Life Sciences Commons^™

A Framework And System For A Multi-Model Decision Aid For Sustainable Farming Practices, Kasi Bharath Vegesana

Computational Modeling & Simulation Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Decision support systems (DSS) for farmers address the need for modeling multiple processes and scenarios that affect farmer decision making. Existing DSS have various drawbacks that stop them from being deployed as decision support tools. This research proposes a multi-model simulation framework that can be used to analyze farm management practices at the crop level, individual farm level and at the community level to show the impact and alternatives for smallholder farming practices. A generic crop growth model is proposed, based on existing equations. We run sensitivity analysis on the model to identify important variables. The outputs from the crop …

De Novo Protein Structure Modeling And Energy Function Design, Lin Chen

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

The two major challenges in protein structure prediction problems are (1) the lack of an accurate energy function and (2) the lack of an efficient search algorithm. A protein energy function accurately describing the interaction between residues is able to supervise the optimization of a protein conformation, as well as select native or native-like structures from numerous possible conformations. An efficient search algorithm must be able to reduce a conformational space to a reasonable size without missing the native conformation. My PhD research studies focused on these two directions.

A protein energy function—the distance and orientation dependent energy function of …

Sensitivity Of Cellular Oxidative Damage To Biosynthetic Rate And Metabolic Rate, Palihawadana Walauwe Kamalika Kaushalya Amunugama

Masters Theses

"The relationship between energy expenditure and longevity is a long standing question in aging studies. The empirical results have contradictory effects on the existing theories. A theoretical model and an experimental test of it were presented, revealing the detailed tradeoffs between metabolic rate, biosynthetic rate and cellular damage level. The dissipative mechanisms of oxidative metabolism cause various forms of cellular damages. To counteract the accumulation of damage, organisms have evolved highly efficient maintenance mechanisms. If there is no other energy demand possess, then most of the cellular damage would be repaired, regardless of how metabolic rate varies. However, the repairing …

The Effect Of O Antigen Loss On The Protein Composition And Inflammatory Response Elicited By Klebsiella Pneumoniae, Bethaney Cahill

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative pathogen associated with numerous infections. Like all Gram-negative bacteria, K. pneumoniae naturally release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) during all stages of cellular growth. OMVs are composed of the outer membrane components such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins and contain cytosolic and periplasmic proteins in the lumen. K. pneumoniae is often found to lack an O antigen. The absence of the O antigen has been reported to alter the protein content of the membrane which may further alter the immune response elicited by K. pneumoniae. Therefore the purpose of this study was to …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire On Upland Plant Biodiversity And Abundance In Northeast Florida, Peter D. Maholland

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial ecosystems in the southeastern United States have evolved with fire as a common disturbance and as a result many natural communities require the presence of fire to persist over time. Human development precludes natural fires from occurring within these communities; however, prescribed fire is considered to be a critical tool in the effort to restore fire-dependent ecosystems after decades of fire exclusion. Direct effects of fire on individual floral and faunal species as well as benefits to biodiversity at the landscape (gamma diversity) level have largely been supported in previous research. However, information on the effects of natural and …

The Reproductive Biology Of The Finetooth Shark, Carcharhinus Isodon, In The Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Amanda N. Brown

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Shark fisheries are a multimillion dollar industry in the United States and have significant contributions both recreationally and commercially. In order to maintain this industry, fisheries must be properly managed. An understanding of life history and reproduction is crucial in order to adequately manage shark fisheries. The finetooth shark, Carcharhinus isodon, is a member of the small coastal shark (SCS) fishery complex. It is found in Atlantic waters from South Carolina to Florida and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. This species has recently come under increased fishing pressure and has previously been overfished. New data is needed in order …

Characterization Of A Biosynthetic Pathway Yielding Anticancer Natural Products From A Marine Bacterium, Elle D. James

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Natural products are bioactive secondary metabolites produced by living organisms and are prevalently utilized as pharmaceutical drugs. Marine adapted organisms are a promising source of new natural products possessing unique chemical structures and biological activities. By studying the biosynthetic pathways employed by living organisms to produce natural products, insights into new strategies to generate molecules to combat disease and overcome drug resistance may be gained. This thesis study aimed to uncover the biosynthetic pathway employed by a marine actinomycete, Nocardiopsis sp. CMB-M0232, to catalyze the assembly of the nocardioazines. These molecules are a group of 2,5-diketopiperazine natural products that feature …

Habitat Value Of Restored Intertidal Shoreline For Fish And Macrobenthic Communities In Northeast Florida, Shannon K. Dunnigan

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Oyster reefs are declining worldwide, as well as the economic and ecological value of oysters to their respective systems. Numerous restoration efforts have been undertaken in hopes of re-establishing these shellfish populations. This study evaluated a restoration project within the Guana Tolomato Matanzas estuary in northeast Florida, U.S.A., to investigate community structure as well as seasonal patterns in species abundance and diversity of juvenile fish and benthic macrofauna within restored and unrestored intertidal habitats along the Guana Peninsula. The first objective was to determine whether the artificially created reefs provided similar quantity and diversity of benthic macrofauna as adjacent unrestored …

Non-Lethal Methods For Assessing Reproductive Status In Bonnethead Sharks (Sphyrna Tiburo), Brenda Carol Anderson

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reproductive biology is a necessary element for the management of elasmobranch fisheries. Traditionally, characterization of elasmobranch reproduction has involved lethal sampling to examine gross reproductive structures and development of embryos. However, this method is counterproductive to the conservation of shark populations. One non-lethal alternative is the measurement of serum hormones, which often vary according to reproductive events. Radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been used to measure hormone concentrations in reproductive endocrinology, but can be problematic for researchers. Alternatively, chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) are routinely used for measuring circulating hormone concentrations in low-volume, non-extracted human serum samples. However these assays have not been previously …

Molecular Identification And Functional Characteristics Of Peptide Transporter 1 (Pept1) In The Bonnethead Shark (Sphyrna Tiburo), Hannah Hart

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Many elasmobranchs are considered top predators with worldwide distribution, and in general these fish play an important role in the transfer of energy from the lower to the upper trophic levels within the marine ecosystem. Despite this, little research has been done regarding the rates of prey ingestion, digestion, and the processes of energy and nutrient absorption. Specifically understudied is enzymatic digestion within the intestinal brush border, which functions to break down macromolecules into smaller subunits for luminal absorption across the gastrointestinal epithelium. Given their carnivorous diet, the present study sought to expand knowledge on nutrient intake in elasmobranchs by …

Sindbis Virus Entry Of Mosquito Midgut Epithelia...Is Nramp Involved?, Florence Yi Ting Chim

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sindbis virus (SINV) is an arthropod-borne Alphavirus in the family Togaviridae. Sindbis virus has a broad host range that includes avian, mammalian, and human hosts; therefore, its receptor(s) is/are highly conserved. When the mosquito imbibes a viremic blood meal, the virus infects the midgut cells, disseminates into the hemolymph, and eventually infects the salivary glands. The midgut is an organ of transmission and the virus must overcome the midgut epithelia infection- and escape-barriers. Sindbis virus infection is determined by the chance collision of the glycoproteins with a compatible receptor. Research has supported the involvement of high-affinity laminin receptor and heparan …

Effects Of The Exotic Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis Invicta) On The Growth And Survival Of The Threatened Hooded Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia Minor), Edward Marques

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plants and insects are some of the most biodiverse groups in the world and are constantly interacting. One unique interaction that has been observed occurs between carnivorous plants and insects; some plant species are capable of capturing and digesting insects for nutrients. Despite preying on these insects, there are cases where such interactions can been viewed as mutualistic. For instance, a nectar reward is produced by the plant to attract insects, and during visitation insects may fall prey to these plants. Additionally, carnivorous myrmecophytic plants may receive an added indirect benefit in the form of reduced herbivory, since ants have …

Reconciling The Two Cultures : A Case Study Of The University Of Northern Iowa, Elizabeth Ann Collins

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

In 1959, chemist and author Charles Percy Snow gave a Rede Lecture at the University of Cambridge in which he named “Two Cultures”—the sciences and the humanities—which, according to his experience as someone who worked in both, were at odds with one another. His words elicited impassioned responses from critics who either agreed with Snow, believing this to be a detriment to society, or vehemently disagreed, believing Snow’s statements to be unfounded, and even antagonistic. This conversation, which had also found relevance in the United States, continues to be important today, and has changed over the years as institutions of …

Systematic Study Of The Biological Effects Of Nitric Oxide (No) Using Innovative No Measurement And Delivery Systems, Weilue He

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as the most important small signaling molecule in the human body. An imbalance of NO is closely associated with many serious diseases such as neurological disorders, cardiovascular diseases, chronic inflammations and cancers. Herein two chemiluminescence-based devices (a real-time NO measurement device and a controllable NO delivery device) were developed to facilitate the NO quantitative study and obtain information for NO related drug design.

The first device used for real-time measuring NO(g) flux from living cells was developed and validated. The principle was to use a two-chamber design, with a cell culture chamber and a gaseous …

Hitchhiking Bats On The Great Lakes Of North America, Saska E.H. Lohi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Bats can act as potential vectors for various zoonotic diseases and other pathogens. Therefore their interactions with people should be examined to mitigate potential risks. Bats are small flying mammals and hide in small crevices during daylight hours, making them difficult to observe. Consequently, they have a capacity to “hitchhike” on ships to be dispersed over large distances.

This study focused on anthropogenic unintentional bat translocations, i.e. hitchhiking bats. The study area is the Great Lakes region in North America. Using a web-based questionnaire survey, I asked the public about the frequency of bat-human encounters on ships, their nature, and …

Changes In Carbon Pools Influenced By Changes In Soil Texture, Slope, And Aspect A Decade Following Wildfire In Black Spruce Forests Of Interior Alaska, Gregory Houle

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Topography and parent material (PM) texture control site drainage owing to changes in water holding capacity, infiltration, and insolation. In turn, these factors also affect fire regime. However, the interactive effects of site physiography, edaphic controls, and wildfire severity on ecosystem carbon accrual after wildfire are poorly understood. Throughout the summer of 2004 an area the size of Massachusetts burned in interior Alaska, and several studies were initiated to investigate the controls on organic layer consumption. In this study we re-sampled organic layer depths, below ground carbon stocks, and site revegetation from 38 burned black spruce sites from the 2004 …

The Effects Of Phosphorus And Nitrogen Fertilization On Tall Fescue Nutrient Content, Yield And Baleage Quality, Cheyenne Adele Arthur

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is a cool season perennial grass commonly used in year-round forage production systems. Producers often wrap large round bales of tall fescue in plastic. The fermented product of this practice, termed baleage, allows the forage to be stored for later feeding. During periods of rapid growth in the spring and the fall, the nutrient content of tall fescue can be imbalanced and cause nutritional disorders in grazing animals. To improve the nutrition of tall fescue, it is known that fertilization of phosphorus (P) can help improve leaf nutrient content of P, magnesium (Mg), and calcium …

Effects Of N-Acetylcysteine Amide In Preventing/Treating Cataracts, Sri Krishna Yasaswi Maddirala

Doctoral Dissertations

"Cataract, the opacification of an eye lens, is a common pathological abnormality of the lens accounting for approximately 50% of all blindness. The only effective treatment currently available for a cataract is the surgical removal of the affected lens and replacement with an artificial lens for the restoration of vision. Although, cataract surgery is considered to be a very successful procedure in terms of visual outcome, the cost of surgery, need for trained personnel and surgeons, and postsurgical complications, limit the worldwide availability and accessibility of this procedure. Hence, alternative preventive and treatment procedures are worthy of investigation. The lens …

Functional Connection Between Yeast Dynamin And Retromer At The Endosome, Christopher Robert Trousdale

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Intracellular trafficking from the late endosome to Golgi in cells is termed retrograde transport, essential for recycling of important macromolecules including cell membrane receptors. Retrograde transport is regulated by a family of proteins known as the "Retromer” composed of 5 VPS proteins (Vps5, Vps17, Vps26, Vps29, and Vps35). Retromer acts as the coat proteins for vesicles emerging from late endosomes. Loss of Retromer function has been previously implicated in both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Vps1, a yeast dynamin-like protein, plays a role in intracellular trafficking. Vps1 has been shown to localize at the endocytic sites to promote pinching off of …

Nesting Success And Parental Behavior Of The Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria Citrea) In Southwestern Missouri, Kathryn Marie Siverly

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

The breeding biology and singing rates of Prothonotary Warblers (Protonotaria citrea) were studied in southwestern Missouri in 2014 and 2015, using wooden nesting boxes. Data were collected on clutch and brood sizes, the numbers of young fledged, parental care and male singing rates. Five pairs were studied over the course of the two summers. Of 28 eggs laid, 14 young fledged. In 2015, significant flooding resulted in the loss of all young and eggs for that year. First clutches were larger than second clutches. Observations suggest females may contribute more to the care of offspring, in terms of foraging and …

Dynamin Association With Clathrin And Its Physiological Roles At The Golgi And Targeting Mechanism To The Golgi, Shiva Kumar Goud Gadila

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Vps1 (Vacuole protein sorting 1), a dynamin-like protein in yeast, is implicated in diverse membrane trafficking pathways and localized to many organelles, including the Golgi. It has been proposed that Vps1 is functionally linked to clathrin heavy chain 1 (Chc1), but the question of how, where, and when they function together remains unknown. Lines of evidence suggest that Chc1 and Vps1 are located at the late Golgi. Therefore, I hypothesized that Vps1 binds to Chc1 and functions together at the Golgi for efficient Golgi-to-endosome membrane trafficking. Using the yeast-two hybrid assay, I present evidence that Vps1 binds to the C-terminal …

The Acute Effects Of Multiple Resisted Sled-Pull Loads On Subsequent Sprint-Running Performances, Carl Stephen Crouse

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Sled-pulling is a commonly implemented form of training for various sports. However, few studies have used sled-pulling as a means of acutely enhancing sprintrunning performances. The purpose of this study was to investigate how various sledpulling resistance loads (95% and 110% of body mass) effect subsequent, unloaded, sprint-running performances, possibly with aid from the effect known as Post-Activation Potentiation (PAP). PAP is a physiological phenomenon which increases the rate of force development of skeletal muscle which may result in the enhancement of power (speed-strength) dominant activities such as sprint-running and jumping.

Participants were a mix of males (n = 11; …

Gender Differences In Social Support During Injury Rehabilitation, Chelsey Ann Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Athletic injury can be a stress-inducing event that could have negative consequences on the psychological health of the athlete (Anderson & Williams, 1988; Gould, Udry, Bridges, & Beck, 1997). Injuries not only challenge the athlete physically, but also mentally challenge their ability to cope and overcome. A growing amount of research has indicated social support as a key factor in the rehabilitation process for an injured athlete (Yang, Peek, Lowe, Heiden, & Foster, 2010). Athletic injury causes an emotional disruption, and social support could influence the athlete’s reaction to the injury and his or her ability to cope with rehabilitation …

Dementia And Primary-Care Health Measures:Hearing, Gait, And Markers Of Inflammation, Elsa Lindgren

Honors Theses and Capstones

Dementia is a syndrome associated with declining cognitive function that has a variety of types and causes, and is encountered frequently in general medical practice. Researchers are actively exploring possible risk factors for dementia. The St. Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS) exam is a dementia-screening exam used in primary care visits to detect cognitive impairment that may be a sign of dementia. This study compared scores on the SLUMS exam to other measures recorded in a typical primary care visit in 86 patients of age 65 and older to look for correlations between indicators of health, such as physical examination …

Effects Of Age, Density, And Seasonality On Molt Pattern In The Mammal Genus (Peromyscus), Rebecca Catherine Graves

Honors Theses and Capstones

Molting, or replacement of pelage (hair) in mammals, occurs during ontogeny as individuals transition from juveniles to adults. Environmental factors can cause variation in molt in many species for thermoregulatory and camouflage purposes. Within and among years molt can vary by time and age or by reproductive status. Past studies have found differences in molt pattern and timing depending upon age, and between captive reared and wild caught individuals. There has been little investigation into the molting characteristics of Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus, specifically in comparison to adults and juveniles. I used molt observed from museum specimens …

The Influence Of Extracellular-Regulated Kinases (Erks) On Granulosa Cell Fate In The Bovine Follicle, Nicolette M. Schwab

Honors Theses and Capstones

Each year, infertility in cows costs the dairy industry over $400 million. This project is focused on the onset of follicular atresia in cows; the process by which the egg-bearing follicles die prematurely and can lead to infertility. The cellular mechanisms that influence programmed cell death, or apoptosis, of bovine granulosa cells (bGCs) within follicles are being investigated. In general, the extra-cellular regulated kinases (ERKs) are intracellular signaling proteins believed to influence the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of cells. In the context of follicular atresia, however, the relationship between the onset of apoptosis of bGCs and the effects of ERKs …

Toxic Cyanobacteria Aerosols: Tests Of Filters For Cells, Sean R. Perry, Alexis Mack, James F. Haney, Amanda Murby

Honors Theses and Capstones

Aerosolization of toxic cyanobacteria released from the surface of lakes is a new area of study that could uncover a previously unknown route of exposure to toxic cyanobacteria. Since toxic cyanobacteria may be responsible for adverse human health effects, methods and equipment need to be tested and established for monitoring these airborne bacteria. The primary focus of this study was to create controlled laboratory experiments that simulate natural lake aerosol production. I set out to test for the best type of filter to collect and analyze the aerosolized cells as small as 0.2-2.0 µm, known as picoplankton. To collect these …

Fungicide Resistance Genetics Of Apple Scab Fungus Venturia Inaequalis, Alexis Lt Reddel

Honors Theses and Capstones

Apple scab, caused by the ascomycete fungus Venturia inaequalis, is considered the most devastating disease on domestic apple crops. Apples are the most important cultivated crop in temperate regions and the United States produced about 4.6 million tons of apples in 2010. Traditional methods to control fungal plant diseases like apple scab are based on the use of chemical compounds that may produce serious negative effects, mainly related with environmental pollution and the development of fungicide resistance. Identifying genes and mechanisms of fungicide resistance in V. inaequalis is imperative to developing new and more effective defenses against the spread …

Effects Of Proline And Glycine On The Cnidocyte Discharge Of Hydra Magnipapillata, Janine R. Appleton

Honors Theses and Capstones

The sense of taste enables animals to utilize environmental cues to detect favorable foods. Through specialized sensory receptors, Cnidarians employ stinging cells called cnidocytes to perform a variety of activities such as locomotion, capturing prey, inducing of feeding responses, and defense. Their discharge is highly regulated by mechanical and chemical signals that are mediated by a complex system including the opsin and taste pathways. Taste 1 Receptors (T1R) have previously been isolated in vertebrates but only until recently, have been noted in invertebrates. Receptors specific to L- amino acids corresponding to the taste sensation of umami, were studied to determine …

Carnivore Diet Identification Through Scat And Genetic Analysis In Namibia, Africa, Alicia J. Walsh

Honors Theses and Capstones

Worldwide the cheetah population is declining making them Africa’s most endangered large cat. Namibia, Africa currently has the largest population of cheetahs in the world. During the summer of 2014, I did scat analysis of carnivores on the property of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) in Namibia in order to better understand the predators that compete with the cheetah and how the ecosystem works as a whole. I worked at CCF for nine weeks to analyze the diets of carnivores in the area through genetic and scat analysis. Analyzing carnivore feces would ultimately identify the diet of various carnivores in …