Biology Commons^™

Abl1, Overexpressed In Hepatocellular Carcinomas, Regulates Expression Of Notch1 And Promotes Development Of Liver Tumors In Mice, Fang Wang, Wei Hou, Lennox Chitsike, Yingchen Xu, Carlee Bettler, Aldeb Perera, Thomas Bank, Scott J. Cotler, Asha Dhanarajan, Mitchell F. Denning, Xianzhong Ding, Peter W. Breslin, Wenan Qiang, Jun Li, Anthony J. Koleske, Wei Qiu

Biology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Background & Aims

We investigated whether ABL proto-oncogene 1, non-receptor tyrosine kinase (ABL1) is involved in development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

We analyzed clinical and gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Albumin-Cre (HepWT) mice and mice with hepatocyte-specific disruption of Abl1 (HepAbl–/– mice) were given hydrodynamic injections of plasmids encoding the Sleeping Beauty transposase and transposons with the MET gene and a catenin β1 gene with an N-terminal truncation, which induces development of liver tumors. Some mice were then gavaged with the ABL1 inhibitor nilotinib or vehicle (control) daily for 4 weeks. We knocked …

Human Health, Interagency Coordination, And The Need For Biodiversity Data, Jennifer M. Zaspel, Julie M. Allen, Christopher D. Tyrrell, Nathan P. Lemoine, Luke M. Jacobus, Crystal Klem, Jillian Goodwin, John M. Bates

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Investigating The Role Of Lin-35 And The Dream Complex In Preserving Fertility Under Stress In C. Elegans, Frances Virginia Compere

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Organisms are subjected to environments that can fluctuate and cause them stress. Therefore, organisms must have the ability to adapt to the stress to survive and propagate. Temperature stress is becoming an increasingly relevant type of stress due to climate change and is known to affect fertility in many types of organisms including the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we examine the role of LIN-35, the single C. elegans homolog of the tumor suppressor Retinoblastoma (pRB), in fertility under moderate temperature stress. We found that lin-35 mutants lose fertility more drastically under moderate temperature stress than wildtype worms, and that …

Proteomics Of The Egg Cell Membrane Of The Sea Star Patiria Miniata, Emily Wiseman

Theses and Dissertations

The conception of life, the creation of a genetically distinct being, is an event that has fascinated humanity for ages. It was only recently, at the turn of the 20th century, that the field of reproduction research reached an age of molecular mechanics, and with that, an onslaught of difficulties were encountered. The egg is a unique cell type because it contains a number of mRNA transcripts that do not express proteins necessary for the initial moments of gamete interaction or egg activation. Instead, these RNAs are stored in the egg for expression during early embryonic development. Coupled with the …

Biological Flora Of The Tropical And Subtropical Intertidal Zone: Literature Review For Rhizophora Mangle L., Hudson R. Deyoe, Robert I. Lonard, Frank W. Judd, Richard Stalter, Ilka Feller

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Rhizophora mangle L. is a tropical and subtropical mangrove species that occurs as a dominant tree species in the intertidal zone of low-energy shorelines. Rhizophora mangle plays an important role in coastal zones as habitat for a wide range of organisms of intertidal food webs, as a natural barrier to coastal erosion, and as carbon sequestration. A review of mangrove literature has been performed, but a review specifically on red mangroves has not. The approach was to cover a broad range of topics with a focus on topics that have seen significant work since the 1970s. This review includes a …

Features Of Heart Activity Of Cattle In The Conditions Of Southern Aral Sea Region, Svetlana Mambetullaeva, Khayratdin Seytkamalov

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

In this article, the results of comparative analysis of electrocardiogram are shown for the cows of different breeds in the Aral Sea region. It is set that the high temperature of the environment and sunny insolation render a negative influence on the functional parameters of the cardiac vascular system of animals. There are facts about the cows of different breeds at the influence of different temperatures that have unidirectional functional changes in the operation of the heart. At the same time, we will mark that these changes are less expressed for the cows of the improved zebu visible cattle, what …

Photoelectric Injection Amplification Of Al–Al2o3–P-Cdte–Mo Structures At Low Bias Voltages, A K. Uteniyazov

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

The results of studies of photoelectric injection enhancement of the Al–Al₂O₃–p-CdTe –Mo structure upon application of low bias voltages. It has been shown that the studied Al-Al₂O₃–p-CdTe-Mo structure under can be represented as a n⁺-p-R_ом structure with a long base. Conducted researches show that Al-Al₂O₃–p-CdTe-Mo structure has unique properties. It has very high photocurrent and photosensitivity at both direct and reverse dias voltage under even small bias voltage (up to 500mV).

Synthesis Of Supramolecular Complex L– (-) – Menthol, Ziyada Djumanova Dr, Lolaxan Ettibaeva, Ugilay Abduraxmonova, Zulfiya Khalmuratova

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

In this article glycyrrhizic acid content with menthol in several various proportions (2:1; 4:1; 9:1), information was given on synthesis and physical and chemical properties of new supermolecular complexes. Received supramolecular complexes concerning 4:1 it was chemically defined and also studied the structure of supramolecular complexes by physical methods on the basis of interaction of organic molecules with electromagnetic radiation, in particular their range IR – of spectroscopy. Our work of the near future will be turned to check its recent supramolecular complexes on the basis of GA: Menthol for growth of a plant and biotic elasticity of tension …

Spectrophotometric Characterization Of The Complexation Of Gossypol Acetic Acid With Cobalt Ion, Ugilay Abdurahmanova, Habibjon Kushiev, Maral Askarova, Dilafruz Allanazarova

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

The authors of the article suggest simple and express method of spectrophotometric determination of cobalt with the help of derivatives of gossypol. Optimal conditions of determining cobalt are found. Under optimal conditions there was created a graded graph, which is more linear in the range for cobalt concentration of 10.0 – 50.0 microgram/25 ml, contents and constants of cobalt complex with gossypol vinegar acid.

The Complicated And Confusing Ecology Of Microcystis Blooms, Steven W. Wilhelm, George S. Bullerjahn, R Michael Mckay

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Blooms of the toxin-producing cyanobacterium are increasing globally, leading to the loss of ecosystem services, threats to human health, as well as the deaths of pets and husbandry animals. While nutrient availability is a well-known driver of algal biomass, the factors controlling "who" is present in fresh waters are more complicated. possesses multiple strategies to adapt to temperature, light, changes in nutrient chemistry, herbivory, and parasitism that provide a selective advantage over its competitors. Moreover, its ability to alter ecosystem pH provides it a further advantage that helps exclude many of its planktonic competitors. While decades of nutrient monitoring have …

Stabilizing Capability Of Gum Arabic On The Synthesis Of Poly(Styrene-Methylmethacrylate-Acrylic Acid) Latex For The Generation Of Colloidal Crystal Films, Ikhazuagbe Ifijen, Stanley Omorogbe, Muniratu Maliki, Ifeanyi Odiachi, Aireguamen Aigbodion, Esther Ikhuoria

Tanzania Journal of Science

This article describes the generation and characterization of colloidal crystals from particles of gum arabic (GA) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfate (SDBS) emulsified poly(styrene methylmethacrylate-acrylic acid) (P(St-MMA-AA) latex. The colloidal latex was synthesized using GA and SDBS as the emulsifying agents and then used to generate colloidal crystal films via the vertical deposition technique. Dynamic light scattering analysis placed the average particle diameter, polydispersity and Zeta potential at about 122 nm, 0.014 and –36.20 mV for the as-synthesized GA emulsified terpolymer latex and 213 nm, 0.006, –35.60 mV for the SDBS emulsified terpolymer latex, respectively. Thermo-gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry …

Device–To-Device Association Algorithm For Optimal Neighbour Selection And Channel Sharing In 5g Cellular Networks, Chiza Christophe, Omar Hamad, Libe Massawe, Abdi Abdalla

Tanzania Journal of Science

The integration of device-to-device (D2D) communication in 5G cellular networks has generated the possibility of multiple transmission modes in a single cell. This has motivated scholars to investigate different mode selection and D2D association algorithms that guarantee the selection of proper transmission mode. However, the complexity of algorithms and tractability of devices in the cell are still remarkably challenging. This paper, therefore, presents a utility based D2D association algorithm that ensures optimal neighbour selection by using numerical linear algebra to minimize computational complexity. Simulation results show that the minimum utility based D2D association increases the expected values of attached devices …

The Effects Of Milk Components On Lactoperoxidase Activity, Leonard Fweja, Michael Lewis, Alistair Grandison

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study examined the effects of storage conditions (in particular temperature and media composition) and changes in composition of each milk fraction, and of individual components on lactoperoxidase (LP) activity. The enzyme demonstrated a pulsing characteristic especially in samples stored at 5 °C, however, temperature and media composition did not have great effects on the pulsing behaviour of the enzyme. The results also indicated small but statistically significant variations (P ≤ 0.05) in LP activity between whole milk (control) and acid whey, rennet whey and cream and non-significant variations (P > 0.05) between the control and skimmed milk, and between skimmed …

Current Epidemiological Assessment Of Plasmodium Falciparum And Helminth Co-Infections In Children After A Decade Of Implementation Of Control Programs In Morogoro Region, Tanzania, Christopher Kisiringyo, Winifrida Kidima

Tanzania Journal of Science

A school based cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2018 to assess the burden of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma and soil transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Mvomero. A total of 374 children (age range =  5–16 years, mean age = 11.3 years) were recruited from five primary schools. Prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infections were 29.9%, S. haematobium 49.7%, hookworm 20.3%, Ascaris lumbricoides 12.6%, Taenia saginata 0.5% and S. mansoni 0.3%. Malaria parasite density increased with increasing children age (r = 0.99). Only 6.5% (12/186) of S. haematobium infected children were presented with heavy infections, whereas all STH-positive …

Effects Of 15 Local Medicinal Plant Species On Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1b And Dipeptidyl Peptidase 1v Activity As Herbal Antidiabetic Type 2 Remedies, Pamhidzai Dzomba, Chidavayenzi Tinevimbo

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study aimed at investigating plant species that are used locally in Zimbabwe to manage diabetes type 2 and their respective modes of action using in vitro studies. The plants for this study were identified by ethnobotanical studies and their respective antidiabetic potentials were evaluated using protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) and dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) inhibition assays. Out of the 15 plant species used to manage diabetes in traditional practices, 9 inhibited PTP 1B with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) ranging from 0.03 ± 0.00 to 61.31 ± 0.70 µg/mL. The mechanism of inhibition deduced from Lineweaver-Burk …

Extraction, Derivatization, Characterization And Antifungal Investigation Of Limonene From Citrus Sinensis Peels, Ita Uwidia, Bodunde Owolabi, Richard Okafor

Tanzania Journal of Science

Limonene, a cyclic monoterpene is the main component in citrus oils. Oranges (Citrus sinensis) were sourced from a local market, peeled and the peels collected for this study. The orange peels were distilled using steam distillation to obtain the oil. The oil obtained was then distilled to obtain a pure colourless form of limonene (95%). The limonene (2 ml) was dissolved in dry chloroform (25 ml) and freshly distilled hydroiodic acid (57%; boiling point 127 °C) to give the derivative iodo-limonene (1.4 g; 30% yield). Another reaction of epoxidation of limonene was carried out by reacting limonene with hydrogen peroxide …

Assessment Of The Geochemical Characteristics Of Water And Surface Sediments Of Rufiji Mangrove Forest, Tanzania, Dativa Shilla, Daniel Shilla

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study was carried out to investigate the geochemical characteristics of the Rufiji mangrove systems using mineralogy and heavy metal analyses. Rufiji mangrove sediments showed predominance of fine grain size fractions with silt as the major component. Stoichiometric ratios of nutrients revealed phosphorus enrichment in Rufiji sediment. The overall order of heavy metal concentrations in sediments was: Fe > Mg > Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > Co > Cd. There was no relationship between grain size and some of the heavy metal concentrations, except for Co, Cr, Fe, and Mg which negatively correlated with sand, and positively correlated with silt. The findings …

Variability Of Selected Mineral Contents In Marine Fish From Local Markets In Tanzania, Stella Shija, Matobola Mihale, Daniel Shilla

Tanzania Journal of Science

Mineral contents (K, Na, Ca and Mg) in selected marine fish species (Alectis ciliaris, Lethrinus harak, Rastrelliger kanagurta and Siganus canaliculatus) from local fish markets were analysed in wet and dry seasons. The processing methods (frying and boiling) were also assessed for their influence on the mineral contents. Samples were randomly collected from Tanga, Bagamoyo, Dar es Salaam and Mtwara seaports, analysed using established methods and determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Mean mineral contents in individual and all analysed fish species were high during dry season compared to wet season except Ca and the difference was statistically significant …

Plant Litter Decomposition Differs With Species And Soil Resources In A Chihuahuan Desert Grassland, Andrea Lopez

Biology ETDs

Uncertainties surround the extent to which diversity can mitigate the effects of climate change and anthropogenic activity on ecosystem functions. In desert grasslands, changes to water availability and soil nitrogen, two primary resources that limit ecosystem processes, can have lasting impacts on nutrient cycling. We used grass litter from Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua gracilis, Pleuraphis jamesii, and Sporobolus spp. to assess the effects of soil resources on single- and multi-species decomposition in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland in central New Mexico, USA. Litterbags were deployed in a factorial experiment that manipulated rain pulse size (5- vs. 20-mm) and frequency …

A Brief Review Of Monolecty In Bees And Benefits Of A Broadened Definition, James H. Cane

All PIRU Publications

Monolecty in bees was defined a century ago for those species that consistently collect pollen only from the same single species of floral host. Even at the time, the term was considered “a curiosity” with little biological meaning. Here, I review its multiple problems and suggest that its utility would improve if we apply the term monolecty to those bees species that use a single genus (not species) of flowering host.

The Impact Of Fire On Soil Characteristics In The Maritime Forests On Sapelo Island, Ga, Courtney Nicole Scott

Biology Theses

Human activities have drastically altered natural fire regimes in countless ecosystems by suppressing and/or effectuating fires. In the past, management strategies were formulated to eliminate the occurrence of fire altogether but as we have become more aware of the benefits of fires such as reducing the amount of fuel build-up, recycling of nutrients for healthier plant communities and the promotion of biodiversity, prescribed burns are now considered an integral part of forest management. While many studies have explored the benefits of fires on plant communities, very few studies look at the impacts of fire on soil characteristics. Sapelo Island, which …

Hyaloid Vasculature And Mmp2 Activity Play A Role During Optic Fissure Fusion In Zebrafish, Megan L. Weaver, Warlen P. Piedade, Nishita N. Meshram, Jakub K. Famulski

Biology Faculty Publications

Vertebrate retinal development requires timely and precise fusion of the optic fissure (OF). Failure of this event leads to congenital vision impairment in the form of coloboma. Recent studies have suggested hyaloid vasculature to be involved in OF fusion. In order to examine this link, we analyzed OF fusion and hyaloid vasculogenesis in the zebrafish pax2a noi mutant line. We first determined that pax2a^−/− embryos fail to accumulate F-actin in the OF prior to basement membrane (BM) degradation. Furthermore, using 3D and live imaging we observed reduced OF hyaloid vascularization in pax2a^−/− embryos. When examining the connection between …

Macronutrient Intake And Simulated Infection Threat Independently Affect Life History Traits Of Male Decorated Crickets, Kristin Duffield, Kylie J. Hampton, James Rapkin, John Hunt, Scott K. Sakaluk, Ben M. Sadd, Thomas M. Houslay

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

Nutritional geometry has advanced our understanding of how macronutrients (e.g.,proteins and carbohydrates) influence the expression of life history traits and theircorresponding trade-offs. For example, recent work has revealed that reproduc-tion and immune function in male decorated crickets are optimized at very differentprotein:carbohydrate (P:C) dietary ratios. However, it is unclear how an individual'smacronutrient intake interacts with its perceived infection status to determine in-vestment in reproduction or other key life history traits. Here, we employed a fullyfactorial design in which calling effort and immune function were quantified formale crickets fed either diets previously demonstrated to maximize calling effort(P:C = 1:8) or immune …

The Influence Of Stochasticity, Landscape Structure And Species Traits On Abundant–Centre Relationships, Tad Dallas, Luca Santini

Faculty Publications

Species have been commonly hypothesized to have high population densities in geographic areas which correspond to either the centre of the species geographic range or climatic niche (abundant–centre hypothesis). However, there is mixed empirical support for this relationship, and little theoretical underpinning. We simulate a species spreading across a set of replicated artificial landscapes to examine the expected level of support for abundant–centre relationships in geographic and niche space. Species niche constraints were modeled as a single axis which was related directly to population growth rates. We found strong evidence for abundant–centre relationships when populations follow deterministic growth, dispersal is …

The Fire And Tree Mortality Database, For Empirical Modeling Of Individual Tree Mortality After Fire, C. Alina Cansler, Sharon M. Hood, J. Morgan Varner, Phillip J. Van Mantgem, Michelle C. Agne, Robert A. Andrus, Matthew P. Ayres, Bruce D. Ayres, Jonathan D. Bakker, Michael A. Battaglia, Barbara J. Bentz, Carolyn R. Breece, James K. Brown, Daniel R. Cluck, Tom W. Coleman, R. Gregory Corace Iii, W. Wallace Covington, Douglas S. Cram, James B. Cronan, Joseph E. Crouse, Adrian J. Das, Ryan S. Davis, Et Al.

Biology Faculty Publications

Wildland fires have a multitude of ecological effects in forests, woodlands, and savannas across the globe. A major focus of past research has been on tree mortality from fire, as trees provide a vast range of biological services. We assembled a database of individual-tree records from prescribed fires and wildfires in the United States. The Fire and Tree Mortality (FTM) database includes records from 164,293 individual trees with records of fire injury (crown scorch, bole char, etc.), tree diameter, and either mortality or top-kill up to ten years post-fire. Data span 142 species and 62 genera, from 409 fires occurring …

Fuzzy Synergetic Control Nonlinear Dynamic Objects, Isomiddin Sidikov, Noilakhon Yakubova, Komil Usmanov, Saparbay Kazakhbayev

Karakalpak Scientific Journal

The article deals with the synthesis of effective algorithms for controlling a chemical reactor and developed a fuzzy synergistic controller for a class of indefinite nonlinear dynamic systems. A synergetic control scheme is proposed for solving the control problem for nonlinear systems. Non-linear systems with configurations and parameters that change over time require a completely non-linear model and adaptive control scheme for a practical operating environment. The synthesis of control laws is performed by the method of analytical design of aggregated controllers (ACAR). Fuzzy logic systems are used to evaluate the unknown nonlinear behavior of the system, and a new …

Predictors Of Psychosocial And Physiological Distress In Colorectal Cancer Patients, Hyrum Eddington

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Distress among cancer patients has been broadly accepted as an important indicator of patient well-being. However, questions remain such as what patient characteristics are associated with high distress and whether patient-reported distress is correlated with distress biomarkers. To answer these questions, we performed a survey study of 238 colorectal patients in which we assessed patient-reported distress, possible contributors to that distress, and patient anxiety and depression. We also abstracted demographic and clinical information from patient charts and collected measures for salivary cortisol and sarcopenia. We conducted bivariate statistical analyses between patient demographics, clinical factors, and psychosocial measures with our three …

High-Efficiency Transformation Of Yeast By Electroporation, Lilly Ruell

Honors Theses

This paper analyzes and optimizes efficiency in the yeast transformation protocol using electroporation. Three variables were tested for optimization, they are the following: DNA concentration, cell density and electroporation voltage. Further verification of transformation was done through the analyzation of HPLC data to ensure protein production. The results conclude that DNA concentration was the most important dependent variable for transformation efficiency. A voltage of 2000V is the optimal condition to achieve efficient yeast transformation. Cell density had no observational difference in transformation efficiency at the range of DNA concentration necessary for research use. Improving this efficiency of the yeast transformations …

Uv Radiation Increases Flavonoid Protection But Decreases Reproduction In Silene Littorea, José Carlos Del Valle, Mª Luisa Buide, Justen B. Whittall, Fernando Valladares, Eduardo Narbona

Biology

Plants respond to changes in ultraviolet (UV) radiation both morphologically and physiologically. Among the variety of plant UV-responses, the synthesis of UV-absorbing flavonoids constitutes an effective non-enzymatic mechanism to mitigate photoinhibitory and photooxidative damage caused by UV stress, either reducing the penetration of incident UV radiation or acting as quenchers of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we designed a UV-exclusion experiment to investigate the effects of UV radiation in Silene littorea. We spectrophotometrically quantified concentrations of both anthocyanins and UV-absorbing phenolic compounds in petals, calyces, leaves and stems. Furthermore, we analyzed the UV effect on the photosynthetic …

Circadian Disruption With Constant Light Exposure Exacerbates Atherosclerosis In Male Apolipoproteine-Deficient Mice, Jeffrey M. Chalfant, Deborah A. Howatt, Lisa R. Tannock, Alan Daugherty, Julie S. Pendergast

Biology Faculty Publications

Disruption of the circadian system caused by disordered exposure to light is pervasive in modern society and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms by which this happens are largely unknown. ApolipoproteinE-deficient (ApoE^−/−) mice are studied commonly to elucidate mechanisms of atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined the effects of light-induced circadian disruption on atherosclerosis in ApoE^−/− mice. We first characterized circadian rhythms of behavior, light responsiveness, and molecular timekeeping in tissues from ApoE^−/− mice that were indistinguishable from rhythms in ApoE^+/+ mice. These data showed that ApoE^−/− mice had no inherent circadian …