Life Sciences Commons^™

Development Of A Chemical Biology Approach To Uncover The Influence Of Sequence Variations On Ces1 Activity In Live Cells, Samuel James Knebel

Masters Theses

Drug metabolism is the biochemical process of modifying drugs to detoxify and remove them through enzymatic transformations. These biotransformation’s occur primarily in the liver and are critical to understanding how pharmaceutical compounds are chemically altered inside the human body. Human carboxylesterases (CESs) catalyze the hydrolysis of esters, amides, thioesters, and carbamates. CES-mediated hydrolysis plays an important role in the metabolism of many drugs including the first FDA approved antiviral treatment for COVID-19, remdesivir (Veklury), the seizure control medication rufinamide (Banzel), and the flu antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu). CES activity is known to be influenced by a variety of factors including …

Wolbachia Infection In Gall Associated Insect Communities In Illinois And Indiana, Jakeb Watts

Masters Theses

Wolbachia is a maternally inherited, gram-negative bacterium and has been found to be associated with up to 60% of all insects, frequently resulting in male-killing, feminization, and cytoplasmic incompatibility in the hosts. Gall wasps and other gall-forming insects induce on various host plants abnormal tissue growths, or plant galls, with distinct morphology. They are considered as obligatory parasites to their host plant. The presence of Wolbachia infection in gall wasp populations in North America has not been extensively documented. Given the strong influence on host reproduction, not knowing Wolbachia infection in insect populations prevents the understanding of how populations are …

Triclosan Degrading Bacteria From Wastewater Treatment Plants In Central Illinois, Mohammed Alsulami

Masters Theses

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent that has been used in personal care products and has been identified to cause malformation on cartilage and bone development in zebrafish and influence on thyroid hormone system in humans. Due to its widespread usage and insufficient removal from wastewater treatment plants, triclosan has emerged as a pervasive contaminant that poses a potential threat to the environment and human health. The goal of the study was to isolate and characterize triclosan-degrading bacteria from WWTPs in central Illinois. Using enrichment culture with NMS media containing triclosan as sole carbon source, eighteen bacterial strains were isolated. The …

The Influence Of Cover Crops On Grassland Restoration, Josh C. Poland

Masters Theses

Grassland ecosystems comprise almost a fourth of all Earth’s land mass; however, due to ever-increasing rates of agricultural land conversion, these habitats are facing a large-scale biodiversity crisis. The degradation of grasslands extends beyond physical impacts, such as soil erosion, to include the loss of soil microbial communities as a serious risk to the health and productivity of these habitats. Cover cropping, commonly used in agriculture to revive agricultural soils, has rarely been applied to grassland restorations, and could combat or reverse the harmful effects of modern agriculture techniques. For the first chapter of my thesis, I used a greenhouse …

Evaluating The Contribution Of Adjacent Charges On The Observed Ph-Dependent Binding Profile For A Vhh/Antigen Interaction With A Linked Histidine Protonation Equilibria, Kiruthika Arulmoly

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

pH dependent protein-protein interactions are of great importance for various biological processes. In addition, the generation of engineered pH-dependent therapeutic antibodies opens opportunities for the extension of therapeutic half-life, thereby reducing drug dosage or frequency of administration, as well as providing pH-dependent targeting, such as the tumor microenvironment. Engineering pH-dependent antibody-antigen interaction is mostly achieved through the incorporation of ionizable residues within the antigen binding interface. These ionizable residues must undergo a change in environment upon forming a protein-protein complex, which causes a change in the ionizable group’s pKa value. This coupled protonation equilibria is responsible for the observed pH-dependent …

Bioanalytical Studies Of Disease Protein Profiles: Maldi-Tof Ms, Prajkta Satish Chivte

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), which is caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has ravaged the world for the past 3 years. Even today, there still exists a need for rapid, accurate, economical and non-invasive diagnostic testing platforms that yield high specificity and sensitivity towards the constantly mutating SARS-CoV-2. Research has consistently indicated saliva to be a more amenable specimen type for early detection of SARS-CoV-2, compared to the oral and nasopharyngeal swabs. Considering the limitations and high demand of the existing COVID-19 testing platforms, this dissertation work studies used MALDI-ToF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of …

A State Space Modeling Approach To Eeg Artifact Removal, Patrick B. Rafael

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In this work, a state space modeling approach is applied to an Electroencephalography(EEG) recording for the purpose of artifact removal, and is compared against Independent Components Analysis (ICA), the current gold standard. Issues of model identifiability are touched on, and Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) is used to estimate a linear non-Gaussian state space model. Results show that estimating such a model is a nontrivial matter, and the full utility of the state space approach remains to be demonstrated.

Would Ai Stocks Estimate Be As Surprised To Usda Stocks Reports As Private Market Analysts?, Asif Mahmud Chowdhury

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The USDA survey-based Quarterly Agriculture Stocks (QAS) reports are the primary source of information regarding the relative supply of U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat for the last fifty years. Research has examined USDA stock reports and their relevancy to the market (e.g., Isengildina-Massa et al., 2021). In addition, private industry analysts estimate expected quarterly grain stock reports before USDA releases them. Market information firms such as Bloomberg and Reuters publish a subset of these estimates a few days before the USDA reports. Previous research has found that when industry analysts have significant differences in stock expectations compared to what the …

The Association Of Vitamin D, Bone Mineral Density, And Injuries Among Acrobatics And Tumbling Athletes, K Lee, A Gallucci, J Forsse, L Cherpe De Souza, L Irvin, E Boyer, L Funderburk

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Acrobatics and Tumbling (A&T) is an emerging sport incorporating various elements of gymnastics and competitive cheerleading. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the sport presents with high injury rates potentially due to the high impact nature of the activity. Due to the potential aesthetic sport related concerns, bone mineral density and risk of injury presents a concern for patients, athletic trainers and stakeholders. Increased understanding of the relationship between bone mineral density, serum vitamin D status, and injury incidence in A&T may be useful to athletic trainers, registered dietitians, and others working with these athletes. The objective of this study was …

A Case Study On Treatment Of Subcoracoid Impingement In An Overhead Athlete With Manual Therapy, M Mennell

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Subcoracoid impingement of the shoulder is a condition that occurs when the tendons or soft tissues in the shoulder are compressed or pinched between the coracoid process and the humeral head. It is also suspected that subcoracoid impingement can occur when the humerus translates anteriorly, decreasing the subcoracoid space. This impingement can cause pain, inflammation, and limited mobility in the shoulder joint. All kinds of impingement are typically multifactorial, and have several areas that need to be addressed. The purpose of this case report is to examine the effects of therapeutic exercise as well as manual therapy on subcoracoid …

Effect Of Spinach Enriched With Zinc And Ω-3/Vitamin E Treatment Against Fluoride-Induced Nephrotoxicity And Bone Calcification Disturbance In Rats, Anfal Djouadi, Samir Derouiche

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the alone or associated spinach, zinc, and ω-3/Vitamin E capacity to improve the renal function and bone calcification altered by fluoride in Wistar rats. Methods: In this study, 36 female Wistar albino rats were used; divided into six groups (n = 6); all groups except the control rats received orally 400 ppm of fluoride as sodium fluoride (NaF) in drinking water during 70 days and then four groups treated in the past 15 days by: Spinach powder, zinc, ω-3/Vitamin E, and spinach+ zinc + ω-3/Vitamin E. Some biochemical and histological markers …

The Efficacy Of Vitamin B6 And Alpha-Lipoic Acid In Preventing Levetiracetam Depressant-Like Behavior In Mice, Azadeh Mesripour, Nasime S. Musavie

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Some antiepileptic drugs for instance levetiracetam cause depression in patients. Vitamin B6 is a cofactor involved in the neurotransmitter synthesis. α-Lipoic acid (ALA) is a mitochondrial cofactor that can prevent neuronal damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of B6 and ALA for preventing levetiracetam depression in mice. Methods: Male NMRI mice (weighing 25 ± 3 g) were used. Levetiracetam (20 mg/kg), and pretreatments with ALA (20, 40 mg/kg), Vitamin B6 (100 mg/kg), or imipramine (10 mg/kg) as the control positive were all administered intraperitonealy for 14 consecutive days. The locomotor test and forced swimming …

Barriers And Facilitators Of Wound Care Services Provided By Community Pharmacists In Selangor, Malaysia: An Exploratory Qualitative Study, Hamidi Drahman, Mohd Shahezwan Abd Wahab, Mohd Faiz Mustaffa, Azyyati Mohd Suhaimi

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Introduction: Community pharmacists (CPs) are often the first point of contact for patients to obtain health-related advice, including on wound management. Wound care services have been proposed as a community pharmacy practice area to be promoted in Malaysia. Objectives: This study aims to explore the types of wound care services provided by Malaysian CPs, and the factors associated with its provision. Methods: This study utilized the qualitative method to collect in-depth information about the barriers and facilitators associated with the provision of wound care services among a sample of CPs. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Results: Twenty-three …

Dpird Grains Research And Development (R&D) Stakeholder Update 2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Grain and other field crops published reports

The Grains R&D (Research and Development) Stakeholder Update was developed to showcase the industry-leading work delivered by the Grains Research and Industry Development team at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in Western Australia (WA).

Grains R&D is critical to the ongoing productivity and international competitiveness of our industry and the economic prosperity of WA. This newsletter highlights some of the vital research helping farmers grow the industry.

Detecting Trends In Abundance And Distribution Of Seagrasses In Lake Worth Lagoon, Palm Beach County, Florida, James R. Kerfoot Jr., Samantha N. Jones, Michael H. Schiebout, Beth Orlando

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Over the past 15 years, seagrass community stability has varied in estuaries throughout Florida. This study sought to model potential patterns of physiochemical parameters and community composition that may correlate with the fluctuation of seagrass populations in Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL), Palm Beach County, FL over time (2007–2019). Seven transects and 4 polygon areas throughout the LWL were established and stratified along a north—south gradient. Sites were sampled annually (May–August) for water quality, seagrass and macroalgal abundance, and community composition. Models developed to explain macrophyte abundance and composition were assessed using Akaike Information Criterion. Interaction between year and site best …

Jonathan Franco López 1955 – 2023, Angel Moran-Silva, Rafael Chávez-López, Sergio Cházaro-Olvera

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Reflections On A Career Unplanned, Robert A. Glazer

Gulf and Caribbean Research

Sometimes life takes unexpected turns. I never planned to be a marine biologist; yet, after a long and unpredictable journey, that’s exactly where I found myself. After obtaining my B.S. in Fishery Biology from Colorado State University, I found myself meandering from job to job like a golden retriever following some vague scent. At first, I was hired by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to work seasonally in Grand Teton National Park on the freshwater trout fisheries. Soon thereafter, I found myself cultivating oysters, clams, and other shellfish in California. The skills I developed there as an algologist led …

Is Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Or Salinity Driving Oyster Mortality On Breakwaters?, Ashten Notz, Aaron Bland, Ronald Baker

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Intraspecific Potency Of Predation Risk Cues, Delbert Lee Smee, Benjamin Belgrad

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Identifying Microdebris In Biodeposits Of The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Elizabeth E. Hieb, Sadie Snow, Ruth H. Carmichael

Gulf and Caribbean Research

No abstract provided.

Childhood Mental Health Outcomes Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An Evidence-To-Practice Review Leona J. Keller, Ms, Atc*; Sooji M. Berthiaume, Ms, Atc†; Karis J. L, Leona J. Keller, Sooji M. Berthiaume, Karis J. Landry, Alyssa L. Bolno, Zachary K. Winkelmann

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Concussions can have lasting symptoms in children such as depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, or failure to control anger. If diminished mental health outcomes are not monitored and do not improve after concussion, children may need additional treatment as a result of sequela. The purpose of the guiding systematic review was to determine if there are increased mental health symptoms in pediatric patients who sustained a concussion as compared to pediatric patients who have not sustained a concussion. The guiding systematic review and meta-analysis authors used seven different databases for articles published from 1980 to 2020. Selected articles had mental health outcomes …

Attitudes Toward Implicit Bias Among Ncaa Medical Support Staff, B J. Warner, A P. Jacobsen, M Decker, S A. Cage

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Introduction: Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes, emotions, or stereotypes that have the potential to negatively affect behaviors, actions, and decisions. Recent research has shown that healthcare workers do not provide equitable care to patients from different demographics. When patients are receiving different levels of care, there is a potential for different patient-related outcomes. One of their first steps in many implicit bias interventions for healthcare professionals is identifying one’s implicit bias. The purpose of this study was to describe the attitudes toward implicit bias among non-athletic training healthcare professionals who provide care to collegiate student-athletes. Methods: An electronic survey was …

The Systems Measurement Of Mammalian Biotas, Part Two, Charles H. Smith, Patrick Georges, Ngoc Nguyen

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

For a recent publication, the authors identified a seven-region model of mammal family distribution patterns, in which each unit contributes equally to the system’s overall statistical characteristics of diversity, despite its individual units having measurably different levels of diversity and endemism. This systemization presents a highly efficient descriptive model that can possibly be interpreted as a form of natural classification. An additional analysis of the same mode is described here, in which the seven-region model of the distribution of mammal families’ spatial affinities is shown to closely approach a most-probable-state arrangement, as assessed through combinatorics, raising some important questions about …

Addressing Soil Carbon Sequestration Response From Multispecies Dairy Forage Systems And Modeling Rangeland Beef Cow Dry Matter Intake Using Precision Enteric Emissions Measurements, Lillian J. Mcfadden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regenerative agriculture is a pressing matter for the dairy industry to address cropland sustainability and carbon sequestration. One regenerative management practice that has been identified to help with row crop sustainability for key metrics like soil organic carbon (SOC) is complex covers. When producers use complex covers one of the main challenges is that it takes time to detect a change in SOC. However, simulation models are a tool that can be used to help determine if a regenerative practice is a strategy that gives the best results (i.e., increased SOC) while aligning with long-term production goals. Therefore, our objectives …

Improving The Utility Of Precision Agriculture Through Machine Learning And Climate-Smart Practices, Skye Brugler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate Smart Practices are management strategies that focus on increasing soil and crop productivity, utilize site-specific strategies to increase resiliency against the effects of climate change, and mitigate these negative effects by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decision Support Systems (DSSs) using machine learning (ML) can adjust models based on new information and help farmers make climate smart decisions within their operation. The 4R nutrient management model of right source, rate, location, and time also demonstrates a framework that may be considered climate smart by improving soil and crop productivity. However, when initially conceptualized, the 4R model did not consider …

Role Of Human Gut Microbiota In Shaping The Diet-Induced Metabolome, Samitinjaya Dhakal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Assessing How Long-Term Conservation Agricultural Practices Impact Soil Properties And Soil, Water, And Nutrient Dynamics Through Soil Profile, Ajoy Kumar Saha

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Expanding The Use Of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography For Varietal Identification Or Verification Of Selected Cereal Crops, Johnna Jorgensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a form of analytical chemistry where adsorption is a key factor in which the purpose is to separate, identify and quantify each component in a mixture. It is the optimal separation technique of chemical and biological compounds that are non-volatile including proteins and natural products (i.e., plant extracts). As each sample component interacts differently with the absorbent material within the column, the flow rates change leading to the separation of peaks, which are plotted via computer software. Most commonly HPLC analysis has been used for chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical purposes. When using HPLC for crop …

Genomics-Assisted Approaches To Improve Grain Yield And End-Use Quality In Hard Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Harsimardeep Singh Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global wheat production needs to be increased by 60% to meet the future demand of feeding nine billion people by 2050. Simultaneously, it is important to improve the enduse quality to meet the requirements of producers, grain markets, processors, and consumers. Thus, the development of more productive wheat varieties with better enduse quality remains the primary focus for all wheat breeding programs. However, direct phenotypic selection for improving grain yield and end-use quality is difficult as it is highly influenced by environmental factors. This dissertation focuses on harnessing advancements in genomics applications, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), for the genetic …

Application Of Crispr/Cas9 Whole Genome Screens To Advance Macrophage Biology, Kevin Wanniarachchi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Advances in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technologies present opportunities to better understand the contribution of individual genes to complex eukaryotic cellular processes. I have applied CRISPR whole genome screen technologies to inform further mechanistic understanding of macrophage fitness and neutral lipid metabolism. This work is important because macrophages play critical roles in immune function and are implicated as causative agents in disease states. Chapter One of this dissertation provides insights into how CRISPR genome screening technologies have improved biological discovery and key findings from their application and discusses how this technology can be implemented to advance the discovery of novel macrophage …