Life Sciences Commons^™

Do Elevated Levels Of Glutathione Decrease The Toxicity Of Plasticizers In Mouse Liver Cells?, Khatoon Albahrani

All Master's Theses

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid that play a crucial role in the manufacturing industries for enhancing the properties of plastic materials. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most common phthalates used in a variety of products including food packaging and medical equipment. Their use has caused public health concerns because of their toxic effects on reproductive and developmental processes. This study aims to investigate the response of two mouse hepatoma cell lines to the effects of DEHP and its bioactive metabolite mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP). Cells were exposed to four concentrations (10, 50, 100, and 300 µM) of …

Captive Chimpanzees' (Pan Troglodytes) Night-Time Enrichment Selection And Use, Katherine M. Mcdonald

All Master's Theses

Captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) engage with enrichment objects extensively during the daytime, yet relatively little is known regarding their use of available enrichment at night. This study examined night-time enrichment use in three adult chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. Every evening, the chimpanzees received a variety of enrichment objects. The objects belonged to one of nine categories. Night-vision video cameras recorded the chimpanzees’ night-time behaviors every Monday through Thursday from July 9 to August 9, 2012 (Carner et al., 2013). The present study used a focal animal, instantaneous sampling method (Martin & Bateson, 2007) to …

Enrichment Use & Social Interactions In A Mixed-Species Enclosure Of Sumatran (Pongo Abelij) & Bornean Orangutans (P. Pygmaeus) & Northern White-Cheeked Gibbons (Nomascus Leucogenys), Emily Veitia

All Master's Theses

Enrichment is an aspect of captive husbandry that has been shown to positively impact animals’ well-being and can be designed to encourage species-typical behaviors, such as foraging and arboreality. Enrichment can include housing together multiple compatible species. Orangutans are sympatric with siamangs and agile and Bornean gibbons, so several zoos house these four Asian ape species in the same enclosure, in part, as social enrichment. In my study, I observed enrichment use and social interactions in a mixed-species enclosure at the Oregon Zoo, which housed two Sumatran (Pongo abelii) and two Bornean (P. pygmaeus) orangutans with …

Thermal And Behavioral Ecology Of The Mexican Beaded Lizard (Heloderma Horridum), Kerry Holcomb

All Master's Theses

Previous investigations in the field of biological thermoregulation have primarily focused on small organisms that inhabit ecosystems that are not as strongly seasonal as the tropical dry forests found along the Pacific Coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Small organisms have little or no appreciable thermal inertia, and thus, reach thermal equilibrium with their immediate surroundings relatively rapidly. In this investigation, we describe the behavioral and thermal ecology of the Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum), which commonly weighs more than 1kg. This large body size means that this species has significant thermal inertia, which, depending on the characteristics of the …

Tqm/Iso 9001 Implementation In Northern And Central Luzon State Universities, Patrick C. De Leon

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This case study was conducted to investigate why and how the TQM/ISO 9001 programs were adopted in state universities in the Philippines such as Pangasinan State University, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, and Central Luzon State University; what TQM and ISO 9001 meant to them; and what factors affected TQM/ISO 9001 implementation in their universities. The study found that TQM/ ISO 9001 programs were intended to streamline work processes and improve the quality of services. Implementation involved the hiring of a consultant, conducting trainings, preparing and using a QMS manual, organizing internal and external audits, and receiving ISO …

The Rna Polymerase-Associated Factor 1 Complex Is Required For Plant Touch Responses, Gregory S. Jensen, Kateryna Fal, Olivier Hamant, Elizabeth S. Haswell

Biology Faculty Research

Thigmomorphogenesis is a stereotypical developmental alteration in the plant body plan that can be induced by repeatedly touching plant organs. To unravel how plants sense and record multiple touch stimuli we performed a novel forward genetic screen based on the development of a shorter stem in response to repetitive touch. The touch insensitive (ths1) mutant identified in this screen is defective in some aspects of shoot and root thigmomorphogenesis. The ths1 mutant is an intermediate loss-of-function allele of VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE 3 (VIP3), a previously characterized gene whose product is part of the RNA polymerase II-associated factor 1 …

The Localization And Function Of Novel Tetrahymena Thermophila Cytoskeletal Genes Bbc29 And Bbc39, Emily K. Moore, Nicole C. Zanolli

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Ciliary function is known to play an important role in many human conditions, including chronic sinus and pulmonary diseases and problems with infertility. Cilia are cytoskeletal structures that protrude from the cell body to facilitate movement. Ciliary structure is conserved throughout eukaryotes, from unicellular to multicellular organisms, including humans. A clear understanding the proteins that compose cilia and how they interact with one another will increase our knowledge about important cytoskeletal elements. Because cilia are difficult to study in multicellular organisms, the unicellular eukaryote Tetrahymena thermophila serves as a useful model for the study of cytoskeletal genes, due to their …

Process-Based Modelling Shows How Climate And Demography Shape Language Diversity, Michael C. Gavin, Thiago F. Rangel, Claire Bowern, Robert K. Colwell, Kathryn R. Kirby, Carlos A. Botero, Michael Dunn, Robert R. Dunn, Joe Mccarter, Marco Tulio Pacheco Coelho, Russell D. Gray

Biology Faculty Research

Aim

Two fundamental questions about human language demand answers: why are so many languages spoken today and why is their geographical distribution so uneven? Although hypotheses have been proposed for centuries, the processes that determine patterns of linguistic and cultural diversity remain poorly understood. Previous studies, which relied on correlative, curve-fitting approaches, have produced contradictory results. Here we present the first application of process-based simulation modelling, derived from macroecology, to examine the distribution of human groups and their languages.

Location

The Australian continent is used as a case study to demonstrate the power of simulation modelling for identifying processes shaping …

Contributing Factors To Child Stunting In Guatemala: A Systems Analysis Focused On Enteric Disease Transmission And Mycotoxin Exposure, Lee Emerson Voth-Gaeddert

Doctoral Dissertations

"Child stunting -- low height-for-age -- is a United Nation's indicator for chronic malnutrition that has been linked to both acute and chronic health problems. Data from Guatemala suggests for children under five years of age, 49% are classified as stunted. This dissertation tests the following hypotheses, among children in Guatemala 1) environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is correlated with height-for-age, 2) aflatoxin B (AFB) exposure is correlated with height-for-age, and 3) AFB exposure is correlated with EED. A network analysis was conducted on data from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) collected in 2012 to identify trends in a …

A Functional Data Analytic Approach For Region Level Differential Dna Methylation Detection, Mohamed Salem F. Milad

Doctoral Dissertations

"DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that can alter gene expression without a DNA sequence change. The role of DNA methylation in biological processes and human health is important to understand, with many studies identifying associations between specific methylation patterns and diseases such as cancer. In mammals, DNA methylation almost always occurs when a methyl group attaches to a cytosine followed by a guanine (i.e. CpG dinucleotides) on the DNA sequence. Many statistical methods have been developed to test for a difference in DNA methylation levels between groups (e.g. healthy vs disease) at individual cytosines. Site level testing is often …

Evaluation Of Diagnostic Methods For The Detection Of Pestiviruses In Clinical Samples, Peli̇n Tuncer Göktuna, Kadi̇r Yeşi̇lbağ

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

There are several commonly used diagnostic methods to detect pestiviruses for routine diagnostic purposes. In the present study, we aimed to compare virus isolation-indirect immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (VI-IIPMA), antigen capture ELISA (ACE), and RT-PCR for the detection of pestiviruses in clinical samples. Out of 246 samples tested (11 serum, 119 swab, 116 tissue), 28 samples (11.39%) were positive and 218 (88.61%) were negative using the VI-IIPMA method. Using ACE, 70 samples (28.46%) were positive and 176 (71.54%) were negative. Finally, using RT-PCR analysis, we detected 19 (7.72%) positive and 227 (92.28%) negative samples. Inconsistencies were observed among results of the …

Culicoides Latreille, 1809 (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Species In Thewestern Black Sea Region Of Turkey, New Records For The Turkish Fauna, Bi̇lal Di̇k, Özge Kuçlu, Rahi̇le Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was carried out to detect biting midges of the Culicoides (Diptera: Nematocera: Ceratopogonidae) fauna in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey between June and August 2014. In this study, 34,047 Culicoides samples were captured and 35 Culicoides species were identified. C. obsoletus (Meigen), 1818 was found to be the most dominant species. It was followed by C. picturatus Kremer & Deduit, 1961; C. punctatus (Meigen), 1804; and C. pulicaris (Linnaeus). All of the Culicoides species detected in the study were reported for the first time in the Western Black Sea Region. C. alazanicus Dzhafarov, 1961 and C. …

Modelling Beef Consumption In Turkey: The Ardl/Bounds Test Approach, Hamza Erdoğdu, Hasan Çi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The study aimed to examine the short-run and long-run relationship between beef consumption and beef prices, chicken meat prices, and per capita income for the period of 1994?2014 in Turkey by employing the ARDL/bounds test approach. After deciding on the presence of cointegration between the related variables, a parsimonious VECM model was estimated to conduct the structural analyses of the impulse response function and variance decomposition. The results of the bounds test suggest a long-run equilibrium relationship between beef consumption and its selected determinants. In addition, the empirical findings indicate that chicken meat prices and per capita income level have …

Electroencephalographic Electrode Montage In Goats: Topographical, Radiological, Andphysiological Assessment, Arun Kumar Madan, Sunil Kumar Rastogi, Arup Kumar Das, Jayant Pandurang Korde, Ishwar Singh, Girijesh Kumar Singh

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The paucity of information on assortment of EEG leads in goats has hampered analysis of brain regional activity during different physiological, pathological, and ethological conditions in this species. Hence, the present study was designed to develop a montage with suitable combinations of EEG electrode arrays in goats. Ten specimens of freshly slaughtered goat heads (crossbreed of Jamunapari) were procured and preserved at -20 °C. Frozen samples were sliced sagittally and transversely to corroborate the link between intended topographic landmarks for EEG leads over the scalp and underlying provinces of the brain. Based on these observations, nine sites for EEG electrode …

Control Of Fermented Sausage, Salami, Sausage, And Hamburger Meatballs Produced In Meat Production Facilities Applying The Iso Food Security System For Food Pathogens, Nuray Gamze Yörük, Ahmet Güner

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, fermented sausage, salami, sausage, and hamburger meatballs produced by 6 different companies were assessed for pathogen contamination. These firms were either International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 22000-compliant or non-ISO 22000 compliant. Samples were taken 4 times over 4 seasons. The total mesophilic aerobic quantities of Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Staphylococcus aureus, along with the presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7, were tested in each sample. In 96 samples, Salmonella spp. (3.12%), L. monocytogenes (17.7%), and E. coli O157:H7 (4.16%) were detected. From the ISO-certified firms, Salmonella spp. were detected in one meatball …

The Effects Of Heparin Concentration, Storage Time, And Temperature On The Values Of Hematological Parameters In Cyprinus Carpio, Malgorzata Witeska, Justyna Biardzka, Joanna Kniaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The results of hematological analyses may be affected by preanalytical factors such as sampling procedure, type and concentration of anticoagulant, or conditions and time of blood storage. In the present study the effects of various concentrations of heparin (0-200 IU/cm3) and different times (2, 24, or 48 h) and temperatures (4 or 22 °C) of blood storage on the values of hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio were evaluated. Increase in heparin concentration resulted in a decrease in frequency of erythroblasts, a reduction of leukocyte and thrombocyte counts, and a decrease in oxidative metabolic activity of phagocytes. Storage for 2 h …

Investigation Of The Presence Of Mycoplasma As An Etiologic Agent Of Inflammatory Airway Diseases In Thoroughbred Racehorses In İstanbul Province, Alper Mete, Naci̇ye Yakut Özgür

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mycoplasma equirhinis and Mycoplasma felis are thought to be infectious etiologic agents of inflammatory airway disease (IAD), which, after musculoskeletal injuries, is the second most common cause of poor performance in thoroughbred racehorses. The aims of this study were to investigate for the first time the presence of M. equirhinis, M. felis, and other Mycoplasma spp. in the lower respiratory tract of racehorses in İstanbul Province in Turkey and to statistically evaluate the association between clinical signs of IAD and the presence of mycoplasmas. Tracheal wash (TW) samples were collected from 111 English and Arabian thoroughbred horses that showed clinical …

Effect Of Fluorogestone Acetate And Ecg On Reproductiveparameters In Lactating Pırlak Ewes, Muhammed Nevzat Algan, Mehmet Uçar, Oktay Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

It was aimed to determine the effect of intravaginal sponges impregnated with different doses of fluorogestone acetate (FGA) on some reproductive parameters in 360 Pırlak ewes at 30-60 days postpartum. The positive control group (n = 130) was treated with 30 mg of FGA for 12 days. On the sponge removal day, 600 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin was injected intramuscularly and rams were joined into flocks 36 h later. Halved intravaginal sponges containing FGA were applied in the experimental group (n = 100) with the same protocol as in the positive control group. The estrous behavior of ewes in …

Mycoplasma Arginini: High Frequency Involvement In Goat Pneumonia, Rekha Valsala, Rajneesh Rana, Arun Thachappully Remesh, Vijendra Pal Singh

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Mycoplasmas are an important class of bacteria associated with caprine pneumonia. Some of the main species involved are M. mycoides subsp. capri, M. capricolum subsp. capricolum, and M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae. In addition, there are frequent reports of M. arginini involvement. In the present study an attempt was made to see the association of various mollicutes in caprine pneumonia. In total 244 pneumonic goat lung samples collected over a 10-year period (2003-2012) were screened for the isolation and identification of associated mollicutes. The identification was done on the basis of biochemical tests, growth inhibition test, PCR, and sequencing. The most …

The Physiological Stress Response To Acute Thermal Exposure Inblack Sea Trout (Salmo Trutta Labrax Pallas, 1814), Zeynep Dengi̇z Balta, Süleyman Akhan, Fi̇kri̇ Balta

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

In this study, we aimed to investigate the acute stress responses of Black Sea trout to acute thermal fluctuations. Black Sea trout (184.22 g mean weight) were transferred from a private trout farm to a research center and restocked in a fiberglass square tank. After acclimation to culture conditions (at a water temperature of 15 °C) for 2 weeks, the fish in the experiment were exposed to 25 °C water temperature for 30 min, and the stress responses of the fish were examined at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. After acute thermal shock, cortisol and …

Diselementosis As A Risk Factor Of Embryo Loss In Lactating Cows, Sergey Shabunin, Anatoliy Nezhdanov, Vitaliy Mikhalev, Elena Lozovaya, Anton Chernitskiy

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this research was to reveal the impact of bioelemental status of dairy cows on intrauterine growth restriction and embryo death at early gestation stages. The research included 22 Holstein cows with average annual dairy productivity of 6400-7600 kg. All animals were subjected to transrectal ultrasonography to determine corpus luteum and pregnancy status, and their blood was sampled for biochemical analyses on the 19th-22nd, 28th-32nd, and 38th-45th days of gestation. Zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium blood contents were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium were determined with an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Protein-bound …

Estradiol 17 Beta-Dehydrogenase 5 Is Involved In Aflatoxin B1 Transportation, Yanling Yang, Yaling Huang, Linmao Zeng, Yuanyuan Gao, Yu Li, Yanguang Ji, Shihua Wang, Kunzhi Jia, Zhenhong Zhuang

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Numerous studies have focused on the mechanism of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) metabolism and its carcinogenic mechanism, but how AFB1 is transported into hepatocytes and how it is transferred inside hepatocytes remains unknown. In this study, the AFB1-interacting protein, estradiol 17 beta-dehydrogenase 5 (Akr1c6), was identified with an immobilized affinity chromatography technique and LC-MS/MS. The interaction between Akr1c6 and AFB1 was confirmed with ELISA, and the results showed that Akr1c6 could efficiently bind AFB1. Anti-Akr1c6 polyclonal antibody from rabbit was prepared, and the IC50 values of AFB1 to BRL (normal big rat liver cells) and NRK (normal rat kidney cells) were …

Effect Of Phytase On True Total Tract Digestibility Of Phosphorus In Full-Fat Rice Bran Determined In Pigs By Regression Method, Walter Lucca, Marcos Ceron, Matheus Lucca, Lucas Casagrande, Leonardo Rocha, Irineo Zanella, Vladimir Oliveira

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The goal of this study was to determine the effect of phytase on true total tract digestibility of phosphorus (TTDP) and endogenous losses of phosphorus (ELP) of full-fat rice bran (FFRB) by simple linear regression. Twelve castrated pigs in the growing phase with an average live weight of 57.00 ± 2.50 kg were used. The experiment lasted 36 days, divided into three periods of 12 days each. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks in a 2 × 3 factorial scheme, with two levels of fungal phytase (0 and 750 FTU $\mathbb{kg}^-1$ ) and three levels of phosphorus (P) coming …

The Protective Efficacy Of Immunoglobulin Y From Immunized Chickens Against Salmonella Infections In Mice, Hasan Hüseyi̇n Hadi̇mli̇, Zafer Sayin, Gökçenur Sani̇oğlu Gölen

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of immunoglobulin Y (IgY) obtained from chickens immunized with Salmonella vaccines. Chickens were vaccinated three times with inactivated monovalent, bivalent, and combined vaccines. Immunized hen eggs were collected after the third vaccination and IgYs were purified. In total, 100 mice were orally challenged with Salmonella serotypes. After the challenge, IgYs were orally administered to mice. Mice were observed for morbidity and mortality. Fecal samples from the mice were also cultured for the reisolation of Salmonella serotypes. The antibody titers in the serum samples of vaccinated chickens were higher than those …

The Role Of The Innate And Adaptive Immunity In Exercise Induced Muscle Damage And Repair, B Jones, G Hoyne

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

The immune system plays a crucial role in regulating tissue repair processes following damage. The cellular basis of tissue repair has best been studied in toxin-induced models due to their reliability and reproducible kinetics. These models have established a crucial role for innate and adaptive immune cells that follow a temporally regulated response that begins with a proinflammatory response that is subsequently replaced by a regulatory type 2 immune response to facilitate tissue repair and restore homeostasis. Inflammation is a crucial first response to cell damage that is modulated by the response of innate lymphoid cells and tissue resident regulatory …

The Effectiveness Of Environment Assessment Tools To Guide Refurbishment Of Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities: A Systematic Review, S Neylon, C Bulsara, A Hill

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objective: To determine applicability of environment assessment tools in guiding minor refurbishments of Australian residential aged care facilities.

Method: Studies conducted in residential aged care settings using assessment tools which address the physical environment were eligible for inclusion in a systematic review. Given these studies are limited, tools which have not yet been utilised in research settings were also included. Tools were analysed using a critical appraisal screen.

Results: Forty-three publications met the inclusion criteria. Ten environment assessment tools were identified, of which four addressed all seven minor refurbishment domains of lighting, colour and contrast, sound, flooring, furniture, signage and …

Sleep Disturbance And Serum Ferritin Levels Associate With High Impulsivity And Impulse Control Disorders In Male Parkinson's Disease Patients, R Anderton, M Byrnes, A Jefferson, S Walters, S Ghosh, R Stell, F Mastaglia

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) occur in a subset of Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients on dopaminergic medications however there are currently no reliable markers to identify patients at risk. Sleep disturbances are more common in patients with an ICD. Serum ferritin levels have been associated with PD disease stage and progression, but have not previously been associated with impulsivity levels. The objective of this study was to determine if serum ferritin levels and sleep disturbance are associated with high traits of impulsivity and ICD in a cohort of PD patients attending a movement disorders clinic. This study assessed impulsiveness in 87 …

Impact Of Consumer Copayments For Subsidised Medicines On Health Services Use And Outcomes: A Protocol Using Linked Administrative Data From Western Australia, K Seaman, F Sanfilippo, E Roughead, M Bulsara, A Kemp-Casey, C Bulsara, G Watts, D Preen

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Introduction: Across the world, health systems are adopting approaches to manage rising healthcare costs. One common strategy is a medication copayments scheme where consumers make a contribution (copayment) towards the cost of their dispensed medicines, with remaining costs subsidised by the health insurance service, which in Australia is the Federal Government. In Australia, copayments have tended to increase in proportion to inflation, but in January 2005, the copayment increased substantially more than inflation. Results from aggregated dispensing data showed that this increase led to a significant decrease in the use of several medicines. The aim of this study is to …

Actual Competence, Rather Than Perceived Competence, Is A Better Predictor Of Physical Activity In Children Aged 6-9 Years, Fleur Mcintyre, Helen Parker, Paola Chivers, Beth Hands

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

There is a limited understanding about the relative importance of perceived and actual competence on emergent physical activity levels in children and whether there is a difference in their development and strength between boys and girls.

This study used a single-cohort, multiple age group design to monitor physical activity, actual motor competence (AMC) and perceived competence (PC) on four occasions over 18 months in 6-to 9-year-old boys and girls (N = 201). Physical activity was measured by 7-day daily step counts (pedometer) and activity diary. AMC was assessed by mastery of skill criteria for 4 motor skills; run, overhand throw, …

Breaking Down The Barriers: Strength Training In Long Distance Triathletes, Kate M. Luckin, C Badenhorst, Ashley Cripps, G Landers, Robert Merrells, Max Bulsara, Gerard Hoyne

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

INTRODUCTION: Long distance triathletes complete large endurance training volumes with approximately half reporting to including some form of strength training (ST) in their program. However, the characteristics of this ST is currently unknown. Despite not all triathletes incorporating ST, research indicates that the completion of concurrent strength and endurance training in runners, cyclists and short course triathletes can significantly improve cycling and running economy and potentially reduce injury occurrence, likely resulting in performance improvements. Previous research has hypothesised barriers to ST in endurance athletes, however there is no empirical evidence to support such hypotheses. Therefore the primary aims of …