Life Sciences Commons^™

Paul Rich: Building Offshore Windfields, Monica Dix

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Curious Case Of The Reindeer In The Tundra, Eleda Fernald

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Whale You At? The Influence Of Solar Storms On Frequency Of Whale Strandings In The North Sea, Gaby Sarri-Tobar

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Painting The Inner Landscape Of The Mind: Exploring The Mental Maps Of Memory And Imagination Through Science And Literature, Ally Fulton

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

More Than Just A Dream: Understanding The Mechanics And Neuroscience Of Dreaming From Inception, Jayla Johnson

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Falling Into A State Deeper Than Sleep: How Melatonin Affects The Body, Carson Mccann

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Redirecting Zika: A Treatment For Brain Cancer?, Rachael Branscomb

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Mosquito Maladies: Genetic Manipulation Of Mosquitoes Leads To Potential Solution To The Spread Of Malaria, Mariam Saied

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

My Grandmother’S Memories: How Epigenetics Are Changing Our Understanding Of Heritability, Rachel Reardon

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Monsters Lurking In Oberlin’S Science Center’S Couches: Flame Retardant Treated Furniture, Jane Sedlak

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Expanding The Job Of A Scientist: A Call For Explicit Writing Instruction In Undergraduate Stem Education, Ally Fulton

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Can We Educate Better? Active Learning And Underrepresentation In Stem, Kepler Mears

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Variation In Models For Simple Dynamic Structure-Soil-Structure Interaction Problems, L. V. Andersen, A. Peplow, P. Bucinskas, P. Persson, K. Persson

All Works

© 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. To account for dynamic cross-coupling of structures via the soil, a computational model must be accurate enough to provide the correct overall behaviour of the scattered wave field. However, simplicity is also important when a model should be used for design purposes, especially in the early design stages and feasibility studies. The paper addresses the accuracy of simple models in which an array of structures is simplified into blocks placed on the ground surface or embedded within the soil. Comparisons are made between models that account or do not account, in a …

Evidence Of A Perilipin 5 Splice Variant, Brodie Ranzau

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Alternative splicing occurs throughout the human genome, leading to multiple proteins from a single gene. The resulting proteins can be nearly identical or vastly different in how they function. Alternative splicing within the perilipin family has been observed in perilipins 1 and 3, giving rise to proteins with varying functions. In the course of our studies on perilipin 5, an immunoblot signal was observed that corresponded to an approximately 35 kDa protein. Western blot analysis of this protein has revealed its expression in C2C12 cultured myoblasts and in heart and liver mouse tissue. Further analysis of perilipin 5 cDNA through …

Expression, Purification And Characterization Of Lysine Methyltransferase Smyd5, Wen Xue

Wayne State University Theses

Methylation of histones and non-histone proteins play vital roles in numerous cellular processes including gene expression regulation and DNA damage response. The identifications of methyltransferase SMYD protein family are not well characterized. SMYD5 is a unique and critical member of SMYD family involved in immune response, stem cell renew, hematopoiesis regulation and cancer metastasis. Understanding its function and structure is monumental to human disease. With the achievement of SMYD5 expression and purification, the association between SMYD5 and its substrate histone H4 has been investigated. While possessing a poly-E tail instead of the TPR domain included in other members, SMYD5 is …

Comparison Of Lumbo-Pelvic Kinematics During Trunk Forward Bending And Backward Return Between Patients With Acute Low Back Pain And Asymptomatic Controls, Iman Shojaei, Elizabeth G. Salt, Quenten L. Hooker, Linda R. Van Dillen, Babak Bazrgari

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Background—Prior studies have reported differences in lumbo-pelvic kinematics during a trunk forward bending and backward return task between individuals with and without chronic low back pain; yet, the literature on lumbo-pelvic kinematics of patients with acute low back pain is scant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was set to investigate lumbo-pelvic kinematics in this cohort.

Methods—A case-control study was conducted to investigate the differences in pelvic and thoracic rotation along with lumbar flexion as well as their first and second time derivatives between females with and without acute low back pain. Participants in each group completed one …

Amphibians And Reptiles Of The State Of Chihuahua, Mexico, With Comparisons With Adjoining States, J. A. Lemos-Espinal, Geoffrey R. Smith, G. A. Woolrich-Pina, A. Cruz

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Status Reports Of The Fisheries And Aquatic Resources Of Western Australia 2015/16. State Of The Fisheries, W.J Fletcher, M.D. Mumme, F J. Webster

Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

As part of the transition to ultimately using a web based, hierarchical interface, this years’ edition of the Status Reports of the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of Western Australia 2015/16 is adopting a more streamlined format. These changes include updates to the summary table which, in addition to displaying the stock and fishery performance levels, now includes current performance and risk levels for each of the other EBFM outcomes (e.g. bycatch, listed species, economics etc.).

Physical Determinants Of Division 1 Collegiate Basketball, Women’S National Basketball League And Women’S National Basketball Association Athletes: With Reference To Lower Body Sidedness, T Spiteri, M Binetti, A Scanlan, V Dalbo, F Dolci, C Specos

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

In female basketball the assumed components of success include power, agility, and the proficiency at executing movements using each limb. However, the importance of these attributes in discriminating between playing levels in female basketball have yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to compare lower body power, change of direction (COD) speed, agility, and lower-body sidedness between basketball athletes participating in Division 1 Collegiate basketball (United States), Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) (Australia), and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) (United States). Fifteen female athletes from each league (N = 45) completed a double and single leg counter-movement …

Patient Evaluation Of Emotional Comfort Experienced (Peece): Developing And Testing A Measurement Instrument, A Williams, L Lester, C Bulsara, A Petterson, K Bennett, E Allen, D Joske

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Objectives: The Patient Evaluation of Emotional Comfort Experienced (PEECE) is a 12-item questionnaire which measures the mental well-being state of emotional comfort in patients. The instrument was developed using previous qualitative work and published literature.

Design: Instrument development.

Setting: Acute Care Public Hospital, Western Australia.

Participants: Sample of 374 patients.

Interventions: A multidisciplinary expert panel assessed the face and content validity of the instrument and following a pilot study, the psychometric properties of the instrument were explored.

Main outcome measures: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis assessed the underlying dimensions of the PEECE instrument; Cronbach’s α was used to determine the …

Lack Of Evidence For Decreased Protein Stability In The 2397 (Met) Haplotype Of The Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Protein Implicated In Parkinson’S Disease, Ryan S. Anderton, Lauren Hill, Rhiannon Morris, Frank L. Mastaglia, Wayne Greene, Sherif Boulos

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Missense mutations in the leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are the leading genetic cause of autosomal dominant familial Parkinson’s disease. We previously reported that two mutations within the ROC domain, namely R1441C and A1442P, exhibit increased protein degradation leading to lowered steady state LRRK2 protein levels in HEK293 cells. More recently, the common WD40 domain LRRK2 haplotype, Met2397, which is a risk factor for Crohn’s disease, has been shown to lower steady state protein levels in HEK293 cells. In view of recent evidence implicating LRRK2 and inflame-mation in PD, we investigated the effects of Met2397 on LRRK2 expression, …

Changes In Fatty Acid Composition Of Human Milk In Response To Cold-Like Symptoms In The Lactating Mother And Infant, Andrew S. Gardner, Ibrahim A. Rahman, Ching T. Lai, Anna Hepworth, Naomi Trengove, Peter E. Hartmann, Donna T. Geddes

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

Infants rely on their innate immune systems to protect them from infection. Human milk (HM) contains fatty acids (FAs) and monoacylglycerols that are known to exhibit antiviral and antibacterial properties in vitro. The specific fat content of HM may potentially affect the efficacy of this antimicrobial activity. This preliminary study investigates whether the proportions of FA in HM change in response to infections, leading to cold-like symptoms in the mother or infant. Milk samples were obtained from mothers (n = 26) when they and their infants were healthy, and when mother, infant, or both suffered cold-like symptoms. The milk was …

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

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

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

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

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

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

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

Methods: A stepped method for developing complex interventions based …

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

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

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

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

Health Sciences Papers and Journal Articles

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

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

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

Conclusion: Teenage fathers are less prepared for the …

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

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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

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

Theses and Dissertations

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