Life Sciences Commons^™

Impact Of Natural Cheese Composition On Proteolysis And Its Effects On Process Cheese Functionality, Natasha Scherber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cheddar cheese is a commodity and a top-selling cheese in the United States. Enhanced flavors of cheddar cheese requires aging, which will allow proteolysis increase. Proteolysis is the most complex process that happens in cheese manufacturing and can be difficult to control because of environmental factors and compositional characteristics. The ripening process, which is the most timely and costly procedure in cheese manufacturing, can also be unpredictable when aspects, such as cheese composition, are changed. The coagulant is responsible for the first stage in proteolysis, which will produce large peptides. Small peptides are subsequentially produced during the second stage by …

Combining Soil Health And Fertility Measurements To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Corn Grain Yield Responses To P And K Fertilization, Benjamin Groebner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have pointed to changes in climate and land management practices to justify the need to reevaluate the accuracy of current South Dakota (SD) corn (Zea mays L.) P and K fertilizer recommendations. Also, an increase in soil health understanding has created the potential for soil health measurements to be used to improve the accuracy of these recommendations. The objectives for this study were to 1) evaluate the current P and K critical values and 2) determine the effect of including soil health indicators on improving fertilizer recommendation accuracy. This project was conducted throughout central and eastern SD from 2019-2021 …

Efficacy Of Nanomaterials And Biorationals On The Bacterial Leaf Streak Management In Wheat, Abraham Hangamaisho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the United States. Most wheat varieties are susceptible to bacterial leaf streak (BLS), a major disease caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtpvu). BLS is challenging to manage since common chemicals do not provide adequate control. Nanomaterials and plant extracts have shown potential to provide a sustainable environmentally friendly control of animal and plant diseases. However, limited data are available on the efficacy of plant extracts and nanomaterials controlling BLS in wheat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of plant extracts and …

Genome-Wide Association Mapping And Genomic Prediction For Enhancing Fhb Resistance In Hard Winter Wheat, Jinfeng Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops providing 20% of energy for 35% of the world population. Fusarium head blight (FHB), primarily caused by the fugal Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, is a damaging disease in wheat that affects global wheat production every year and causes food safety issues. The disease not only reduces the grain yield and quality but also produces mycotoxin in the diseased kernels making them unsuitable for human consumption or as livestock feeds. Breeding FHB resistant cultivar is the most effective and economical approach to managing the disease. This study combines genome-wide association study (GWAS) and …

Genistein-Enriched Pig Gut Microbiota Library As A Potential Probiotic Consortium, Theresah Amponsah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plant-based diets contain numerous flavonoid compounds that produce antibacterial effects and gut health improvement. Genistein is among the most abundant isoflavones present in a plant-based diet and can be found in high amounts in soy products (up to 1g Kg-1). We describe here a robust method to identify genistein tolerant and metabolizing bacteria in swine gut microbiota and to screen the strains that have antibacterial and immunestimulatory properties. Such strains could be developed as non-antibiotic alternatives to prevent enteric infections in pigs and improve gut immunity. To this end, a mini bioreactorbased system was used to enrich genistein metabolizing bacteria …

Disentangling The Complex Evolutionary History Of Invasive Russian Thistle: Phylogenetic Relationships, The Role Of Hybridization, And Public Engagement, Deva Raj Khanal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species are forces of environmental, economic, and social change with detrimental impacts on ecosystems, commerce, agriculture, and human health. However, we still have a poor understanding of the processes that could be driving invasive potential. Hybridization may contribute to the establishment and spread of invasive lineages, as it may enhance genetic variation and facilitate rapid adaptation. Focusing on Russian thistle (Salsola tragus s.l., family Amaranthaceae) and closely related species, my thesis aims to clarify phylogenetic relationships and investigate how hybridization has shaped the invasion dynamics of these lineages. Known as one of the fastest plant invasions in the United …

A Post-Pneumonia Epizootic Evaluation Of The Rapid City, South Dakota Bighorn Sheep Herd, Amanda N. Ensrud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pneumonia is a major factor affecting populations of free-ranging bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) across western North America. Pneumonia can occur in large-scale epizootics, during which greater than half of the population typically dies. After these epizootics, surviving ewes continue to conceive and bear lambs. However, lamb recruitment may remain low due to periodic or annual pneumonia outbreaks causing high lamb mortality rates, sometimes greater than 90%. Our study focused on the Rapid City, South Dakota bighorn sheep (BHS) herd that has recorded pneumonia-induced population decline since 2009. The first objective was to improve lamb health and survival by identifying and …

Prairie Cordgrass Cellulose: A Sustainable Resource To Develop Biodegradable Films, Mominul Hoque

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Plastics are versatile and cost-effective materials with a wide variety of functionalities. Their non-biodegradability, however, is an environmental concern. Plastic waste accumulation in landfills and natural habitats results in health issues, mainly due to the leaching of chemicals from plastic products that further transfer to humans and wildlife. Many countries around the globe have imposed restrictions on plastic use. Despite these concerted efforts, a pressing scientific need exists to find an alternative to plastics. Cellulose from abundant agricultural biomass stands out as a viable alternative due to its robust structure, biocompatibility, biodegradability, low density, and non-toxicity. This research aims to …

Post-Fledging Habitat Selection And Movements Of Juvenile Mallards In The Prairie Pothole Region, Cynthia E. Anchor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America provides critical habitat for waterfowl across life stages, but anthropogenic changes to the landscape have negatively impacted habitat quality for waterfowl. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is abundant and socioeconomically valuable in the PPR, as it is a preferred target species of waterfowl hunters. Extensive research has evaluated breeding ecology of mallards in the PPR, but the period between juvenile mallards fledging and migrating has rarely been studied. The post-fledging ecology of juvenile mallards is a vital consideration for comprehensive waterfowl management. Further, juvenile mallards are a significant portion of hunter harvest at …

Northern Great Plains Saline Sodic Soil Development, Classification, Remediation, And Management., Shaina Westhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil salinity and sodicity are issues of growing concern in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Knowledge gaps for glaciated, dryland salt-affected soils exist because much original salinity and sodicity research focused on irrigated systems. Land managers are being asked to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel for an expanding global population. The number of land managers and crop advisors who are affected by these soils is increasing. Addressing salinity and sodicity knowledge gaps will be critical for their success. Salinity and sodicity have been impeding crop productivity since the advent of cultivation. Saline and sodic soils form via multiple …

Cgrp-Driven Lateralization Of Pain Modulation By The Central Amygdala, Heather Allen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The central amygdala (CeA) is a bilateral, mid limbic brain region involved in the processing of pain and emotion. Interestingly, the left and right CeA are functionally lateralized in the context of bladder pain, with the left and right CeA having opposing effects on bladder pain-like behavior. However, the specific mechanisms driving these divergent functions are unknown. Nociceptive signals from the bladder are relayed to the CeA via projection neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) that express high levels of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). In these studies, we investigated the influence of PBN CGRP signaling in the left and right …

Real-Time Monitoring Of Cell Death Progress Using Capacitance Spectroscopy, Suyang Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biologics, including the monoclonal antibody (mAb), has experienced rapid development in the last decade. However, the price of biologics is often prohibitively high because of the low process efficiency. Delaying the inevitable cell death improves the productivity of upstream bioprocessing, whose success relies on monitoring the cell death onset that indicates the timing for preventive actions.

This study proposes to develop a real-time monitoring model that quantifies the dying cell percentage in lab-scale bioreactors using capacitance spectroscopy. The capacitance spectroscopy contains cell death-related information due to various physical properties changes during the cell death process, e.g., cytoplasmic conductivity change. The …

Understanding Snow Leopard (Panthera Uncia) Population Structure, Diet, And Human-Wildlife Dimensions Using Noninvasive Genetic Approaches, Charlotte Hacker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are a large cat endemic to the mountains of Central Asia. Despite their status as a flagship species, there are numerous knowledge gaps surrounding their population status, dietary ecology, and relationship with humans. Such knowledge gaps are prohibitive for effective conservation action for the species. Snow leopards are threatened by habitat loss, decreased prey availability, retaliatory killings, and large-scale negative impacts associated with climate change. In order to help bridge these gaps, noninvasive genetic methodologies were deployed in this work across several disciplines. Population genetic metrics were garnered at local, regional, and range-wide scales, …

Analysis Of Spore Shape Determination In Streptomyces, Ning Sun

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Streptomycetes are Gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacteria that possess a complex life cycle with the alternation of vegetative mycelium, aerial mycelium, and spores. Streptomyces. coelicolor spore maturation is a complex process that involves spore shape metamorphosis from cylindrical pre-spores into ellipsoid spores, but the details of this process have remained enigmatic. Previously, our lab identified a novel gene ssdA that might play a role in spore shape determination using a transposon-based insertion mutagenesis in S. coelicolor. In this study, I isolated a S. coelicolor ssdA-null mutant that showed increased colony hydrophobicity and misshapen spores in sizes and shapes, confirming the …

Seasonal Flammability Comparisons Of Native And Exotic Plants In The Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairie, And Pineywoods Ecoregions Of Texas, Michael Tiller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

East Texas’ diverse landscape can present year-round wildfire seasons that can be influenced by seasonal and regional differences in climate and physiography. Greater insight into the fundamental thermal behavior of wildland fuels can aid in fire behavior prediction and development of fire-resistant plant lists. This study focused on estimating seasonal and regional flammability characteristics of five evergreen species: yaupon (Ilex vomitoria), Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense), greenbrier (Smilax spp.), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), and escarpment live oak (Quercus fusiformis); and two deciduous species: Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) and southern …

Computational And Biochemical Characterizations Of Anhydrobiosis-Related Intrinsically Disordered Proteins., Brett R. Janis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anhydrobiosis is the remarkable phenomenon of “life without water”. It is a common technique found in plant seeds, and a rare technique utilized by some animals to temporarily stop the clock of life and enter a stasis for up to several millennia by removing all of their cellular water. If this phenomenon can be replicated, then biological and medical materials could be stored at ambient temperatures for centuries, which would address research challenges as well as enhance the availability of medicine in areas of the world where refrigeration, freezing, and cold-chain infrastructure are not developed or infeasible. Furthermore, modifying crop …

Q-Griffithsin Interactions And Utility For The Prevention And Treatment Of Mucosal Infections., Henry Nabeta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Griffithsin (GRFT) is a carbohydrate binding agent (lectin) that was originally identified in the red alga Griffithsia sp. Q-Griffithsin (Q-GRFT) is an oxidation stable analog of GRFT. GRFT has demonstrated inhibitory activity against HIV-1, Coronaviruses, Hepatitis C, influenza and Ebola viruses. The broad-spectrum activity suggests the potential utility of this lectin in a wide range of viral infections. However, the lectin’s activity in mucosal infections has not been extensively studied. Using in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays, we have demonstrated that Q-GRFT maintains the ability to bind glycosylated ligands following incubation in murine, macaque and human rectal …

Translating Particulate Hexavalent Chomium-Induced Chromosome Instability, Loss Of Homologous Recombination Repair And Targeting Of Rad51 From Human Lung Fibroblasts To Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells., Idoia Meaza Isusi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Particulate hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a well-established human lung carcinogen. RAD51, a key protein in homologous recombination repair pathway, is inhibited after prolonged exposure to Cr(VI), leading to an increase in chromosome instability after prolonged exposures in human lung fibroblasts. chromosome instability is the proposed driver of Cr(VI) carcinogenesis. Since tumors from chromate workers develop from epithelial cells, we sought to translate these findings from human bronchial fibroblasts to human bronchial epithelial cells. We hypothesized Cr(VI) inhibits RAD51 after prolonged exposure leading to an increase in chromosome instability in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEP2D). We characterized the cytotoxicity and measured …

A Method For Identifying Ancient Introgression Between Caballine And Non-Caballine Equids Using Whole Genome High Throughput Data., Kalpani De Silva

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introgression is one of the main mechanisms that transfer adapted alleles between species. The advantageous variants will get positively selected and retained in the recipient population while rest of the variants undergo negative selection. When analyzing horse genome, two alleles were found in CXCL16 gene, one associated with susceptibility and one with resistance to developing persistent shedding of the Equine Arteritis Virus. The two alleles differ by 4 non-synonymous variants in exon 1 of the gene. Comparison with 3 non-caballine equids (zebras, asses and hemiones) revealed that one haplotype was almost identical to the haplotype found in non-caballines while the …

Distinguishing Mustela From Neogale (Mustelidae) Through Both A Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis Of Skull And Tooth Morphology, Ronald W. Peery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Weasels and mink (Mustela and Neogale) can be difficult to distinguish osteologically due to similarities in morphology, thus suggesting the need for an accurate tool in distinguishing among taxa. This study utilized a combination of character state and stepwise discriminant function (DFA) analyses to examine potential distinguishing features of skull and tooth morphology. Measurements and ratios were collected from all 18 extant musteline species, as well as the extinct Neovison macrodon, Mustela rexroadensis, Mustela meltoni, Mustela gazini, and Mustela jacksoni. Unidentified musteline specimens from the Gray Fossil Site were also included. Results of …

Trained Immunity Enhances The Immune Response And Maintains Microbiome Diversity In Aging And Sepsis, P. Spencer Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global population is rapidly aging. It is estimated that over the next thirty years, the number of individuals >60 years of age will increase by over a billion, and the number of individuals over age 80 may increase by 300 million. As humans age, our immune system becomes progressively weaker through a process called immune senescence. This age-related decrease in immune function increases susceptibility to infection and chronic diseases. Sepsis is a leading cause of death worldwide. Over the past two decades, there has been an increased incidence of sepsis which is due, in part, to our aging population …

Genital Chlamydia Infection Is Influenced By The Female Sex Hormones Estrogen And Progesterone In Vivo, Amy Gail Gravitte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chlamydia is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States and worldwide. It often goes unnoticed due to lack of symptoms and left untreated it can ascend the female genital tract to cause sequelae like pelvic inflammatory disease and irreversible tubal infertility. In reproductive-aged women, female sex hormones estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4) concentrations fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and are influenced by hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy. E2 and P4 influence genital Chlamydia infection in women and mice, but these multifactorial interactions are not entirely mapped out. The complex interplay of E2 and P4 with …

Role Of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Kinase In Western-Type Diet-Induced Cardiac Outcomes Under Basal And Ischemic Conditions, Mary Wingard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated kinase (ATM), a serine/threonine kinase, plays a role in DNA damage repair, redox sensing, and metabolism. In the heart, ATM contributes significantly in the myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodeling with effects on fibrosis, hypertrophy, apoptosis and inflammation. This study investigates the role of ATM deficiency in 14 weeks Western-type diet (WD)-induced cardiac outcomes prior to and 1-day post-MI in a sex-specific manner using wild-type (WT) and ATM heterozygous knockout (hKO) mice. In male mice, ATM deficiency induced rapid body weight gain and preload-associated dysfunction, while WT mice displayed afterload-associated dysfunction 14 weeks post-WD. Myocyte apoptosis and hypertrophy were …

Lipidomic Analysis Of Various Developmental Stages Of Physcomitrium Patens, Deepshila Gautam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lipids maintain fluidity of the cell membrane during the lifetime of all organisms. The moss Physcomitrium patens, an early land plant, enters reproductive phase under cold (15°C) conditions relative to its gametophytes (22°C). Thus, we hypothesized that their lipid content and composition would be distinct. Using ESI-MS/MS, we showed that the content and acyl composition of 11 lipid classes varied during development. Galactolipids were abundant in gametophytes but insignificant in sporophytes; among phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine was predominant in both phases. Although, sporophytes contained around five-fold less lipids than the gametophyte, their phosphatidic acid content, which accumulates during stress, was 18-fold …

Natural Regeneration Dynamics And Survival Influenced By Abiotic And Biotic Factors In A Bottomland Hardwood Forest, Lydia J. Voth Rurup

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Riparian ecosystems are vital to the landscape, providing critical services including water filtration and purification, flood and erosion control, carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, and aesthetic value. Bottomland hardwood forests, however, are threatened by invasive species, land loss/conversion, inconsistent or absence of harvesting disturbances, and altered hydrological patterns, leading to reduced success of desired, native species. This research assessed regeneration dynamics and one-year survival in a seasonally-flooded bottomland hardwood forest at Boggy Slough Conservation Area in East Texas to identify abiotic and biotic factors important for successful establishment of native regeneration. Areas sampled included two that were previously treated with herbicide …

Effects Of Varying Warmup Stimuli On Running Economy, Connor Bigenho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of two potentiating warm-up stimuli (weighted-vest strides and plyometrics) on running economy (RE) over short (5-10 minutes) and longer durations (30+ minutes) of exercise in trained distance runners. Methods: Five recreationally trained male runners were recruited to participate in this study. Each trial consisted of a 10-min self-paced warm-up on the treadmill followed by baseline RE test and baseline leg-stiffness. This was immediately followed by one of two intervention warmup protocols. The protocols consisted of either a series of plyometric movements, 6 x 10-sec strides with a …

Assessing Freezing Effect On Kiwifruit Cultivars And Mapping Suitable Areas For Growing The Crop In Eastern Texas, Lais De Oliveira Machado

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Kiwifruit is a perennial vine originating from China where it has been grown for centuries. In the United States, green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is primarily produced commercially in California. They are fuzzy, green fleshed and well known in the marketplace. Kiwifruit plants require low to moderate soil pH, adequate winter chilling and adequate precipitation to guarantee plant development and good fructification. Actinidia chinesis or golden kiwifruit are smooth skinned, feature golden flesh and are a more recent introduction into the global market. Kiwifruit crops have attributes that favor production in east Texas, including low pest problems, current long …

Role Of Meibum And Tear Phospholipids In The Evaporative Water Loss Associated With Dry Eye., Samiyyah M. Sledge

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is generally believed that the tear film lipid surface film inhibits the rate of evaporation (Revap) of the underlying tear aqueous. It is also generally believed that changes in the composition of the tear film lipid layer is responsible for an increase in Revap in patients with dry eye. Both of these ideas have never been proven. The purpose of the current studies was to test these ideas. Revap was measured in vitro gravimetrically. Lipid spreading was measured using Raman spectroscopy and microscopy. The influence of the following surface films on the Revap of the sub phase of physiologically …

How Do Cover Crops Change Soil Health In A No-Till System?, Aysha Kirsten Tapp Ross

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient levels and aggregation measurements are currently the most accurate means to measure soil health. It has been suggested that bacterial and fungal communities may prove to be a more accurate measure of soil health. In this study soil microbe communities and nutrient levels were compared in rye cover cropped soils to measure for differences between treatments. Effects between the microbial communities and environmental measurements were also measured within those treatments to test for correlations between soil health measures and microbial communities. The plots were put in a biennial corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max …

Pyridine Nucleotide Redox Potential In Coronary Smooth Muscle Couples Myocardial Blood Flow To Cardiac Metabolism., Marc Matthew Dwenger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The maintenance of myocardial oxygen supply during stress is essential for sustaining cardiac health. Enhancement of coronary blood flow upon increases in myocardial oxygen demand (i.e., hyperemia) relies on regulation of voltage-gated K⁺ (Kv) channels by their intracellular β subunits (i.e., Kvβ proteins). Considering that, Kvβ proteins are aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) and regulate Kv channel gating, we tested the hypothesis that elevation of myocardial oxygen demand modifies intracellular NAD(H) in arterial myocytes. Furthermore, we tested whether the resultant change in the redox state of the pyridine nucleotide pool directly regulates coronary Kv1 channel activity. High-resolution imaging mass spectrometry and …