Life Sciences Commons^™

Characterizing Vaginal Gene Expression In Prepubertal Gilts, Shannon Lee Dierking

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The best-known predictor of reproductive success in gilts is the age at puberty. Early puberty (i.e., d170 – d180 of age) is associated with improved long-term reproductive performance and more full value offspring for market. The ability to predict, in the prepubertal stage, the age that a replacement gilt would be expected to achieve puberty has great reproductive and economic advantages. This work focuses on identifying biological markers that are potentially predictive of age at puberty. Study 1 identified changes in the vaginal epithelium during gilt reproductive development. Pre-pubertal gilts (n =13) were followed from d70 of age until first …

Investigating Dormancy And Germination Characteristics To Promote Restoration Success In The Northern Great Plains, Gregory A. Cooper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Failures in seed-based restoration can be partially attributed to a lack of knowledge on seed dormancy. Dormancy is beneficial for plant establishment in unpredictable environmental conditions, but a lack of uniform germination can hinder restoration efforts. The purpose of this research was to gain a better understanding of dormancy displayed by select forbs of the northern Great Plains. The first data chapter attempted to identify and break dormancy class. Seeds were treated with scarification, smoke, and fertilizer pretreatments in an attempt to break seed dormancy. Seeds were also placed in spring and summer temperatures to identify how seasonal phenology influenced …

The Effects Of Residue Amounts And Variety Selection On The Development Of Wheat Fungal Pathogens In South Dakota, Abrielle Tembreull

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Roughly 50% of South Dakota cropland is under the practice of no-till, with large increases in acres of no-till in the last 20 or so years. No-till is beneficial for Great Plains states, such as South Dakota, as soil residues are withheld. Residues are shown to increase soil health through retention of moisture and increase of microorganisms, but residues can serve as a source of inoculum for fungal pathogens that can overwinter on them. As wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world, it is important to protect this vital crop from diseases. Diseases of wheat …

Fusarium Head Blight Resistance Assessment In Barley, Tasneem Fathima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fusarium head blight (FHB), commonly called scab is the most devastating disease of wheat and barley caused by the ascomycete fungus, Fusarium graminearum. FHB affects both the quality and quantity of cereal grains affecting the supply chain of the food and feed industry and the marketability of the produce. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is among the several crop species most vulnerable to FHB infection. An estimated 25% of Spring barley grain production in the United States is used to make malted beverages such as beer. Malting barley is a relatively high-value crop with high demands regarding grain quality. FHB directly …

Regional Assessment Of Live Cattle And Carcass Characteristics In The Northern Plains, Harlee A. Brauckmuller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this project was to perform a regional assessment of live cattle and carcass characteristics in the northern plains. The assessment audited three packing plants to assess fed cattle, cow, and bull production. The live animal factors evaluated were transportation, mobility of cattle, identification, brands, and mud/manure present. Data collected during the slaughter process was bruising, dentition, and offal condemnations. In fed cattle yield grade, quality grade, and hot carcass weight were assessed. In cows and bulls muscle score and fat color score were assessed. To assess differences between cattle in the Northern Plains and cattle in the …

The Role Of Cadherins And Ryk On Metastasis And Invasion In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cell Model: Hs578t/Hs578ts(I)8, Ibis Iser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is a major cause of death among women in European and North American countries, even with improved methods for diagnosis and therapy. The mortality of breast cancer is mainly due to the migration of the primary tumor to distinct sites in the body and is very common in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This type of breast cancer affects younger woman and has a high recurrence rate. Unfortunately, TNBC is extremely difficult to control because of the absence of specific targets for treatment. Therefore, our research aim is to discover new therapeutic targets and identify novel approaches for …

Soil Profile Properties And Greenhouse Gas Emissions As Influenced By Long-Term Cattle Manure And Inorganic Fertilizer Applications Under Corn-Soybean-Spring Wheat Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Anuoluwa Ojonoka Sangotayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The application of manure and inorganic fertilizer in row crops may significantly influence soil and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Understanding the long-term influence of these management practices on soil pore characteristics, hydro-physical properties and greenhouse gas emission is essential in developing proper conservation practices. However, there is limited information on the impact of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer application on soil hydro-physical properties, soil pore characteristics at lower depths and surface GHGs emissions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to; (i) utilize X-ray computed tomography (XCT) technique to quantify the impact of manure and fertilizer amendments under a corn …

The Live Bait Trade As A Pathway Of Inland Invasive Fish Species Introductions, Hannah Mulligan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater systems are susceptible to numerous anthropogenic pathways of invasive species introductions and subsequent establishment. Once establishment occurs, invasive species not only impact biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human health, but also cost the global economy billions of dollars every year. Recreational fishing is one of the most prevalent pathways for invasive species introductions in freshwater systems due to increased propagule pressure from boating and angling activity. Within recreational fishing, the live bait trade represents a secondary pathway whereby anglers illegally release baitfish (and water) that may contain invasive species. Preventative actions, including regulations, education, and inspections have been implemented to …

Effect Of Foliar And Preplant Sulfur Application On Soybean Nutrient Uptake, Yield, And Seed Protein And Oil Content, Gena Ram Mahato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Sulfur (S) deficiency has been observed in soybean producing regions in the US and different parts of the world. The major factors behind the frequent occurrence of S deficiency are reduced atmospheric S deposition due to strict regulations on emissions from fossil fuels, large S removal from high yielding crops, less use of fertilizers containing S, and intensive cultivation practices. To test S limitations, I conducted two independent studies from 2019 to 2021 at two locations in Eastern South Dakota to determine the effect of foliar and preplant S application on soybean. The objectives of this research …

Modulatory Effects Of Deacetylated Sialic Acids On Breast Cancer Resistance Protein-Mediated Multidrug Resistance And Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-Targeted Therapy, Isaac Tuffour

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multidrug resistance (MDR) remains a major challenge in cancer treatment, accounting for over 90% of chemotherapeutic failures. Cancers utilize sugar residues to engage in multidrug resistance. The underlying mechanism of action involving glycans, specifically the glycan sialic acid (Sia) and its various functional group alterations, has not been explored. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter proteins, key proteins utilized by cancers to engage in MDR pathways, contain Sias in their extracellular domains. Modulating the expression of acetylated-Sias on Breast Cancer Resistance Protein (BCRP), a significant ABC transporter implicated in MDR, in lung and colon cancer cells directly impacted the ability of cancer …

Effects Of Agricultural Chemicals On Native Plants Of The Northern Great Plains, Gabrielle Bolwerk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural chemicals are ubiquitous on the Northern Great Plains landscape and have negative impacts on non-target plant communities, even at small doses. Northern Great Plains grassland plant communities may experience herbicide drift from agricultural fields or be subject to livestock pharmaceuticals in grazing lands. My research objective was to evaluate if and how native plants are affected by agricultural chemical presence at different concentrations. In Chapter 2, I studied the effect of different concentrations of three common agricultural herbicides (2,4-D, atrazine, and trifluralin) on the germination, emergence, and growth of native plant species of the Northern Great Plains. I performed …

C3 And C4 Grass Dominated Plant Communities Differ In Response To Future Larger And Less Frequent Rainfall, Zigeng Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is leading to larger and less frequent rainfall in the Northern Great Plains (NGP). We ask if this change in rainfall would influence carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in the NGP. First, we collected soils from C3 and C4 grass dominated plant communities from western South Dakota and conducted an incubation experiment to explore the effects of soil water content (SWC) and temperature on soil respiration (Rs) and N mineralization rate (ΔIN). Second, we conducted a three-year rainfallmanipulation (RaMP) experiment with two distinct rainfall regimes (frequent/small and infrequent/large events with constant total monthly precipitation) and two grasses …

Ecological Impacts Of Anthropogenic Chemicals On Non-Target Species And The Role Of Plant Diversity In Ecosystem Restoration And Resilience, Shiva Torabian

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding ecosystem processes in rangelands is of paramount importance for ensuring global food security, given their pivotal role in sustaining forage and livestock production. Central to this understanding are fundamental processes such as nutrient cycling, decomposition, and plant biomass dynamics. However, the use of anthropogenic chemicals in agricultural practices has the potential to exert significant influence on these critical ecosystem functions. A pivotal factor in this context is the plant diversity inherent to these rangeland ecosystems. Plant diversity not only provides essential ecosystem functions but also enhances them with the capacity to withstand and recover from perturbations. Ecosystems characterized by …

Unveiling Race Diversity And Fungicide Sensitivity Profiles Of Pyrenophora Tritici Repentis Populations In South Dakota Collected From 2021-2023, Jaswinder Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tan spot, a foliar disease of wheat caused by the ascomycetes fungus Pyrenophora tritici repentis (Ptr), poses a significant threat to wheat crops globally. The disease gained economic importance in the late 1970s due to shifts in farming practices, such as minimal tillage and planting on crop residues, providing favorable conditions for the pathogen to overwinter and cause infections. Ptr is classified into eight races based on the production of necrotrophic effectors—Ptr ToxA (necrosis-inducing), Ptr ToxB, and Ptr ToxC (chlorosis-inducing on respective susceptible and sensitive cultivars)—resulting in distinct symptoms on susceptible wheat differentials. The inverse gene-for-gene hypothesis of Ptr suggests …

Biological Control Of Bacterial Leaf Streak Of Wheat Using Antagonistic Rhizobacteria, Ashley Frederickson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the world’s most valuable crops, and the primary food grain produced in the United States. A major disease in wheat production is Bacterial Leaf Streak (BLS) caused by the gram-negative bacterium Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu). Very few management strategies are available to growers to manage this disease, as common chemicals do not provide adequate control. A number of studies have been conducted on biological control using Rhizospheric bacteria for the control of various plant diseases, but limited data is available on the efficacy of biological control using Rhizospheric bacteria for controlling Bacterial …

Otoliths Through Time: A Multidecadal Characterization Of Fish Otoliths In A Changing Climate, Jordan M. Waldron

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is a lack of research describing how widespread environmental changes in marine ecosystems affect wild adult teleost otoliths, limiting our ability to understand the impacts that alterations to otoliths can have on fish physiology and ecology. In this study, morphological and microstructural changes in wild adult fish otoliths were traced over 3 decades among species common in Tampa Bay, Florida – red drum Sciaenops ocellatus and common snook Centropomus undecimalis. Optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize otolith morphology and microstructure, respectively, to then pair with fluctuations in environmental variables – water temperature, pH, dissolved …

Ovulation Prediction Using Random Forest Algorithm On Physiological Data, Kimberly D. Laynes

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Human infertility rates are on the rise -- studies have shown that one in every four women have trouble conceiving and every year those rates are rising [Halleran22]. This trend motivates procedures such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) to produce a pregnancy. Such procedures are not only intricate and expensive but also carry potential unintended consequences for women's physical and mental well-being. A more profound comprehension of the menstrual cycle and its multiple phases, particularly detecting the ovulation period itself, promotes optimized treatment outcomes and reduces associated risks. To facilitate ovulation detection, new sensing technologies built into …

Field Assessment Of The Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat: Enhancement Of Intertidal Habitat For The Eastern Oyster And Associated Nekton In Northeast Florida, Hunter Mathews

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A dramatic global decline in oyster reef habitat has led to widespread deployment of oyster restoration projects. Efforts are underway to move away from polluting methods like plastic mesh bags in oyster deployments. Additionally, increasing pressure on our estuaries from recreational boat wakes and intensified storms requires more robust structures for shoreline protection. The “Pervious Oyster Shell Habitat” (POSH) is a novel artificial reef structure composed of oyster shell bound by a thin layer of Portland cement, into the shape of a dome. The structure’s makeup greatly reduces its environmental impact, while providing quality substrate for provision of oyster reef …

Microbial Communities In The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve: An Assessment Of The Responses Of Spartina Alterniflora Epiphytes To Nitrogen Enrichment, And A Characterization Of Benthic Cyanobacterial Diversity, Anne C. Hurley

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Elevated nitrogen and phosphorus inputs from anthropogenic sources, which can lead to significant increases in algal biomass and changes in algal community composition, poses a serious threat to estuarine ecosystems worldwide. While numerous studies have addressed the impacts of nutrient enrichment on epiphytic algae in seagrass habitats, few have investigated potential nutrient-driven changes to epiphytes on emergent salt marsh plants, such as Spartina alterniflora. Epiphytic microalgae on S. alterniflora play an important role in food availability in salt marsh ecosystems, and epiphytic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria also provide an important source of nitrogen for salt marsh consumers. The first study included …

Plant Sentience? Between Romanticism And Denial: Science, Miguel Segundo-Ortin, Paco Calvo

Animal Sentience

A growing number of non-human animal species are being seriously considered as candidates for sentience, but plants are either forgotten or explicitly excluded from these debates. In our view, this is based on the belief that plant behavior is hardwired and inflexible and on an underestimation of the role of plant electrophysiology. We weigh such assumptions against the evidence to suggest that it is time to take seriously the hypothesis that plants, too, might be sentient. We hope this target article will serve as an invitation to investigate sentience in plants with the same rigor as in non-human animals.

The Effect Of A 5-Week Concurrent Training Program On Acft Scores, Ruck March Times, And Aerobic Capacity In Army Rotc Cadets, Cody Durbin

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Most Army ROTC programs conduct physical training (PT) only 3 days per week and no study has directly compared the effects of conducting PT 5 days per week on ACFT scores, ruck march performance, and aerobic capacity. Past research has indicated greater performance adaptations with a concurrent training program and some research has shown that current ROTC PT programs may not be optimal in physically preparing ROTC cadets. Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a 5-day per week periodized tactical strength and conditioning program on ACFT scores, and aerobic capacity in Army ROTC cadets. Methods: Eight ROTC cadets from UNI …

Invasive Buckthorn Mapping: A Uav-Based Approach Utilizing Machine Learning, Gis, And Remote Sensing Techniques In The Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Vikranth Madeppa

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

An Invasive species is a species that is alien or non-native to the ecosystem which causes harm to economic, environmental, or human health (E.O. 13112 of Feb 3, 1999). Invasive species have posed a serious threat to ecosystems across the globe. These invasive species have impacts on the biodiversity and productivity of invaded forests. Remotely sensed data is a valuable resource for understanding and addressing issues related to invasive species. This study presents a novel approach for mapping the distribution of two invasive plant species, Common and Glossy Buckthorn, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), machine learning algorithms, geographic information systems …

Cancer/Testis Gene Expression Changes In Metastatic Cancer, Clara M. Mosentine

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Metastasis is the movement of cancerous cells to new parts of the body, often through the blood or lymph systems. Metastasis is classified as stage IV cancer, a prognosis that is significantly more difficult to effectively treat compared to earlier cancer stages. We are interested in assessing whether expression of Cancer/testis (CT) genes, a class of genes that are predominantly expressed in germ cells while also being abnormally expressed in a large percentage of cancers, is associated with cancer metastasis. Germ cells make up an organism’s reproductive system, such as the testis and ovaries, and exhibit cellular immortality and, in …

Multiscale Molecular Modeling Studies Of The Dynamics And Catalytic Mechanisms Of Iron(Ii)- And Zinc(Ii)-Dependent Metalloenzymes, Sodiq O. Waheed

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Enzymes are biological systems that aid in specific biochemical reactions. They lower the reaction barrier, thus speeding up the reaction rate. A detailed knowledge of enzymes will not be achievable without computational modeling as it offers insight into atomistic details and catalytic species, which are crucial to designing enzyme-specific inhibitors and impossible to gain experimentally. This dissertation employs advanced multiscale computational approaches to study the dynamics and reaction mechanisms of non-heme Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenases, including AlkB, AlkBH2, TET2, and KDM4E, involved in DNA and histone demethylation. It also focuses on Zn(II) dependent matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), which helps …

Machine Learning Methods For Prediction Of Human Infectious Virus And Imputation Of Hla Alleles, Xiaoqing Gao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation contains three Chapters. The following is a concise description of each Chapters.

In Chapter 1, we introduced the Random Forest, a machine learning method, to foresee whether a virus is capable of infecting humans. The Covid pandemic informs us the importance of predicting the ability of a zoonotic virus that can infect humans from its genomic sequence. We used the -mer with and as features of a virus to predict if it can affect humans. We further employed the Boruta algorithm to select the important features, then fed those important features into the Random Forest method to train …

Near-Surface Soil Nitrogen And Vegetation Response To Invasive Emerald Ash Borer In Forested Black Ash Wetlands Of The Western Upper Peninsula, Michigan, Usa, Daniel A. Beyer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) poses an imminent threat to the structure and function of North American hardwood forests, particularly black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marshall), and alters the hydrologic and ecological services of their wetlands. Black ash trees regularly grow in seasonally saturated soils and are responsible for hydrologic regulation and nutrient cycling. In this study, a gradient of black ash wetlands impacted by EAB were monitored to assess vegetation changes and near-surface soil nitrogen availability. Vegetation community changes were intertwined with nitrogen cycle disturbances following EAB infestation. As black ash died and fell to …

Statistical Methods For Gwas And The Impact Of Diabetic Medication Adherence On Healthcare Costs, Meida Wang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This dissertation includes three Chapters. In Chapter One, we develop a computationally efficient clustering linear combination approach to jointly analyze multiple phenotypes for GWAS. In this paper, based on the existing CLC method and ACAT strategy, we develop the ceCLC method to test association between multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant. In Chapter Two, we develop a novel method called sCLC for association studies of multiple phenotypes and a genetic variant based on GWAS summary statistics. Simulation results show that sCLC can control Type I error rates well and has the highest power in most scenarios. In Chapter Three, we …

White-Tailed Deer In A Winter-Wonderland: Long-Term Deer Yard Use And Methodological Considerations For Ungulate Fecal Dna Metabarcoding, Melanie A. Ottino

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Northern white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) mitigate the increased energetic costs of severe winter conditions through obligate migration to densely congregated areas with abundant conifer cover, a behavior referred to as yarding. “Deer yards” in the Western Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan are principally located within the reduced snowpack and increased ambient temperature microclimates of densely canopied eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) stands, but specific drivers of long-term site fidelity and utilization are largely uncharacterized. As an important game species of high economic and cultural value and a keystone herbivore with critical impact of plant community composition and structure, identifying winter yarding …

Sequencing Antisense Transcriptome Of Populus Through Antisense/Sense Transcript Pair Enrichment, Emma V. Burke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Past transcriptome research on plants focused primarily on protein coding genes, and only recently researchers began looking into the non-protein coding regions that may play significant roles in gene regulation. Antisense RNA transcripts that are found naturally in the cell share complementary sequence with sense transcripts and have been shown to regulate expression of their sense counterparts. Since antisense RNA has been largely under-studied and difficult to sequence because of their low relative abundance, new methods are needed to target antisense RNA for efficient genome-wide profiling. To address this gap in methods to efficiently and cost effectively enrich antisense RNA …

Two Research Perspectives On Sugar Maple Canopy Dieback In The Upper Great Lakes: A Decade Of Herbaceous Community Responses And A Survey Of Michigan Forest Managers, Manuel Eduardo Anderson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Sugar maple canopy dieback has been reported in the upper Great Lakes since the mid-2000s. This thesis builds on research conducted to determine some of the underlying causes of canopy dieback, which include invasive earthworm impacts, with a view toward adaptations in management of northern hardwood forests in our region. The first chapter reports a study of understory communities in a subsection of forest health monitoring plots located in four national forests near Lake Superior. Based on plot assessments from 2010 and 2021, responses of plant community composition and traits to earthworm impacts and sugar maple canopy dieback were explored. …