis. Diabetes, CHD and hypertension prevalence, risk factors for these conditions and intake of vitamin D and Ca were collected from a baseline questionnaire. Results indicated …

Digital Mapping As A Student And Staff Communication Tool, Ryan Gyurkovitz

Horticulture and Crop Science

A study in the use of Geographic Information Systems in the development of digital maps for use by students and staff in Plant Identification Courses.

Influence Of Vineyard Floor Management Practices On Soil Aggregate Stability, Total Soil Carbon And Grapevine Yield, Kimberly Ellen Adams

Master's Theses

Soil aggregates provide pore spaces of various sizes supplying water, gases and nutrients to plant roots and microorganisms, and facilitate moisture retention and availability. Soil aggregate stability is indicative of soil biological and structural health, and is increased by soil carbon derived from plant roots and the soil microbial biomass. Aggregate stability and soil carbon can be enhanced by increasing organic matter through compost additions or by planting cover crops. Additionally, aggregate stability is enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that form a symbiotic association with plant roots, and consolidate soil particles into aggregates through hyphal networks and through the …

An Exploratory Biomechanical Analysis Of The Side-To-Side Swing Patterns Of Three Skilled Switch Hitters, Francesca Marie Castellucci

Master's Theses

The ability to successfully switch hit, or hit a baseball from both sides of the plate, requires a great amount of practice and coordination bilaterally. This study used three-dimensional kinematic and kinetic data to examine the swing patterns of skilled switch hitters in baseball. Three male minor league and division I collegiate switch hitters participated. Subjects stood on force plates and hit baseballs off a tee while their swings were recorded with a three-dimensional optical motion capture system. Each subject performed twenty total swings, ten from the right and ten from the left. The swings were digitally analyzed and the …