Life Sciences Commons^™

Swift Foxes In Southwestern South Dakota: Assessing The Current Status Of A Reintroduced Population, Sarah Ann Nevison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) were reintroduced into Badlands National Park between 2003 and 2006 after being nearly extirpated from South Dakota in the early 1900’s. Genetic analysis provided strong evidence that the reintroduction was successful, but viability analysis indicated the population may be in jeopardy with a high probability of extinction. Recently, the population has declined due to various biotic and abiotic factors (e.g., recent weather patterns, effects of plague [Yersinia pestis], and increased coyote [Canis latrans] numbers). No information on the status of swift foxes has been collected since 2009. Between 2014 and 2016, the objectives of this study …

Growth Potential And Genetic Diversity Of Yellow Perch In South Dakota, Alex J. Rosburg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens represent a valued sport fish throughout their range and are an important prey species for piscivorous fishes. In South Dakota, two distinct population types of Yellow Perch have been characterized that differ in growth, survival, and recruitment patterns. Fast growth populations exhibit high growth rates, high mortality, low population density, and inconsistent recruitment. In contrast, slow growth populations are characterized by reduced growth rates, low mortality, high population density, and relatively consistent recruitment. The role of genetics in contributing to these population characteristics is currently unknown. To address these questions, I used high-throughput restriction-site associated DNA …

The Home Environment And Parenting Practices: Associations With Physical Activity And Sedentary Time In Preschool-Age Children, Emily C. Huber

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preschool-age children have the potential to be influenced by their physical home environment and their parents’ physical activity (PA) practices more than older children as preschool-age children are more reliant on parents for PA opportunities. Previous research with this focus has relied predominantly on various subjective assessments of child activity, often resulting in overestimation of PA and underestimation of sedentary time (ST). Collectively, this dissertation project explored the associations among home environment factors, parent PA practices, parent satisfaction of children’s body size and children’s PA and ST by utilizing objective measures of activity and the full range of PA intensities …

Effects Of Maternal Plane Of Nutrition On Early Embryo Development And Offspring Performance, Erin E. Beck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nutritional changes immediately after insemination can result in increased embryonic mortality, but the mechanisms that cause this increased mortality and the impact on the embryos that survive are not known. Therefore, two experiments were conducted to evaluate the impact of a nutritional change immediately following AI on calf performance, global DNA methylation, estrus expression and interval to estrus in heifers, peripheral metabolites, uterine luminal fluid metabolites, and day 6 embryo quality. In the first study (chapter 2) Angus-cross heifers (n = 142) were allotted into two developmental treatments: drylot or range. All heifers were fixed-time inseminated to a single sire …

Genetic Interference And Receptor Biology Of Neglected Influenza Viruses, Runxia Liu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Influenza B virus (IBV) is an important pathogen that infects humans and causes seasonal influenza epidemics. By using next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach, we analyzed total mRNAs extracted from A549 cells infected with B/Brisbane/60/2008, and identified four defective genomes in IBV with two from the polymerase basic subunit 1 (PB1) segment and the other two from the matrix (M) segment. Each of them can potently inhibit the replication of IBV. One derived from PB1 segment was able to interfere modestly with influenza A virus (IAV) replication. The productions of the four defective RNAs are not dependent on the cell types. The …

Benefits Of Movement For Academic Achievement And Classroom Behaviors, Alison A. Waltz

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this review is to discuss the benefits of using movement throughout the daily routine of an early childhood classroom. The research focused on using movement to increase literacy and mathematics knowledge, teach self-regulation skills and increase attention. and have different seating options that would allow for consistent movement. Findings of this review show that movement does have academic and behavioral benefits in the early childhood classroom. Limitations are recognized for the research presented and recommendations are given for ways to incorporate movement into the classroom. To conclude this review of literature. educational policies and future research are …

Occurrence Of Atlantic Tarpon, Megalops Atlanticus, Leptocephali In The Mississippi Sound Estuary, Patrick M. Graham, James S. Franks, Jason D. Tilley, Dyan P. Gibson, Evan J. Anderson

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Neuropathological And Genetic Correlates Of Survival And Dementia Onset In Synucleinopathies: A Retrospective Analysis, David J. Irwin, Murray Grossman, Daniel Weintraub, Howard I. Hurtig, John E. Duda, Sharon X. Xie, Edward B. Lee, Vivianna M. Van Deerlin, Oscar L. Lopez, Julia K. Kofler, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory A. Jicha, Randy Woltjer, Joseph F. Quinn, Jeffery Kaye, James B. Leverenz, Debby Tsuang, Katelan Longfellow, Dora Yearout, Walter Kukull, C. Dirk Keene, Thomas J. Montine, Cyrus P. Zabetian, John Q. Trojanowski

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Background

Great heterogeneity exists in survival and the interval between onset of motor symptoms and dementia symptoms across synucleinopathies. We aimed to identify genetic and pathological markers that have the strongest association with these features of clinical heterogeneity in synucleinopathies.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we examined symptom onset, and genetic and neuropathological data from a cohort of patients with Lewy body disorders with autopsy-confirmed α synucleinopathy (as of Oct 1, 2015) who were previously included in other studies from five academic institutions in five cities in the USA. We used histopathology techniques and markers to assess the burden of …

Characterization Of The Beta1 Gene, Which Might Play A Role In Beta Vulgaris Subsp. Maritima Salt Tolerance, Özge Uysal, Çi̇ğdem Çakiroğlu, Ahmet Koç, Hüseyi̇n Çağlar Karakaya

Turkish Journal of Botany

Salinity stress has a negative impact on plant growth, which affects homeostasis and productivity. The uptake of nonessential salt ions changes the osmotic balance of the cell and causes dehydration. Higher plants develop salt tolerance mechanisms to avoid dehydration. Sea beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima) is a halophytic ancestor of cultivated sugar beet that displays salt stress tolerance. In this study, we screened a B. vulgaris subsp. maritima cDNA library in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain Ab11c (ena1Δ, nha1/4Δ, nhx1Δ), which is deficient in sodium transport, to find sodium-detoxifying genes. We identified a cDNA construct, named BETA1, providing salt tolerance to yeast …

Fish Spawning Aggregations: Where Well-Placed Management Actions Can Yield Big Benefits For Fisheries And Conservation, Brad Erisman, William Heyman, Shinichi Kobara, Tal Ezer, Simon Pittman, Octavio Aburto-Oropeza, Richard S. Nemeth

CCPO Publications

Marine ecosystem management has traditionally been divided between fisheries management and biodiversity conservation approaches, and the merging of these disparate agendas has proven difficult. Here, we offer a pathway that can unite fishers, scientists, resource managers and conservationists towards a single vision for some areas of the ocean where small investments in management can offer disproportionately large benefits to fisheries and biodiversity conservation. Specifically, we provide a series of evidenced-based arguments that support an urgent need to recognize fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) as a focal point for fisheries management and conservation on a global scale, with a particular emphasis placed …

Variation In Cranial Morphology Of Polymorphic Populations Of The Eastern Red-Backed Salamander, Plethodon Cinereus, Marissa Ganzfried

Masters Theses

Differences in cranial morphology among species of plethodontid salamanders have been linked to variations in diet and behavior. Individuals that consume smaller prey have larger jaw to posterior-cranium ratios. Elongation and expansion of the jaw, coupled with expansion of the posterior of the cranium (defined as robustness) are positively associated with individuals that exhibit increased levels of aggression. The bulk of previous research has focused on the effects of interspecific competition on cranial morphology; however, polymorphic populations of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, represent a unique opportunity to examine the role of cranial morphology in ecological divergence among individuals …

Novel Evidence That The Mannan-Binding Lectin Pathway Of Complement Activation Plays A Pivotal Role In Triggering Mobilization Of Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells By Activation Of Both The Complement And Coagulation Cascades, M. Adamiak, A. Abdelbaset-Ismail, M. Suszynska, Ahmed K. Abdel-Latif, J. Ratajczak, M. Z. Ratajczak

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Immunotherapy Against Drugs Of Abuse, Gianna Raimondi (Class Of 2017)

Writing Across the Curriculum

Current treatments for drug addiction involve classical pharmacological therapy, involving the use of competitive or noncompetitive agonists (full, partial, or inverse) and antagonists. Drugs of abuse enter the brain after crossing the blood-brain barrier rapidly and binding to the proper receptor(s). They are able to do so because they are small and lipid soluble, and produce reinforcing effects by increasing levels of dopamine in brain areas associated with reward. This occurs in specific systems associated with addiction. In the mesolimbic system, neuron cell bodies originate in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and project to the nucleus accumbens (NAc), amygdala, hippocampus, …

Evolution's Error: How Human Nature Went Awry, Richard Grigg

Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies Faculty Publications

The article offers the author's insights related to biological evolution and humanism. Topics include the failure and error of evolution to provide human with resources for life satisfaction, a scenario which presents humanism and evolution wherein a promotion competition between two employees was featured, and the study by neurologist Sigmund Freud about the human brain.

Sandhill And Whooping Cranes, Jeb Barzen, Ken Ballinger

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

As sandhill crane populations continue to grow in the United States, so too does crop damage, property damage to homeowners, and the risk of crane collisions with aircraft. Whooping crane populations also continue to grow, but with a global population of about 500 individuals (as of 2017), damage is rare and problems often require different solutions due to the species’ endangered status. The behavioral characteristics and habitat needs of sandhill and whooping cranes set the stage for conflict between these birds and people. Recognizing behavioral differences between territorial and non-territorial cranes greatly improves the effectiveness of any management effort.

Human-Wildlife …

Wildlife At Airports, Travis L. Devault, Bradley F. Blackwell, Jerrold L. Belant, Michael J. Begier

Wildlife Damage Management Technical Series

Collisions between aircraft and wildlife (wildlife strikes) are common occurrences across the developed world. Wildlife strikes are not only numerous, but also costly. Estimates suggest that wildlife strikes cost the civil aviation industry in the U.S. up to $625 million annually, and nearly 500 people have been killed in wildlife strikes worldwide. Most wildlife strikes occur in the airport environment: 72 percent of all strikes occur when the aircraft is ≤500 ft (152 m) above ground level, and 41 percent of strikes occur when the aircraft is on the ground during landing or takeoff. Thus, management efforts to reduce wildlife …

The Update, January-April 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. College Of Humanities, Arts And Sciences.

Update

In this issue

-- CHAS Briefs
-- Alumni Spotlight - Mason Greer
-- Student Spotlight - Lucas Beving
-- Alumni Spotlight - Caleb Vander Wiel
-- Student Spotlight - Micayla Dawson
-- Department of Art Hearst Lecture Series
-- Communication Studies Digital Media Program
-- Computer Science National Cyber Defense Competition
-- Earth and Environmental Sciences Geo-Service Project
-- Faculty Spotlight Kyle Gray
-- Faculty Spotlight Suzanne Dripps Communication Sciences
-- Calendar of Events April - May

Biology News, Winter 2017, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Biology.

Biology News

Contents:

--Greetings From the Department of Biology
--Department of Biology Alumni
--Kelly Bahl Interns at Epcot in Disney World
--Former Student, Susann Ahrabi-Fard, Working With the Zika Virus
--Department News
--Study Abroad Course to the Galapagos
--UNI Maintains Strength in Undergraduate Research
--Biology Faculty Incorporate Their Artistic Skills Into the Classroom and Publications
--Faculty Retirement
--Alumni In Residence
--University of Northern Iowa Awarded Grant Through the Roy J. Carver Foundation
--Reconnect With the Department of Biology
--You Can Make a Difference
--Scholarships and Funding

Design And Humoral Analysis Of Two Epitope-Based Brucella Abortus Dna Vaccines, Michael Mcgee

LSU Master's Theses

Brucella is a genus of Gram negative, facultative intracellular pathogens which cause brucellosis, one of the most wide spread zoonotic diseases. Brucellosis causes a severe economic burden due to reproductive loss in animals and human infection. Vaccination of animals has proven to be the most effective means of controlling brucellosis; however the current live-attenuated vaccines are not considered ideal. The live-attenuated vaccines Brucella abortus Strain 19 and RB51 remain pathogenic to humans, and the former interferes with diagnostic tests due to induction of antibodies against the O-polysaccharide. DNA vaccination with single antigens has proven to be successful at protecting mice …

Biology And Ecology Of Crapemyrtle Bark Scale, Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), Zinan Wang

LSU Master's Theses

The crapemyrtle bark scale, Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae (Kuwana) (Hemiptera: Eriococcidae), is an exotic pest on crapemyrtles, Lagerstroemia spp. (Myrtales: Lythraceae). Because of its recent arrival in the US, little is known about its biology and ecology. The purpose of my thesis was to improve the knowledge about A. lagerstroemiae in four aspects involving its thermal tolerance, physiological adaptations to cold temperatures, temperature-dependent development and host range. Thermal tolerance was determined to understand how temperature extremes constrain the distribution of A. lagerstroemiae in the US. Results suggested that A. lagerstroemiae can tolerant high heat, but its potential distribution to the northern US …

Comparative Viability Of Spray Dried Lactobacilli Affected By Different Protective Agents And Storage Conditions, Vondel Vandeker Reyes Ortega

LSU Master's Theses

Because of their health benefits, probiotics are a significant part of the functional food industry. Spray drying is reported as the most common method used in the food industry to encapsulate probiotics. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of protective agents on the viability of lactobacilli after spray drying and during storage at different conditions and to evaluate spray drying conditions to produce these probiotic powders. Lactobacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496 (LP) and Lactobacillus acidophilus NRRL B-4495 (LA) were separately grown (~109 CFU/ml) and suspended in a 200 g/L solution of high maize starch (HM); maltodextrin (MD); …

Soil Properties' Response To Wheat And Corn Stubble Residue Management In Louisiana, Autumn Danielle Acree

LSU Master's Theses

Crop residue plays an important role in improving soil fertility. Crop residue affects soil biological and chemical properties by increasing soil organic matter, nutrient status and availability, and microbial activity. The degree of the effects of crop residue on soil fertility depends on the crop residue management practice. Samples were collected in 2014 in wheat (Triticum spp.) stubble and corn (Zea mays) stubble residue. A second soil sample collection under wheat stubble residue was taken in 2015 in the prescribed fire and no-till sections. A total of 342 soil samples (0-2.5cm) were collected across conventional tillage, no-till, and prescribed fire …

Susceptibility Of The Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus, In East Baton Rouge Parish To Larval Insecticides, Nicholas Alexander Delisi

LSU Master's Theses

Mosquito control districts in Louisiana focus their efforts on Culex quinquefasciatus, the primary vector of West Nile virus in the southern United States, with rigorous larvicide treatments. However, the development of resistant populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus in response to extensive insecticide application has been demonstrated repeatedly. Examining changes in insecticide susceptibility and larvicide efficacy in real world scenarios can help inform mosquito control districts as to whether or not their treatments are killing mosquitoes. We hypothesized that frequent larvicide applications for the control of mosquitoes in East Baton Rouge Parish had lowered susceptibility of wild Cx. quinquefasciatus to insecticides, and …

The Effect Of Storage Temperature And Time On The Quality Of Spray Dried Egg Powder, Fallon Polette Salinas Gonzalez

LSU Master's Theses

Dehydration is a good approach for egg preservation. However, dried egg products may still suffer from deterioration if stored in an abused temperature environment or prolonged times. Storage conditions can induce undesirable reactions and loss of functionality and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and functionality of spray dried egg yolk powders, which included plain whole egg (PLWE), free flow yolk (FFY), enzyme modified yolk (EMY), and free flow whole egg (FFWE) stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, 43 °C or 54 °C, over a 2-month period; and provide useful suggestions to maximize quality …

A New Genus And New Species Of Brachynemurini From Ecuador (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Brachynemurini), Robert B. Miller, Lionel A. Stange

Insecta Mundi

A new genus, Dejunaleon Miller and Stange, is described with two new species: Dejunaleon loja Miller and Dejunaleon maculosus Stange (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Brachynemurini). A key to species is provided as well as distributional data. A description of the larva of Dejunaleon loja is given. A key to genera of the tribe Brachynemurini is provided based on larvae and adults.

Se describe un género nuevo, Dejunaleon Miller y Stange, de Ecuador con dos especies nuevas: Dejunaleon loja Miller y Dejunaleon maculosus Stange (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae: Brachynemurini). Se provee una clave para las especies con datos sobre sus …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Department Of Biomechanics Annual Report Spring 2017, Department Of Biomechanics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Biomechanics Annual Report

This report contains:

A letter from the Director: Dr. Nick Stergiou

Articles about Updates: Center for Research in Human Movement Variability

Articles about the Updates

Articles on Other Projects

Article about Beyond the Boarders

Articles on Outreach

and Highlights

Complete Genome Sequences Of Cluster A Mycobacteriophages Bobswaget, Fred313, Kady, Lokk, Myradee, Stagni, And Stepmih, Kristen A. Butela, Susan M. R. Gurney, Heather L. Hendrickson, Janine M. Leblanc-Straceski, Anastasia M. Zimmerman, Stephanie B. Conant, Nikki E. Freed, Olin K. Silander, Joshua J. Thomson, Charlotte A. Berkes, Cristina Bertolez, Courtney G. Davies, Amber Elinsky, Alison J. Hanlon, Juliette Nersesyan, Payal Patel, John Sherwood, Tiffany Tieu Ngo, Kathryn A. Wisniewski, Kathrine Yacoo, Paul M. Arendse, Nathan W. Bowlen, Jasmina Cunmulaj, Julie L. Downs, Charlee A. Ferrenberg, Alexandra E. Gassman, Cody E. R. Gilligan, Emily Gorkiewicz, Christopher Harness, Anthony Huffman, Christina Jones, Anna Julien, Alexis E. Kupic, Sayonara F. Latu, Thomas J. Manning, Danielle Maxwell, Merrimack College Sea-Phages Annotators 2016, Catherine E. Meyer, Madeleine Reardon, Matthew Slaughter, Royce Swasey, Rebecca I. Tennent, Victoria Torres, Tamia Waller, Rachel M. Worcester, Brooke L. Yost, Steven G. Cresawn, Rebecca A. Garlena, Deborah Jacobs-Sera, Welkin H. Pope, Daniel A. Russell, Graham F. Hatfull, Jacob D. Kagey

Biology Faculty Publications

Seven mycobacteriophages from distinct geographical locations were isolated, using Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 as the host, and then purified and sequenced. All of the genomes are related to cluster A mycobacteriophages, BobSwaget and Lokk in subcluster A2; Fred313, KADY, Stagni, and StepMih in subcluster A3; and MyraDee in subcluster A18, the first phage to be assigned to that subcluster.

The Effect Of Artificial Selection On Phenotypic Plasticity In Maize, Joseph L. Gage, Diego Jarquin, Cinta Romay, Aaron Lorenz, Edward S. Buckler, Shawn Kaeppler, Naser Alkhalifah, Martin Bohn, Darwin A. Campbell, Jode Edwards, David Ertl, Sherry Flint-Garcia, Jack Gardiner, Byron Good, Candice N. Hirsch, Jim Holland, David C. Hooker, Joseph Knoll, Judith Kolkman, Greg Kruger, Nick Lauter, Carolyn J. Lawrence-Dill, Elizabeth Lee, Jonathan Lynch, Seth C. Murray, Rebecca Nelson, Jane Petzoldt, Torbert Rocheford, James C. Schnable, Patrick S. Schnable, Brian Scully, Margaret Smith, Nathan M. Springer, Srikant Srinivasan, Renee Walton, Teclemariam Weldekidan, Randall J. Wisser, Wenwei Xu, Jianming Yu, Natalia De Leon

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Remarkable productivity has been achieved in crop species through artificial selection and adaptation to modern agronomic practices. Whether intensive selection has changed the ability of improved cultivars to maintain high productivity across variable environments is unknown. Understanding the genetic control of phenotypic plasticity and genotype by environment (G × E) interaction will enhance crop performance predictions across diverse environments. Here we use data generated from the Genomes to Fields (G2F) Maize G × E project to assess the effect of selection on G × E variation and characterize polymorphisms associated with plasticity. Genomic regions putatively selected during modern temperate maize …

Chemical Profiling And Chemical Standardization Of Vitex Negundo Using 13c Nmr, Fabian M. Dayrit, Lolita G. Lagurin, John Daniel J. Magsalin, Anthony R. Zosa

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Chemical profiling and standardization of the defatted methanol extract of the leaves of Vitex negundo L. were carried out using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis followed by chemometric analysis of the chemical shift data. Chemical profile was obtained using a k-means cluster profile and chemical standardization which was achieved using a multivariate control chart. The V. negundo samples were made up of four groups: the training set, submitted samples from production farms, commercial samples, such as tablets, capsules and teas, and experimental samples (samples which were allowed to degrade). Four groups were generated in k-means cluster, which generally corresponded …

Expansion Of Comprehensive Screening Of Male Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Attendees With Mycoplasma Genitalium And Trichomonas Vaginalis Molecular Assessment: A Retrospective Analysis, Erik Munson, David Wenten, Sheila Jhansale, Mary Kay Schuknecht, Nicki Pantuso, Joshua Gerritts, Aaron Steward, Kimber L. Munson, Maureen Napierala, Deb Hamer

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Of 1,493 encounters of males at a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in a community with a high prevalence of STI, Chlamydia trachomatis was detected in 8.7% and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was detected in 6.6%. Additional Trichomonas vaginalis and Mycoplasma genitalium screening found 17.4% and 23.9% of the encounters, respectively, to be positive for STI. STI agents were detected in 13.7% of urine specimens; addition of pharyngeal and rectal collections to the analysis resulted in detection of STI agents in 19.0% and 23.9% of encounters, respectively. A total of 101 (23.8%) encounters of identified STI involved sole detection of M. genitalium. …