Biology Commons^™

Analyzing The Roles Of Scl And Gata3 In Zebrafish Spinal Cord Interneuron Specification And Function, Kadiah Oyah Kamara

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

My project focuses on the V2 cells of the zebrafish spinal cord. The V2 cells are an unusual class of spinal cells because they all originate from molecularly indistinguishable p2 progenitor cells in the spinal cord. However, as these cells become post-mitotic and differentiate, they start to express different transcription factor genes that allow them to initially develop into two sets of molecularly distinct cells. As differentiation continues, at least one more class of molecularly distinct cells develops. Just as in other vertebrates, in zebrafish the V2 cells differentiate into at least two functionally distinct classes of cells, specifically, the …

The Expression Pattern Of The Xenopus Laevis Rod-Derived Cone Viability Factor1 (Rdcvf1), Vera Osafo

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

In the United States alone, more than one million people are blind. One of the leading causes of blindness is the retinal disease, Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). RP is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by the initial loss of rod photoreceptors. Approximately 100,000 people in the United States and 1.5 million people worldwide are affected by RP. Unfortunately, there is no cure. In humans with RP, it is known that the loss of rod photoreceptors leads to degeneration of cones. Rods photoreceptors are responsible for vision under low light conditions and cone photoreceptors are required for color vision and …

Design And Implementation Of A Shoulder Simulator, Chelsea Lynn Kowal

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

The main objective of this thesis project is to build a shoulder simulator to be able to understand the mechanics of the shoulder, specifically the rotator cuff and deltoid muscles. The shoulder simulator should be able to mimic the important motions of the human shoulder by pulling on tendons of cadaver shoulders and moving the shoulder in various specified motions. In my thesis project, I worked on creating a shoulder simulator that would control the rotator cuff muscles along with the three deltoid muscles. In order to do this, I needed to design and test the shoulder simulator using cadaver …

Drd2 Polymorphisms Imparting Risk For Schizophrenia, Lauren Paish

Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All

Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects 1% of the population and causes enormous deficits in functioning. The development of this disorder is through unclear mechanisms, yet studies suggest that genetics and dopamine processes play a major role in the manifestation of schizophrenia. This study considers the gene that encodes dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and how single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect alternative splicing of the gene and the balance between the two different protein isoforms, Long (D2L) and Short (D2S). Four mutations (rs12363125 and rs2511521 from intron 5 and rs6275 and rs6277 from exon 7) were studied. Constructs were derived …

Challenging Disciplinary Boundaries In The First Year: A New Introductory Integrated Science Course For Stem Majors, Lisa Gentile, Lester Caudill, Mirela Fetea, April L. Hill, Kathy Hoke, Barry Lawson, Ovidiu Z. Lipan, Michael Kerckhove, Carol A. Parish, Krista J. Stenger, Doug Szajda

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

To help undergraduates make connections among disciplines so they are able to approach, evaluate, and contribute to the solutions of important global problems, our campus has been focused on interdisciplinary research and education opportunities across the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This paper describes the mobilization, planning, and implementation of a first-year interdisciplinary course for STEM majors that integrates key concepts found in traditional first-semester biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics courses. This team-taught course, Integrated Quantitative Science (IQS), is half of a first-year student’s schedule in both semesters and is composed of a double lecture and …

The Face Of Extinction: Are Charismatic Species More Vulnerable To Endangerment?, Andrée M. Brisson

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Conservationists have suggested extinction is non-random; some species are more prone to extinction than others. Multiple traits (e.g., large bodied, long-lived, slow-reproducing, migratory, habitat and/or dietary specialists) have been cited as contributing to the endangerment of species. Due to global anthropogenic demand for wild species (e.g., sport, trade, fashion, medicine, religion, food), I propose charisma as an additional trait of endangerment. This predicts charismatic species are more often targets of direct exploitation than less charismatic species, and that global demand will continue to increase with world population and development. These species represent our most iconic and animated organisms. I quantified …

The Effect Of Climate Change On The Distributions Of Invasive Plants And Their Associated Biological Control Agents In North America, Caroline A. Curtis

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Climate change has the potential to alter the size, shape, and location of species’ distributions. As a result, the interactions between species are also likely to be impacted as novel species encounter each other and historical community assemblages are broken apart. To quantify the impact of distributional changes as a result of climate change on interacting species, distribution maps were produced for three species of invasive plant and their associated biological control agent at three time periods: current, 2050, and 2080. For each of the future time periods, two distribution maps were created for each species, representing the minimum and …

Survey Of The Freshwater Gastropods Of Southeastern Kansas With Emphasis On The Distribution And Habitat Use Of The Delta Hydrobe (Probythinella Emarginata), Bryan Sowards

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The status of many aquatic gastropods in North America is not well understood. Many are exposed to threats similar to those that affect bivalves and other aquatic macroinvertebrates. The delta hydrobe (Probythinella emarginata) is a gill-breathing (prosobranch) snail that occurs in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. It is 1 of only 5 species of prosobranchs in Kansas and is highly sensitive to changes in water quality within watersheds. Probythinella emarginata is presumed to be a Pleistocene relic in the state; it was first collected alive in Kansas in 2001 within Cedar Creek, Chase County, Kansas. I surveyed 13 …

Spatial Conservation Prioritization Of Kansas For Terrestrial Vertebrates, Megan R. Rohweder

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Biological diversity is being threatened by the encroachment of humans, which limits the habitat available for conservation and strains resources allocated for conservation efforts. However conservation goals have to be achieved within these limitations. Conservation priorities can ensure that habitat and resources are used effectively and efficiently. I developed a conservation prioritization plan for the terrestrial vertebrates of Kansas. I used modeled distributions of every terrestrial vertebrate species found in Kansas to build three biodiversity indices; species richness, vulnerability, and endemicity. Kansas was divided into a grid of planning units, 34.5 km2. For each taxonomic group the planning units were …

Assessment Of Aging Structures And Recruitment Of Walleye Sander Vitreus In Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Weston L. Fleming

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

Most walleye Sander vitreus populations in Kansas are supplemented or sustained with stocking. In 2006, gamete collection for hatchery production was initiated at Cedar Bluff Reservoir because the walleye population has a high abundance of potential brood fish and has been sustained by natural reproduction since 2001. However, no quantitative index has been developed to assess walleye recruitment in this fishery. Accordingly, from July through November 2010, I evaluated catch-per-unit-effort (overnight sets) of age-0 walleye in 19 and 25-mm mesh gill nets biweekly and at random and standard sites. There was not a significant difference in catch-per-unit-effort between site types …

Development Of Luminescent Ruthenium Complexes For In-Vitro Fluorescence Imaging Of Angiogenesis With The Rgd Peptide, Rosemary Victoria

HIM 1990-2015

Herein we report the synthesis of an RGD-ruthenium bipyridine [Ru(Bpy)2(BpyRGD)]2+ complex aimed at the detection of angiogenesis. Angiogenesis plays a critical role in many pathophysiological processes, such as tumor growth. The αv-integrins (αv[beta]3, αv[beta]5) are currently used as molecular targeting sites for anti-angiogenic therapies. The [Ru(Bpy)2(BpyRGD)]2+ complex is an organometallic luminescent probe, which enables noninvasive, in vitro imaging of αv[beta]3 expression. Peptides containing the arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequence have been shown to bind strongly to the αvb3 integrin. The RuBpy probes are soluble in water, display long lifetimes, and are photochemically stable. These properties enable the Ru(tris-bpy) complexes to be …

Characterization Of The Function And Interaction Of Proteins Involved In Exopolysaccharide Synthesis In Streptococcus Thermophilus, Streptococcus Iniae, And Lactococcus Lactis Subsp. Cremoris, Angela D. Cefalo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many microorganisms produce capsules of repeating sugar units that surround the cell called exopolysaccharides. The synthesis of these capsules is a complex process that involves numerous protein components. A better understanding of the way these proteins function and interact with one another will benefit many industrial processes by aiding in the construction of bacterial strains with enhanced properties and could also lead to new treatment strategies against microbial pathogens in which capsule production is important in their ability to cause disease. In this study, the function of one of the proteins involved in the regulation of capsule synthesis in the …

The Ecological Roles Of Podostemum Ceratophyllum And Cladophora In The Habitat And Dietary Preferences Of The Riverine Caddisfly Hydropsyche Simulans, Brenna Tinsley

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The net-spinning caddisfly Hydropsyche simulans can be a common inhabitant of shallow reaches in riverine systems, and is easily the most common hydropsychid in the upper Green River, Kentucky. This study was performed in summer 2011 and focused on two main questions: 1. Do the larvae of the riverine caddisflies H. simulans and Cheumatopsyche preferentially inhabit dense patches of P. ceratophyllum compared to bare substrates in the upper Green River?, and 2. Do larvae of H. simulans and Cheumatopsyche consume the filamentous alga Cladophora during the annual late summer algal bloom in the upper Green River? Densities of both hydropsychid …

Biomass Assisted Synthesis Of Antibacterial Gold Nanoparticles And Commentary On Its Future Potential And Applications In Medicine, Chad Willis

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Xylose is a natural monosaccharide found in biomass such as straw, pecan shells, cottonseed hulls, and corncobs. Using this monosaccharide, we report the green synthesis and characterization of biocompatible, biodegradable xylose encapsulated gold nanoparticles (Xyl-GNPs) with potential antibacterial activity. GNPs were synthesized using the bioreduction property of xylose on the chloroaurate anions in an aqueous solution at room temperature and at atmospheric pressure. The characterization of synthesized GNPs was examined by UV-vis spectroscopy; transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results indicate that the particles were stable; near spherical in shape with an …

Pregnancy Outcomes Among Patients With Sickle Cell Disease At Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana: Retrospective Cohort Study, Winston Anderson

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients is associated with increased risk of maternal and fetal mortality. This study determines pregnancy outcomes among women with SCD delivering at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. Nine hundred sixty (960) medical records of pregnant women (131 HbSS, 112 HbSC, and 717 comparison group) from 2007 to 2008 were reviewed. The HbSS women were at increased risk of eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 10.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.60-30.96, P < 0.001), intrauterine growth restriction (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.38-11.64, P = 0.011), and placenta previa (AOR = 22.03, 95% CI = 9.87-49.14, P < 0.001) compared with the comparison group. The HbSC women had increased risk for intrauterine fetal death (AOR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.15-9.96, P = 0.027) and decreased risk of delivering low birth weight babies (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.06-0.73, P = 0.014). Women with SCD in Ghana are at a greater risk of morbidity and mortality in pregnancy compared with women without hemoglobinopathies. Improved maternal and fetal outcomes in Ghanaian women with SCD can be achieved through effective intervention by health care providers with thorough knowledge about predisposing factors toward adverse outcomes.

Hydra Vulgaris As A High Throughput Invertebrate For Anti-Epilepsy Drugs, Bianca Marie Lauro

Senior Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Fluorescence-Based Reporter For Gauging Cyclic Di-Gmp Levels In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Morten T. Rybtke, Bradley R. Borlee, Keiji Murakami, Yasuhiko Irie, Morten Hentzer, Thomas E. Nielsen, Michael Givskov, Matthew R. Parsek, Tim Tolker-Nielsen

Biology Faculty Publications

The increased tolerance toward the host immune system and antibiotics displayed by biofilm-forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria in chronic infections such as cystic fibrosis bronchopneumonia is of major concern. Targeting of biofilm formation is believed to be a key aspect in the development of novel antipathogenic drugs that can augment the effect of classic antibiotics by decreasing antimicrobial tolerance. The second messenger cyclic di-GMP is a positive regulator of biofilm formation, and cyclic di-GMP signaling is now regarded as a potential target for the development of antipathogenic compounds. Here we describe the development of fluorescent monitors that can gauge …

Hybrid Carbon-Based Scaffolds For Applications In Soft Tissue Reconstruction, Jarema S. Czarnecki, Khalid Lafdi, Robert M. Joseph, Panagiotis A. Tsonis

Biology Faculty Publications

Current biomedical scaffolds utilized in surgery to repair soft tissues commonly fail to meet the optimal combination of biomechanical and tissue regenerative properties. Carbon is a scaffold alternative that potentially optimizes the balance between mechanical strength, durability, and function as a cell and biologics delivery vehicle that is necessary to restore tissue function while promoting tissue repair. The goals of this study were to investigate the feasibility of fabricating hybrid fibrous carbon scaffolds modified with biopolymer, polycaprolactone and to analyze their mechanical properties and ability to support cell growth and proliferation. Environmental scanning electron microscopy, micro-computed tomography, and cell adhesion …

Microrna Regulation Of Prostate Cancer Stem/Progenitor Cells And Prostate Cancer Development, Can Liu

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Most human tumors contain a population of cells with stem cell properties, called cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are believed to be responsible for tumor establishment, metastasis, and resistance to clinical therapy. It’s crucial to understand the regulatory mechanisms unique to CSCs, so that we may design CSC-specific therapeutics. Recent discoveries of microRNA (miRNA) have provided a new avenue in understanding the regulatory mechanisms of cancer. However, how miRNAs may regulate CSCs is still poorly understood. Here, we present miRNA expression profiling in six populations of prostate cancer (PCa) stem/progenitor cells that possess distinct tumorigenic properties. Six miRNAs were identified …

Clam (Corbicula Fluminea) As A Potential Sentinel Of Human Norovirus Contamination In Freshwater, Xunyan Ye

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and validate the use of the clam Corbicula fluminea as a sentinel of human noroviruses (HuNoV) contamination in freshwater. The first specific aim was to develop a new method to extract HuNoV RNA from contaminated bivalves (e.g. oysters, clams) that would be much faster than existing methods. The procedure developed includes an initial total RNA extraction using TRI Reagent, followed by HuNoV RNA concentration and purification using biotinylated probe-capture technology. HuNoV RNA is finally detected by real-time RT-PCR. Using bivalve homogenates spiked with HuNoV, 100 PCR detection units of the virus was …

Application Of A Hybrid 3d-Var Data Assimilation System In The Monterey Bay To Study Regional Dynamics Of The California Current System, Chudong Pan

Dissertations

A data assimilation system combining 3-dimensional variational scheme and Navy Coastal Ocean Model was applied to the Monterey Bay area to assimilate temperature and salinity glider data collected in August 2003. The hybrid background error covariance model in the present 3-dimensional variational system incorporates both the static and the flow-dependent background error covariance. To explore the impact of high temporal resolution on the overall skill of the assimilation system, the intended data assimilation interval was set to 1 hour in the present study. A Floating Temporal Window approach is designed to keep the computational efficiency of the scheme and to …

Kinematics And Kinetics Of Two Different Overhead Throws: Passing And Pitching, Brian Platt

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

ABSTRACT: Study Design: Controlled Laboratory Study. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine kinematics and kinetics of the overhand throwing motion while throwing a football pass and a baseball fastball pitch. Background: Though the football throw seems similar to the overhand baseball throw except for the weight of the balls [.42kg football versus .14 kg baseball] the weight has been shown to affect shoulder position and stress throughout the throwing motion [6,11]. In addition, a football quarterback is at risk of shoulder injury as is a baseball pitcher. It is often stated that football quarterbacks are at risk …

Probing The T-Box Riboswitch: A Novel, High-Throughput Transcription Reporter Assay Using A Fluorophore-Binding Aptamer, Nishtha Modi

Biological Sciences

In most Gram-positive bacteria, including important pathogens, expression of many aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) genes is controlled by the tRNA substrate specific to each of these enzymes. This riboswitch regulatory mechanism is unique to Gram-positive bacteria and because correct and efficient aminoacylation of tRNAs is essential to an organism’s viability, it is an ideal target for the development of new antibiotics. The 5’-untranslated region (5’UTR) of the aaRS mRNA adopts a conformation that determines whether readthrough or termination of transcription occurs by interacting with unacylated or acylated tRNA, respectively. Our goal is to uncover a new class of small molecules …

The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (Sasp) And Redox-Dependent Invasion Of Metastatic Cancer Cells, Brooke A. Pati

Biological Sciences

Throughout your lifetime renewable tissues and those which are exposed to prolonged inflammation experience an accumulation of senescent cells. These cells have previously been shown to acquire the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that promotes proliferation and tumorigenesis of epithelial cells, thus increasing the invasive ability of tumor cells (1). SASP is characterized by an upregulation in mRNA levels of a number of secretory factors, such as growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. It has been shown that lifetime exposure to oxidative stress can influence cell cytoskeleton reorganization and influence aging processes (2). In addition matrix metalloproteinases are key SASP factors that …

Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation & Morphine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference In The Hiv-1 Transgenic Rat, Natasha F. Homji-Mishra

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Early Embryology Of The Insect Oligotoma Saundersii (Embiidina) Using Targeted Genes As Developmental Landmarks, Omar Doria

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Embiidina, or "webspinners", is a small, sexually dimorphic, polyneopterous insect order and is the only order to spin silk throughout their life cycle. Unique morphological features and the phylogenetic position of Embiidina make it an attractive subject for study of the evolution and development of the insect body plan and the origin of novel morphological features. Oligotoma saundersii is easily cultured and a viable laboratory organism. It has a fairly standard short-germ embryogenesis process requiring 453 hours at 28°C with progressive development beginning in the anterior region. Preliminary work on targeted developmental genes has yielded small portions of seven genes. …

Assessment Of Oxidative Stress Gene Expression In Brassicaceae Plant Species Using A Real-Time Pcr Method, Florestella Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Many plant species in the Brassicaceae plant family possess the ability to accumulate heavy metals. One challenge in using these hyperaccumulator plants for phytoremediation is that they are slow growing and often have a low biomass. This is a limitation should they be utilized for phytoremediation. However, the mechanisms by which hyperaccumulators tolerate heavy metals are of interest as these characteristics can be engineered into a plant species that is more suited for use in phytoremediation. Therefore, modification of oxidative stress response (OSR) gene expression in Brassicaceae species has become of great interest. Oxidative stress gene induction in both non-accumulator …

Cloning, Expression, And Biochemical Characterization Of Recombinant Putative Glucosyltransferases Clone 3 And 8 From Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi), Deborah Hayford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The grapefruit plant, Citrus paradisi, tends to accumulate high levels of flavonoid glycosides such as flavanones and flavones. Flavonoids have a vast array of important functions in plants and also in humans. Glucosyltransferases (GTs) are enzymes responsible for glucosylation reactions. In our pursuit to study the structure and function of flavonoid GTs, we have used molecular approaches to identify, clone, express, and functionally characterize the enzymes. This research was designed to test the hypothesis that PGT3 is a flavonoid glucosyltransferase and is subject to biochemical regulation. PGT3 has been tested for GT activity with compounds representing subclasses of flavonoids …

Development And Evaluation Of A Mouse Neocortical Cells Neurodevelopment Assay To Assess The Effects Of Pyrethroids, Stephanie I. Savino

Pell Scholars and Senior Theses

Pyrethroid insecticides have been used for more than 40 years and account for 25% of the global insecticide market with household, agricultural and public health applications. With increasing use of pyrethroids over recent years, human exposure to these chemicals is likely. The acute toxicity of pyrethroids to mammalian adults has been documented as moderately toxic by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, little evidence is available regarding the potential toxicological effects of pyrethroids on mammalian neurodevelopment. In this study, a neurodevelopment assay was developed for future investigation of potential pyrethroid effects on the neuronal development of Mus musculus neocortical cells.

Chronic Stress Promotes Tumor Growth Through Increased Bdnf Production And Neo-Innervation, Julie K. Allen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Background: Activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in response to chronic biobehavioral stress results in high levels of catecholamines and persistent activation of adrenergic signaling, which promotes tumor growth and progression. However it is unknown how catecholamine levels within the tumor exceed systemic levels in circulation. I hypothesized that neo-innervation of tumors is required for stress-mediated effects on tumor growth.

Results: First, I examined whether sympathetic nerves are present in human ovarian cancer samples as well as orthotopic ovarian cancer models. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for neurofilament revealed that catecholaminergic neurons are present within tumor tissue. In order to determine …