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2015

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Articles 991 - 1020 of 1751

Full-Text Articles in Biology

Isaw: Integrating Structure, Actors, And Water To Study Socio-Hydro-Ecological Systems, Rebecca L. Hale, Andrea Armstrong, Michelle A. Baker, Sean Bedingfield, David Betts, Caleb Buahin, Martin Buchert, Todd Crowl, Ryan Dupont, James R. Ehleringer, Joanna Endter-Wada, Susannah S. French, Jacqualine Grant, Sarah Hinners, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Douglas Jackson-Smith, Amber S. Jones, Erica S. Limb, Sarah E. Null, Augustina Odame, Diane E. Pataki, David Rosenberg, Madyln Runburg, Philip Stoker, Courtenay Strong Mar 2015

Isaw: Integrating Structure, Actors, And Water To Study Socio-Hydro-Ecological Systems, Rebecca L. Hale, Andrea Armstrong, Michelle A. Baker, Sean Bedingfield, David Betts, Caleb Buahin, Martin Buchert, Todd Crowl, Ryan Dupont, James R. Ehleringer, Joanna Endter-Wada, Susannah S. French, Jacqualine Grant, Sarah Hinners, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Douglas Jackson-Smith, Amber S. Jones, Erica S. Limb, Sarah E. Null, Augustina Odame, Diane E. Pataki, David Rosenberg, Madyln Runburg, Philip Stoker, Courtenay Strong

Biology Faculty Publications

Urbanization, climate, and ecosystem change represent major challenges for managing water resources. Although water systems are complex, a need exists for a generalized representation of these systems to identify important components and linkages to guide scientific inquiry and aid water management. We developed an integrated Structure-Actor-Water framework (iSAW) to facilitate the understanding of and transitions to sustainable water systems. Our goal was to produce an interdisciplinary framework for water resources research that could address management challenges across scales (e.g., plot to region) and domains (e.g., water supply and quality, transitioning, and urban landscapes). The framework was designed to be generalizable …

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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Determination In Liver Of Menhaden Exposed To The Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, Rebecca Hawke Mar 2015

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Determination In Liver Of Menhaden Exposed To The Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill, Rebecca Hawke

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The April 2010 BP® oil spill has caused great concern for ecological impacts in the Gulf of Mexico. Crude oil contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and oil spills increase the exposure of aquatic organisms to this class of chemicals. The overall detrimental health effects associated with PAH exposure depend on the exposure period, the concentration of PAHs, and the toxicity of the PAHs in the mixture. Brevoortia tyrannus and Brevoortia patronus are filter feeding fish commonly known as menhaden and account for over 40% of the commercial industry fisheries catch. As primary consumers, they are a major link in the …

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Draft Genome Sequence Of The Phenazine-Producing Pseudomonas Fluorescens Strain 2-79, Kai Nesemann, Susanna A. Braus-Stromeyer, Andrea Thuermer, Rolf Daniel, Dmitri V. Mavrodi, Linda S. Thomashow, David M. Weller, Gerard H. Braus Mar 2015

Draft Genome Sequence Of The Phenazine-Producing Pseudomonas Fluorescens Strain 2-79, Kai Nesemann, Susanna A. Braus-Stromeyer, Andrea Thuermer, Rolf Daniel, Dmitri V. Mavrodi, Linda S. Thomashow, David M. Weller, Gerard H. Braus

Faculty Publications

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 2-79, a natural isolate of the rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), possesses antagonistic potential toward several fungal pathogens. We report the draft genome sequnce of strain 2-79, which comprises 5,674 protein-coding sequences.

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Further Examination Of The Geographic Range Of Eriogonum Corymbosum Var. Nilesii (Polygonaceae, Eriogoneae), Mark W. Ellis, Paul G. Wolf, Shannon Bardot, James A. Walton, Carol Rowe, Sarah Kulpa, Karen E. Mock Mar 2015

Further Examination Of The Geographic Range Of Eriogonum Corymbosum Var. Nilesii (Polygonaceae, Eriogoneae), Mark W. Ellis, Paul G. Wolf, Shannon Bardot, James A. Walton, Carol Rowe, Sarah Kulpa, Karen E. Mock

Biology Faculty Publications

The wild buckwheat Eriogonum corymbosum is widely distributed throughout the southwestern United States, forming a complex of eight varieties. E. corymbosum var. nilesii is a predominantly yellow-flowered variant reported primarily from Clark Co., Nevada. A previous genetic study by our research group found that var. nilesii is genetically distinct from other E. corymbosum varieties, based on a limited number of populations. Here, we assess genetic variation in 14 newly sampled yellow-flowered populations from southern Nevada, southern Utah, and northern Arizona, and compare them to genetic variation in six populations of previously determined E. corymbosum varieties. Of the new populations, we …

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Subsistence Strategies In Traditional Societies Distinguish Gut Microbiomes, Alexandra J. Obregon-Tito, Raul Y. Tito, Jessica Metcalf, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan, Jose C. Clemente, Luke K. Ursell, Zhenjiang Zech Xu, Will Van Treuren, Rob Knight, Patrick M. Gaffney, Paul Spicer, Paul Lawson, Luis Marin-Reyes, Omar Trujillo-Villarroel, Morris Foster, Emilio Guija-Poma, Luzmila Troncoso-Corzo, Christina Warinner, Andrew T. Ozga, Cecil M. Lewis Jr. Mar 2015

Subsistence Strategies In Traditional Societies Distinguish Gut Microbiomes, Alexandra J. Obregon-Tito, Raul Y. Tito, Jessica Metcalf, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan, Jose C. Clemente, Luke K. Ursell, Zhenjiang Zech Xu, Will Van Treuren, Rob Knight, Patrick M. Gaffney, Paul Spicer, Paul Lawson, Luis Marin-Reyes, Omar Trujillo-Villarroel, Morris Foster, Emilio Guija-Poma, Luzmila Troncoso-Corzo, Christina Warinner, Andrew T. Ozga, Cecil M. Lewis Jr.

Biology Faculty Articles

Recent studies suggest that gut microbiomes of urban-industrialized societies are different from those of traditional peoples. Here we examine the relationship between lifeways and gut microbiota through taxonomic and functional potential characterization of faecal samples from hunter-gatherer and traditional agriculturalist communities in Peru and an urban-industrialized community from the US. We find that in addition to taxonomic and metabolic differences between urban and traditional lifestyles, hunter-gatherers form a distinct sub-group among traditional peoples. As observed in previous studies, we find that Treponema are characteristic of traditional gut microbiomes. Moreover, through genome reconstruction (2.2–2.5 MB, coverage depth × 26–513) and functional …

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Elevational Gradients In Β-Diversity Reflect Variation In The Strength Of Local Community Assembly Mechanisms Across Spatial Scales, J Sebastián Tello, Jonathan A. Myers, Manuel J. Macia, Alfredo F. Fuentes, Leslie Cayola, Gabriel Arellano, M Isabel Loza, Vania Torrez, Maritza Cornejo, Tatiana B. Miranda, Peter M. Jørgensen Mar 2015

Elevational Gradients In Β-Diversity Reflect Variation In The Strength Of Local Community Assembly Mechanisms Across Spatial Scales, J Sebastián Tello, Jonathan A. Myers, Manuel J. Macia, Alfredo F. Fuentes, Leslie Cayola, Gabriel Arellano, M Isabel Loza, Vania Torrez, Maritza Cornejo, Tatiana B. Miranda, Peter M. Jørgensen

Biology Faculty Research

Despite long-standing interest in elevational-diversity gradients, little is known about the processes that cause changes in the compositional variation of communities (β-diversity) across elevations. Recent studies have suggested that β-diversity gradients are driven by variation in species pools, rather than by variation in the strength of local community assembly mechanisms such as dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, or local biotic interactions. However, tests of this hypothesis have been limited to very small spatial scales that limit inferences about how the relative importance of assembly mechanisms may change across spatial scales. Here, we test the hypothesis that scale-dependent community assembly mechanisms shape …

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Allelic Polymorphism Of Gigantea Is Responsible For Naturally Occurring Variation In Circadian Period In Brassica Rapa, Qiguang Xie, Ping Lou, Victor Hermand, Rashid Aman Mar 2015

Allelic Polymorphism Of Gigantea Is Responsible For Naturally Occurring Variation In Circadian Period In Brassica Rapa, Qiguang Xie, Ping Lou, Victor Hermand, Rashid Aman

Dartmouth Scholarship

GIGANTEA (GI) was originally identified by a late-flowering mutant in Arabidopsis, but subsequently has been shown to act in circadian period determination, light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation, and responses to multiple abiotic stresses, including tolerance to high salt and cold (freezing) temperature. Genetic mapping and analysis of families of heterogeneous inbred lines showed that natural variation in GI is responsible for a major quantitative trait locus in circadian period in Brassica rapa. We confirmed this conclusion by transgenic rescue of an Arabidopsis gi-201 loss of function mutant. The two B. rapa GI alleles each fully rescued the …

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Byu Undergraduates Execute A Familial Study Of Non-Demented Individuals In High-Risk Alzheimer’S Disease Pedigrees, John S.K. Kauwe Mar 2015

Byu Undergraduates Execute A Familial Study Of Non-Demented Individuals In High-Risk Alzheimer’S Disease Pedigrees, John S.K. Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. In this MEG I will mentor four undergraduate students (Kevin Boehme, Lyndsay Staley, Kaitlin Bell and Mark Wadsworth) as they develop skills in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, presentation and networking while identifying genetic factors that protect individuals from Alzheimer’s disease.

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Linking Water And Carbon Cycles To Train Students To Meet 21st Century Grand Challenges In Environmental Science, Richard Gill Mar 2015

Linking Water And Carbon Cycles To Train Students To Meet 21st Century Grand Challenges In Environmental Science, Richard Gill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The central aim of this proposal is to provide opportunities for students from diverse academic backgrounds to work collaboratively on a number of federally funded environmental change experiments across four of Utah’s ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, and Colorado Plateau Grassland. This proposal funded 4 students from life sciences and engineering.

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Relatedness, Conflict, And The Evolution Of Eusociality, Xiaoyun Liao, Stephen Rong, David C. Queller Mar 2015

Relatedness, Conflict, And The Evolution Of Eusociality, Xiaoyun Liao, Stephen Rong, David C. Queller

Biology Faculty Research

The evolution of sterile worker castes in eusocial insects was a major problem in evolutionary theory until Hamilton developed a method called inclusive fitness. He used it to show that sterile castes could evolve via kin selection, in which a gene for altruistic sterility is favored when the altruism sufficiently benefits relatives carrying the gene. Inclusive fitness theory is well supported empirically and has been applied to many other areas, but a recent paper argued that the general method of inclusive fitness was wrong and advocated an alternative population genetic method. The claim of these authors was bolstered by a …

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Seta Structure In Members Of The Coleochaetales ( Streptophyta ), Timothy Richard Rockwell Mar 2015

Seta Structure In Members Of The Coleochaetales ( Streptophyta ), Timothy Richard Rockwell

Theses and Dissertations

The charophycean green algae, which include the Coleochaetales, together with land plants form a monophyletic group, the streptophytes. The order Coleochaetales, a possible sister taxon to land plants, is defined by its distinguishing setae (hairs), which are encompassed by a collar. Previous studies of these setae yielded conflicting results and were confined to one species, Coleochaet. scutata. In order to interpret these results and learn about the evolution of this character, setae of four species of Coleochaete and the genus Chaetosphaeridium within the Coleochaetales were studied to determine whether cellulose, callose, and phenolic compounds contribute to the chemical composition of …

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Phenotypic And Mutational Consequences Of Mitochondrial Etc Genetic Damage, Michael James Lue Mar 2015

Phenotypic And Mutational Consequences Of Mitochondrial Etc Genetic Damage, Michael James Lue

Dissertations and Theses

Genetic mutation is the ultimate source of new phenotypic variation in populations. The importance of mutation cannot be understated, and constitutes a significant evolutionary force. Although single mutations may have little to no impact on organismal performance or fitness, when multiplied across the total number of potential sites within the genome, mutation can have a large impact. Accurate measurement of the rates, molecular mechanisms, and distributions of effects of mutations are critical for many applications of evolutionary theory. Despite the importance of both deleterious and beneficial mutations, their genome-wide patterns and phenotypic consequences are poorly understood when considering the mitochondrial …

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The Central Aim Of This Proposal Is To Provide Opportunities For Students From Diverse Academic Backgrounds To Work Collaboratively On A Number Of Federally Funded Environmental Change Experiments Across Four Of Utah’S Ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, And Colorado Plateau Grassland. This Proposal Funded 4 Students From Life Sciences And Engineering., Mark C. Belk Mar 2015

The Central Aim Of This Proposal Is To Provide Opportunities For Students From Diverse Academic Backgrounds To Work Collaboratively On A Number Of Federally Funded Environmental Change Experiments Across Four Of Utah’S Ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, And Colorado Plateau Grassland. This Proposal Funded 4 Students From Life Sciences And Engineering., Mark C. Belk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The proposal was to compare life history characteristics and the cost of reproduction tradeoff among populations of a burying beetle (Nicrophorus orbicollis). We conducted two major experiments with the MEG funding directed toward this goal. Both experiments required that we collect beetles from the wild and then raise their offspring in the lab to document responses. First, we compared lifetime reproductive output among two populations at two distinct temperatures. Second, we evaluated parentage of offspring (using newly developed molecular techniques) after manipulation of parental care.

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Integrating Interactive Computational Modeling In Biology Curricula, Tomáš Helikar, Christine E. Cutucache, Lauren M. Dahlquist, Tyler A. Herek, Joshua J. Larson, Jim A. Rogers Mar 2015

Integrating Interactive Computational Modeling In Biology Curricula, Tomáš Helikar, Christine E. Cutucache, Lauren M. Dahlquist, Tyler A. Herek, Joshua J. Larson, Jim A. Rogers

Biology Faculty Publications

While the use of computer tools to simulate complex processes such as computer circuits is normal practice in fields like engineering, the majority of life sciences/biological sciences courses continue to rely on the traditional textbook and memorization approach. To address this issue, we explored the use of the Cell Collective platform as a novel, interactive, and evolving pedagogical tool to foster student engagement, creativity, and higher-level thinking. Cell Collective is a Web-based platform used to create and simulate dynamical models of various biological processes. Students can create models of cells, diseases, or pathways themselves or explore existing models. This technology …

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Identification Of Aflatoxins And Ochratoxin A In Selected Imported Pet Food, Iffat Tahira, Nighat Sultana, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif Mar 2015

Identification Of Aflatoxins And Ochratoxin A In Selected Imported Pet Food, Iffat Tahira, Nighat Sultana, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif

Journal of Bioresource Management

The current study was conducted to analyze the aflatoxins (AF i.e. AFB1, AFB2, AFG1 AFG2) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in imported pet food. A total of five hundred and ten commercially available imported pet food samples of cat (solid = 240, semi-solid = 90) and dog (solid = 150, semi-solid = 30) were collected from retailers and analyzed by chromatographic technique i.e. HPTLC. Results revealed 45.83% (mean, 3.90 ppb) and 18% (mean, 4.83 ppb) of AFB1 incidence in solid pet foods of cats and dogs, respectively. However, lower levels i.e. 8.88% (mean, 4.60ppb) and 6.66% (mean, 2.80ppb) of AFB1 were …

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The Population Estimate Of Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus Chirurgus In Wetlands Of Pakistan, Zahid Iqbal Khan, Mohammad Shareef Mughal Mar 2015

The Population Estimate Of Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus Chirurgus In Wetlands Of Pakistan, Zahid Iqbal Khan, Mohammad Shareef Mughal

Journal of Bioresource Management

Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Hydrophasianus chirurgus, is the only beautiful bird maintaining its presence in the abandoned wetlands of Punjab during the summer season. The population distribution appears, between 298 and 347, which was highest (83-96) at Marala and lowest (21-57) at Balloki, with density found to be highest (3/km2) and lowest (0.3/ km2), respectively. Being a migratory bird, March was observed as the start of arrival, and October was observed as completion of departure from the study areas.

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Determination Of Acute Toxicity Of Copper And Cobalt For Tilapia Nilotica, Asif Naseem Rai, Asmat Ullah, Jibran Haider Mar 2015

Determination Of Acute Toxicity Of Copper And Cobalt For Tilapia Nilotica, Asif Naseem Rai, Asmat Ullah, Jibran Haider

Journal of Bioresource Management

During the present investigation, the 96-hr LC50 and lethal concentrations of copper and cobalt for Tilapia nilotica were determined under controlled laboratory conditions at constant pH (7.25), total hardness (255 mgL-1) and temperature (30 °C). During acute toxicity studies, the physico-chemical parameters of water viz. temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, carbon dioxide, total ammonia, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and total hardness were monitored at 12-hr intervals for each test. Fish were exposed to different concentrations of copper and cobalt, separately, starting from zero with an increment of 0.05 and 0.5 mgL-1. After 96-hr exposure of various concentrations of each …

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Evaluation Of Biochar As Fertilizer For The Growth Of Some Seasonal Vegetables, Kainaat William, Rizwana Aleem Qureshi Mar 2015

Evaluation Of Biochar As Fertilizer For The Growth Of Some Seasonal Vegetables, Kainaat William, Rizwana Aleem Qureshi

Journal of Bioresource Management

Biochar was used to replace inorganic fertilizers. Biochar was synthesized by the process of pyrolysis using horse dung (5kg) and dry grass (25kg) to check its effect on the growth of some local vegetables i.e. okra, beans, coriander and mint. These plants were kept in three different environments i.e. outdoor, indoor and greenhouse conditions. In each condition three replications were made for each plant and biochar was applied on them. Control plants (without biochar) were also grown in each condition. Parameters studied were pH, water holding capacity, ammonia, nitrates, chlorophyll content, fertility analysis, temperature and humidity, number of leaves, plant …

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Spatial, Temporal, And Density-Dependent Components Of Habitat Quality For A Desert Owl, Aaron D. Flesch, Richard L. Hutto, Willem J. D. Leeuwen, Kyle Hartfield, Sky Jacobs Mar 2015

Spatial, Temporal, And Density-Dependent Components Of Habitat Quality For A Desert Owl, Aaron D. Flesch, Richard L. Hutto, Willem J. D. Leeuwen, Kyle Hartfield, Sky Jacobs

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Spatial variation in resources is a fundamental driver of habitat quality but the realized value of resources at any point in space may depend on the effects of conspecifics and stochastic factors, such as weather, which vary through time. We evaluated the relative and combined effects of habitat resources, weather, and conspecifics on habitat quality for ferruginous pygmy-owls (Glaucidium brasilianum) in the Sonoran Desert of northwest Mexico by monitoring reproductive output and conspecific abundance over 10 years in and around 107 territory patches. Variation in reproductive output was much greater across space than time, and although habitat resources …

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A Meta-Analysis Of Soil Biodiversity Impacts On The Carbon Cycle, M.-A. De Graaff, J. Adkins, P. Kardol, H. L. Throop Mar 2015

A Meta-Analysis Of Soil Biodiversity Impacts On The Carbon Cycle, M.-A. De Graaff, J. Adkins, P. Kardol, H. L. Throop

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Loss of biodiversity impacts ecosystem functions, such as carbon (C) cycling. Soils are the largest terrestrial C reservoir, containing more C globally than the biotic and atmospheric pools together. As such, soil C cycling, and the processes controlling it, has the potential to affect atmospheric CO2 concentrations and subsequent climate change. Despite the growing evidence of links between plant diversity and soil C cycling, there is a dearth of information on whether similar relationships exist between soil biodiversity and C cycling. This knowledge gap occurs even though there has been increased recognition that soil communities display high levels of …

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Cyclosporin A Disrupts Notch Signaling And Vascular Lumen Maintenance, Raghav Pandey, Mark A. Botros, Benjamin A. Nacev, Allan R. Albig Mar 2015

Cyclosporin A Disrupts Notch Signaling And Vascular Lumen Maintenance, Raghav Pandey, Mark A. Botros, Benjamin A. Nacev, Allan R. Albig

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cyclosporin A (CSA) suppresses immune function by blocking the cyclophilin A and calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathways. In addition to immunosuppression, CSA has also been shown to have a wide range of effects in the cardiovascular system including disruption of heart valve development, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and angiogenesis inhibition. Circumstantial evidence has suggested that CSA might control Notch signaling which is also a potent regulator of cardiovascular function. Therefore, the goal of this project was to determine if CSA controls Notch and to dissect the molecular mechanism(s) by which CSA impacts cardiovascular homeostasis. We found that CSA blocked JAG1, but not …

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Conditional Regulation Of Puf1p, Puf4p, And Puf5p Activity Alters Yhb1 Mrna Stability For A Rapid Response To Toxic Nitric Oxide Stress In Yeast, Joseph Russo, Wendy Olivas Mar 2015

Conditional Regulation Of Puf1p, Puf4p, And Puf5p Activity Alters Yhb1 Mrna Stability For A Rapid Response To Toxic Nitric Oxide Stress In Yeast, Joseph Russo, Wendy Olivas

Biology Department Faculty Works

Puf proteins regulate mRNA degradation and translation through interactions with 3' untranslated regions (UTRs). Such regulation provides an efficient method to rapidly alter protein production during cellular stress. YHB1 encodes the only protein to detoxify nitric oxide in yeast. Here we show that YHB1 mRNA is destabilized by Puf1p, Puf4p, and Puf5p through two overlapping Puf recognition elements (PREs) in the YHB1 3' UTR. Overexpression of any of the three Pufs is sufficient to fully rescue wild-type decay in the absence of other Pufs, and overexpression of Puf4p or Puf5p can enhance the rate of wild-type decay. YHB1 mRNA decay …

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Adenovirus Entry From The Apical Surface Of Polarized Epithelia Is Facilitated By The Host Innate Immune Response, Poornima L.N. Kotha, Priyanka Sharma, Abimbola O. Kolawole, Ran Yan, Mahmoud Alghamri, Trisha L. Brockman, Julian Gomez-Cambronero, Julian Cambronero Mar 2015

Adenovirus Entry From The Apical Surface Of Polarized Epithelia Is Facilitated By The Host Innate Immune Response, Poornima L.N. Kotha, Priyanka Sharma, Abimbola O. Kolawole, Ran Yan, Mahmoud Alghamri, Trisha L. Brockman, Julian Gomez-Cambronero, Julian Cambronero

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Prevention of viral-induced respiratory disease begins with an understanding of the factors that increase or decrease susceptibility to viral infection. The primary receptor for most adenoviruses is the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), a cell-cell adhesion protein normally localized at the basolateral surface of polarized epithelia and involved in neutrophil transepithelial migration. Recently, an alternate isoform of CAR, CAREx8, has been identified at the apical surface of polarized airway epithelia and is implicated in viral infection from the apical surface. We hypothesized that the endogenous role of CAREx8 may be to facilitate host innate immunity. We show that IL-8, …

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Improved Evidence-Based Genome-Scale Metabolic Models For Maize Leaf, Embryo, And Endosperm, Samuel M. D. Seaver, Louis M. T. Bradbury, Océane Frelin, Raphy Zarecki, Eytan Ruppin, Andrew D. Hanson, Christopher S. Henry Mar 2015

Improved Evidence-Based Genome-Scale Metabolic Models For Maize Leaf, Embryo, And Endosperm, Samuel M. D. Seaver, Louis M. T. Bradbury, Océane Frelin, Raphy Zarecki, Eytan Ruppin, Andrew D. Hanson, Christopher S. Henry

Publications and Research

There is a growing demand for genome-scale metabolic reconstructions for plants, fueled by the need to understand the metabolic basis of crop yield and by progress in genome and transcriptome sequencing. Methods are also required to enable the interpretation of plant transcriptome data to study how cellular metabolic activity varies under different growth conditions or even within different organs, tissues, and developmental stages. Such methods depend extensively on the accuracy with which genes have been mapped to the biochemical reactions in the plant metabolic pathways. Errors in these mappings lead to metabolic reconstructions with an inflated number of reactions and …

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Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Beach Fouling In Saginaw Bay, Michigan, Daniela Bull Mar 2015

Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of Beach Fouling In Saginaw Bay, Michigan, Daniela Bull

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Beach fouling is a problem in the Great Lakes. We surveyed beaches along the southwestern shore of Saginaw Bay to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of beach fouling (muck), muck composition, and any relationship between muck accrual and weather conditions. Muck deposition was greater towards the end of the growing season. The Bay City Recreation Area (BCRA) had the highest frequency of muck presence. BCRA muck depth was much greater in 2010 and 2011 than in 2012 and 2013. No sites differed in muck depth in 2012, but in 2013 the two southernmost sites tended to have greater muck …

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Low Mitochondrial Dna Diversity In An Ancient Population From China: Insight, Yu Dong, Chunxiang Li, Fengshi Luan, Zhenguang Li, Hongjie Li, Yinqiu Cui, Hui Zhou, Ripan S. Malhi Mar 2015

Low Mitochondrial Dna Diversity In An Ancient Population From China: Insight, Yu Dong, Chunxiang Li, Fengshi Luan, Zhenguang Li, Hongjie Li, Yinqiu Cui, Hui Zhou, Ripan S. Malhi

Human Biology Open Access Pre-Prints

To gain insight into the social organization of a population associated with the Dawenkou period, ancient DNA analysis of 18 individuals from human remains from Fujia site, Shandong Province, China was completed. Directly radiocarbon dated to 4800–4500 cal BP, the Fujia site is assumed to be associated with a transitional phase from matrilineal clans to patrilineal monogamous families. Our results reveal a low mitochondrial DNA diversity from the site and population. Combined with Y-chromosome data, the pattern observed at the Fujia site is most consistent with a matrilineal community. The patterns also suggest that the bond of marriage were de-emphasized …

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P-13 The Effect Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Concentration Of Myo-Inositol, Patrick D. Knighton Jr. Mar 2015

P-13 The Effect Of Omega-3 Fatty Acids On Concentration Of Myo-Inositol, Patrick D. Knighton Jr.

Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Programs

Bipolar affective disorder is a mental illness that affects 1-2% of the population. One hypothesis for the effectiveness of current treatments of bipolar disorder is the reduction of cellular myo-inositol. Lithium and valproate are known to reduce cellular inositol levels, however these treatments often have notable side effects. Currently, there is a need to find a treatment for bipolar disorder that reduces the adverse side effects of these drugs. Previous studies, have found success in using omega-3 fatty acids for the treatment of bipolar affective disorder. The long-term purpose of this study is to determine what effect omega-3 fatty acids …

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P-26 Taphanomic Degradation Of Chicken Feathers By Bacteria And Fungus In Varying Sediments, Douglas Van Putten Mar 2015

P-26 Taphanomic Degradation Of Chicken Feathers By Bacteria And Fungus In Varying Sediments, Douglas Van Putten

Honors Scholars & Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium Programs

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationships between the early taphanomic degradation of chicken feathers and the environmental/biological variables that affect the feather’s physical characteristics. The variables tested include sediment type, length of burial, bacteria, and fungi and their interaction on Rooster Chinchilla Rounds from the bird species Gallus gallus. The results of this analysis can be used to determine what variables correlate with specific feather properties such as barb count, color and size. The anticipated outcome of this lab is the identification of which environmental/biological variables cause the most degradation. The findings may be useful …

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Ultraviolet Coloration In Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilio Glaucus Group, Papilionidae) With A Method For Objectively Quantifying Adult Butterfly Wing Wear, Matthew Aardema, J. Mark Scriber Mar 2015

Ultraviolet Coloration In Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilio Glaucus Group, Papilionidae) With A Method For Objectively Quantifying Adult Butterfly Wing Wear, Matthew Aardema, J. Mark Scriber

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Tiger swallowtail butterflies in the genus Papilio have an ability to visually distinguish between a large array of colors including those in the ultraviolet spectrum (UV). However, very little is known about UV reflectance patterns in these butterflies. Using a combination of UV photography and spectral analysis, we here show that several areas on the wings of tiger swallowtails reflect UV light including areas of blue scaling and the anterobasal region of the hind wings. We also discuss how a low level of UV reflectance from the wing membrane itself may be combined with UV photography to quantify wing wear. …

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In Vivo Modulation Of Rhythmically Active Neural Networks In The Crustacean Stomatogastric Ganglion, Alexandra Mead Yarger Mar 2015

In Vivo Modulation Of Rhythmically Active Neural Networks In The Crustacean Stomatogastric Ganglion, Alexandra Mead Yarger

Theses and Dissertations

Rhythmic motor patterns are found throughout all living organisms and are responsible for maintaining some of our most fundamental behaviors. The motor circuits producing these behaviors are flexible and able to adapt to changing internal and environmental conditions, yet stable enough to maintain function within certain boundaries. Central pattern generators (CPGs), which are the primary source of this stability, reliably maintain activity patterns and thus the behaviors they drive. The crab stomatogastric nervous system contains the well-characterized gastric mill (chewing) and pyloric (filtering of food) CPGs. In vitro, the pyloric rhythm is stereotyped with little variation over time. Temperature, inter-circuit …

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