Life Sciences Commons^™

Eeg Neurofeedback For Executive Functions In Children With Neurodevelopmental Challenges, Jasmin K. Landes, Corinne L. Reid, Martijn Arns, Nicholas A. Badcock, Tomas Ros, Stefanie Enriquez-Geppert, Max K. Bulsara, Stefano Brini, Sheida Rabipour, Mimma Mason, Neils Birbaumer, Bethanie Gouldthorp, Mike Anderson

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows:

To assess the effectiveness of EEG neurofeedback as treatment for inhibition and updating problems in children facing neurodevelopmental challenges.

Development Of A Theory-Informed Implementation Intervention To Improve The Triage, Treatment And Transfer Of Stroke Patients In Emergency Departments Using The Theoretical Domains Framework (Tdf): The T3 Trial, Louise E. Craig, Natalie Taylor, Rohan Grimley, Dominique A. Cadilhac, Elizabeth Mcinnes, Rosemary Phillips, Simon Dale, Denise O'Connor, Chris Levi, Mark Fitzgerald, Julie Considine, Jeremy M. Grimshaw, Richard Gerraty, N. Wah Cheung, Jeanette Ward, Sandy Middleton

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Background: Theoretical frameworks and models based on behaviour change theories are increasingly used in the development of implementation interventions. Development of an implementation intervention is often based on the available evidence base and practical issues, i.e. feasibility and acceptability. The aim of this study was to describe the development of an implementation intervention for the T3 Trial (Triage, Treatment and Transfer of patients with stroke in emergency departments (EDs)) using theory to recommend behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and drawing on the research evidence base and practical issues of feasibility and acceptability.

Methods: A stepped method for developing complex interventions based …

Neuromuscular Training Improves Movement Competency And Physical Performance Measures In 11-13 Year Old Female Netball Athletes, A Hopper, E Haff, O Barley, C Joyce, R Lloyd, G Haff

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a neuromuscular training program on movement competency and measures of physical performance in youth female netball players. It was hypothesized that significant improvements would be found in movement competency and physical performance measures following the intervention. Twenty-three junior female netball players (age, 12.17 ± 0.94 yrs; height, 1.63 ± 0.08 m; weight, 51.81 ± 8.45 kg) completed a test battery before and after a six-week training intervention. 13 of these athletes underwent six weeks of neuromuscular training, which incorporated plyometrics and resistance training. Trained athletes showed significant improvements in …

Birth Experience Of Fathers In The Setting Of Teenage Pregnancy: Are They Prepared?, Simeon Ngweso, Rodney W. Petersen, Julie Quinlivan

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Aim: To explore the birth experiences of teenage fathers and determine the extent to which they are prepared for childbirth.

Methods: A mixed methods observational study was undertaken comparing the birth experience of 50 fathers in the setting of teenage pregnancy (teenage) compared to a group of 50 older fathers. Fathers were recruited in the antenatal period and completed structured questionnaires following the birth of their child. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was undertaken.

Results: Teenage fathers were younger, less educated and less likely to attend prenatal childbirth education classes (P < 0.0001). During birth, they were less prepared and consulted by attending staff (both P < 0.05). They reported limited roles in intrapartum decision-making (< 20%). In multivariate analysis being a father in the setting of teenage pregnancy remained significantly associated with feeling unprepared for birth. The major themes in qualitative analysis were feeling unprepared, shock, fear, a sense of detachment, happiness, pride, love of the baby and satisfaction with fertility.

Conclusion: Teenage fathers are less prepared for the …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of The African Catfish, Clarias Gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) In Kenya: Implication For Conservation And Aquaculture, James E. Barasa, Sinebongo Mdyogolo, Romulus Abila, Johannes Paul Grobler, Robert A. Skilton, Hesmari Bindeman, Moses Ndotono Njahira, Emily J. Chemoiwa, Otto G. Dangasuk, Boaz Kaunda-Arara, Erik Verheyen

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, is an important species in aquaculture and fisheries in Kenya. Mitochondrial D-loop control region was used to determine genetic variation and population structure in samples of C. gariepinus from 10 sites including five natural populations (Lakes Victoria (LVG), Kanyaboli (LKG), Turkana (LTA), Baringo (LBA) and Jipe (LJP), and five farms (Sangoro Aquaculture Center (SAN), Sagana Aquaculture Centre (SAG), University of Eldoret Fish Farm (UoE), Kibos Fish Farm (KIB), and Wakhungu Fish Farm (WKU)) in Kenya. Similarly, samples from eight localities (four natural populations: LVG/LKG, LTA, LBA, and four farmed: SAN, SAG, KIB, UoE) were genotyped using …

Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type Ii (Camk-Ii) Is Required For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Specification, Camden E. Kurtz

Theses and Dissertations

Ca2+/Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMK-II) is a Serine/Threonine protein kinase that is activated by Ca2+ and Calmodulin to phosphorylate substrates involved in myriad developmental processes. This project implicates CaMK-II in specification of HSCs, and zebrafish provide an ideal embryonic model to study hematopoiesis. Zebrafish genetic manipulation was achieved through: incubation in chemical inhibitors; injection of notochord-targed WT and DN CaMK-II constructs with Transposase; and injection of camk2g1 translation-blocking morpholino antisense oligonucleotide (MO). Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and immunolocalization on zebrafish embryos allowed visualization of key HSC markers and pathway components that implicated CaMK-II in the specification of HSCs. …

Discovery And Characterization Of Bile Acid And Steroid Metabolism Pathways In Gut-Associated Microbes, Spencer Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The human gut microbiome is a complex microbial ecosystem residing in the lumen of our gastrointestinal tract. The type and amounts of microbes present in this ecosystem varies based on numerous factors, including host genetics, diet, and environmental factors. The human gut microbiome plays an important role in normal host physiological functions, including providing energy to colonocytes in the form of short-chain fatty acids. However, gut microbial metabolites have also been associated with numerous disease states. Current tools for analyzing the gut microbiome, such as high-throughput sequencing techniques, are limited in their predictive ability. Additionally, “-omic” approaches of studying the …

Effects Of Hydraulic Dredging And Vessel Operation On Atlantic Sturgeon Behavior In A Large Coastal River, Michael R. Barber

Theses and Dissertations

The tidal James River, a focus of VCU's Atlantic Sturgeon program, supports both commercial shipping and hydraulic dredging. These anthropogenic threats present documented but preventable sources of mortality to the endangered species. Using three separate VEMCO Positioning System (VPS) receiver arrays, spatial data of previously-tagged fish were collected. ArcGIS and Programita software were used to analyze fish spatial distributions in the presence and absence of potential threats, using additional data including automatic identification system (AIS) vessel locations, vessel passages compiled using camera footage, and dredge records provided by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The data showed a change in …

A Range-Wide Assessment Of Migratory Connectivity For The Prothonotary Warbler Using Stable Hydrogen Isotopes, Jessica Reese

Theses and Dissertations

Populations of many species of migratory birds are declining, and an understanding of how populations are linked between the breeding and nonbreeding grounds is necessary in order to determine drivers of declines. While all current tracking technologies to study the movements of small songbirds are limited by their coarse resolution, tracking birds by measuring stable isotopes in keratin offers an advantage because it requires only a single capture and is cost-effective, which leads to robust sample sizes. While this tracking method is accurate, stable hydrogen isotope values measured in feathers (δ²H_f) are known to be variable …

In Search Of A Function For An Uncharacterized Conserved Protein In Streptococcus Sanguinis Sk36, Ayana Scott-Elliston

Theses and Dissertations

With the number of fully sequenced bacterial genomes increasing in the past 7 years, it has been discovered that a large percentage of the putative protein coding genes have no known function. This lack of knowledge leaves scientists with an incomplete understanding of bacteria. In this study, conserved hypothetical protein mutants from Streptococcus sanguinis SK36 were screened on solid media with various environmental conditions. From these screens, the candidate protein, SSA_2372, displayed a sensitivity to acidic conditions. Its homolog in Bacillus subtilis 168, BSU00030, also displayed a sensitivity to pH conditions at its acid tolerance extremes unlike its other homolog …

Baseline Characterization Of Nearshore Rocky Reef Fishes Found In Northern California Marine Protected Areas, Jay M. Staton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The nearshore rocky reef habitat along California’s North Coast supports a diverse assemblage of ecologically, economically, and culturally important fishes. In December 2012, a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) was established in Northern California with the goal of protecting these species. Our study utilized collaborative hook and line fishing methods, while employing local charter fishing vessels, to establish a baseline of rocky reef fishes associated with four MPAs and four unprotected reference sites. These baseline data were then used to inform generalized additive models (GAMs) to explore potential drivers of relative abundance, size, and diversity of fishes. Understanding what …

Movement, Habitat, And Home Range Of Introduced Bullfrogs (Lithobates Catesbeianus) On Mad River Gravel Ponds (Humboldt Co., Ca, Usa), With Implications For Hydro-Modification As A Method Of Management, Madeline C. Cooper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

American Bullfrogs are a non-native, invasive species in California (USA), where they are known to have deleterious effects on many native species. Carnivorous adults prey on native amphibians and fish, while herbivorous tadpoles outcompete native tadpoles for algal food resources. Bullfrogs have been successful at colonizing old tailing ponds and other pools left over from mining activities, and these relict pools are common on many rivers in California. Information on the dispersal capabilities of Bullfrogs could help predict range expansions and inform management decisions. Unfortunately, this information is lacking from both their native and invaded range. From May to August …

Seasonal Comparison Of Environmental Dna And Traditional Sampling Techniques For Detecting Coastal Tailed Frogs (Ascaphus Truei) In Northern California, Lauren Smith

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

While environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling has been shown to provide higher detection rates for aquatic amphibians compared to traditional sampling, the effect of season and stream characteristics on the efficacy of eDNA sampling remains unclear. The pH, turbidity, water temperature, and flow rate of streams may affect eDNA concentrations, and consequently influence detection rate. The purpose of this research was to (1) compare the detection rates of eDNA and traditional sampling techniques during different seasons, (2) observe the effects of stream characteristics on eDNA concentrations, and (3) review the relationship between animal abundance and eDNA concentrations at specific sampling sites. …

Modeling The Spread Of Sudden Oak Death Across A Heterogeneous Landscape In Redwood National Park Using A Spatially-Explicit Epidemiological Model, Laura A. Morgan

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death (SOD), is responsible for the deaths of millions of oak (Quercus spp.) and tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) trees in California and Oregon (USA). A recent infection in Redwood National Park (RNP) in California (USA) provided an opportunity to adapt an existing SOD model to assess the efficacy of current and proposed management strategies. A common method of SOD treatment includes killing both infected and uninfected hosts in the area of infection, as well as the area surrounding the infection to create buffers to account for undetected …

Multiscale Habitat Suitability Modeling For Canary Rockfish (Sebastes Pinniger) Along The Northern California Coast, Portia N. Saucedo

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Detailed spatially-explicit data of the potential habitat of commercially important rockfish species are a critical component for the purposes of marine conservation, evaluation, and planning. Predictive habitat modeling techniques are widely used to identify suitable habitat in un-surveyed regions. This study elucidates the predicted distribution of canary rockfish (Sebastes pinniger) along the largely un-surveyed northern California coast using data from visual underwater surveys and predictive terrain complexity covariates. I used Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling software to identify regions of suitable habitat for S. pinniger greater than nine cm in total length at two spatial scales. The results of …

The Effect Of Workload Reductions On Anaerobic Work During High Intensity Running, Taylor Keith Kennon

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Anaerobic capacity has implications in health and sport. Sprint interval training improves anaerobic capacity, aerobic factors, as well as performance. Optimal durations for taxing anaerobic capacity have been shown to be 60 seconds, and have been elicited using the Anaerobic Speed Test. In order to maintain this optimal duration for multiple sets, a decreasing workloads method must be used as fatigue increases following each set. These work-loading methods must be compared to determine which protocol allows for the maximum exercise volume to be achieved. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different workload protocols on …

Darlingtonia Californica Phytotelma Organisms: Spatial Relations Within The Metacommunity, Stefani Marie Brandt

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The California pitcher plant, Darlingtonia californica, provides a unique setting to research community ecology because it harbors small ponds of water, or phytotelmata, in its modified leaves. Each phytotelma hosts a unique community of various invertebrates who live among carcasses of drowned plant prey. These pitchers and their inquiline communities are relatively small yet abundant in the wild, resulting in an ideal natural setup for community composition comparisons. There have been no previous studies that research D. californica inquiline communities across multiple geographic regions concurrently. This study sought to survey phytotelma communities throughout the range of D. californica at …

Economic Effects Of Pacific Halibut Closures On Businesses On The North Coast And The Age, Growth, And Reproductive Status Of Pacific Halibut In Northern California And Central Oregon, Miki Takada

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Traditionally, the recreational fishery for Pacific halibut has been open in California from 1 May through 31 October. In 2014, however, the Pacific halibut fishery was closed in California during the month of August for the first time in history in an effort to reduce harvest and bring total catch closer to what is allocated to our region by the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC) Catch Sharing Plan. To determine the effects that the closure had on businesses along the North Coast, I conducted an economic impact survey in 2014. The results of the survey showed that fishing-related businesses lost …

Comparative Evaluations Of Tear Secretion In Healthy And Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis Romanov Sheep With Schirmer Tear Test And Phenol Red Thread Tear Test, Mustafa Bariş Akgül, Ni̇hat Şindak, Ali̇ Gülaydin, Doğukan Özen, Serpi̇l Kahya Demi̇rbi̇lek, Kadi̇r Sulu

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study is to determine the amount of tear secretion in sheep with infectious keratoconjunctivitis and healthy ones in the Siirt region by Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test. A total of 47 Romanov sheep, consisting of sheep with infectious keratoconjunctivitis (n = 6) and healthy sheep (n = 41), constituted the study material. Phenol red thread tear test followed by Schirmer tear test was performed on both eyes of the animals, properly taken at a control visit on their feet. The Schirmer tear test and phenol red thread tear test values were measured …

Seasonal And Ontogenetic Diet Shift Of Two Sympatric Cyprinid Fish Species From The Temperate Karamenderes River, Çanakkale, Turkey, Şükran Yalçin Özdi̇lek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Diet composition and feeding relationships of two cyprinid species, Squalius cii and Barbus oligolepis, from the Karamenderes River, northwestern Turkey, were assessed over a 1-year period. Both species were omnivorous and fed mostly on benthic plant materials (particularly algae) and insects. The diet of B. oligolepis primarily comprised Bacillariophyceae, Diptera larvae, and other insects, while that of S. cii comprised filamentous algae (Cyanobacteria and Chlorophyceae), insect larvae, and adults. Ontogenetic shifts in diet were identified in both species. The ratio of Chlorophyceae in the diet of B. oligolepis showed a gradual increase with increase in its body size; moreover, the …

Mesomermis Devii Sp. Nov. (Nematoda: Mermithidae),A New Species Of Nematode From Devi Cave In Georgia, Olegi Gorgadze, Shalva Barjadze

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Adult female individuals of the nematode Mesomermis devii sp. nov. (Nematoda: Mermithidae) have been described. The host organism is not determined. The individuals were isolated from moist guano obtained in the dark zone of Devi Cave (West Georgia). The new species is characterized by the following: rounded and symmetrical apical end of the head; mouth aperture is located in the middle of the head terminus; 6 cephalic papillae are arranged in a single row; each papilla is equipped with 2 or 3 sensilla; stoma has uneven width and the pharyngeal tube is of even width along the whole length; small …

Amylase In The Hepatopancreas Of A Euryhaline Burrowingcrab: Characteristics And Modulation, Antonela Asaro, Roberto Paggi, Rosana De Castro, Alejandra Lopez Mañanes

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In spite of its inherent physiological importance, studies on the occurrence, characteristics, and modulation of amylase in euryhaline crabs are lacking. We investigated the occurrence of amylase forms and the effect of acclimation to different salinities on their number and made a partial purification and characterization of the major form present in the hepatopancreas of Neohelice granulata. Zymogram analysis revealed 5 amylase forms in crabs acclimated to 35 psu (seawater) and 37 psu, and an additional band at 10 psu, but with a major form (29 kDa) in all cases, which was partially purified and characterized. Amylolytic activity was maximal …

Review Of The Brachypterous Species Of Alloxysta Förster, 1869(Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae: Charipinae) With A Description Of Two New Species, Mar Ferrer Suay, Jesus Selfa, Maria Victoria Seco-Fernandez, Jili Pujade-Villar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study is to review the brachypterous species within the genus Alloxysta Förster, 1869. The known brachypterous species of Alloxysta have been compared with fully winged species in order to establish hypotheses regarding dimorphism for wing length and shape. This analysis is based only on the morphological features shared between species; breeding and genetic analyses will be necessary to test and refine these hypotheses. Two new brachypterous species are described here: Alloxysta curta Ferrer-Suay sp. nov. and Alloxysta pseudoconsobrina Ferrer-Suay sp. nov. Six species are revised. In total, there are now 8 brachypterous species known in this …

Heterochromatin Distribution And Localization Of Nors In The 2n = 48cytotypes Of Nannospalax Xanthodon And N. Ehrenbergi, Ati̇lla Arslan, Jan Zima

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We compared the C-banding pattern and the NOR distribution in 3 populations of N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi with 48 chromosomes from Turkey, with the aim to reveal variations between and within species. We have found distinct variation in the C-banding and the NOR distribution pattern among the 3 populations compared; each of them possessed its own specific chromosomal features. However, it is not possible to distinguish between intra- and interspecific variation, and the observed patterns cannot be utilized for unequivocal species recognition.

Neobisium (N.) Tothi Sp. Nov., A New Species From Hungary Andromania, And First Records Of Neobisium (N.) Noricum Beier, 1939 From Hungary (Pseudoscorpiones: Neobisiidae), János Novák

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new pseudoscorpion species, Neobisium (Neobisium) tothi sp. nov., is described from Hungary and Romania. In addition, Neobisium (N.) noricum Beier, 1939 is reported from Hungary for the first time. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species and the new specimens of N. (N.) noricum are presented here.

Fine Structure Of The Malpighian Tubules In Gryllus Campestris(Linnaeus, 1758) (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), Irmak Polat, Nurcan Özyurt, Damla Amutkan, Zeki̇ye Suludere, Selami̇ Candan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Malpighian tubules are responsible for excretion and osmoregulation in insects. The Malpighian system consists of tubules that are closed at the distal end and extend from the point of junction of the midgut and hindgut. This organ helps the water and electrolyte balance of the internal metabolism by filtration with absorption of water and soluble materials as mineral salts from the hemolymph. In this study, the histology of Malpighian tubules in Gryllus campestris (Orthoptera, Gryllidae) has been examined in detail by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The distal ends of the Malpighian tubules in G. …

Identification Of Thyroid Hormone Receptors α And β Genes And Their Expression Profiles During Metamorphosis In Rana Chensinensis, Chuan-Chuan Du, Xin-Yi Li, Hua-Xin Wang, Kai Liang, Hong-Yuan Wang, Yuhui Zhang

Turkish Journal of Zoology

To explore the role of thyroid hormones in organ remodeling during the metamorphosis of amphibians, the cDNAs of two thyroid hormone receptors (TRα and TRβ) in Rana chensinensis were identified. The 1257 bp of rcTRα cDNA encoding 418 amino acids and the 1122 bp of rcTRβ cDNA encoding 373 amino acids were cloned. Their polypeptide sequences contain two highly conserved cysteine-rich zinc fingers in the DNA-binding domain, while rcTRβ is 42 amino acids shorter in its A/B domain when compared with rcTRα. Fifty-five amino acids differed between the TRα and TRβ domains. The rcTRα and rcTRβ mRNA levels in the …

Key To The Species Of Megachernes Beier (Pseudoscorpiones: Chernetidae),With Notes On M. Afghanicus And M. Pavlovskyi, Mahrad Nassirkhani, Reza Vafai Shoushtari

Turkish Journal of Zoology

An identification key is presented for all described species of the pseudoscorpions belonging to the genus Megachernes. Megachernes afghanicus Beier, 1959 is also considered as a junior subjective synonym of M. pavlovskyi Redikorzev, 1949.

The First Record Of Macrobiotus Vladimiri Bertolani, Biserov, Rebecchi & Cesari, 2011 (Tardigrada: Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae: Hufelandi Group) From Poland, Bernadeta Nowak, Daniel Stec

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Tardigrade studies in Poland have been carried out for more than a century and to date, 102 species have been reported from this central European country. This constitutes nearly 9% of all known species within the phylum. Although previous studies have been thorough, a number of taxa now known to belong to species complexes have been treated in only a very general way. One such complex is the Macrobiotus hufelandi group, which has a worldwide distribution. To date, only three hufelandi group species have been recorded from Poland: M. hufelandi hufelandi C.A.S. Schultze, 1834; M. macrocalix Bertolani & Rebecchi, 1993; …

Japanese Quail Performance, Intestinal Microflora, And Molecularresponses To Screened Wheat And Multienzyme Diet, Ali Asghar Saki, Fatemeh Sahebi Ala, Pouya Zamani, Dariush Alipour, Masoumeh Abbasinezhad

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present paper studied the effect of screened wheat (SW) levels and a multienzyme diet on Japanese quail performance, intestinal performance, and microbial population. A total of 480 unsexed 10-day-old quail chicks were assigned to a multienzyme diet (0 or 0.5 g/kg) and SW (0%, 5%, 10%, or 15%) in a 2 x 4 factorial arrangement of treatments with 4 replications and 15 quails in each in a completely randomized design. No differences were observed in performance between diets at 10 to 36 days of age. Increases in dietary SW levels decreased villus height, villus width, villus surface, and height:crypt …