Life Sciences Commons^™

A Diet Comparison Of Bluegill And Bluegill X Pumpkinseed Hybrids, Russell D. Zwiers

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus commonly prey upon macroinvertebrates but have been found to show different preferences to what type of macroinvertebrates. Hybrids of the two species have been found to display physical characteristics of both parents but prey selection of the hybrids compared to the parents is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the diets of bluegill and bluegill x pumpkinseed hybrids to understand what each species’ preference is when it comes to food as well as finding how a hybrid’s diet compares to the pure breed of one of the two crossed …

Effects Of Velocity And Substrate Size On The Formation Of Zebra Mussel Druses, Ian Mott

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Zebra Mussels Dreissena polymorpha are an invasive bivalve species that are highly successful at dominating new environments. These invaders have been known to colonize substrate so thoroughly that all they have to attach to are members of their own species. When large mats of interconnected mussels completely cover a riverbed, it can have a drastic effect on the surrounding environment. This study serves to create a better understanding of the hydrologic parameters needed for Zebra Mussels to create these ecosystem-transforming colonies known as druses. Data was collected on a small stretch of the Upper Mississippi River in Northern Minnesota, previously …

Estimate Of Long-Term Phytoplankton Biomass In Lake Bemidji, William J. Peterson

Journal of Earth and Life Science

Phytoplankton are photosynthetic organisms that are the base of aquatic food webs. In a dimictic temperate lake such as Lake Bemidji, the environment adjusts with the changing water temperatures and sunlight levels. The phytoplankton in a dimictic lake are adapted to subsist in long term seasonal changes but the exact change to the number of phytoplankton in unknown. The focus of this study was to estimate the biomass of phytoplankton in a long term period including winter stratification and summer peak. From a period between March 2023 and October 2023 water samples were collected from the lake in the south …

Out Of This World Innovations - But At What Cost? Innovations In Synthetic Biology Disrupt Billion-Dollar Industries, Maggie Wills

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Pressure Seal Contact, Unknown Unknown

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Dosi Weed: Featured Artist, Dosi Weed

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Do Sleeper Cells Hold The Key To Immortality? Senescent Cells In Cancer And Aging, Kristin Aldridge

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Have We Found The Key To Sustainable Farming? Microbial Communities And Crops, Michael E. Harvey

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Climate Change At Your Fingertips: Adjusting Our Approach To Climate Change, James Lee

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Soil Salvation: The Antidepressant Properties Of Dirt, Ania Ocasio

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

It’S A Rat! It’S A Kangaroo! It… Smells? Musky Rat-Kangaroo Populations In Northeastern Queensland, Caroline Lee, Clay Ritter, Kristine Shaw

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Wacky Weather: Climate Change Impacts On Ohio’S Most Important Crop: Corn, Sydney Rosensaft

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Evolution, Free Will, And Determinism: Nature Controls Our Morality, Long Ly

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

The Hijab's Effect On Perception: U.S. And U.A.E. Muslim Women's Perception Of Hijabs, Haddy Dardir

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

Tekëne (Woodland), Jeremy Johnson, Heather A. Wholey, Stephanie Thompson

Gordon Natural Area History & Strategic Plan Documents

Tèkëne are highly biodiverse ecosystems comprised of plants and wildlife that thrive within four layers: tree canopy; understory; field; and forest floor. Temperate deciduous forests are naturally among the most bio-diverse habitats worldwide. The Lenape are among several indigenous cultures with deep ancestral ties to the Eastern Woodlands.

Sipùwas Siputët (Plum Run), Jeremy Johnson, Heather A. Wholey, Joanna Maurer, Stephanie Thompson

Gordon Natural Area History & Strategic Plan Documents

Sipùwas (wild plum) grow along sipuwa (streams). They are among the first trees to flower in sikòn (spring), produce sour fruit in nipëni (summer), and brilliant foliage in tahkokën (fall). Along with other plants in the Gordon Natural Area, sipùwas were first used by Lenape as food and medicine. Part of traditional foraging grounds, Sipùwas Siputët (Plum Run) flows through the Gordon Natural Area’s tèkëne (woodlands), mëkëke (meadows), and tëlamaskek (wetlands), ultimately feeding into the Brandywine and Delaware Rivers.

Ascophyllum Nodosum Seaweed Extract Application As A Possible Mechanism For Mitigating Salt Stress In Soybeans (Glycine Max), Elena Hoang

Honors Program Theses

Soil salinity, an abiotic stressor associated with climate change effects, inhibits the normal growth and development of sensitive crop species. The excessive accumulation of salt ions in plant tissue induces oxidative stress, which is characterized by an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damaging plant organelles and disrupting normal metabolic functions. Seaweed extracts (SWE) may be a solution for mitigating the effects of salt stress on crop yield and quality, as they introduce bioactive ingredients that are able to regulate gene expression and enhance natural physiological processes in plants. However, the positive benefits of SWE applications differ between plant …

Producing Grnas For Use In Crispr-Cas9 Dna Editing Applications Via In Vivo T7 Rna Polymerase Transcription In Escherichia Coli., Christian A. Santiago

Honors Program Theses

The development of the CRISPR-Cas9 system is widely considered to be a breakthrough advancement in gene editing. Compared to traditional technologies, CRISPR is generally regarded as the most accessible, effective, and precise tool for inducing stable and inheritable gene edits in vivo. The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing complex relies on the complementary binding of guide RNAs to specifically target a DNA sequence for endonuclease cleavage and mutagenesis. The production of gRNAs for use in CRISPR applications can become exceedingly complex and costly, as in vivo methodologies generally require the use of RNA polymerases that interfere with gRNA sequence identity and in …

The Antibacterial Efficacy Of Silver (I) Cyanoximates Against Streptococcus Mutans Ua159 Biofilm Growth And Infection In Galleria Mellonella Larvae, Jill Hughes

Honors Program Theses

Streptococcus mutans is the known etiological agent of dental caries. S. mutans’ virulence factors, namely biofilm formation and lactic acid fermentation, contribute to its pathogenic behavior within the oral cavity. Biofilms are thick, antibiotically resistant communities of bacteria that are much more difficult to treat than planktonic or free-floating bacteria. Continued misuse of antibiotics against dynamic communities, like biofilms, has led to increased research on non-antibiotic alternatives. Amongst these alternatives, there are silver and silver-based compounds. Silver is commonly incorporated into medicine due to its inhibitory and bactericidal effects and antibacterial properties. Silver (I) cyanoximates have demonstrated promising antibacterial activity …

Creating Meaningful Connections With The Electr Eating Meaningful Connections With The Electron Transport Chain Beyond A Virtual Classroom, Lesley Ann Giddings

Chemistry: Faculty Publications

At the center of feminist pedagogy is community. Creating community within the classroom and between the class and local communities increases student engagement and access to knowledge. Communities can be a source of solidarity and further decenter authority in the classroom, empowering students, teachers, and the surrounding community to be co-learners. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, remote teaching posed challenges to student engagement. Here, I describe an assignment used to build an inclusive community of co-learners within a virtual biochemistry class and our local communities. Oxidative phosphorylation is a cellular process used to create energy that depends on the electron transport …

Characterizing Cellular Injury And Inflammation With Aldob-/-Mouse Model Of Mafld, Andy Rashid

All Master's Theses

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) affects 1 in 3 people in the US and is a healthcare burden on the order of billions of dollars. MAFLD is characterized by pathological lipid accumulation in the liver, excess production of triglycerides and cholesterol, and export of LDL particles that raise serum lipid levels. These metabolic perturbations can lead to the development of liver fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and insulin resistance. Diagnosing MAFLD prior to fibrosis is crucial for successful intervention and prevention of advanced liver disease and other metabolic complications. Fructose-1Phospahte (F1P) accumulation from fructose overconsumption can drive hepatic lipogenesis and MAFLD progression. …

Demography And Habitat Associations Of The Basalt Cactus: Pediocactus Nigrispinus, Zarha Dillon-Zuppelli

All Master's Theses

Cacti are iconic, conspicuous, and important contributors to arid ecosystems. They stabilize soil and provide essential food and habitat to wildlife. Pediocactus nigrispinus is a species of cactus endemic to the Pacific Northwest and has been listed as a sensitive species due to its vulnerability to habitat loss. Pediocactus nigrispinus is being threatened by habitat fragmentation, poaching, and a changing climate. Best conservation methods for this species are poorly understood, due in part to a limited understanding of its demography and associations that may help define its occurrence.

A demographic study in Washington State was implemented in 2016 to give …

Factors Increasing Risk Of Acl Injury In Females, Alex Cardona

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Females are more than 3.5 times more likely to suffer an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury than males are. Largely in part to neuromuscular differences, the risk of injury is ever present. Quadriceps dominance, joint laxity, and pelvic width are some of the leading risk factors affecting females. Most are anatomical differences that are ingrained from an early age. This paper introduces ACL injuries and highlights the reasons why females tend to tear their ACL in a non-contact way. Anatomical differences such as comparing quadriceps dominance versus hamstring dominance followed by pelvic width, and trunk dominance will all be reviewed. …

Comparative Genomic Analysis Of 31 Phytophthora Genomes Reveals Genome Plasticity And Horizontal Gene Transfer, Brent A. Kronmiller, Nicolas Feau, Danyu Shen, Javier F. Tabima, Shahin S. Ali, Andrew D. Armitage, Felipe Arredondo, Bryan A. Bailey, Stephanie R. Bollmann, Angela Dale, Richard J. Harrison, Kelly Hrywkiw, Takao Kasuga, Rebecca Mcdougal, Charlotte F. Nellist, Preeti Panda, Sucheta Tripathy, Nari M. Williams, Wenwu Ye, Yuanchao Wang, Richard C. Hamelin, Niklaus Grünwald

Biology

Phytophthora species are oomycete plant pathogens that cause great economic and ecological impacts. The Phytophthora genus includes over 180 known species, infecting a wide range of plant hosts, including crops, trees, and ornamentals. We sequenced the genomes of 31 individual Phytophthora species and 24 individual transcriptomes to study genetic relationships across the genus. De novo genome assemblies revealed variation in genome sizes, numbers of predicted genes, and in repetitive element content across the Phytophthora genus. A genus-wide comparison evaluated orthologous groups of genes. Predicted effector gene counts varied across Phytophthora species by effector family, genome size, and plant host range. …

The Debate On Nil: Progress For Female Collegiate Sports?, Stephanie Andrada

Master's Theses

In this study, seven female collegiate athletes from three different women’s sports teams (basketball, gymnastics, and volleyball) from a mid-major, Division-I college were interviewed. The study analyzed the lived experiences that NIL has on these specific female athletes in these particular women’s sports using a qualitative methodology. Three research questions were posed:

1. In what ways does the commercialization of college sports influence the NIL opportunities for these female athletes?
2. Could NIL perpetuate an uneven playing field for these female athletes in competition for limited resources?
3. To what degree do these female college athletes feel that NIL presents opportunities for equitable …

The Inverse Association Between Prebiotic Consumption And Depression Status In American Adult Females, But Not The Greater Population Or In Males: Nhanes 2015-2018, Cassandra L. Boyd

Master's Theses

It is unknown if a relationship exists between prebiotic intake and depression status. Using 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles data, adult American estimated mean daily prebiotic intake across demographic groups, gender, and depression status were reported. Additionally, the 10 highest prebiotic content Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies foods were identified. Adults (≥ 18 years) with adequate sleep and at least one day of dietary recall data were included. Participants with excessive alcohol intake, BMI ≤ 18, BMI ≥ 30, or current depression medication use were excluded. The confounding variables were inadequate sleep, unemployment, and age. …

Behavorial Response Of Diving Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris) When Exposed To Predator Calls, Daphne M. Shen

Master's Theses

Understanding how marine mammals respond to and recover from acoustic stressors is crucial if underwater noise increases. The use of an animal-borne biologger that combines a speaker with a motion sensor allows for the collection of whole-dive and fine-scale data over repeated exposures under identical experimental parameters. This study determined whether northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris), a model for deep-diving marine mammals, exhibited a stereotypical behavioral response when exposed to killer whale whistles, an acoustic stressor. I examined changes in dive characteristics, measured duration of altered response, and observed behavior in response to repeated exposures. When exposed to the playback …

To Laugh Or Not To Laugh: That Is The Question Of Humor Techniques And Sex Differences, Yu-Chen Chan

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

A humor structure comprises two essential stages: the setup and the punch line. The punch line stage is to provide the incongruity resolution that creates amusement in humor. The current article aimed to look into how humor is amusing and how it differs between the sexes. Functional and effective connectivity analyses in cognitive and affective neuroscience have facilitated the implications of humor comprehension, appreciation, and laughter responses. The processing of incongruity-resolution humor revealed effective connectivity from the amygdala to the precuneus (amygdala → precuneus). Conversely, the processing of nonsense humor demonstrated effective connectivity from the amygdala to the inferior frontal …

Cardiorespiratory And Muscle Recruitment Responses To Incremental Exercise In Flywheel-Based Inertial Training (Fit) Squats, Clara Joyce Mitchinson

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Spaceflight induces rapid loss of aerobic capacity and muscle strength. Flywheel-based Inertial Training (FIT) – a gravity-independent form of exercise previously used as a countermeasure against unloading-induced muscle atrophy – provides external resistance through moment of inertia (MOI) of a rotating disk in a velocity-dependent manner. Optimizing FIT for cardiorespiratory fitness may improve exercise efficiency and reduce hardware needs associated with deep space exploration. This modality of exercise has also been of interest among athletes of various disciplines due to its purported benefits on athletic performance. PURPOSE: To determine the cardiorespiratory and muscular recruitment responses to FIT with varying …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps Attenuatus), Misty Nelson

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus) using NatureServe methodology, 2023