Life Sciences Commons^™

Phylogenetic Distribution Of An Endogenous Strain Of Dahlia Mosaic Virus In Members Of Asteraceae, Keri L. Caudle

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

A newly discovered strain of Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV) called DMV-D10 was first observed in Dahlia variabilis in 2008. DMV-D10 does not induce visible symptoms of infection in the host plant, and is classified as an endogenous virus. Endogenous viruses like DMV-D10 have the ability to integrate their viral sequences into the host plant genome, which can be transmitted to offspring. No studies have examined the host range of DMV-D10 outside of the Dahlia genus. Because DMV-D10 has only been observed in Dahlia, the objective for this study was to determine if presence of DMVD10 follows an evolutionary relationship among …

Soxhlet Extraction Of Avocado Endocarp And Trituration Of Avocado Mesocarp For Biodiesel Production., Ifeoma Oraemesi

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Finding alternative sources of renewable energy is on the rise globally. Renewable sources of energy are advantageous because they are biodegradable, less toxic, and combust efficiently. More importantly, raw materials for these sources can be replenished. One alternative source of energy is biodiesel. Biodiesel is a fuel which consists of mono-alkyl esters of long-chained fatty acids obtained from vegetable oil or animal fats. They serve as efficient fuels to run diesel engines. Biodiesel is produced via transesterification of oils wherein glycerin is a by-product. Avocado (Persea americana) is a fleshy fruit with high lipid content, mostly monounsaturated fats, which amounts …

Polymorphism In The Prpc Prion Protein Gene In Pigs, Anuja Paudyal

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Protein coding regions of the PrPC gene in 51 pigs belonging to 3 breeds namely Hampshire, Yorkshire, Blue Butt Cross (blue spotted cross from a Hampshire X Yorkshire), and a wild pig were studied. These breeds are used nationwide for commercial purposes. The PrPC gene of the pigs that code for prion proteins were sequenced and studied. Deletions of the octapeptide (WGQPHGGG) were observed in 13 samples that belongs to the crossbreed Dark Cross sow 71 by Blue Butt Boar (Gummy bear). This hydrophobic repeat has been used in experiments as a model to investigate neurodegeneration in prion diseases. Also, …

Using Maximum Entropy Species Distribution Modeling For Long-Term Conservation Planning Of Three Federally Listed Bats In North America, Mitchell L. Meyer

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

We are currently in a sixth mass extinction event in which the extinction rate is higher than it has ever been. This mass extinction event is caused by human influence on the environment. Biodiversity is worth conserving because of its many uses to humans. Bats are a diverse group of mammals that humans rely on for pest control services. The gray bat, northern long-eared bat, and Indiana bat are on the Threatened and Endangered Species List and are in need of conservation. I built species distribution models using occurrence records, climate data, and Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling technique. I predicted …

The Effects Of Environmental Variability And Latitude On Breeding Behaviors And Life History Traits Of Aves In North America, Elizabeth E. Tharman

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Breeding systems among Aves have garnered attention in the last several decades as many species considered monogamous have been found to exhibit an alternative breeding system such as polygyny, polyandry, cooperative breeding, or colonial nesting. My thesis focuses on assessing the correlations between type of breeding system and resource availability by using environmental variables as proxy variables. It also assess the correlations between life history trait variables and environmental variables. Both breeding system and life history traits are analyzed at the species and population levels while controlling for phylogenetic relationships and geographic location when appropriate. Breeding system among species was …

Post-Drought Survey Of Freshwater Mussels In The Saline And Smoky Hill Rivers With Emphasis On The Status Of The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides Ferussacianus) And Effects Of Lowhead Dams On Growth Of The Pimpleback (Quadrula Pustulosa) In The Neosho River, Kansas, Andrew T. Karlin

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Study 1:Post-drought survey of freshwater mussels in the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers with emphasis on the status of the Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) in Kansas. The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus), considered a “Species in Need of Conservation” in Kansas, historically occurred across much of the state; however, recent studies suggest that the species is currently restricted to the upper Smoky Hill-Saline River Basin, and a survey emphasizing the status of the Cylindrical Papershell conducted in 2011 suggested its conservation status be elevated to endangered. Continuing drought since the completion of the 2011 survey raised concerns regarding the status of …

Environmental Factors, Not Plants, Contribute To Functional Diversity Of Soil Bacteria In The Dunes Of Lake Michigan., Andrea Stark Howes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil bacteria play important roles in nutrient cycling and other ecosystem functions, and many biotic and abiotic factors can influence bacterial functional diversity. The goal of this field study was to examine differences among bacterial communities in sand dunes of Lake Michigan. I used Biolog Ecoplates™ to compare bacteria functional diversity associated with four different plant species: the native dune-building grass Ammophila breviligulata, invasive species Leymus arenarius and Gypsophila paniculata, and native legume Lathyrus japonicus across 13 sites in Michigan, representing a gradient in abiotic factors such as precipitation and temperature. I found no differences in bacterial function associated with …

Patch Seeding On An Extensive Green Roof: Initial Experiment On Microclimate Impacts, Zhuqing Xu

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The green roof provides not only aesthetic values but also many ecological benefits. In North America, seeding or reseeding with native species becomes increasingly popular as a result of its high efficacy and low cost. The extreme temperature and a lack of water on the green roof impose restrictions on seeds germination that determines the success of a seeding program.

The study started on June 1 and was completed by July 15. Five Great Plains native species were hand-seeded in two blocks on Larson Building green roof, along with two blocks set up in the greenhouse at University of Nebraska-Lincoln …

Response Of Problematic Weed Populations In Nebraska To Glyphosate, Spencer L. Samuelson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

There are currently nine reported herbicide-resistant weed species in Nebraska, six of which are resistant to glyphosate. Overall distribution and frequency of these resistant species is unknown.

The objectives of this research were to understand the frequency and distribution of glyphosate-resistant weeds in Nebraska. Common and problematic weeds of Nebraska were arbitrarily collected from fields in 77 counties during the fall of 2013-2015. From our statewide collection, five species including: horseweed (Conyza canadensis (L.) Cronq.), kochia (Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.), Russian-thistle (Salsola tragus L.), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.), and common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) …

Integration Of Hydrogeophysical Datasets For Improved Water Resource Management In Irrigated Systems, Catherine E. Finkenbiner

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Water scarcity is predicted to be the major limitation to increasing agronomic outputs to meet future food and fiber demands. With the agricultural sector accounting for 80 – 90% of all consumptive water use and an average water use efficiency (WUE) of less than 45%, major advances must be made in irrigation water management. Precision agriculture, specifically variable-rate irrigation (VRI) and variable-speed irrigation (VSI) systems, offers the technologies to address and manage for infield variability and incorporate that into management decisions. The major limitation to implementing this technology often lies in the management of spatial datasets and the development of …

Heterogeneity Of Avian Breeding Habitat On Grazing Lands Of The Northern Great Plains, Maggi S. Sliwinski

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Native rangelands in the Great Plains are largely privately owned and used for beef production. Vegetation heterogeneity is important for maintaining biodiversity, but private land may be more homogenous than desired. My research had two components: 1) to examine whether a variety of grazing strategies created vegetation heterogeneity in a large, intact rangeland, and 2) to understand beef producers’ attitudes about vegetation heterogeneity.

First, I sampled vegetation structure, composition, and bird abundance at multiple plots on eleven management units in Cherry County, Nebraska. Units were managed with commonly used grazing strategies (e.g., short-duration grazing and season-long continuous grazing). I examined …

Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Protein Biosensor For Nitric Oxide, Wenjia Zhai

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important molecule in living cells for signaling, thus a specific sensor to detect its level in live cells is needed. Currently there are a few small molecule probes for the detection of NO. A common shortcoming of these probes is their unavoidable leakage from the target cells. In this project, I seek to develop a novel green fluorescent protein (GFP)-based biosensor to detect cellular NO. This GFP-based sensor is genetically encodable and can potentially avoid the possible false positive result due to the leakage. I synthesized an unnatural amino acid (unAA) and examined its incorporation …

Burkholderia Cenocepacia J2315-Mediated Destruction Of Staphylococcus Aureus Nrs77 Biofilms., Rachel Thompson

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder that affects over 30,000 people in the US and more than 70,000 people worldwide. Recurring bacterial infections in CF patients result in tissue damage that dramatically lowers respiratory function and are ultimately fatal. The formation of bacterial biofilms in the mucus and on lung epithelial tissue allows pathogens to be protected from antibiotics and the host immune system, making treatment of infection difficult. The interactions between CF pathogens in co-culture biofilms are not well understood and were examined in this study. Staphylococcus aureus and Burkholderia cenocepacia, two common CF pathogens, were used …

Optimizing A Standard Fasting Time For 2-Nbdg Uptake Studies In Murine Breast Cancers, Andrew C. Briley

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Recently, there has been a larger use of 2-NBDG, a fluorescent glucose analog, to study glucose uptake in different cell types. These cell types have ranged anywhere from bacteria to human cancer cells. However, there has yet to be a standard procedure and practice for using 2-NBDG. In this study, our goal is to create a standard fasting time for the cells before introducing 2-NBDG to them. This study uses 4T07 cells, a murine breast cancer cell line, to help optimize this fasting time. These cells were fasted at different time points in order to find the ideal fasting time. …

Attention Is Associated With Postural Control In Those With Chronic Ankle Instability, Adam B. Rosen, Nicholas T. Than, William Z. Smith, Jennifer M. Yentes, Melanie L. Mcgrath, Mukul Mukherjee, Sara A. Myers, Arthur C. Maerlender

Health and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is often debilitating and may be affected by a number of intrinsic and environmental factors. Alterations in neurocognitive function and attention may contribute to repetitive injury in those with CAI and influence postural control strategies. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in attentional functioning and static postural control among groups of Comparison, Coper and CAI participants and assess the relationship between them within each of the groups. Recruited participants performed single-limb balance trials and completed the CNS Vital Signs (CNSVS) computer-based assessment to assess their attentional function. Center …

Capture Theory & State Regulation Of Animal Cruelty, Kyla Henderson

Political Science Theses and Capstones

In this thesis I theorize that regulatory capture impacts animal cruelty laws in several different ways. Capture theory is the process by which regulatory agencies eventually come to be dominated by the industries they were charged with regulating. Regulatory capture happens when a regulatory agency, formed to act in the public’s interest, eventually acts in ways that benefit the industry it is supposed to be regulating, rather than the public. Animal cruelty regulations are an important factor in the way that everyday products are produced. Capture theory affecting animal cruelty is an important look at the growing concern with animal …

Development Of A Spermatogenesis Specific Gene Driver Using The Uas-Gal4 System, Jake Figaniak

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The goal of the project was to develop a tool that allows for targeted expression of genes in spermatogenesis. To do this the GAL4/UAS system was employed. This system places the coding region of the GAL4 gene under a tissue specific promoter, ProtamineB in this case. The construct is transformed into Drosophila melanogaster and crossed with an existing UAS-reporter strain to make visualization of successful transformants easy. Expression was searched for in the testes by dissection and various detection methods. Unfortunately no expression was seen in the testes despite the construct being successfully integrated into the genome. This information tells …

Expierience, Seong Bo Chang, Albert Chen, Emily Nguyen

Computer Engineering

The name of this project is called “exPIERience” and the technological field of focus is virtual reality. We will be working on creating a virtual reality experience using the Oculus Rift for the Center of Coastal Marine Sciences (CCMS). The purpose of this system is to enable people to experience diving at the Cal Poly Pier even during nonoptimal diving conditions which occur frequently. CCMS hopes to attract further interest and possible momentum in future outreach such as a “Live Dive” program, where live videos of divers under the pier can be streamed. A 360° video from the diver’s perspective …

Environmental Data: Canopy Data (Leaf Area Index), Julia I. Chapman, Amy L. Myers, Mitchell J. Kukla, Ryan W. Mcewan

Data Files: Drew Woods Permanent Plots

Leaf area index measurements obtained using a CI-110 Canopy Imager (CID BioScience in 2012 and 2017. Data key is provided in a supplemental file.

Effects Of Phosphorus Availability On Growth And Leaf Nutrient Concentrations In Wheat, Oat, And Cereal Rye, Jerri Lynn Dodson

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Adequate soil phosphorus (P) is critical for the growth and nutrient content of forages for grazing animals. On low fertility soils, tall fescue responds to P fertilization with increased yields and improved leaf nutrient contents of P, magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and potassium (K) in winter months. My objective was to examine the effect of P availability on growth and leaf nutrients in annual cereal grains commonly grown for winter forage. Soft red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), oat (Avena sativa), and cereal rye (Secale cereale) were grown hydroponically in greenhouse conditions in complete nutrient solutions with varying P concentrations of …

Potential Role Of Drg Macrophages In Chronic Pain, Scott A. Scarneo

All Theses And Dissertations

Persistent pain remains a significant burden on the US healthcare system with more than 100 million patients experiencing persistent pain annually. Complex etiology coupled with functional plasticity of cells involved often results in a chronic health concern with limited treatment modalities. To date, most work aimed at describing neuro-immune interactions in pain focuses on the site of injury, leaving the functional significance of resident tissue macrophages in the dorsal root ganglia largely unexplored in both uninjured and peripheral injury states. Here, we systematically evaluate the phenotype of naïve DRG resident tissue macrophages and compare to naïve spinal microglia and bone …

Hydration Biomarkers And Water Intake In 3-13 Year-Old Boys, Zoe P. Mckinney

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Background/Introduction: Hydration is an important aspect of health in children. Despite being important, limited information is available regarding children’s water intake and hydration. Interestingly, most studies assess hydration status based on a single random urine sample instead of a 24-h one. Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of dehydration and water intake in boys 3 to 13 years-old. Methods: Forty-six healthy boys were recruited for the study. Each subject recorded food and fluid intake in a diary on a Saturday and Sunday. They also collected their 24-h urine on Sunday. The 24-h sample was analyzed …

Validity Of Daytime Urinary Frequency As A Tool For Assessing Hydration, Monica Ziebart

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: It is known that 24-h void number is a valid way to assess hydration status. However, no studies have examined if urinary frequency just during the waking hours (~18 h) is a valid indicator of hydration status. Purpose: This study was conducted in order to determine if void number during only the waking hours was a valid indicator of hydration status compared to total voids over a 24-hour period. Methods: The subjects in this study consisted of 14 males and 18 females 18-80 yrs old who were healthy and not currently taking any body fluid altering medications. This study …

Stride Leg Ground Reaction Forces Pre- And Post-Fatigue In Collegiate Baseball Pitchers, Courtney Alley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Context: Baseball pitching requires the coordination of the lower and upper extremities to effectively generate and transfer force to the ball. High-velocity pitchers have been found to have significantly greater stride leg force generation than low-velocity pitchers. The influence of stride leg fatigue on pitching has yet to be investigated. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stride leg fatigue on peak vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs) and hand velocity. Design: Pretest-posttest. Setting: Biomechanics laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: A convenience sample of 11 collegiate baseball pitchers (19.27 ± 0.64 years old; 85.88 ± 12.16 …

Thermal And Developmental Ecology Of Pupfish, Cyprinodon, Alexander Jones

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pupfish from the genus Cyprinodon are among the most endangered groups of fishes on the planet, with nearly 40% of species being threatened with extinction. These pupfishes are often assumed to be the most temperature tolerant of all fish, coping with temperatures as low as 0 °C and as high as 44 °C. However, conflicting data exist and certain measures of thermal tolerance are not markedly higher in pupfish compared to common game fish. Pupfish egg production and growth has been known to be hampered at temperatures well below what they apparently experience in nature. I addressed why eggs fail …

Predicting The Impact Of A Northern Pike (Esox Lucius) Invasion On Endangered June Sucker (Chasmistes Liorus) And Sport Fishes In Utah Lake, Ut, Jamie Reynolds

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Invasive species introductions are associated with negative economic and environmental impacts, including reductions in native species populations. Successful invasive species populations often grow rapidly and a new food web structure is established. The ability of invasive species to outcompete and prey upon native species are two characteristics that make them a leading cause of fish extinctions in North America.

Northern pike (Esox lucius; hereafter pike) are voracious ambush top predators \native to the upper Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the lower 48 United States, Alaska, and southern Canada. Pike have been spreading across the Intermountain West and Pacific …

Evaluating Habitat-Based Niche Requirements And Potential Recruitment Bottlenecks For Imperiled Bluehead Sucker (Catostomus Discobolus), Bryan C. Maloney

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Changes to rivers that alter physical and thermal habitat may cause fish population abundance to decline, due to fewer individuals maturing and entering the adult population. The Weber River has become highly degraded with many dams and diversions altering fish habitat, river volume, velocity, and temperature, and limiting movement between reaches. Bluehead suckers (Catostomus discobolus) occupy only 47% of their historical range and the genetically-distinct Weber River (northern UT) population is declining and contains few young, juvenile fish. My objectives were to determine whether spawning and rearing habitat available in the Weber River may be limiting bluehead sucker …

Effects Of Variable And Changing Environments On Demography: Inferences From A Lesser Snow Goose Colony, David T. Iles

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mean and variability of environmental conditions have changed as a result of human activity, and continued changes are predicted. The strongest effects on natural populations will often be channeled through species interactions, as shifts in species range limits and life cycle schedules will shift in relation to each other. These changes will often impact rates of survival, growth, and reproduction simultaneously, and these effects will likely differ across habitats.

In chapter 2, I used mathematical modeling and computer simulations to investigate the evolutionary significance of increasingly variable environments, and examine how evolutionary pressures change when multiple vital rates are …

The Performance Of A Bioenergetics Model In A System With An Abundant Population Of Salmonids: A Case Study Of Cutthroat Trout In The Logan River, Utah, Martha L. Jensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Widespread habitat degradation and fragmentation has significantly altered the distribution and abundance of salmonids across the Western United States. To effectively conserve these fish, managers need tools to evaluate habitat quality in physically diverse streams and watersheds. Traditionally, habitat assessment for stream fish has focused on the physical characteristics of sites. Thus, such research has often overlooked important biological factors, such as the availability of prey or the presence and abundance of competitors or predators. In recent years, however, researchers have considered habitat from both physical and biological dimensions.

Bioenergetics models offer a way to combine the both the biotic …

Effects Of Gestational Dietary Intake On Calf Growth And Early Feedlot Performance Of Offspring, Jose M. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fetal programming is a relatively new and quickly growing field of research in the livestock industry. The concept of fetal programming is simply defined as the effects a change in maternal nutritional intake has on offspring, whether it be a genetic or physical change. The intention of this study was to specifically look at the effects of nutrient restriction of cows during the second trimester of gestation on the growth and performance of the resulting calves.

In this study, thirty-two cows of predominantly angus influence from the Utah state university herd were chosen, naturally bred to a pure bred angus …