Life Sciences Commons^™

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Lung Function Values Among A Scuba Diver Population And In Comparison To A Non-Diver Population, Gabriel C. Hutson, Jeremy D. Rentsch, Erin M. Eaton

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible correlations between lung function values (PEF, IRV, ERV, and FVC) among a diver population, as well as in comparison to a non-diver population. Independent variables for both populations were biological sex, age, and weekly physical activity. Independent variables for the diver population were dive tenure, number of logged dives, certification level, and gas mixture used. A spirometry test was conducted to collect lung function values of both populations. Data from this study suggest a statistically significant relationship between diver and non-diver sex and FVC, diver age and ERV, diver sex and …

A Comprehensive Evaluation Of Predictive Performance Of 33 Species Distribution Models At Species And Community Levels, Anna Norberg, Nerea Abrego, F. Guillaume Blanchet, Frederick R. Adler, Barbara J. Anderson, Jani Anttila, Miguel B. Araújo, Tad Dallas, David Dunson, Jane Elith, Scott D. Foster, Richard Fox, Janet Franklin, William Godsoe, Antoine Guisan, Bob O'Hara, Nicole A. Hill, Robert D. Holt, Francis K.C. Hui, Magne Husby, John Atle Kålås, Aleksi Lehikoinen, Miska Luoto, Heidi K. Mod, Graeme Newell, Ian Renner, Tomas Roslin, Janne Soininen, Wilfried Thuiller, Jarno Vanhatalo, David Warton, Matt White, Niklaus E. Zimmermann, Dominque Gravel, Otso Ovaskainen

Faculty Publications

A large array of species distribution model (SDM) approaches has been developed for explaining and predicting the occurrences of individual species or species assemblages. Given the wealth of existing models, it is unclear which models perform best for interpolation or extrapolation of existing data sets, particularly when one is concerned with species assemblages. We compared the predictive performance of 33 variants of 15 widely applied and recently emerged SDMs in the context of multispecies data, including both joint SDMs that model multiple species together, and stacked SDMs that model each species individually combining the predictions afterward. We offer a comprehensive …

Lignin Biopolymers In The Age Of Controlled Polymerization, Mitra S. Ganewatta, Hasala N. Lokupitiya, Chuanbing Tang

Faculty Publications

Polymers made from natural biomass are gaining interest due to the rising environmental concerns and depletion of petrochemical resources. Lignin isolated from lignocellulosic biomass is the second most abundant natural polymer next to cellulose. The paper pulp process produces industrial lignin as a byproduct that is mostly used for energy and has less significant utility in materials applications. High abundance, rich chemical functionalities, CO2 neutrality, reinforcing properties, antioxidant and UV blocking abilities, as well as environmental friendliness, make lignin an interesting substrate for materials and chemical development. However, poor processability, low reactivity, and intrinsic structural heterogeneity limit lignins′ polymeric applications …

Novel Salicylic Acid Analogs Induce A Potent Defense Response In Arabidopsis, Ian Arthur Palmer, Huan Chen, Jian Chen, Ming Chang, Min Li, Fengquan Liu, Zheng Qing Fu

Faculty Publications

The master regulator of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated plant defense, NPR1 (NONEXPRESSER OF PR GENES 1) and its paralogs NPR3 and NPR4, act as SA receptors. After the perception of a pathogen, plant cells produce SA in the chloroplast. In the presence of SA, NPR1 protein is reduced from oligomers to monomers, and translocated into the nucleus. There, NPR1 binds to TGA, TCP, and WRKY transcription factors to induce expression of plant defense genes. A list of compounds structurally similar to SA was generated using ChemMine Tools and its Clustering Toolbox. Several of these analogs can induce SA-mediated defense and inhibit …

The Role Of The Gut Microbiome In Tumor Development And Response To 5-Fluorouracil In The Apc^Min/+ Mouse, Kristen Michele Hogan

Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths. While CRC is initiated by mutations in critical tumor suppressor genes, its development and progression to malignancy is aided by host derived cells that are recruited to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and by cancer-associated microbiota that constitute the gut microbiome. Components of the gut microbiota have been shown to alter immune cell infiltration into tumors and influence response to therapy, disease stage, and patient survival. In previous studies, we found that ApcMin/+ mice, a model of early colon carcinogenesis, had reduced tumor …

The Role Of Ampk In The Regulation Of Skeletal Muscle Proteostasis During Cancer Cachexia, Dennis K. Fix

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer-induced cachexia is a debilitating disease that diminishes quality of life due to severe loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Skeletal muscle proteostasis fluctuates diurnally depending on different fasting and feeding durations as well as in response to activity and exercise stimuli. Nutrient availability is key in the net loss and gain of skeletal muscle protein. The adenosine monophosphate protein kinase (AMPK) is a nutrient sensitive kinase that has long been established as a critical regulator of both protein synthesis and protein degradation. AMPK is capable of being activated by many different stimuli as well as diseases such as …

Leveraging For-Cause Physical Activity Events For Physical Activity Promotion: An Investigation Using Self-Determination Theory, John A. Bernhart

Theses and Dissertations

Motivating individuals to live active lifestyles remains a challenging but important public health issue. For-cause physical activity events reach large groups of people, many of whom are not regularly active. However, little research has applied established health behavior theories to explain participation in for-cause events. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to investigate participation in for-cause events through the lens of Self-Determination Theory (SDT).

The first study recruited participants (n=207) registered in a for-cause PA event (i.e., 5K distance or shorter) to complete online surveys that assessed need satisfaction for autonomy, competence, and relatedness; intrinsic motivation; altruism; PA behavior; …

Effects Of Spinal Manipulation On Brain Activation In Individuals With Chronic Low Back Pain, Max K. Jordon

Theses and Dissertations

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) continues to be one of the most common health conditions in the United States. Despite an enormous amount of research, there are no treatments for this condition that consistently improve outcomes. For decades health professionals have incorporated spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) into their practice, but the evidence to date has shown that SMT has only small to modest effect sizes when treating cLBP. One way to improve the effectiveness of SMT is by getting a better understanding of its underlying mechanisms so that the intervention be more specifically targeted to the appropriate individual.

While biomechanical …

The Health Implication And Application Of Silver And Iron Oxide Nanoparticles, Sahar Pourhoseini

Theses and Dissertations

Nanoscience and nanotechnology have successfully created different nanomaterials, which are defined as materials with at least one dimension between 1-100 nm. This small size gives nanomaterials unique and novel properties compared with bulk material, such as a high surface area, specific mechanical, optical and magnetic properties. These novel properties have stimulated the interest of using nanoparticles in a wide range of consumer products and applications including biomedical, pharmaceutical and drug delivery. Silver and iron oxide nanoparticles attracted more attention commercially due to their antibacterial and magnetic properties, respectively. So, the overall objective of this dissertation was: 1) to examine the …

Proteomic And Genomic Evolution Of Phicbkviruses, Kiesha Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

It is estimated that there are 10³¹ phages in the global population. They continue to maintain their populations by undergoing 10²⁴ infections per second. Every time these phages replicate, there is potential for genetic exchange and mutations. Because of this potential, it has been assumed that phage evolution is heavily influenced by mosaicism. However, it is now clear that phage evolution varies by host type and phage type. Here, we use genomic and proteomic analyses to study the evolution of phages that infect Caulobacter crescentus. The study began by comparing six bacteriophage genomes that were larger than …

Regulation Of Arabidopsis Floral Organ Development By The Transcription Factor Aintegumenta-Like6, Jorman Heflin

Theses and Dissertations

Flowers, and the fruits and seeds they produce, are of great agricultural and economic importance. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate the identity, size and arrangement of floral organs within the flower may allow us to tune these elements for increased crop productivity. I examine several potential regulatory targets of the Arabidopsis AINTEGUMENTA-LIKE6 (AIL6) transcription factor that is involved in these processes and I identify protein-protein interactions that may mediate its activity in flowers. As described by the ABCE model, unique floral organ identities are specified in each whorl of the flower by different combinations of homeotic gene activities. Two …

Energetic Consequences Of Human Impacts For Bioindicator Atlantic Ghost Crab (Ocypode Quadrata), Mustafa Remzi Gül

Theses and Dissertations

Human activities have caused notable changes in ecosystems globally over the past century, which cause substantial ecological issues. The degree of these ecological issues is often investigated using the responses of bioindicator species. Bioindicator species often reduce their population densities and individual sizes as a response to the human disturbance. Observing these variations in the demographics is often an effective way to measure the strength of the ecological changes. However, they do not provide any mechanistic reason (s) for the shifts in the demographics, which is important for making predictions about responses of the species to the future conditions. Therefore, …

The Effects Of Climate Change On The Ecotoxicology Of Contaminants Of Emerging Concern: Flame Retardants, Contemporary Use Pesticides And Pharmaceuticals Personal Care Products On The Estuarine Grass Shrimp, Palaemontes Pugio, Rajaa Nouri Al-Yassein

Theses and Dissertations

Global Climate Change may adversely affect the environment, increasing water temperature and altered salinity which may affect the toxicity of both legacy pollutants and Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs). Acute, 96 hour toxicity tests with adult grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) assessed the effects of CECs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Esther (PBDE) – 47, ibuprofen, bifenthrin, triclosan, and bifenthrin/triclosan mixtures) under Standard Conditions (20°C, 20psu) and different Climate Change Conditions (30°C, and/or35psu) In addition, the grass shrimp microbiome (e.g. Vibrio bacteria) were assessed following acute triclosan exposures at the Maximum Exposure Concentration (MECs) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MICs) under standard conditions. …

Physical Activity Of Preschoolers With Developmental Disabilities And Delays, Michaela A. Schenkelberg

Theses and Dissertations

Children with developmental disabilities and delays are at greater risk for developing overweight and obesity compared to typically developing peers. Participation in regular physical activity is a modifiable behavior that is consistently associated with improved weight status and other positive health outcomes. Previous studies have identified numerous individual- and environmental-level factors that associate with physical activity among school-age children with and without disabilities. However, little is known about physical activity behaviors and related correlates among preschool-aged children with disabilities (ages 3 – 5 years), especially while they are in preschool settings. Therefore, the overall purpose of this dissertation was to …

The Persistent Maladaptation Of Pieris Macdunnoughii: Constraints On Adaptation To An Evolutionary Trap, Rachel A. Steward

Theses and Dissertations

Evolutionary traps arise when organisms use novel, low-quality or even lethal resources based on previously reliable cues. Persistence of such maladaptive interactions depends not only on how individuals locate important resources, such as host plants, but also the mechanisms underlying poor performance. Pieris macdunnoughii (Remington) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) lays eggs on a non-native mustard, Thlaspi arvense (L.) (Brassicaceae), which is lethal to its larvae. However, in the 150 years since T. arvense invaded this butterfly continues to recognize and oviposit on the invasive mustard.

I evaluated two possible constraints on the evolution of decreased preference within an invaded population. First, an …

Environmental Microcystin Targets The Microbiome And Increases The Risk Of Intestinal Inflammatory Pathology Via Nox2 In Underlying Murine Model Of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Sutapa Sarkar, Diana Kimono, Muayad Albadrani, Ratanesh K. Seth, Philip Busbee, Hasan Alghetaa, Dwayne E. Porter, Geoff I. Scott, Bryan Brooks, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Prakash Nagarkatti, Saurabh Chatterjee

Faculty Publications

With increased climate change pressures likely to influence harmful algal blooms, exposure to microcystin, a known hepatotoxin and a byproduct of cyanobacterial blooms can be a risk factor for NAFLD associated comorbidities. Using both in vivo and in vitro experiments we show that microcystin exposure in NAFLD mice cause rapid alteration of gut microbiome, rise in bacterial genus known for mediating gut inflammation and lactate production. Changes in the microbiome were strongly associated with inflammatory pathology in the intestine, gut leaching, tight junction protein alterations and increased oxidative tyrosyl radicals. Increased lactate producing bacteria from the altered microbiome was associated …

International Comparison Of The Levels And Potential Correlates Of Objectively Measured Sedentary Time And Physical Activity Among Three-To-Four-Year-Old Children, Kaiseree I. Dias, James White, Russell Jago, Greet Cardon, Rachel Davey, Kathleen F. Janz, Russell R. Pate, Jardena J. Puder, John J. Reilly, Ruth Kipping

Faculty Publications

Physical activity (PA) patterns track from childhood through to adulthood. The study aimed to determine the levels and correlates of sedentary time (ST), total PA (TPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) in preschool-aged children. We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 1052 children aged three-to-four-years-old from six studies included in the International Children’s Accelerometry Database. Multilevel linear regression models adjusting for age, gender, season, minutes of wear time, and study clustering effects were used to estimate associations between age, gender, country, season, ethnicity, parental education, day of the week, time of sunrise, time of sunset, and hours of daylight and the daily minutes …

Tidal And Meteorological Influences On The Growth Of Invasive Spartina Alterniflora: Evidence From Uav Remote Sensing, Xudong Zhu, Lingxuan Meng, Yihui Zhang, Qihao Weng, James T. Morris

Faculty Publications

Rapid invasion of Spartina alterniflora into Chinese coastal wetlands has attracted much attention. Many field and remote sensing studies have examined the spatio-temporal dynamics of S. alterniflora invasion; however, spatially explicit quantitative analyses of S. alterniflora invasion and its underlying mechanisms at both patch and landscape scales are seldom reported. To fill this knowledge gap, we integrated multi-temporal unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery, light detection and ranging (LiDAR)-derived elevation data, and tidal and meteorological time series to explore the growth potential (lateral expansion rates and canopy greenness) of S. alterniflora over the intertidal zone in a subtropical coastal wetland (Zhangjiang …

Cardiorespiratory Fitness And The Risk Of First Acute Myocardial Infarction: The Hunt Study, Rajesh Shigdel, Håvard Dalen, Xuemei Sui, Carl J. Lavie, Ulrik Wisløff, Linda Ernstsen

Faculty Publications

Background

The majority of studies evaluating cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) as a cardiovascular risk factor use cardiovascular mortality and not cardiovascular disease events as the primary end point, and generally do not include women. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of estimated CRF (eCRF) with the risk of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods and Results

We included 26 163 participants (51.5% women) from the HUNT study (Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study), with a mean age of 55.7 years, without cardiovascular disease at baseline. Baseline eCRF was grouped into tertiles. AMI was derived from hospital records and deaths from …

Cellular Localization Of Rad51d Mutant Proteins And The Application Of Art To Increase Scientific Literacy In America, Claire L. Chabot

Senior Theses

Ovarian cancers are the leading cause of death from cancer of the female reproductive system. Approximately 50% of ovarian cancers have defects in the homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway that is required for the repair of DNA double-stranded breaks. The status of HR genes, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and the RAD51 family, contributes to ovarian cancer development as well as treatment decisions regarding chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy. The overarching goal of this project is to identify new insights into HR that can integrate with Precision Medicine Initiatives and align with the goals of the Cancer Moonshot 2020 Program. I …

Generalizing Metallocene Mechanochemistry To Ruthenocene Mechanophores, Ye Sha, Yudi Zhang, Enhua Xu, C Wayne Mcalister, Tianyu Zhu, Stephen L. Craig, Chuanbing Tang

Faculty Publications

Recent reports have shown that ferrocene displays an unexpected combination of force-free stability and mechanochemical activity, as it acts as the preferred site of chain scission along the backbone of highly extended polymer chains. This observation raises the tantalizing question as to whether similar mechanochemical activity might be present in other metallocenes, and, if so, what features of metallocenes dictate their relative ability to act as mechanophores. In this work, we elucidate polymerization methodologies towards main-chain ruthenocene-based polymers and explore the mechanochemistry of ruthenocene. We find that ruthenocene, in analogy to ferrocene, acts as a highly selective site of main …

Short-Term Effect Of Simulated Salt Marsh Restoration By Sand-Amendment On Sediment Bacterial Communities, François Thomas, James T. Morris, Cathleen Wigand, Stefan M. Sievert

Faculty Publications

Coastal climate adaptation strategies are needed to build salt marsh resiliency and maintain critical ecosystem services in response to impacts caused by climate change. Although resident microbial communities perform crucial biogeochemical cycles for salt marsh functioning, their response to restoration practices is still understudied. One promising restoration strategy is the placement of sand or sediment onto the marsh platform to increase marsh resiliency. A previous study examined the above- and below-ground structure, soil carbon dioxide emissions, and pore water constituents in Spartina alterniflora-vegetated natural marsh sediments and sand-amended sediments at varying inundation regimes. Here, we analyzed samples from the …

The Effects Of Teacrine® And Caffeine On Endurance And Cognitive Performance During A Simulated Match In High-Level Soccer Players, Marissa L. Bello, Alan J. Walker, Bridget A. Mcfadden, David J. Sanders, Shawn M. Arent Ph.D., Cscs*D, Fissn, Facsm, Fnak

Faculty Publications

Background: Theacrine (1,3,7,9-tetramethyluric-acid) is a pure alkaloid with a similar structure to caffeine and acts comparably as an adenosine receptor antagonist. Early studies have shown non-habituating effects, including increases in energy and focus in response to Teacrine®, the compound containing pure theacrine. The purpose of this study was to determine and compare the effects of Teacrine® and caffeine on cognitive performance and time-to-exhaustion during a simulated soccer game in high-level male and female athletes. Methods: Male and female soccer players (N = 24; M Age = 20.96 ± 2.05y, M MaleVO2max = 55.31 ± 3.39 mL/O 2 /kg, M FemaleVO2max …

Ecological Mechanisms Can Modify Radiation Effects In A Key Forest Mammal Of Chernobyl, Tapio Mappes, Zbyszek Boratynski, Kati Kivisaari, Anton Lavrinienko, Anders P. Moller, Eugene Tukalenko, Phillip C. Watts

Faculty Publications

Nuclear accidents underpin the need to quantify the ecological mechanisms which determineinjury to ecosystems from chronic low-dose radiation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ecological mech-anisms interact with ionizing radiation to affect natural populations in unexpected ways. We used large-scale replicated experiments and food manipulations in wild populations of the rodent, Myodes glareolus,inhabiting the region near the site of the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. We show linear decreases in breedingsuccess with increasing ambient radiation levels with no evidence of any threshold below which effects arenot seen. Food supplementation of experimental populations resulted in increased abundances but only inlocations where radioactive …

Moderating Effect Of The Neighborhood Physical Activity Environment On The Relation Between Psychosocial Factors And Physical Activity In Children: A Longitudinal Study, Natalie Colabianchi, Morgan N. Clennin, Marsha Dowda, Kerry L. Mciver, Rod K. Dishman, Dwayne E. Porter, Russell R. Pate

Faculty Publications

Background Few studies have examined the moderating role of neighbourhood environments on the relation between psychosocial factors and physical activity, and results of these studies are mixed. This study examined this relationship in 636 fifth to seventh graders from South Carolina, USA.

Methods From 2010 to 2013, children and their parent/guardian completed annual self-reported surveys assessing psychosocial factors, and children wore accelerometers for 1 week each year. Neighbourhood environments were classified as supportive or non-supportive for physical activity (PA) based on in-person audits of facilities near children’s homes and windshield surveys of children’s streets. Growth curve analyses were completed to …

Anisotropy Vs Isotropy In Living Cell Indentation With Afm, Yuri M. Efremov, Mirian Velay-Lizancos, Cory J. Weaver, Ahmad I. Athamneh, Pablo D. Zavattieri, Daniel M. Suter, Arvind Raman

Faculty Publications

The measurement of local mechanical properties of living cells by nano/micro indentation relies on the foundational assumption of locally isotropic cellular deformation. As a consequence of assumed isotropy, the cell membrane and underlying cytoskeleton are expected to locally deform axisymmetrically when indented by a spherical tip. Here, we directly observe the local geometry of deformation of membrane and cytoskeleton of different living adherent cells during nanoindentation with the integrated Atomic Force (AFM) and spinning disk confocal (SDC) microscope. We show that the presence of the perinuclear actin cap (apical stress fibers), such as those encountered in cells subject to physiological …

Guided Alligator Tours Or Raccoon Schooling (Gators), Paul List

Senior Theses

In my two main internships during college, I worked closely with two very different animals: raccoons and alligators. Additionally, I gained experience in presenting educational programs during my internship at Fripp Island, where my most common program was our Gator Walk. For my thesis project, I built upon my experience in interpretive programming, drawing on my experience with alligators and raccoons to develop a unique educational program to present at Congaree National Park. This report will describe the process of developing this program as well as it’s implementation and outcomes. In addition, it includes a review of scholarly literature on …

Evaluating The Social Informational Needs Of Emerging Adults With Genetic Conditions, Courtney Whitmore

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study evaluated the healthcare provider’s role during the social development of emerging adults with a genetic condition. The study also identified the type of information and ways that these adolescents hope to receive information on the potential side effects or complications from engaging in risk taking behaviors and lifestyle choices.

Methods: Participants included both males and females aged 18-26 with achondroplasia, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, or Marfan syndrome. Respondents were recruited to complete an anonymous online questionnaire via social media support groups or email notification.

Results: There were 103 total respondents that completed the questionnaire and met …

Exploring Patient Perceptions And Misconceptions: Beliefs Regarding Hereditary Cancer, Margaret Flach

Theses and Dissertations

Many patients who enter a genetic counseling session have preconceived notions about why they or their family members developed a genetic condition. Often these perceptions are deeply rooted in personal, familial, and/ or cultural beliefs; individuals typically have a personal framework, or schema, into which they incorporate new information. There is limited research on what information patients are retaining during a genetic counseling session and how they are assimilating that knowledge into their existing views. We attempted to characterize these patient perceptions with respect to hereditary cancer, in order to assess how patients are adopting the information presented in a …