Search Results

Defining Components Linked to Bacterial Nutritional Utilization of Cyanide as a Sole Nitrogen Source

Description: One of the challenges in biology is placing a function on the myriad of gene sequences having become available from rapid advances in genome sequencing. One such example is a gene cluster (Nit1C) found in bacteria that is tied to the unusual ability of certain bacteria to grow when supplied cyanide as the sole nitrogen source. The term cyanotrophs has been applied to such bacteria, for which a genetic linkage between cyanotrophy and Nit1C was demonstrated for 10 separate bacteria. In additio… more
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Date: May 2019
Creator: Jones, Lauren Brittany
open access

Interrelational Laboratory Information System for Data Storage and Retrieval

Description: The necessity for a functional user friendly laboratory data management program has become evident as the quantity of information required for modern scientific research has increased to to titanic proportions. The required union of strong computer power, ease of operation, and adaptability have until recently been outside the realm of most research laboratories. Previous systems, in addition to their high cost, are necessarily complex and require software experts in order to effect any changes… more
Date: August 1989
Creator: Gregory, Michael W. (Michael Walter)
open access

Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis of in Vivo and in Vitro Synthesized Proteins, Antigenic Proteins, and Cross-Reactive Antigens in Treponema Pallidum Subsp. Pallidum Nichols Strain and Treponema Phagedenis Biotype Reiter

Description: Two-dimensional electrophoretic protein profiles of in vivo and in vitro propagated T.pallidum subsps. pallidum Nichols strain were analyzed and compared. This comparative analysis revealed two in vitro synthesized, cytoplasmic cylinder-associated polypeptides with molecular masses 29.5 and 34.7 kDa, pI 5.62, and one in vitro "lost" polypeptide with molecular mass 34.7 kDa, pI 5.34. integral membrane proteins of in vitro and in vivo propagated T. pallidum was identified by phase partitioning wi… more
Date: May 1989
Creator: Sayahtaheri, Sousan
open access

Characterization of Aspartate Transcarbamoylase in the Archaebacterium Methanococcus Jannaschii

Description: Asparate transcarbamoylase catalyzes the first committed step in the de novo synthesis of pyrmidine nucleotides UMP, UDP, UTP, and CTP. The archetype enzyme found in Escherichia coli (310 kDa) exhibits sigmodial substrate binding kinetics with positive control by ATP and negative control with CTP and UTP. The ATCase characterized in this study is from the extreme thermophilic Archaebacterium, Methanococcus jannaschii. The enzyme was very stable at elevated temperatures and possessed activity fr… more
Date: December 1996
Creator: Stewart, John E. B. (John Edward Bakos)
open access

Ecological Responses to Severe Flooding in Coastal Ecosystems: Determining the Vegetation Response to Hurricane Harvey within a Texas Coast Salt Marsh

Description: Vegetative health was measured both before and after Hurricane Harvey using remotely sensed vegetation indices on the coastal marshland surrounding Galveston Island's West Bay. Data were recorded on a monthly basis following the hurricane from September of 2005 until September of 2019 in order to document the vegetation response to this significant disturbance event. Both initial impact and recovery were found to be dependent on a variety of factors, including elevation zone, spatial proximity … more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Hudman, Kenneth Russell
open access

The Development of Potential Therapeutic Anti-Myosin S2 Peptides that Modulate Contraction and Append to the Heart Homing Adduct Tannic Acid without Noticeable Effect on Their Functions

Description: This dissertation aimed to explore the S2 region with an attempt to modulate its elasticity in order to tune the contraction output. Two peptides, the stabilizer and destabilizer, showed high potential in modifying the S2 region at the cellular level, thus they were prepared for animal model testing. In this research, (i) S2 elasticity was studied, and the stabilizer and destabilizer peptides were built to tune contraction output through modulating S2 flexibility; (ii) the peptides were attache… more
Date: May 2021
Creator: Qadan, Motamed

Studies on the Fibrinolytic Pathway in Zebrafish

Description: Fibrinolysis pathway is an important mechanism for dissolution of fibrin clot by the action of plasmin which is formed from plasminogen, a zymogen via the action of plasminogen activators, i.e. tissue plasminogen activator and urinary plasminogen activator. The regulation of fibrinolysis system in vivo is maintained by plasminogen activators and natural inhibitors i.e. α2-antiplasmin, α2-macroglobulin, Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and … more
Date: August 2021
Creator: Gill, Jaspreet Kaur
open access

The Bobwhite Population Decline: Its History, Genetic Consequences, and Studies on Techniques for Locating and Assessing Current Populations

Description: The northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) population decline is a severe, rangewide phenomenon beginning >150 years ago and continuing today. In this investigation, I: 1. document the timeline of bobwhite population decline and unintended genetic consequences of attempted remedies, 2) develop a model useful for predicting possible locations of potentially sustainable bobwhite populations in semiarid rangeland in Texas and Oklahoma, and 3) examine the relationship between population monitoring… more
Date: May 2019
Creator: Whitt, Jeffrey Glen
open access

Maternal Transfer of Dietary Methylmercury and Implications for Embryotoxicity in Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Description: Mercury (Hg) is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant, which is capable of global atmospheric transport. As a result, even the most pristine aquatic ecosystems are affected by atmospheric Hg deposition, following which microbial transformation yield organic Hg forms, the most concerning of which is methylmercury (MeHg). Methylmercury is capable of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food webs, resulting in potentially toxic body burdens due to regular dietary exposure in long-lived organ… more
Date: December 2016
Creator: Bridges, Kristin N.
open access

Comparison and Genetic Analysis of Host Specificity in Cluster BD1 Bacteriophages infecting Streptomyces

Description: Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. When a phage infects a bacterium, it attaches itself to the surface of the bacteria and injects its DNA into the intracellular space. The phage DNA hijacks the cellular machinery of the bacteria and forces it to produce phage proteins. Eventually, the bacteria cell bursts or lyses, releasing new phage. The bacteria act as a host for phage reproduction. The ability for a phage to infect multiple bacterial species is known as host rang… more
Date: May 2019
Creator: Klug, Hannah
open access

Optimization of In Vitro Mammalian Blastocyst Development: Assessment of Culture Conditions, Ovarian Stimulation and Experimental Micro-Manipulation

Description: Factors currently at the forefront of human in vitro fertilization (IVF) that collectively influence treatment success in the form of blastocysts development were investigated during early mammalian embryology with concentration on infertile patients presenting with diminished ovarian reserve or preliminary ovarian failure. A novel experimental technique, Graft Transplant-Embryonic Stem Cells (GT-ESC) was introduced in the mouse model, as the first inclusive approach for embryo selection in IVF… more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Sadruddin, Sheela
open access

American Lawn Addictions: Effects of Environmental Education on Student Preferences for Xeriscaping as an Alternative in North Central Texas, USA

Description: Urban land use and land cover has changed in the USA, giving rise to the American lawn – manicured, resource-intensive, and non-native. Green infrastructure design has been suggested in the literature as a potential alternative to the American lawn when managed as native xeriscapes, which require little to no irrigation after establishment. Given the influence of public preference on landscaping decisions, what is the relationship between the perceived value and ecological benefits of the Ameri… more
Date: May 2019
Creator: Williams, Jared L.
open access

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
open access

Estimating Postmortem Interval Using VNIR Spectroscopy on Human Cortical Bone

Description: Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is a necessary but often difficult task that must completed during a death investigation. The level of difficulty rises as time since death increases, especially with the case of skeletonized remains (long PMI). While challenging, a reliable PMI estimate may be of great importance for investigative direction and cost-savings (e.g. suspect identification, tailoring missing persons searches, non-forensic remains exclusion). Long PMI can be estimated by assessi… more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Servello, John A.
open access

The Population Genetic Structure of Quadrula aurea (Bivalvia: Unionidae), A Threatened Freshwater Mussel in Central Texas

Description: The anthropogenic alteration of riverine ecosystems has led to declines in the abundance and diversity of freshwater mussels (Bivalvia: Unionoida) worldwide. Central Texas is home to a diverse freshwater mussel fauna including three candidates for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act. Surveys conducted over the last few decades suggest many of the endemic freshwater mussel species in Texas exist in small isolated populations that may be vulnerable to the deleterious effects of genet… more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Mabe, Jeffrey A.
open access

Identification of the Neurobiological Basis of Hemodynamic Responses Correlated with Cognitive Stroop Task Performance After an Acute Bout of Aerobic Exercise

Description: Cardiovascular activities may increase the brain blood flow improving neuronal activities leading to improved cognition. Consequently, the effects of an acute bout of moderate intensity aerobic exercise on brain hemodynamics and its correlation with cognitive color-word Stroop task performance were tested. The Stroop tasks were congruent (color matches word) and incongruent (color does not match word). Prefrontal (PFC) and motor cortex (MC) blood flow was recorded by fNIRS (functional near-infr… more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Pal, Amrita
open access

The Biogeographic Distribution of Caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera) within the South-Central United States

Description: Through the use of natural history records, published literature, and personal sampling (2011-2016) a total of 454 caddisfly species represented by 24 families and 93 genera were documented from the south-central United States. Two Hydroptilidae species were collected during the 2011-2016 collection efforts that are new to the region: Hydroptilia scheringi and Mayatrichia tuscaloosa. Eightteen species are endemic and 30 are considered species of concern by either federal or state agencies. The … more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Perry, Heather Ann
open access

Antimicrobial and Anti-Platelet Activity in Botanical Extracts of Plants Collected in Northern Thailand

Description: The purpose of my research work was to assess a variety of Northern Thailand plants tissue extracts for antibacterial and anti-platelet aggregation activity. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration assay method was used to assess antimicrobial activity of plant extracts, while the Zebrafish Platelet Aggregation Assay and the in vitro Whole Human Blood Impedance Aggregation Assay were used to study anti-platelet activity. Forty one plant extracts harvested from the tissues of 26 plants collected fr… more
Date: May 2019
Creator: Patcharapinyopong, Thanasan
open access

In Vitro Exploration of Functional Acrolein Toxicity with Cortical Neuronal Networks

Description: Acrolein is produced endogenously after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is considered a primary mechanism for secondary damage occurring after TBI. We are using frontal cortex networks derived from mouse embryos and grown on microelectrode arrays in vitro to monitor the spontaneous activity of networks and the changes that occur after acrolein application. Networks exposed to acrolein exhibit a biphasic response profile. An initial increase in network activity, followed by a decrease to 100% a… more
Date: May 2018
Creator: Durant, Stormy R.
open access

Role of 5.8S rRNA in Zebrafish and Human Blood Coagulation

Description: Hemolytic disorders are characterized by hemolysis and are prone to thrombosis. Previously, it has been shown that the RNA released from damaged blood cells activates clotting. However, the nature of RNA released from hemolysis is still elusive. We found that after hemolysis, the red blood cells from both zebrafish and humans release 5.8S rRNA. This RNA activated coagulation in zebrafish and human plasmas. Using both natural and synthetic 5.8S rRNA and its synthetic truncated fragments, we foun… more
Date: December 2020
Creator: Alharbi, Abdulmajeed Haya M.

The Consequences of Early Life Stage Thyroid Suppression on Immune Function in the Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)

Description: Current evidence suggests that thyroid hormones (THs) may impact development of the immune system. However, studies that explore the role of THs in immune development are limited, and the mechanisms leading to alterations in immune function are poorly understood. It is important to elucidate the role of THs in immune development given that many environmental contaminants have been shown to disrupt TH homeostasis and may also have negative impacts on the immune system. As such, the main goal of … more
Date: May 2020
Creator: Thornton Hampton, Leah Marie
open access

The Effects of Probiotics on Growth, and Metabolism in Juvenile Oreochromis mossambicus (Mozambique Tilapia)

Description: Improving growth, lowering mortality rates, and having a faster turnaround to harvest is essential for the future of commercial aquaculture. The primary goal of this study was to determine if introducing a single strain probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC 501 into the feed regimen of a commercially important aquaculture freshwater fish, Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), would decrease mortality; change metabolic rates; and increase tissue wet mass (MW), standard length, growth rat… more
Date: May 2020
Creator: Anderson, Michael Earl

Novel Approaches for Enhancing Resistance to Fusarium graminearum in Arabidopsis and Wheat by Targeting Defense and Pathogenicity Factors

Description: Fusarium head blight (FHB) is an important disease of small grain cereals including wheat that affects grain quality and yield. The fungus Fusarium graminearum (Fg) is the major agent of this disease. Lack of natural resistance has limited ability to control wheat losses to this disease. Developing new approaches is critical for increasing host plant resistance to this fungus. This work has identified four processes that can be targeted for enhancing host plant resistance to FHB. The first i… more
Date: May 2020
Creator: Alam, Syeda Tamanna
open access

Transgenerational Responses to Environmental Stressors in Vertebrates: From Organisms to Molecules

Description: Genomic modifications occur slowly across generations, whereas short-term epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of adaptive phenotypes may be immediately beneficial to large numbers of individuals, acting as a bridge for survival when adverse environments occur. In this study we used dietary exposure to crude oil as an example of an environmental stressor to assess its effects from the molecular to the organismal levels in piscine and avian animal models. In addition, we assessed the role of… more
Date: December 2019
Creator: Martinez Bautista, Naim
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