| Biology
Highlights |
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Total Listing: 257
(Listed by the order of record adding time, Descending)
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- The development and lateralization of prey delivery in a bill load holding bird (1/6/2009)
- The effect of menarcheal age on anthropometric, limb length, and bone measures in Hutterite and non-Hutterite women (1/6/2009)
- Strain differences in the expression of dopamine D1 receptors in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats (1/6/2009)
- Laboratory conditioning to still or flowing water does not affect the responses to a food stimulus by red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in flowing water habitats. (1/5/2009)
- UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that alter specific K79 methylation states genetically act through distinct repair pathways (1/5/2009)
- Large P body-like RNPs form in C. elegans oocytes in response to arrested ovulation, heat shock, osmotic stress, and anoxia and are regulated by the major sperm protein pathway (1/5/2009)
- Precision of the XCT 3000 and comparison of densitometric measurements in distal radius scans between XCT 3000 and XCT 2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanners (1/5/2009)
- Increased Chlorophyll a, phytoplankton abundance, and cyanobacteria occurrence following invasion of Green Bay, Lake Michigan by dreissenid mussels (1/5/2009)
- Observations of cavity-roosting behavior in Costa Rican Lophostoma brasiliense (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) (1/5/2009)
- The small molecule 2-furylacrylic acid inhibits auxin-mediated responses in Arabidopsis thaliana (1/5/2009)
- Purification and characterization of enterocin 62-6, a two peptide bacteriocin produced by a vaginal strain of Enterococcus faecium: Potential significance in bacterial vaginosis (1/5/2009)
- Methods for measurement of pediatric bone (1/5/2009)
- Evolutionary physiology: the extent of C4 and CAM photosynthesis in the genera Anacampseros and Grahamia of the Portulacaceae (1/5/2009)
- Effect of UVA Fluence Rate on Indicators of Oxidative Stress in Human Dermal Fibroblasts (12/29/2008)
- Nest abandonment as a potential anti-parasite adaptation in the Red-winged Blackbird (12/22/2008)
- Occurrence of Conchophthirus acuminatus (Protista: Ciliophora) in Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca: Bivalvia) along the River Shannon, Ireland (12/22/2008)
- Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) as a nectar plant for butterflies (12/22/2008)
- An assessment of leech parasitism on semi-aquatic turtles in the western Piedmont of North Carolina (12/22/2008)
- Spatial and thermal ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a South Carolina salt marsh (12/22/2008)
- Ecology of turtles inhabiting golf course and farm ponds in the western Piedmont of North Carolina (12/22/2008)
- The diet of larval red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) examined using a non-lethal technique (12/22/2008)
- Physiological and behavioral control of heating and cooling rates in rubber boas (12/22/2008)
- Effects of relocation on movements and home ranges of eastern box turtles (12/22/2008)
- Dynamics of jack pine at the southern range boundary in downeast Maine (12/22/2008)
- Patterns of fish diversity in a mainstem Missouri River reservoir and associated delta (12/22/2008)
- Real-time PCR assays of single-nucleotide polymorphisms defining the major Brucella clades (12/22/2008)
- . Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and expression of a cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein 1 homolog during the early response of maize pulvini to gravistimulation. (12/22/2008)
- Stroma-forming endophyte Epichloe glyceriae provides wound-inducible herbivore resistance to its grass host (12/16/2008)
- An in silico analysis of cytochrome c from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: its amino acid sequence and characterization of gene structural elements (12/16/2008)
- Clearance of Vibrio campbellii injected into the hemolymph of Callinectes sapidus, the Atlantic blue crab: the effects of prior exposure to bacteria and environmental hypoxia. (12/11/2008)
- Intrinsic, inter-specific competition between egg, egg-larval, and larval parasitoids of plusiine loopers (6/25/2008)
- Population genetic effects of urban habitat fragmentation in the perennial herb Viola pubescens (Violaceae) using ISSR markers (6/25/2008)
- Parasympathetic control of the pupillary light response in the red-eared slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans). (6/25/2008)
- Role of maternal provisioning in controlling interpopulation variation in hatching size in the marine snail Nucella ostrina (6/25/2008)
- Synanthropic flies as vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia among livestock and wildlife in a multispecies agricultural complex (6/25/2008)
- Intramolecular disulfide bond formation in the NEMO dimer requires Cys54 and Cys347 (6/25/2008)
- Experience-dependent plasticity in the mushroom bodies of the solitary bee Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae). (6/25/2008)
- Stomatal response of swordfern to volcanogenic CO2 and SO2 from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii (6/25/2008)
- Altered levels of STAT1 and STAT3 influence the neuronal response to interferon gamma (6/25/2008)
- Beta-carotene protects sudan (IV) from photocatalytic oxidation in a micellar model system: Insight into the antioxidant properties of the golden Staphylococcus aureus (2/14/2008)
- Spatial patterns of Juniperus virginiana and Lonicera maackii on a road cut in Kentucky, USA (2/14/2008)
- Members of the Toll-like receptor family of innate immunity pattern-recognition receptors are abundant in the rat male reproductive tract (2/13/2008)
- Activation and endocytic internalization of melanocortin 3 receptor in neuronal cells (2/13/2008)
- Development of an acyclovir implant for the long-term control of herpes simplex virus infection (2/13/2008)
- Prevalence of melanocortin system transcripts in rat salt homeostasis endocrine tissues (2/13/2008)
- The impacts of forest management on the invertebrate communities associated with leaf packs of forested streams in New York State (2/13/2008)
- The role of light and oxygen in Chaoborus punctipennis (Insecta: Diptera) diel vertical migration (2/13/2008)
- Restoration of Hawaiian montane wet forest: endemic longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae: Plagithmysus) in koa (Fabaceae: Acacia koa) plantations and in intact forest (2/13/2008)
- Genetic modifiers of Drosophila palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1-induced degeneration (2/13/2008)
- Allometric analysis reveals relatively little variation in nitrogen versus biomass accrual in four plant species exposed to varying light, nutrients, water and CO2 (2/13/2008)
- Methylation of histone H3 lysine-79 by Dot1p plays multiple roles in the response to UV damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (2/13/2008)
- One gland, two lobes: organogenesis of the "Harderian” and "nictitans” glands of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and fallow deer (Dama dama) (2/13/2008)
- Human lead exposure in a late 19th century mental asylum population. (11/19/2007)
- Nutritional endoderm in a direct developing frog: a potential parallel to the evolution of the amniote egg (11/19/2007)
- Toward the automated generation of genome-scale metabolic networks in the SEED. (11/19/2007)
- Natural History of box turtles, Terrapene carolina, in an urbanized landscape (11/19/2007)
- A comparison of the effectiveness of recommended doses of MS-222 (Tricaine Methane Sulfonate) and Orajel ® (Benzocaine) for amphibian anesthesia (11/19/2007)
- The pesticide malathion disrupts Xenopus and zebrafish embryogenesis: An investigative laboratory exercise in developmental toxicology (11/19/2007)
- Do habitat size and shape modify abiotic factors and communities in artificial treeholes? (11/19/2007)
- How much solute is needed to inhibit the fluid-gel membrane phase transition at low hydration? (11/19/2007)
- Composition and temporal change of the forest in 18th century Shrewsbury, Massachusetts (11/19/2007)
- An identification key to the rodent prey found in owl pellets: employing incisor size to distinguish among genera (11/19/2007)
- Heterozygosity and fitness in a California population of the labyrinth spider Metepeira ventura (Araneae, Araneidae). (11/19/2007)
- Using interdisciplinary bioinformatics undergraduate research to recruit and retain computer science students (11/19/2007)
- Involving undergraduates in the annotation and analysis of global gene expression studies: Creation of a maize shoot apical meristem expression database (11/19/2007)
- Diversity of escape variant mutations in Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 Tag) epitopes selected by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones (11/19/2007)
- The reproductive pattern of male dusky salamanders (genus Desmognathus) is neither associated nor dissociated (11/19/2007)
- Catawba River corridor coverboard program: a citizen science approach to amphibian and reptile inventory (11/19/2007)
- Heating and cooling rates of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, Crotalus adamanteus (11/19/2007)
- First record of a sleeper shark in the western Gulf of Mexico and comments on taxonomic incertainty within Somniosus (Somniosus). (11/19/2007)
- The hormonal herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, inhibits Xenopus oocyte maturation by targeting translational and post-translational mechanisms. (11/19/2007)
- Roles for Drp1, a dynamin-related protein, and Milton, a kinesin-associated protein, in mitochondrial segregation, unfurling, and elongation during Drosophila spermatogenesis (11/19/2007)
- Estrogenic impurities in tissue culture plastic ware are not bisphenol (11/19/2007)
- Evaluating support for the current classification of eukaryotic diversity (11/6/2007)
- Land use and forest history in an urban sanctuary in central Massachusetts (11/6/2007)
- Propagation of Sciadopitys verticillata (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. by stem cuttings and properties of its latex-like sap (11/6/2007)
- Phylogeny of the American silverfish Cubacubaninae (Hexapoda: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae): a combined approach using morphology and five molecular loci (10/31/2007)
- The biodiversity box: Inquiry science at the elementary level (10/24/2007)
- An a-amylase (At4g25000) in Arabidopsis leaves is secreted and induced by biotic and abiotic stress (10/24/2007)
- The effect of artificial defaunation on bacterial assemblages of intertidal sediments. (4/17/2007)
- Comparison of the genome sequence of the poultry pathogen Bordetella avium with those of B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis and B. parapertussis reveals extensive diversity in surface structures associated with host interaction. (4/17/2007)
- . The puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase PAM-1 is required for meiotic exit and anteroposterior polarity in the one-cell Caenorhabditis elegans embryo (4/16/2007)
- Genetic similarity, extrapair paternity, and offspring quality in Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) (4/16/2007)
- Initial den location behavior in a litter of neonate Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnakes) (2/22/2007)
- The repetitive DNA elements called CRISPRs and their associated genes: evidence of horizontal transfer among prokaryotes (2/22/2007)
- Acetaminophen self-administered in the drinking water increases the pain threshold of rats (Rattus norvegicus). (2/22/2007)
- Wild-caught hybrids between sailfin and shortfin mollies (Poeciliidae, Poecilia): Morphological and molecular verification (2/22/2007)
- Respiratory rate is a valid and reliable marker for the anaerobic threshold: implications for measuring change in fitness (2/22/2007)
- Subsumption architecture for fluid-advected chemical plume tracing with soft obstacle avoidance, Proceedings of MTS-IEEE Oceans 2006 Boston (2/21/2007)
- Farnesol restores wild-type colony morphology to 96% of Candida albicans colony morphology variants recovered following treatment with mutagens (2/13/2007)
- High contents of hypotaurine and thiotaurine in hydrothermal-vent gastropods without thiotrophic endosymbionts (2/13/2007)
- Antler stiffness in moose (Alces alces): Correlated evolution of bone function and material properties? (2/13/2007)
- . Aggressive contests in house crickets: size, motivation and the information content of aggressive songs (2/13/2007)
- Use of a new model to quantify compromises between embryo development and parental self-maintenance in three species of intermittently incubating passerines (2/13/2007)
- Isolation and identification of proteolytic bacteria from leaves of the northern pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea (2/13/2007)
- An evaluation of MS-222 and benzocaine as anesthetics for metamorphic and paedomorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum) (2/12/2007)
- A conserved tyrosine residue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leukotriene A4 hydrolase stabilizes the transition state of the peptidase activity (2/12/2007)
- Respiratory physiology in the Oniscidea: aerobic capacity and the significance of pleopodal lungs (2/12/2007)
- Early events in adult eye development of the moth, Manduca sexta (12/8/2006)
- Predictors of winter anuran calling activity in the North Carolina Piedmont (12/8/2006)
- Parvalbumin correlates with relaxation rate in the swimming muscle of sheepshead and kingfish (12/8/2006)
- Effects of ecologically relevant doses of malathion on developing Xenopus laevis tadpoles (12/8/2006)
- Chorus attendance and site fidelity in the Mink Frog, Rana septentrionalis: Are males territorial? (12/8/2006)
- The effects of survey protocol on detection probabilities and site occupancy estimates of summer breeding anurans (12/8/2006)
- The Pseudomonas aeruginosa ribbon-helix-helix DNA-binding protein AlgZ (AmrZ) controls twitching motility and biogenesis of type IV Pili (12/8/2006)
- The effects of hypoxia and pH on phenoloxidase activity in the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus (12/8/2006)
- Acid exposure is an immune disruptor in adult Rana pipiens (12/8/2006)
- Myosin heavy-chain kinase A from Dictyostelium possesses a novel actin-binding domain that cross-links actin filaments (12/8/2006)
- Offspring sex vs. position in the laying sequence in Wyoming house wrens (12/8/2006)
- Detection and partial characterization of a novel 100kd bacteriocin isolated for Lactobacillus plantarum (7/20/2006)
- The role of fungal pathogens in flower size and seed mass variation in three species of Hydrophyllum (Hydrophyllaceae). (7/20/2006)
- Long- and short-chain plant-produced bacterial N-acyl-homoserine lactones become components of phyllosphere, rhizosphere and soil (7/20/2006)
- The effects of a one Tesla magnet on human fibroblast growth (7/20/2006)
- Simultaneous detection of intracellular free calcium and zinc using fura-2FF and FluoZin-3 (7/20/2006)
- Circadian activity rhythms in the spiny mouse (7/20/2006)
- Riparian vegetation loss, stream channelization, and web-weaving spiders in northern Japan. (7/20/2006)
- Use of mtDNA to identify genetic introgression among related species of catfish (7/19/2006)
- Mitochondrial transporters involved in oleic acid utilization and glutamate metabolism in yeast (7/19/2006)
- Positive effects of testosterone and immunochallenge on energy allocation to reproductive organs (7/19/2006)
- Identification of novel and conserved functional and structural elements of the G1 cyclin Cln3 important for interactions with the CDK Cdc28 in Saccharomyces cerevisia (7/19/2006)
- Alligator tears: A reevaluation of the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians (7/19/2006)
- Unusual usage of AGG and TTG codons in humans and their viruses (7/19/2006)
- Vegetative reproduction during development in Australian pygmy and tuberous sundews (7/19/2006)
- Estrogen contributes to structural recovery after a lesion (7/19/2006)
- The C. elegans nuclear receptor gene fax-1 and homeobox gene unc-42 coordinate interneuron identity by regulating the expression of glutamate receptor subunits and other neuron-specific genes (7/19/2006)
- Aryl hydrocarbon receptors in the frog Xenopus laevis: Two AHR1 paralogs exhibit low affinity for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD (7/19/2006)
- variation in ammonia excretion, glutamine levels, and hydration status in 2 species of terrestrial isopod (7/19/2006)
- Calcium accumulation in eggs and mancas of Armadillidium vulgare (Isopoda: Oniscidea (7/19/2006)
- The red alga genus Rhodospora (Bangiophycidae, Rhodophyta): first report from North America (7/19/2006)
- Aging-associated changes in cardiac gene expression (1/6/2006)
- Recovery from Long-term Stationary Phase and Stress Survival in Escherichia coli Require the L-Isoaspartyl Protein Carboxyl Methyltransferase at Alkaline pH (1/6/2006)
- Effects of Light and Chloramphenicol Stress on Incorporation of Nitrogen into Cyanophycin in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6308 (1/6/2006)
- Isolation of C. elegans Genomic DNA and Detection of Deletions in the unc-93
Gene Using PCR (1/6/2006)
- Active Parental Care in a Freshwater Amphipod (Crustacea: Gammarus pseudolimnaeus): Effects of Environmental Factors (1/6/2006)
- Haploid Vegetative Mycelia of Armillaria gallica Show Among-cell-line Variation for Growth and Phenotypic Plasticity (1/6/2006)
- A New Benthic Sampling Device For Soft Sediments In Shallow Habitats (1/6/2006)
- Regeneration of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) Following Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) Outbreak in the Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama (1/6/2006)
- The Pesticide Malathion Reduces Survival and Growth in Developing Zebrafish (1/6/2006)
- Mechanisms of Postinhibitory Rebound and its Modulation by Serotonin in Excitatory Swim Motor Neurons of the Medicinal Leech (1/6/2006)
- An Inexpensive Gel Electrophoresis-Based PCR Method for Quantifying mRNA Levels (1/6/2006)
- Temporal Patterns of Benthic Microalgal Migration on a Semi-protected Beach (1/6/2006)
- Mutant Allele Frequencies in Domestic Cat Populations in Arkansas and Tennessee (1/6/2006)
- Mechanisms of Transport and Exocytosis of Dense-core Granules Containing Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Developing Hippocampal Neurons (9/29/2005)
- Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) Reduces Withdrawal Severity After Binge Ethanol Exposure in the Mouse (9/29/2005)
- Cloning and Expression Analysis of pos-1 in the Nematodes Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis remanei (9/29/2005)
- Physiological and Morphological Correlates of Among - Individual Variation in Standard Metabolic Rate in the Leopard Frog, Rana pipiens (9/29/2005)
- Adenylate Cyclase-Mediated Forms of Neuronal Plasticity in Hippocampal Area
CA1 Are Reduced with Agi (9/29/2005)
- Galanin-Like Peptide (GALP) Rescues Reproductive Function in Diabetic Animals (9/29/2005)
- Cypermethrin Blocks a Mitochrondria-dependent Apoptotic Signal Initiated by Deficient N-linked Glycosylation Within the Endoplasmic Reticulum (9/29/2005)
- Modulation of Human GABAA and Glycine Receptor Currents by Menthol and Related Monoterpenoids (9/29/2005)
- Photo-cross-linking Interacting Proteins with a Genetically Encoded Benzophenone (9/29/2005)
- Mutations in the Arabidopsis Phosphoinositide Phosphatase Gene SAC9 Led to Overaccumulation of PtdIns(4,5)P2 and Constitutive Expression of the Stress-Response Pathway (9/29/2005)
- Geographic Distribution. Hyla cinerea. (9/29/2005)
- Anti-predator Defenses in Western North Atlantic Sponges with Evidence of Enhanced Defense Through Interactions Between Spicules and Chemicals (9/29/2005)
- Male Induction of Female Quiescence/Catalepsis during Courtship in the Spider, Agelenopsis aperta (9/29/2005)
- Altered Hydroperoxidase (HPI and HPII) Activities in the ?fur (Ferric Uptake Regulator) Mutant Contribute to Increased Sensitivity to UVA Irradiation in Escherichia coli (9/29/2005)
- Inhibition of Metastasis by Inhibition of Tumor-Derived CCL5 (8/5/2005)
- Anatomy and Histochemistry of Spread-wing Posture in Birds. 3. Immunohistochemistry of Flight Muscles and the "Shoulder Lock" in Albatrosses (8/5/2005)
- High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatographic Analysis of Neutral Lipids and Phospholipids in the Apple Snail Pomacea bridgesii (8/5/2005)
- Factors Determining Alpine Species Distribution on Goliath Peak, Front Range, Colorado, U.S.A. (8/5/2005)
- Biotic and Abiotic Effects of Lichen Community Structure in an Illinois Cemetery (8/5/2005)
- Influence of Temperature on Ranavirus Infection in Larval Salamanders Ambystoma tigrinum, (8/5/2005)
- The Effects of the Presence of Stored Product Pests on the Microfauna of a Flour Community (8/5/2005)
- Methylation at Mouse Cdkn1c is Acquired During Post-implantation Development and Functions to Maintain Imprinted Expression (6/3/2005)
- A Nonrandom Pattern of Rotifers Occupying Lobules of the Hepatic, Frullania eboracesis (6/3/2005)
- Determination of Temperature Preference and the Role of the Enlarged Cheliped in Thermoregulation in Male Sand Fiddler Crabs, Uca pugilator (6/3/2005)
- Pre-clinical Investigation of the Efficacy of an Artificial Tear Solution Containing Hydroxypropyl-guar as a Gelling Agent. (6/3/2005)
- In Silico Gene Selection Strategy for Custom Microarray Design (6/3/2005)
- Genetic and Biochemical Interactions between Yar1, Ltv1 and RpS3 Define Novel Links between Environmental Stress and Ribosome Biogenesis in S. cerevisiae (6/3/2005)
- Long-term Age-dependent Behavioral Changes Following a Single Episode of Fetal N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Blockade (6/3/2005)
- Observations on Parasitism in Deep-sea Hydrothermal Vent and Seep Limpets (6/3/2005)
- The Karyopherin Msn5/Kap142 Requires Nup82 for Nuclear Export and Performs a Function Distinct from Translocation in RPA Protein Import (6/3/2005)
- Cryptic Speciation, Genetic Diversity and Gene Flow in the California Turret Spider Atypoides riversi (Araneae, Antrodiaetidae) (6/3/2005)
- Somatostatin Regulates Intracellular Signaling Pathways in Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells (6/3/2005)
- Motility of a Biflagellate Sperm: Waveform Analysis and Cyclic Nucleotide Activation (6/3/2005)
- Use of Dung as a Tool by Burrowing Owls (6/3/2005)
- Symmetry Preference as a Cognitive By-product in Starlings (6/3/2005)
- Starlings have Difficulty Detecting Dot Asymmetry: Implications for Studying Fluctuating Asymmetry (6/3/2005)
- Effects of Hypercapnic Hypoxia on the Clearance of Vibrio campbellii in the Atlantic Blue Crab (1/5/2005)
- Microtubules and Microfilaments Coordinate to Direct a Fountain Streaming Pattern in Elongating Conifer Pollen Tube Tips (1/5/2005)
- Isolation and Characterization of New Homing Endonuclease Specificities at Individual Target Site Positions (1/5/2005)
- Native Plant Regeneration and Introduction of Non-Natives Following Post-Fire Rehabilitation with Straw Mulch and Barley Seeding (11/1/2004)
- Increase in Ty1 cDNA Recombination in Yeast sir4 Mutant Strains at High Temperature (11/1/2004)
- RAPD Analysis of mtDNA from Tomato Flowers of Nuclear DNA Artifacts (8/18/2004)
- Functional Unit of the RNA Polymerase II C-terminal Domain Lies within Heptapeptide Pairs (8/18/2004)
- Interaction Between Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus N Protein Monomers Involves Nonelectrostatic Forces Governed by Multiple Distinct Regions in the Primary Structure (8/18/2004)
- Seed Production and Germination in Long’s Bittercress (Cardamine longii) of Massachusetts (8/18/2004)
- Disruption of Caenorhabditis elegans Muscle Structure and Function Caused by Mutation of Troponin I (8/18/2004)
- Serotonin, Nitric Oxide and Histamine Enhance the Excitability of Neuron MCC by Diverse Mechanisms (8/18/2004)
- Group I Intron Homing in Bacillus Phages SPO1 and SP82: A Gene Conversion Event Initiated by a Nicking Homing Endonuclease (8/18/2004)
- A Fungal Endophyte Mediates Reversal of Wound-induced Resistance and Constrains Tolerance in a Grass (8/16/2004)
- Stimulation of Specific Regions of the Parabrachial Nucleus Elicits Ingestive Oromotor Behaviors in Conscious Rats (8/16/2004)
- The Biology of Canadian Weeds. 129. Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (5/5/2004)
- Branching Pattern of Gametophytes and Tetrasporophytes of Ceramium codicola (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) Is Related to Phase and Reproductive Structures (5/5/2004)
- Influences of Burning on Squamates in Kansas Tallgrass Prairie (5/5/2004)
- Age-related Differences in Synaptic Plasticity Following Muscle Unloading (5/5/2004)
- Reproductive Investment of Aquatic and Terrestrial Isopods in Central Pennsylvania (5/5/2004)
- Use and Definition Herbal Medicines Differ by Ethnicity (5/5/2004)
- Degradation of Transgene-coded and Endogenous Proteins in the Muscles of Caenorhabditis elegans (5/5/2004)
- Modulation of Guinea Pig Intrinsic Cardiac Neurons by Prostaglandins (12/16/2003)
- The Selective Cytotoxicity of AZT for Carcinoma Cells is Enhanced by Delocalized Lipophilic Cations (12/16/2003)
- Functional Dissection of the Baculovirus Late Expression Factor-8: Sequence Requirements for Late Gene Promoter Activation (12/16/2003)
- A Genetic Screen for Yeast Genes Induced by Sustained Osmotic Stress (12/16/2003)
- Geobotany of the Niobrara Chalk Barrens in Colorado: A Study of Edaphic Endemism and Rarity (12/16/2003)
- Effect of an Orphan Response Regulator on Streptococcus mutans Sucrose-Dependent Adherence and Cariogenesis (12/16/2003)
- Internal and External Mycoflora of the American Dog Tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae), and its Ecological Implications (12/16/2003)
- New Molecular and Morphological Data on the "Euscorpius carpathicus" Species Complex (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Italy, Malta, and Greece Justify the Elevation of E. c. sicanus (C.L. Koch, 1837) to the Species Level (12/15/2003)
- Structure and Mechanism of MT-ADPRase, a Nudix Hydrolase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (12/15/2003)
- Swimming Performance of Blacknose Dace (Rhinichthys atratulus) Mirrors Home-stream Current Velocity (9/8/2003)
- Identification of Chromosome Arms Influencing Expression of the HMW Glutenins in Wheat (9/8/2003)
- Molecular Identification of Bacteria and Eukarya Inhabiting an Antarctic Cryoconite Hole (9/8/2003)
- Developmental Defects Observed in Hypomorphic Anaphase-Promoting Complex Mutants are Linked to Cell Cycle Abnormalities (9/8/2003)
- Short-term Creatine Supplementation Improves Maximum Quadriceps Contraction in Women (9/8/2003)
- Reproductive Investment of Aquatic and Terrestrial Isopods in Central Pennsylvania (U.S.A.) (9/8/2003)
- Effects of Experience and Body Size on Refuge Choice in the Crayfish Orconectes immunis (8/27/2003)
- Rats Recovering from Unilateral Barrel Cortex Ischemia are Capable of Completing a Whisker-dependent Task Using only their Affected Whiskers (8/27/2003)
- Unlike Myofibers, Neuromuscular Junctions Remain Stable During Prolong Muscle Loading (8/27/2003)
- Context-dependent Kin Discrimination in Larval Four-toed Salamanders Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae) (8/20/2003)
- Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Nalidixic Acid-Resistant Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli from Retail Chicken Products (8/20/2003)
- Atomic Force Microscopy Can Detect the Binding of Yeast Replication Factor C to DNA (8/20/2003)
- Cyclophosphamide Induces Dose- and Time-dependent Elevations in Spleen Norepinephrine Levels of BALB/c Mice (8/20/2003)
- A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation of Delayed Growth Response in the Continuous Culture of Bacteria (8/20/2003)
- High Temperature Responses in Two Exotic Leafcutting Bees: Megachile apicalis and M. rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) (5/27/2003)
- Taxonomic Considerations and Distribution of the Branchiobdellida (Annelida: Clitellata) on the North American Continent (5/27/2003)
- Heterspecific Prey and Trophic Polyphenism in Larval Tiger Salamanders (5/27/2003)
- Effects of Calcium and Glutamate Receptor Agonists on Leaf Consumption by Lepidopteran Neonates (5/27/2003)
- Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Apple Leaf Consumption by Codling Moth Larvae (5/27/2003)
- The Olfactory Responses of the Antenna and Maxillary Palp of the Fleshfly, Neobellieria bullata (Diptera:
Sarcophagidae), and their Sensitivity to Blockage of Nitric Oxide Synthase (5/16/2003)
- The Acid Stress Response of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain 6308 (10/21/2002)
- Epistatic Analysis of the Roles of the RAD27 and POL4 Gene Products in DNA Base Excision Repair in S. cerevisiae (10/21/2002)
- Multiple Paternity in the Nurse Shark (10/21/2002)
- Pyruvate,Orthophosphate Dikinase in Leaves and Chloroplasts of C3 Plants Undergoes Light/Dark-Induced Reversible Phosphorylation (10/21/2002)
- Analysis of Surface Properties of Fixed and Live Cells Using Derivatized Agarose Beads (10/21/2002)
- Prevalence of Bordetella avium in Wild and Domesticated Birds of the Eastern USA (10/21/2002)
- Slow Heating of Barley Aleurone Layers to Heat-Shock Temperature Preserves Heat-Shock-Sensitive Cellular Properties (10/21/2002)
- Stimulation of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 Alpha (HIF-1a) Protein in the Adult Rat Testis Following Ischemic Injury Occurs Without an Increase in HIF-1a mRNA Expression (10/1/2002)
- Antipredator Response to Injury-released Chemical Alarm Cues by Convict Cichlid Young Before and After Independence from Parental Care (10/1/2002)
- Field Verification of Predator Attraction to Minnow Alarm Substance (10/1/2002)
- Microscale Assay Monitors Algal Growth Characteristics (10/1/2002)
- Natural Hybridization and the Imperiled Nuphar of Western Japan (10/1/2002)
- Detecting and Quantifying Male Sea Urchin Spawning with Time-integrated Fertilization Assays (10/1/2002)
- Spatial Transformations in the Withdrawal Response of the Tail in Intact and Spinalized Rats (10/1/2002)
- Altered Bax Expression and Decreased Apoptosis in Bone Marrow Cells of Lupus-susceptible NZB/W Mice (6/26/2002)
- Decreased Intracellular Potassium Levels Underlie Increased Progesterone Synthesis During Ovarian Follicular Atresia (6/26/2002)
- Proteolytic Release of Membrane-bound endo-(1,4)-ß-glucanase Activity Associated with Cell Wall Softening in Achlya ambisexualis (6/26/2002)
- Larval Tapeworms (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from the Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1766) and Striped Killifish Fundulus majalis (Walbaum, 1792) from South Carolina, U.S.A. (6/26/2002)
- Competitive Ability, Body Size and Geographical Range Size in Small Mammals (6/26/2002)
- Pollination Can Protect Maize Ovaries from Infection by Ustilago maydis, the Corn Smut Fungus (6/26/2002)
- Ventilatory Effects of Impaired Glial Function in a Brain Stem Chemoreceptor Region in the Conscious Rat (6/26/2002)
- Red Light Activates a Chloroplast-dependent Ion Uptake Mechanism for Stomatal Opening Under Reduced CO2 Concentrations in Vicia spp. (6/26/2002)
- Induction of Umbelliferone in Sweet Potato Cell Suspension Culture Using Mercuric Chloride (3/25/2002)
- Genetic Variation Among Cottus Species in Missouri Revealed by RAPD Analysis (3/25/2002)
- Patterns of Secondary Compounds within Fleshy Fruits: Ecology and Phylogeny (3/25/2002)
- Localization of Aquaporins in the Lower Intestinal Tract of Birds (3/25/2002)
- Food selection by the white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) on the basis of energy and protein contents (3/25/2002)
- Resource Availability and Population Dynamics of Nicrophorus investigator, an Obligate Carrion Breeder (3/25/2002)
- Second-site Intragenic Alterations in the Gene Encoding Subunit II of Cytochrome c Oxidase from Yeast can Suppress two Different Missense Mutations (3/11/2002)
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| ( 1 )
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Recorded at: 1/6/2009 
|
| Title |
The development and lateralization of prey delivery in a bill load holding bird |
| Journal |
Anim Behav, 2008;75:2005-2011, Grace J, Craig DP
|
| Description |
Many terns, puffins, and other waterbirds deliver "bill loads" or whole fish held cross-wise in the beak during courtship or chick rearing. Cross-wise bill loads have the fish's head either left or right of the beak, and in a study of Caspian Terns it turns out that chicks consumed 99% of meals head first and were more successful feeding on right-headed deliveries. The lateralization or right-oriented bias was strongest in one-week-old chicks when they consumed linear shaped fish like anchovies. As chicks aged the lateralization bias disappeared, which merits further investigation. Bill load holding birds are an excellent model to study lateralization of feeding behavior in the wild, and they may allow integration of lateralization with developmental changes associated with feeding
|
| Faculty |
David Craig is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Jacquie Grace completed the research in 2007 as part of her senior thesis. Jacque is presently in a doctoral program at Wake Forest University, where she is studying the behavioral development of Nazca Boobies in the Galapagos Islands with funding from a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Willamette University Science Collaborative Research Program and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust College Life Sciences Research Program
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|
| ( 2 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2009
|
| Title |
The effect of menarcheal age on anthropometric, limb length, and bone measures in Hutterite and non-Hutterite women |
| Journal |
Am Journal of Hum Biol, Published Online: May 19, 2008. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.20794, Grimsrud C, Binkley T, Specker B
|
| Description |
This study was conducted to investigate the associations between menarcheal age and body size and bone measures. Estrogen is known to take part in growth plate closure of long bones and has a positive effect on bone density. On average, Hutterite women start menses about 8 months earlier than non-Hutterite women. In final regression models controlling for diet and activity patterns, the younger menarcheal age in Hutterite women did not explain their shorter standing height and limb lengths. Bone mineral density in the hip was greater in women with younger menarcheal ages and greater in Hutterite than non-Hutterite women
|
| Faculty |
Drs. Teresa Binkley and Bonny Specker conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University. Dr. Binkley is an Assistant Professor and Dr. Specker is the Director and Endowed Chair for the Program
|
| Student |
Courtney Grimsrud, a senior pre-med major, participated in the research for independent study credit. Ms. Grimsrud graduated from South Dakota State University in May, 2008 and plans to attend the University of South Dakota Medical School in August, 2008 |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the EA Martin Program in Human Nutrition and in part by NIH Grant R01-AR47852
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|
| ( 3 )
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Recorded at: 1/6/2009
|
| Title |
Strain differences in the expression of dopamine D1 receptors in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Wistar rats |
| Journal |
Life Sci, 2008;83:74-78, Novick A, Yaroslavsky I, Tejani-Butt S
|
| Description |
The Wistar-Kyoto rat is a stress-sensitive animal that demonstrates depressive-like features in various experimental paradigms. Because abnormalities in central dopamine transmission may be a part of depression, we measured the expression of dopamine D1 receptors in WKY rats versus Wistar controls. A significant strain difference was found, with WKY rats having lower D1 receptor expression in key motivational regions of the brain. The results add to previous studies suggesting deficient dopamine activity in the WKY rat model of depression
|
| Faculty |
The work was done under Dr. Shanaz Tejani-Butt, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Significant contributions and guidance were provided by Dr. Irene Yaroslavsky, who was a doctoral candidate at the time of experiment.
|
| Student |
The undergraduate author, Andrew Novick (a senior pharmacology and toxicology major) completed the project as part of an independent study. Andrew Novick is now in the dual MD/PhD program at the University of South Dakota |
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|
| ( 4 )
|
Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Laboratory conditioning to still or flowing water does not affect the responses to a food stimulus by red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) in flowing water habitats. |
| Journal |
Mar Fresh Behav Physiol, 2008;41:43-51, Pecor KW, Dean KC, Cullender TC
|
| Description |
In this project, we considered the role that habitat acclimation plays in the foraging behavior of red swamp crayfish. The crayfish responded similarly to a food stimulus irrespective of their test environment or acclimation environment. Our results demonstrate that crayfish of this species are not habitat specialists and easily adjust to a variety of environmental conditions
|
| Faculty |
Keith Pecor was a faculty fellow in biology. He is currently an assistant professor of biology at The College of New Jersey.
|
| Student |
Kelsey Dean and Tyler Cullender, both biology majors, participated in the project as independent study students. Kelsey was a sophomore at the time of the research, and she is now a rising senior. Tyler was a junior, and he will enter the Ph.D. program in Microbiology at Cornell University in Fall 2008 |
| Fund |
The research was funded by the Department of Biology at Rhodes College
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|
| ( 5 )
|
Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae that alter specific K79 methylation states genetically act through distinct repair pathways |
| Journal |
Curr Genet, 2008;53:259-274, Evans ML, Bostelman LJ, Albrecht AM, Keller AM, Strande NT, Thompson JS
|
| Description |
UV sensitive mutations in histone H3 were identified that cause distinct changes to H3 K79 methylation states. Epistasis analysis indicated that each mutation possesses a distinct genetic relationship with various UV repair genes, suggesting that discrete K79 methylation states act through separate DNA repair pathways. The results further support the existence of a novel trans-histone regulatory pathway involving histone H4 acetylation in response to UV damage
|
| Faculty |
Jeff Thompson is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Denison University
|
| Student |
Margery Evans, Lindsey Bostelman, Ashley Albrecht, Andrew Keller, and Natasha Strande participated in this work as part of a summer research program and their respective biology/biochemistry senior research projects. Margery and Natasha are currently in doctoral research programs at The University of Michigan and The University of North Carolina, respectively. Lindsey and Andrew are in medical school at The Ohio State University and The University of Cincinnati, respectively. Ashley is a research technician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio |
| Fund |
Funding was provided through Anderson Summer Research Assistantships awarded to all five students, with additional support from the Fairchild Foundation, the Denison University Research Foundation, and the Office of the Provost at Denison University
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|
| ( 6 )
|
Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Large P body-like RNPs form in C. elegans oocytes in response to arrested ovulation, heat shock, osmotic stress, and anoxia and are regulated by the major sperm protein pathway |
| Journal |
Dev Biol, 2008;318:38-51, Jud MC, Czerwinski MJ, Wood MP, Young RA, Gallo CM, Bickel JS, Petty EL, Mason JM, Little BA, Padilla PA, Schisa JA
|
| Description |
This study used Caenorhabditis elegans to characterize changes that occur in eggs as animals age. Similarities were found between the large granules of RNA and RNA-binding proteins (RNPs) that form in aging eggs and two well-characterized RNPs, stress granules and P bodies. Three environmental stresses were sufficient to induce formation of large RNPs in eggs of young animals indicating novel commonalities between the cellular responses to stress and aging in eggs
|
| Faculty |
Jennifer Schisa is an associate professor of biology at Central Michigan University
|
| Student |
Megan Wood, Rachel Young, Emily Petty, and Jennifer Mason worked on the research as part of their undergraduate, independent research projects in their senior years. Megan is currently employed; Rachel is in medical school at Michigan State University; Emily and Jennifer are 3rd and 4th year graduate students in the Program in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Michigan. Molly Jud, Mike Czerwinski, and Jeremy Bickel worked on the research as CMU masters students |
| Fund |
Funding for this project was provided by a CUR summer fellowship to support E. Petty and an AREA grant from NIH
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|
| ( 7 )
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Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Precision of the XCT 3000 and comparison of densitometric measurements in distal radius scans between XCT 3000 and XCT 2000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography scanners |
| Journal |
J Clin Densitom, Published Online: Aug 18, 2008. DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2008.06.002, Koenig C, Wey H, Binkley T
|
| Description |
Researchers conducting longitudinal studies face challenges as technology evolves and data collection equipment is upgraded from older to newer models. In this study, we report precision error and associations from correlation, regression equations, and Bland-Altman plots that compare results of radius images from the XCT 2000 and XCT 3000 peripheral quantitative computed tomography densitometers. The bone parameter precision error coefficients of variation (CV) from duplicate scans for the XCT 3000 ranged from 0.8-2.7 % for cortical bone measures and 1.3-7.5% for trabecular bone measures. There were strong associations between bone parameter measures from the XCT 3000 and XCT 2000 that allow for the comparison of results with minor adjustments
|
| Faculty |
Drs. Teresa Binkley and Howard Wey conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University
|
| Student |
Cory Koenig, a senior pre-med biology major, graduated from South Dakota State University in May, 2008 and completed the research to fulfill his senior biology seminar requirement. Cory plans to attend the College of Osteopathic Medicine at Des Moines University in Des Moines, Iowa in August, 2008 |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition.
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|
| ( 8 )
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Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Increased Chlorophyll a, phytoplankton abundance, and cyanobacteria occurrence following invasion of Green Bay, Lake Michigan by dreissenid mussels |
| Journal |
Aquat Inv, 2008;3:21-27, De Stasio, BT, Schrimpf MB, Beranek AE, Daniels WC
|
| Description |
We re-visited established sampling locations in Green Bay, Lake Michigan during four years after the invasion of the bay by zebra mussels. We measured water quality parameters (water clarity and algae community composition and dynamics) at five stations along a previously documented trophic gradient. Our data support the continued existence of a strong trophic gradient between lower and middle bay areas of Green Bay. Following invasion water clarity did not improve and algal populations increased. Along with these increases in abundance there was a significant shift to higher and more frequent dominance of the phytoplankton community by nuisance algae
|
| Faculty |
Bart De Stasio is associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Michael Schrimpf, Ashley Beranek and Will Daniels, all senior biology majors, participated in the research during the summer, then received independent study credit and completed senior honors theses. Will Daniels is employed and in the process of applying to graduate schools. Michael Schrimpf and Ashley Beranek were both employed as research technicians during part of this work. Michael is now in a doctoral program at the University of Washington and Ashley is attending graduate school at the University of Minnesota-Duluth |
| Fund |
The research was supported by funding from the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute, a Franklin Grant from the American Philosophical Society, and the Excellence in Science Fund from Lawrence University
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|
| ( 9 )
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Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Observations of cavity-roosting behavior in Costa Rican Lophostoma brasiliense (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) |
| Journal |
Mamm Biol, 2008;73:230–232, York HA, Foster PF, Jones MF, Schwarz WH, Vezeau AL, Zerwekh MS
|
| Description |
This study, which reports the observation of Brazilian round-eared bats roosting in an active termite nest in lowland rainforest in Costa Rica, represents only the fourth known report of this behavior in this species and is the first to provide details of its roosting behavior. The current study confirms the presence of both males and females in the roost and the recovery of the roost cavity by termites after bat vacancy, indicating a harem mating system in this bat species, with regular maintenance of the roost by the bats
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
Matthew Jones, Walter Schwarz, Anne Vezeau, and Michael Zerwekh conducted this study while participating in a Neotropical Bat Ecology course offered in 2006 at the Bijagual Ecological Reserve by the Office of Study Abroad at the University of Kansas (KU). Matt graduated with a degree in Biology from KU and holds a zookeeping position at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Goddard, Kansas. Walter is a computer systems administrator at the University of Nebraska and is a hobby beekeeper. Anne recently graduated from KU with honors in Biology, is finishing her degree in Spanish, is conducting behavioral research on Drosophila, works in a pediatric pulmonary lab, and is applying to medical schools. Mike graduated with a degree in Biology from KU and is a herpetology field technician in Riverside County, California. |
| Fund |
Funded in part by International Programs at KU
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|
| ( 10 )
|
Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
The small molecule 2-furylacrylic acid inhibits auxin-mediated responses in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| Journal |
Plant Cell Physiol, 2007;48:1693-1701, Sungur C, Miller S, Bergholz J, Hoye RC, Brisbois RG, Overvoorde PJ
|
| Description |
Auxins are a class of plant hormones involved in a wide array of growth and developmental processes. Large-scale, chemical genetic screens for small molecules that block auxin responses have been described by others. Here we report the synthesis and detailed testing of compound A and its derivatives on several molecular and physiological responses mediated by auxin. Based on our structure-function analysis we conclude that 2-furylacrylic acid is liberated from the parent molecule and is the active component that inhibits auxin signaling
|
| Faculty |
Paul Overvoorde is an associate professor of biology, Rebecca Hoye is an associate professor of chemistry, and Ron Brisbois is a professor of chemistry
|
| Student |
Can Sungur, Sarah Miller, and Johann Bergholtz, all biology majors, performed this work during the summer and their senior academic year. Can has begun a MD/PhD program at U. California at Davis, Sarah is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry Program at Harvard University, and Johann is a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry Program at Boston College |
| Fund |
The research was supported by funds from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation, the Merck Institute for Science Education, and the National Science Foundation
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|
| ( 11 )
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Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Purification and characterization of enterocin 62-6, a two peptide bacteriocin produced by a vaginal strain of Enterococcus faecium: Potential significance in bacterial vaginosis |
| Journal |
Microb Ecol Health Dis, 2007;19:241-250, DeZwaan DC, Mequio MJ, Littell J, Allen J, Rossbach S, Pybus V
|
| Description |
This paper reports the first characterization of a class IIc bacteriocin (enterocin 62-6) from a strain of Enterococcus faecium of vaginal origin and its potential significance for the establishment of the abnormal microflora associated with the vaginal syndrome bacterial vaginosis
|
| Faculty |
Vivien Pybus is an Associate Professor of Biology
|
| Student |
Diane DeZwaan and Mike Mequio, both biology majors, undertook this research for their senior theses and Julia, a mathematics major, undertook it as an independent study. Diane is currently pursuing a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Mike has an MD from Wayne State Medical School and Julia is studying veterinary medicine at Cornell University. The molecular characterization studies were undertaken in collaboration with Professor Silvia Rossbach and graduate student Jonathan Allen at Western Michigan University |
| Fund |
This research was supported by an R15 grant awarded to VP from the National Institute’s of Health, AI054402, and by a grant from the M.W. Keck Foundation. Mike Mequio and Diane DeZwaan were supported by fellowships from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Heyl Scholars Fund, respectively, through Kalamazoo College
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|
| ( 12 )
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Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Methods for measurement of pediatric bone |
| Journal |
Rev Endocr Metab Disord, 2008;9:95-106, Binkley TL, Berry R, Specker BL
|
| Description |
The purpose of this review was to describe changes in bone with growth, to define “bone density” in biological terms and to discuss some of the issues with pediatric bone measurements. The advantages and disadvantages of the three main methods for assessing bone parameters in pediatric populations were discussed. These methods include dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
|
| Faculty |
Drs. Teresa Binkley and Bonny Specker conduct research with the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition at South Dakota State University. Dr. Binkley is an Assistant Professor and Dr. Specker is the Director and Endowed Chair for the Program
|
| Student |
Ryan Berry, a pre-med biology major, participated in the research to fulfill his senior biology seminar requirement. Ryan will complete his degree at South Dakota State University in May, 2009 and plans to attend medical school |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Ethel Austin Martin Program in Human Nutrition
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|
|
| ( 13 )
|
Recorded at: 1/5/2009
|
| Title |
Evolutionary physiology: the extent of C4 and CAM photosynthesis in the genera Anacampseros and Grahamia of the Portulacaceae |
| Journal |
J Exp Bot, 2008;59:1735-1742, Guralnick LJ, Cline A, Smith M, Sage R
|
| Description |
The Portulacaceae is one of four plant families known to have both C4 and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) species and reports published in the literature have stated that in addition to the genus Portulaca, the genera Anacampseros and Grahamia contain C4 photosynthetic species. Our results indicate that these genera do not utilize the C4 photosynthetic pathway and this is the first report to identify Grahamia species as facultative CAM plants. This study supports previous physiological work indicating that the clade containing Anacampseros and Grahamia species have predominantly facultative CAM species. This report suggests there may be only one clade within the Portulacaceae that contain C4 photosynthetic members with CAM-like characteristics
|
| Faculty |
Lonnie Guralnick and Rowan Sage are Professors of Biology at Roger Williams University and the University of Toronto respectively
|
| Student |
Amanda was a senior biology major at Western Oregon University who participated for independent research credit. Amanda has been accepted to the University of Nevada, Reno Ph.D. graduate program in Biochemistry. Monica Smith was a former undergraduate research student at Western who performed this work while completing her MS in Botany at Washington State University |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a Cummins Math-Science Western Foundation scholarship to Amanda and the WOU Provost fund to Lonnie. This work was also supported by an NSF-ROA award to Lonnie and Dr John Cushman, University of Nevada, Reno.
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| ( 14 )
|
Recorded at: 12/29/2008
|
| Title |
Effect of UVA Fluence Rate on Indicators of Oxidative Stress in Human Dermal Fibroblasts |
| Journal |
International Journal of Biological Sciences, 2008;4:63-70, Hoerter JD, Ward CS, Bale KD, Gizachew AN, Graham R, Reynolds J, Ward ME, Choi C, Kagabo J-L, Sauer M, Kuipers T, Hotchkiss T, Banne N, Chellson RA, Ohaeri T, Gant L, Vanderhill L
|
| Description |
The biological response to a given dose of UVA/UVB radiation is affected by the intensity at which the UVA dose is delivered. Higher UVA radiation intensity of a tanning bed increases the level of four indicators of oxidative compared over that found after solar radiation with a lower UVA intensity. Our results underscore the important role of UVA radiation intensity on how human fibroblasts respond to a given dose UVA/UVB radiation
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| Faculty |
|
| Student |
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|
| ( 15 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Nest abandonment as a potential anti-parasite adaptation in the Red-winged Blackbird |
| Journal |
Passenger Pigeon, 2007;69:481-489, Yasukawa K, Werner W
|
| Description |
We examined female Red-winged Blackbird responses to Brown-headed Cowbird brood parasitism by artificially parasitizing nests with either a fresh cowbird egg or a fresh redwing egg and by examining nest records. We found that female Red-winged Blackbirds were most likely to abandon nests that were parasitized before egg laying began. Nest abandonment by female Red-winged Blackbirds prior to laying seems to be a response to disturbance at the nest site rather than an evolved anti-parasite strategy
|
| Faculty |
Ken Yasukawa is professor of biology
|
| Student |
Will Werner, an Environmental Biology major, participated in the research with support from the Sanger Scholars Program at Beloit College. Will is currently a senior at Beloit College |
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|
| ( 16 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Occurrence of Conchophthirus acuminatus (Protista: Ciliophora) in Dreissena polymorpha (Mollusca: Bivalvia) along the River Shannon, Ireland |
| Journal |
Biol. Invasions, 2008;10:149-156, Conn DB, Simpson SE, Minchin D, Lucy FE
|
| Description |
Adults of the European zebra mussel, which invaded Ireland in the mid 1990s, was shown to be infected with an obligate commensalist ciliate at 7 of 8 sites along Ireland’s primary navigational river. The presence of this symbiont in Irish mussels, compared with its absence from mussels in North America, confirms that Ireland was invaded by adults, whereas North America was invaded by planktonic veliger larvae, which the ciliates cannot infect
|
| Faculty |
Bruce Conn is professor of biology and dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
|
| Student |
Sarah Simpson, a senior biology major, participated in this project at Berry following a study-abroad semester at the Univeristy of Limerick in Ireland on the Shannon River. Sarah is completing the Master of International Health degree at Curtin University in Australia. |
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| ( 17 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae) as a nectar plant for butterflies |
| Journal |
J. Lep. Soc, 2007;61:222-227, VanOverbeke DR, Kleintjes Neff P, Fettig SM
|
| Description |
We quantified the use (e.g., species visitation rates, nectar carbohydrate content) of Potentilla fruticosa flowers by adult butterflies in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. We observed butterflies (10 species) nectaring 56% of total observation time on P. fruticosa, where the plant composed 26% of total blooming forb availability. We also found significantly more carbohydrates (nectar) in flowers excluded (26.83+1.35 µg/2ml) than available (6.71+1.40 µg/2ml) to nectivores. Our results suggest P. fruticosa is an important nectar resource for adult butterflies in the arid montane meadows of northern New Mex
|
| Faculty |
Paula Kleintjes Neff is a professor of biology at UW-EC and CUR Councilor. Stephen Fettig is a wildlife biologist at Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, NM
|
| Student |
Dustin VanOverbeke completed this project as an independent study as a UW-Eau Claire undergraduate and is currently a graduate student in the Department of Entomology at UC- Riverside |
| Fund |
The project was funded by grants from the Council for Undergraduate Research Summer Research Opportunity Fund, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Projects and the National Park Service-Bandelier National Monument.
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| ( 18 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
An assessment of leech parasitism on semi-aquatic turtles in the western Piedmont of North Carolina |
| Journal |
Southeastern Naturalist, 2007;6:191-202, McCoy JC, Failey EL, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This investigation assessed the occurrence of leeches on semi-aquatic turtles in the North Carolina Piedmont. Placobdella parasitica (smooth turtle leech) was the only parasitic leech found on turtles and was present on turtles from all ponds. Female Painted Turtles were more frequently parasitized than males, possibly because they are larger and provide more surface for leech attachment, yet Snapping Turtles had the highest leech load, which we attributed to its large size and bottom-dwelling habits
|
| Faculty |
Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Clint McCoy and Betsy Failey developed this study as a summer research project between their junior and senior years at Davidson College. Clint is a second-year Masters student in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Auburn University, and Betsy is currently applying to PhD programs in Environmental Science and Policy |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M.E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
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| ( 19 )
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Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Spatial and thermal ecology of diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) in a South Carolina salt marsh |
| Journal |
Journal of North Carolina Academy of Science, 2007;123:154-162, Harden LA, DiLuzio NA, Gibbons JW, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This investigation was initiated to better understand the ecology of terrapins within a tidal creek ecosystem. Results showed that terrapins spent more time in the marsh (Spartina sp., mud, and occasional shallow water) than in open water of the creek channel. Terrapins remained within the same tidal creek system and moved a mean total distance of 750 m with individual total distances moved ranging from 440 to 1,159 m. Carapace temperatures of two male terrapins varied from 16.0 to 41.0°C.
|
| Faculty |
J. Whit Gibbons is a professor at University of Georgia and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Leigh Anne Harden and Nick DiLuzio, a senior and junior, respectively, conducted this investigation during a week-long stay at Kiawah Island, SC. Leigh Anne Harden is currently beginning graduate school at University of North Carolina-Wilmington and Nick DiLuzio is a senior at Davidson College |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M. E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
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| ( 20 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Ecology of turtles inhabiting golf course and farm ponds in the western Piedmont of North Carolina |
| Journal |
Journal of North Carolina Academy of Science, 2007;123:221-232, Failey EL, McCoy JC, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This study compared turtle ecology in five golf course and five farm ponds was conducted in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Relative species abundances, size distributions for each sex and sex ratios were not distinguishable between the two pond types, yet characteristics of the surrounding landscape influenced turtle distributions. In the western Piedmont of North Carolina, both farm and golf course ponds can provide habitat for several species of semi-aquatic turtles and for some species
|
| Faculty |
Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Betsy Failey and Clint McCoy developed this study as a summer research project between their junior and senior years at Davidson College. Betsy is currently applying to PhD programs in Environmental Science and Policy and Clint is a second-year Masters student in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management at Auburn University |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and National Science Foundation grants (DEB-0347326 and DBI-1039153) to M. E. Dorcas, and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
|
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|
| ( 21 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
The diet of larval red salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) examined using a non-lethal technique |
| Journal |
Journal of Herpetology, 2007;41:741-745, Cecala KK, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This study was conducted using larval Red Salamanders (Pseudotriton ruber) to examine factors affecting feeding rates and diet. We also tested whether nonlethal stomach flushing is an effective technique for examining the diet of larval salamanders. Feeding rates were negatively correlated with stream water temperature, and larger larvae consumed a wider diversity of prey items than smaller individuals. Our results also suggest that nonlethal stomach flushing did not affect survivorship.
|
| Faculty |
Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Kristen Cecala developed this project as an independent study at between her junior and senior years at Davidson College. Kristen is currently a PhD student at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, a Grant in Aid-of-Research from the National Academy of Sciences, administered by Sigma XI, The Scientific Research Society; a Yarbrough Research Grant administered by the Collegiate Academy, North Carolina Academy of Science; Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326) to M. E. Dorcas
|
|
|
| ( 22 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Physiological and behavioral control of heating and cooling rates in rubber boas |
| Journal |
Charina bottae. Journal of Thermal Biology, 2008;33:7-11, Zhang Y, Westfall MC, Hermes KC, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This investigation examined the ability of rubber boas (Charina bottae) to physiologically and behaviorally control their heating and cooling rates In both unconstrained and constrained treatments, heating rates were faster than cooling rates, suggesting that rubber boas can physiologically slow their cooling rates and/or accelerate their heating rates. These findings provide a greater understanding of physiological thermoregulation in rubber boas and insight into mechanisms of reptilian thermoregulation
|
| Faculty |
Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Ying Zhang, M.Caitlin Westfall and Kathleen Hermes developed this research as part of a class project for Comparative Physiology during their senior year at Davidson College. Ying is currently enrolled in graduate school at Eastern Carolina University. |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326) to M. E. Dorcas and the Environmental Remediation Sciences Division of the Office of Biological and Environmental Research, US Department of Energy through Financial Assistance Award number DE-FC09-96SR18546 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation
|
|
|
| ( 23 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Effects of relocation on movements and home ranges of eastern box turtles |
| Journal |
Journal of Wildlife Management, 2008;72:772-777, Hester JM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
This study examined the effects of relocation on eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina) by comparing home ranges and movement patterns of 10 resident and 10 relocated box turtles. Home ranges of relocated turtles were much larger than resident turtles. Five relocated turtles experienced mortality or disappearance compared to no mortality or disappearance of resident turtles. Our results raise questions about the success of relocation as a management strategy for eastern box turtles.
|
| Faculty |
Steven J. Price is the research coordinator for the Davidson College Herpetology Lab and Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Joy M. Hester developed this research as part of an independent study during her senior year at Davidson College. Dorcas. Joy is currently enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science at Colorado State University |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power, and a National Science Foundation grant (DEB-0347326 and an REU Supplement) to M.E
|
|
|
| ( 24 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Dynamics of jack pine at the southern range boundary in downeast Maine |
| Journal |
Can. J. For. Res, 2008;38:733-743, Barton AM, Grenier DJ
|
| Description |
Using age structure and historical aerial photographs, this study examined the 20th century dynamics of jack pine, a boreal tree species at its range boundary on Great Wass Island, Maine. Despite no evidence of widespread fire, populations of this usually fire dependent species exhibited self-perpetuating populations on upland outcrops and in bogs, apparently because of little competition from other species on these unfavorable sites. Both age and photographic data suggest further that jack pine has recently invaded the island’s coastal plateau bogs, rare habitats with high conservation value
|
| Faculty |
Andrew Barton is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Daniel Grenier, a biology major, participated as a research assistant and then collaborated for his senior thesis on all phases of the study over two years. Dan is now Land Steward for The Nature Conservancy in Maine |
| Fund |
The research was supported by grants from The Nature Conservancy in Maine, University of Maine System, and the University of Maine at Farmington
|
|
|
| ( 25 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Patterns of fish diversity in a mainstem Missouri River reservoir and associated delta |
| Journal |
River Research and Applications, 2007;23:786-791, Kaemingk MA, Graeb BDS, Hoagstrom CW, Willis DW
|
| Description |
Expanding deltas on many Missouri River mainstem reservoirs provide diverse aquatic habitat that is somewhat similar to the historic Missouri River. We found that both fish species richness and species diversity was higher in a delta than in the associated reservoir. These results suggest that newly forming deltas have the potential to protect and restore fish species diversity, similar to remnant riverine habitats
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
Mark Kaemingk undertook this independent study while employed as a research technician at South Dakota State University during the summer of 2005. He presented his results at both the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Dakota Chapter, American Fisheries Society, and the 67th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference in 2006. Mr. Kaemingk is currently enrolled in the M.S. program in aquatic biology at Central Michigan University |
| Fund |
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks provided funding through Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Project F-15-R, Study 1599
|
|
|
| ( 26 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
Real-time PCR assays of single-nucleotide polymorphisms defining the major Brucella clades |
| Journal |
Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2008;46:296-301, Foster JT, Okinaka RT, Svensson R, Shaw K, De BK, Robison RA, Probert WS, Kenefic LJ, Brown WD, Keim P
|
| Description |
The study used highly specific genetic markers to accurately distinguish among seven species of Brucella, a bacterium that affects livestock, wildlife, and humans globally. We were able to identify all species with minute amounts of DNA, often as few as 1-3 copies. This work will be valuable to clinicians and laboratory workers in identifying the most common zoonotic infection worldwide
|
| Faculty |
Paul Keim is a Regents Professor of Microbiology at the Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics
|
| Student |
Will Brown is a senior biology major and participated in the study for independent study credit in 2007. Will continues to conduct research in the lab as an undergraduate researcher and is anticipating entering graduate school next fall |
| Fund |
The work was funded by an HSARPA grant from the US Department of Homeland Security awarded to Keim
|
|
|
| ( 27 )
|
Recorded at: 12/22/2008
|
| Title |
. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species and expression of a cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein 1 homolog during the early response of maize pulvini to gravistimulation. |
| Journal |
Plant Cell Environ, 2008;31:144-158, Clore AM, Doore SM, Tinnirello SMN
|
| Description |
The maize stem pulvinus is a region of tissue found apical to each node that functions to return tipped (i.e., gravistimulated) stems to a more upright position via differential cell elongation on its lower side. In the present study, changes in levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in the expression of a cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein 1 homolog were documented during the early part of the gravity response. Asymmetric application of hydrogen peroxide and the ROS scavenger, ascorbic acid, further implicated a role for ROS in the pathway leading from graviperception to changes in growth. Although more is known about cytoplasmic aconitase/iron regulatory protein1 homologs in mammalian systems than in plants, evidence is accumulating that the protein plays a role in redox sensing. Collectively, the results point to a role for ROS during the gravity response, and we hypothesize that asymmetries in ROS are generated soon after reorientation and play a role in directing asymmetric growth
|
| Faculty |
Amy Clore is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Stella Tinnirello and Sarah Doore worked on the project in succession for their biology senior theses spanning the years 2004 through 2007. Both are currently employed and in the process of applying to graduate programs |
| Fund |
Funded by NASA NSCORT grant NAGW-4984. Majority of the work was funded by the New College of Florida Foundation, Alumni Association (including a Matthew Wahl Memorial Student Grant awarded to SMNT), and the Division of Natural Sciences
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|
| ( 28 )
|
Recorded at: 12/16/2008
|
| Title |
Stroma-forming endophyte Epichloe glyceriae provides wound-inducible herbivore resistance to its grass host |
| Journal |
Oikos, 2008;117:629-633, Gonthier DJ, Sullivan TJ, Brown KL, Wurtzel B, Lawal R, VanderOever K, Buchan Z, Bultman TL
|
| Description |
Fungal endophyte-grass associations are diverse and complex. We asked if wound-inducible resistance like that in asexual endophytes also occurs in the ancestral, sexually reproducing Epichloë glyceriae, which infects the grass Glyceria striata. Host grasses were damaged by fall armyworm caterpillars, artificially cut, or left undamaged. An aphid bioassay tested the plant’s toxicity to herbivores. Expression of lolc (a gene in the loline biosynthesis pathway) was quantified using real-time RT-PCR and loline concentration was quantified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Artificially-damaged plants supported fewer live aphids, had greater lolc mRNA expression, and greater loline concentration than undamaged plants. Our study is the first to demonstrate sexual endophytes can produce lolines following wounding.
|
| Faculty |
Tom Bultman (professor of biology) and T. J. Sullivan (post-doctoral associate) are members of the Biology Department.
|
| Student |
David Gonthier (senior biology major), Benjamin Wurtzel (senior chemistry major), Rasheed Lawal (sophomore chemistry major), and Zachery Buchan (junior chemistry major) were all undergraduates who conducted summer research. David is currently in Honduras working on a coffee plantation and will be attending graduate school in the fall at the Univeristy of Toledo. Zachary Buchan is currently working on his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Michigan State University. Benjamin Wurtzel is currently in dental school. Kenneth VanderOever is working in Kalamazoo, MI as an analytical chemistry. |
| Fund |
research supported through a NSF-CRUI award to TLB
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|
|
| ( 29 )
|
Recorded at: 12/16/2008
|
| Title |
An in silico analysis of cytochrome c from Phanerochaete chrysosporium: its amino acid sequence and characterization of gene structural elements |
| Journal |
Silico Biology, 2007;8(0001) http://www.bioinfo.de/isb/2007/08/0001/main.html, Bumpus JA, Trax M, Reisdorph A, Boyd C, Gilbert D, Techau S, Ventullo RM
|
| Description |
An in silico approach was used to investigate cytochrome c and the cytochrome c gene of Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Selected aspects of the molecular architecture of cytochrome c and regulatory control elements of the P. chrysosporium cytochrome c gene were analyzed and compared to those present in other fungi and to those present in genes for lignin peroxidases and cytochromes P-450, two important families of hemeproteins produced by this fungus
|
| Faculty |
John A. Bumpus is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Northern Iowa. Marc Trax is a Lecturer and Roy M. Ventullo is a Professor, both in the Biology Department at Wartburg College. Cindi Boyd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Math and Science at Hawkeye Community College
|
| Student |
Sara Techau was a 2nd-year student at Wartburg College. Damien Gilbert started this project as a 2nd-year student at Hawkeye Community College. Ashley Reisdorph was a high school senior. Sara Techau is currently in the Physician Assistant program at the University of Iowa, Ashley Reisdorph is attending South Dakota State University and is planning to pursue a career in Pharmacy. Damien Gilbert is a 2007 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa |
| Fund |
This research was supported by a NSF URC planning grant, CHE-0417964, "A Midwestern Undergraduate Research Center-Bringing Research to the Student", a Wartburg College Undergraduate Research Fellowship awarded to Sara Techau, and a UNI Upward Bound Math & Science Program grant to Ashley Reisdorph
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|
| ( 30 )
|
Recorded at: 12/11/2008
|
| Title |
Clearance of Vibrio campbellii injected into the hemolymph of Callinectes sapidus, the Atlantic blue crab: the effects of prior exposure to bacteria and environmental hypoxia. |
| Journal |
Fish and Shellfish Immunology, 2008;doi:10.1016/j.fsi.2008.02.009, Macey BM, Rathburn CK, Thibodeaux LK, Burnett LE, Burnett KG
|
| Description |
The results of this study showed that crustaceans, such as the blue crab Callinectes sapidus, can eliminate disease-causing bacteria from their tissues more rapidly if the animals have been exposed previously to a sublethal dose of that same bacterial pathogen. The mechanisms responsible for this immunological “memory” are short lived, lasting less than 24 hours, and appear to be sensitive to the levels of low dissolved oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations that occur in estuarine waters. Thus, constant exposure to bacteria in their natural environment may enhance the resistance of marine crustaceans to infectious disease. This disease resistance may be impaired by poor water quality
|
| Faculty |
Lou Burnett is a professor of biology and Karen Burnett is a research associate in the same department
|
| Student |
Kolo Rathburn participated in this study as part of the Fort Johnson Undergraduate Summer Research Program. Kolo is currently a graduate student in the Graduate Program in Marine Biology at the College of Charleston |
| Fund |
funding from the National Science Foundation REU Program and the Department of Defense ASSURE Program
|
|
|
| ( 31 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Intrinsic, inter-specific competition between egg, egg-larval, and larval parasitoids of plusiine loopers |
| Journal |
Ecol Entomol, 2007;32:221–228, Yamamoto D, Henderson R, Corley LS, Iwabuchi K.
|
| Description |
Three wasp species with overlapping host ranges were used to experimentally examine parasitoid – parasitoid interactions. Differences between the species in their competition with larval parasitoids were clearly evident, including changes between soldier to reproductive larvae when exposed to specific parasitoids
|
| Faculty |
Laura Corley is an assistant
professor in entomology at Washington State University, and supervised the experimental studies of Ruth Henders
|
| Student |
Ruth Henderson, an undergraduate student at Washington State University’s Honors College in 2005 |
| Fund |
The undergraduate work was supported through the WSU Center for Integrated Biotechnology Summer Fellowship program
|
|
|
| ( 32 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Population genetic effects of urban habitat fragmentation in the perennial herb Viola pubescens (Violaceae) using ISSR markers |
| Journal |
Ann Bot, 2007;100:91-100, Culley TM, Sbita SJ, Wick A
|
| Description |
This study examined the genetic effects of habitat fragmentation in plant populations growing in urban areas. DNA-based molecular markers revealed that populations of the yellow violet (Viola pubescens) within Cincinnati, Ohio retained high levels of genetic variation with relatively few genetic differences among populations. Thus urban fragmentation does not appear to impede gene flow in this species, which may reflect its reproductive system of producing both outcrossed and automatically self-pollinated flowers
|
| Faculty |
Theresa Culley is an assistant professor of plant biology
|
| Student |
Anne Wick was a senior biology major (2003-2004) and Sara Sbita was a senior psychology major (2004-2005), both participating in the undergraduate research program offered by the Department of Biological Sciences. Anne is currently enrolled in the graduate program at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at Miami University and Sarah is enrolled in Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine |
| Fund |
This research was supported by set-up funds from the University of Cincinnati, awarded to Theresa Culley
|
|
|
| ( 33 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Parasympathetic control of the pupillary light response in the red-eared slider turtle (Pseudemys scripta elegans). |
| Journal |
Vet Ophthalmol, 2007;10:106-110, Dearworth JR, Cooper LJ, McGee C
|
| Description |
The present study investigated effects of different cholinergic antagonists on the pupil of turtles to determine if responses to light are controlled by parasympathetic innervations acting on the iris. Vercuronium bromide, nicotinic antagonist, dilated pupils 28%; atropine, muscarinic antagonist, had no effect on pupil size. The results suggest that cholinergic receptors of the sphincter pupillae in turtles are more similar to birds and not to mammals as once thought
|
| Faculty |
James Dearworth is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology and Neuroscience Program
|
| Student |
Caitlin McGee ‘05, biology major, participated in the research for independent study credit. Lori Cooper ‘07, neuroscience major, participated in the research during the summer 2005. After graduating, Caitlin became Assistant Project Manager at TTI Environmental, Inc., a small private environmental consulting company. Lori accepted a postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) at the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH/NIAAA) where she is investigating the efficacy of gene therapy on treating XP neurological disease. She is applying to neuroscience graduate programs |
| Fund |
She was funded by the Nalven Memorial Research Fellowship, which was awarded to her by the Department of Biology.
|
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|
| ( 34 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Role of maternal provisioning in controlling interpopulation variation in hatching size in the marine snail Nucella ostrina |
| Journal |
Biol Bull, 2007;213:316–324, Lloyd MJ, Gosselin LA
|
| Description |
Animal populations often differ in the average size of their offspring, but the mechanisms
responsible for these difference are not well understood. This study of the marine snail Nucellaostrina examined the role of maternal allocation of nurse eggs and fertilized eggs to egg capsules in controlling interpopulation variation in offspring size among nine isolated populations. The study revealed that most of the differences among populations in offspring size are due to differences in the number of nurse eggs allocated per egg capsule by the moth
|
| Faculty |
Louis Gosselin is an associate professor of biological sciences
|
| Student |
Michelle Lloyd was a senior biological sciences undergraduate student at the time of her involvement in this project (2004-2005). Michelle carried out all the field and laboratory work and was the lead author of the paper. Michelle is employed as a biology instructor at the Bamfield Marine Research Centre and has applied to begin a graduate program next fall |
| Fund |
This was an independent research project supported by an Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) awarded to Michelle by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Council (NSERC) of Canada, and the project was also supported by an NSERC Discovery research grant awarded to Louis Gosselin
|
|
|
| ( 35 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Synanthropic flies as vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia among livestock and wildlife in a multispecies agricultural complex |
| Journal |
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis., 2007;7:643-652, Conn DB, Weaver J, Tamang L, Graczyk TK
|
| Description |
The capacity of synanthropic flies to serve as mechanical vectors of Cryptosporidium and Giardia, pathogens of humans and other vertebrates, was studied using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) techniques. All three fly families studied were shown to be competent vectors among beef cattle, dairy cattle, horse, sheep, and wildlife populations in a 10-km-radius area of Berry College’s 26,000-acre laboratory.
|
| Faculty |
Bruce Conn is professor of biology and dean of the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
|
| Student |
Jennifer Weaver, a junior biology major, participated in this project as a student researcher. . Jennifer is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental management at Duke University |
| Fund |
The research was funded by an NSF-REU grant (DEB0354017), with additional support from the Johns Hopkins NIEHS Center in Urban Environmental Health.
|
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|
| ( 36 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Intramolecular disulfide bond formation in the NEMO dimer requires Cys54 and Cys347 |
| Journal |
Biochem Biophys Res Comm., 2008;367:103-10, Herscovitch M, Comb W, Ennis T, Coleman K, Yong S, Armstead B, Kalaitzidis D, Chandani S, Gilmore TD
|
| Description |
This research describes a biochemical and molecular characterization of NEMO, a cellular protein involved in the NF-kB signaling pathway, which regulates key steps in immune responses and cellular growth. The human gene encoding the NEMO protein is also mutated in some inherited immunodeficiency diseases. This paper identifies certain amino acid residues as playing important roles in NEMO structure and function, and describes the first proposed model for the NEMO protein structure
|
| Faculty |
Thomas Gilmore is professor of biology
|
| Student |
William Comb (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology [BMB]) major; currently PhD student at the University of North Carolina), Tom Ennis (BMB major; applying to PhD programs), Kate Coleman (BMB major; now a research technician at Harvard Medical School), Sheila Yong (BMB major; PhD student Duke University) were undergraduates who performed part of their senior research on this project. Brinda Armstead was a summer NSF-REU undergraduate researcher currently a senior at Jackson State University |
| Fund |
This research was supported by a National Cancer Institute grant (TDG), Boston University Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program Grants (WC, TE, KC, SY), and an NSF-REU grant (BA).
|
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|
| ( 37 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Experience-dependent plasticity in the mushroom bodies of the solitary bee Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae). |
| Journal |
Dev Neurobiol, 2008;68:73-82, Withers GS, Day NF, Talbot E, Dobson HEM, Wallace CS
|
| Description |
This research tests hypotheses about how experience affects the organization of the insect brain, examining brain development in a solitary bee species,O. lignaria, as these bees become foragers. The volume of the mushroom bodies, a brain region thought to be involved in learning and memory, increases significantly as these bees become experienced foragers, similar to previous findings in the honey bee. This is the first study to test for such brain changes in a solitary insect, and these findings suggest at least some common brain mechanisms, e.g. neural plasticity in the mushroom bodies, occur in association with foraging behaviors and are independent of social regulation
|
| Faculty |
Associate professors Ginger Withers and Christopher Wallace and professor Heidi Dobson of the Biology Department collaborated with undergraduates
|
| Student |
Nancy Day, Biology ('05), and Emily Talbot, Bio/Environmental Studies ('05), who conducted this research as part of their senior theses. Nancy is currently a graduate student in the Neuroscience Program at the University of Minnesota, and Emily is attending nursing school |
| Fund |
This work was funded by an NSF CAREER award to Withers, and by support from the Keck Foundation to the Whitman College Biology Department.
|
|
|
| ( 38 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Stomatal response of swordfern to volcanogenic CO2 and SO2 from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii |
| Journal |
Geophys Res Lett, 2007;34:L15807, doi:10.1029/2007GL030320, Tanner LH, Smith DL, Allan A.
|
| Description |
This study examined the effects of volcanogenic CO2 and SO2 on the frequency of leaf stomata in common swordfern. We found that stomatal index is lowest at sample sites where concentrations of both CO2 and SO2 or SO2 alone are much higher than background. Therefore, we propose that decreases in the stomatal index of fossil leaves may record transient atmospheric increases in both SO2 and CO2, such as may be caused by the large eruptions of flood basalts that are associated with major extinctions
|
| Faculty |
Lawrence Tanner and David Smith are associate professors of Natural Systems Science
|
| Student |
Amanda Allen participated in the study in 2005 for independent study credit. Amanda has since graduated with a degree in biology, is employed, and is applying to graduate programs |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a grant from the NSF Integrative Plant Biology program
|
|
|
| ( 39 )
|
Recorded at: 6/25/2008
|
| Title |
Altered levels of STAT1 and STAT3 influence the neuronal response to interferon gamma |
| Journal |
J Neuroimmunol, 2007;192:145-156, Rose RW, Vorobyeva AG, Skipworth JD, Nicolas E, Rall GF
|
| Description |
As immune responses in the CNS are highly regulated, cell-specific differences in IFNg signaling may be integral in dictating the outcome of host cell responses. In comparing the IFNg-treated primary neurons to control MEF, we observed that neurons expressed decreased levels of signal transduction components and demonstrated distinct response kinetics to IFNg. These observations may reflect modifications in the IFNg negative feedback loop, which may provide a mechanism for the cell-specific heterogeneity of responses to IFNg. R.
|
| Faculty |
Wesley Rose is an assistant professor of biology at Arcadia University
|
| Student |
Anna Vorobyeva is an undergraduate biology major in her senior year at Arcadia University who participated in this project during the summer and into her senior year as her senior thesis project. Jason Skipworth is a laboratory technician at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Emmanuelle Nicolas is a Research Scientist at the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Glenn Rall is an associate member in the Viral Pathogenesis program at the Fox Chase Cancer Center |
| Fund |
The research was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health to RWR and GFR
|
|
|
| ( 40 )
|
Recorded at: 2/14/2008
|
| Title |
Beta-carotene protects sudan (IV) from photocatalytic oxidation in a micellar model system: Insight into the antioxidant properties of the golden Staphylococcus aureus |
| Journal |
World J Microb Biot, 2007;23:1305-1310, Coates CM, Caldwell W, Alberte RS, Barreto PD, Barreto JC
|
| Description |
We investigated the mechanism for anti-oxidant resistance of the “golden staph aureus” (an important human pathogen) with a micellar model system. We co-located beta-carotene in the hydrophobic core of a CTAB micelle, which also contained an oxidizable sudan red target dye. The carotenoid was able to rescue the sudan red target from the reductive and oxidative species (ROS) generated by a titanium oxide photocatalyst and by a Fenton reaction; prolonged oxidation was needed to eventually destroy the sudan red target
|
| Faculty |
Jose Barreto is a professor of chemistry, Cristina Coates is a post-doctoral fellow and Patricia Barreto is a research associate. Alberte was a professor of biotechnology and has moved on to employment in the private sector
|
| Student |
During 2004- 2006 William Caldwell participated in this research as a senior biology student. Bill completed the work as part of his senior research project and won the overall student prize at the student research competition in 2005 (from over 250+ posters submitted). He has been accepted into a graduate nurse anesthetist program at FGCU |
| Fund |
The work was funded by DOD grant #N00173-06-1-G901.
|
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|
| ( 41 )
|
Recorded at: 2/14/2008
|
| Title |
Spatial patterns of Juniperus virginiana and Lonicera maackii on a road cut in Kentucky, USA |
| Journal |
J Torrey Bot Soc, 2007;134:188-198, Castellano SM, Boyce RL
|
| Description |
We investigated the spatial patterns of several woody species that colonize disturbed sites, including the native Juniperus virginiana and the exotic Lonicera maackii. Spatial patterns were quantified and compared with Ripley's K and the pair correlation function, which analyze the distribution of interplant distance at varying scales. J. virginiana was distributed randomly, while L. maackii was clustered while both J. virginiana and L. maackii were distributed independently of each other. Smaller L. maackii individuals clustered with larger ones, but this pattern was not seen in J. virginiana. L. maackii was found in areas of lower light than J. virginiana but there was only a weak indication of differences in soil depth means between these two species. The different physiological requirements and growth forms of the two species appear to explain the lack of interaction between them
|
| Faculty |
Richard Boyce is an associate professor of biological
|
| Student |
Steven Castellano initiated this research after his junior year and continued into his senior year. He is now a graduate student in the Botany Department at Miami University |
| Fund |
The research was supported by Northern Kentucky University and a CUR travel grant.
|
|
|
| ( 42 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Members of the Toll-like receptor family of innate immunity pattern-recognition receptors are abundant in the rat male reproductive tract |
| Journal |
Biol Reprod, 76:958-964, 2007, Palladino MA, Johnson TA, Gupta R, Chapman JL, Ojha P
|
| Description |
Protection of spermatozoa from microbial and viral pathogens during gamete formation, transport, and storage in the male reproductive tract is an important aspect of reproductive physiology. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a large family of pathogen-recognition receptors that are essential for innate immunity. This work describes the identification and distribution of TLRs in the rat male reproductive tract and provides important insight into antimicrobial mechanisms for protecting spermatozoa and reproductive organs from pathogens
|
| Faculty |
Michael A. Palladino is associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Theresa Johnson, Rajesh Gupta, Jessica Chapman and Prithi Ojha were undergraduate students involved in this research through the summer research course Research in Molecular Cell Physiology and Independent Study. Theresa and Rajesh are employed in industry. Jessica is a graduate student and Prithi is a medical student |
|
|
| ( 43 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Activation and endocytic internalization of melanocortin 3 receptor in neuronal cells |
| Journal |
Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2007;1096:271-286, Wachira SJ, Guruswamy B, Uradu L, Hughes-Darden CA, Denaro FJ
|
| Description |
Endocytosis is critically important to the regulation of cell surface density of receptors and ion channels. The regulation and trafficking of melanocortin 3 receptor in neuronal cells was investigated. Activated receptor is trafficked to the pericentriolar region and its translocation is accompanied by lysosomal degradation. This suggests that melanocortin receptors undergo activation dependent desensitization during their function
|
| Faculty |
James Wachira, Cleo Hughes-Darden and Frank Denaro are associate professors of biology
|
| Student |
Bindhu Guruswamy is enrolled in the Department of Biology for studies leading to a Masters of Science degree. Lawrence Uradu was an NIH/NIGMS/MARC-USTAR undergraduate research student in Wachira’s laboratory during his junior and senior years. He was recently admitted to medical school for studies leading to an MD degree |
| Fund |
The research was supported by grants from the NIH/NIGMS/MBRS-SCORE and NIH/NCRR/RCMI programs
|
|
|
| ( 44 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Development of an acyclovir implant for the long-term control of herpes simplex virus infection |
| Journal |
Int J Antimicrob Agents, 2007;30:428-435, Johnson TP, Frey R, Modugno M, Brennan TP, Margulies BJ
|
| Description |
Human herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) is treatable with oral doses of an antiviral agent such as aciclovir (ACV), a drug that has poor bioavailability. An alternative for delivering ACV would employ a long-lived subcutaneous implant that would allow for near zero-order drug delivery kinetics. This study aimed to develop an implant composed of a matrix of silicone and ACV that is capable of sustained long-term release of ACV. Release of ACV from the implants was not affected by temperature or pH, but was dependent upon surface area. More importantly, implants protected against in vitro infection, and HSV-1-infected SKH-1 mice from viral reactivation (n = 37; P = 0.0367) via ultraviolet light
|
| Faculty |
Barry Margulies is an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and the Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics Program and the Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
|
| Student |
Robin Frey and Melissa Modugno were undergraduates in the Department of Biological Sciences. Both are now students at Virginia Tech, working on their DVMs |
| Fund |
this work was supported in part by undergraduate research grants to them by Towson University between 2005 and 2006, when both were doing research for credit for their bachelor's degrees
|
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|
| ( 45 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Prevalence of melanocortin system transcripts in rat salt homeostasis endocrine tissues |
| Journal |
Cell Mol Biol, 2007;53:8-14, Wachira SJ, Temoney S, Ramlochansingh C, Hughes-Darden CA
|
| Description |
The expression of genes with a possible role in the excretion or retention of sodium was examined in pituitary and adrenal glands by real time PCR. Consistent with known endocrine gland hierarchy, the proopiomelanocortin transcript was more abundant in pituitary tissues whereas expression of its receptor, melanocortin 2 receptor, was more abundant in adrenal tissues. Prohormone convertases and melanocortin 3 receptor transcripts were expressed at similar levels in both tissues. These studies suggest that melanocortins can be produced and act in an autocrine manner in these glands
|
| Faculty |
James Wachira and Cleo Hughes-Darden are associate professors of biology and Shonanate Temoney was a research associate at the RCMI molecular and cell biology core laboratory
|
| Student |
Carlana Ramlochansingh was an undergraduate research student in Wachira’s laboratory during her junior year and the following summer. She is currently a third year PhD student in the Department of Pharmacology at Howard University College of Medicine |
|
|
| ( 46 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
The impacts of forest management on the invertebrate communities associated with leaf packs of forested streams in New York State |
| Journal |
Freshwater Ecol, 2007;25:325-331, Myers L, Mihuc TB, Woodcock T
|
| Description |
A comparison of stream leaf litter in logged and unlogged Adirondack Upland watersheds illustrates the importance of land use activities on forest litter composition and subsequent impacts on stream ecosystems. Litter composition and invertebrate communities varied between logged and unlogged systems with more palatable high quality leaf litter in logged systems. Results suggest that land use alteration may impact energy processing in stream systems in forested catchments
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
Luke Myers completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at Paul Smith's College in 2005. Luke is currently a graduate student at Colorado State University working on a survey of aquatic invertebrate biodiversity of Adirondack Streams. Tim Mihuc is coordinator of the Lake Champlain Research Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh and Tom Woodcock is a post-doctoral researcher at SUNY Plattsburgh |
| Fund |
The research was supported through an NSF C-RUI grant to SUNY Plattsburgh, Paul Smith's College, and SUNY Cortland
|
|
|
| ( 47 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
The role of light and oxygen in Chaoborus punctipennis (Insecta: Diptera) diel vertical migration |
| Journal |
J Freshwater Ecol, 2007;22:101-106, Stratton MA, Kesler DH
|
| Description |
This research investigated the diel vertical migration of aquatic phantom midge larvae (Chaoborus punctipennis) in response to light intensity and dissolved oxygen concentration. Final larval instar average depth was significantly correlated with the critical oxygen threshold for fish (DO2=3.5 mg/L; R2=0.783, df=11, P<0.01) but not with maximum light penetration (R2=0.183, df=11, P>0.05), indicating that oxygen was the overriding stimulus governing C. punctipennis diel vertical migration seasonal changes and average daytime depth. This is the only field-based research looking simultaneously at the controlling influences of light and oxygen on Chaoborus diel vertical migration
|
| Faculty |
David Kesler is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Mark Stratton conducted this independent research project in the summer after his junior year and continued it as a senior. He is currently employed as a marine fisheries technician for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and will be attending graduate in marine biology next fall |
| Fund |
This project was supported by Rhodes College Biology Department funds
|
|
|
| ( 48 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Restoration of Hawaiian montane wet forest: endemic longhorned beetles (Cerambycidae: Plagithmysus) in koa (Fabaceae: Acacia koa) plantations and in intact forest |
| Journal |
Southwest Nat, 2007;53:356-363, Goldsmith S, Gillespie H, Weatherby C
|
| Description |
Reforestation of degraded lands in the tropics is one of the most important goals of ecological restoration. We used longhorned beetles (Plagithmysus claviger and P. varians) as indicator species to assess restoration of montane forest at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, Hawaii, where plantations of Koa (Acacia koa) were established over the past 20 years. Density of beetles was greater in canopy trees than in planted trees and was greater in older plantations than in younger plantations. Mean basal diameter of branches in canopy trees was greater than in planted trees and was greater in older plantations than in younger plantations. Branch diameter had a positive effect on number of beetles per branch. Koa plantations promote recovery of plant and animal biological diversity in degraded habitats formerly occupied by montane forest
|
| Faculty |
Steven Goldsmith is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Hayley Gillespie participated in this research during the summers of 2002 and 2003; Cole Weatherby joined the team in 2003. Gillespie is currently in the PhD program in Integrative Biology at the University of Texas, Austin. Weatherby is in the DO program at the University of North Texas Health Science Center |
| Fund |
The research was funded by Austin College and the Robert and Ruby Priddy Charitable Trust
|
|
|
| ( 49 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Genetic modifiers of Drosophila palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1-induced degeneration |
| Journal |
Genetics, 2007;176:209-220, Buff H, Smith AC, Korey CA
|
| Description |
This genetic screen performed in Drosophila demonstrated a connection between palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (Ppt1) function and endocytic processes in the cell. Specifically, modifier genes identified in this screen tied Ppt1 to synaptic vesicle endocytosis. Ppt1 is the gene that is mutated in the neurodegenerative disease, infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. This screen, along with work in other model organisms, suggests that patients may have synaptic defects that contribute to the loss of neuronal cells in the brain
|
| Faculty |
Christopher Korey is an assistant professor of biology
|
| Student |
Haley Buff and Alexis Smith presented this work at the Society of Neuroscience meetings in 2005 and 2006. This work was completed during their junior and senior year and was submitted as Haley's Senior Honors thesis. Haley is currently a first year dental student at the Medical University of South Carolina. Alexis is currently a first year medical student at Midwestern University School of Osteopathic Medicine |
| Fund |
The work was supported by funds from a Biology Department Research Grant (CAK), a College of Charleston Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (CAK and ACS), a Support of Mentors and their Students in the Neurosciences grant from the NSF (DUE-0426266) (CAK and HB), and National Institutes of Health Grants R15-HD052362 and P20-RR16461
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|
|
| ( 50 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Allometric analysis reveals relatively little variation in nitrogen versus biomass accrual in four plant species exposed to varying light, nutrients, water and CO2 |
| Journal |
Plant Cell Environ, 2007;30:1216-1222, Bernacchi CJ, Thompson JT, Coleman JS, McConnaughay KDM
|
| Description |
Altered rates of plant growth and development under varying resource availabilities were examined to determine their effects on changes in whole-plant N use efficiency (NUE). Study results show highly variable N accrual rates when expressed as a function of plant age or size, but similar patterns of whole-plant N vs. non-N biomass accrual over a wide range of environmental conditions. Physiological adjustments in NUE, expressed as N vs. biomass accrual, were limited to environments with severely limited or overabundant resources
|
| Faculty |
Kelly McConnaughay is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Carl Bernacchi was involved in this project during his graduate studies at Bradley University, and is currently at the Illinois State Water Survey. Jim Coleman was involved in the research as a collaborator at Syracuse University, and is currently associate provost for research at Rice University. Jennifer Thompson participated in this research the summer after her junior year and then continued it as a senior thesis project. She is currently in her second year in the medical program at Washington University |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a NSF-RUI grant.
|
|
|
| ( 51 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
Methylation of histone H3 lysine-79 by Dot1p plays multiple roles in the response to UV damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
| Journal |
DNA Repair, 2007;6:383-395, Bostelman LJ, Keller AM, Albrecht AM, Arat A, Thompson JS
|
| Description |
Methylation of lysine-79 in histone H3 was examined for its potential importance in the repair of DNA damage caused by UV radiation. It was observed that this post-translational modification plays multiple roles in DNA repair, potentially serving as regulator to coordinate various repair pathways
|
| Faculty |
Jeffrey Thompson is an assistant professor of biology
|
| Student |
Lindsey Bostelman, Andrew Keller, and Ashley Albrecht participated in this research during the summer after their respective junior years and as part of their senior honors projects. Bostelman and Keller are currently in medical school at The Ohio State University and The University of Cincinnati, respectively. Albrecht is currently in a post-baccalaureate program at The National Institutes of Health. Arzu Arat participated in this project during the summer after her freshman year. She is continuing her undergraduate studies in Turkey |
| Fund |
Funding was provided by the Anderson Endowment, the Fairchild Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the Office of the Provost at Denison University
|
|
|
| ( 52 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2008
|
| Title |
One gland, two lobes: organogenesis of the "Harderian” and "nictitans” glands of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and fallow deer (Dama dama) |
| Journal |
Ann Anat, 2007;189:434-446, Rehorek SJ, Hillenius WJ, Sanjur J, Chapman NG
|
| Description |
The precise nomenclature of the anterior orbital glands (which includes the Harderian and nictitans glands) has been problematic since its first official description in 1694 by Johann Jakob Harder. Since the two glands reside next to each other in the adult, the issue of homology (character similarity denoting common ancestry) is difficult to untwine. This is the first of several studies (some of which include undergraduate researchers) examining the embryogenesis of these glands in an effort to unravel the true identity of these anterior occular glands
|
| Faculty |
Susan Rehorek is a professor of biology at Slippery Rock University. W. Jaap Hillenius is a professor of biology at the College of Charleston
|
| Student |
Norma Chapman is an independent researcher in deer in the UK (not affiliated with any university). Janet Sanjur was a cytotechnology student at Slippery Rock University. She spent a semester working in the histology lab at SRU, thereby learning more about the field of histotechnology (many cytotechs also work as histotechs). She is currently a cytotech and is employed at a hospital |
| Fund |
This work was funded internally by the department of Biology at Slippery Rock University.
|
|
|
| ( 53 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Human lead exposure in a late 19th century mental asylum population. |
| Journal |
Sci Total Environ, 2007;372:463-473, Bower NW, McCants SA, Custodio JM, Ketterer ME, Getty SR, Hoffman JM
|
| Description |
Lead levels and isotope ratios were analyzed in skeletons from an asylum cemetery in Colorado dating to 1879-1898. Healing fractures, cortical bone, and tooth dentine provided sources of lead exposure during life that gave life histories and migration patterns. Results indicated lead exposure impacted the mental health of a large number (5-10%) of the patients, and that differences exist in ancestral groups’ exposure histories
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
Nate Bower (Colorado College), Mike Ketterer (Northern Arizona University), and Mike Hoffman (Colorado College) collaborated with Steve Getty (Biological Sciences Curriculum Studies, Colorado Springs), Joseph Custodio (graduate school, UCSF) and Sarah McCants (Teach for America). Joseph and Sarah did a summer of research in their junior years (1997 and 2004) |
| Fund |
Funded by faculty grants from Colorado College and the Barnes Trust, respectively
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|
|
| ( 54 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Nutritional endoderm in a direct developing frog: a potential parallel to the evolution of the amniote egg |
| Journal |
Dev Dynam, 2007;236:1259-1272, Buchholz DR, Karadge U, Singamsetty S, Williamson S, Langer CE, Elinson RP
|
| Description |
We define a new tissue type, the nutritional endoderm, which provides a possible evolutionary intermediate between frog and bird patterns of development. Nutritional endoderm is divided into cells as in frogs, but it is used up and disappears like bird yolk
|
| Faculty |
Richard Elinson is a professor in biological sciences
|
| Student |
Sean Williamson cloned a gene, important for the analysis, in the course of summer research after his sophomore and junior years and as a technician between his December graduation and his August entry to Temple Medical School |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Duquesne Undergraduate Research Program (URP), an NSF grant, and an NSF-REU supplement
|
|
|
| ( 55 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Toward the automated generation of genome-scale metabolic networks in the SEED. |
| Journal |
BMC Bioinformatics, 2007;8(139)., DeJongh M, Formsma K, Boillot P, Gould J, Rycenga M, Best A
|
| Description |
A method for generating metabolic networks for sequenced microbial genomes is described. This method is based on the subsystems technology for sequence annotation implemented in the SEED. A database of reusable components of metabolic networks is described, along with tools for assembling complete and coherent reaction networks from these components. The method is tested by successfully regenerating a published metabolic network for Staphylococcus aureus N315, and preliminary results for E. coli K12 are described. Matt DeJongh is a professor of computer science
|
| Faculty |
Aaron Best is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Kevin Formsma and Paul Boillot participated in this research during the summer of 2006. They are both currently seniors. John Gould and Matt Rycenga participated in this research as part of an advanced course in bioinformatics in 2006. John is employed in industry and Matt is a graduate student in chemistry at the University of Washington |
| Fund |
This research was supported through a NSF REU grant, and a grant to Hope College from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through the Undergraduate Science Education Program
|
|
|
| ( 56 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Natural History of box turtles, Terrapene carolina, in an urbanized landscape |
| Journal |
Southeast Nat., 2006;5:191-204, Budischak SA, Hester JM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
To assess the effects of urbanization and to help develop proper conservation strategies for Terrapene c. carolina (Eastern Box Turtles), we conducted a mark-recapture study in the vicinity of Davidson, NC, from 1999 to 2004. We made 354 turtle captures, 42 of which were recapture events. We found that box turtles may persist in urbanized landscapes and may grow more quickly there, but they suffer higher mortality in these habitats compared to forested landscapes
|
| Faculty |
Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology. Steven Price is research coordinator for the Herpetology lab
|
| Student |
Sarah Budischak and Joy Hester conducted this research as independent study students during their senior years. Sarah is currently is enrolled in graduate school at Virginia Tech University. Joy Hester is enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University |
| Fund |
This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
|
|
|
| ( 57 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
A comparison of the effectiveness of recommended doses of MS-222 (Tricaine Methane Sulfonate) and Orajel ® (Benzocaine) for amphibian anesthesia |
| Journal |
Herpetol Rev, 2007; 38:63-66, Cecala KK, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
Tricaine methanesulfonate (Ethyl 3-aminobenzoic methanesulfonate salt), commonly known as MS-222, and Orajel®, a widely used analgesic for oral pain in humans, were examined for their effectiveness for amphibian anesthesia. We test four amphibian species and found that for most of the species, anesthetization using Orajel® required less time for induction and produced a longer anesthetization period with variable recovery periods than recommended doses of MS-222. Orajel® appears to be a relatively safe, quick, and convenient anesthesia for amphibians
|
| Faculty |
Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology.
|
| Student |
Steven Price is the research coordinator for the Herpetology Lab. Kristen Cecala participated in this research during her junior year as an independent study project and she is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Georgia |
| Fund |
This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
|
|
|
| ( 58 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
The pesticide malathion disrupts Xenopus and zebrafish embryogenesis: An investigative laboratory exercise in developmental toxicology |
| Journal |
Bioscene, 2006;32:4-18, Chemotti DC, Davis SN, Cook LW, Willoughby IR, Paradise CJ, Lom B
|
| Description |
The pesticide malathion has dramatic teratogenic effects on the development of non-target aquatic vertebrates. This research examined specific time windows of sensitivity in Xenopus embryos and describes how this pesticide can be used effectively as an investigative developmental toxicology undergraduate laboratory exercise
|
| Faculty |
Barbara Lom and Chris Paradise are associate professors of biology.
|
| Student |
Diana Chemotti, Sarah Davis, and Leslie Cook, contributed to this research via independent research, summer research, and/or senior honors theses while junior and/or seniors. Ian Willoughby, also a Davidson graduate, contributed as a research technician. Currently, Ms. Chemotti is a nurse; Ms. Davis is an MD/PhD student, Ms. Cook is a camp director and graduate student, and Mr. Willoughby is in pharmaceuticals. |
| Fund |
The research was supported by Davidson College, a National Science Foundation Course, Curriculum, & Laboratory Improvement Award (BL), an Associated Colleges of the South Environmental Student Engagement Award (DCC), a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid (LWC), and a Merck Foundation internship (SND).
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|
| ( 59 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Do habitat size and shape modify abiotic factors and communities in artificial treeholes? |
| Journal |
Community Ecol, 2006;7:211-222, Harlan NP, Paradise CJ
|
| Description |
The dimensions or size of a habitat may influence abiotic conditions, and this may modify community structure or biotic interactions. We manipulated depth and surface area of artificial habitats to determine the direct and indirect effects of habitat dimensions on dissolved oxygen concentration and insect communities in water-filled treeholes. Dissolved oxygen was lower in deep than shallow habitats, and mosquito densities and species richness were lower in deep mesocosms compared to shallow mesocosms. By modifying abiotic factors, dimensional aspects of a habitat, in this case depth, may affect community structure in ways not predicted simply by volume or area
|
| Faculty |
Chris Paradise is associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Nicole Harlan performed this research from 2002-2003. She recently graduated with a Master's from the University of Maryland and will attend Emory Medical School |
| Fund |
The research was supported by Davidson College and a NSF-RUI grant
|
|
|
| ( 60 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
How much solute is needed to inhibit the fluid-gel membrane phase transition at low hydration? |
| Journal |
BBA – Biomembranes, 2007;1768:1019-1022, Lenné, T, Bryant G, Holcomb R, Koster KL
|
| Description |
Sugars and other small solutes are known to influence phospholipid phase transitions such that the increase in the temperature of the fluid-gel transition during dehydration is diminished in the presence of sugars. In this paper, we present a quantitative study of this effect as a function of sugar:lipid ratio. We show that the maximum effect occurs at around 1.5 sugar rings per molecule for both mono- and di-saccharides. Furthermore, we present a theoretical model to explain these results, and discuss the assumptions inherent in the model
|
| Faculty |
Karen Koster is a professor of biology at The University of South Dakota, and Gary Bryant is an associate professor of applied physics at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.
|
| Student |
Thomas Lenné is a doctoral student at RMIT University. Roland Holcomb conducted a significant portion of this research for his Honors Thesis during his junior and senior years at The University of South Dakota. Holcomb is currently serving with the US Army in Iraq and plans to enter medical school upon completion of his military service |
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|
| ( 61 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Composition and temporal change of the forest in 18th century Shrewsbury, Massachusetts |
| Journal |
J Torrey Bot Soc., 2007;134:75-80, Sholes ODV, Hawkins DL
|
| Description |
By the middle of the 19th century, nearly all of central Massachusetts was cut at least once and 80% deforested. When did deforestation begin? We recorded all the trees and other corner markers used in 18th century proprietors’ surveys of Shrewsbury, MA. From 1718-1799, the percentage of corner markers that were “trees” declined from 45% to 20%, and the relative abundance of white oak tended to decrease. This is the first analysis of survey records to include an analysis of change over time
|
| Faculty |
O.D.V Sholes is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
D.L Hawkins, who graduated in 2004, participated in this research as an independent study project during her senior year and is currently at Genzyme Corporation in Framingham, MA |
| Fund |
This research was done through the Department of Natural Sciences at Assumption College
|
|
|
| ( 62 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
An identification key to the rodent prey found in owl pellets: employing incisor size to distinguish among genera |
| Journal |
Am Biol Teach, Online Publication, November/December 2006:135-144. Available at: http://www.nabt.org/sites/S1/File/pdf/068-09-0024.pdf, Hager SB, Cosentino BJ
|
| Description |
Owl pellet dissection is a common laboratory exercise in science classes. The contents of owl pellets include the bony tissue of mice and rats (rodents) and are used to address broad ecological issues related to owl biology, such as diet, prey distribution and abundance, food webs, and conservation. Traditional identification keys of rodent prey emphasize particular skull characteristics. We developed an identification key to the rodent prey in owl pellets for student use in science labs that 1) is specific to the northwestern and southeastern United States, two regions of the country from which owl pellets are collected for and sold to teaching laboratories by biological supply companies, 2) highlights a little known, yet interesting feature—incisor morphology—that can be used to identify rodent prey, 3) provides detailed illustrations of important cranial and mandibular features to augment rodent identification using incisor sizes, and 4) is inquiry-based
|
| Faculty |
Steve Hager is Co-Chair and associate professor in the Department of Biology
|
| Student |
Brad Cosentino, a 2004 graduate, worked on this project as an undergraduate from 2001-2004 and is currently a PhD student in the Program for Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana |
| Fund |
This research was supported, in part, by a summer stipend from the Augustan Research Foundation, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
|
|
|
| ( 63 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Heterozygosity and fitness in a California population of the labyrinth spider Metepeira ventura (Araneae, Araneidae). |
| Journal |
Invertebrate Biology, 2007;126:67-73, Ramirez MG, Eiman SS, Wetkowski MM, Mooers MK, Alvarez MH, Mitchell KG, Ocampo LA, Olvera SV, McGran AS
|
| Description |
The relationship between individual heterozygosity and characteristics likely to be associated with female fitness was investigated in the labyrinth spider Metepeira ventura. Individual females were heterozygous at up to two of three allozyme loci, forming three heterozygosity classes (0, 1, and 2). While the bodily condition of classes was comparable, the most heterozygous females produced fewer total eggs and eggs per sac than their less heterozygous peers. Since female M. ventura engage in a reproductive investment-number tradeoff, these results suggest that high-variability and low-variability females pursue distinct reproductive strategies in the wild, with more heterozygous females being K-selected (smaller clutches, heavier eggs) and more homozygous females being r-selected (larger clutches, lighter eggs).
|
| Faculty |
Martin Ramirez is an associate professor of biology at Loyola Marymount and Allison McGran is an officer with the United States Air Force
|
| Student |
Sarah Eiman and Melissa Wetkowski participated in this research the summer after their freshman year and then continued it during their sophomore year. Miranda Mooers, Michelle Alvarez, Kathleen Mitchell, Luningning Ocampo and Sylvia Olvera collected the spider sample and conducted preliminary genetic assays during their senior year. All the students are currently enrolled in professional schools in a variety of fields: dentistry (Michelle); law (Melissa); medicine (Kathleen, Luningning, Miranda, Sylvia); veterinary medicine (Sarah). |
| Fund |
Financial support was provided by Loyola Marymount University (Kadner-Pitts and McLaughlin Research Funds).
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| ( 64 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Using interdisciplinary bioinformatics undergraduate research to recruit and retain computer science students |
| Journal |
SIGCSE Bulletin, 2007;39(1):358-361, Beck J, Buckner B, Nikolova O, Janick-Buckner J
|
| Description |
A bioinformatics system was created for the storage, analysis, and presentation of functional annotations of maize genes. An interdisciplinary team of undergraduate computer science and biology students collaborated on developing this system, populating it with annotations of genes differentially expressed in the maize shoot apical meristem, and mining the data for bioinformatics analyses
|
| Faculty |
Jon Beck is an associate professor of computer science, and Brent Buckner and Diane Janick-Buckner are professors of biology, at Truman State University
|
| Student |
Olga Nikolova participated in this project during her junior and senior years, including the summers, as part of Truman State's Mathematical Biology Initiative; she is now a PhD student in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology program at Iowa State University |
| Fund |
This work was supported by NSF plant genome award DBI-0321515 “Functional Analyses of Genes Involved in Meristem Organization and Leaf Initiation,” Michael J. Scanlon, PI and NSF award DUE-0436348 “Research-Focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology,” Jason Miller, PI.
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|
| ( 65 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Involving undergraduates in the annotation and analysis of global gene expression studies: Creation of a maize shoot apical meristem expression database |
| Journal |
Genetics, 2007;176(2):741-747, Buckner B, Beck J, Browning KF, Fritz AE, Hoxha E, Grantham LD, Kamvar ZN, Lough AN, Nikolova O, Schnable PS, Scanlon MJ, Janick-Buckner D.
|
| Description |
Genomics research can be particularly difficult to undertake at undergraduate institutions. Through a multi-university and interdisciplinary project we have involved undergraduate biology and computer science research students in the functional annotation of genes differentially expressed in the maize shoot apical meristem. We describe how we have prepared undergraduate students to participate in and make meaningful contributions to this project, as well as the database that we created as a result of this work
|
| Faculty |
Brent Buckner and Diane Janick-Buckner are both professors of biology, and Jon Beck is an associate professor of computer science at Truman State University. Patrick S. Schnable is a professor in the departments of agronomy and genetics, developmental biology and cell biology at Iowa State University. Michael J. Scanlon is an associate professor in the department of plant biology at Cornell University.
|
| Student |
Kate Browning is a medical student at University of Missouri at Columbia while Ashleigh Fritz, Lisa Grantham, Ashley Lough and Olga Nikolova are PhD graduate students at University of Kansas, Iowa State University, University of Missouri at Columbia and Iowa State University, respectively. These students conducted research for at least one summer and the academic year preceding and following their summer experience. Eneda Hoxha and Zhian Kamvar are completing Bachelor of Science degrees at Truman State University and have worked on this project for two summers and two academic years |
| Fund |
This work was supported by NSF plant genome award DBI-0321515 “Functional Analyses of Genes Involved in Meristem Organization and Leaf Initiation,” Michael J. Scanlon, PI and NSF award DUE-0436348 “Research-Focused Learning Communities in Mathematical Biology,” Jason Miller, PI
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| ( 66 )
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Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Diversity of escape variant mutations in Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 Tag) epitopes selected by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones |
| Journal |
Virology, 2007;364:155-168, Mylin LM, Schell TD, Epler M, Kusuma C, Assis D, Matsko C, Smith A, Allebach A, Tevethia SS
|
| Description |
A surprisingly large number of single amino acid substitution mutations were identified that allowed for the survival (escape) of Simian virus 40 large tumor antigen (SV40 Tag) transformed cells in the presence of individual cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones specific for two CD8+ epitopes within the SV40 T ag. Epitopes I and V are presented by the same major histocompatibility molecule but display differing immunogenic properties and therefore are good models for targets of differing properties in tumor immunotherapy.
|
| Faculty |
Lawrence Mylin is an associate professor of biology at Messiah College. Todd Schell is an assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and Satvir Tevethia is a distinguished professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
|
| Student |
The five student coauthors, David Assis, Caroline Kusuma, Chelsea Wong (Matsko), Alexandra Smith, April Mascia (Allebach), performed key portions of this collaborative multi-year study as the focus of their respective one or two semester senior research experiences. Assis and Smith have both completed medical school and are now in residencies. Kusuma is employed by a biotech company and pursuing her Masters degree in Biotechnology. Wong (Matsko) currently works as a research technician. Mascia (Allebach) is employed as a clinical trials manager by a pharmaceutical company. Additional students participated to a lesser degree in the study and are listed in the acknowledgements section of the paper |
| Fund |
The study was funded by Public Health Service Grant CA25000 (a merit award) to Satvir Tevethia from the National Cancer Institute, an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant RSG04-059-01-LIB to Todd Schell, a “Project Inquiry” grant to Messiah College from the Whitaker Regional Foundation, and ongoing senior research course support from the Messiah College Department of Biological Sciences
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| ( 67 )
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Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
The reproductive pattern of male dusky salamanders (genus Desmognathus) is neither associated nor dissociated |
| Journal |
Horm Behav., 2007;51; 542-547, Benner SL, Woodley SK
|
| Description |
It had long been hypothesized that androgens do not regulate male sexual behavior in species of amphibians and reptiles in which mating behavior is dissociated in time from spermatogenesis. We tested this hypothesis in mountain dusky salamanders. A castration/androgen replacement experiment indicated that the expression of male mating behavior does indeed require circulating levels of androgens. We discuss the limitations of the associated-dissociated framework in clarifying hormone-behavior relationships in reptiles and amphibians.
|
| Faculty |
Sarah Woodley is an assistant professor of biology
|
| Student |
Stacey Benner conducted this independent study project her senior year. Stacey will begin a graduate program in Education in fall 2007 in order to teach biology at the two-year college level. |
| Fund |
This research was supported by Duquesne University
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| ( 68 )
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Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Catawba River corridor coverboard program: a citizen science approach to amphibian and reptile inventory |
| Journal |
J NC Acad Sci., 2006;122:142-151, Pittman SE, Dorcas ME.
|
| Description |
The Davidson College Catawba River Corridor Coverboard Program was initiated in 2003 to help coordinate the efforts of public and private sectors in surveying amphibians and reptiles. A total of 38 species was documented between 2003 and 2005, including 18 species of amphibians and 20 species of reptiles. Coverboards proved more effective for inventory of salamanders, anurans and lizards (47%, 44% and 48%, respectively, of within-range species), and less effective for snakes and turtles (35%, and 24%, respectively, of within-range species)
|
| Faculty |
Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Shannon Pittman participated in this research during her sophomore year as an independent study project and is currently a senior |
| Fund |
This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants.
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| ( 69 )
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Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Heating and cooling rates of eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, Crotalus adamanteus |
| Journal |
J Therm Biol, 2006;31:501-505, Rice AN, Roberts IV TL, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
Temperature-sensitive radio-transmitters were used to monitor heating and cooling rates between 5 and 35 1C of four Crotalus adamanteus in the laboratory. We found no difference between heating and cooling rates in C. adamanteus and rates of temperature change mirrored those of a biophysical model. Our findings contrast previously published studies that demonstrate active temperature control of similarly sized reptiles and demonstrate a need for more investigations of physiological thermoregulation in reptiles
|
| Faculty |
Michael Dorcas is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Aaron Rice and T. Luther Roberts conducted this research as independent study students during their senior year at Davidson College. Aaron Rice is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. T. Luther Roberts is enrolled in the Department of Orthodontics at Virginia Commonwealth University |
| Fund |
This research was supported by the Department of Biology at Davidson College, Duke Power and National Science Foundation Grants
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| ( 70 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
First record of a sleeper shark in the western Gulf of Mexico and comments on taxonomic incertainty within Somniosus (Somniosus). |
| Journal |
B Mar Sci., 2007;80:343-351, Benz GW, Hoffmayer ER, Driggers III WB, Allen D, Bishop LE, Brown D
|
| Description |
This report documents the first record of a sleeper shark (Somniosus sp., Somniosidae) from the western Gulf of Mexico (Alaminos Canyon) and deepest record (2647 m) of any shark from the Gulf of Mexico. A review of the literature concluded that no taxonomic character has been identified that can be used to unequivocally identify all representatives of Somniosus (Somniosus).
|
| Faculty |
George Benz is an associate professor of biology, Eric Hoffmayer is a research scientist at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, William Driggers III is a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service and Dan Allen and David Brown are specialists with Chevron Gulf of Mexico Business Unit and Shell EP Europe, respectively.
|
| Student |
Lougan Bishop participated in this research during his senior year as a biology major. Lougan is currently employed by Dell |
|
|
| ( 71 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
The hormonal herbicide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, inhibits Xenopus oocyte maturation by targeting translational and post-translational mechanisms. |
| Journal |
Reprod Toxicol, 2007;23:20-31, LaChapelle AM, Ruygrok ML, Toomer ME, Oost JJ, Monnie ML, Swenson JA, Compton AA, Stebbins-Boaz B.
|
| Description |
The phenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D, is a commonly used herbicide as well as a plant hormone (auxin) that induces cell growth, division and differentiation. Global amphibian declines may, in part, be due to exposure to endocrine disruptors, some of which block hormone induced events. We hypothesized that 2,4-D may negatively effect amphibian fertility and reproduction and used in vitro assays to determine whether 2,4-D affects the ability of oocytes from the frog, Xenopus laevis, to undergo progesterone-induced meiotic maturation, a prerequisite for formation of fertilizable eggs. Our results showed that 2,4-D blocked meiotic maturation irreversibly through perturbation of biochemical and molecular mechanisms key to maturation
|
| Faculty |
Barbara Stebbins-Boaz, PhD is an associate professor in biology
|
| Student |
All students started research during the summer of sophomore or junior year and with two exceptions finished with senior theses. Alexis LaChapelle is a lab assistant at a research one university. Mike and Jay attend medical school. MaryEllen Toomer is pursuing a master's degree in pastoral care in medical settings. Michelle Monnie is in medical school. Alex Compton is an NIH research fellow. |
| Fund |
Research support: Science Collaborative Research Program, Arthur A. Wilson Research Award, and Murdock Charitable Trust
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| ( 72 )
|
Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Roles for Drp1, a dynamin-related protein, and Milton, a kinesin-associated protein, in mitochondrial segregation, unfurling, and elongation during Drosophila spermatogenesis |
| Journal |
FLY, 2007;1:38-46, Aldridge AC, Benson LP, Siegenthaler MM, Whigham BT, Stowers RS, Hales KG
|
| Description |
The functions of two gene products essential for mitochondrial transport in nerve cells were examined in spermatogenic cells of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Flies heterozygous for mutations were triggered to become homozygous in a subset of cells in the testis. The Drp1 dynamin-related protein was found to be required for proper separation of mitochondria during meiotic divisions and for unfurling and elongation of mitochondria along growing sperm tails. The Milton kinesin-related protein was found to be required for proper anchoring and elongation of the large mitochondrial derivative
|
| Faculty |
Karen G. Hales is associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Levi Benson was a rising senior at Colgate University in the summer of 2005 when he participated in the project as part of Davidson College’s REU program funded by the NSF. He is now a medical student at the Pennsylvania State University. Monica Siegenthaler was a senior in 2002-2003 when she initiated this project as an independent study in the lab. She is now a PhD student at the University of California, Irvine, in the program in Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry. Benjamin Whigham was a sophomore in 2004-2005 when he worked on this project; he presented his work at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference in San Diego, California, in April, 2005. He recently graduated from Davidson College and will matriculate as a medical student at Duke University in Fall 2007 |
| Fund |
This work was funded by an NSF CAREER grant and by Davidson College.
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| ( 73 )
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Recorded at: 11/19/2007
|
| Title |
Estrogenic impurities in tissue culture plastic ware are not bisphenol |
| Journal |
A. In Vitro Cell Dev–An, 2006;42:294-297, Biswanger C, Davis L, Roberts RA
|
| Description |
Estrogenic compounds arising from common plastic ware have been found during cell culture and can adversely affect cultures and, therefore, experimental results. One such compound, the environmental endocrine disrupting chemical bisphenol A, can bind to estrogen receptors and effect cellular changes. We monitored bisphenol A concentrations in culture dishes from six different manufacturers under typical cell culture conditions using a gas-chromatography mass-spectrophotometric assay. We determined that bisphenol A contamination from the culture dishes did not occur. These findings will allow scientists concerned about possible effects of bisphenol A on their culture systems to choose appropriate plastic ware.
|
| Faculty |
Rebecca Roberts is an associate professor of Biology and Coordinator of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program
|
| Student |
Caroline Biswanger and Laura Davis carried out this during the summers of 2004 and 2005, respectively. Both are currently pursuing degrees at Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through an NIH AREA grant and a Merck/AAAS USRP grant
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| ( 74 )
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Recorded at: 11/6/2007
|
| Title |
Evaluating support for the current classification of eukaryotic diversity |
| Journal |
PLOS Genet, 2006;2:2062-2073, Parfrey LW, Barbero E, Lasser E, Dunthorn MS, Bhattacharya D, Patterson DJ, Katz LA
|
| Description |
This paper evaluates the support in the literature for the proposed six supergroup classification of eukaryotes. e evaluate the membership with and monophyly of the supergroups. We conclude that support for supergroups varies, with only the "Opisthokonta" (animals, fungi plus microbial relatives) receiving strong support. Other proposed supergroups were either weakly supported or lack compelling evidence in the literature. Hence, we argue that the six supergroup classification of eukaryotes is premature
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
Erika Barbero and Elyse Barbero were honors and special studies students, respectively. Both played key roles in collecting and evaluating literature |
| Fund |
The research was funded by NSF grant DEB 043115
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| ( 75 )
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Recorded at: 11/6/2007
|
| Title |
Land use and forest history in an urban sanctuary in central Massachusetts |
| Journal |
Rhodora, 2006;108:119-141, Bertin RI, DeGasperis BG, Sabloff JM
|
| Description |
Forest composition and land use history were examined at an urban wildlife sanctuary in central Massachusetts, using written and oral records, aerial photographs, maps, tree cores and vegetation sampling. The current flora reflects a history of fire, forest clearing, limited cultivation, introduction of non-native species and the use of some areas for rubbish dumps. Current vegetation contrasts sharply with pine- and hemlock dominated forest studied at another central Massachusetts site by researchers at Harvard Forest
|
| Faculty |
Robert Bertin is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Brian DeGasperis and Jean Sabloff each participated in research during their senior year. Jean is employed in a laboratory position and Brian has completed a Master’s at Harvard University |
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| ( 76 )
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Recorded at: 11/6/2007
|
| Title |
Propagation of Sciadopitys verticillata (Thunb.) Sieb. & Zucc. by stem cuttings and properties of its latex-like sap |
| Journal |
HortScience, 2006;41(7):1662-1666, Yates DI, Earp BL, Levy F, Walker ES
|
| Description |
Vegetative stem cuttings of Japanese umbrella pines (Sciadopitys verticillata) were shown to root most efficiently after a 24 hour water soak pre-treatment. Soaking channels away the latex-like sap that was hypothesized to inhibit adventitious roots. The latex-like sap was water insoluble and had strong antibacterial activity against three of 11 bacterial species tested, but activity was not related to bacterial Gram reaction or the bacterial natural environment.
|
| Faculty |
Foster Levy is a professor of biology and director of the Office of Undergraduate Research at East Tennessee State University
|
| Student |
Elaine Walker conducts research in infectious diseases at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center. David Yates completed a masters degree in biology and now teaches at Davey Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Tennessee. Brandi Earp was an undergraduate Research Discovery work study student and is now pursuing a Masters in Public Health at the University of Kentucky. |
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| ( 77 )
|
Recorded at: 10/31/2007
|
| Title |
Phylogeny of the American silverfish Cubacubaninae (Hexapoda: Zygentoma: Nicoletiidae): a combined approach using morphology and five molecular loci |
| Journal |
Cladistics, 2007;23:1–19, Espinasa L, Flick C, Giribet G
|
| Description |
Relationships within the subfamily Cubacubaninae (Nicoletiidae: Zygentoma: Insecta) are appraised based on sequence data from five loci (18S, 28S rRNA, 16S rRNA, histone H3, and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). The data indicated that species within the traditional genera Anelpistina, Cubacubana and Neonicoletia should be united within a single taxon. A new species, A. yatbalami is also described
|
| Faculty |
Luis Espinasa is a professor at Marist College. Gonzalo Giribet is a professor at Harvard University
|
| Student |
At the time of the research, Casey Flick was an undergraduate student at Shenandoah University and her independent study project work consisted in doing the publication quality illustration required for describing a new species in this article. |
| Fund |
Molecular work was supported by internal funds from Harvard University and the Museum of Comparative Zoology
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| ( 78 )
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Recorded at: 10/24/2007
|
| Title |
The biodiversity box: Inquiry science at the elementary level |
| Journal |
MSTA J., 2006;51(2):31-32, Gauss M, Dobson C
|
| Description |
The article describes the construction and use of the Biodiversity Box as a means to engage elementary students in the inquiry-based learning of ecological topics related to conservation (species diversity, habitat loss, and invasive species). Students learn how the theory of island biogeography is relevant to conservation of species by making predictions and reaching conclusions based on evidence, an approach called for by both Michigan and national science education standards. The development of this original lesson followed the Five E format (engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate), an instructional model that accommodates many learning styles
|
| Faculty |
Christopher Dobson is an assistant professor of biology and member of the Integrated Science Program at Grand Valley State University. Megan Gauss is currently enrolled as a preservice teacher. Megan began this project as a student in a course for preservice teachers who are nonscience majors during fall semester 2004, but primarily developed it over the subsequent year and a half as part of her professional development.
|
| Student |
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| ( 79 )
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Recorded at: 10/24/2007
|
| Title |
An a-amylase (At4g25000) in Arabidopsis leaves is secreted and induced by biotic and abiotic stress |
| Journal |
Plant Cell Environ, 2007;30:388–398, Doyle EA, Lane AM, Sides JM, Mudgett MB, Monroe JD
|
| Description |
Arabidopsis contains three a-amylase genes, one of which, AMY1 has a signal sequence suggesting that it is secreted. The function of secreted a-amylase, previously reported to be induced by stress in other plants, is not clear because its substrate, starch, is only found in chloroplasts. We showed that expression of AMY1 is induced during senescence and by biotic and abiotic stress and also by the stress hormone abscisic acid. Using transgenic plants expressing an AMY1-GFP fusion protein, we demonstrated that the product of this gene is secreted from leaf cells
|
| Faculty |
Elizabeth Doyle is a postdoctoral teacher/scholar and was the primary mentor for Ashleigh Lane and James Sides, both undergraduates who spent about two years in the lab of Jonathan Monroe, a professor of biology. Mary Beth Mudgett is a professor of biology at Stanford University where Monroe spent a semester on sabbatical
|
| Student |
Lane completed an honors thesis and is presently in Dental School at the University of Illinois. Sides completed a Masters Degree at Georgetown University |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a NSF-RUI grant
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| ( 80 )
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Recorded at: 4/17/2007
|
| Title |
The effect of artificial defaunation on bacterial assemblages of intertidal sediments. |
| Journal |
J Exp Mar Biol Ecol, 2006;337:147-158, Stocum ET, Plante CJ
|
| Description |
Artificial defaunation of sediments is commonly used to study the disturbance and recovery of benthic macrofaunal communities. Standard methods of defaunation include asphyxiation, freezing and sieving. In this study we performed field experiments to test the assumption that the bacterial community structure is unaffected by these methods of defaunation. Numerical effects were determined via epifluoroescence microscopy, whereas differences in community composition were followed using PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Experimental defaunations had recognizable effects on bacteria, although these impacts were relatively minor and appeared to be short-lived, as both numerical and genomic recovery was rapid. Relative to recolonization times of benthic macrofauna, these transitory changes in sedimentary bacteria are expected to have little effect on animal recovery
|
| Faculty |
Craig Plante is an associate professor in Biology
|
| Student |
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| ( 81 )
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Recorded at: 4/17/2007
|
| Title |
Comparison of the genome sequence of the poultry pathogen Bordetella avium with those of B. bronchiseptica, B. pertussis and B. parapertussis reveals extensive diversity in surface structures associated with host interaction. |
| Journal |
J Bacteriol, 2006;188(16):6002-15, Sebaihia M, Preston A, Maskell DJ, Kuzmiak H, Connell TD, King ND, Orndorff PE, Miyamoto DM, Thomson NR, Harris D, Goble A, Lord A, Murphy L, Quail MA, Rutter S, Squares R, Squares S, Woodward J, Parkhill J, Temple LM
|
| Description |
The genome sequence and some biological observations from experiments based on the sequence of Bordetella avium, a pathogen of birds, were presented. The paper is based on a comparison of this genome to previously sequenced bordetellae, which are also pathogenic. Studies of mutation of predicted genes were presented, including a novel autotransporter, one of a large family of proteins frequently involved in pathogenesis
|
| Faculty |
Louise Temple is associate professor and head of Biology, formerly at Drew University
|
| Student |
Other co-authors are from Drew University, North Carolina State University, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Center (UK) where the sequencing was done. Holly Kuzmiak was an undergraduate research student at Drew University and a summer researcher in the lab of Dr. Rachel Fernandez, University of British Columbia. Her work was presented as a senior honors thesis. She is currently a third year graduate student in the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a grant from the USDA.
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| ( 82 )
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Recorded at: 4/16/2007
|
| Title |
. The puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase PAM-1 is required for meiotic exit and anteroposterior polarity in the one-cell Caenorhabditis elegans embryo |
| Journal |
Development, 2006;133:4281-4292, Lyczak R., Zweier L, Group T, Murrow MA, Snyder C, Kulovitz L, Beatty A, Smith K, Bowerman B
|
| Description |
PAM-1 aminopeptidase function was examined during embryogenesis of the nematode C. elegans. Loss of this amiopeptidase resulted in meiotic exit delays and polarity defects. The meiotic exit defects required the B type cyclin CYB-3. It was discovered that this aminopeptidase regulates meiotic exit and polarity through separable targets, revealing new roles for this protease in cell cycle regulation and axis establishment
|
| Faculty |
Rebecca Lyczak is an assistant professor of biology at Ursinus College. Bruce Bowerman is a professor of biology at the U of Oregon
|
| Student |
All undergraduate authors contributed to this project through academic year research at Ursinus College and all but K Smith also participated in the Ursinus Summer Fellows research program. Beatty, Snyder, Smith and Zweier are currently pursing graduate degrees. Group is employed in industry. Murrow is a secondary science teacher. Kulovitz is a current junior at Ursinus. |
| Fund |
This work was supported through grants from NIH-AREA, American Cancer Society and Merck-SURF
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| ( 83 )
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Recorded at: 4/16/2007
|
| Title |
Genetic similarity, extrapair paternity, and offspring quality in Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) |
| Journal |
Behav Ecol, 2006;17:952-958, Freeman-Gallant CR, Wheelwright NT, Meiklejohn KE, Sollecito SV
|
| Description |
The influence of genetic similarity on a female's choice of social and extrapair mates was examined over a four-year period in an island population of Savannah sparrows. Females were more likely to mate outside the pairbond then paired to genetically similar males, the resulting extrapair offspring were of higher quality than withpair young in the same nest, and parental genetic similarity tended to predict offspring performance
|
| Faculty |
Corey Freeman-Gallant is professor biology and Suzanne Sollecito is a technician. Nathaniel Wheelwright in a professor of biology at Bowdoin College
|
| Student |
Katherine Meiklejohn pursed this research the summer after her junior year and continued it as a senior thesis project. Katherine is currently a graduate student in ecology at Columbia University |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a NSF-CRUI grant.
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| ( 84 )
|
Recorded at: 2/22/2007
|
| Title |
Initial den location behavior in a litter of neonate Crotalus horridus (Timber Rattlesnakes) |
| Journal |
Southeast Nat, 2005; 4:723-730, Cobb VA, Green JJ, Worrall T, Pruett J, Glorioso B
|
| Description |
Post-parturient movements during September and October for an adult female Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) and her neonates were monitored by radiotelemetry. After one week, movements of neonates were independent of the mother’s movements. Although born 320 m from the winter hibernaculum, several observations of these neonates with conspecifics support the hypothesis that conspecific pheromone trails are used by neonates during their initial den location
|
| Faculty |
Vincent Cobb is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Jeff Green and Brad Glorioso were MS students. Tim Worrall and Jake Pruett participated in this research the summer of their junior years. Both Tim and Jake are currently in MS biology programs. |
| Fund |
The research was partially supported through a MTSU faculty research grant, MTSU’s Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Projects Task Force, and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achieve Program.
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| ( 85 )
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Recorded at: 2/22/2007
|
| Title |
The repetitive DNA elements called CRISPRs and their associated genes: evidence of horizontal transfer among prokaryotes |
| Journal |
J Mol Evol, 2006;62:718-729, Godde JS, Bickerton AJ
|
| Description |
We have found clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) in a wide range of diverse prokaryotes. A number of cas, CRISPR-associated genes, have also been characterized in many of the same organisms. Phylogenetic analysis of these cas genes suggests that the CRISPR loci have been propagated via HGT, horizontal gene transfer
|
| Faculty |
James Godde is an associate professor of biology and chair of the department
|
| Student |
This work was initiated by Tom Murphy, who began this project the summer of his junior year at the Bioinformatics and Bioengineering Summer Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University. Amanda Bickerton then continued the project and brought it to completion as her senior thesis project. Tom is enrolled at the University of Illinois School of Medicine and Amanda works in a pharmacy and is taking classes to become a dental hygienist. |
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| ( 86 )
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Recorded at: 2/22/2007
|
| Title |
Acetaminophen self-administered in the drinking water increases the pain threshold of rats (Rattus norvegicus). |
| Journal |
J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci, 2006;45:48-54, Mickley GA, Hoxha Z, Biada JM, Kenmuir CL, Bacik SE
|
| Description |
There is a requirement to provide post-surgical analgesia in experimental animals and many labs have chosen to add flavored acetaminophen to drinking water. However, a controversy exists regarding the efficacy of this procedure since, following surgery, animals may reduce drinking. The present study reports that rats naive to the taste of flavored acetaminophen do indeed drink significantly less of this liquid than tap water. Still, they drank sufficient amounts of the solution to significantly raise pain thresholds, as measured by the hot-plate test. Moreover, rats that had undergone surgery drank significantly more acetaminophen solution than did those that had no surgery. These data suggest that oral self-administration of flavored acetaminophen by rats may be an appropriate means to reduce pain
|
| Faculty |
G. Andrew Mickley, Ph.D., is professor and chair of the neuroscience program
|
| Student |
Zana Hoxha has graduated and did this work while she was Laboratory Director of the B-W Neuroscience Laboratory. She is in the process of applying to Medical School. Cynthia Kenmuir helped collect the behavioral data while she was working in the Neuroscience Laboratory as laboratory director and is now in medical school at the University of Toledo (Ohio). Stephanie Bacik is a current student and this work was part of her summer research experience in the neuroscience laboratory during 2005. |
| Fund |
The studies were encouraged by the B-W Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and were funded by the College
|
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| ( 87 )
|
Recorded at: 2/22/2007
|
| Title |
Wild-caught hybrids between sailfin and shortfin mollies (Poeciliidae, Poecilia): Morphological and molecular verification |
| Journal |
Hidroviológica, 2005;15:131-13, Kittell MM, Harvey, MN, Contreras-Balderas, S, Ptacek, MB
|
| Description |
This study documents four wild-caught, interspecific hybrids between sailfin mollies (Poecilia velifera or P. petenensis) and shortfin mollies (P. mexicana or P. orri) from the Yucatán Peninsula and Isthmus of Tehuantepec regions of Mexico. Canonical discriminant analysis of morphological data, allele size differences at the nuclean Xsrc gene, and sequences of mtDNA control region (483 bp) and Xsrc nuclear gene (636 bp) were used to determine the generation and paternity of the wild-caught hybrids. Data showed that the female parent of the early generation hybrid individual was P. mexicana and the male parent was P. velifera. Thus, it was found that while rare in the wild, interspecific hybridization and introgression between sailfin and shortfin mollies does occasionally occur despite the existence of behavioral pre-mating isolation mechanisms
|
| Faculty |
Margaret Ptacek is an associate professor of biological sciencesat Clemson. Salvador Contreras-Balderas is professor at the Laboratory of Ichthyology in the biological sciences department at the Universidad Autonóma de Nuevo León
|
| Student |
Michele Kittell was a research assistant in biological sciences at Clemson. Megan Harvey participated in this research during the 2003-2004 academic year as her senior honors thesis. She is now a graduate student of plant genetics at Iowa State University |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a NSF-REU grant and an HHMI grant
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| ( 88 )
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Recorded at: 2/22/2007
|
| Title |
Respiratory rate is a valid and reliable marker for the anaerobic threshold: implications for measuring change in fitness |
| Journal |
J Sports Sci Med, 2005;4(4):482-488, Carey DG, Schwarz LA, Pliego GJ, Raymond, RL
|
| Description |
Anaerobic threshold is the highest level of exercise that can be maintained for prolonged periods during aerobic exercise(bike, run, swim, etc.) Traditional methods of assessment that have been validated during incremental exercise testing are breakpoint in linearity for both of ventilation(VE) and ventilatory equivalent for oxygen(VE/VO2). Results have shown that, during incremental exercise to exhaustion, there is also a breakpoint in respiratory rate (RR) and this breakpoint coincides with both VE and VE/VO2 breakpoints. While no significant differences were found for these 3 breakpoints, repeat testing revealed higher standard error of measurement (SEM) and coefficient of variability (CV) for the RR method, indicating that the RR method may not be the method of choice in measuring change in anaerobic threshold for a given athlete.
|
| Faculty |
Daniel Carey is assistant professor, Health and Human Performance
|
| Student |
Leslie Schwarz conducted research during summer 2005 as a completion of research course PHED 449 and is an undergrad at U of St. Thomas for fall 2006 |
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| ( 89 )
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Recorded at: 2/21/2007
|
| Title |
Subsumption architecture for fluid-advected chemical plume tracing with soft obstacle avoidance, Proceedings of MTS-IEEE Oceans 2006 Boston |
| Journal |
, , Li W, Carter D
|
| Description |
A typical chemical plume tracing (CPT) is to navigate an autonomous vehicle to find a chemical plume that is transported in a turbulent fluid flow, to trace the plume to its source, and to declare the source location. CPT in the real world, however, is more complicated, for example, some test runs, conducted in August 2002 on Clemente Island, California, failed because of some “soft obstacles”, such as kelp forest or seaweed in near-shore ocean environments. This paper presents a subsumption architecture for CPT with soft obstacle avoidance by integrating a Follow-Obstacle behavior. The behaviors used herein can be grouped into two categories: soft obstacle avoidance and plume searching and tracing. The simulation studies of CPT with soft obstacle avoidance are performed using a simulated turbulent fluid environment.
|
| Faculty |
|
| Student |
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| ( 90 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
Farnesol restores wild-type colony morphology to 96% of Candida albicans colony morphology variants recovered following treatment with mutagens |
| Journal |
Genome, 2006;49:346-353, Jensen E, Hornby J, Pagliaccetti N, Wolter C, Nickerson K, Atkin A
|
| Description |
Dimorphism, the ability to switch between single-celled yeast and multi-celled mycelial forms, is required for the establishment of disseminated fungal infections. Farnesol is produced and secreted by C. albicans to regulate its yeast to mycelial morphological transition. A collection of mutants with altered colony morphology indicating the presence of mycelia under environmental conditions where C. albicans normally grow only as yeast were generated and their response to farnesol determined
|
| Faculty |
Ellen Jensen is an assistant professor of biology at the College of Saint Benedict. Kenneth Nickerson and Audrey Atkin are professor and associate professor, respectively, in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
|
| Student |
Nicole Pagliaccetti and Chuleepon Wolter participated in this research the summer after their junior years and then continued it as independent senior research projects. Both are currently in graduate school. |
| Fund |
The work was funded through grants from the National Science Foundation, the University of Nebraska Tobacco Settlement Biomedical Research Enhancement Fund, the Merck Undergraduate Research Program and the Rooney Endowment for Undergraduate Research at CSB/SJU
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| ( 91 )
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Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
High contents of hypotaurine and thiotaurine in hydrothermal-vent gastropods without thiotrophic endosymbionts |
| Journal |
J Exp Zool, 2006;305A:655-662, Rosenberg NK, Lee RW, Yancey PH
|
| Description |
Snails and limpets were collected by submersible from hydrothermal vents on the Juan de Fuca ridge, then placed in pressure chambers and exposed to varying levels of hydrogen sulfide. Tissue analysis revealed large amounts of hypotaurine and thiotaurine, previously only reported in vent animals with sulfide-oxidizing endosymbionts. Hypotaurine binds sulfide and converts into thiotaurine under sulfide exposure, suggesting it protects the animals from this toxic gas
|
| Faculty |
Paul Yancey is a professor of biology at Whitman College, Ray Lee is an associate professor of biology at Washington State University
|
| Student |
Noah Rosenberg participated in this research at Whitman the summer after his junior year and then continued it as his senior thesis project. He is currently in medical school |
| Fund |
The research was supported by NSF, NOAA and Whitman College Rall grants.
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| ( 92 )
|
Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
Antler stiffness in moose (Alces alces): Correlated evolution of bone function and material properties? |
| Journal |
J Morphol, 2006;267:1075-1086, Blob RW, Snelgrove JM
|
| Description |
Three-point bending tests were performed on bone specimens extracted from antlers of moose to test for three types of variation in bone material stiffness: between antler regions, between populations of moose, and between moose and other deer species. No significant differences in antler stiffness were identified between regions of the antler, or between moose populations from Michigan and the Yukon. However, moose have significantly stiffer antlers than any other deer species among their closest relatives. This higher antler stiffness may help accommodate higher bending loads experienced by moose antlers due to their broad, palmate shape, demonstrating that evolutionary diversity in bone material properties can be related to differences in the mechanical or ecological demands on skeletal elements
|
| Faculty |
Richard Blob is an assistant professor of biological sciences.
|
| Student |
Jason Snelgrove participated in this work as a senior honors thesis project, and is currently a graduate student in the Center for Cell Biology and Cancer Research at Albany Medical College |
| Fund |
This research was supported by the Calhoun Honors College the SC LIFE Project at Clemson.
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| ( 93 )
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Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
. Aggressive contests in house crickets: size, motivation and the information content of aggressive songs |
| Journal |
Anim Behav, 2006;72:225-233, Brown WD, Smith AT, Moskalik B, Gabriel J
|
| Description |
We studied aggressive acoustic signals in house crickets. We show that male crickets produce individually distinctive aggressive songs, which contain information about the ability of a male to win an aggressive contest. In contrast, we found no components of song that signal differences in male motivation to fight over a female. Although males were more aggressive and won more fights when they perceived females to be rare, their songs did not reflect this asymmetry in motivation to fight
|
| Faculty |
William Brown is an assistant professor of biology
|
| Student |
Adam Smith participated in this research as a junior and senior and is now a graduate student at Northeastern University. Brian Moskalik participated as a senior and is now a graduate student at the University of Cincinnati. Josh Gabriel participated as senior and is now working with the US Forest Service |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Holmberg Foundation, the Constantine Barker Foundation, and the Biology Department of SUNY Fredonia
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| ( 94 )
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Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
Use of a new model to quantify compromises between embryo development and parental self-maintenance in three species of intermittently incubating passerines |
| Journal |
J Therm Biol, 2006;31:453-460, Voss MA, Hainsworth FR, Ellis-Felege SN
|
| Description |
Intermittent incubation cycles contain three distinct time periods: time during which eggs cool (tcool) while the female is away from the nest, time during which eggs are reheated (theat), and a time period (tequil) when eggs are kept at relatively high equilibrium temperature. Time allocations favoring parental self-maintenance [when (tcool + theat) > tequil] versus embryo development [when (tcool + theat) < tequil] were measured for House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon), Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) and Black-capped Chickadees. Wrens showed over-all significant relative allocation to parental self-maintenance, while chickadees and swallows balanced both functions. Wrens gradually shifted allocation toward increased average egg temperature as incubation progressed, calling into question traditional ideas about how temperature influences development rate
|
| Faculty |
Margaret Voss is an assistant professor of biology. F. Reed Hainsworth is a professor of biology at Syracuse University
|
| Student |
Susan N. Ellis-Felege studied the nesting behavior of House Wrens her sophomore, junior and senior years at Behrend. A portion of this paper is based on her undergraduate honor’s thesis. Susan is concurrently working on a master’s program in biostatistics and a PhD program in ecology at the Warnell School of Forest Resources at the University of Georgia |
| Fund |
This research was supported by grants from Bristol Meyers Squibb, the Association for Women in Science Education Foundation, the American Association of University Women, and a Math Scholarship (to SN Ellis-Felege) from the School of Science at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College
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| ( 95 )
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Recorded at: 2/13/2007
|
| Title |
Isolation and identification of proteolytic bacteria from leaves of the northern pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea |
| Journal |
J Penn Acad Sci, 2006;80:24-27, Scholtes CE, Kuserk FT
|
| Description |
Sarracenia purpurea is a carnivorous plant with pitcher-like leaves that grows in nutrient-deficient areas. Water from the leaves of twenty S. purpurea plants located at Tannersville Bog (Monroe County, PA) were collected and estimates of total and proteolytic bacteria determined. Total bacteria numbers ranged from 1.33 x 104 CFUs ml-1 to 4.20 x 106 CFUs ml-1, with a mean of 5.12 x 105 CFUs ml-1 and the number of proteolytic bacteria ranged from 5.80 x 101 CFUs ml-1 to 1.05 x 106 CFUs ml-1, with a mean of 6.25 x 104 CFUs ml-1. Using the Biolog Microbial Identification SystemTM, thirteen proteolytic bacterial species isolated from these samples were identified to six genera, Pseudomonas, Aquaspirillum, Pantoea, Chryseobacterium, Dermacoccus, and Micrococcus. The presence of these bacterial species could be quite important to S. purpurea because of the potential role they play in protein digestion, assisting the plant in obtaining its nutrients from dead arthropods, and thereby allowing it to be carnivorous
|
| Faculty |
Frank Kuserk is a professor of biology and director of the environmental studies program
|
| Student |
Christy Scholtes completed this research as part of her Honors Thesis in Biology during her senior year |
| Fund |
The study was supported by a grant-in aid from Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
|
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| ( 96 )
|
Recorded at: 2/12/2007
|
| Title |
An evaluation of MS-222 and benzocaine as anesthetics for metamorphic and paedomorphic tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum nebulosum) |
| Journal |
Am Midl Nat, 2006;155:417-421, Crook AC, Whiteman HH
|
| Description |
Two types of commonly-used anesthetics were evaluated for their ability to efficiently induce anaesthesia in both terrestrial (metamorphic) and aquatic (paedomorphic) morphs of the Arizona tiger salamander. Paedomorphic forms were more susceptible to both chemicals, and benzocaine was more efficient overall than MS-222. These results suggest that benzocaine may be preferable over MS-222 for many applications within amphibians. Additionally, our results suggest that paedomorphic forms may be more affected by chemical contamination than metamorphosed salamanders
|
| Faculty |
Howard Whiteman is an associate professor of biological sciences
|
| Student |
Amanda Crook participated in this research at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory during the summer after her senior year. She is currently working in wildlife law enforcement. |
| Fund |
Sponsored by an NSF-RUI grant.
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| ( 97 )
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Recorded at: 2/12/2007
|
| Title |
A conserved tyrosine residue of Saccharomyces cerevisiae leukotriene A4 hydrolase stabilizes the transition state of the peptidase activity |
| Journal |
Peptides, 2006;27:1701-1709, Thompson MW, Archer ED, Romer CE, Seipelt RL. A
|
| Description |
Saccharomyces cerevisiae leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) is a bifunctional aminopeptidase/epoxide hydrolase and a member of the M1 family of metallopeptidases. It is highly homologous to human LTA4H, which has been implicated in inflammation in humans. In order to obtain a more thorough understanding of the aminopeptidase activity of the enzyme, two conserved tyrosine residues, Tyr244 and Tyr456, were altered to phenylalanine and the mutated proteins characterized by determining KM and kcat for various amino acid beta-naphthylamide substrates. While mutation of Tyr456 exhibited minimal effect on catalysis, mutation of Tyr244 caused an overall 25 to 100-fold reduction in catalytic activity for all substrates tested. The function of Tyr244 was investigated by examining the affinity of the mutant enzyme for RB-3014, a transition state analog inhibitor. LTA4H Y244F exhibited a 40-fold decrease in affinity for this inhibitor, implicating Tyr244 in transition state stabilization
|
| Faculty |
Michael W. Thompson is an assistant professor in biology. Rebecca L. Seipelt is an associate professor in biology
|
| Student |
Carrie Romer and Erin Archer are biology undergraduate students in the honors program who conducted research during their sophomore and junior years as academic year and summer projects. Carrie is taking time off from school and Erin is still enrolled |
| Fund |
This research was supported through a NSF Partnership for Innovation grant
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| ( 98 )
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Recorded at: 2/12/2007
|
| Title |
Respiratory physiology in the Oniscidea: aerobic capacity and the significance of pleopodal lungs |
| Journal |
Comp Biochem Physiol A, 2006;145:235-244, Wright JC, Ting K
|
| Description |
Six species of terrestrial isopods (sub-order Oniscidea) were studied to asses the significance of pleopodal lung development for aerobic performance. Ligia occidentalis, lacking lungs, behaved as a metabolic conformer in reduced PO2, and showed decreased VO2 in low humidity and following dehydration. Metabolism in species possessing lungs was insensitive to dehydration. The greatest capacity for metabolic regulation was seen in those species showing the most elaborate lung morphology (Armadillidium vulgare) and largest number of lungs (Tylos punctatus). Metabolic conformers did not accumulate lactate during moderate hypoxia (10% O2), indicating that reduced VO2 is not compensated with anaerobic glycolysis. By localizing gas-exchange and allowing a general reduction of cuticle permeability, pleopodal lungs have likely been of key significance in the terrestrial radiation of the Oniscidea
|
| Faculty |
Jonathan Wright is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Kevin Ting participated in this research in his junior and senior years and graduated in 2005. He plans to enter medical school |
| Fund |
This work was funded by an NSF research grant and by Pomona College.
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| ( 99 )
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Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Early events in adult eye development of the moth, Manduca sexta |
| Journal |
J Insect Physiol, 2006;52: 450-460, Allee JP, Pelletier CL, Fergusson EK, Champlin DT
|
| Description |
Hormonal control of the initiation of adult eye development was examined leading to the first evidence for a novel metamorphic hormone, Metamorphosis Initiating Factor (MIF). MIF triggers an astonishing developmental switch; the precursor cells of the moth’s eye are fully-differentiated skin cells in the caterpillar prior to the initiation of metamorphosisChamplin is an assistant professor
|
| Faculty |
Champlin is an assistant professor
|
| Student |
Allee is now in the PhD program at UO, Eugene; Pelletier is in the PhD program at UM, Ann Arbor; and Fergusson is a research technician at Bates College |
| Fund |
The research was supported through NSF 0212072, and REU Supplements #0308384, #0355119, and #0456500
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| ( 100 )
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Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Predictors of winter anuran calling activity in the North Carolina Piedmont |
| Journal |
JNC Acad Sci, 2006;122:10-18, Kirlin MM, Gooch MM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
Habitat and weather variables influence anuran breeding distribution and timing and need to be considered when establishing monitoring efforts. The effects of both habitat and weather variables on detection probabilities and site occupancy estimates of winter-breeding anurans were studied at 27 ponds in the western Piedmont of North Carolina. Upland chorus frog (Pseudacris feriarum) calling activity was best predicted by distance to nearest road and air temperature, spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer) calling activity was best predicted by precipitation, and southern leopard frog (Rana sphenocephala) calling activity was best predicted by day of the year. Our results indicate that species’ calling activities vary greatly in their associations with different habitat and weather variables. Models that incorporate these variables to describe anuran calling behavior can be used by monitoring programs to design species-specific survey protocols
|
| Faculty |
Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor of biology at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Michelle M. Kirlin and Michelle M. Gooch conducted this research during the spring semester of their sophomore and senior years, respectively. Kirlin is currently a senior at Davidson College and Gooch is working toward a graduate degree in Environmental Education. Steven J. Price is research coordinator of the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory |
| Fund |
This research was supported by an NSF CAREER grant to MED.
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| ( 101 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Parvalbumin correlates with relaxation rate in the swimming muscle of sheepshead and kingfish |
| Journal |
J Exp Biol, 2006; 209:227-237, Wilwert J, Madhoun N, Coughlin D
|
| Description |
Two isoforms of parvalbumin were identified in red, pink and white muscle of the two fish species. This calcium and magnesium binding protein is thought to enhance rates of relaxation in muscle. Physiological measurements on live muscle confirmed that relaxation rate in muscle modulated by variations in both the relative amount of parvalbumin and in the relative expression of the two isoforms. This represents one of the first clear demonstrations of a role for parvalbumin in enhancing relaxation in aerobic muscle (red and pink muscle) in vertebrates
|
| Faculty |
David Coughlin is a professor of biology at Widener University
|
| Student |
Nisreen Madhoun and Jennifer Wilwert participated in this research during their sophomore, junior and senior years. Madhoun attends medical school and Wilwert attends graduate pharmacy school |
| Fund |
This research was supported through an NSF-RUI grant (IBN 0111112).
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| ( 102 )
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Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Effects of ecologically relevant doses of malathion on developing Xenopus laevis tadpoles |
| Journal |
, 2006;77:1-6, Webb CM, Crain DA
|
| Description |
Xenopus laevis tadpoles were exposed to concentrations of the organophosphate pesticide malathion that are normally found in the wild. The study found altered morphology, abnormal behavior, and increased mortality in tadpoles exposed to 1mg/L malation but not 1ng/L or 1 mg/L. Thus, commonly measured environmental malathion concentrations in the mg/L range do not appear detrimental for amphibians such as Xenopus, but stagnant pools accumulating malathion runoff may be problematic for amphibians
|
| Faculty |
D. Andrew Crain is associate professor of biology at Maryville College
|
| Student |
Catherine Webb conducted this research as her year-long senior thesis project at Maryville College prior to her May ’03 graduation. Webb is currently completing her master’s degree in biology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
| Fund |
The research was supported by the Maryville College Biology Department.
|
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| ( 103 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Chorus attendance and site fidelity in the Mink Frog, Rana septentrionalis: Are males territorial? |
| Journal |
J Herpet, 2006;40:160-164, Bevier CR, Tierney DC, Henderson LE, Reid HE
|
| Description |
We used mark-recapture, observation, and a geographic information system to estimate male chorus attendance and site fidelity during two breeding seasons for the Mink Frog, Rana septentrionalis. About half the males were never recaptured in either year while most of the remaining males were recaptured only four times and two males were recaptured more than 10 times. Males were recaptured from subsequent positions as far apart as 90 m and as close as 0.6 m. Males recaptured on consecutive observation nights were in positions less than 15 m apart on average. Although aggressive calling, chasing, and fighting occur when males encounter each other, there is no evidence that male Mink Frogs defend territories over prolonged periods as in closely related and sympatric species, the Green Frog and Bullfrog
|
| Faculty |
Catherine Bevier is an associate professor of biology at Colby College. Daniel Tierney is a former teaching associate in the Department of Biology at Colby College
|
| Student |
Lauren Henderson and Heather Reid participated in this research during the summers after their junior and senior years. Both are currently employed in conservation and environmental education |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a grant from the Natural Sciences Division at Colby College, and the Clare Boothe Luce program of the Luce Foundation.
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| ( 104 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
The effects of survey protocol on detection probabilities and site occupancy estimates of summer breeding anurans |
| Journal |
Appl Herpetol, 2006;3:129-142, Gooch MM, Heupel AM, Price SJ, Dorcas ME
|
| Description |
Calling surveys can be effective monitoring tools for amphibian populations; however, differences among survey protocols may bias survey results. We used a likelihood-based method to estimate detection probabilities and site occupancy rates for summer-breeding anurans in the Western Piedmont of North Carolina. Using detection data from calling surveys, we evaluated how detectability and site occupancy for 5 anuran species were influenced by 1) time spent listening at each site, 2) number of surveys per site, and 3) sample- and site-specific covariates. We found that detectability varied more with sampling occasion than with survey duration for each species. Multiple surveys per site within a season are necessary to eliminate biased detection probabilities, but we found that 3- or 5-minute surveys were adequate for detecting all species breeding at the time of the survey
|
| Faculty |
Michael E. Dorcas is an associate professor of biology at Davidson College
|
| Student |
Michelle M. Gooch and Aubrey M. Heupel conducted this research during the summer after their junior year as part of an NSF REU program. Gooch is currently working on a graduate degree in Environmental Education and Heupel is working as an ecological technician. Steven J. Price is research coordinator of the Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory |
| Fund |
The research was supported by NSF REU and NSF CAREER
|
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| ( 105 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
The Pseudomonas aeruginosa ribbon-helix-helix DNA-binding protein AlgZ (AmrZ) controls twitching motility and biogenesis of type IV Pili |
| Journal |
J Bacteriol., 2006;188:132-140, Baynham PJ, Ramsey DM, Gvozdyev BV, Cordonnier EM, Wozniak DJ
|
| Description |
The DNA-binding protein AmrZ was found to be necessary for twitching motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacterium. Twitching motility is a flagella-independent form of movement across a solid surface via the extension and retraction of Type IV Pili. The wild-type and amrZ deletion strains were analyzed via twitching assays, western blot analyses and electron microscopy. The results show that AmrZ is necessary for biogenesis of Type IV Pili
|
| Faculty |
Patricia Baynham is an assistant professor of Biology at St. Edward's University (and formerly at Thomas More College). Daniel Wozniak is an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
|
| Student |
Ellen Cordonnier was a technician. Borys Gvozdyev is a recent biology graduate of Thomas More College and will attend medical school starting in fall 2006. He worked on this project from the summer after his sophomore year through the spring of his junior year and this was the basis of his Senior
Honor’s Thesis. |
| Fund |
This research was supported through an NSF-RUI grant
|
|
|
| ( 106 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
The effects of hypoxia and pH on phenoloxidase activity in the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus |
| Journal |
Comp Biochem Physiol A, 2006;108:218-223, Tanner CA, Burnett LE, Burnett KG
|
| Description |
The activity of phenoloxidase, an enzyme critical to antibacterial immune defense in crustaceans, was measured in blue crabs at tissue O2 and pH levels that occur in animals held in fully air-saturated water (5 – 15% O2) or in animals exposed to low partial pressure of oxygen (hypoxia, 1% O2). Decreased O2 and pH suppressed phenoloxidase activity significantly, suggesting that blue crabs and other crustaceans exposed to hypoxia are less able defend themselves against microbial pathogens
|
| Faculty |
Lou Burnett is professor of biology and Karen Burnett is a research associate in the Biology Department at the College of Charleston
|
| Student |
Chris Tanner completed this research at the Grice Marine Laboratory during the summer before his junior year |
| Fund |
This study was supported through an NSF-REU site award and NSF-RUI research award.
|
|
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| ( 107 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Acid exposure is an immune disruptor in adult Rana pipiens |
| Journal |
Env Tox Chem, 2006;25(1):199-202, Vatnick I, Andrews J, Colombo M, Madhoun H, Rameswaran M, Brodkin MA
|
| Description |
We developed an in vivo assay to measure innate immune function in adult Rana pipiens as a way of measuring the effect of environmental stress (acidification of natural aquatic environments) on the innate immune response of amphibians. The assay measures the inflammatory response in experimentally-induced peritoneal exudates. Phagocytosis of FITC microspheres was also measured to assess the phagocytic activity of white blood cells. Both the inflammatory response and phagocytic activity of white blood cells were suppressed by exposure to mild acidic conditions of pH 5.5
|
| Faculty |
Drs. Vatnick and Brodkin (professors of biology at Widener University) and our students have been involved in studying the causes of amphibian decline for more than ten years
|
| Student |
Jaime Andrews and Mathew Colombo (biology majors) participated in independent research during their sophomore through senior years (2002-2004). Andrews is pursuing graduate work and Colombo is pursuing a PhD. Hareth Madhoun and Muthuramanan Rameswaran (biology majors) participated in this research during their sophomore through senior years (2003-2005). Both Madhoun and Rameswaran are pursuing medical degrees |
| Fund |
The research was supported by Widener University Provost’s Grants and Faculty Development Grants. Hareth Madhoun and Muthuramanan Rameswaran received Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research and Beta, Beta, Beta Foundation Research Scholarship to support their research activities.
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| ( 108 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Myosin heavy-chain kinase A from Dictyostelium possesses a novel actin-binding domain that cross-links actin filaments |
| Journal |
Biochem J, 2006;395:373-83, Russ M, Croft D, Ali O, Martinez R, Steimle P
|
| Description |
In this study we demonstrate that a myosin II heavy chain kinase from Dictyostelium discoideum possesses a structurally novel actin-binding domain that exhibits the unique ability to not only stimulate myosin II kinase catalytic activity, but also to bundle actin filaments. These results provide important information about the molecular processes regulating changes in cell shape during critical cellular processes such as chemotaxis, cytokinesis, and multicellular development
|
| Faculty |
Paul Steimle is an assistant professor of biology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
|
| Student |
Omar Ali and Raquel Martinez participated in these studies throughout their junior and senior years. Ali is working in academia as a research technician and is applying to medical school. Martinez is continuing her research on this project as a senior undergraduate. Misty Russ and Daniel Croft were Master’s graduate students at the time of these studies. |
| Fund |
This project was supported by an NIH AREA grant
|
|
|
| ( 109 )
|
Recorded at: 12/8/2006
|
| Title |
Offspring sex vs. position in the laying sequence in Wyoming house wrens |
| Journal |
Animal Beh, 2005;70:1323-1329, Johnson, LS, Wimmers LE, Hicks BG, Molinaro R, Milkie RC, Gallagher BS, Masters BS
|
| Description |
Most recent reports of manipulation of offspring sex in birds have come from single-year studies. In wrens, for example, it was reported that last laid eggs of clutches were predominately female. Birds from last laid eggs hatch later and compete for food with larger siblings, reaching smaller adult size. Males from last laid eggs should be at a competitive disadvantage as they compete for nest sites and attract mates. We repeated this study over three seasons using the same population, but found no sex bias. The reason for the difference in results is not clear, but it indicates the question of sex manipulation is still an open question
|
| Faculty |
L. Scott Johnson, Larry Wimmers and Brian Masters are biologists at Towson University
|
| Student |
Rachel Molinaro, Robin Milkie and Brendan Gallagher participated in this research as part of an REU program. Molinaro is completing her Masters degree in teaching at Carlow University, Milkie is working on her PhD in molecular biology at the University of Minnesota and Gallagher just completed is Masters degree in biology at James Madison University |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a NSF-REU site grant.
|
|
|
| ( 110 )
|
Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
Detection and partial characterization of a novel 100kd bacteriocin isolated for Lactobacillus plantarum |
| Journal |
Food Microbiol, 2005;22:199-204, Lash BW, Mysliwiec TH, Gourama H
|
| Description |
This study identified an antimicrobial protein in the cell-free supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC 8014). The 122Kd protein inhibited the growth of a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria including, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The protein lost its inhibitory activity at temperatures greater than 30 C and pH changes below 4 or above 5. These findings support the idea that the inhibitory compound is a protein and can be considered a bacteriocin secreted from the Gram-positive bacterium L. plantarum
|
| Faculty |
Tami H. Mysliwiec is an associate professor of biology and Hassan Gourama is an associate professor of food science at The Pennsylvania State University College, Berks College.
|
| Student |
Bradley Lash participated in this research during his junior and senior years. He is currently in his fourth year at SUNY Upstate Medical University |
| Fund |
This study was supported in part by a Pennsylvania State University, Berks College research and development grant, and by the Department of Food Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
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| ( 111 )
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Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
The role of fungal pathogens in flower size and seed mass variation in three species of Hydrophyllum (Hydrophyllaceae). |
| Journal |
A J Bot, 2006; 93: 389-398., Marr DL, Marshall ML
|
| Description |
We tested whether Fusarium sp. and Rhizoctonia sp., soil fungi that cause wilt, contributed to seasonal decline in flower size, seed number, or seed mass in Hydrophylllum appendiculatum and H. canadense. Fungal infection increased seed mass variation among diseased plants in both species. However, within plants fungal infection only increased seasonal decline in flower size and seed mass in H. appendiculatum when flowers received supplemental pollination
|
| Faculty |
Deborah Marr is a professor of biology at Indiana University South Bend.
|
| Student |
Michelle Marshall participated in this research in her junior year and was awarded a summer research fellowship from the Indiana University South Bend Undergraduate research program to work on this project. Currently, Michelle is a research assistant at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory |
| Fund |
This work was supported by a SMART fellowship to MM and an IU faculty research grant to DM
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|
| ( 112 )
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Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
Long- and short-chain plant-produced bacterial N-acyl-homoserine lactones become components of phyllosphere, rhizosphere and soil |
| Journal |
Mol Plant Micro Interact, 2006;19:227-239, Scott RA, Weil J, Le PT, Williams P, Fray RG, von Bodman SB, Savka MA
|
| Description |
Two acyl-HSL synthase genes, lasI from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and yenI from Yersinia enterocolitica, were introduced into tobacco, individually and in combination. Liquid chromatograph/tandem mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography confirmed products of lasI and yenI activity in single and co-transformants. Co-transformants expressing plastid-localized LasI and YenI synthases produced the major acyl-HSLs for each synthase in all tissues tested. This work also showed that bioactive acyl-HSLs are exuded from leaves, roots and accumulate in the phytosphere of plants engineered to produce acyl-HSLs. These data further suggest that plants that are bioengineered to synthesize acyl-HSLs can foster beneficial plant-bacteria communications or deter deleterious interactions. It is feasible, therefore, to use bioengineered plants to supplement soils with specific acyl-HSLs to modulate bacterial phenotypes and plant-associated bacterial community structures
|
| Faculty |
Michael A. Savka is associate professor of biological sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Susanne B. von Bodman is associate professor plant sciences and molecular biology at University of Connecticut. Rupert G. Fray is lecturer in plant molecular biology, University of Nottingham (UK). Paul Williams is professor of molecular biology, University of Nottingham.
|
| Student |
Russell Scott, an undergraduate at RIT, participated in this research for three summers and during three academic years and continued this research in our Research Scholars Program. Jason Weil, a former undergraduate at RIT, participated in this research for one academic year and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in molecular biology at Johns Hopkins University. Phuong T. Le, postdoctoral researcher, participated in this research for one academic year at RIT |
| Fund |
The research was supported by a USDA NRICGP to MAS, the EU to RGF, and Dean’s Summer Research Fellowship, Project Initiation, and Faculty Development grants from the College of Science, RIT to MAS. We also acknowledge the support of Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship awarded to RAS in 2004 from the American Society of Plant Biologists
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|
| ( 113 )
|
Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
The effects of a one Tesla magnet on human fibroblast growth |
| Journal |
Bios, 2005;76(4):193-203, Chaplin, Ashley
|
| Description |
The potential effects of magnetic fields on the growth of human fibroblast cells were investigated in this study. Results show that magnets do not appear to have an effect on growth rates or patterns. This work supports the contention that the reports of positive responses to magnetotherapy are due to a placebo effect. It also weakens the argument that electromagnetic fields cause cancer by increasing the growth rates of cells
|
| Faculty |
This work was supervised by Glenn Stokes and William Birkhead, both professors of biology at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia.
|
| Student |
Ashley Chaplin completed this project during Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 as part of course requirements for her degree. She graduated in 2004 and is currently studying at the Medical College of Georgia |
|
|
| ( 114 )
|
Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
Simultaneous detection of intracellular free calcium and zinc using fura-2FF and FluoZin-3 |
| Journal |
Cell Calcium, 2005;37:225-232, Devinney MJ, Reynolds IJ, Dineley KE
|
| Description |
We present a new method using fluorescence microscopy and the ion sensitive indicators fura-2FF and FluoZin-3 to monitor both [Ca2+]i and [Zn2+]i in primary cortical neurons.
In conditions analogous to excitotoxic glutamate exposure, we found that FluoZin-3 responded selectively to elevated [Zn2+]i, whereas fura-2FF responded selectively to [Ca2+]i. The ability to monitor alterations in both Ca2+ and Zn2+ in living cells improves our ability to study lethal disruptions in ion homeostasis that occur after stroke, seizure and force trauma. We are currently extending this method to identify mechanisms of Zn2+ mobilization during Ca2+ overload. This work was carried out at the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Pharmacolo
|
| Faculty |
Currently, Kirk E. Dineley is assistant professor of biology at Francis Marion University, Ian J. Reynolds is a senior director at Merck (West Point, PA
|
| Student |
Michael Devinney is accepted as an MD/PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin. Michael completed this project during the summer of his junior year and continued it as an undergraduate honors thesis |
| Fund |
This work was supported by NIH grants NS 34138 and AG20899 (I.J.R.) and a summer fellowship from the Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh (M.J.D.)
|
|
|
| ( 115 )
|
Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
Circadian activity rhythms in the spiny mouse |
| Journal |
Acomys cahirinus. Physiol & Behav, 2005; 86: 427-433, Weber ET, Hohn VM
|
| Description |
Circadian features of locomotor activity rhythms, including entrainment and photic responsiveness of the circadian system, were characterized for common Egyptian spiny mice. Spiny mice, which have been shown to express a variety of unique physiological and behavioral traits in comparison to other rodents, demonstrated properties of circadian locomotor activity, including entrainment to environmental light-dark cycles, temporal sensitivity of the circadian system to light exposure, and influences of exercise on free-running rhythms similar to those seen for other rodents. These findings uphold the conserved nature of circadian systems that have evolved in nocturnal mammals
|
| Faculty |
Todd Weber is a professor of biology and teaches in the biopsychology program at Rider University
|
| Student |
Vincent Hohn participated as an undergraduate in independent study research during his junior and senior years and during his sophomore and junior summers through the REU program. He is currently employed as Document Publisher & Specialist in the Global Document and Dossier Management group at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. |
| Fund |
This research was supported by NSF-RUI #IBN-0235915
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|
| ( 116 )
|
Recorded at: 7/20/2006
|
| Title |
Riparian vegetation loss, stream channelization, and web-weaving spiders in northern Japan. |
| Journal |
Eco Res, 2005;20:646-651, Laeser SR, Baxter CV, Fausch KD
|
| Description |
We measured abundance of web-building riparian spiders along four types of streams in Hokkaido, Japan: relatively undisturbed streams, streams where riparian vegetation had been removed, previously channelized streams where the banks had revegetated, and streams that had been both channelized and had the vegetation removed. Spider abundance was reduced by 70% or more by either habitat disturbance alone, or both combined, and the number of spider families was also reduced. These results indicate that riparian vegetation loss has strong direct effects on spiders by reducing habitat for web sites. They also suggest that channelization can have strong indirect effects on riparian-specialist tetragnathid spiders, probably by reducing the flux of adult aquatic insects from the stream to the riparian zone
|
| Faculty |
Kurt Fausch is professor in the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University. Colden Baxter is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Idaho State University
|
| Student |
Scott Laeser participated in the research in 2003, the summer after his sophomore year, and is now interning at the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, DC. He will be starting graduate school this fall |
| Fund |
The research was funded by an NSF-REU grant through Colorado State University
|
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|
| ( 117 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Use of mtDNA to identify genetic introgression among related species of catfish |
| Journal |
Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2005(31):482-491, Hunnicutt DW, Cingolani J, Voss MA
|
| Description |
The brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) is a common bioindicator species known to hybridize naturally with closely related bullhead species. Morphological characteristics were used to identify individuals from each of three bullhead species (A. nebulosus, A. melas, and A. natalis); the identifications were subsequently compared with molecular characters from a 431 bp of mtDNA control region sequences. A single A. melas x A. nebulosus hybrid was identified out of 11 fish having A. nebulosus morphology from Presque Isle Bay, Erie PA. Four additional fish revealed possible gene introgression from A. melas to A. nebulosus. The work suggests future studies making toxicological and ecological comparisons examine possible introgression within bioindicator populations
|
| Faculty |
David Hunnicutt and Margaret Voss are assistant professors of biology
|
| Student |
John Cingolani participated in this research during his junior and senior years at Behrend. John is currently enrolled in the graduate program of the School of Forest Resources at the Pennsylvania State University |
| Fund |
This research was supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Sea Grant Program
|
|
|
| ( 118 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Mitochondrial transporters involved in oleic acid utilization and glutamate metabolism in yeast |
| Journal |
Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2005(442):21-32, Trotter PJ, Adamson AL, Ghrist AC, Rowe L, Scott LR, Sherman MP, Stites NC, Sun Y, MA Tawiah-Boateng, AS Tibbetts, Wadington MC, West AC
|
| Description |
The cellular function of four inner mitochondrial membrane oxodicarboxylate transporters, Odc1p, Odc2p, Ymc1p and Ymc2p, in yeast was examined. Deletion of all four transporters (quad mutant) prevents growth on oleic acid as sole carbon source, while growth on acetate is retained. It is known that the glutamate-sensitive retrograde signaling pathway is important for upregulation of peroxisomal function in response to oleic acid and the oxodicarboxylate alpha-ketoglutarate is transported out of the mitochondria for synthesis of glutamate. So, citric acid cycle function and glutamate synthesis was examined in transporter mutants. The quad mutant has significantly decreased citrate synthase activity and whole cell alpha-ketoglutarate levels, while isocitrate dehydrogenase activity is unaffected and glutamate dehydrogenase activity is increased 10-fold. Strains carrying only two or three transporter deletions exhibit intermediate affects. 13C-NMR metabolic enrichment experiments confirm a defect in glutamate biosynthesis in the quad mutant and, in double and triple mutants, suggest increased cycling of the glutamate backbone in the mitochondria before export. Taken together these studies indicate that these four transporters have overlapping activity, and are important not only for utilization of oleic acid, but also for glutamate biosynthesis
|
| Faculty |
Trotter is assistant professor of chemistry (biochemistry). Scott is associate professor of biology. Ghrist is an instructor in biology at Scott Community College
|
| Student |
Sun, Tawiah-Boateng and Tibbetts were technical personnel. Adamson, Rowe, Stites, Wadington and West worked on the project during the summer before their senior years, while Sherman worked during the summer before his junior year. Adamson and Wadington continued the project as a senior thesis. Stites and Wadington attended graduate school. Adamson, Rowe and West are presently employed and Sherman is still enrolled |
| Fund |
This work was supported by NIH Grants (to PJ Trotter) DK55525 and GM069372
|
|
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| ( 119 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Positive effects of testosterone and immunochallenge on energy allocation to reproductive organs |
| Journal |
Journal of Comparative Physiology B: Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology, 2005(17):543-556, Derting TL, Virk M
|
| Description |
We tested whether energy allocation to reproductive and other organ systems is affected by testosterone level and energy expenditure on immune functions. Immunochallenge was associated with positive effects on components of the reproductive system. Simultaneous increases in energy allocation to immune and reproductive structures may be an adaptive response that would enhance survival and current prospects for reproduction
|
| Faculty |
Terry Derting is a professor of biology
|
| Student |
Maninder Virk participated in the research in 2003 as an HHMI Undergraduate Summer Research Scholar. She is currently a graduate student in the Department of Cell Biology at the University of Alberta |
| Fund |
The research was supported through an HHMI grant
|
|
|
| ( 120 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Identification of novel and conserved functional and structural elements of the G1 cyclin Cln3 important for interactions with the CDK Cdc28 in Saccharomyces cerevisia |
| Journal |
Yeast., 2005(22):1021-36, Miller ME, Cross FR, Groeger AL, Jameson KL
|
| Description |
The G1 cyclin Cln3 functions to initiate a transcriptional program that supports entry into the cell division cycle. Cln3 functions in complex with the Cdc28 protein kinase, and is thought to regulate transcription through inactivation of the functional homolog of the Rb oncogene. Targeted and clustered-charge-to-alanine mutagenesis was used to identify functional regions of the G1 cyclin Cln3. Studies establish regions of Cln3 important for functional interaction with the Cdc28 kinase using viability assays and physical interaction with the Cdc28 kinase using co-immunoprecipitation assays
|
| Faculty |
Mary Miller is an assistant professor of biology. Fredrick Cross is a professor at the Rockefeller University. Alison
|
| Student |
Groeger and Katherine Jameson carried out research in the Miller lab during and after their sophomore years and continued in the lab until they graduated as independent study projects. Alison’s summer work was supported by the Council for Undergraduate Research Summer Fellowship in Science and Mathematics; she is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Pittsburgh. Katherine’s summer work was supported by the American Society of Microbiology Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship; she is currently pursuing her PhD at Stanford University |
| Fund |
This research was supported through the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
|
|
|
| ( 121 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Alligator tears: A reevaluation of the lacrimal apparatus of the crocodilians |
| Journal |
Journal of Morphology, 266:298-308, Rehorek SJ, Legenzoff EJ, Carmody K, Smith TD, Sedlmayr JC
|
| Description |
The histology (microanatomy) of the lacrimal apparatus (which includes the orbital glands and the nasolacrimal duct) were re-examined in American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). The results of this project support and contradict some earlier observations, whilst adding some new observations on the embrogenesis of this system. This is the first time that lymphatic aggregations (consisting mainly of plasma cells) have been described in alligators, and it was thus suggested that these glands may play a role in the immunological response of the orbital region. Such large populations of these immunological cells have also been described in birds, and thus it appears that they possess another common feature with alligators
|
| Faculty |
Susan J Rehorek is an associate professor in the department of biology, at Slippery Rock University. Timothy D Smith is an associate professor in the school of Physical Therapy and Slippery Rock University, and Jayc C Sedlmayr is a lecturer at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at UCLA
|
| Student |
Both Kelly Carmody and Evan J Legenzoff completed a section in this project, as part of their Independent studies in their respective junior years. Kelly is now at the School of Physical Therapy at Slippery Rock University, and Evan is now at the School of Pharmacy at LECOM |
| Fund |
This project was funded by the Department of Biology at Slippery Rock University
|
|
|
| ( 122 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Unusual usage of AGG and TTG codons in humans and their viruses |
| Journal |
Gene, 2005(352):92-99, Kliman RM, Bernal CA
|
| Description |
Using multivariate statistical methods, among-gene codon usage trends were analyzed in the human genome. With the exception of AGG and TTG, the usage of all G- and C-ending codons correlated positively with gene expression, while the usage of A- and T-ending codons correlated negatively with expression. This trend remained after correction by regression for local noncoding base composition. The same trend was observed for human-infecting viruses, the genomes of which evolve in the context of human molecular machinery. The usage of TTG, in particular, can not be explained by a simple mutational equilibrium model, indicating that natural selection may disfavor the usage of this codon
|
| Faculty |
Richard Kliman is an associate professor of biological sciences at Cedar Crest College
|
| Student |
Cheryl Bernal participated in this research for four semesters and two summers, and summarized the work in her senior thesis; she also presented it at the 2004 Evolution meeting in Fort Collins, CO. She is currently employed in industry |
| Fund |
This project was supported through an NIH-AREA grant
|
|
|
| ( 123 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Vegetative reproduction during development in Australian pygmy and tuberous sundews |
| Journal |
Acta Botanica Gallica, 2005(152):147-157, Darnowski DW, Celano MA, Moberly S, Lalor CD
|
| Description |
The developmental biology of carnivorous Australian pygmy and tuberous sundew plants (Drosera spp.; Droseraceae) was examined using tissue culture and molecular techniques. These plants have not been well examined for various features of their unusual development, including the production of tubers on leaves. It was found that normally toxic levels of various metal salts induced more normal morphology in vitro for both pygmy and tuberous species, and the role of cytokinin hormones in promoting tuber formation was examined. In addition, preliminary steps were taken to understand the role of KNOTTED family genes in tuber and gemma formation
|
| Faculty |
Douglas Darnowski is an assistant professor of biology at Indiana University Southeast, previously at Washington College
|
| Student |
Melissa Celano worked on this project during her junior and senior years of college and is now a practicing nurse, while Steven Moberly, now a junior, and Craig Lalor, 2004 graduate, worked during their sophomore and senior years, respectively |
| Fund |
This work was supported by funds from Indiana University Southeast and Washington College
|
|
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| ( 124 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Estrogen contributes to structural recovery after a lesion |
| Journal |
Neuroscience Letters, 2006(392):198-201, Saenz C, Dominguez R, de Lacalle S
|
| Description |
The ability of estrogen to protect basal forebrain cholinergic neurons from immunotoxic damage was explored in young adult female rats. Lack of the hormone resulted in a more extensive degeneration of these neurons, while estrogen presence was able to prevent such damage. These data are particularly relevant in the context of female aging and postmenopausal dementia, since preserving an intact cholinergic system may be crucial to prevent at least some of the cognitive decline that occurs in Alzheimer’s disease
|
| Faculty |
Sonsoles de Lacalle is an associate professor of biomedical sciences
|
| Student |
Christopher Saenz is an undergraduate currently pursuing his BSc at Hunter College where he is continuing his research under Dr. V. Luine. This work was started in 2003 at California State University Los Angeles, as a summer research experience under the Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (NIGMS). It was further supported through the academic year with funding also from NIGMS. At the time this work started, Reymundo Dominguez was a MBRS-funded MSc student at Cal State LA, and is presently pursuing a PhD in Neurobiology at USC |
| Fund |
The research was funded through USPHS grant R01 AG19597 to SL
|
|
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| ( 125 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
The C. elegans nuclear receptor gene fax-1 and homeobox gene unc-42 coordinate interneuron identity by regulating the expression of glutamate receptor subunits and other neuron-specific genes |
| Journal |
Developmental Biology, 2005(287):74-85, Wightman B, Carmean N, Ebert B, Weber K, Clever S
|
| Description |
The nuclear receptor gene fax-1, which is the C. elegans (nematode) equivalent of a human gene called PNR, functions in specifying the identity of individual types of neurons. The paper supports a model in which individual neuron types are generated by the combined action of different regulatory genes
|
| Faculty |
Bruce Wightman is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Nicole Carmean performed her research as an independent project during the 1997-1998 academic year and is now working as a laboratory manager and technician at Children’s Hospital in Seattle, WA. Bryan Ebert performed his research during the summer of 1998, supported by a NSF RUI grant, and is now a resident physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Katherine Weber performed her research during the summer of 2004 and winter of 2005, supported by a NSF REU supplement, and is currently finishing her junior year at the University of Richmond |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a NSF RUI grant
|
|
|
| ( 126 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Aryl hydrocarbon receptors in the frog Xenopus laevis: Two AHR1 paralogs exhibit low affinity for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD |
| Journal |
Toxicological Sciences, 2005(88):62-70, Lavine JA, Rowatt AJ, Klimova T, Whitington AJ, Dengler E, Beck C, Powell WH
|
| Description |
Frogs are remarkably insensitive to the toxic effects of dioxin-like compounds, which are potent developmental toxicants in most vertebrates. This paper provides a mechanistic explanation, demonstrating that frog aryl hydrocarbon receptors bind dioxin with remarkably low affinity
|
| Faculty |
Wade Powell is an assistant professor of biology
|
| Student |
Six student co-authors, all of whom are now in medical school and/or graduate school, contributed data related to their Kenyon Summer Science Scholarships and subsequent senior honors theses. |
| Fund |
Their research was supported by an AREA grant from NIH
|
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| ( 127 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
variation in ammonia excretion, glutamine levels, and hydration status in 2 species of terrestrial isopod |
| Journal |
Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 2005(175):67-75, Wright JC, Peńa-Peralta M. Diel
|
| Description |
Ammonia excretion and glutamine storage/mobilization were studied in two sympatric isopod species following field collection at dusk and dawn. In both species diurnal ammonia excretion exceeded nocturnal excretion 4 to 5-fold while glutamine levels increased 4 to 7-fold during the night. Potential N mobilization from glutamine exceeds measured ammonia excretion over sixty-fold and may serve to generate the high hemolymph PNH3 required for ammonia volatilization
|
| Faculty |
Jonathan Wright is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Mariasol Peńa-Peralta participated in this research during her junior year and in the following summer. Mariasol is now pursuing a masters in Public Health at USC |
| Fund |
This research was supported through an NSF research grant
|
|
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| ( 128 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
Calcium accumulation in eggs and mancas of Armadillidium vulgare (Isopoda: Oniscidea |
| Journal |
Journal of Crustacean Biology, 2005(25):420-426, Ouyang DM-W, JC Wright JC
|
| Description |
Calcium uptake was studied during embryogenesis and manca (juvenile) development in Armadillidium vulgare. Total Ca increased approximately 17-fold during egg development, but the major period of uptake occurred after the second embryonic molt. Tracer studies indicate that mancas imbibe the maternal marsupial fluid to obtain this calcium. Periembryonic fluid Ca is actively up-regulated in vivo and in vitro
|
| Faculty |
Jonathan Wright is an associate professor of biology
|
| Student |
Debra Ouyang participated in this research through an NSF summer studentship after her sophomore year, and during her junior year. Debra is currently a first-year student at Eastern Virginia Medical School. |
| Fund |
This research was supported through an NSF research grant
|
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| ( 129 )
|
Recorded at: 7/19/2006
|
| Title |
The red alga genus Rhodospora (Bangiophycidae, Rhodophyta): first report from North America |
| Journal |
Journal of Phycology, 2005(41):1281-1283, Johansen JR, Fucíková K, Fitzpatrick MH, Lowe RL
|
| Description |
Rhodospora sordida, a very rare red alga, was found in the Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee. This represents the first published report of this genus from North America. The discovery was made as a result of our involvement in the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, a project which has as it goal the discovery of all species in all phyla living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
|
| Faculty |
Jeff Johansen is a professor of biology at John Carroll University
|
| Student |
Karolina Fucíková is a master’s level graduate student from the Czech Republic. Maggie Fitzpatrick is an undergraduate student who participated in the program as a summer research intern in 2004 and 2005, and is currently in her senior year at JCU. Rex Lowe, at Bowling Green University, is the project director of the grant from NSF-BSI that supported the work. Maggie was supported with one other undergraduate (Liberty Bost, JCU sophomore) with an REU supplement to our existing NSF grant. |
|
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| ( 130 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Aging-associated changes in cardiac gene expression |
| Journal |
Cardiovascular Research, 66: 194-204, 2005, Volkova, M., Garg, R., Dick, S., Boheler, K.R. (National Institute of Aging).
|
| Description |
The goal of this review was to illustrate how gene expression profiling techniques coupled with statistical analysis and publicly available bioinformatic tools can be used to identify pathways, regulatory sequences and candidate genes implicated in aging, and theoretically, how this approach can be used to identify genetic causes of aging in humans. The improved understanding of the processes involved in human aging derived from this and similar research will lead to the development of rational strategies for cardiovascular therapy during senescence.
|
| Faculty |
Kenneth R. Boheler is the head of the Molecular Cardiology Unit at the Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD.
|
| Student |
Salihah Dick participated in this research project as a Barry University undergraduate summer intern in her junior year. Salihah is currently in the Post-Bacculareate program at Vanderbilt University, TN. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through the NIH-NIA and the NIH funded MARC and MBRS RISE grants
|
|
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| ( 131 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Recovery from Long-term Stationary Phase and Stress Survival in Escherichia coli Require the L-Isoaspartyl Protein Carboxyl Methyltransferase at Alkaline pH |
| Journal |
Microbiology, 2005, 151, 2151-2158, Wade M. Hicks, Matthew V. Kotlajich, Jonathan E. Visick (North Central College).
|
| Description |
Protein damage resulting from spontaneous isomerization of aspartate and asparagine to isoaspartate can dramatically diminish protein activity. The L-isoaspartyl protein carboxyl methyltransferase (PCM) can repair this damage; in its absence, E. coli becomes more susceptible to stress during stationary phase. We have now shown that alkaline pH encourages isoAsp formation and increases dependence on PCM. Surprisingly, we have also linked PCM to recovery from stationary phase, leading to a new model for the role of protein repair by PCM in E. coli.
|
| Faculty |
Jonathan Visick is an assistant professor of biology at North Central College.
|
| Student |
Wade Hicks participated in North Central's summer research program as a junior and continued his work through his senior year, including three weeks' work at UCLA as a Richter fellow; he is now a PhD student at Brandeis University. Matthew Kotlajich received a CUR Undergraduate Research fellowship for his junior summer and also continued his work through his senior year; he is now a PhD student at the University of California-Irvine. |
| Fund |
This research was also supported by North Central College faculty development funding.
|
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|
| ( 132 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Effects of Light and Chloramphenicol Stress on Incorporation of Nitrogen into Cyanophycin in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6308 |
| Journal |
Biochim Biophys Acta, 2005, 1725, 241-6, M.M. Allen, C. Yuen, L. Medeiros, N. Zizlsperger, M. Farooq, N.H. Kolodny (Wellesley College).
|
| Description |
1H NMR spectroscopy was used to compare the uptake of nitrogen into the cyanobacterial nitrogen storage polypeptide, cyanophycin, from two sources: from the breakdown of intracellular proteins and amino acids, and directly from the external growth medium. Cyanophycin is synthesized from both sources, but at a faster rate and to a greater extent from nitrogen in the medium under all conditions. SDS-PAGE showed that cyanophycin synthesis takes place by addition of monomers to already synthesized polymers.
|
| Faculty |
Mary Allen is professor of biological sciences and Nancy Kolodny is professor of chemistry, both at Wellesley College.
|
| Student |
Courtney Yuen was a summer Chemistry REU participant from Brown University her junior summer and is now a graduate student in Chemistry at Harvard. Leah Medeiros was a summer HHMI research student who participated in this research her junior summer and continued it as a senior Honors thesis project in Chemistry; she is now a graduate student in Biology at MIT. Nora Zizlsperger was a summer Biology REU participant from Simmons College; she continued the work at Wellesley her senior year and is now a graduate student in Biology at MIT. Maliha Farooq was a summer HHMI research student her sophomore summer and continued independent research her junior year; she is currently employed in industry. |
|
|
| ( 133 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Isolation of C. elegans Genomic DNA and Detection of Deletions in the unc-93
Gene Using PCR |
| Journal |
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 2005, 33, 219-
226, James L. Lissemore, Laura L. Lackner, George D. Fedoriw, Elizabeth A. De
Stasio (John Carroll University and Lawrence University).
|
| Description |
We have developed a series of exercises for an intermediate level undergraduate
molecular biology lab course in which students isolate genomic DNA from the
nematode C. elegans and use polymerase chain reaction to detect deletions in
the C. elegans unc-93 gene. These exercises should be easily adaptable to
detection of well-characterized deletions in any gene in other organisms.
|
| Faculty |
James
Lissemore is an associate professor of biology at John Carroll University.
Elizabeth De Stasio is an associate professor of biology at Lawrence
University.
|
| Student |
Laura Lackner and George Fedoriw participated in this research as
an independent study during their junior and senior years at John Carroll
University. Laura is a Ph.D. student and George is a medical resident. |
| Fund |
This
research was supported by internal funds from John Carroll University (J.L.L.)
and an NIH grant (E.A.D.).
|
|
|
| ( 134 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Active Parental Care in a Freshwater Amphipod (Crustacea: Gammarus pseudolimnaeus): Effects of Environmental Factors |
| Journal |
American Midland Naturalist, 2005, 153, 276-283, Jodi Tarutis, Susan Lewis, Maggie Dyke (Carroll College).
|
| Description |
Female amphipods carry their eggs and offspring in a ventral brood pouch. This study found that, contrary to predictions, amphipods living in high quality habitats actively care for developing eggs, and that the extent of care varied depending on both habitat and season. Females in water in which the dissolved oxygen was experimentally reduced showed high levels of active parental care. These results suggest that even in habitats with high water quality, amphipods can show active parental care and that females have a phenotypically plastic response to environmental conditions in determining the amount of care provided.
|
| Faculty |
Susan Lewis is an associate professor of biology at Carroll College.
|
| Student |
Jodi Tarutis and Maggie Dyke completed this research as part of the senior research requirement in Biology at Carroll College. Jodi went on to receive a Master’s degree as a Physician’s Assistant and Maggie completed her Master’s degree in Physical Therapy. |
| Fund |
The research was funded by the Biology Department at Carroll College.
|
|
|
| ( 135 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Haploid Vegetative Mycelia of Armillaria gallica Show Among-cell-line Variation for Growth and Phenotypic Plasticity |
| Journal |
Mycologia, 2005, 97, 777-787, Robert B. Peabody, Diane Cope Peabody, Maura Geens Tyrrell, Emily Edenburn-MacQueen, Richard P. Howdy, Kevin M. Semelrath (Stonehill College).
|
| Description |
Microspectrophotometric measurements of DAPI-stained nuclei revealed that two sets of fruit-body cell lines and two sets of vegetative cell lines were all haploid. Quantitative-trait analyses revealed genetic variation for both growth and phenotypic plasticity in all four sets of cell lines when grown on media with water potentials ranging from the equivalent of wet through dry forest soils. The existence of ecologically relevant genetic variation within vegetative individuals means that a process similar to evolutionary adaptation could potentially take place within the soma of a single genetic individual.
|
| Faculty |
Robert Peabody is professor, Maura Tyrrell is associate professor, and Diane Peabody is research professor; all in the biology department at Stonehill College.
|
| Student |
Emily Edenburn-MacQueen, Richard Howdy, and Kevin Semelrath participated in this research during the summer after their junior years; Kevin continued as a senior independent study student. Emily received her MA from St. Joseph College and is currently teaching eighth grade general science in New Haven, CT; Richard is completing his MS in medical illustration at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; Kevin is a second year medical school student at Albany Medical College. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a NSF-POWRE grant, the Alden Trust, and Stonehill College’s SURE program.
|
|
|
| ( 136 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
A New Benthic Sampling Device For Soft Sediments In Shallow Habitats |
| Journal |
Journal of Freshwater Ecology, 2005, 20, 595-602, Joseph M. Shostell, Bradley S. Williams (Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus).
|
| Description |
We designed, constructed, and tested a new grab sampler to collect benthic macroinvertebrates and sediments from shallow (< 3 m) aquatic systems. This light (4.5 kg), inexpensive sampler is easy to construct and has a higher rate of successful closure and sample retention than the Peterson, petite Ponar, or Ekman samplers. These positive features reduce the manpower and time needed to complete benthic projects and provide an economical alternative to commercially-available grab samplers.
|
| Faculty |
Joseph Shostell is an assistant professor of biology at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus.
|
| Student |
Bradley Williams participated in this research during 2003 and 2004. Bradley is currently a graduate student at the University of Central Arkansas. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a Penn State Eberly Science grant.
|
|
|
| ( 137 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Regeneration of Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) Following Southern Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) Outbreak in the Sipsey Wilderness, Alabama |
| Journal |
Forest Ecology and Management, 2005, 212, 65-74, R. Scot Duncan, John E. Linhoss (Birmingham-Southern College).
|
| Description |
We examined regeneration patterns of Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) following a severe southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis) epidemic in the Sipsey Wilderness of the Bankhead National Forest, Alabama. Our findings illustrate how a passive approach to forest management, as mandated for such wilderness areas, can lead to considerable changes in the structure and species composition of protected ecosystems.
Gaps in the forest created by the beetle infestationmay provide habitat for new P. virginiana recruitment, thus prolonging the existence of these stands in the forest.
Greenhouse experiments conducted to examine the importance of sunlight and exposed soil for germination and seedling survival unexpectedly revealed that P. virginiana can germinate and survive in shade, below leaf litter, or in the presence of both. Altogether, our results suggest that P. virginiana is recruiting in gaps created by the epidemic, but this is confined to larger gaps.
|
| Faculty |
Scot Duncan is an assistant professor of biology at Birmingham-Southern College.
|
| Student |
John Linhoss participated in this research during the Interim (January) and Spring terms of his junior year. He is currently teaching science and mathematics at the Arlington School in Birmingham, and plans to attend graduate school next year. |
|
|
| ( 138 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
The Pesticide Malathion Reduces Survival and Growth in Developing Zebrafish |
| Journal |
Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, 2005, 24, 1745-50, Leslie W. Cook, Christopher J. Paradise, Barbara Lom (Davidson College).
|
| Description |
Malathion is an organophosphorus pesticide widely used to control mosquitoes in urban areas, but the effects of sublethal concentrations on the embryonic development of the new model organism zebrafish had not been previously quantified. Sublethal doses of this pesticide affected hatching, body length, and eye diameter, indicating that malathion exerts teratogenic effects on zebrafish embryogenesis.
|
| Faculty |
Barbara Lom and Chris Paradise are assistant professors of biology at Davidson College.
|
| Student |
Leslie Cook initiated the zebrafish research project at Davidson and completed this research as an honors thesis in biology. She then obtained a masters in environmental education is currently working in Colorado. |
| Fund |
This research was supported by grants from NSF, Davidson College and Sigma Xi.
|
|
|
| ( 139 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Mechanisms of Postinhibitory Rebound and its Modulation by Serotonin in Excitatory Swim Motor Neurons of the Medicinal Leech |
| Journal |
Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 2005, 191, 715-732, James D. Angstadt, Jeffrey L. Grassmann, Kraig M. Theriault, Sarah M. Levasseur (Siena College).
|
| Description |
Postinhibitory rebound (PIR) is an excitatory neuronal response occurring at the offset of inhibitory input, and is one of several intrinsic properties that may promote rhythmic electrical activity in neural circuits. The properties of ionic conductances underlying PIR in identified leech motor neurons were examined in normal solution and in the presence of serotonin, a potent modulator of swimming behavior. PIR was blocked when low Na+ solution was combined with Ca2+-channel blockers, supporting the hypothesis that PIR is produced by a combination of voltage-dependent Na+ and Ca2+ currents that begin to activate near –60 millivolts. Serotonin appeared not to affect either the voltage or time-dependence of these currents, and may instead simply increase their amplitude. Alternately, serotonin may modulate PIR by effects on K+ currents.
|
| Faculty |
James Angstadt is a professor of biology at Siena College.
|
| Student |
All three students participated in this research during the summer after their junior year and continued it in their senior year, earning academic credit for independent study. Kraig Theriault is currently in graduate school. Jeffery Grassmann and Sarah Levasseur are in medical school. |
| Fund |
This work was supported through a NSF-RUI grant and Siena College summer research grants.
|
|
|
| ( 140 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
An Inexpensive Gel Electrophoresis-Based PCR Method for Quantifying mRNA Levels |
| Journal |
Cell Biology Education, 2005, 4, 157-168, William D. Bradford,1 Laty Cahoon,2 Sara R. Freel,1 Laura L. Mays Hoopes,2,3 Todd T. Eckdahl 1,3 (1 Missouri Western State University, 2 Pomona College, 3 Genome Consortium for Active Teaching).
|
| Description |
We sought to develop an inexpensive and student-friendly gel electrophoresis-based PCR method for quantifying mRNA levels using undergraduate researchers as models for students in teaching and research laboratories. The data support the use of the gel electrophoresis-based method as an inexpensive, convenient, yet reliable alternative to real-time PCR for quantifying mRNA levels in undergraduate laboratories.
|
| Faculty |
Todd Eckdahl is a professor of biology at Missouri Western State University and Laura Mays Hoopes is a professor of biology at Pomona College.
|
| Student |
Laty Cahoon is a 2003 UCLA graduate who contributed to this work as a research technician at Pomona and is now in the Northwestern PhD program. Sara Freel and Dan Bradford participated in the project as summer research students at Missouri Western. Both have graduated and Sara is a chemical analyst at Novartis Comsumer Health while Dan is a laboratory technician at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. |
| Fund |
The research was supported by NIH AREA grants to Missouri Western and Pomona College, and NSF RUI and MRI grants to Pomona College.
|
|
|
| ( 141 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Temporal Patterns of Benthic Microalgal Migration on a Semi-protected Beach |
| Journal |
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 2005, 64, 486-496, J.T. Easley, S. N. Hymel, C. J. Plante (College of Charleston).
|
| Description |
Short-term variability in microphytobenthic biomass can be attributed primarily to the migratory rhythms of benthic microalgae (BMA). The goals of this study were 1) to describe vertical migration patterns of BMA in beach sediments, 2) to test for seasonal variation in migration patterns, and 3) to identify the dominant taxonomic groups involved in these migrations, by means of microscopy and HPLC analyses of taxonomic pigment markers. We determined that BMA were dominated by diatoms at all times and at all sediment depths. We found three distinct patterns of temporal shifts in BMA 1) migration, in which a surface BMA biomass was replaced by a subsurface biomass maximum after tidal immersion, 2) no shift, wherein vertical profiles from low tide through periods of immersion were unchanged, and 3) removal, in which a loss of surficial BMA biomass occurred after tidal flooding, without a corresponding biomass increase at depth. Wind-induced wave energy, dominated by fetch (i.e., wind direction) rather than wind speed, appeared to be a major factor in the resuspension process at our study site, and dictated the migratory patterns. Understanding processes controlling BMA biomass is important, both because BMA fuels nearshore food webs and because the extracellular secretions of diatoms stabilize sediments and prevent erosion.
|
| Faculty |
Craig Plante is an associate professor of biology at the College of Charleston. S.N Hymel is a research technician at the Hollings Marine Laboratory.
|
| Student |
Jeremiah Easley performed this work as an undergraduate from February 2002 through May 2003 and after graduation he continued working on the manuscript preparation through May of 2004. He is currently in Veterinary School at Virginia Tech. |
| Fund |
Jeremiah's lab work was supported with funding awarded to Craig Plante from NSF (DEB-0108615).
|
|
|
| ( 142 )
|
Recorded at: 1/6/2006
|
| Title |
Mutant Allele Frequencies in Domestic Cat Populations in Arkansas and Tennessee |
| Journal |
Journal of Heredity, 2005, 96, 557-565, Joseph M. Shostell, Julie Staudinger, Manuel Ruiz-Garcia (Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus).
|
| Description |
We conducted surveys of mutant allele frequencies of four cat populations in Arkansas and Tennessee during 2002. Our calculations and analyses support that Southwestern cat populations were relatively more genetically similar to each other than compared to cat populations in other areas of North America. Our data also support the Historical Migration Hypothesis because our calculated allele frequencies were genetically similar to cat populations located in ancestral areas of Europe. Different phenograms, including new European cat genetic profiles, showed that the Southwestern cat populations studied are of a clear British origin. Therefore, migration routes of early Arkansas and Tennessee settlers help to explain the similarities of allele frequencies among domestic cat populations.
|
| Faculty |
Joseph Shostell is an assistant professor of biology at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Manuel Ruiz-Garcia is a professor at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
|
| Student |
Julie Staudinger participated in this research from 2002 through 2004. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Central Arkansas. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through a Penn State Eberly Science grant.
|
|
|
| ( 143 )
|
Recorded at: 9/29/2005
|
| Title |
Mechanisms of Transport and Exocytosis of Dense-core Granules Containing Tissue Plasminogen Activator in Developing Hippocampal Neurons |
| Journal |
Journal of Neuroscience, 2005, 25, 3095-3106, Michael A. Silverman, Scooter Johnson, Dmitri Gurkins, Meredith Farmer, Janis E. Lochner, Patrizia Rosa, Bethe A. Scalettar (Lewis & Clark College; Simon Fraser University; CNR, Milan, Italy).
|
| Description |
Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a protein that has been implicated in learning. We showed that, in neurons of the hippocampus (a site of learning), tPA is housed in dense-core granules (DCGs) and is secreted by regulated exocytosis. We also demonstrated that short-ranged transport of DCGs containing tPA is largely fast and nonrandom and that secretion of tPA is preceded by substantial lateral and axial movement of DCGs. Our results provide fundamental insight into molecular processes that underlie learning.
|
| Faculty |
Michael Silverman is an assistant professor of biology at Simon Fraser University. Janis Lochner and Bethe Scalettar are professors of chemistry and physics, respectively, at Lewis & Clark College, and Patrizia Rosa is a research scientist at the CNR in Milan, Italy.
|
| Student |
Scooter Johnson, Dmitri Gurkins, and Meredith Farmer participated in this research during one or more of the summers of 2002-2004. Scooter and Dmitri entered graduate school at the University of California of Davis and Princeton, respectively, in the fall of 2005. Meredith Farmer currently is employed. |
| Fund |
This research was supported through grants from NIH.
|
|
|
| ( 144 )
|
Recorded at: 9/29/2005
|
| Title |
Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin) Reduces Withdrawal Severity After Binge Ethanol Exposure in the Mouse |
| Journal |
Journal of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science, 2004, 78, 76-80, Heather Whitesel, Robert L. Hale, MaryLou Juliano, Joseph Byers (Shippensburg University of Pennyslvania).
|
| Description |
The effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the severity of the ethanol withdrawal syndrome was investigated in the BALB/c mouse. Pre-treatment with 150 mg/kg ASA prior to a single high-dose (4.0 g/kg) ethanol gavage significantly reduced the severity of 24 hour post-gavage handling-induced convulsions in older (120 days old) but not younger (60 days old) male mice. This effect could not be explained by altered ethanol pharmacokinetics.
|
| Faculty |
Robert L. Hale is an associate professor of behavioral neuroscience at Shippensburg University.
|
| Student |
Heather, MaryLou and Joseph participated in this research as part of an independent project during their senior years. All went on to complete graduate degrees and are currently employed in the health care field. |
| Fund |
The research was supported through an SU Foundation grant.
|
|
|
| ( 145 )
|
Recorded at: 9/29/2005
|
| Title |
Cloning and Expression Analysis of pos-1 in the Nematodes Caenorhabditis briggsae and Caenorhabditis remanei |
| Journal |
Developmental Dynamics, 2005, 233, 1006-1012, Jamie Konwerski, Megan Senchuk, Emily Petty, David LaHaie, Jennifer A. Schisa (Central Michigan University).
|
