Life Sciences Commons^™

Bacteria - The Last Stronghold Of Lamarckism?, William D. Stansfield

Biological Sciences

French naturalist J.B. Lamarck is most commonly known for popularizing the theory that some traits acquired during the life of an organism can be inherited in his 1809 book. German biologist A. Weismann presented evidence in his 1891 book that acquired traits were not heritable in sexually reproducing animals. But so little was known about bacteria that they were considered to be the last stronghold of Lamarckism. The “fluctuation test” of S. Luria and M. Delbrück in 1943 seemed to confirm that Lamarckism in bacteria was indeed dead. This review, however, proposes that today bacteria may be viewed as the …

Effect Of Sand Grain Size On Burrowing Behavior Of Juvenile Pacific Sand Crabs (Emerita Analoga), Natalie A. Lee, Laura M. Melroy

Biological Sciences

Emerita analoga, Pacific coast sand crabs, are an important biological component of the swash zone ecosystem. They have evolved the ability to burrow into sand, and burrowing speed is commonly used as an indicator of performance relevant for fitness in this species. Sand grain size varies among beaches, and crabs may be better adapted to to burrow in some sand types. We performed a completely crossed 3-factor experiment to determine how the sand grain size associated with beach-of-origin and rearing conditions influence burrowing in coarse and fine sand. Crabs from a fine sand beach and a coarse sand beach were …

Improved Dietary Variety And Adequacy But Lower Dietary Moderation With Acculturation In Chinese Women In The United States, Amy Liu, Zekarias Berhane, Marilyn Tseng

Kinesiology and Public Health

Acculturation is associated with increased chronic disease risk among Asian Americans, but its association with different aspects of diet quality remains unclear. Associations of acculturation with diet quality were examined in a convenience sample of 243 Chinese participants in a study of diet and mammographic density in the Philadelphia region between January 2002 to May 2003. An acculturation index was created based on self-reported English proficiency and within-and cross-ethnicity social interactions. Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) scores were based on responses to an 88-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) for falling into a higher vs lower quartile for DQI-I and …

Accuracy Of Forest Road And Stream Channel Characteristics Derived From Lidar In Forested Mountain Conditions, Russell Alan White

Master's Theses

Forest roads and stream channels are mapped using a variety of remote sensing and ground-based techniques. In densely forested areas, conventional remote sensing methods provide limited terrain information, while ground-based surveys can be time-consuming, difficult, and expensive. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is an airborne remote sensing technology used to create high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) of the earth’s surface. This study tests the accuracy of forest road and stream channel features mapped using LiDAR in the steep, forested terrain of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains. A conventional total station survey was used to determine centerline position and elevations along a …

Identifying Alternative Waste Conversion Technologies For Use At California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Matthew R. Bono

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This project was undertaken to identify and study alternative technologies for converting waste streams available on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus into energy. As a large campus on the Central Coast of California Cal Poly not only produces lots of waste, but has limited options for its disposal. Furthermore, the campus is in the midst of an on-going green initiative, and more efficient use of its waste products would be a welcome development for the entire campus community. This report gathers information on waste streams originating at Cal Poly and information about waste to energy conversion technologies. The …

Foraging Rates Of Larval Dragonfly Colonists Are Positively Related To Habitat Isolation: Results From A Landscape-Level Experiment, Shannon J. Mccauley, Tomas Brodin, John Hammond

Biological Sciences

There is increasing evidence of intraspecific variation in dispersal behavior. Individual differences in dispersal behavior may be correlated with other traits that determine the impact individuals have on patches they colonize. We established habitat patches—artificial pools—across a landscape, and these pools were naturally colonized by dragonfly larvae. Larvae were collected from pools at different levels of isolation and held under common lab conditions for 5 months. We then compared larval foraging rates. Foraging rate was positively related to habitat isolation, and colonists from the most isolated artificial pools had significantly higher foraging rates than individuals from the least isolated pools. …

Temperature Affects Adhesion Of The Acorn Barnacle (Balanus Amphitrite), Laurel A. Johnston

Master's Theses

Biofouling is the accumulation of sessile marine organisms, such as algae, tube worms and barnacles on man-made substrata and has negative economic and ecological implications. Ship hulls are readily fouled, which significantly increases drag while decreasing ship fuel efficiency when moving through water. Fouled hulls have also become important vectors of invasive species. These problems are minimized when hulls are painted with a toxic anti-fouling or non-toxic foul-release coating. Due to recent restrictions of anti-fouling paint use, research and development of non-toxic alternatives has increased.

Novel hull coating efficiency is often quantified by the critical removal stress value of barnacles …

Variation In The Heat Shock Response And Its Implication For Predicting The Effect Of Global Climate Change On Species' Biogeographical Distribution Ranges And Metabolic Costs, Lars Tomanek

Biological Sciences

The preferential synthesis of heat shock proteins (Hsps) in response to thermal stress [the heat shock response (HSR)] has been shown to vary in species that occupy different thermal environments. A survey of case studies of aquatic (mostly marine) organisms occupying stable thermal environments at all latitudes, from polar to tropical, shows that they do not in general respond to heat stress with an inducible HSR. Organisms that occupy highly variable thermal environments (variations up to >20°C), like the intertidal zone, induce the HSR frequently and within the range of body temperatures they normally experience, suggesting that the response is …

Applied Statistics: Experience & Cerification In Quality Assurance, Huey D. Dodson

Statistics

The composition of my senior project can be broken down into two parts. The first part of my project, without which the second could not be pursued, involved a 13 week internship at a produce processing facility where I took part in several projects varying in scope and type. The second part was to acquire certification as a Quality Process Analyst from the American Society for Quality.

This document is structured to represent the dichotomous nature of my project; the first section is dedicated to my internship experience, and the second dedicated to the certification examination preparation and completion.

Hormones And Reproductive Cycles In Snakes, Emily N. Taylor, Dale F. Denardo

Biological Sciences

The study of the hormonal regulation of reproduction in snakes is in its infancy. Studies have disproportionately examined temperate zone viperid and colubrid snakes, especially the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). Indeed, extensive observational and experimental studies on T. s. parietalis form the basis for our understanding of the hormonal regulation of reproduction in snakes. This review focuses on seasonal hormone concentrations in snakes in relation to events in the reproductive cycle; the limited data available on hypothalamic hormones, gonadotropins (GTHs), hormone receptors, and binding globulins; the neuroendocrinology of reproduction; and the environmental, social, physiological, and embryonic aspects of …

Culturally Speaking: The Year Of Sodium, Phillip S. Tong

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

A Natural Missing Link Between Activated And Downhill Protein Folding Scenarios, Feng Liu, Caroline Maynard, Gregory E. Scott, Artem Melnykov, Kathleen B. Hall, Martin Gruebele

Chemistry and Biochemistry

We propose protein PTB1:4W as a good candidate for engineering into a downhill folder. PTB1:4W has a probe-dependent thermal unfolding curve and sub-millisecond T-jump relaxation kinetics on more than one time scale. Its refolding rate in denaturant is a non-linear function of denaturant concentration (curved chevron plot). Yet at high denaturant concentration its unfolding is probe-independent, and the folding kinetics can be fitted to a single exponential decay. The domain appears to fold via a mechanism between downhill folding and activated folding over several small barriers, and when denaturant is added, one of these barriers greatly increases and simplifies the …

The Presence Of Micropterus Salmoides (Largemouth Bass) Influences The Populations Of Rana Draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) And Pseudacris Regilla (Pacific Treefrog) In Two Ponds In Santa Barbara County, California, Kenneth Lee Gilliland

Master's Theses

Alien fish have been implicated in the decline of Rana draytonii (California red-legged frog) and Pseudacris regilla (Pacific treefrog) populations. Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) is a common sport fish that has been introduced into the sympatric range of these two anuran species; however, no studies have investigated the individual influence that this alien fish has on these two species. I conducted M. salmoides control or eradication experiments during a four year study in two ponds within the Transverse Mountain Range of Santa Barbara County, California. Changes in the densities of all life stages of R. draytonii and P. regilla were …

Pregnancy: A "Teachable Moment" For Weight Control And Obesity Prevention, Suzanne Phelan

Kinesiology and Public Health

Excessive gestational weight gain has been shown to relate to high-postpartum weight retention and the development of overweight and obesity later in life. Because many women are concerned about the health of their babies during pregnancy and are in frequent contact with their healthcare providers, pregnancy may be an especially powerful "teachable moment" for the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among women. Initial research suggests that helping women gain the recommended amount during pregnancy through healthy eating and physical activity could make a major contribution to the prevention of postpartum weight retention. However, more randomized controlled trials …

Layered Organization In The Coastal Ocean: An Introduction To Planktonic Thin Layers And The Loco Project, James M. Sullivan, D. Van Holliday, Malcolm Mcfarland, Margaret A. Mcmanus, Olivia M. Cheriton, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Louis Goodman, Zhankun Wang, John P. Ryan, Mark Stacey, Charles Greenlaw, Mark A. Moline

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Integrated Measurements Of Acoustical And Optical Thin Layers Ii: Horizontal Length Scales, Mark A. Moline, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Ian C. Robbins, Maddie Schroth-Miller, Chad M. Waluk, Brian Zelenke

Biological Sciences

The degree of layered organization of planktonic organisms in coastal systems impacts trophic interactions, the vertical availability of nutrients, and many biological rate processes. While there is reasonable characterization of the vertical structure of these phenomena, the extent and horizontal length scale of variation has rarely been addressed. Here we extend the examination of the vertical scale in the first paper of the series to the horizontal scale with combined shipboard acoustic measurements and bio-optic measurements taken on an autonomous underwater vehicle. Measurements were made in Monterey Bay, CA from 2002 to 2008 for the bio-optical parameters and during 2006 …

Integrated Measurements Of Acoustical And Optical Thin Layers I: Vertical Scales Of Association, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Mark A. Moline, Chad M. Waluk, Ian C. Robbins

Biological Sciences

This study combined measurements from multiple platforms with acoustic instruments on moorings and on a ship and optics on a profiler and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to examine the relationships between fluorescent, bioluminescent, and acoustically scattering layers in Monterey Bay during nighttime hours in July and August of 2006 and May of 2008. We identified thin bioluminescent layers that were strongly correlated with acoustic scattering at the same depth but were part of vertically broad acoustic features, suggesting layers of unique composition inside larger biomass features. These compositional thin layers nested inside larger biomass features may be a common …

How Should I Calculate And Make Additions Of Grape Concentrate To Juice, Musts And Wines?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

What Is Lysozyme And Why Is It Used In Winemaking?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

Mill Creek Management Plan, Joey A. Gentry

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

The goal of this study is to conduct a management plan for the Mill Creek property. This will be obtained through meeting the landowner objectives concerning: wildlife with habitat enhancements, recreation locations, and the forest growth potential pertaining to different areas of the property. This plan will also offer suggestions and guidelines to maximize the use of the property. Including a collection of flora, fauna, and health related issues in the appendices for identification. The site condition on the property is very poor, and as a result the growth rate for this area is slow. It is recommended that the …

The Effects Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride On Carcass Cutability And Tenderness Of Calf-Fed Holstein Steers, A. J. Garmyn, J. N. Shook, D. L. Vanoverbeke, J. L. Beckett, Robert J. Delmore, D. A. Yates, D. M. Allen, G. G. Hilton

Animal Science

To evaluate the impact of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) on carcass cutability and tenderness of calf-fed Holstein steers, calf-fed Holstein carcasses (n = 102) were selected from a pool of 2,300 steers that were fed 0 or 8.3 mg/kg (DM basis) of ZH. Zilpaterol hydrochloride was supplemented the last 20 d of the finishing period and withdrawn for 3 d before slaughter. Carcasses were selected based on carcass weight as well as predetermined USDA Yield grade categories. For tenderness evaluation, steaks from the strip loin, bottom round, and top round (n = 54 per subprimal) were aged for 14 or 21 …

Effects Of Zilpaterol Hydrochloride Feeding Duration On Beed And Calf-Fed Holstein Strip Loin Steak Color, H. R. Rogers, J. C. Brooks, M. C. Hunt, G. G. Hilton, D. L. Vanoverbeke, J. Killefer, T. E. Lawrence, R. J. Delmore, B. J. Johnson, D. M. Allen, M. N. Streeter, W. T. Nichols, J. P. Hutcheson, D. A. Yates, J. N. Martin, M. F. Miller

Animal Science

ABSTRACT: Two studies using beef and calf-fed Holstein cattle were conducted to determine the effect of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) supplementation on the color of strip loin steaks packaged in traditional and modified-atmosphere packaging. Select (USDA) strip loins were obtained from the carcasses of beef (n = 118) or calf-fed Holstein (n = 132) cattle fed ZH (6.8 g/ton on a 90% DM basis) for the last 0, 20, 30, or 40 d of feeding. One portion of the strip loin was moisture enhanced, cut into steaks, and packaged in an atmosphere containing 80% oxygen and 20% carbon dioxide. The remaining …

The Proteomic Response Of The Mussel Congeners Mytilus Gallaprovincialis And M. Trossulus To Acute Heat Stress: Implications For Thermal Tolerance Limits And Metabolic Costs Of Thermal Stress, Lars Tomanek, Marcus J. Zuzow

Biological Sciences

The Mediterranean blue mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, an invasive species in California, has displaced the more heat-sensitive native congener, Mytilus trossulus, from its former southern range, possibly due to climate change. By comparing the response of their proteomes to acute heat stress we sought to identify responses common to both species as well as differences that account for greater heat tolerance in the invasive. Mussels were acclimated to 13°C for four weeks and exposed to acute heat stress (24°C, 28°C and 32°C) for 1 h and returned to 13°C to recover for 24 h. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and …

Zooplankton Avoidance Of A Profiled Open-Path Fluorometer, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Mark A. Moline, Oscar M. Schofield, Ian C. Robbins, Chad M. Waluk

Biological Sciences

Significant avoidance of acoustically detected zooplankton was observed in response to a profiling instrument package. Avoidance decreased acoustic scattering from zooplankton averaged over the entire profile by more than a factor of 2, while the maximum avoidance decreased zooplankton acoustic scattering by a factor of 15 over the depth of some discrete scattering layers. Experimental manipulation of the profiler and its instruments revealed that an open-path fluorometer was triggering the avoidance. Avoidance occurred at an average of 8 m below the profiler with a range between 2 and 13 m. Effect range was positively correlated with the average attenuation coefficient …

How Should I Calculate And Make Water Additions To Facilitate The Fermentation Of Red Musts?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

How Can I Estimate When To Fortify A Fermenting Juice To Achieve Desired Sugar And Alcohol Concentrations?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

What Is Saignée And How Will It Affect My Red Wine?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

How Can I Protect My Grapes And Juice From Spoilage During Transport To The Winery?, Geraldine S. P. Ritchie

Food Science and Nutrition

No abstract provided.

Genome Size Is A Strong Predictor Of Root Meristem Growth Rate, Adam Gruner, Nathan Hoverter, Tylia Smith, Charles A. Knight

Biological Sciences

Variation in genome size (GS) has been linked to several facets of the plant phenotype. Recently it was shown that GS is significantly correlated with cell size and the duration of the cell cycle. Here we test the hypothesis that GS might also be a predictor of apical root meristem growth rate (RMGR). We studied eight species of eudicots with varying GS using time-lapse microscopic image analysis. A significant negative exponential relationship was observed between GS and RMGR. Our results show significantly decreased RMGR for large genome species. This relationship represents a significant consequence of GS expansion in plants and …

Meeting The Challenges: The Western Section's Role In Developing Tomorrow's Resource Management Professionals, John D. Perrine

Biological Sciences

The following is a slightly edited version of a plenary address delivered at the Western Section annual meeting in January 2009. The plenary theme was “The view from the future: wildlife management challenges and opportunities of the next 100 years.” Key references are listed at the end of the address. Readers will also be interested in the Winter 2009 (Vol. 3, No. 4) issue of The Wildlife Professional, which contains a special section on the preparation and training of future wildlife professionals.