Life Sciences Commons^™

Bio-Inspired Materials For Electrochemical Sensors, Matthew Joseph Hummel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrochemical biosensors are a rapidly growing research area that has greatly improved its specificity, accuracy, and precision in the detection of biomolecules in contemporary literature and industry alike. Typically, these systems exist in a three-electrode conformation with a working electrode functioning as the anode, a counter electrode functioning as the cathode, and a reference electrode allowing for the control of potential in the system. The method by which these sensors work is through the sharing of electrons via redox reactions with the target molecule and the working electrode or modifications on its surface. By exploiting the function of biomaterials that …

Cold Climate Grape Cultivar`S Physiological And Gene Expression Responses To Low And Freezing Temperatures, Turhan Yilmaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grapevine (Vitis Vinifera), widely cultivated in the world and USA, is a significant and valuable fruit crop. After cold climate grapevine cultivars were released by breeding programs in the 1990s, the production of grapes expanded in the Northern cold climate region of the US. The objectives of this study were to test 1) freezing tolerance and chilling fulfillment, 2) the effect of pruning methods on yield and winter survival, and 3) transcriptomic changes in natural and controlled chilling conditions during chilling requirement fulfillment in cold climate grapevine cultivars. Pruning methods, spur (SP), short cane (SC), and spur plus short cane …

An Exploration Of The Effects Of An Early Postpartum Intravenous Infusion With Carnosic Acid On Physiological Responses Of Transition Dairy Cows, Tainara Michelotti

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The transition period is commonly defined as the last 3 wk before parturition to 3 wk after parturition. It is the most critical stage of the lactation cycle of high-producing dairy cows. The period consists of a complex interplay of metabolic and hormonal adaptations, inflammation, and immune activation. During the transition period, dairy cows commonly face oxidative stress, an underlying factor for dysfunctional immune response and enhanced inflammation, which can further increase the susceptibility of dairy cattle to health disorders and decrease productivity. In the last few decades, there has been an increased interest in studying alternative natural compounds with …

Auxin-Based Herbicide Program And Rhizobia Application For Weed Control And Nodulation Potential In Auxin Tolerant Soybean, Joy Amajioyi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foliar-applied Bradyrhizobia to V4 soybean has been reported to increase yield up to 5%. However, a stand-alone product application may not be practical. Applying with other treatments such as post-emergence herbicide application may be economical but herbicide and/or additives may be deleterious to rhizobial growth. A laboratory study investigated the impact of herbicides (glyphosate and dicamba), additives (an oil to improve absorption and spreading; and AMS used to overcome hard water impacts on glyphosate), and herbicide + additives on bacterial growth. Optical density (OD) measurements at the wavelength of 650 nm assessed solution turbidity, a surrogate measure of bacterial growth. …

Studies On Genetic Characterization Of Agronomic Traits And Disease Resistance In Bread Wheat, Jyotirmoy Halder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A steady increase in wheat yield is vital to feed the continuously rising world population. Systematic exploitation of wheat germplasm and a better understanding of the underlying genetic control could be pivotal in accelerating the genetic gain for yield and disease management. Various modern techniques such as genome-wide association study (GWAS), genomic selection (GS), fine mapping, and cloning can expedite wheat improvement and broaden our understanding of the complex wheat genome. In the first objective of this study, we evaluated the Watkins core set of 121 landrace cultivars (LCs) to identify novel sources of resistance against the tan spot, Stagonospora …

Search For New Fertility Markers In Bull Sperm, Saulo Menegatti Zoca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sperm are stored for extended periods of time in the epididymis, but upon ejaculation motility is increased and lifespan is decreased. After insemination, sperm must traverse the female barriers and undergo capacitation to complete fertilization; however, there are differences in fertility even among bulls that successfully pass a breeding soundness exam. For any potential marker of fertility, there must be variability expressed among animals. The series of studies in this dissertation had the objective 1) to evaluate differences between epididymal and ejaculated sperm and respective fluids proteins to understand increased longevity of epididymal sperm; 2) to evaluate the potential of …

Development Of Bio-Based Nanocomposites For Biosensor And Indicator Applications In Smart Food Packaging, Abdus Sobhan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Smart food packaging based on biosensors has been attracting more and more interest to the industrial community because of the concerns of food quality and safety. A food packaging with biosensor has a scope to enable real-time monitoring of microbial breakdown products of packaged foods. Furthermore, one of the biggest challenges in implementing biosensor for smart packaging materials is the development of bio-sensing active materials that can leverage their electrical, thermal, biodegradable and other functional properties. In this regard, nanocellulose-based activated carbon (NAC) nanocomposite was developed using the activated carbon and nanocellulose gel using the casting method with their different …

Profiling Of Fda-Approved And Clinical Trial Drugs Revealed Shared Cytotoxicity And Collateral Sensitivity In Resistant (H69ar) And Non-Resistant (H69) Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. (Drug Repurposing In Cancer Chemotherapy), Pius Reyderg Agyemang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Some cancers are capable of “spitting out” drugs being fed to them, metaphorically speaking, becoming resistant to what were previously effective chemotherapeutics. In small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), an overexpression of a membrane protein (MRP1) and its transport activity can lead to chemotherapy failure. However, this study showed that certain drugs are selectively cytotoxic (exhibit collateral sensitivity) to MRP1-overexpressed SCLC (H69AR) cells. In this study, three drugs (Erlotinib, Pyrimethamine, Fludarabine) were identified to exhibit a dose-dependent collateral sensitivity on H69AR with IC50 values of ~3.5 μM, ~2 μM, and ~20 μM respectively. Halting the transport activity of the MRP1 with 25 …

Free-Living Diazotrophs And The Nitrogen Cycle In Natural Grassland Revealed By Culture Dependent And Independent Approaches, Amrit Koirala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biological nitrogen fixation contributes to half of the global supply of nitrogen to the biosphere. It is carried out by a diverse group of prokaryotes called diazotrophs via the nitrogenase enzyme. Nitrogen fixation research is focused on the narrow group of symbiotic diazotrophs, and the vast majority of free-living diazotrophs which contribute significantly to fixed nitrogen are yet to be explored. The goal of this research was to access phylogeny of diazotrophs considering the most up-to-date genomic information and apply that knowledge to understand the diversity of free-living diazotrophs in a natural grassland ecosystem, both by culture dependent and independent …

Effects Of Harvest Regulations And Post-Release Hooking Mortality On Walleye Populations In South Dakota, Cade Lyon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Harvest regulations are commonly implemented to manipulate fisheries stocks. By regulating the size and number of fish that are harvested by anglers, managers are able to meet the goals and needs of regions. However, these management actions come with the potential for negative consequences. Overexploitation due to less restrictive harvest regulations can cause collapses in fisheries populations. In addition, indirect consequences such as hooking mortality brought on by length-based regulations can also be detrimental to populations. In this study, I investigated the effects of various harvest regulations on Walleye populations in three western South Dakota irrigation reservoirs: Angostura, Belle Fourche, …

How Do Prey Capture And Simulated Fire Affect Growth And Nutrient Limitation In A Carnivorous Pitcher Plant, Sarracenia Alata?, Jalen Christopher Holloway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Carnivorous plants are defined as being able to benefit from the nutrients of prey in the environment, and have at least one trait that either retrieves, ingests, or lures a prey to its traps. The association of carnivorous plants with fire-prone habitats was initially described as a paradox, considering that carnivorous plants are often associated with nutrient-poor soils and fires can increase soil nutrient availability. This apparent paradox assumes, however, that the nutrients that increase in availability following fire are those also provided by prey, which might not be true. In habitats with nitrogen-poor soils, fire has been shown to …

Visual Tracking Speed And Soccer Performance Metrics, Julia Paige Phillips

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Visual training has previously been shown to correlate to sport specific level of training and sport specific performance measures in controlled conditions. However, it remains unclear if these relationships exist between visual tracking thresholds and in competition decision making metrics over the duration of a soccer season. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between visual tracking speed (VTS) baseline scores and soccer-specific performance measures. In total, 19 NCAA Division I soccer players were tested before the 2021 spring soccer season, after exclusionary criteria only 13 were utilized for analysis. VTS was measured from 1-core session …

Changes In Pregnancy - Associated Glycoproteins Associated With Fetal Age, Postpartum Interval And Evaluation Of A Chute-Side Lateral Flow Assay, Adalaide C. Kline

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transrectal ultrasonography is known as the gold standard for pregnancy detection but requires costly equipment and technical skill. Access to a cheaper and more user-friendly method with similar accuracy to transrectal ultrasonography would be beneficial to individual cattle producers and to the cattle industry as a whole. Pregnancy diagnosis by detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) has the ability to accurately determine pregnancy in ruminants, however, usually requires specialized equipment for the assay. Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein pregnancy tests are gaining in popularity due to their ease of use and the unique feature of not requiring specialized training. Recently, a new lateral flow …

Population Genetic Structure Of Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) In South Dakota: Using Harvested Samples To Inform Management, Stuart C. Fetherston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A primary objective of state wildlife management agencies is to establish sustainable harvest levels for game species. An important component of sustainable management practices is the identification of appropriate management units for monitoring and establishing defensible harvest levels. Across their range, bobcats (Lynx rufus) are an ecologically and economically important species. Despite their importance, little is known about the genetic structure of bobcat populations in South Dakota. We used tissue sampled from n = 1,215 bobcats harvested across the state from 2014–2019 to infer population genetic structure. We used 17 microsatellite loci and a sex identification marker to assign individuals …

Recreational Female Crossfit Athletes And Low Energy Availability, Alison Kuch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

CrossFit is a demanding sport in which athletes perform constantly varied, functional movements at a high intensity, therefore requiring an adequate energy availability to avoid negative health and performance consequences. The purpose of this study was to assess risk of low energy availability (low EA) (phase 1) among recreational, female CrossFit athletes and measure and calculate energy availability using a 7-day dietary to measure energy intake (EI) and exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) (phase 2). In phase 1, using the LEAF-Q (Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire), 49% of survey respondents (n=149) were found to be at risk of low EA. …

Accurate Measurement Of Healthy Joint Kinematics To Inform Diagnosis And Treatment, Vasiliki Kefala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The description of human motion has a primary importance in different scientific areas such as medicine, sports, physical therapy. Kinematics specifically studies pure motion without reference to the causes of motion such as forces. Understanding the kinematics of human movement is of critical importance in medicine and biology. Motion measure­ment can be used in order to to evaluate functional performance of limbs under normal and abnormal conditions. Kinematic knowledge is also important for diagnosis and surgi­cal treatment of joint disease and the design of implants to rehabilitate function. Accurate joint kinematics is essential to protect articular functionality. An alteration may …

Broadening The Capability Of Kinetics Analysis In Biomechanics, Nicholas Nelson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Two studies are discussed in this manuscript each preceded by a literature review of the topic. The first review and study explore agility movements and the effect that alternative upper designs in shoes might have on ground reaction force measures of performance. The second review and study evaluate methods of predicting ground reaction forces without the use of a force platform. A method of using effective forces and ways of improving its accuracy are evaluated in depth.

Tibial Strains And Tray-Bone Micromotions After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Computational Studies Evaluating The Tibial Fixation, Huizhou Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cemented and cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have been successfully used for decades. As the number of younger and more active patients treated with TKA continues to increase, long-term implant survivorship is of increasing importance. One of the most common complications and hence the reason for revision is mechanical loosening (23.1% of all revised TKA). The loosening mechanisms have been proposed for different fixation types. For cemented fixation, bone remodeling after surgery is regulated by the changes in strain energy density (SED). The recruitment of osteoclasts and osteoblasts is controlled by SED-related signals. Insufficient stimuli can promote bone …

Rna Structure And Function: Biological Relevance In Neurodegenerative And Infectious Disease Pathogenesis, Joshua Imperatore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The studies outlined in this dissertation encompass a broad focus, relating to the pathogenesis of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, fragile X syndrome, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as a novel infectious disease, COVID-19. However, all four studies detailed within this dissertation contain similar elements, namely, the coordinated role of RNA structure and function in essential molecular mechanisms. The results of these investigations allow us to speculate on various disease- related mechanisms, including dysregulated microRNA processing pathways, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling via distinct RNA-protein interactions, and fine-tuned molecular switches controlling genomic dimerization and viral hijacking of host cellular microRNAs. Taken …

Antiparasitic Peptide From The Ocean: Discovery, Synthesis And Structure-Activity Relationship Study, Kh Tanvir Ahmed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Millions of people die every year because of infectious diseases, and malaria is among the top five of the deadliest infectious disease. In 2018, malaria took more than four hundred thousand lives, and more than half of them are children under five years of age. Most malaria-affected parts of the world are also the home of the most underprivileged people. Seemingly, antimalarial drug discovery never achieved the attraction that it requires. Like malaria, another infectious disease that is not extensively explored by drug discovery campaigns is American trypanosomiasis or Chagas disease. More than a hundred years have passed since discovering …

Identifying The Effects Naturally Forming Bacterial Communities Have On The Efficiency Of Passive Remediation Systems Built To Treat Abandoned Coal Mine Drainage, Michelle M. Valkanas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) has resulted in worldwide devastation. Passive remediation systems (PRS) are a cost-effective option to treat AMD. While the geochemistry (abiotic) of these systems is well understood, little work has been done to characterize the microbial communities (biotic) that naturally form within these systems. The goal of this dissertation was to identify the effects that bacterial communities have on the efficiency of PRSs. Four passive remediation sites built to treat coal mine drainage were studied: two that treat acidic discharges (Boyce and Middle Branch) and two that treat circumneutral discharges (Wingfield Pines and Lowber). Survey studies suggested …

The Effect Of Holding Time Of Whole Mare Blood On Concentration Of Progesterone, Clarissa Menefee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to evaluate if holding time had an effect on mare whole blood progesterone levels. This research was completed using 12 mares, with blood being collected on multiple cycles to get a total of 28 separate blood collections. At each collection 5 vials of blood were taken for different time treatments of 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours. The 0 hour was centrifuged within 30 mins of collection and the other 4 were refrigerated at 4℃ until the specific time treatment was finished. After they were centrifuged all the samples were stored in the freezer …

Species Distribution Modeling For Arid Adapted Habitat Specialists In Zion National Park, Sam Driver, Chris M. Schalk, Daniel Unger, David Kulhavy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) and Jones’ waxy dogbane (Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii) are habitat specialists with historical ranges in the desert southwest and specifically, Zion National Park (ZION). The machine learning method, MaxEnt, constructed species distribution models (SDMs) in ZION for the two study species at 30 m and 900 m spatial resolutions using climate, topographic, and remotely sensed data. Additionally, 900 m forecasting models were constructed to observe the shifts in suitable habitat for the years 2050 and 2070, based off two representative concentration pathway scenarios. Results indicate promising predictive power for both high …

An Invasive Species As A Threat To Native Biodiversity: Larval Competition Between Native Anurans And An Invasive Treefrog, Mckenzie Wasley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cuban Treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis) are established in Florida and Louisiana and have invasive potential further westward, possibly impacting native anurans at multiple life stages. In anurans, competition at the larval stage can decrease adult fitness through slower development and smaller size at metamorphosis, ultimately decreasing recruitment rates. To examine the potential impacts of O. septentrionalis at the larval life-history stage, I quantified activity levels and growth of their tadpoles and those of two anurans native to eastern Texas: Green Treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) and Gulf Coast Toads (Incilius nebulifer). Tadpoles of the three species were …

Characterizing Patterns In Texas Gulf Coast Beach Dune Plant Species Composition, Cody Foster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regional vegetation patterns of Texas beach plant communities were analyzed using cluster analysis, ANOSIM, SIMPER, NMDS, and ISA for fives zones representing the foredune complex of twenty Gulf Coast beaches. ANOVA revealed that zones differ in terms of percent bare sand, percent vegetative cover, and species richness. Cluster Analysis, ANOSIM, and SIMPER results indicate that Texas beaches can be divided into northern and southern regions based on differences in species composition of plant communities. Indicator Species Analysis (ISA) indicates that northern beaches are characterized by the presence of Rayjacksonia phyllocephala, Ambrosia Strophostyles, Ambrosia psilostachya, and Panicum amarum …

Early Life History Of Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus) In South Carolina Estuaries: Assessment Of Juvenile Recruitment And Validity Of Aging And Back-Calculation Methods, Garrett M. Elmo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Residency, Diel Movement, And Tidal Patterns Of Large Juvenile Bull Sharks (Carcharhinus Leucas) In Winyah Bay, Sc, Jeremy Lee Arnt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Students Use Moral Reasoning And Belief In Genetic Determinism In Response To A Crispr/Cas9 Socioscientific Issue., Katie M. Seiter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how students reason about genetic engineering socioscientific issues (SSIs) related to a recently developed, powerful genome editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9. It is divided into three chapters. Chapter One describes an exploratory study that characterized students’ moral reasoning using a sociocultural theoretical framework. I used content analysis and logistic regression to investigate how academic and social factors influenced moral reasoning. Students generally opposed the use of CRISPR/Cas9 technology for non-medical enhancements, and the moral considerations used were influenced by genetics knowledge level and demographic variables such as gender and socio-economic status. Further investigation of moral perspectives for students …

Structural Characterization And Selective Drug Targeting Of Higher-Order Dna G-Quadruplex Systems., Robert Chandos Monsen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There is now substantial evidence that guanine-rich regions of DNA form non-B DNA structures known as G-quadruplexes in cells. G-quadruplexes (G4s) are tetraplex DNA structures that form amid four runs of guanines which are stabilized via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding to form stacked tetrads. DNA G4s have roles in key genomic functions such as regulating gene expression, replication, and telomere homeostasis. Because of their apparent role in disease, G4s are now viewed as important molecular targets for anticancer therapeutics. To date, the structures of many important G4 systems have been solved by NMR or X-ray crystallographic techniques. Small molecules developed to …

An Economic Analysis Of Using Retired Vessels To Create Artificial Reefs In Costa Rica, Josué González

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The Republic of Costa Rica is a Central American country with only 0.03% of the world’s landmass, but 5% of the world’s biodiversity, making it a leading ecotourism destination. Ecotourism is one of the main sources of revenue for the country, but the degradation of coastal reefs has resulted in a significant loss of financial income for developing areas. As a result, many of these areas are searching for methods to revert the degradation of coral reefs.

Artificial reefs play an important ecological role in marine ecosystems due to their complexity and size. They help in the development of …