text: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Honors Theses http://hdl.handle.net/1813/2937 2016-07-29T21:56:07Z 2016-07-29T21:56:07Z The Effect of Temperature Change on Viral Pathogenesis of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Fellman, Rebecca http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40531 2015-07-24T05:00:59Z 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z The Effect of Temperature Change on Viral Pathogenesis of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Fellman, Rebecca Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) prevalence in Great Lakes fish populations varies seasonally, with greater prevalence during spawning seasons. Chronic infections appear to be associated with neural tissue, while acute forms target endothelial tissue. Given the potential immunosurpessive effect of water temperature variation in natural environments, I investigated the effect of a 5ºC temperature change on disease development due to VHSV infection in fathead minnow Pimephales promelas. Fish were exposed to VHSV genotype IVb and either a temperature increase from 10ºC to 15ºC, decrease from 20ºC to 15ºC, or a stable temperature of 15ºC. I evaluated prevalence of gross lesions and death, tested fish for VHSV via cell culture of pooled visceral tissue, and performed quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assays on brain tissue and pooled visceral tissue extracts. Fish that experienced temperature decrease had greater VHSV prevalence than those that experienced temperature increase, and more tested positive by qRTPCR of brain tissue than those that experienced no change, suggesting greater prevalence of infections. Visceral organ samples from fish that experienced either temperature change contained higher viral RNA N-gene copy numbers than those from fish that experienced stable temperature, while brain tissue samples contained similar viral RNA copy numbers among all groups. In fish that contained more viral RNA copies in viscera than brain, those fish that experienced either temperature change had a greater difference between the two quantities than those that experienced no temperature change. The severity of chronic infections was not affected by temperature change, but the severity of acute infections was increased in fish that experienced any temperature change. These results suggest that fish that encounter temperature changes, especially decreases, of 5ºC are at higher risk of contracting chronic VHSV infections and severe acute VHSV infections, helping to explain seasonal fish die-offs attributed to VHSV, especially in fish that encounter temperature change during the spawning season. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z HCF-1 inhibits SKN-1 to Modulate Stress Resistance but Not lifespan in Caenorhabditis Elegans AND Determination of Enrichment Regions for H3K27me3 and Other low-signal, High-noise ChIP-seq Data Picard, Colette L. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40487 2015-07-18T05:05:53Z 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z HCF-1 inhibits SKN-1 to Modulate Stress Resistance but Not lifespan in Caenorhabditis Elegans AND Determination of Enrichment Regions for H3K27me3 and Other low-signal, High-noise ChIP-seq Data Picard, Colette L. 1) Caenorhabditis elegans host cell factor-1 (HCF-1) is an evolutionarily conserved longevity determinant. HCF-1 modulates both lifespan and stress resistance by inhibiting the C. elegans homolog of the mammalian FOXO transcription factors, DAF-16. However, the involvement of other components in HCF-1 mediated longevity and stress resistance has not yet been characterized. We show that SKN-1, the C. elegans homolog of the mammalian Nrf proteins and a major orchestrator of the phase II detoxification response that defends against oxidative stress, is regulated by HCF-1 to modulate oxidative stress resistance but not lifespan. Our findings imply a novel regulatory relationship between HCF-1 and SKN-1 that is revealed only in the presence of oxidative stress. 2) Chromatin modifications are a major mechanism through which cells regulate gene expression. ChIP-seq allows for genome-wide profiling of any DNA-binding protein, including histones. To analyze these data, researchers have developed statistical tools that can identify genomic regions enriched for the DNA-binding protein of interest. Some histone marks, however, bind across broad regions of the genome and produce diffuse and high-noise data profiles that are often difficult to analyze. In this paper, I investigate the ability of peak-callers to analyze ChIP-seq data from H3K27me3, a histone mark known to produce broad regions of enrichment. Further, I present an alternative method that is both faster and simpler than the than the other peak callers investigated. This alternative method offers promise in identifying enriched genomic features when a histone mark, like H3K27me3, generates very diffuse and noisy ChIP-seq data patterns. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Expression of Downstream Targets of mTOR in Response to a Model of Maternal Undernutrition and Hypoxia Groth, Jessica L. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/40486 2015-07-18T05:05:51Z 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Expression of Downstream Targets of mTOR in Response to a Model of Maternal Undernutrition and Hypoxia Groth, Jessica L. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a key player in a signaling pathway that regulates cell growth in response to nutrients, hypoxia, and other upstream regulators. To examine the effects of nutrient restriction, hypoxia, and their possible interactive effects on placental mTOR, a series of experiments were carried out on immortalized human placental trophoblasts. To assess the temporal response, trophoblasts grown in nutrient replete (complete; C) and nutrient restricted (NR) media were harvested at 0 to 96h; phosphorylated s6 ribosomal protein (s6rp) and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) protein levels were measured using western analysis. To assess the independent and interactive effects of NR and hypoxia (Hx) on mTOR, trophoblasts were grown in C and normoxia (20% oxygen;Nx), C media and Hx (1% oxygen), NR -Nx, NR -Hx and harvested at72h; total and phosphorylated s6rp protein levels were measured using western analysis. NR had a negative temporal effect on phosphorylation of s6rp and 4E-BP1. Maximal change occurred at 48h for p-s6rp and at 72h for p-4E-BP1. NR alone had no effect on total protein expression of s6rp under Nx or Hx, whereas Hx decreased total protein expression of s6rp in C media samples at 72h. NR alone decreased ps6rp but Hx alone had no effect on p-s6rp at 72h. NR and Hx interacted to affect p-s6rp such that Hx reduced p-s6rp in C media but slightly increased it in NR media. The interactive effect of Hx and NR suggest that the mechanisms by which nutrients and Hx affect mTOR signaling have not been fully elucidated, and may shed light on how these two conditions contribute to placental complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z Putting a Dent in Our Understanding of Maize Kernel Morphology Murray, Matthew D. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37318 2015-07-08T20:29:59Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Putting a Dent in Our Understanding of Maize Kernel Morphology Murray, Matthew D. Much of our modern maize germplasm was originally brought about by the combination of northern flint lines and southern dent lines. Yet commercial production in the US today is dominated by dent or semi-dent kernel type maize (Corn Belt dent), which has hard outer walls of endosperm surrounding a soft floury interior that when dried compacts to form the characteristic dent in the top of the kernel. One major exception is flint type corn, which is grown in areas of North America, Europe, South America, the Caribbean and many parts of Africa. Flint maize is characterized by its rounded vitreous outer endosperm and soft granular center and has desirable qualities such as cold tolerance, disease and insect resistance as well as longer storage capacity than many dent lines. The Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population parent inbred lines represent many of the major kernel types found in maize. In 2006 the entire NAM population of recombinant inbred lines were grown and scored visually for kernel type, in five locations. The NAM population contains 25 parents, of which, there are nine flint, nine semi-dent, four dent, two sweet and one popcorn parent lines, with a common dent parent, B73. Linkage mapping with ~7400 intervals markers was used to examine the genetics of kernel morphology. This yielded several areas of the genome that are significantly associated with the difference in kernel type seen in NAM. Several other major and minor QTL are shared across many families. Genome wide association study (GWAS) was also used in the maize association panel. Suggested peaks from both linkage mapping and GWAS highlight 13 candidate genes in starch and protein related pathways in the endosperm. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identifying Genes that Interact with Calcineurin During Egg Activation in Drosophila melanogaster Zuckerman, Rebecca M. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37317 2015-07-08T20:29:41Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identifying Genes that Interact with Calcineurin During Egg Activation in Drosophila melanogaster Zuckerman, Rebecca M. When an egg is fertilized, before the new embryo can begin to develop, the egg must be "activated." The process of activation triggers the egg to complete meiosis, to begin translating new proteins, to degrade proteins and RNAs that are no longer required, and to modify its membranes to form a harder outer covering. The universal signaling event is an increase in calcium levels that occurs in the egg at this time. In many cell types, calcium causes changes through a conserved signaling pathway by binding to a protein called calmodulin, which in turn regulates the activities of other proteins. Calcineurin, a phosphatase, is one of those other proteins. It has been proven experimentally that calcineurin plays a critical role in regulating egg activation in fruit flies and in frogs. For example, Drosophila females expressing a constitutively active calcineurin (cnA-act) in their germline are sterile. To identify the proteins in the pathway by which calcineurin regulates egg activation, the Toshiro Aigaki lab tested whether there were Drosophila genes that interact genetically with calcineurin mutations. To do this, they searched for chromosomal regions whose deletion suppresses the sterility of cnA-act female flies. Fourteen large chromosomal regions were identified. To define the precise gene(s) within each region that suppresses the sterility of cnA-act females, I have tested smaller deletions, and then individual mutations, within the five regions I am examining for interaction with cnA-act. For three of the deletions, I have identified a gene or genes whose mutants significantly restore fertility of cnA-act females, and thus is a candidate to act within the calcineurin pathway. The first is CG6927, a gene that is expressed in the ovary but currently has no known function. The second is eIF3-S8, a transcription initiation factor. The third is RpS24, a ribosomal protein. The fourth is CG42565, which like CG6927, has no known function. In the other two regions, I have narrowed down the cnA-act interacting genes to a small number of candidates, instead of the hundreds of genes within the original large region. I am currently testing the remaining candidates. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Isolation of Bacteria from Compost for Potential Use in Biodecaffeination Divine, Robert http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37316 2015-07-08T13:20:24Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Isolation of Bacteria from Compost for Potential Use in Biodecaffeination Divine, Robert Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethyl xanthine) is a bioactive compound present in common foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, and chocolate. Though many consumers value caffeine for its physiological effects, others may prefer decaffeinated products to avoid caffeine. Decaffeination technologies have a great economic and environmental impact; however, current methods have various disadvantages, such as cost, waste, and solvent use. Microbial methods, known as biodecaffeination, have been explored as alternatives. Various microbes that are able to metabolize caffeine have been isolated from coffee plant roots. To this point, compost has not been looked at as a potential source for decaffeinating microbes. Our objective was to isolate and identify microorganisms from compost and to address their potential as biodecaffeinators. Compost samples were obtained and then grown in nutrient broth. Cultures were streaked onto a selective agar that contained caffeine as its only carbon source. Partial 16S rDNA sequences were obtained for a subset of the colonies isolated from the caffeine agar. Preliminary results suggested that the isolated strains were Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Sphingobacterium, Streptomyces, and Paenibacillus, and that they may be capable of metabolizing caffeine. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z An Investigation of Microclimatological Conditions Along Elevation Transects Near Ithaca, NY Raymond, Colin S. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37315 2015-07-08T12:28:40Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z An Investigation of Microclimatological Conditions Along Elevation Transects Near Ithaca, NY Raymond, Colin S. A field campaign was conducted in complex topography near Ithaca, NY with the aim of determining and describing both qualitatively and quantitatively the variables that affect nighttime temperatures there. Observations were compared against a weighted average of nearby private-weather-station readings and Rapid Refresh [RAP]-model gridpoint forecasts for the corresponding time periods. Local nowcasts or forecasts for locations along the transects — generated from a similarity analysis of station and transect-location metadata — showed generally poor skill, though the consistently greater errors at higher elevations suggest the potential for fruitful additional adjustments beyond the scope of this study. A distinct reversal in the upslope wind corresponding to lapse rates near the moist-adiabatic value supports the hypothesis of a triggered hilltop cold-air pool. Nights with strong potential-temperature inversions had remarkably similar synoptic-scale conditions, which bore the hallmarks of a valley inversion being entrained from above by warm southeast winds. Bolstering this hypothesis was the definite linear relationship found between observed lapse rates and region-wide temperature trends on clear nights, but not cloudy ones. To better account for these findings, a new forecast scheme was then implemented, combining regressions of observed along-transect lapse rates on upslope winds, modeled open-sky lapse rates, and region-wide temperature trends; it demonstrated improved skill over the station-based one, suggesting that further work to enable standardization of microclimatic forecasts based on a simple set of externally measured variables would be both possible and productive. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identification of Major Histocompatibility Complex Haplotypes in Icelandic Horses Violette, Nathaniel P. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37314 2015-07-08T12:23:06Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Identification of Major Histocompatibility Complex Haplotypes in Icelandic Horses Violette, Nathaniel P. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a region of the vertebrate genome that encodes many immune-related proteins. The most well-known proteins that are encoded in this region are the MHC class I and MHC class II cell surface proteins. These proteins are integral in producing the adaptive immune response. Using polymorphic microsatellites within the MHC, MHC haplotypes were characterized from an extended Icelandic horse family of half and full siblings. The herd is composed of one stallion, fifteen dams, and three sets of foals from each dam. A total of nine microsatellite loci were tested: two in the MHC class I region, two in the MHC class III region, and five in the MHC class II region. The Icelandic herd displayed a large degree of diversity in this region even though the population has been isolated and affected by bottleneck events in the past. From the 32 possible unique haplotypes belonging to the one founder stallion and 15 mares, 26 unique haplotypes were identified. A MHC recombination event occurred on one of the paternal chromosomes. The stallion also exhibited segregation distortion in the distribution of the stallion's MHC haplotypes inherited by the foals but not the sex ratio of the offspring. These findings suggest that the Icelandic horse population has a greater degree of diversity in the MHC region than most other commonly studied horse breeds. This diversity may come from a recombination mechanism that produces unique haplotypes by crossing over of existing haplotypes in the population at a higher rate than found in larger populations. Another possible explanation would be that less favorable MHC haplotypes are allowed to persist in the less immunologically selective environment of Iceland. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Effects of Photoperiod on Novelty Preference in Preadolescent Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) Pups Barrett, Colleen A. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37313 2015-07-08T12:23:00Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Effects of Photoperiod on Novelty Preference in Preadolescent Siberian Hamster (Phodopus sungorus) Pups Barrett, Colleen A. Photoperiod (day length) has been shown to have significant effects on the physical and behavioral development of seasonally breeding mammals and to modulate the timing of their dispersal from the natal burrow or den. Behaviors associated with dispersal, such as novelty preference and exploratory behaviors, have been shown to be modulated by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in mice. Whereas photoperiodic modulation of serum AMH concentrations in female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) has been demonstrated, novelty preference and exploratory behaviors have not been previously investigated in this species. Through the manipulation of day length (DL) in Siberian hamsters, this study sought to determine if photoperiod-induced differences in serum AMH concentration correlate with behaviors that are associated with dispersal. Although AMH was significantly different in males and females, and day length had a significant effect on AMH in males, our evaluations of novelty preference and exploratory behaviors revealed no effects of sex or photoperiod when evaluated at 21 days of age. The information acquired from this study will contribute to the understanding and characterization of the associations among DL, AMH, and the behaviors associated with the dispersal of adolescent mammals. Utilizing this study's results, future research is required to determine the age at which sex differences in novelty preference and exploratory behavior are first apparent in Siberian hamsters and to evaluate variations in AMH associated with age, sex, and photoperiod. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Start to Finish Detection of Cryptosporidium for in Field Use on Water Samples via Lauroylsarcosine sodium Salt (LSS) Extraction, Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), and DNA Precipitation Wessling, Emily http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37312 2015-07-08T12:18:38Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Start to Finish Detection of Cryptosporidium for in Field Use on Water Samples via Lauroylsarcosine sodium Salt (LSS) Extraction, Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP), and DNA Precipitation Wessling, Emily Today, many diseases that are rare in developed nations are still prevalent in other countries due to limited technological access and resources. Among these diseases is Cryptosporidiosis, a common gastro-intestinal infection with currently no known treatments. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium. This parasite spreads through the environment as an oocyst, causing self-limiting diarrhea in healthy humans. These symptoms are often more dangerous in immuno-compromised individuals and children, whose immune systems are still developing. The rugged Cryptosporidium oocysts are able to survive treatment with most disinfectants. Thus, to prevent outbreaks, there must be early detection, followed by rapid treatment of the water supply and/or limited exposure to infected water supplies. Current methods of parasite testing for water samples are limited in their function by cost, access to materials, and ability to run equipment. Improvements in cost-effective, easy to use alternatives to traditional techniques, such as the use of lauroylsarcosine sodium salt (LSS) for DNA extraction and the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method of amplification, will facilitate the detection of Cryptosporidium in the field and in impoverish nations.In this experiment, a five primer LAMP reaction was used in combination with the LSS reaction to eliminate otherwise essential electrical equipment in the detection process, expediting and easing in-field detection. The LSS was found to decrease the efficiency of the LAMP reaction, but its effects were mediated by changing the buffer used in the LAMP reaction. Amplicons were visualized using gel electrophoresis in this experiment. However, methods of detection were tested for incorporation into the test. These techniques will lead to the future of cost efficient detection of Cryptosporidium in water samples. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Targeted Screen for Functional Interactions between β-tubulin and +TIP Mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dedousis, Demitri http://hdl.handle.net/1813/37311 2015-07-08T12:10:10Z 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Targeted Screen for Functional Interactions between β-tubulin and +TIP Mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Dedousis, Demitri The microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in key cellular processes, including cellular polarization and transport. Microtubules are composed of repeating α and β tubulin dimers. TUB2 is an essential yeast gene that encodes β-tubulin. Microtubule polymerization dynamics in yeast are regulated by +TIPs, like Bim1p and Bik1p. Genetic analysis of multiple genes concurrently allows for the identification of interactions between genes. This study seeks to investigate interactions between Bim1p/Bik1p and Tub2p by using random spore analysis (RSA) to search for synthetic interactions caused by the association of bim1Δ/bik1Δ and tub2 mutants. Using the RSA results and a set of criteria, tub2 mutants were grouped into interaction types, such as synthetic sensitive and synthetic enhanced. This study also investigated associations between a tub2 mutation's interaction type and other tub2 phenotypes, which revealed an association between synthetic sensitivity and cold sensitivity for tub2 and bik1Δ. A protein model of tub2 mutations in β-tubulin was also used to demonstrate that tub2 mutations that did not interact with bim1Δ/bik1Δ tended to cluster together in the same location on β-tubulin. This study shows that RSA can be used to identify synthetic interactions, which can be analyzed in terms of protein structure and relationship with other traits of the mutations. The microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in key cellular processes, including cellular polarization and transport. Microtubules are composed of repeating α and β tubulin dimers. TUB2 is an essential yeast gene that encodes β-tubulin. Microtubule polymerization dynamics in yeast are regulated by +TIPs, like Bim1p and Bik1p. Genetic analysis of multiple genes concurrently allows for the identification of interactions between genes. This study seeks to investigate interactions between Bim1p/Bik1p and Tub2p by using random spore analysis (RSA) to search for synthetic interactions caused by the association of bim1Δ/bik1Δ and tub2 mutants. Using the RSA results and a set of criteria, tub2 mutants were grouped into interaction types, such as synthetic sensitive and synthetic enhanced. This study also investigated associations between a tub2 mutation's interaction type and other tub2 phenotypes, which revealed an association between synthetic sensitivity and cold sensitivity for tub2 and bik1Δ. A protein model of tub2 mutations in β-tubulin was also used to demonstrate that tub2 mutations that did not interact with bim1Δ/bik1Δ tended to cluster together in the same location on β-tubulin. This study shows that RSA can be used to identify synthetic interactions, which can be analyzed in terms of protein structure and relationship with other traits of the mutations. 2014-08-29T00:00:00Z Virus-Plant Protein Interactions: The Importance of the Potato leafroll virus Readthrough Protein Mahoney, Jaclyn http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33751 2015-07-08T16:25:57Z 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Virus-Plant Protein Interactions: The Importance of the Potato leafroll virus Readthrough Protein Mahoney, Jaclyn Potato leafroll virus' (PLRV's) C-terminal domain of the readthrough protein (RTP) is known to be involved with active retention of the virus in plant phloem. In this investigative study we used a combined proteomics and molecular virology approach to determine the identity and function of those plant proteins that are interacting with the readthrough domain of the RTP. Using a novel, on-plate co-immunoprecipitation method, we compared those plant proteins co-immunoprecipitating with the wild type form of PLRV with those that co-immunoprecipitate with a mutant form of the virus lacking the readthrough domain using N. benthamiana as a model system. Controls were thoroughly characterized to identify proteins that were non-specifically interacting with virus. Our research yielded four candidate proteins that appear to interact with the readthrough domain of the RTP and hence, are likely involved with phloem retention. The candidate proteins are as follows: 14-3-3 protein (AT1G78300.1), probable 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 3, membrane steroid-binding protein 2, and elicitor-inducible protein EIG J7. These four proteins were detected in the WT PLRV infected N. benthamiana as having 2.5-fold or greater enrichment as judged by spectral counts over a mutant that lacked the readthrough domain (ΔRTP) or control N. benthamiana tissue, and were also found in the host potato system with 2.5-fold or greater enrichment in WT PLRV infected potato as compared to healthy potato. These candidate proteins will be the focus of future validation studies to determine the function of these plant proteins in PLRV infection. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Southwestern Pecan Orchard Soil Standards Grandle, Katherine http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33750 2015-07-08T16:30:46Z 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Southwestern Pecan Orchard Soil Standards Grandle, Katherine The Rio Grande Basin in southern New Mexico and western Texas has become a large source of commercially produced pecans over the past few decades, yet agronomic research specific to soil management and fertilization in this area has not yet been fully developed. This project aims to review the currently published optimal soil analysis ranges as well as to identify significant relationships between soil characteristics and yield which merit further investigation. Over the 2012 growing period, 106 production blocks in Dona Ana County were observed. Soil analysis was conducted on each block prior to budbreak and after harvest to review soil changes over the full growth cycle; yield and tree counts were also collected. Due to alternate bearing in pecans, yield has been analyzed in four population groupings: "ON" blocks only, "OFF" blocks only, all blocks using a two year yield average, and all blocks using a dummy variable to isolate the alternate bearing yield differences. Mixed regression models were used to identify optimal levels and significant relationships within all four groupings. Of the production blocks observed, the soil analysis results fell within only 22% of the published optimal ranges, which are not crop specific. Boron, Bulk Density, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, and Zinc were all identified as exhibiting significant, largely negative, relationships with yield, suggesting that these variables may be inhibiting production. The observed relationships merit further investigation and optimal soil analysis ranges must be developed in order to ensure correct interpretation of results and subsequent soil management practices. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Association of Negative Energy Balance, Sub-Clinical Hypocalcemia, and Periparturient Disease with Rate of Weight Loss and 30-Day Milk Production in Dairy Cattle Johnson, Shanna http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33749 2015-07-08T16:25:58Z 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Association of Negative Energy Balance, Sub-Clinical Hypocalcemia, and Periparturient Disease with Rate of Weight Loss and 30-Day Milk Production in Dairy Cattle Johnson, Shanna The objective was to analyze the association of abnormal blood metabolite levels (prepartum and postpartum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), and calcium) and periparturient diseases (clinical ketosis, mastitis, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, metritis, lameness and periparturient paresis) with rate of weight loss and milk yield during the first thirty days in milk. A total of 105 Holstein cows from three farms in New York were analyzed. Blood samples, back fat measurements, body condition scores, lameness assessments, and records for body weight, milk yield, and disease occurrence were collected beginning approximately a week before parturition until thirty days in milk. Back fat and body condition scores were not correlated with each other and were not included in the final analysis. The associations between the interaction of each blood metabolite with disease and change in body weight and milk yield were stratified by parity and evaluated with the MIXED procedure in statistical software. All cows that developed disease experienced exacerbated weight loss and reduced milk production than healthy herd mates. Each parity group had a different indicator metabolite for faster weight loss (parity 1 = prepartum NEFA, parity 2 = BHB, parity 3 = postpartum NEFA), but calcium was not a reliable indicator for any group. Elevated prepartum NEFA and BHB levels were associated with reduced milk production for cows of parity > 2, while blood metabolites were only useful for heifers which concurrently developed disease. By using these tests, farmers can intervene early to optimize animal health and economic return. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Impact of Myostatin Genetic Polymorphism on Muscle Conformation in the Horse SanGiacomo, Nicole http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33748 2015-07-08T16:25:56Z 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z The Impact of Myostatin Genetic Polymorphism on Muscle Conformation in the Horse SanGiacomo, Nicole In this study, we tested the recent hypothesis that a previously discovered polymorphism in the myostatin (MSTN) gene could contribute to muscle mass in the Thoroughbred racehorse. The relationship between skeletal and muscle measurements was quantified and compared to the genotypic analysis of myostatin in the horse. A sample of 101 Thoroughbred racehorses, from a variety of locations, was assessed using a previously published set of 35 body measurements. An additional 8 Thoroughbred horses were examined using a recently developed set of muscle measures in order to better quantify the muscle mass of the animals. In addition, photographs were taken of each individual horse (n=109), in order to assess the muscle conformation. Hair samples were also collected for determination of MSTN genotype. Photographs and MSTN genotype were then assessed and compared, prior to statistical analysis, in order to determine the existence and correlation between muscle conformation and the MSTN genotype. Skewed measures, and failed genotypic analyses were eliminated from statistical analysis, resulting in a total of 86 individuals. This study demonstrated that there is no direct correlation among conformation, body measurements, muscle measurements and MSTN genotype. Horses with a polymorphism in MSTN do not exhibit phenotypic differences of the magnitude seen in MSTN alleles of cattle and dogs. Subtle changes may be detected in future work with an expanded set of measures, larger population of horses, or by controlling environmental effects due to diet and exercise. The MSTN locus is currently used as a commercial marker of performance in the Thoroughbred although the physiological mechanism of its action is unknown. This research has eliminated the possibility of gross effects on body size and conformation, though subtler changes in muscle mass may exist. We expect future studies to further this exploration in hopes of determining why the MSTN polymorphism is not associated with altered body size or conformation in the equine species. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Possibilities for the Emergence of Civic Ecology Practices in Response to Social-Ecological Disturbance: The Case of Nuisance Chironomids in Singapore Lee, Mou Jian http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33747 2015-07-08T11:49:01Z 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Possibilities for the Emergence of Civic Ecology Practices in Response to Social-Ecological Disturbance: The Case of Nuisance Chironomids in Singapore Lee, Mou Jian My research aims to investigate the possibilities for the emergence of civic ecology practices in Singaporean reservoir communities in response to chironomid disturbances, using the framework of civic ecology practices. In recent years, unprecedented mass emergence of chironomids have occurred around two of Singapore's reservoirs, disrupting the lives of surrounding communities. Civic ecology practices would have been a valuable source of resilience toward this disturbance for these communities, because the practices would integrate individual, community, and environmental outcomes, through grassroots stewardship initiatives. However, civic ecology practices seemed to be absent among the communities. I observed public behavior around the reservoirs, as well as analyzed news articles, social media content, and government documents, to uncover social-ecological mechanisms underlying the nuisance issue. This allowed me to explain the lack of civic ecology practices, understand the potential of the reservoir social-ecological systems for adapting to the disturbance through civic ecology practices, and detect barriers to the emergence of those practices. I found that the initial conditions were not present for the emergence of civic ecology practices in those reservoir social-ecological systems, because the chironomid disturbance was not sufficiently disruptive. Nevertheless, the systems' potentials lied in various resources related to government, technology, and cultural values. Barriers include negative assumptions about the chironomids and politicization of the nuisance issue. My research will not only further understanding of how Singapore can build social-ecological resilience as it transforms in the 21st Century, but also how other complex urban ecosystems can do so too. 2013-08-26T00:00:00Z Arabidopsis Salicylic Acid-Binding Metalloendopeptidases TOP1 and TOP2 Regulate H2O2 Accumulation and Programmed Cell Death during the Immune Response against the Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae Zampogna, Giulio http://hdl.handle.net/1813/33386 2015-07-08T16:28:20Z 2013-06-18T00:00:00Z Arabidopsis Salicylic Acid-Binding Metalloendopeptidases TOP1 and TOP2 Regulate H2O2 Accumulation and Programmed Cell Death during the Immune Response against the Bacterial Pathogen Pseudomonas syringae Zampogna, Giulio Salicylic acid is a phytohormone indispensable for plant immunity. Interactions between hosts and pathogens create selective pressures—a cycle whereby hosts evolve novel defenses and alarm systems while their pathogen counterparts evolve enhanced weaponry and stealth tactics. Not uncommonly, plants lose the war against pathogens and succumb to disease. If a plant does survive a pathogen attack, it may be left with battle scars that reduce vegetative growth and fruit yield and quality. Without question, human survival depends on the abilities of plants to defend themselves against and survive pathogen onslaughts. With an increased understanding of plant immunity, humans will gain the ability to modulate and augment plant defenses to minimize disease and yield losses. Arabidopsis thaliana thimet oligopeptidase (TOP) family TOP1 and TOP2 metalloendopeptidases bind salicylic acid and may, therefore, play critical roles in plant immunity. Our research demonstrates that TOP1 and TOP2 regulate hydrogen peroxide accumulation, programmed cell death intensity, and possibly chloroplast integrity during the hypersensitive response following infection by the hemibiotrophic bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. We hypothesize that TOP1 and TOP2 are central hubs in reactive oxygen species production and redox regulation, and, as such, may influence physiological responses during both abiotic and biotic stresses. 2013-06-18T00:00:00Z Characterization of the Thermobifida fusca Xylanase 11A Carbohydrate-Binding Module by X-ray Crystallography Wolski, Paul http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29613 2015-07-08T03:06:12Z 2012-07-31T00:00:00Z Characterization of the Thermobifida fusca Xylanase 11A Carbohydrate-Binding Module by X-ray Crystallography Wolski, Paul Xylanase 11A is an enzyme that degrades xylan. It was isolated from Thermobifida fusca, a thermophilic bacterium found in compost. Xyl11A also contains a family IIb carbohydrate-binding module (CMB), which has been found to be capable of binding to both cellulose and xylan, unlike some other family IIb CBMs. For this reason, this binding domain was chosen for characterization by X-ray crystallography. The gene for this binding domain was cloned into Escherichia coli and purified with column chromatography. Crystals were found in some crystallization screens, and diffraction of these crystals is currently pending. 2012-07-31T00:00:00Z Morphological Correlates of Signal Variation in Weakly Electric Mormyrid Fish Cheng, Catherine http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29608 2015-07-08T06:22:43Z 2012-07-25T00:00:00Z Morphological Correlates of Signal Variation in Weakly Electric Mormyrid Fish Cheng, Catherine Weakly electric fish occupy a special place in the field of neuroethology as a model system for the study of the neurobiological basis of natural behavior. Comprising two orders of freshwater teleosts, the Gymnotiformes and the Mormyriformes, weakly electric fish have evolved diverse electric organ discharges (EODs) that are used for electrolocation of objects and for sex- and species recognition, courtship, aggression, and appeasement, among other behaviors (Bullock 1982; Heiligenberb & Bastian 1984). Aside from the variety of EODs, the elements of electric communication that make it a model system include the presence of a highly specialized electrosensory system with a subpopulation of receptors and neurons dedicated to communication signal sensing, as well as the structure of the electrical signals themselves, which is relatively simple and amenable to study by experimental manipulation (Hopkins 1988). This paper presents the results of two studies on mormyrid fish and the electric organs (EOs) responsible for weak electrogenesis. In mormyrids, the electric organ is composed of four columns of serially stacked, dish-shaped electrocytes, two on each side of the spinal cord (Bennett 1970; Bass 1986). The central theme of this thesis is the relationship between electric organ morphology and EOD waveform. The first chapter presents a study of Paramormyrops kingsleyae that shows geographic variation in signals correlated with variation in electric organ anatomy. The second chapter is a descriptive study of larval and juvenile Brienomyrus brachyistius that identifies morphological correlates of EOD change in the course of development. 2012-07-25T00:00:00Z An Analysis of How Dairy Farmers Divide Their Time among Twelve Key Management Areas and Farm Profitability Braun, Carolyn http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29537 2015-07-08T03:53:16Z 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z An Analysis of How Dairy Farmers Divide Their Time among Twelve Key Management Areas and Farm Profitability Braun, Carolyn The relationship between the time dairy farm managers spent on twelve key management areas and dairy farm financial performance was analyzed. The twelve key management areas analyzed were (1) milk quality, (2) milk quantity, (3) reproduction, (4) cow comfort, (5) nutrition, (6) reducing the incidence of metabolic disorders, (7) dry cow comfort, (8) calf management, (9) financial records, (10) financial management (11) crop production and (12) human resources management. Studies in the past have analyzed the factors that affect farm financial performance. However, these studies have never looked at the breakdown of manager hours spent on the factors and how that affects profitability. A multiple regression analysis was performed using a best subsets regression to determine the variables to include in the model. A p-value<0.05 was considered significant. The time managers spend on milk quality, milk quantity, reducing the incidence of metabolic disorders and financial management had a negative relationship with net farm income without appreciation. Time spent on cow comfort, nutrition, dry cow comfort, calf management, financial records and human resources management had a positive impact on net farm income without appreciation. In this study, time spent on reproduction and crop production was not statistically significant and therefore not included in the final model. The results of this study will help dairy farm managers structure the areas they focus on in order to improve farm efficiency which will in turn lead to an increase in financial performance for the farm. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Psychopaths Online: Modeling Psychopathy in Social Media Discourse Boochever, Rachel http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29536 2015-07-08T03:47:22Z 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Psychopaths Online: Modeling Psychopathy in Social Media Discourse Boochever, Rachel This is an exploratory study examining the relationship between discourse patterns in social media and undergraduate students' levels of psychopathy when compared to discourse patterns in narratives produced in a laboratory. It expands on previous research findings that psychopathic murderers exhibit narcissistic tendencies and psychological distancing in their discourse when compared to non-psychopathic murderers. Undergraduate students' emails, SMS messages, and Facebook messages were collected and analyzed in relation to their scores on the Self-Report Psychopathy Test III (SRP III). Findings support both main hypotheses: that discourse patterns in social media are distinctly different from discourse patterns in narratives produced in a laboratory, and that psychopathic tendencies are identifiable in social media discourse. Consistent with previous studies, students higher in psychopathy showed evidence of psychological distancing, produced less comprehensible language, potentially reflecting their low reading achievement levels, and produced more anger and swear words, consistent with the emotional deficits and disagreeableness central to psychopathy. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Examining Conceptions of Singledom among Older Ever-Singles McErlean, Kimberly http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29535 2015-07-08T05:49:17Z 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Examining Conceptions of Singledom among Older Ever-Singles McErlean, Kimberly With an aging population, the host of alternatives to marriage, and the number of people who remain single, ever-single older adults are an important group to understand and their responses can be valuable in helping senior living communities and others work with and provide for this segment of the population. This article draws from interviews with 12 ever-single men and women between the ages of 65 and 87 to explore their changing perspectives of themselves as ever-single, the positives and negatives they perceive with their status, and the social norms surrounding relationships. Many of the participants saw their singlehood as a process and something that opened up opportunities for them that might not have been possible had they been married. Singlehood was seen as having both upsides—such as independence—and downsides—such as lack of companionship—but all participants expressed happiness with the way their lives had turned out. While many participants indicated that marriage was an expectation in the times that they were growing up and that remaining single used to be stigmatized, almost all respondents suggested that society was moving towards acceptance of alternative lifestyles to marriage. The responses from the interviewees illustrate the process involved with being and becoming a single adult. 2012-06-29T00:00:00Z Inbreeding and Potential for Evolutionary Rescue after Environmental Change Blackley, Kathryn http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29101 2015-07-08T08:27:50Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Inbreeding and Potential for Evolutionary Rescue after Environmental Change Blackley, Kathryn Evolutionary rescue occurs when populations that experience a severe decline in numbers following environmental change adapt evolutionarily and so avoid extinction. However, low population size, even without extinction, can have detrimental effects such as inbreeding depression that may influence the likelihood of evolutionary rescue. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of inbreeding on the propensity for evolutionary rescue. The monogonont rotifer Brachionus plicatilis was used as the study species and environmental change was created by increasing the salinity of its medium. All rotifers used in my study were originally derived from a laboratory stock culture that had been previously forced to a population genetic bottleneck with some lineages then maintained clonally while others were induced to sexual reproduction which led to inbreeding. Populations were later subjected to the environmental change and their resulting mortality and growth during recovery were observed. Inbreeding was found to significantly decrease the ability of the populations to recover from the environmental stress. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Estimating the Effective Population Size of Crassostrea virginica Brown, Ashley http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29100 2015-07-08T08:29:38Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Estimating the Effective Population Size of Crassostrea virginica Brown, Ashley Effective population size (Ne) is an important parameter used to estimate the magnitude of genetic drift, a major evolutionary force, that a population experiences. Across many taxa Ne is one tenth smaller on average than the census population size because of overlapping generations, uneven sex ratios, and other demographic factors that increase the variance in reproductive success. Organisms that experience high fecundity, external fertilization, and larval dispersal, like the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), are hypothesized to experience "sweepstakes reproduction", or a high stochastic variance in reproductive success among individuals, resulting in a much lower Ne relative to Ncensus. Here the objective was to further test the sweepstakes hypothesis by estimating Ne in oyster populations using two distinct, direct measures. Temporal samples of C. virginica from two eastern Florida localities were genotyped for nine microsatellite loci to estimate Ne. Effective population size was estimated using two methods, a two sample moments-based temporal estimation and a single sample linkage disequilibrium estimation. Results from both methods are consistent with Ne between 500 and 10,000. These values are similar to past studies indicating a sweepstakes reproduction hypothesis, although not as extreme of a sweepstakes reproduction as some past work has suggested. However, predicted differences for allelic diversity and Ne were not detected between cohorts of spat (early juveniles) and local adults, preventing a strong conclusion that C. virginica is in fact experiencing sweepstakes reproduction based upon the tested indicators in this study. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z The 9/11 and Vietnam Veterans Memorials: Interpreting Experience in the Landscape of Loss Durgerian, Laura http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29099 2015-07-08T08:43:38Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z The 9/11 and Vietnam Veterans Memorials: Interpreting Experience in the Landscape of Loss Durgerian, Laura Experiential memorials are agents of memory, constructing experiences for visitors that evoke memory, emotion, and thought. This project begins by defining the 'language of loss' and exploring the role of memorials through a literature review. It then investigates two seminal built memorials in order to gain a fuller understanding of how each employs this language of loss. Research into the contextual development of these memorials – Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982) in Washington D.C., and Michael Arad and Peter Walker's 9/11 Memorial (2011) in Lower Manhattan – provides a framework for interpreting each work. Following preliminary literature and design research, a series of on-site research methods were undertaken to record and map the experience of visitors to each memorial. This process intends to reveal to what degree each memorial exemplifies this definition of the experiential memorial. Research strategies included the author's personal experience narrative, observations, photography and face-to-face interviews with visitors. Findings from this interaction, as well as interviews with knowledgeable individuals connected to each memorial, then informed a comparison of both memorials and suggestions for the design of future memorials. The findings and outcomes of this thesis aim to provide designers and scholars with knowledge of how to conceive and construct meaningful memorials that impact users and contribute to cultural memory. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Can a Text Message Influence Our Perceptions of the Physical World?: Text Messaging as a Prime for Social Support Falisi, Angela http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29098 2015-07-08T08:40:17Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Can a Text Message Influence Our Perceptions of the Physical World?: Text Messaging as a Prime for Social Support Falisi, Angela Previous research has found that a psychosocial resource, social support, affects a person's perception of physical burdens, particularly the steepness of geographical slants. In fact, there is a decrease in the perceived steepness of a geographical slant when a person is in the physical co-presence of another person or after an extended period of visualization of a supportive other. The present study replicated and extended previous findings to test whether the brief activation of a supportive other by sending a text message to them affects subsequent judgments of a geographical slant. Participants who sent a text message to a friend judged a hill to be less steep than did those who were in the physical co-presence of a friend. Even after controlling for relationship duration and strength, a media effect remained. This suggests that a text message serves as a purer prime to activate the idea of a supportive other, which includes the qualities that are most relevant to the task at hand. In comparison, the prime of a physically co-present friend may elicit a broader array of qualities that might or might not be useful to the task at hand, thus diluting the effectiveness of the prime overall. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Investigations of the Source, Distribution, Expression and Physiological Function of Thiaminase I Gordon, Eric http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29097 2015-07-08T01:27:02Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Investigations of the Source, Distribution, Expression and Physiological Function of Thiaminase I Gordon, Eric Thiaminase I is a vitamin degrading enzyme produced by microorganisms and often found in certain metazoan animals that can cause thiamine deficiency in natural ecosystems. The physiological function of this enzyme is still unknown. We adapted a photometric assay for thiaminase I that measures the rate of disappearance of a colored co-substrate for use with a high throughput plate reader. Using this assay, we characterized the conditions that promote thiaminase I production in some thiaminase I producing microorganisms and gained evidence for and against hypotheses for various physiological functions. We also conducted surveys of diverse metazoan organisms known and not previously recognized to have thiaminase I activity and found thiaminase activity in organisms not previously known to have thiaminase activity. Research on the expression of thiaminase I has possible implications for cancer research and correction of mortality due to thiaminase-induced thiamine deficiency syndromes. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Evaluation of the Storm Cell Identification and Tracking Algorithm used by the WSR-88D Lanpher, Alexander http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29096 2015-07-08T08:29:36Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Evaluation of the Storm Cell Identification and Tracking Algorithm used by the WSR-88D Lanpher, Alexander The Storm Cell Identification and Tracking (SCIT) algorithm used by the WSR-88D radar identifies storm cells and projects their future movements. It can be extremely useful in making short-term predictions about the impact that a thunderstorm may have on a localized area, allowing people to prepare for an approaching storm. In order to assess the accuracy of the Storm Prediction Forecast algorithm within the SCIT, 48 storms in New York and 24 storms in Kansas were chosen and the error between their forecast tracks and their actual paths was determined. These regions were chosen to look for any significant differences in algorithm performance in two disparate geographical regions and to include a region of the U.S. for which the SCIT algorithm has not been previously evaluated. The storms were chosen based on their severity, all being tornadic at some point during their lifespan. The Storm Position Forecast algorithm acts to predict positions for an identified cell in 15-minute intervals, out to a maximum of 60 minutes. To verify that the algorithm improves with time with respect to a given storm cell, successive scans were also analyzed to verify an improvement in the forecast tracks. Once the errors for each position forecast were calculated, comparisons were done between several different parameters to search for correlations with the errors, including distance to the radar station, dBZ value, lead-time, year and time of day. The errors were broken down further based on direction - where a storm went versus its projection. The most outstanding result discovered was in the separation of error into individual directions. For both the New York and Kansas storms, there was a prominent trend for the storm's actual path to be to the right of the projected path. The reason for this preferential rightward error can only be hypothesized here and would be an area for further research. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Effect of Turbidity and Membrane Pore Size on Cross-flow Microfiltration of Apple Cider Lau, Evonne http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29095 2015-07-08T08:29:35Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Effect of Turbidity and Membrane Pore Size on Cross-flow Microfiltration of Apple Cider Lau, Evonne Microfiltration (MF) is a membrane separation process but its main limitation is membrane fouling. In case of apple cider MF, suspended solids (plant cell wall materials, proteins, and polyphenols) are the main contributors to fouling. In this study, the effect of turbidity, an indicator suspended solids quantity, and the membrane pore size on the flux in MF of apple cider was investigated. Raw apple cider experiments ran in a pilot-plant scale MF unit equipped with ceramic membranes of 1.4μm, 0.8μm, and 0.45μm pore sizes, varying turbidity levels, at 6C, 5m/s crossflow velocity and 159 kPa transmembrane pressure. The permeate flux measured MF efficiency; physical-chemical properties of the cider and microfiltered juice evaluated product quality. Significant changes in pH, Brix and viscosity were observed only for cider microfiltered with 0.45μm. At high turbidity, the 1.4μm and 0.8μm membranes resulted in similar permeate final flux (65L/m2h), relative flux decline of 72%; while 0.45μm had the lowest final flux (37L/m2h), relative flux decline of 55%. At low turbidity, 1.4μm, 0.8μm, and 0.45μm resulted in comparable final fluxes (49, 52, 53L/m2h, respectively) and relative flux decline of 61%, 64%, 55%, respectively. The smallest pore size resulted in the highest rejection of particles and lowest flux, but the lowest flux decline; while the largest pore size had a higher flux, but more pronounced flux decay. This suggests that the fouling layer differs at different pore sizes. Thus, membrane pore size and pre-filtration are critical for MF efficiency and can optimize this process for commercial applications. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Interdependency Between Two Epigenetic Modifications At Select Loci In Mouse Chromatin Motley, Michael http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29094 2015-07-08T08:37:13Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Interdependency Between Two Epigenetic Modifications At Select Loci In Mouse Chromatin Motley, Michael Chromatin contains different epigenetic marks, including histone-tail modifications and DNA methylation. These marks have varying effects on the expression state of a gene at different points in development and life. However, there is evidence that these modifications do not act independently, and that interaction between epigenetic marks is necessary for proper cell function. Our previous study showed mutual antagonism between two epigenetic marks, histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and DNA methylation (DNAme), upstream of the Rasgrf1 gene in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. H3K27me3 is deposited on chromatin by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), and was shown to both restrict and be restricted by the placement of DNAme at this locus. Here, I look at the methylation profiles of DNA from wild type mouse ES cells and ES cells with a mutation in Eed of the PRC2 complex that results in a global loss of H3K27me3 to determine if this mutual antagonism occurs genome-wide. Using a combination of a Methyl DNA Immunopreciptiation microarray and sodium bisulfite sequencing, I show that H3K27me3 does indeed influence DNAme at numerous promoters in the embryonic mouse genome. Instead of seeing a consistent increase in DNAme after loss of H3K27me3 however, I found that only some of these promoters showed DNAme enrichment, while others showed depletion in DNAme. Additionally, several genes were shown to have both DNAme enrichment and depletion in the same promoter. My findings suggest that mutual antagonism is not observed consistently genome wide, and that more complexity exists regarding the interaction between these two marks. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Common Beans Cooked at High Altitudes Have Higher Trypsin Inhibitor Activity and Lower Protein Digestibility Than Beans Cooked at Sea Level Pazlopez, Claudia http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29093 2015-07-08T08:29:35Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Common Beans Cooked at High Altitudes Have Higher Trypsin Inhibitor Activity and Lower Protein Digestibility Than Beans Cooked at Sea Level Pazlopez, Claudia Legumes are high in protein but also contain heat labile trypsin inhibitors (TI's) that reduce protein digestibility. To test if cooking at high altitudes is less effective at inactivating TI than cooking at sea level, common beans and fava beans were cooked in water at temperatures chosen to simulate boiling points at different altitudes. In addition, each variety was autoclaved in water at 121°C to simulate a pressure cooker. Trypsin inhibitor activity (TIA) was measured with N-α-Benzoyl-L-arginine 4-nitroanilide hydrochloride, and in vitro protein digestibility was determined by digestion of samples with 3 peptidases. Raw common and raw fava beans inhibited 100% and 36% of trypsin activity, respectively. Cooking common beans at 100°C inactivated 88.6% (SD±4.8) of TI, while cooking at temperatures between 87-97°C inactivated 73.2% (p<0.05). In fava beans, TI inactivation was 75% at all cooking temperatures. TI inactivation in an autoclave was positively correlated with time for common beans (p<0.05) but not fava beans. Protein digestibility in common beans was 79.1% in raw beans, 85.0% in beans cooked at 87°C and 89.7% in beans cooked at 100°C. Fava bean digestibility was greater than that of common beans when raw (86.0%) and when cooked at 100°C (95.6%). Regression analysis showed a negative correlation between TIA and protein digestibility (r2=0.86). Residual TIA of common beans cooked at high altitudes in boiling water is higher than when cooked at sea level, lowering protein digestibility. In populations where protein intakes are marginal, this could negatively impact protein nutritional status. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Strong Solar Storms and their Effects on Middle and Lower Stratospheric Ozone Concentrations Pettit, Joshua http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29092 2015-07-08T08:27:56Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z Strong Solar Storms and their Effects on Middle and Lower Stratospheric Ozone Concentrations Pettit, Joshua Solar Storms are a well-known disruptor of the upper atmosphere. Radio communication as well as the safety of space travelers and equipment is at the mercy of these storms. Despite this, little work has been done in showing what these storms due to lower levels in the atmosphere. In this paper I look at strong solar storms and see how they affect the ozone concentration at 50mb, 20mb, and 10mb levels. Using daily ozone data and satellite instrumentation for solar events, I looked at how ozone changes during and after these events. I found that solar flares have the largest impact with concentration changes as high as 80%. Solar wind events seemed to only have modest impacts followed by coronal mass ejections which appear to have little impact at all. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z The Effects of Low-Frequency Climate Oscillations on Interannual Variations in East Coast Winter Storm Tracks Saslo, Seth http://hdl.handle.net/1813/29091 2015-07-08T08:43:38Z 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z The Effects of Low-Frequency Climate Oscillations on Interannual Variations in East Coast Winter Storm Tracks Saslo, Seth Correlations between low-frequency climate oscillations and East Coast Winter Storm location are explored using the Hirsch et al. (2001) definition of ECWS and NCEP Reanalysis data. Relevant climatic factors are identified, and comparisons are drawn in ECWS geographic frequency between significant positive and negative phases of these climate oscillations through an automated procedure. It is found that the Multivariate ENSO Index, the North Atlantic Oscillation, the Arctic Oscillation, and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation are significantly correlated to ECWS frequency at specified grid points along the East Coast. Furthermore, it is apparent that select modes of these climate oscillations have a more profound effect on ECWS frequency than others: A positive ENSO keeps storms on a more southerly route; A negative NAO and AO confine storms to the mid- and north coast; and a negative PDO moves storms to the north. Maps of average 500 mb heights during these storm days are created and sorted by sign and magnitude of climate index, and aid to an explanation of storm motion through temperature and height gradients as well as trough axis position. 2012-06-26T00:00:00Z What's Religion got to do with it? Islam and Fertility in Senegal and Cameroon Browne, Alyssa http://hdl.handle.net/1813/28633 2015-07-08T02:05:02Z 2012-03-19T00:00:00Z What's Religion got to do with it? Islam and Fertility in Senegal and Cameroon Browne, Alyssa Religion has been proven to influence a wide range of individual outcomes, including gender-specific health experiences such as fertility. This study examines the role of religion in women's decision-making, both broadly and with a special focus on reproductive decisions. Quantitative analysis of Cameroon (2004) and Senegal's (2005) Demographic Health Surveys is combined with information from qualitative focus group discussions that were held in each country in 2011. These analyses were used to investigate 1) whether Muslim women have the same level of control over household decision-making as their non-Muslim counterparts; 2) whether the extent of Muslim women's participation in key household decision-making differ from their participation in reproductive decisions; 3) whether rates of contraceptive use and participation in reproductive decision-making differ between Muslims and non-Muslims; and 4) how Muslim women and men view the influences and prescriptions of religion on the practice of family planning. Cameroon and Senegal serve as fruitful locals to investigate these questions, as the former represents a more pluralistic society while the latter is predominantly Muslim. Findings suggest that religion continues to mediate women's relative control in different arenas of household decision-making, including family planning. Given international concern over achieving reproductive health, crystallized in Millennium Development Goal 5, future interventions will need to be sensitive to the role of religion. 2012-03-19T00:00:00Z Biochemistry of a Mutant, Cancer-causing DNA Licensing Protein MCM4 Yang, Dian http://hdl.handle.net/1813/28305 2015-07-07T22:34:40Z 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z Biochemistry of a Mutant, Cancer-causing DNA Licensing Protein MCM4 Yang, Dian Chromosomal instability is a hallmark of cancer cells and impaired DNA replication is a major cause of chromosome instability. This thesis investigates the mutant allele Chaos3 (chromosome aberrations occurring spontaneously 3) isolated in a N-ethyl- N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis screen of mice for chromosome instability. This mutation causes high levels of chromosome instability. Over 80% of mutant female homozygous mice develop mammary adenocarcinomas with a mean latency of 12 months. The Chaos3 mutation occurs in the Mcm4 gene (minichromosome maintenance 4) and causes a single amino acid change (F345I) in a highly conserved region. Mcm4 encodes the MCM4 subunit of the hetero-hexameric MCM2-7 complex. MCM2-7 is a DNA replicative helicase. During DNA replication, MCM2-7 is loaded on the replication origins as double hexamers. The goal of this study was to characterize the biochemical consequence of the point mutation, focusing on protein interactions measured by co-immunoprecipitation. Here, we report that the Chaos3 mutation causes a dramatic decrease of MCM4-MCM6 interaction and a slight decrease of MCM4-MCM7 interaction. This finding suggests that the loss of interaction might cause structural instability of the replicative machinery, leading to increased number of stalled replication forks and chromosome segregation defects. Another finding was identifying an interaction between MCM4 and HSP70. 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z Historic Trends in Deuterium (δD) in Bird Feathers Molfetto, Donna M. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/28304 2015-07-07T22:44:30Z 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z Historic Trends in Deuterium (δD) in Bird Feathers Molfetto, Donna M. Deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen expressed as δD, has been recorded in precipitation around the world since the 1960's and those 40-year averages are often used in the study of avian ecology. Deuterium varies geographically and temporally throughout the year due to temperature changes. This study hypothesized that deuterium may have also increased over time due to temperature increases caused by climate change. Deuterium was investigated in avian museum specimens from the last century in Tompkins County, New York. Specimens were chosen using two different criteria: one including a wide variety of species to investigate general trends and the other restricted to a few species to reduce noise in the data. Across a wide variety of passerine species, δD demonstrated an increasing trend over time, but the explanatory power of time was low (r2=0.1134). When analysis was restricted to a single species, this relationship disappeared. The relationship between temperature and δD rarely explained more than ten percent of the variation in the data. Statistically significant differences were found between species and between the sexes, suggesting the need for further research in these areas. 2012-01-19T00:00:00Z Indigenous Knowledge for Conservation of Natural and Cultural Resources: A Case Study in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Far North Queensland Martin, Sherry http://hdl.handle.net/1813/28217 2015-07-08T06:24:34Z 2011-12-13T00:00:00Z Indigenous Knowledge for Conservation of Natural and Cultural Resources: A Case Study in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of Far North Queensland Martin, Sherry In the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (hereafter WTWHA) of Queensland, Australia inclusion of indigenous knowledge into cooperative land management is at its first stages of development. Current policies have sought to recognize indigenous knowledge and participation in planning, though research and policy has failed to produce significant evidence to nominate the WTWHA for cultural values. Using 27 interviews combined with literature analysis this research investigates the barriers and benefits resulting from the 1988 World Heritage Listing solely for ecological values. Since Listing, numerous publications have documented the cultural continuance of traditional indigenous owners through cultural maps, written histories and anthropological evidence. This paper presents preliminary findings from qualitative research informed by government agencies, scientists, traditional owners and land consultants of the WTWHA. Interviews suggest that inclusive land management will enhance the protection of the natural and cultural resources that have defined this area for millennia. World Heritage listing is a barrier to the incorporation of Aboriginal customary law1 into statutory law2 and common law.3 In protected area land management, WHL for natural criteria has failed to: appreciably include traditional owners as co-managers of the land, develop lasting partnerships and recognize the universal value of endemic cultures to the Wet Tropics. 2011-12-13T00:00:00Z Immunohistochemical Quantification of 5HT2C Receptors and CaV 1.3 Channels after Spinal Cord Injury in the Upper Lumbar Mouse Spinal Cord Van Patten, Gabrielle N. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23180 2015-07-08T08:26:21Z 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Immunohistochemical Quantification of 5HT2C Receptors and CaV 1.3 Channels after Spinal Cord Injury in the Upper Lumbar Mouse Spinal Cord Van Patten, Gabrielle N. The mammalian hindlimb central pattern generator (CPG) for locomotion is located in the lumbar spinal cord, and coordinates contralateral alternation of the hindlimbs and intralimb flexor/extensor muscle alternations. Serotonin (5HT) plays an important role in enabling CPG functionality. All serotonergic input to the lumbar cord descends from the medullary Raphe nuclei; these inputs are lost after a complete spinal cord lesion. We used immunohistochemical methods to determine whether spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the expression levels of 5HT2C receptor clusters and CaV 1.3 channel clusters. Quipazine is a 5HT2 agonist and its regular administration has previously led to partial locomotor recovery. We sought to determine if daily administration would reduce the SCI-induced homeostatic changes in 5HT2C receptor and CaV 1.3 channel levels. Half the SCI mice were treated with quipazine, and half were saline vehicle treated. A combination of ImageJ and Matlab was used to determine the number, size, and intensity of 5HT2C receptor clusters after SCI, as well as the percentage of the frame area covered by CaV 1.3 channels and their average brightness. After SCI, there is a significant upregulation in the number of 5HT2C receptor clusters, and 5HT2C receptor clusters are significantly larger. Neither is reduced by quipazine. There is no significant change in the average brightness of 5HT2C receptor clusters after SCI. Additionally, the area and intensity of CaV 1.3 channels are significantly larger in SCI/saline mice than in intact mice. CaV 1.3 channels were not examined in SCI/quipazine mice due to a small sample size. 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Optimization of Novel Thermo-gelling Tri-block Co-polymeric Carriers for the Delivery of Paclitaxel for the Treatment Glioblastoma Multiforme Schlaff, Cody Daniel http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23179 2015-07-08T08:23:22Z 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Optimization of Novel Thermo-gelling Tri-block Co-polymeric Carriers for the Delivery of Paclitaxel for the Treatment Glioblastoma Multiforme Schlaff, Cody Daniel Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain cancer in adults and unfortunately, characterized by a poor prognosis. Standard treatments like surgical resection and chemotherapy are marginally effective. Despite aggressive therapy, the disease ultimately recurs. Local control-released chemotherapy may be administered via carmustine (BCNU) polymer-loaded biodegradable wafers (Gliadel® wafers) to the cavity upon surgical resection. One significant limitation of this modality is the instability of BCNU in aqueous media. Moreover, the effective therapeutic distance of the wafers extends only a few millimeters from the resection cavity, while recurrences occur often centimeters away. New carriers and pharmacological agents are being actively explored. One such carrier is derived from a novel set of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide-b–ethylene glycol-b-DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA-PEG-PLGA) thermo-gelling tri-block copolymers capable of sustained release of paclitaxel. Paclitaxel has been shown in vitro and in vivo to be effective against glioma cells while having a much slower degradation rate than carmustine; this slower degradation rate may allow deeper penetration into the brain, and as a result, effective concentrations can be sustained for longer periods. We seek to test whether thermo-gelling hydrogel carriers of paclitaxel could result in novel therapies for the treatment of GBM. We also seek to optimize the configuration of the thermo-gelling hydrogels within the resection cavity to maximize drug delivery to the surrounding brain. 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Changes in Fecal Microbial Populations in Horses Maintained on Various Diets Neuendorf, Lauren E. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23178 2015-07-08T08:19:19Z 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Changes in Fecal Microbial Populations in Horses Maintained on Various Diets Neuendorf, Lauren E. Laminitis, a condition of the hoof, is one of the most common and devastating conditions that affects the horse (Equus caballus). The most common factors responsible for triggering laminitis are intake of excess grain or exposure to lush pastures where high starch rich diets are consumed, although the connection between the gut and the hoof is not well understood. When horses are fed starch rich diets, like grain commonly found in the diets of race and performance horses, the balance of microbial species present in the digestive tract of the horse become disturbed, leading to lactic acidosis in the horse. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the fecal microbial populations in horses maintained on various diets. Microbial populations present in the equine hindgut were assayed by using bacterial ribosomal DNA fragments present in fecal samples. Identification and quantification of specific bacterial species, using bacterial primers and florescent probes, can be detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). This study focused on equine hindgut streptococcal species (EHSS), including Streptococcus lutetiensis, which accounts for approximately 70% of the microbiota present in the hindgut prior to the onset of laminitis. Our results suggest that avoidance of pasture for all laminitic prone horses may need to be reevaluated as the hindgut microbe sensitivity to diet is unique for each individual horse. The use of these assays will be valuable in future work exploring the changing microbial populations present in the equine hindgut. 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z The Evolution of Luminescent Courtship Signals in Caribbean Ostracods Kates, Hilary Suzanne Curran http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23177 2015-07-08T08:11:18Z 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z The Evolution of Luminescent Courtship Signals in Caribbean Ostracods Kates, Hilary Suzanne Curran Males of a unique group of Caribbean ostracods use luminescence in their mating process. These ostracods show high microhabitat specificity and complex extracellular species-specific luminescent courtship displays, which result in a symphony of firework-type displays over shallow Caribbean reef systems after nightfall. Each ostracod's mating signal consists of a train of light pulses composed of an initial slow "call phase" and a terminal targeting "trill phase" of regular, more rapid and shorter, narrowly spaced pulses. Ostracod displays play a crucial role in sexual selection and therefore speciation in this group. We examined which characteristics of these displays might be used by individuals among three clades of luminescent Caribbean ostracods (Photeros-group, Kornickeria-group and 'H'-group, based on morphological and molecular work) to differentiate conspecifics from other species. We hypothesized that the more variable initial phase characteristics used in species recognition are more important in shaping the evolution of Caribbean ostracods than those characteristics that make up the constrained trill phase. We combined frame-by-frame analyses of videos of displays from the field for two undescribed species with analyses of 22 species based on published data. We overlaid our findings onto an independently derived phylogeny based on molecular and morphological data of 14 of these 24 species to determine possible signal evolution patterns. Our findings suggest phylogenetic signatures in 5 aspects of the display signal: the duration of the complete signal train, duration and length of the initial phase, the number of pulses in the trill phase, and the amount of time between consecutive pulses in the trill. 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Effects of Social Stimuli on Testosterone, Aggression, and Fighting Behavior in Male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) Dulak, Deirdre A. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23176 2015-07-08T08:08:49Z 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Effects of Social Stimuli on Testosterone, Aggression, and Fighting Behavior in Male Golden Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) Dulak, Deirdre A. Testosterone has long been implicated in aggression. However, evidence for its role is contentious. This study examined the influence of testosterone on aggression but also aimed to further explore the effect of previous social stimuli on the outcome of male-male fights. Experimental males were exposed to animal stimuli (males, diestrus females, or estrous females) through a mesh barrier, and then testosterone levels were measured. The following day, control males with no prior exposure fought experimental males, and fighting behavior was recorded. It was hypothesized that exposure to social stimuli, especially exposure to estrous females, would induce testosterone surges in males. These surges would increase aggression in fights, thereby improving fighting ability in males with prior exposure. It was predicted that higher aggression would translate into experimental males winning significantly more fights than their control counterparts. However, results were rather ambiguous. A significant testosterone surge in males was only found after exposure to diestrus females. Males exposed to estrous females exhibited nearly significant testosterone surges, whereas males exposed to other males showed no significant changes in testosterone. The significant testosterone rise in males exposed to diestrus females did seem to increase aggression during fights compared to males with only male exposure. However, this did not predict the outcomes of the fights as expected. 2011-07-20T00:00:00Z Public Opinion of the Use of Eminent Domain for Phase Two of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Albonesi, Stephen H. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23131 2015-07-07T22:34:36Z 2011-07-07T00:00:00Z Public Opinion of the Use of Eminent Domain for Phase Two of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail Albonesi, Stephen H. Eminent domain, the right of a government to take private property for public uses, was originally intended for projects with clear public purposes, such as the construction of utility lines. However, the use of eminent domain has become increasingly controversial because it has also been used for more discretionary projects, such as recreational trails. The purpose of this study was to gain insight on public opinion of the use of eminent domain for Phase Two of the Cayuga Waterfront Trail in Ithaca, NY. A secondary purpose was to observe how opinions of eminent domain differ across demographic groups. A telephone survey of a listed sample of 250 Ithaca residents was administered through the Cornell Survey Research Institute. Results indicate that Ithaca residents support the use of eminent domain both in theory and in accomplishing Phase Two. Residents favored eminent domain in general and for Phase Two by a ratio of about 5 (in favor): 3 (opposed): 2 (undecided). Younger to middle-aged people who hold at least a bachelor's degree were most apt to favor the use of eminent domain. In general, those who favored eminent domain in theory also approved of eminent domain for Phase Two, and vice versa. The study demonstrates strong community support for the use of eminent domain for Phase Two. For the City of Ithaca, the survey data can be a useful application in addressing counter positions to Phase Two. Public surveys of eminent domain are therefore important tools in the public decision making process. 2011-07-07T00:00:00Z The Socio-environmental Implications and Effects of the Gulf Oil Spill: Impact on Citizens, Rights, and Recovery in the Debate Over Accountability Popovici, Alexandra http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23130 2015-07-08T01:57:42Z 2011-07-06T00:00:00Z The Socio-environmental Implications and Effects of the Gulf Oil Spill: Impact on Citizens, Rights, and Recovery in the Debate Over Accountability Popovici, Alexandra The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an environmental catastrophe that wreaked havoc on populations, habitats and livelihoods within the gulf region. As most studies inspect the environmental impacts resulting from this type of event, I have chosen to examine the implications of the conflicts that arise over the management of the spill within the state of Louisiana (the clean-up and response to victims). This study provides a lens into understanding how the claiming of rights and the abdication of responsibility gets played out through these debates. Investigating these disputes between British Petroleum (BP), the Louisiana State Government, the national government and the Louisiana victims allows for a more in-depth look into how the handling of disasters can further exacerbate the problems these regions face. In this study a variation of national and local newspapers were used to gather information over the discourses of the debate. These two perspectives provided a spectrum of political viewpoints, public opinions and experiences that were useful in the analysis. These include the various ways that the debate was framed by key parties involved, how the displacement of blame developed and how the eligibility requirements and process of the BP compensation fund had severe implications for the victims. These investigations add to our understanding of how the shifting of responsibility, the accessibility of rights, the acts of blaming and acceptance of accountability develop and persist in the wake of this detrimental calamity. This study is part of a growing body of research on environmental citizenship within the field of political ecology. In uncapping information on the interpretations and progression of disputes over managing the spill, this project will be able to contribute to future research on similar topics. 2011-07-06T00:00:00Z An Analysis and Recommendations of the Use of Social Media within the Cooperative Extension System: Opportunities, Risks, and Barriers Fuess, Lucas C. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23129 2015-07-08T01:49:40Z 2011-07-06T00:00:00Z An Analysis and Recommendations of the Use of Social Media within the Cooperative Extension System: Opportunities, Risks, and Barriers Fuess, Lucas C. In recent years, social media has become a huge and integral component of how people spend their time online; from wikis to blogs and from Facebook to Twitter, people are spending enormous amounts of time on websites used to share information and connect with people. New forms of relationship building and social capital occur through social networking sites. Within Cooperative Extension, it is imperative to keep up with evolving forms of communication to connect with an ever changing audience. Interviews were conducted throughout New York and Wisconsin with educators in both rural and urban counties, with varying amounts of social media experience, and varying ages and backgrounds. A cross state study was conducted to determine if results were consistent in unique areas. Questions asked determined how Cooperative Extension is utilizing social media to connect with people in different ways, if social media was an effective communication platform, and if it is worth it for Cooperative Extension to utilize this resource. Data was collected about the uses of social media and its perceived opportunities, risks, and barriers for use. Conclusions drawn indicate people are excited about a new, free, and easy opportunity to connect with others. Concerns include time spent using social media, a perceived lack of privacy and control of the websites, and a lack of training opportunities for extension educators. As technology continues to evolve, Cooperative Extension needs to evolve as well in order to most effectively communicate with constituents. 2011-07-06T00:00:00Z Purification of the Metalloprotease of Listeria monocytogenes Wagner, Gabriela R. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23127 2015-07-08T02:43:22Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Purification of the Metalloprotease of Listeria monocytogenes Wagner, Gabriela R. Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterium and the causative agent of listeriosis, a food-borne infection. During infection, the bacterium invades host cells and lyses phagocytic vacuoles to gain access to the cytosol where it multiplies. One of the virulence factors involved in escape from vacuoles is a secreted zinc-dependent metalloprotease (Mpl). Mpl is made as a zymogen of ~55 kDa and is composed of a propeptide and a catalytic domain. Mpl maturation occurs by autocatalysis in a pH-dependent manner. To better understand the mechanism of Mpl autocatalysis, we aimed to purify Mpl for structure/function analysis. Mpl was purified in its natural host, L. monocytogenes, grown under conditions that favor the expression of Mpl, and the supernatant was recovered by centrifugation and filtration. Secreted proteins, including Mpl, were concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation, recovered by centrifugation, dissolved in water, and passed through a buffer exchange column to eliminate the salt. Mpl was purified by ion-exchange chromatography at pH 7.0, and eluted from the column at 500 mM NaCl. It was further purified via Flag-tag affinity chromatography. Fractions containing Mpl were identified by Western immunoblot with an anti-Mpl antibody, and Coomassie Blue staining of protein gels was used to verify purity. At the conclusion of these experiments, 4 nonspecific proteins in very small concentrations were found to co-purify with Mpl. 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Late Cenozoic Volcanism in the Hövsgöl Rift Basin: Source, Genesis, and Evolution of Intraplate Volcanism in Mongolia Zuza, Andrew V. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23126 2015-07-08T02:38:07Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Late Cenozoic Volcanism in the Hövsgöl Rift Basin: Source, Genesis, and Evolution of Intraplate Volcanism in Mongolia Zuza, Andrew V. Diffuse, intraplate volcanic deposits are prevalent throughout Mongolia. This study sought to examine Late Cenozoic lavas (9.5-17.1 Ma) from the Hövsgöl rift basin in order to better understand their source, genesis, and evolution. The relationship of these volcanic rocks to the Baikal Rift Zone (BRZ) and the extent to which these lavas are involved in, or derived from, rifting has important implications for lithospheric development of Mongolia and Central Asia. The alkaline basalts have similar light rare earth element enrichments (La/Yb = 9.1-31.9) and 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the range of .7039 to .7050. Major and trace element and isotopic data reveal that low degrees of partial melting of garnet lherzolite occurred at depths greater than 65 km. Enrichment in fluid-mobile elements (e.g. Sr and Ba), lower La/Nb ratios, and a calc-alkaline trend suggest that hydrous minerals may have contributed to the melt. Nb enrichment (>35 ppm), along with the melting of hydrous minerals, may be attributed to the melting of a metasomatically enriched lithospheric mantle source. The mixing of minor asthenospheric upwelling with a volatile-rich, metasomatized lithospheric mantle may have produced melts without requiring extremely elevated temperatures, consistent with other published studies that show a small, shallow thermal anomaly under Mongolia. 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Online Predation: A Linguistic Analysis of Online Predator Grooming Wollis, Melissa A. http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23125 2015-07-08T02:12:24Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Online Predation: A Linguistic Analysis of Online Predator Grooming Wollis, Melissa A. Current theory about online sexual predation suggests that predators engage in a grooming process with their victims. Grooming consists of three main stages: friendship and relationship forming, risk assessment and exclusivity, and sexual. This thesis examines whether predators utilized different patterns of language use across each of the stages that can be identified through computerized text analysis. The transcripts of 43 convicted predators were spliced into three equal sections according to word count and a computerized text analysis was performed to look at the different types of language that are expected in each stage based on grooming. The results reveal that predator language differs significantly throughout the three stages of grooming, and that the grooming stages can predict language patterns that are used most frequently in each stage. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of grooming theory and the use of computerized text analysis to identify predators and educate youth. 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Predicting Energy Expenditure from Physical Activity, Heart Rate and Anthropometry in Female Indian Tea Pluckers Eric, Przybyszewski http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23124 2015-07-08T02:12:13Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Predicting Energy Expenditure from Physical Activity, Heart Rate and Anthropometry in Female Indian Tea Pluckers Eric, Przybyszewski The objective of this study was to test a methodological procedure for estimating energy expenditure for a population of Indian female tea pluckers. Subjects (N=40; age20-50y) working on a tea estate in West Bengal, India participated in the study. Each subject wore an Actigraph accelerometer, Polar heart rate monitor and Cosmed K4b2 indirect calorimeter during a 90-minute period to assess minute-by-minute physical activity (PA), heart rate (HR) and energy expenditure (EE), respectively. The testing period was meant to replicate a normal tea plucker's work day which included 2 periods of rest, 3 periods of picking while carrying weight (0, 5, and 10kg) and 3 periods of walking while carrying weight (15,20, 25kg). An EE prediction equation was generated using a branched method that first distinguishes time during normal workday activities (picking, walking, resting) using accelerometer counts. Resting EE was estimated from age and weight, while minute-by-minute non-resting EE was estimated from HR and BMI. Rather than creating individually calibrated curves for each subject, individuals can be grouped based on BMI categories (<18.5, 18.5≥BMI≤24.5, >24.5) to predict EE during the work day. Predicted EE will be used to evaluate the efficiency of performing work (weight of tea plucked/kcal EE) relative to iron status in an independent sample of 248 tea pluckers. We conclude that energy expenditure can be accurately predicted with a branched equation based on PA, HR, age and BMI for a specific population participating in a known set of activities. 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Morphology and Pathology of the Cysteine Dioxygenase Knockout Mouse: Evaluating Skeletal and Connective Tissue Abnormalities Lam, Jimmy http://hdl.handle.net/1813/23123 2015-07-08T02:04:08Z 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z Morphology and Pathology of the Cysteine Dioxygenase Knockout Mouse: Evaluating Skeletal and Connective Tissue Abnormalities Lam, Jimmy Cysteine catabolism is dependent upon cysteine dioxygenase (CDO), a thiol dioxygenase encoded by the gene CDO1. The clinical literature and, more recently, the study of CDO polymorphisms in disease and control populations have illustrated a strong association of impaired metabolism of cysteine to sulfate and taurine and/or CDO loss-of-function mutations with a variety of autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. The Stipanuk research group has recently generated a germ-line CDO knockout (CDO-/-) mouse that clearly has metabolic and phenotypic abnormalities. Phenotypically, CDO knockout (null) mice exhibit signs of connective tissue and skeletal abnormalities, especially joint hyperlaxity (hypermobility) and wry nose (contortions in the nasal bone). Our studies indicate that CDO null mice have clear connective tissue abnormalities. Key abnormal features include significant increases in lung air space, measured by mean linear intercept; lung elastic fiber disarray and entanglement; significant increase in matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), an enzyme involved in degrading elastin, in the lung; and skeletal development retardation. 2011-06-30T00:00:00Z


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How do I make it so that if I press tab,it goes to frame 9?
Are you trying to prevent people from tabbing through clickable elements?
You can do something along the lines of "showBoundingRect = false" or something like that. Can't remember the exact function.
But to answer your question, you'll have to use a looping frame to check if Key.isDown(Key.TAB);
if (Key.isDown(Key.TAB) {
If you put everything in a movie clip, nothing is tabable. And you can't use (play) to cheat.
Jude,when I use that code,I get the following error
')' expected
if (Key.isDown(Key.TAB) {
@ yrudoy I have a custom menu,you can't use anything but Flash Settings
Jude forgot another ")" after the if statement.
Ah, so it's
#if (Key.isDown(Key.TAB)) {
Thanks for your help everyone!
EDIT: Errr…why is it not working?
Oops. Wasn't paying attention to syntax :P
Thanks, arcaneCoder :D
@SevereFlame: It should work…
Are you using AS2 or AS3?
AS2. Many of the scripts I steal off the internet don't work with AS3 (lol?)
Because it's pretty new.
Does the frame 5 have any animation? If it's just one frame that says "GAME OVER", put a stop(); on that frame.
I didn't realize that it didn't say gotoAndStop.
Thanks for all your help.
But,…I AM supposed to put it in the actionScript of the first frame right?
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pink Banana reheats Pinter's 'The Hothouse'
One of the asylum's inmates has been murdered. Another has been impregnated by the staff. Electric-shock treatment is common. Inmates are known by numbers rather than names.
Did I mention that it's Christmas Day? »Read Full Article
Windfall Theatre expertly serves up exquisite 'Empty Plate'
Here's a twist on a midlife crisis that I'll wager you haven't seen:
A rich newspaper magnate who owns an exclusive Parisian restaurant — open 24/7, but only to him — unexpectedly pops in one night. Disheveled and depressed, he informs his devoted staff that he intends to occupy his usual table and starve himself to death while they watch. »Read Full Article
'Breaking Bad,' 'Homeland' and innocence lost
Sunday night, the debut of the third season of "Homeland" on Showtime coincides with the series finale of the compulsively watchable "Breaking Bad" on AMC.
American Sheet Music Conference to celebrate Civil War-era songs
The Civil War has been studied through books, re-enactments...and now, sheet music.
The Irish Fest Center, 1532 N. Wauwatosa Ave., is hosting the American Sheet Music Conference Oct. 18 and 19, with an emphasis on sheet music published during the Civil War. »Read Full Article
Milwaukee Film Festival pick: Day Four
Good thing it's a Packers bye week.
Because Sunday is no day of rest at the Milwaukee Film Festival. »Read Full Blog Post


text:
I am using Deep Freeze on our computers so on each reset, the computer is returned to it's original state. Each time this happens, Firefox and IE both go through initial startup mode each time prompting the user to follow steps. How can this be set to not have the user prompted to go through the Firefox first-use wizard or IE first-time mode?
Update: Yes we have tried the solution below previously, it only works if you have the same user logging in, but in our setting, one computer can have hundreds of potential users, every time a new user logs in, these setting are not carried over to the new user.