Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Female Genital Mutilation On Women Of Sierra Leone, Nenneh Kalokoh Kalokoh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C), a common practice among Sierra Leonean women, carries significant psychological and physical risks. Prior to this study, a substantial need existed for inquiry of the experiences and belief systems within this cultural group to better understand the effects of FGM/C on women and girls. Guided by feminist theory and the theory of cultural relativism, the goal of this phenomenological study was to review the cultural perspectives and experiences of Sierra Leonean women who underwent FGM/C to investigate their concerns about safety and their perceptions of the practices. In addition, this study explored concerns among …

Culturally Competent Nutrition Counseling And Health Outcomes Of Patients On Emergency Dialysis, Edlyn Geraldine Bustamante

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Undocumented end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the United States only have access to emergency dialysis. To compensate for the lack of regular dialysis these patients must follow strict renal dietary restrictions. However, nutrition counseling by a dietitian is not part of the renal management of patients on emergency dialysis. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental treatment-control study was to assess how the application of nutritional counseling that is both culturally and linguistically competent affects dialysis frequency and biochemical lab values such as serum potassium, phosphorus, and vitamin D of patients in emergency dialysis. The study was grounded on …

The Nutrition Assistance Landscape In Afterschool Programs: Understanding The Gap Between Research, Policy, And Practice, Falon Elizabet Tilley

Theses and Dissertations

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) aims to increase children’s access to healthful foods in out-of-home care. Approximately half of the 10.2 million children enrolled in afterschool programs (ASPs) are eligible for nutrition assistance through programs like CACFP. Despite awareness of its potential impact on the nutritional status of millions of children, CACFP is underutilized among ASPs and notably understudied in comparison to other federal nutrition assistance programs.

This dissertation addresses key gaps in CACFP research and provides a deeper understanding of the nutrition assistance landscape in afterschool programs by (1) assessing the type of afterschool snacks served …

The Role Of Exercise Dose On Ghrelin Concentration In Postmenopausal Women, Kimberly Bowyer

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: As obesity continues to be a major public health concern, exercise is continually at the forefront of combating this epidemic. This thesis aims to examine how two different doses of exercise may affect the “hunger hormone”, ghrelin; in postmenopausal, non-obese women. Methods: 54 non-obese postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to either a higher dose (energy expenditure = 14 kilocalories/per kilogram of body weight/per week) or lower dose (energy expenditure = 8 kcal/kg/week) aerobic exercise training group for 16 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and at post intervention for analysis of ghrelin via multiplex immunoassay. Results: Only …

Determining The Population Dynamics And Reproductive Life History Of Commercially Important Tunas In The Gulf Of Mexico, Katrina C. Hounchell

Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) is an important spawning ground for many commercially important fish species including yellowfin, skipjack, and blackfin tunas. In particular, it is an essential spawning habitat for Atlantic bluefin tuna, whose stock status is of great international concern. It is vital to the appropriate conservation management of these species to determine both the location of their spawning grounds and the genetic diversity found within them. Fish eggs are a fisheries-independent source of spawning information that can provide more accurate estimates of spawning sites compared to larvae. This study describes population diversity and reproductive life histories in …

Molecular Evolution Of Major Epidermal Structure Genes And An Integrative Transcriptome Analysis Of Chicken Epidermal Embryogenesis, Weier Bao

Theses and Dissertations

Αlpha (α) and beta (β) keratins are the major structural proteins found in vertebrate epidermis and the β-keratins are only found in reptiles and birds. With the recent published 48 avian genomes, we searched and studied the molecular evolution of these gene families. We discovered that the expansion and contraction of different α- and β- keratins among the 48 phylogenetically diverse birds supports the importance of their role in the evolution of the feathers and the adaptation of birds to different ecological niches. Using a customized 44K microarray, we also performed transcriptome analysis on different epidermal regions (scutate scale, dorsal …

Marine Phosphorus Biogeochemistry Ecological Insights From Analytical Chemistry, Douglas W. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

The supply of phosphorus (P) directly impacts the growth and speciation of marine microbes (i.e., phytoplankton, bacteria, Archaea). In turn, microbial communities shape the magnitude and rate of marine biogeochemical cycles, ultimately affecting global climate and food production. This dynamic reflects the continuum of temporal and spatial scales at which the marine P cycle operates. However, linking multiple scales of cycling remains a consistent challenge. The primary objective of my dissertation was to gain insight into marine P biogeochemistry, by means of analytical chemistry, at the molecular and environmental scales of cycling. The first component of my research was to …

Morphological Variation In The Monardella Odoratissima – Monardella Villosa Complex, Monica Estiandan

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In this study, morphological characters were investigated to better characterize the species boundaries between members of the Monardella odoratissima – M. villosa complex (Lamiaeceae). Traditionally, it has been very difficult to identify and separate members of this complex. Monardella linoides, M. purpurea, and M. sheltonii populations are distributed in the overlapping boundaries of these two species (M. odoratissima and M. villosa) and considered within the complex as well. Previous studies and floral manuals have found that the vegetative plant parts from these five Monardella species intergrade with the other taxa in the complex throughout their distribution in California and in …

Monitoring Insecticide Resistance Mechanisms In Culex Tarsalis From Sutter County, California, Bridgette Danielle Hughes

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Culex mosquitoes are known for carrying several harmful viruses in the United States. Culex tarsalis is found in rural as well as some residential areas in the Western United States, so they are under insecticide pressure from both agricultural spraying and vector control. In response to insecticide pressure, mosquitoes can evolve two primary resistance mechanisms: target site insensitivity, as a result of DNA mutation, and elevated levels of detoxifying enzymes (GST, alpha and beta esterases, and P450 oxidases). The two types of target site insensitivity studied here in Cx. tarsalis are kdr, which is a mutation in the para-type voltage …

Auranofin Targets Thioredoxin Reductases In Trichomonas Vaginalis, Jose Jauregui

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic, parasitic protozoan, responsible for trichomoniasis, the world’s most common, non-viral sexually transmitted infection. Lacking many of the defenses present in other organisms to combat oxidative stress, Trichomonas vaginalis relies extensively on the thioredoxin system—NADPH, thioredoxin reductase, and thioredoxin—as a means to protect against exposure to excess oxygen. Current trichomoniasis treatment relies exclusively on the 5-nitroimidazole drugs, but fear of drug-resistant strains and allergic reactions to 5-nitroimidazole treatment necessitate the discovery of a new treatment method for trichomoniasis. Previous research has shown that auranofin, an FDA-approved drug, was effective at inhibiting activity of one of Trichomonas …

Vector Competence Of Aedes Sierrensis And Culex Pipiens Complex (Diptera: Culicidae) For Dirofilaria Immitis (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) In Northern California, Jeffrey Allan Kurosaka

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Dirofilaria immitis Leidy (dog heartworm) is a life-threatening parasite transmitted by mosquitoes to domestic dogs. Endemic in the eastern United States, cases have become more prevalent over the last few decades. While prevalence in California is generally low, Lake and San Joaquin Counties have reported rates comparable to the East Coast at 3.73% and 0.71%(CAPC 2017), respectively. Aedes sierrensis is thought to be responsible for transmission in California, but in some cases, it exists in inadequate quantities and temporal ranges to explain parasite activity. Based on Huang et al. (2013) and Tran (2016), bloodfeeding patterns, and other vector criteria, Culex …

Taxonomic Status Of A Newly Described Island Population Of The Smooth Newtlissotriton Vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) From Bozcaada (Çanakkale, Turkey), Nurşen Çördük, Çi̇ğdem Gül, Murat Tosunoğlu, Konstantinos Sotiropoulos

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The taxonomic status and phylogenetic position of the recently recorded smooth newt (Lissotriton vulgaris) population from the island of Bozcaada (Çanakkale, Turkey) is clarified on the basis of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The L. vulgaris population from Bozcaada presents body proportions and morphological features of subsp. schmidtlerorum, such as small body length, absence of the tail filament, and dorsal crest with pointed free margin. Similarly, phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences (ND4, 16S rRNA) place the Bozcaada population within Clade E of the recent L. vulgaris phylogeny, which consists of L. v. schmidtlerorum populations.

Cooccurrence Of Schistosoma Haematobium, Other Trematode Parasites, An Annelid (Chaetogaster Limnaei Limnaei), And A Nematode Parasite (Daubaylia Potomaca) In Bulinus Globosus, Ogochukwu Okeke, Patience Ubachukwu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cooccurrence of Schistosoma haematobium, other trematodes, Chaetogaster limnaei limnaei, and Daubaylia potomaca was investigated in Bulinus globosus collected at Nike Lake from October 2011 to September 2012. The snail sizes as well as the numbers of these organisms were recorded. Single infections of S. haematobium, other trematodes, C. limnaei limnaei, and D. potomaca were 0.3%, 46.38%, 1.03%, and 2.66%. Coinfection of S. haematobium-C. limnaei limnaei was 0.3% while that of S. haematobium-other trematodes was 0.15%. Coinfections of C. limnaei limnaei-other trematodes and D. potomaca-other trematodes were 2.16% each. There was no cooccurrence of C. limnaei limnaei-D. potomaca or S. haematobium-D. …

A New Larval Record Of, Nurcan Özkan, Seyhan Akiska

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Demicryptochironomus (Demicryptochironomus) vulneratus (Zetterstedt, 1838) was collected as a total of 4 individuals from the Garzan Brook, Batman Brook (Beşeri), and Tigris River (Hasankeyf) and recorded as a new chironomid larva species for the Turkish potamofauna. The species was identified morphologically under light microscope and photographed with a photomicroscope. In addition, the taxonomic features of the species were illustrated schematically with a scale.

Updated List Of The Subfamily Omaliinae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)From Kazakhstan With Some New Records, Peter Hlavac, Matus Kocian, Oto Nakladal

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A detailed, updated list of the subfamily Omaliinae known from Kazakhstan is provided.

First Record Of Water Bears (Tardigrada) From Sponges (Porifera), Joanna Talanda, Krzysztof Zawierucha

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Aquatic species of Tardigrada usually inhabit submerged plants or sediment but they are also known as associated with other animals, like barnacles (Crustacea: Cirripedia) or sea cucumbers (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). In sponges collected from Lake Ohrid (Macedonia) we found individuals of two tardigrade taxa: Isohypsibius sp. and Dactylobiotus sp. This paper provides the first record of Tardigrada from Macedonia (Lake Ohrid) and is the first report of these animals on sponges.

First Records Of Spongillaflies (Neuroptera: Sisyridae) In Serbia And Bosniaand Herzegovina, With Notes On Their Occurrence In The Balkan Countries, Jan Podlesnik, Vesna Klokocovnik, Tina Klenovsek, Franc Janzekovic, Dusan Devetak

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Data on the occurrence of four spongillafly species in the Balkan countries are provided. Two species are recorded for the first time in two countries: Sisyra nigra (Retzius, 1783) in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sisyra terminalis Curtis, 1854 in Serbia.

Oocyte Development In Melanogryllus Desertus (Pallas, 1771) (Orthoptera: Gryllidae):Presence Of Balbiani Body, Özlem Çakici

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Oocyte development in the ovary of the black cricket, Melanogryllus desertus, was investigated. In the panoistic ovary of M. desertus, oocyte developmental stages based on their histological properties were classified as previtellogenic, vitellogenic, and maturation. Oocytes were encircled by follicle cells through the developmental stages. In the previtellogenic stage, a few vacuoles were observed just beneath the oolemma. At the beginning of the vitellogenic stage, subdivided into early-, middle-, and late-vitellogenic stages, yolk granules within the oocyte were initially observed just beneath the oolemma. In addition, small lipid droplets were initially present under the yolk granules. As vitellogenesis proceeded, both …

Postembryonic Development Of Nonmarine Ostracod Chlamydotheca Arcuata (Sars, 1901)(Crustacea: Ostracoda), Reared In The Laboratory, Analia Roxana Diaz, Estela Celia Lopretto

Turkish Journal of Zoology

We describe here 8 instars (from A-8 through A-1) of the postembryonic development of the Cyprididae Chlamydotheca arcuata (Sars, 1901) from hatching to sexually mature individuals. To study the development of this species, cultures of adult parthenogenetic female specimens were established and maintained in the laboratory. The ostracod specimens were collected from temporary ponds and streams in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This report provides a description of the chaetotaxy of each limb along with detailed illustrations. Photographs of eggs and carapaces were taken using scanning electron microscopy. The complete development of Chlamydotheca arcuata lasted between 80 and 90 days. In …

Eustenomacidius Egeuniversitatis Sp.N. - The First Record Of Thetenebrionid Genus In Turkey (Insecta: Coleoptera), Beki̇r Keski̇n, Maxim V. Nabozhenko, Nurşen Keski̇n

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The new species Eustenomacidius (Caucasohelops) egeuniversitatis sp. n. is described from Southeastern Anatolia (Van Province). The species differs from two other representatives of the subgenus Caucasonotus Nabozhenko, 2006 by the absence of temple grooves (lower aspect of eye having a posterior ventral groove) and shiny body without microsculpture. It is the first record of the genus in Turkey. Data on bionomics and a key to species of the subgenus Caucasonotus are given. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (cox1) barcoding regions of type specimens were also sequenced and uploaded to GenBank.

Chondrocranial Differences In Bufotes Variabilis (Anura: Bufonidae):Geometric Morphometric Comparison With Two Anuran Species, Eli̇f Yildirim, Uğur Kaya

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Few studies have focused on a detailed morphological description of the chondrocranium of bufonids. This study examines Bufotes variabilis, which is one of the widespread clades of neobatrachian anurans. We used geometric morphometrics to analyze variations of the chondrocranial shape in B. variabilis and a comparison was made with Rana macrocnemis and Hyla orientalis. Results indicated that B. variabilis is clearly different from the other species based on the presence of a bigger otic process, a more anterior position of the muscular process of the palatoquadrate, and a narrower articular process of the palatoquadrate. H. orientalis and R. macrocnemis are …

Phylogenetic Status And Genetic Diversity Of Corsac Fox(Vulpes Corsac) In Golestan Province, Iran, Jalil Imani Harsini, Hamid Reza Rezaei, Saeid Naderi, Hosein Varasteh Moradi

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The lack of detailed and precise reports about the presence of corsac fox has caused ambiguities about the presence or absence or even extinction status of this species in its distribution range in Iran. Therefore, this is one of the complicated issues in Iran?s wildlife fauna and there has been no clear scientific answer to this question to date. In this study, 7 mitochondrial DNA control region haplotypes were identified in 10 corsac fox samples (4 tissue and 6 scat) taken from Golestan Province in Iran, and haplotype diversity was equal to 0.93. The genetic distance between individuals showed large …

Effects Of Aluminum, Copper, And Titanium Nanoparticles Onsome Blood Parameters In Wistar Rats, Esi̇n Gülnaz Canli, Mustafa Canli

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, Al2O3, CuO, and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were individually administered to 60 mature female rats via oral gavage (0, 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg b.w. per day) for 14 days and then responses of ATPases in the erythrocytes, total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and liver enzyme (alkaline phosphatase, ALP; alanine transaminase, ALT; aspartate transaminase, AST) levels in the serum were determined. There were sharp decreases in Na,K-ATPase activity in the erythrocytes following NP exposures. All doses of CuO caused significant (P < 0.05) inhibitions in Na,K-ATPase activity (up to 94%), while only higher doses of Al2O3 and TiO2 inhibited (76%-80%) the activity of Na,K-ATPase. Oppositely, the activities of Ca-ATPase (up to 274%) and Mg-ATPase (up to 290%) increased significantly following TiO2 exposures. TOS levels significantly increased following Al2O3 (167%) and CuO (240%) exposures, though TAS levels did not change significantly in any of the exposure groups. The levels of ALP, AST, and ALT increased following NP administrations. Ti-NP increased the levels of all liver enzymes in the serum (up to 84%), while Al-NP (58%) and Cu- NP (43%) increased only ALP levels. The present study demonstrated evidence of the toxic effects of NPs, as they altered the measured parameters in the blood, and suggests further research to better understand the environmental fate of NPs.

Hymenopterous Parasitoids Associated With Phyllonorycter Coryli (Nic.) Andphyllonorycter Nicellii (Stt.) On Hazel In Poland, Edyta Górska-Drabik, Izabela Kot, Katarzyna Golan, Katarzyna Kmiec, Bozena Lagowska

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The parasitoid complex associated with Phyllonorycter coryli and P. nicellii (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) leaf miners on hazel in Poland was examined and the contribution in the parasitoid community as well as the parasitization level of two species was defined. The parasitoid community of the nut leaf blister moth, Phyllonorycter coryli (Nic.), and the red hazel midget, Phyllonorycter nicellii (Stt.), was studied in three localities situated in Lublin. At each locality, leaves with visible mines were collected from the shrubs Corylus avellana L. and C. maxima Mill. cv. 'Purpurea'. Of the 518 larvae and pupae of Ph. coryli, 47 individual of parasitoids …

The Smallest Spider Of Uloboridae, A New Species Of Conifaber Opell,1982 (Arachnida: Araneae) From Brazil, Lidianne Salvatierra, Antonio Domingos Brescovit, Ana Lúcia Tourinho

Turkish Journal of Zoology

A new species, Conifaber manicoba n. sp., is described based on a female from the state of Pará, Brazil. It is characterized as being the smallest uloborid female and by having the thoracic region posteriorly depressed.

Storchia Mehrvari, A New Record Of The Genus Storchia Oudemans, 1923(Acari: Stigmaeidae) From Turkey And Its Abnormalities Of Genital And Aggenital Setae, Kami̇l Koç, Esen Poyraz Tinartaş

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The characteristic features of Storchia mehrvari Bagheri & Gheblealivand, a new record for the Turkish fauna, are redescribed based on the Turkish specimens. In addition, asymmetric abnormalities in setae on the anogenital area occurring in some adult females are discussed and illustrated.

A Review Of The Tribe Pimplini Wesmael, 1845 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae,Pimplinae) From The Carpathians, With New Records For Romania And Ukraine, Oleksandr Varga

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The tribe Pimplini from the Carpathians is reviewed. Itoplectis insignis Perkins, Pimpla arctica Zetterstedt, P. illecebrator (Villers), and Theronia laevigata (Tschek) are new records for Ukraine. Pimpla murinanae Fahringer is a new record for Ukraine and Romania. The high-altitude zone distribution of the Pimplini in the Ukrainian Carpathians is discussed.

Discovery Of The Genus Mirodryinus Ponomarenko, 1972 (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea,Dryinidae) Associated With Salt Cedar Trees In The Eastern Part Of Iran, Hossein Ali Derafshan, Ehsan Rakhshani, Massimo Olmi, Mehri Vafaei

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In 2015 and 2016 a survey was carried out on the parasitoids of leafhoppers (Hemiptera, Cicadomorpha) feeding on salt cedar trees (Tamarix spp.) growing around Hamoon Lake in the Sistan region (Iran). Among the collected material, a series of dryinid specimens belonging to Mirodryinus atlanticus Olmi, 1984 (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae, Bocchinae) was captured on branches of Tamarix aphylla (L.) Karst. and Tamarix stricta Boiss., infested by Opsius versicolor (Distant) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae). The subfamily Bocchinae and the genus Mirodryinus Ponomarenko, 1972 are new records for Iran. Diagnostic characters and notes on the morphological variability of the newly collected specimens are presented and …

Color And Pattern Variation Of The Balkan Whip Snake,Hierophis Gemonensis (Laurenti, 1768), Daniel Jablonski, Marton Szabolcs, Aleksandar Simovic, Edvard Mizsei

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In the present paper color and pattern variations of Hierophis gemonensis, a snake with little morphological variation, are described. For the first time, partially melanistic individuals were observed and described for this species. The identity of one of these snakes was corroborated by genetic means. Taxonomical circumstances and environmental causes of this color and pattern variation are discussed.

Can Montane And Cave Centipedes Inhabit Soil?, Ivan Hadrian Tuf, Oldrich Kopecky, Jan Mikula

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Communities of centipedes (Chilopoda) were studied at three localities in eastern Bohemia (Czech Republic) near the town of Skutec using modified subterranean traps. Centipedes were trapped separately from depths of 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, and 95 cm to allow evaluation of the vertical distribution in the soil. Presence of centipedes in deeper soil profiles is related to their ability to colonize the subterranean environment. Lithobius tenebrosus fennoscandius, L. lucifugus, L. macilentus, Cryptops parisi, Strigamia acuminata, and S. transsilvanica inhabited deeper soil layers preferentially. This study shows that soil can be inhabited by cave centipedes or …