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open access

Investigating Human Gut Microbiome in Obesity with Machine Learning Methods

Description: Obesity is a common disease among all ages that has threatened human health and has become a global concern. Gut microbiota can affect human metabolism and thus may modulate obesity. Certain mixes of gut microbiota can protect the host to be healthy or predispose the host to obesity. Modern next-generation sequencing technique allows accessing huge amount of genetic information underlying microbiota and thus provides new insights into the functionality of these micro-organisms and their interac… more
Date: August 2017
Creator: Zhong, Yuqing
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Investigating Realistic Scenarios of Biodiversity Loss on Ecosystem Functioning: Extirpation of Rare Species and Food Web Collapse in Tropical Floodplain Lagoons

Description: This thesis investigates the influence of nonrandom species loss on the structure and functioning of trophic floodplain lagoons. Two experiments were conducted based on different realistic scenarios of biodiversity loss using multitrophic fish assemblages derived from long-term survey data. Loss of fish diversity influenced overall ecosystem multifunctionality of these lagoons through complex multitrophic interactions throughout the aquatic food web. These results indicate that biodiversity l… more
Date: May 2012
Creator: Pendleton, Richard McCall
Partner: UNT Libraries

Investigating the Effects of Inhaled Diesel Exhaust Particles on Gut Microbiome, Intestinal Integrity, Systemic Inflammation, and Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease in Wildtype Mice

Description: We investigated the hypothesis that exposure to inhaled diesel exhaust PM can alter the gut microbiome and intestinal integrity, thereby promoting systemic inflammatory response and early CVD risk, which are exacerbated by HF diet. Furthermore, we investigated whether the observed exposure and diet-mediated outcomes could be mitigated through probiotic treatment. We performed an exposure study on C57Bl/6 male mice, placed on either a low fat (LF) diet or a high-fat (HF) diet, and exposed via or… more
Date: December 2021
Creator: Phillippi, Danielle T.
Partner: UNT Libraries

Investigating the Effects of Traffic-Generated Air-Pollution on the Microbiome and Immune Responses in Lungs of Wildtype Mice

Description: There is increasing evidence indicating that exposure to air pollutants may be associated with the onset of several respiratory diseases such as allergic airway disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Many lung diseases demonstrate an outgrowth of pathogenic bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum, and the incidence of occurrence of these diseases is higher in heavily polluted regions. Within the human body, the lungs are among the first to be exposed to the harmful e… more
Date: December 2020
Creator: Daniel, Sarah
Partner: UNT Libraries

Investigating the Mechanisms involved in Traffic-Generated Air Pollution: Mediated Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier in a Wild Type Mouse Model using a Pharmaceutical Intervention Approach

Description: This study investigated whether oxLDL and/or angiotensin (Ang) II signaling pathways mediate traffic-generated air pollution- exposure induced alterations in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and permeability in a healthy wild type (C57Bl/6) mouse model; additionally, whether these outcomes are exacerbated by a high fat-diet investigated. An environmentally relevant concentration of a mixture of vehicle engine exhaust (MVE) was used. To investigate the hypotheses, 12 wk old male C57Bl/6 mice… more
Date: August 2020
Creator: Suwannasual, Usa
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

An Investigation of Algae and Common Tastes and Odors in Fresh Water

Description: The purpose of this investigation was to isolate and grow algae common to the southwest in unialgal culture; to either sustain or grow one of the principal bloom-causing organisms, with emphasis on Microcystis aeruginosa; to isolate and culture actinomycetes from the same waters from which the algae were obtained; and to inoculate these algae with actinomycetes and determine their effects through development and deterioration.
Date: 1956
Creator: Harmon, John C.
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Investigation of cryopreservation methods for adherent nerve cell networks in vitro.

Description: Cryopreservation in suspension is commonplace for a variety of cell types. However, cryopreservation of adherent cells has achieved limited success. This research aimed to cryopreserve adherent nerve cell networks in vitro in a manner that preserved network morphology and physiology. Successful implementation would enable long term storage of adherent neuronal networks on microelectrode arrays and on-demand access for use in pharmacological and toxicological testing. Based upon morphological as… more
Date: December 2009
Creator: Webb, Veronica Fine
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

An Investigation of Gas Chromatographic Separation of Tastes and Odors Produced by Actinomycetes

Description: It is the purpose of this thesis to evaluate a few selected gas chromatographic materials for the separation of odorants produced by an actinomycete culture under laboratory conditions. Also to compare the results obtained with concentrated solutions of a surface water containing similar odors under natural conditions.
Date: January 1965
Creator: Matlock, James K.
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Investigation of Inhibitory Influences in Neuronal Monolayer Networks Cultured from Mouse Spinal Cord

Description: The effects of the inhibitory neurotransmitters gammaamino butyric acid (GABA) and glycine were characterized on spontaneous activity recorded from mouse spinal cord cultures. The GABA concentration which completely inhibited burst activity was chosen as a quantifiable measure of culture drug response and was used to 1) assess interculture and intraculture variability, 2) determine the influence of culture age and initial activity on GABA responses, and 3) compare the GABA responses between net… more
Date: August 1992
Creator: Jordan, Russell S. (Russell Stall)
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

An Investigation of Methods for the Concentration of Chemical Compounds Produced by Actinomycetes and Their Relation to Tastes and Odors in Municipal Water Supplies

Description: It is the purpose of this investigation to improve upon techniques to enhance the taste of municipal water and attempt to devise one that could desorb the compounds from carbon in an unaltered state. It was decided that the odor character would be the criterion used to decide if the eluted compounds were the same as those in the raw water.
Date: 1957
Creator: Brown, Jerry H.
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

An Investigation of Naturally Occurring Tastes and Odors from Fresh Waters

Description: The Problem of the cause and control of tastes and odors in water supplies has been the subject of a great many investigations during the last half-century; however, many questions in this field remain to be answered. Theories relating to the cause of tastes and odors occurring in water are still rather numerous and, at present, only a few of them are compatible. Although several procedures have been employed for the eradication of tastes and odors from water supplies, none of them are complete… more
Date: May 1955
Creator: Pipes, Wesley O'Feral, Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Investigation of Pyrimidine Salvage Pathways to Categorize Indigenous Soil Bacteria of Agricultural and Medical Importance and Analysis of the Pyrimidine Biosynthetic Pathway's Enzyme Properties for Correlating Cell Morphology to Function in All Phases of Growth

Description: This dissertation comprises three parts and is presented in two chapters. Chapter 1 concerns Arthrobacter, a bacterium with an intriguing growth cycle. Whereas most bacteria exist as either a rod or coccus, this bacterium shares the rod/coccus lifestyle. It therefore seemed important to examine the growth regulatory pathways from the rod and coccus. The committed step, that catalyzed by aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase), in the pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway was chosen. The ATCase in Arthr… more
Date: May 2003
Creator: Meixner, Jeffery Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries
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An Investigation of Selected Factors Related to the Professional Status of the Science Teachers in the Four-Year Accredited High Schools of Texas for the School Year 1952-1953

Description: The purpose of this study is to gather information related to the professional status of the science teachers in the four-year accredited high schools of Texas for the school year 1952-1953. The principal concern of the study is "Who is teaching science?"
Date: August 1953
Creator: Whitehead, Oren W.
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Investigations of neuronal network responses to electrical stimulation in murine spinal cultures.

Description: Spontaneous activity in neuronal networks in vitro is common and has been well documented. However, alteration of spontaneous activity in such networks via conditioning electrical stimulation has received much less experimental attention. Two different patterns of electrical stimulation were used to enhance or depress the level of spontaneous activity in spinal cord cultures. High-frequency stimulation (HFS), a method routinely shown to increase the efficacy of synaptic transmission, was employ… more
Date: December 2001
Creator: Sparks, Christopher A.
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Investigations on Abundance, Habits, and Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles of Denton County, Texas

Description: The purpose of the present study of the herpetofauna was to obtain additional information regarding the vertebrates of Denton County, and to produce a well-preserved, cataloged collection of the amphibians and reptiles for the Museum of Zoology, North Texas State University. An understanding of the vertebrate life of the county also involves an investigation of the habitats within the county that may, in part, count for the distribution of these animals. It is well recognized that the environme… more
Date: January 1967
Creator: Telfair, Raymond Clark
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Isolation and Bioinformatic Characterization of Four Novel Bacteriophages from Streptomyces toxytricini

Description: Six initial phage isolates with high titer lysates were obtained using Streptomyces toxytricini B-5426 as the host bacterium. These isolates were named Goby, Toma, Yosif, Yara, Deema, and Hsoos. However, upon completion of the sequencing, it was found that the Yara and Hsoos isolates were identical, as were Goby and Deema. As a result, final analysis was completed on only the four unique isolates. All of the phages mentioned above were isolated from soil samples from different locations. Al… more
Date: May 2019
Creator: Alzaid, Hessah
Partner: UNT Libraries
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The Isolation and Characterization of a Hitherto Undescribed Gram-Negative Bacterium

Description: A unique undosciribed gramnegative rod is extensively characterized in this study. The cells of this unusual water isolate measure 1.2 X 6.5 microns, The most distinguishing characteristic of the bacterium is a polar tuft of 35-40 flagella that aggregate to function as a single organelle which is visible under phase contrast. Aging cells deposit poly- -hydroxybutyric acid granules which are bound by an inclusion membrane made up of four distinct layers. It also possesses an unusual exterior mem… more
Date: August 1972
Creator: Lassiter, Carroll Benson
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Isolation and Characterization of a New Capsule-Forming Bacterium

Description: A unique, previously undescribed Gram-negative bacterium was isolated from several soils in Texas and extensively characterized in this study. The cells measured 1-2 by 4-6 μm. The distinguishing characteristic of the bacterium is the extraordinary capsular material which surrounds the cells. The new isolates are aerobic, mesophilic, non motile and have the ability to utilize a variety of organic compounds as the sole source of carbon and energy. The organism grows optimally at 30° C and the op… more
Date: May 1999
Creator: Thongmee, Acharawan
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Isolation and Characterization of Malic Enzyme from Ascaris suum

Description: A procedure for the isolation of malic enzyme from muscle tissue of the roundworm Ascaris suum is described. The fractionation method yields relatively large quantities of the enzyme,with a specific activity of fifteen moles of malate converted to pyruvate and carbon dioxide per min per mg at 25º. Homogeneity was established with analytical ultracentrifugation, zone electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing, and rechromatography. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 250,000, and it is dissociated… more
Date: December 1972
Creator: Fodge, Douglas W.
Partner: UNT Libraries
open access

Isolation and Identification of an Odor Compound Produced by a Selected Aquatic Actinomycete

Description: The purpose of this study was to develop an efficient method for the concentration of specific volatile taste and odor compounds produced by a selected aquatic actinomycete. A second purpose was to isolate and identify the specific taste and odor compound present in the highest concentration.
Date: August 1968
Creator: Henley, Don E.
Partner: UNT Libraries
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Isolation and Identification of Bacterial Species Associated with the Common House Fly and Three Species of Cockroaches

Description: In an attempt to demonstrate the role of insects as possible carriers of pathogenic bacterial organisms this investigation has been concerned with the determination of the microbial population associated both internally and externally with the common house fly and three species of the cockroach.
Date: 1951
Creator: Morland, Clifford L.
Partner: UNT Libraries
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