Life Sciences Commons^™

Characterization Of A Novel Metalloid Reductase Outer Membrane Porin Rara From Sulfurospirillum Barnesii Ses-3, Narthana Jeganathar Kanmanii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sulfurospirillum barnesii SES-3 is a gram-negative epsilon proteobacterium that grows anaerobically by coupling the oxidation of lactate to the reduction of arsenate. Previous work on metal and metalloid metabolism in S. barnesii had identified a redox active protein, designated RarA that when provided an artificial electron donor (i.e., reduced methyl viologen, FMN, or NADH), could reduce a variety of substrates, including arsenate, selenate, selenite, nitrite, and even phosphate. The enzyme’s inferred amino acid sequence showed weak similarity (30%) to outer membrane porins with homologs found in only certain species of Sulfurospirillum. Further, the enzyme did not contain cysteine residues …

Comparative Functional And Computational Analyses Of Primate Seminal Proteins: Insights Into Sexual Selection And Hiv/Siv, Emine Feride Kahveci

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Male reproductive protein-coding genes are among the most rapidly evolving genes across many animal taxa, commonly attributed to sexual selection; however, pathogen defense mechanisms might also be contributing factors. This study aimed to both computationally and experimentally investigate the selective pressures responsible for the rapid evolution of seminal proteins. In the first part, the research focused on sexual selection in the form of post-copulatory sperm competition as a driving force behind the evolution of kallikrein related peptidase 3 (KLK3), also known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a key prostatic seminal protein. KLK3 is responsible for the liquefaction of semen coagulum through …

Surface Water Quality Assessment Of Mingo Creek County Park: The Impacts Of Extractive Industries, Mikayla J. Bayto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Historical and current extraction operations and infrastructure, including natural gas pipelines, conventional and unconventional oil and natural gas drilling, longwall coal mining, and strip coal mining, occur throughout the Mingo Creek watershed of Washington County, Pennsylvania, including Mingo Creek County Park. Mingo Creek and several associated tributaries flow through Mingo Creek County Park, eventually discharging into the Monongahela River. An independent water quality study was conducted from June 2020 through July 2023 in Mingo Creek County Park to determine if historical and current extraction activities impact Mingo Creek and its associated tributaries. Weekly sampling of Mingo Creek and associated tributaries …

Omani Camels From A Cultural And Genomics Perspective, Al Muatasim Al Zadjali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Dromedarian camel, Camelus dromedarius, is native to the Arabian Peninsula, including the Sultanate of Oman. These camels are used for food, milk, as well as show and racing competitions. Despite their economic and cultural importance research on camels in Oman is limited. The goal of this study was to examine their genomic variation, relationship with camels in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, and to determine if selective breeding has led to the establishment of distinct breeds in Oman. Information was compiled from multiple sources to produce a comprehensive review on the breeding, management, economic and cultural use, …

Identifying Novel Upstream Regulators Of The Hippo Pathway: Forward Genetic Screen In Drosophila Melanogaster, Akshara Iyer

Honors Scholar Theses

The Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved developmental pathway that controls organ size and tissue homeostasis in all metazoan animals. Dysregulated Hippo pathway has been implicated in a wide range of human disorders, including cancer. The physiological function of the Hippo pathway is best understood in Drosophila, where inactivation of the Hippo pathway tumor suppressors, or overexpression of the Yorkie (Yki) oncoprotein, results in tissue overgrowth characterized by excessive cell proliferation and diminished apoptosis, and increased transcription of Hippo pathway target genes such as diap1 and expanded (ex). Despite the well-established Hippo pathway core signaling cascade, the upstream regulation of …

Offering Collegiate Livestock Judging As A Student Organization, Maryfrances Miller, Don W. Edgar, Lyle Logemann

Journal of Extension

Resource constraints have lowered the number of collegiate livestock judging teams, dropping the number of opportunities for collegiate judging, even though interest among students remains high. These opportunities can be provided for less expense through student-led extracurricular organizations. This approach increases the student initiative required, but also provides an increased opportunity for developing and demonstrating leadership skills.

Patterns And Potential Mechanisms Of Phenotypic Changes In Urban Small Mammals, Leslie Lopez

Master's Theses

Urbanization is an example of human induced rapid environmental change that can have wide-reaching ecological effects, including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and alteration of local climates. Effects of urbanization have been shown to impact wildlife, as disturbances resulting from urbanization can create novel environments and selective pressures that could lead to changes in morphology, physiology, or both. Small mammals such as rodents are an ecologically important set of wildlife species because they are a key prey item for several predators, hold strong influence over plants as a primary consumer, and some species carry and transmit major human and animal diseases. Previous …

Impact Of Glycerophosphocholine Metabolism On Phenotypes In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae And Schizosaccharomyces Pombe, Victoria Hrach

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) is an abundant metabolite in eukaryotes. In baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, GPC can be produced via deacylation of the major membrane glycerophospholipid phosphatidylcholine (PC). My lab has identified a novel pathway to re-synthesize PC from GPC by acylating it at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions; this pathway has been termed the PC Deacylation-Reacylation Pathway (PC-DRP). We previously characterized the acyltransferase Gpc1 and its ability to synthesize one-tailed lyso-PC from GPC, as well as that noting that GPC1 is upregulated in inositol-free conditions and results in more saturated PC. Here, I add to this basic characterization by establishing …

Using Multimedia To Help Agricultural Producers Communicate With Consumers About Gmos, Stacey F. Stearns, Jennifer E. Cushman, Joseph A. Bonelli, Bonnie E. Burr

Journal of Extension

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their uses are often misunderstood. Consumers are regularly unsure what GMOs are, or if they are safe for consumption and the environment. Contradictory and sometimes inaccurate information is available from numerous sources, and challenges consumers and others to separate the facts from sensationalized stories. Agricultural producers often communicate with consumers, neighbors, and members of the general public; however, they do not have information to share about GMOs. Multimedia resources can provide agricultural producers with science-based information to share with consumers. Agricultural communicators and Extension educators can create science-based multimedia resources to bridge the communication gap.

Consumer-Focused Meat Science Extension Program Increase Consumer Confidence And Knowledge Of Meat Selection And Preparation, Stacy Zuelly, Yufei Guo, Melinda Dennis, Emily Ford, Melissa Davis

Journal of Extension

Science-based, meat science education is often limited outside of universities, creating possibilities to develop Extension activities to educate and impower consumers in principles of meat science. The Indiana BBQ Bootcamp was developed to provide consumers information on meat selection, proper cooking techniques, food safety, and meat seasoning (spice rubs and marinades) through demonstrations and product sampling. Attendees were surveyed before and after the program to report their confidence in their ability to perform basic meat science techniques. Responses to all survey questions showed significant increase in the attendees’ confidence demonstrating improvement in their meat science knowledge.

An Analysis Of The Logging Sector In East Texas: Current Status And Future Prospects, Pooja Chhetri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The logging sector plays a critical role in the wood supply chain and in forest management. It connects forest resources with mills, who consequently use that wood to manufacture a multitude of products. A better understanding of the state of logging businesses among policymakers is crucial in sustaining this industry. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the economic contribution (2021) and economic contribution trend (2012-2021) of the logging sector in East Texas using Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN). Furthermore, this study determined the current status of this sector using online and mail surveys. IMPLAN results showed that the logging sector …

Natural Variation In Lonely Guy-Like 1 Regulates Rice Grain Weight Under Warmer Night Conditions, Jaspreet Sandhu, Larissa Irvin, Anil Kumar Chandaran, Shohei Oguro, Puneet Paul, Balpreet Dhatt, Waseem Hussain, Shannon S. Cunningham, Cherryl O. Quinones, Argelia Lorence, Maria Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Paul E. Staswick, Gota Morota, Harkamal Walia

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Global nighttime temperatures are rising at twice the rate of daytime temperatures and pose a challenge for rice (Oryza sativa) production. High nighttime temperature (HNT) stress affects rice yield by reducing grain weight, size, and fertility. Although the genes associated with these yield parameters have been identified and characterized under normal temperatures, the genetic basis of grain weight regulation under HNT stress remains less explored. We examined the natural variation for rice single grain weight (SGW) under HNT stress imposed during grain development. A genome-wide association analysis identified several loci associated with grain weight under HNT stress. A …

Unraveling The Paradox Of The 'Great Speciators': Evolutionary Dynamics Of A Geographic Radiation Of Island Kingfishers (Todiramphus), Jenna Merle Mccullough

Biology ETDs

The paradox of the ‘Great Speciators’ describes a biogeographic pattern in which geographically widespread lineages have strong overwater dispersal capabilities, yet exhibit genetic and phenotypic divergence between islands, suggesting limited dispersal and cessation of gene flow. In my dissertation, I leveraged whole genomes and two comprehensive trait datasets of dispersal ability and plumage coloration of all described diversity within Todiramphus kingfishers, a rapid radiation of largely island endemic ‘Great Speciators.’ Chapter 1 reveals that whole genome datasets do not outright solve the evolutionary relationships of this clade and that widespread incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and gene flow are sources of …

Developing Economic Injury Levels For Thrips (Frankliniella Occidentalis) In Idaho Alfalfa Under Controlled Pest Populations, John Reed Findlay, Joseph Sagers

Journal of Extension

Thrips are a new pest of alfalfa in Eastern Idaho. University of Idaho Extension Educators studied the yield losses associated with this pest in a controlled greenhouse experiment. This data has been used to calculate the economic injury level (EIL) of thrips in alfalfa. The EIL represents the level of insect infestation at which control measures will begin to be economically viable. We calculate that for the 2021 growing season conditions the EIL was approximately 20 thrips per six stems. We also calculated EIL curves that growers and consultants can use as spray costs and hay values change.

The Need For A Chainsaw Safety Training Program For Female Forest Landowners, Patrick Hiesl, Janet Steele, Susan T. Guynn

Journal of Extension

Female forest landowners (FFLO) are increasing in numbers but have been marginalized in technical training programs in the past. We conducted chainsaw safety training programs geared towards FFLO and compared program evaluation results with results from male-dominated chainsaw training workshops. FFLO are limited in their technical knowledge at the beginning of a workshop, are more likely to own different types of chainsaws than male participants, and generally liked having a women-only workshop. The takeaway is that FFLO strive in a women-only environment and that more women-focused extension training programs are needed to provide with a safe and inclusive learning environment.

Removal Of Phenol From Oilfield Produced Water Using Non-Conventional Adsorbent Medium By An Eco-Friendly Approach, Salem Jawad Alhamd, Mohammed Nsaif Abbas, Hassan Jameel Jawad Al-Fatlawy, Thekra Atta Ibrahim, Zaid Nsaif Abbas

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Petroleum extraction generates substantial quantities of produced water, a challenge compounded by water scarcity in oil-producing regions, notably the Middle East. Leveraging produced water effectively, adhering to environmental standards, can offer a viable solution to the issue of water scarcity. This study explores the potential of mandarin peels as an available, cost-effective adsorbent for treating synthetic aqueous solution simulated to oil-field produced water, specifically targeting phenol, a dangerous pollutant. Employing a batch-mode adsorption unit, six operational factors—phenol concentration, acidity, agitation speed, contact time, adsorbent dose, and temperature—were investigated. Results revealed an inverse relationship between phenol removal and pH, concentration, and …

With Love, ; An Interdisciplinary And Intersectional Look At Why Creativity Is Essential, Theo Starr Gardner

Whittier Scholars Program

My Whittier Scholars Program self-designed major, Teaching Creativity, is a mixture of Art, Literature, and Education classes. My research and praxis classes have been focused on the ‘how?’s and 'why?’s of creativity, so it felt only right that my project should be a constructivist, generative project. The project I have been working on throughout my time at Whittier, and that has just fully come to fruition on April 11th, 2024, was a solo art gallery/open mic event entitled ‘With Love,’. With Love, was conceptually inspired by the research I’ve conducted on creativity and creative arts education over the past few …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Welcoming Pollinators, Kaitlin Cambell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is part of a series about creating sustainable school and home gardens. It focuses on welcoming pollinators to the garden by providing a safe and effective habitat, and lists recommended plantings and resources.

Novel Bioinformatics Tools For Biomarker Discovery In Prostate Cancer, Jace Webster

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for 29% of all expected cancer diagnoses in men in 2024, but patients presenting with different disease stages can have significantly different outcomes. Patients with indolent PCa may experience little to no impact on their quality of life and have a 5-year survival as high as 98%, but progression to aggressive disease causes 5-year survival to plummet to 30%. Patients with the most lethal form of the disease, metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC), have a median survival of only 5.5 months if they become resistant to treatment. Due to this clinical heterogeneity, it is critical to quickly …

Physical Activity In Underserved Preadolescents: Characterization Of Accumulation And Patterns, Alma I. Behar, Matthew T. Mahar, Gregory Norman, John P. Elder, Michael Pratt, Patricia Dionicio, Noe C. Crespo

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objectives: The increasing rates of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviors among youth are a significant public health concern. The greatest disparities in physical activity (PA) are experienced by underserved (racial/ethnic minority, low-income) youth. This study aimed to characterize accelerometer-measured PA behaviors in a sample of low-income, predominantly Latino, preadolescents. Methods: Participants wore wrist worn GENEActiv accelerometers for 7 days. PA levels were classified as sedentary (< 50 mg), light (50-150 mg), moderate (> 150-500 mg), vigorous (> 500 mg), and MVPA (≥ 150 mg). Time spent in PA levels and sedentary time (ST), prevalence of meeting MVPA guidelines, and PA volume were estimated from accelerometer data. Three-way …

The Impact Of Certified Pool Operator Training On Swimming Pool Inspection Outcomes, Vonia Louise Grabeel

Online Theses and Dissertations

Background: At the time of this study, the Commonwealth of Kentucky had over 3,800 active public bathing or swimming pool facilities. In compliance with 902 KRS 10:010 Kentucky Swimming and Bathing Facility regulation, all bathing and swimming pools for public access are subject to inspection and monitoring by local and state health agencies. The regulation requires the facilities to be inspected for code violations on the protection and safety of swimming patrons. It mandates inspections on: water supply and wastewater disposal; bathhouses and attendant structures; safety; and general facility operations. However, the regulations do not require the pool operators or …

Does Breaking Up Moderate Intensity Continuous Exercise Into Accumulated Bouts Improve Postprandial Metabolic Outcomes In Middle Aged And Older Adults?, Miranda Janis

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Due to the high incidence of CVD in older adults, low levels of habitual physical activity, and poor dietary habits, it is imperative to determine an effective minimal dose of exercise that is attainable to mitigate adverse postprandial (post-meal) responses. This study is the first to our knowledge to assess whether accumulated exercise to expend 25% of the calories consumed in a high-fat meal (HFM) of moderate intensity walking will lower postprandial triglycerides (TRG), glucose (GLU) and metabolic load index (MLI: summation of GLU and TRG), compared to continuous exercise, in middle-aged and older adults (OA). Methods: Ten OA (n=10, …

Characterizing The Expression Of The Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Pathway In Injury And Post-Traumatic Fibrosis, Nicole Cubbage

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Following injury, tissue repair allows for the restoration of the architecture and function of the injured tissue, while tissue replacement is characterized by severely damaged or non-regenerable tissue that is repaired by the laying down of extensive connective tissue, also known as fibrosis. The fibrotic process should be arrested at its early stage to have the greatest impact on preventing or reversing associate sequelae and promoting the regeneration of normal tissue. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a metabolic product of cell membrane sphingolipids, has emerged as a pathway that may be involved in fibrosis. Most of S1P’s actions are mediated through the …

Assessing Structural Variation In And Out Of The Classroom: Characterizing Structural Variation Within Campanula Americana And Effects Of Long Read Sequencing On Students Learning, Tyler Gandee

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Cytonuclear incompatibilities are proposed to be one of the first genetic barriers to arise during speciation, so understanding the underlying evolutionary forces that contribute to cytonuclear incompatibilities is important. Many studies have looked at SNP level variation in the plastid genome and its relationship with cytonuclear incompatibility, but no studies have examined structural variation and its relationship to cytonuclear incompatibility, particularly at the early stages of speciation, i.e. within species. Campanula americana is a great system for this because it exhibits cytonuclear incompatibility and the family in which it is found, the Campanulaceae, exhibits rapidly evolving plastid genomes, including …

Dynamics Of Skin-Based Gene Expression In Red-Sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis): Sex And Seasonal Influences, Emily C. Plant

Masters Theses, 2020-current

The skin is the key organ regulating the animal-environment interface and is particularly sensitive to the abiotic factors of temperate environments, such as extreme cold and aridity during winter. Previous research found that, in the skin, temperate birds and reptiles upregulate expression of lipid synthesis genes to prevent tissue freezing and evaporative water loss in winter. My study species, the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis), has seasonally variable skin lipid composition, and females produce a modified set of these lipids that function as a sex pheromone. The pheromone is maximally produced in the spring breeding season following …

Role Of Dunc-13 Isoforms In Alcohol Sensitivity In Drosophila, Makenzie Havard

Honors Theses

Functional alcohol tolerance is an adaptation made by the nervous system to high doses of alcohol, and is seen by a significant reduction in sensitivity to this drug. This tolerance is a significant contributing factor in the progression to Alcohol Use Disorders. A major goal of alcohol research is to understand how alcohol induces this tolerance. Dunc13 is a presynaptic active zone protein essential in synaptic vesicle docking and priming. Alcohol binds to the C1 domain of Dunc13 at physiological concentrations, which inhibits Dunc13 from binding Diacylglycerol. This inhibition is predicted to reduce Dunc13 activity and presynaptic activity. Yet, genetically …

The Ecology And Genetic Diversity Of Buckleya Distichophylla (Santalaceae), Montana Hill

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Piratebush (Buckleya distichophylla) is a native, rare, shrub found along the Blue Ridge mountains in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Research on its ecology and genetic diversity is limited due to its rarity; only one population on Poor Mountain has been studied extensively in the past. To determine if there are ecological differences between populations of B. distichophylla, research on sex distribution, floral visitors, individual length, leaf area, and amount of light that reached each specimen were conducted and then compared between a population located on Dragon’s Tooth Trail and a population on Poor Mountain, both located …

The Effects Of Tree Shelters On Tree Seedling Growth, Microclimate, And Seedling Chlorophyll Fluorescence: Two-Year Results, Christina Henriksen

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Continuous land development practices such as property development and large-scale agriculture impact watersheds when excessive nutrients from surface runoff enter streams, and over time, cause a decline in water quality. As these sources of pollution are diffuse, mitigation of nutrient loading can become quite difficult and costly to stakeholders such as farmers. To reduce the effects of nutrient loading into local streams and rivers, riparian forest restoration has long been the focus of many stakeholders wishing to improve water quality in landscapes which have been heavily degraded for agricultural use. There are many methods of riparian forest restoration, however, the …

Greening The Edge: Investigating Riparian Buffer Restorations In A Pastoral Setting And Their Effects On Soil Carbon And Microbial Community Composition., Seth Mccullough

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Riparian buffer restoration represents a critical strategy for enhancing ecosystem health and resilience in agricultural landscapes. This study investigates the effects of riparian buffer restoration on soil properties, microbial communities, and carbon dynamics in Rockingham County, VA. Through a comprehensive field study, we assessed the physicochemical properties of soil, microbial biomass, community composition, and soil carbon storage in restored and unrestored riparian buffers. Our findings reveal significant improvements in soil physical properties in restored buffers, including increased soil moisture (p < 0.05) and decreased bulk density (p < 0.01), indicating enhanced soil structure and water retention capacity. While no significant differences were detected in soil pH or cation exchange capacity, restored buffers exhibited higher soil carbon stocks (p < 0.05) and carbon-to-nitrogen ratios, suggesting potential differences in nutrient cycling processes and organic matter decomposition rates. Moreover, restored buffers showed increased microbial biomass (p < 0.01), potentially driven by improved habitat conditions and shifts towards a fungal-dominated microbial community.

Although no significant differences were found in overall microbial community composition between restored and unrestored sites, specific shifts in bacterial …

How Financial Beliefs And Behaviors Influence The Financial Health Of Individuals Struggling With Opioid Use Disorder, Karima Lalani, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The surge in opioid use disorder (OUD) over the past decade escalated opioid overdoses to a leading cause of death in the United States. With adverse effects on cognition, risk-taking, and decision-making, OUD may negatively influence financial well-being. This study examined the financial health of individuals diagnosed with OUD by reviewing financial beliefs and financial behaviors. We evaluated quality of life, perceptions of financial condition during active use and recovery, and total debt. We distributed a 20-item survey to 150 individuals in an outpatient treatment program for OUD in a large metropolitan area, yielding a 56% response rate. The results …