Life Sciences Commons^™

Poisonous Rangeland Plants In San Luis Obispo County, Sara Litten, Amanda Ou

Animal Science

Poisonous Rangeland Plants in San Luis Obispo County is a comprehensive educational guide to rangeland plants that are toxic to domestic livestock. This guide begins with an exploration of how the biological systems are affected by the poisonous plant toxins. The biochemistry behind these toxins is included in the discussion. Next, reference material for fourteen plants that inhabit San Luis Obispo County is provided. This information includes specific toxins found in poisonous plants, affected animals, symptoms of poisoning, stages of growth, lethal dose, and distribution of the plant in California. This section of the guide is filled with helpful photos …

Effects Of Nitrogen And Potassium Fertilizer On Willamette Spider Mite (Eotetranychus Willamettei) (Acari: Tetranychidae), Whitney Ann Geddes

Master's Theses

The spider mite family (Tetranychidae) is a well known pest group in agriculture. Within this family, Willamette spider mite (Eotetranychus willamettei) causes physical harm and potential damage to grapevines (Vitis vinifera) along the central and north coast of California as well as Washington and Oregon. Willamette spider mite prefers cooler climates and feeds by puncturing the plant leaf tissue; therefore removing plant nutrients in the early stages of plant growth. Amending soils with fertilizer is a common cultural practice used in commercial vineyards, but no study has documented the interaction between the effects fertilizer concentrations have on Willamette spider mite. …

Growth Hormone Alters Components Related To Differentiation, Metabolism And Milk Synthesis And Secretion In Mac-T Cells, Tasha Lynn Johnson

Master's Theses

The mammary alveolar cell-T (MAC-T) cell line is able to uniformly differentiate and secrete casein proteins in response to dexamethasone, insulin and prolactin and is extensively used to study bovine mammary epithelial cell function. Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase milk protein synthesis both in vivo and in mammary cell models, and induce cytoskeletal rearrangement in 3T3 fibroblast cell line and a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line. Few studies have focused on identifying the mechanisms involved in differentiated MAC-T cells’ response to GH. We tested the hypothesis that MAC-T cells would respond directly to GH and that …

Influence Of Irrigation Strategies On The Photosynthetic Rate Of Syrah, Daniel Michael Rodrigues

Master's Theses

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is a common and useful practice for water conservation and improving grape quality. To attain better grape characteristics and wine quality, a substantial degree of irrigation stress is intentionally allowed to occur during the first part of berry formation and can continue until later into veraison. Understanding the effects of deficit irrigation on photosynthetic rates could be helpful in determining at what degree and duration a grower should perform this irrigation practice. The focus of this study was to determine the effects of using differing degrees of RDI in a vineyard located in Paso Robles, California …

Management Strategies For Pitch Canker Infected Año Nuevo Stands Of Monterey Pine, Valerie A. Loe

Master's Theses

The future resilience of Pinus radiata D. Don (Monterey pine) is dependent upon the development of a silviculture program inclusive of either preventative or management techniques for the potentially fatal pitch canker disease (Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O’Donnell [=F.subglutinans (Wollenw. & Reinking) Nelson et al. f. sp. Pini). As an ecologically and commercially valued species, a myriad of factors threaten the genetic resources of the geographically limited natural range. This study evaluated the effectiveness of uneven-aged forest management for regeneration success in the native, pitch canker infected Año Nuevo stand at Swanton Pacific Ranch in Davenport, California. Seedling survival and …

Platform Effects On Optical Variability And Prediction Of Underwater Visibility, Grace Chang, Michael S. Twardowski, Yu You, Mark A. Moline, Peng-Wang Zhai, Scott Freeman, Matthew Slivkoff, Francesco Nencioli, George W. Kattawar

Biological Sciences

We present hydrographic and optical data collected concurrently from two different platforms, the R/P FLoating Instrument Platform and the R/V Kilo Moana, located about 2km apart in the Santa Barbara Channel in California. We show that optical variability between the two platforms was due primarily to platform effects, specifically the breakdown of stratification from mixing by the hull of R/P FLIP. Modeled underwater radiance distribution differed by as much as 50% between the two platforms during stratified conditions. We determine that the observed optical variability resulted in up to 57% differences in predicted horizontal visibility of a black target.

Growth Hormone Alters Lipid Composition And Increases The Abundance Of Casein And Lactalbumin Mrna In The Mac-T Cell Line, Tasha L. Johnson, Brent A. S. Fujimoto, Rafael Jiménez-Flores, Daniel G. Peterson

Dairy Science

The MAC-T cell line has been used extensively to investigate bovine mammary epithelial cell function. A lactogenic phenotype is generally induced in this cell line by a combination of dexamethasone, insulin and prolactin and has typically been assessed by milk protein production. Few studies have focused on identifying other factors that may affect milk protein synthesis in the MAC-T cell line, and none have considered the lipid class distribution of MAC-T cells as a component of the lactogenic phenotype. Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase milk protein synthesis both in vivo and in mammary cell models, and has …

Lipid Rafts In The Bovine Milk Fat Globule Membrane Revealed By The Lateral Segregation Of Phospholipids And Heterogeneous Distribution Of Glycoproteins, Christelle Lopez, Marie-Noëlle Madec, Rafael Jiménez-Flores

Dairy Science

This study reveals the lateral organisation of the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM). Using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and a lipid soluble molecule, an exogenous phospholipid and two lectins as fluorescent probes we located triacylglycerols in the core of fat globules and investigated the organisation of the polar lipids and glycoproteins of the MFGM, in situ in milk. Lipid rafts corresponding to the lateral segregation of sphingolipids in liquid-ordered phases surrounded by liquid-disordered domains composed by the glycerophospholipids were observed in the MFGM. These lipid rafts which correspond to rigid sphingolipid-rich domains have a circular shape at room temperature. …

Investigation Of High Salt Intake And Adipogenesis In Rats, May Yong

Biological Sciences

Sodium chloride has been scrutinized of late, not only for its liberal use as a food preservative but for its contribution to disease states. The causal role of habitual high salt intake in increasing blood pressure and exacerbating hypertension has been established. A growing body of evidence strongly suggests that hypertension contributes to other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, stroke, and type II diabetes. Rates of hypertension are significantly higher in obese individuals. These comorbidities have been positively associated with the modern Western diet. Worldwide, many government and health organizations have called for public policy measures to mandate sodium …

Overexpression And Partial Purification Of Recombinant Human Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase: A Potential Anticancer Target, Suprit Singh Deol

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) is a member of the thymidylate synthase cycle that provides pyrimidine nucleotides to actively dividing cells, including cancer cells. The other two enzymes involved in this cycle have been targets for clinical anticancer drugs, suggesting that inhibitors of SHMT may also be used as clinical anticancer drugs. In order to test potential inhibitors against SHMT, human SHMT has been overexpressed in E. coli and partially purified by selective ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by anion-exchange fast protein liquid chromatography. A coupled assay using L-allo-threonine and alcohol dehydrogenase was used to identify active fractions, which were analyzed …

Correlated Evolution Of Defensive And Nutritional Traits In Native And Non-Native Plants, Nicole Molinari, Charles A. Knight

Biological Sciences

We performed a comparative analysis of defensive and nutritional plant traits responsible for differential herbivory in a series of experimental feeding trials with generalist herbivores. We measured three defensive traits (leaf strength, leaf mass per unit area and endophytic fungal infection) and two nutritional traits (foliar nitrogen and water) for 26 native and eight non-native plant species from coastal California shrublands. Our feeding trials involved three species of generalist herbivore (beet armyworm, cabbage looper and the garden snail) in two types of laboratory feeding trial (single plant species and preference tests). All traits were significantly related to the amount of …

The Relationship Between Plasma Steroid Hormone Concentrations And The Reproductive Cycle In The Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus Oreganus, Craig M. Lind, Jerry F. Husak, Cas Eikenaar, Ignacio T. Moore, Emily N. Taylor

Biological Sciences

We describe the reproductive cycle of Northern Pacific rattlesnakes (Crotalus oreganus) by quantifying steroid hormone concentrations and observing reproductive behaviors in free-ranging individuals. Additionally, we examined reproductive tissues from museum specimens. Plasma steroid hormone concentrations were quantified for both male and female snakes throughout the active season (March–October). We measured testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and corticosterone (B) concentrations in both sexes and 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in females only. We observed reproductive behaviors (e.g., consortship, courtship, and copulation) in the field and measured testis and follicle size in male and female snakes from museum collections to relate …

Growth Hormone Alters Lipid Composition And Increases The Abundance Of Casein And Lactalbumin Mrna In The Mac-T Cell Line, Tasha L. Johnson, Brent As. Fujimoto, Rafael Jimenez-Flores, Daniel G. Peterson

Animal Science

The MAC-T cell line has been used extensively to investigate bovine mammary epithelial cell function. A lactogenic phenotype is generally induced in this cell line by a combination of dexamethasone, insulin and prolactin and has typically been assessed by milk protein production. Few studies have focused on identifying other factors that may affect milk protein synthesis in the MAC-T cell line, and none have considered the lipid class distribution of MAC-T cells as a component of the lactogenic phenotype. Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase milk protein synthesis both in vivo and in mammary cell models, and has …

Culturally Speaking: Beyond Yogurt, Phillip S. Tong

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Differences In Aerobic Response To Wheelchair Locomotion, David Pomfret

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in the aerobic response to wheeling between wheelchair dependent individuals and able-bodied individuals of similar genders and ages. Five wheelchair dependent men (WC) and five able-bodied men (AB) performed a 13 minute wheeling test (5 min. at rest, 8 min. wheeling) at 4.0 km∙hr-1. Heart rate (HR) and VO2 were recorded using a Vmax ST system during the constant speed test. There was no significant difference in HR or VO2 between the two groups during rest. Both HR and VO2 were higher for WC during exercise. The mean METS during …

Establishing Buffalograss In Fine Fescue Turfgrass On The Central Coast Of California, Brittani Jean Axtell

Master's Theses

Buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] is a warm season, perennial grass native to the Great Plains from southern Canada to Mexico (Beetle, 1950). This newly developed, low input, turf-type grass is recommended for use on low maintenance sites (Falkenberg-Borland and Butler, 1982; Pozarnsky, 1983; Wu and Harivandi, 1989; Shearman et al., 2005). Recently, the use of buffalograss as a turfgrass has increased due to its drought tolerance, low nutrient requirements, and low growing height (Harivandi and Wu, 1995; Frank et al., 2004). It is an excellent choice in California where water use is limited. Unsightly winter dormancy of buffalograss …

Perspectives On The Application Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride In The United States Beef Industry, R. J. Delmore, J. M. Hodgen, B. J. Johnson

Animal Science

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) is a β-adrenergic agonist approved to be fed at a rate of 8.3 mg/kg (100% DM basis) during the final 20 to 40 d of the finishing period in beef cattle followed by a minimum 3-d withdrawal period antemortem. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved label claims of increased rate of BW gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness. Before the release of ZH for commercial use in 2007, approximately 10 independent research trials at various universities and commercial feedlots were initiated. Articles in recent issues of the Journal of Animal Science are a result of …

Perspectives On The Application Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride In The United States Beef Industry, Robert J. Delmore, Jr., J. M. Hodgen, B. J. Johnson

Animal Science

Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) is a β-adrenergic agonist approved to be fed at a rate of 8.3 mg/kg (100% DM basis) during the final 20 to 40 d of the finishing period in beef cattle followed by a minimum 3-d withdrawal period antemortem. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved label claims of increased rate of BW gain, improved feed efficiency, and increased carcass leanness. Before the release of ZH for commercial use in 2007, approximately 10 independent research trials at various universities and commercial feedlots were initiated. Articles in recent issues of the Journal of Animal Science are a result of …

Biology And Parasitism Rates Of Pteromalus Nr. Myopitae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), A Newly Discovered Parasitoid Of Olive Fruit Fly Bactrocera Oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) In Coastal California, Therese Kapaun, Hannah Nadel, David H. Headrick, Larisa Vredevoe

Horticulture and Crop Science

An undescribed wasp, Pteromalus nr. myopitae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) opportunistically parasitizes the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), an introduced pest of olives in California. The native or typical host of P. nr. myopitae is unknown. We demonstrate that P. nr. myopitae is a solitary, ectoparasitic, idiobiont parasitoid of the third instar host inside fruit, and pupation occurs in the host tunnel. Reproduction of P. nr. myopitae on B. oleae in olives in the laboratory and in field cages generally failed. Host-feeding was not observed, and adults fed honey and water lived longer than those provided with water alone. …

Lifecourse Socioeconomic Trajectories And C-Reactive Protein Levels In Young Adults: Findings From A Brazilian Birth Cohort, Aydin Nazmi, I. O. Oliveira, Bernardo L. Horta, D. P. Gigante, Cesar G, Victora

Food Science and Nutrition

Socioeconomic factors are associated with cardiovascular disease. C-reactive protein (CRP) is increasingly implicated as a candidate linking conventional risk factors and atherosclerosis. The impact of early- and later-life socioeconomic status (SES) on CRP levels has not been widely investigated and a handful of studies from high-income countries are inconsistent. We set out to examine the associations between lifecourse socioeconomic indicators (family income at birth, maternal education, family income at age 23 and own education) on CRP levels in young adults belonging to the 1982 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study (n = 5914). Early-life SES showed significant and graded associations …

Grapevine And Soil Water Relations With Nodding Needlegrass (Nassella Cernua), A California Native Grass, As A Cover Crop, Michael J. Costello

Wine and Viticulture

Nodding needlegrass [Nassella cernua (Stebbins & R.M. Love) Barkworth], a California native perennial grass, was tested for its effects on grapevine and soil–water relations in a drip-irrigated vineyard in Parlier, CA. Vine water status and in-row and between-row soil moisture (at 0.3 m, 0.6 m, 0.9 m, 1.2 m, and 1.5 m) were monitored semiweekly from June to September. There was no overall significant difference in leaf water potential between treatments. In-row soil moisture was lowest at depths of 0.6 m to 0.9 m within the nodding needlegrass treatment but was lowest from 0.3 m to 0.9 m within the …

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated From A Novel Equine Tissue Exhibit Embryonic Molecular Markers And Adipogenic Differentiation Potential, Jane Marie Isquith, Kelly Shaw, Karen Shaw, Daniel Peterson, Matthew Burd

Animal Science

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been isolated from equine tissues, most notably adipose and bonemarrow. On the basis of ability for self-renewal, molecular marker expression and differentiation potential, we characterized MSCs isolated from a tissue not yet explored in the equine. After isolation, MSCs weremaintained in culture for 25 passages before senescence was observed. Reverse transcription-PCR revealedembryonic transcription factor Oct4 mRNA, as well as mRNA for fucosyltransferase 4 and ST3B-galactosid α 2,3 sialySSEA4, respylxanthine l ltransferase 2, two enzymes responsible for synthesis of embryonic surface markersSSEA1 and ectively. Treatment with insulin, dexamethasone, indomethacin andisobutylmethed to increased oil red O staining …

Lh Increases Insl3 Mrna Abundance In Ma-10 Leydig Cells, Mary Elizabeth Strong, Matthew Anderson Burd, Daniel Gunnar Peterson

Animal Science

Leydig cells produce testosterone in response to luteinizing hormone (LH) via the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A pathway. Additionally, these cells are responsible for producing insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), a peptide hormone that is essential for testicular descent. The insl3 promoterin Leydig cells can be activated by cAMP through the transcription factor Nur77. While the mechanism of LH action on testosterone production is well characterized, the effect of LH on insl3 abundance has yet to be shown directly. MA-10 Leydig cells were treated with either 0 and 100 ng/mL LH for 3 and 6 hours in a 2x2 factorial …

Vascular Plants Of Adjacent Serpentine And Granite Outcrops On The Deer Isles, Maine, U.S.A, Nathaniel S. Pope, Tanner B. Harris, Nishanta Rajakaruna

Biological Sciences

We performed a comparative study of the vascular flora of a serpentine outcrop, Pine Hill, and that of a granite outcrop, Settlement Quarry, from Little Deer Isle and Deer Isle, respectively, Hancock County, Maine. We established four transects along a gradient from exposed to forested areas within each outcrop. Plants were recorded for presence and percent cover from circular plots along each transect. Soil and tissue samples were collected to examine soil-tissue elemental relations. One hundred thirty-two taxa were recorded from serpentine and 89 from granite. Fifty-seven taxa were shared by both sites. Species richness (α diversity) and diversity indices …

Adaptivearc And The Future Of The Energy Industry, Trevor Chase

Earth and Soil Sciences

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of The Effects Of Growth Hormone On Mac-T Cells And Primary Mammary Cells, Lisa Mcdonnell, Tasha Johnson, Daniel G. Peterson

Animal Science

The ability of growth hormone (GH) to increase milk yield through somatomedins is well characterized,however recent studies utilizing mammary epithelial cell (MEC) lines have indicated a possible direct effecton MEC. In the mammary alveolar cell-T (MAC-T) line, relative abundance of mRNA for two milk protein genes, α-lactalbumin and αS1-casein, and GH receptor was increased by GH. MAC-T cells were compared tobovine mammary tissue explants and primary MEC isolated from raw milk through culture in classicallactation medium (dexamethasone, insulin, prolactin) with 0 or 10 ng/mL GH. Explant and primary cellmRNA abundance showed a similar pattern to MAC-T indicating that the effects …

Exercise Prescription And The Patient With Type 2 Diabetes: A Clinical Approach To Optimizing Patient Outcomes, Greogory R. Waryasz, Ann Yelmokas Mcdermott

Kinesiology and Public Health

To review the current recommendations for physical activity in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and propose methods to optimize compliance, reduce the pharmaceutical burden, and improve the general health and well-being of patients with T2DM.

Perceived Personal And Social Competence: Development Of Valid And Reliable Measures, Joyce V. Fetro, Darson L. Rhodes, David W. Hey

Kinesiology and Public Health

During the last 20 years, youth programming has shifted from risk reduction to youth development. While numerous instruments exist to measure selected individual characteristics/competencies among youth, a comprehensive instrument to measure four constructs of personal and social skills could not be identified. The purpose of this study was to develop four assessment instruments to measure perceived personal/social competence. Specifically, this study focused on identifying items to measure: (a) intrapersonal skills, (b) interpersonal skills, (c) coping skills, and (d) judgment skills. A Delphi panel of nine professionals in health education, youth development programming, and instrument development established content validity. Readability of …

How To Read And Understand Nutrition Facts Labels, Marissa S. Leal

Agricultural Education and Communication

More than half of the world’s population is overweight. The numbers have tripled in Europe, Middle East, China, and Pacific Islands. Adult Americans are about two-thirds overweight. The numbers will continue to grow if the population does not take the proper action. America has an overweight problem and the purpose of this paper is to educate the population about nutrition facts labels, and help the world make better food choices.

The author studied a brochure created by the FDA on how to read nutrition facts labels and then create their own based on the previous brochure. The author added other …

Consumers And Benefits Of Genetically Modified Vegetables, Megan Carter Judge

Master's Theses

With the adoption of biotechnology in many agricultural products with first-generation biotechnology traits such as increased pest resistance, greater herbicide resistance, and increased yields the growers have accepted them. The next wave of biotech crops have second-generation traits, such as improved nutrient content, extended shelf life, reduced pesticide and herbicide application (a consumer demanded trait), and better taste. Will these consumer benefits offset any concern that the consumer has regarding biotechnology? What are those benefits and how should the information be communicated to the consumer?

Three focus groups give insight to the proposed questions. The focus groups were done in …