Honors Theses, Ohio Dominican University, 2020, Honors Theses

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that is composed of three domains: an N-terminal 4.1, Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin (FERM) domain, a kinase domain, and a C-terminal focal adhesion targeting (FAT) domain. FAK is activated by the signaling cascade of integrins which contact the extracellular matrix (ECM). This signaling activation by integrins allows FAK to control cell migration, proliferation, and survival through the phosphorylation of and interaction with nearby proteins (Src, Cas, Crc, paxillin, etc.), therefore making FAK a signaling scaffold. Dysfunctional FAK signaling can promote cancerous metastasis. Phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a common lipid found in cell membranes, also serves as an activation factor that changes FAK conformation. FAK is naturally autoinhibited as its FERM-kinase domains are bound together. The mechanism behind FAK activation is still unclear. Current research shows interaction of FERM and kinase domains individually with PIP2, but further research is needed to determine the structural changes of the two domains simultaneously. The process to create a unique glutathione-s-transferase (GST) tagged plasmid vector including only the FERM and kinase domains through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cloning as well as site-directed mutagenesis was begun, but not completed due to COVID-19 and related impacts. Once complete, this process will create a unique construct vector which will allow for further research into the activation of autoinhibited FERM and kinase domains by PIP2 binding.

Master of Science, University of Toledo, 2020, Biology (Cell-Molecular Biology)

Eukaryotes have evolved stress response pathways to adapt to a range of environmental assaults. One conserved pathway is the integrated stress response, which allows cells to cope with endoplasmic reticulum stress, heat shock, oxidative stress, and viral infection. A consequence of the integrated stress response is the formation of stress granules, cytoplasmic foci of translationally stalled mRNAs and proteins including ribosomes, translation initiation factors, and RNA-binding proteins. Stress granules have a diverse proteome, and stress granules formed during viral infection are unique in that they are enriched in host antiviral proteins and regulate the immune response. These stress responses are well characterized in mammalian systems, but studies in non-mammalian vertebrates are poorly understood. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) is an aquatic rhabdovirus found in over 80 fish species worldwide. Viruses must subvert host immune responses, and previous studies from our lab and others have identified the VHSV matrix (M) and non-virion (NV) proteins as inhibitors of the immune response. Whether there is any interplay between VHSV and aspects of the integrated stress response remain uncharacterized. In order to explore this, we first established that rainbow trout and fathead minnow cells express proteins homologous to mammalian proteins needed to form stress granules. We showed that in response to heat shock and oxidative stress, two stressors known to induce stress granule formation in mammalian cells, both fish cell types formed stress granules. Furthermore, we observed that infection by two different strains of VHSV, VHSV Ia and IVb, induces the phosphorylation of eIF2alpha and stress granule formation, albeit with different kinetics and to different extents, in their respective host species. Phosphorylation of eIF2α and the subsequent formation of stress granules is regulated by the stress-activated kinases HRI, GCN2, PERK and PKR. After estab (open full item for complete abstract)

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between risk and reward for forest rodents, particularly Eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). All experiments used giving-up density (GUD) as a tool to assess the perceived risk of predation in different habitats (forested and open), as well as sites with different levels of anthropogenic activity. Bins of counted oil seeds were placed in each habitat at different sites; seeds remaining after two-day feeding trials were collected and counted to determine GUDs. Plastic substrate and game cameras were used in a later experiment to increase foraging difficulty and observe foraging behavior. GUDs were significantly higher at the site with more anthropogenic activity, however, there was no significant difference in GUD between the forested and open habitats. Camera footage revealed many non-rodent foragers (particularly raccoons) eating seeds from the bins, which may account for the difference in GUD across sites. Future studies should consider adding a site with higher human interaction, or possibly new foraging habitats, such as an arboreal patch.

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

Early-life adversity (ELA) increases the risk for development of psychopathologies in adolescence and adulthood. Childhood neglect is a potent form of ELA and can be modeled through neonatal maternal separation. Maternal separation has been shown to alter cognition, learning and memory later in life. Here, we examined the contribution of maternal separation to the development of substance use disorder in adolescence, and whether changes in regional protein expression in the brain persist into adulthood. First, male and female rats exposed to maternal separation were compared to controls for changes in localized expression of the developmental growth factor, fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), in several brain regions using immunohistochemistry. FGF2 is known to be upregulated by cocaine experience, is protective against fear over-expression and is a candidate biomarker for vulnerability and resilience to development of comorbid psychopathologies. Next, we examined whether maternal separation impacted sensitivity in adolescence to cocaine using the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, in which one of two chambers is associated with cocaine. Learning and memory impairment was observed in the maternally separated rats during the CPP tests in adolescence as they exhibited a delay in showing preference for the previously cocaine - associated chamber compared to the control group. Finally, we collected the brain tissues of animals following maternal separation to examine changes in baseline levels of FGF-2 expression. However, due to covid-19 University closure we were unable to complete immunohistochemistry but the tissues were collected and frozen to process it at a later date. Our results will determine whether FGF-2 is a potential risk or resilience factor for the development of psychopathologies and will pave the way for future studies examining comorbid addiction and fear disorders as well as for the development of potential drug addiction treatmen (open full item for complete abstract)

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

The increasing urbanization of land has produced expansive amounts of impervious surfaces, yielding greater quantities of runoff. This runoff can carry pollutants from the surrounding area into the water system and negatively impact the water quality. A possible solution for reducing runoff from impervious surfaces is green roofs, which can absorb and filter water. To determine a green roof's effects on water quantity and quality, an experimental green roof was studied in Cleveland, Ohio. This site contains 39 test plots that differ in combinations of plant community type (restoration or horticultural), substrate type (quasi-traditional, conventional, or open space), and the presence of mycorrhizal inoculum. From October 2017 to October 2018, water samples were collected bimonthly, along with volumetric measurements of the runoff present. The samples were tested for inorganic phosphorus and total inorganic nitrogen using nutrient assays on a microplate reader. Over the duration of the experiment, total inorganic nitrogen fluxes and concentrations were too low to be of concern. Inorganic phosphorus fluxes and concentrations were initially high, but decreased as the roof aged. Building and collection materials were analyzed for phosphorus leaching, but results rather showed possible phosphorus adsorption to certain materials. Inorganic phosphorus was most heavily influenced by substrate type and may be reduced by the use of natural, non-fertilized substrates. Total inorganic nitrogen was most heavily influenced by the biological components (plant community, mycorrhizae), and may be reduced by the presence of mycorrhizae. Manipulating design aspects of green roofs may increase their potential to be improved and refined into an efficient environmental resource.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), University of Dayton, 2020, Biology

Listeria monocytogenes is Gram positive foodborne pathogen that secretes listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming toxin to establish its intracellular life cycle inside host cells. However, how the environment in the intestine that has both an oxygen gradient (low oxygen to no oxygen) and is enriched in short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) affects L. monocytogenes virulence regulation and pathogenesis has not been determined. Thus, the main goal of my thesis research is to understand the effects of anaerobicity and SCFA mixtures on L. monocytogenes pathogenesis. Chapter I compiles and summarizes current findings on the production, mechanisms of action, and potential health benefits of the SCFA propionate. Following this review, Chapter II explores the effect of propionate on growth, membrane composition, and hemolytic activity of L. monocytogenes under aerobic or anaerobic iv conditions. We further tested the effects of SCFA mixtures on the pathogenesis of two different strains of L. monocytogenes (10403s and 07PF0776) in Chapter III to better establish the relevance of our findings. Finally, Chapter IV includes preliminary in vivo results from a young and aged mouse model of infection to determine the effects of SCFAs on dissemination of L. monocytogenes strains 10403s and 07PF0776 after oral inoculation. Together these findings support that L. monocytogenes responds in a straindependent manner to SCFAs and oxygen exposure and alters the outcomes of subsequent in vitro and in vivo infections.

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

The exercise-induced hormone irisin shows therapeutic promise for reducing the damaging impact of metabolic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are major midlife risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, this project explored the potential for irisin to be used as a therapeutic in AD. We tested whether 1 month of weekly injections of recombinant human irisin would reduce neuroinflammation and tau pathology (i.e. tau hyperphosphorylation) in a transgenic mouse model (htau mice) that develops damaging tauopathy in the brain similar to what is seen in Alzheimer's patients. Intraperitoneal injections of either 100 ug/mg of irisin or saline vehicle control were delivered to female and male htau mice and C57BL6J mice, a non-transgenic background-relevant strain we used as controls. After the 1-month treatment period, mice were sacrificed for brain tissue and blood collection. We used capillary-based Western blotting to measure tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) as a surrogate indicator of inflammation in brain (hippocampus) and serum as well as hyper-phosphorylated tau (ptau) expression in hippocampus. Our results showed that irisin-treated female htau mice had significantly decreased TNFα and ptau in the hippocampus, along with a reduction of serum TNFα. Irisin-treated male htau did not show this therapeutic effect, and in fact, TNFα was significantly increased in these mice. These data support irisin's potential as a therapeutic in AD-associated tau pathology and neuroinflammation. Further investigation needs to be done to fully understand the sex difference in this therapeutic effect and the precise mechanism by which irisin protects against these AD-related brain changes.

Master of Science (M.S.), University of Dayton, 2020, Biology

There are many ways in which microbiomes can influence the health and fitness of their insect hosts. While much research has been done on the microbiomes of economically important species like honeybees, and charismatic groups like butterflies, little work has been done to understand the microbiome of grasshoppers and katydids. Grasshoppers are an important herbivore in grassland ecosystems and provide important ecosystem services like nutrient cycling. Alternatively, grasshoppers can be a pest organism requiring management and control. In relationship to the total ecosystem, the limitation of abiotic factors like essential nutrients can influence the abundance and fitness of insect herbivores such as grasshoppers. However, the effect of these abiotic factors on grasshopper microbiomes is largely unknown. Using culture-independent, high-throughput 16s and ITS sequencing and statistical analysis, we examined the gut microbiome of six species of grasshoppers (n=60) from the site of a fully-factorial fertilization experiment in a coastal tallgrass prairie ecosystem in order to gain a better understanding of the microbial communities present across the orthopteran order in this ecosystem. We also examined the relationship between environmental nutrients and gut microbes of one orthopteran species, Orchelimum vulgare. Our observations support the hypothesis that there is a “core” group of bacterial families in these grasshopper species and factors such as trophic behaviors and the evolution of the host may contribute to the shifts in prevalence among these core microbial groups. We also found significantly higher Shannon diversity in the gut bacterial communities of those grasshoppers from plots fertilized with added sodium in contrast to plots without sodium. There is significantly lower diversity in gut fungal communities from plots amended with nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as sodium, suggesting that both nitrogen and phosphorus and sodium are limiting nutrients fo (open full item for complete abstract)

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology

For many decades, the notion that bone adapts based on mechanical loading has been utilized by bioarchaeologists, anatomists, paleontologists and many educators. Understanding how bone is altered during life is critical in making inferences about the past. For decades, the interplay between genetics and environmental factors on bone morphology has been widely debated. Wolff's Law is an outdated law that states that bone adapts to mechanical loading. Wolff's Law is not a rigorous law, it is merely a hypothesis. The concept does not take into account new discoveries that have occurred after the late 19th century: such as genetics, epigenetic factors, hormonal factors, signaling factors, the age of bone, etc. In this review, the need for a revision of the basic ideas of Wolff's “law” is demonstrated through the analysis of the previous reviews of Wolff's Law (Bertram and Swartz, 1991; Lovejoy et al., 2002; Pearson and Lieberman, 2004; Ruff et al., 2006). New studies are also investigated to further prove the major role of genetics in bone morphology (Serrat et al., 2003). Bone morphology is indeed a complex subject, and an outdated and vague disproven law should not be used to explain the effects of mechanical loading on bone remodeling. Thus, it should no longer be called Wolff's “law,” but perhaps a principle on bone functional adaptation (Bertram and Swartz, 1991; Pearson and Lieberman, 2004; Ruff et al., 2006).

BS, Kent State University, 2020, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Biological Sciences

The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy of a fluorogold bound conjugate in labeling neuroendocrine circuits of the median eminence and paraventricular nucleus in the hypothalamus. Fluorogold is a retrograde tracer that is detectable by confocal microscopy and can be linked to gadolinium DOTA to be detectable by MRI. The fluorogold bound conjugate labels neuroendocrine cells with axon terminals that extend beyond the blood-brain barrier following an intraperitoneal injection. 72 hours after injection, MR images were taken then mice were sacrificed and brains were extracted and sliced to be analyzed with confocal microscopy. Results show that the fluorogold bound nanoparticle was not as effective as fluorogold alone in labeling the median eminence or paraventricular nucleus hypothalamus, but there was off-target labeling in TRH neurons of the dorsal parvocellular paraventricular nucleus. This study establishes a framework for future creation of more effective particles that can be detectable by both confocal microscopy and MRI. This data will be used to understand mechanisms and to identify potential techniques to image neuroendocrine cells noninvasively, especially in the hypothalamus, as they are important for hormonal regulation of important functions within the body and dysfunction can lead to issues such as neurodegenerative disease, cardiac and respiratory dysfunction, and blood pressure abnormalities.

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2020, Biological Sciences

Efforts to restore critically imperiled midwestern oak savanna habitat are commonly guided by the living requirements of the Federally endangered Karner blue butterfly (Plebejus melissa samuelis). Studies often correlate butterfly abundance with nectar species abundance; however, the resource and habitat characteristics that determine population persistence are poorly understood. We quantified the floral abundance, nectar volume and sugar concentration for twenty-two species and calculated their average nectar availability per stem. Species average nectar volume and sugar concentrations per flower were measured along with environmental variables to examine sources of nectar variation. Species-specific average nectar quality estimates were subsequently combined with previously determined stem density estimates (Walsh, 2017) in oak savanna habitats associated with Karner blue butterfly conservation. Vegetation surveys were conducted once in the spring and summer to assess patterns of potential nectar resource availability over time. This study examined how seasonal nectar availability influenced habitat quality for nectar consuming pollinators within oak savanna habitats. We found that species identity reliably predicted nectar volume and sugar concentrations with marginal variation from relative humidity and canopy cover. Species average nectar characteristics ranged between 0.02 - 2.20 μL and 3.06 - 61.26% Brix per flower. Combining nectar sugar concentration per flower with floral availability allowed us to estimate a species' nectar sugar contribution to a landscape. Rubus flagellaris and Ceanothus americanus contributed the most nectar sugar per stem in the spring and summer, respectively. The application of nectar quality data to vegetation surveys of 15 sites identified differences between site nectar sugar availability not previously detected by flowering stem density. Further investigation demonstrated sites associated with natural Karner blue butterfly occu (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2020, Pathology

Glioblastoma is a highly lethal primary intrinsic brain tumor for which no targeted therapeutic agents are effective. Despite a decade of massive efforts to comprehensively profile the genomic architecture of glioblastomas, the current standard-of-care approaches rely on non-specific mechanisms, including surgical resection, ionizing radiation, and the alkylating agent temozolomide. However, even maximal therapy affords patients a median survival of around 15 months. While genomic alterations, including the presence of IDH mutations and MGMT promoter mutations inform patient prognosis and response to therapy respectively, this knowledge has not translated into targeted therapeutics that extend survival. Here, we interrogated the epigenetic landscapes of glioblastomas and identified novel tumor dependencies. First, we investigated the active enhancer profiles of primary glioblastoma surgical resection specimens and cell models to identify glioblastoma-stem-cell specific super-enhancers. ELOVL2 is one of these super-enhancer associated genes that acts to promote glioblastoma growth and survival by maintaining cell membrane composition and allowing for efficient EGFR signaling. These findings suggest that epigenetic upregulation of a metabolic enzyme is essential for powering signaling through a critical glioblastoma growth factor receptor. Second, we identified a novel form of DNA methylation (N6-mA) in glioblastoma that occurs on adenine bases. N6-mA is highly enriched in glioblastoma tissues compared to normal astrocytes and marks silenced heterochromatin regions throughout the genome. The DNA demethylase, ALKBH1, shapes the genomic N6-mA landscape and contributes to the functional control of a number of oncogenic gene pathways that are critical for glioma stem cell survival, especially the hypoxia response pathway. These findings reveal a new class of DNA modification in human disease, describe how glioblastomas co-opt early embryogenesis epigenetic mechanisms for (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2020, Biological Sciences

ATP in the tumor microenvironment is 1,000-10,000 times higher than in normal tissues and has recently been found to play many roles in tumorigenesis, including metastasis, which is associated with up to 90% of cancer related death. Metastasis starts with a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our lab has previously described that internalization of extracellular ATP (eATP) by cancer cells (in vitro and in vivo) by macropinocytosis in human cancer cells elevates intracellular ATP levels, and enhances cell proliferation and resistance to anticancer drugs. Most recently, we have reported ATP's roles in inducing EMT and other early metastatic activities independent of TGF-beta in human lung cancer cells. Traditionally, TGF-beta has been considered to be important and necessary for EMT induction, but our published and more recent preliminary findings have prompted us to reconsider ATP as an alternative master inducer and regulator of EMT. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that ATP, like TGF-beta, is a master inducer and regulator of EMT, triggering EMT in a fashion similar to but non-identical to TGF-beta. Transwell assays revealed that addition of extracellular ATP (eATP) to human lung cancer cells induced both cell migration and invasion at higher rates than those of TGF-beta. Fluorescence microscopy exhibited that eATP treatment induced cell morphology changes indicative of EMT. ATP assays showed that eATP treatment resulted in significantly elevated intracellular ATP levels while TGF-beta treatment did not change the iATP level. This result indicates that although the treatments of eATP or TGF-beta all result in migration and invasion, they also lead to some different intracellular responses. The combined cell treatment with lower concentrations of eATP and TGF-beta led to some noticeable additive effect in invasion activity, suggesting that these two molecules may induce invasion by activating EMT through similar but non-identical sig (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2020, Biological Sciences

Unfortunately, high rates of running related injuries (RRIs) accompany this pastime. Research has repeatedly shown that RRIs are often associated with runners' biomechanics. Additionally, in populations of athletes who are not runners, researchers have found that injuries are associated with poor static and dynamic postural stability. However, there is no research to determine if there is an association between injuries and static and dynamic postural stability performance in runners. This project used Ohio University cross country runners and assessed their performance on static (Balance Error Scoring System and center of pressure total excursion velocity) and dynamic (Y-Balance Test) postural stability assessments. The correlation between performance on the static and dynamic balance tests was examined. The correlation between performance on these tests and quantifiable values for certain running biomechanical variables which have previously been associated with injuries in literature was examined. Lastly, performance on the postural stability tests as a predictor of injury incidence for the Fall 2019 cross country season was explored. Pearson correlations showed no significant correlation between performance on static and dynamic postural stability assessments. Pearson correlations also showed no significant correlations between performance on these assessments and the six biomechanical variables that were selected for examination. Lastly, a logistic regression showed that BESS scores, YBT scores, and single-limb center of pressure total excursion velocity were not predictors of injury incidence in the collegiate cross country athletes.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Entomology

Urban areas are often considered adverse environments for wildlife communities given that the colonization and establishment of local species pools are disrupted by biotic and abiotic changes at different spatial scales such as the introduction of invasive species, periodic mowing, and changes in soil and air quality. Although the number of people residing in cities has increased in the last century, over 300 cities worldwide have shrunk due to prolonged economic decline and population loss, resulting in thousands of newly available greenspaces scattered throughout cities. Consequently, interest in urban greenspaces as sites for conservation has grown considerably, raising questions about the ability of these habitats to support wildlife. As novel ecosystems, urban areas represent a set of new challenges for local species pools, yet the mechanisms driving community assembly processes within cities is a major knowledge gap. My work focused on identifying species distributions, patterns, and processes leading to the successful establishment arthropods in cities. For this, I chose to work with beetle and spider assemblages as they are considered biological indicators of environmental changes at small and large spatial scales and are taxonomically and functionally diverse predatory groups. In Chapter 1, my objective was to determine how urban greenspaces management and design impacts Carabidae and Staphylinidae beetles using taxonomic and life-history trait approaches. I found that ecological and morphological traits were good indicators of how beetles were responding to greenspace management strategies. Most species were negatively associated with building structures, while undisturbed habitats supported more hygrophilous and brachypterous beetle populations. In Chapter 2, I investigated the importance of local and landscape characteristics on spider communities using taxonomic and functional diversity approaches. I found that Pardosa milvina (Lycosidae) was the mo (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Biological Sciences (Arts and Sciences)

Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of both hospital and community-associated infections that can manifest in a wide range of diseases. These diseases range in severity from minor skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening sepsis, endocarditis and meningitis. Of rising concern is the prevalence of antibiotic resistant S. aureus strains in the population, and the lack of new antibiotics being developed to treat them. A greater understanding of the ability of S. aureus to cause infection is crucial to better inform treatments and combat these antibiotic resistant superbugs. The ability of S. aureus to cause such diverse infections can be attributed to the arsenal of virulence factors produced by the bacterium that work to both evade the human immune system and assist in pathogenesis. Many of these virulence factors have redundant or overlapping functions, and consequently, vaccines and antibiotics designed to target one or a small number of virulence factors have had limited success in combatting infection. An alternative approach to targeting individual factors has been to identify global regulators or systems that affect the expression of numerous virulence factors or virulence factor activity in the cell. Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) are a family of enzymes that have been shown to regulate virulence factor activity and assist in protein secretion in numerous bacteria. In addition, the deletion of certain PPIases has resulted in an attenuation of virulence, demonstrating their importance in infection. The objective of this dissertation was to characterize three PPIase proteins: PrsA, PpiB and trigger factor (TF) encoded by S. aureus and determine if they contribute to virulence factor production, regulation and disease. PrsA is a membrane-bound lipoprotein that has been shown to assist in protein secretion and contribute to virulence in the pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Streptococcus pyogenes. In S. aureus, PrsA was f (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Introduced insects can compete with native species and alter population and community dynamics. To minimize these effects and potential threats to biodiversity, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms that lie behind successful colonization of novel environments by introduced species, including anthropogenic factors such as herbicides. Glyphosate, the active ingredient of Roundup, is a broad-spectrum herbicide that is commonly applied to various types of land across the world. Its application increased dramatically after the introduction of glyphosate-resistant crops, leading glyphosate to become the top-selling herbicide worldwide. Although it is so widely used, its effects on wildlife are extremely under-studied. Of the few studies examining glyphosate's effects on non-target organisms, it has been shown to affect locomotion, reproduction, memory and learning of various species of arthropods. It is necessary to understand how glyphosate may be impacting invasion success of non-native insects. The present study examines these effects on native and non-native species of crickets. Further, competition with invasive species and exposure to herbicides may reveal or emphasize existing tradeoffs between traits. For example, many crickets trade off effort devoted to reproduction and immunity. Crickets commonly face immune challenges in the wild, so it is possible that a trade-off may lie in managing exposure to agrochemicals like herbicides and investment into immune function. If present, this trade-off may be contributing to the success of non-native species competing with native species and colonizing novel environments. Therefore, in the present study, I examine the effects of glyphosate and a possible trade-off with immunity on lifespan, calling effort and fecundity in the native fall field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus and the non-native Japanese burrowing cricket Velarifictorus micado. G. pennsylvanicus and V. micado occupy a similar niche and therefore are e (open full item for complete abstract)

Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, 2020, Biological Sciences

Adipose tissue (AT) is a unique energy storage tissue able to undergo significant hypertrophy and atrophy, dependent, in part, on nutrient status. When hypertrophy is in excess and sustained, the result is obesity, a common and widespread health problem. However, when AT stores are selectively depleted or abnormally deposited, the resultant condition known as lipodystrophy can lead to comparable health outcomes as obesity. That is, either extreme in AT mass results in similar metabolic outcomes (insulin resistance, increased immune cell infiltration, and increased production of inflammatory cytokines). With either chronic obesity or lipodystrophy, AT can undergo major remodeling, which can ultimately result in unresolved chronic inflammation and AT fibrosis. Growth hormone radically alters AT mass, and mice that overexpress growth hormone (bGH mice) are lipodystrophic with a notable increase in AT fibrosis. Key players in AT fibrosis could include fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), among others. FAP has been positively correlated with ECM remodeling and its knockdown has been associated with improved metabolism in diet induced obese mice, while FGF21 is associated with increased energy expenditure yet is cleaved and inactivated by FAP. Importantly, FGF21 and FAP levels were also recently assessed in patients with acromegaly, and these molecules were suggested as a marker of tissue fibrosis and positively correlate with GH action. [1] These results provide compelling evidence that assessing the FAP/FGF21 interaction in our bGH mice will help elucidate the mechanisms underlying the relationship between GH and fibrosis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine if these molecules are altered in bGH mice. Using serum and plasma collected from bGH and littermate controls and ELISA assays, our results indicate that FAP is not significantly altered in adult bGH mice, although sex s (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, 2020, Forensic Science

The use of touch DNA in forensic investigations is becoming a popular technique. One method of detecting if something has been touched is to look for fingerprints. Knowledge of biology and years of testing for fingerprints has led to the use of a solution called p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DMAC). DMAC interacts with primary and secondary amines, such as those found in the amino acids that are secreted from the eccrine glands when fingerprints have been left at a scene. This study aims to measure the fluorescence of high and low concentrations of amino acids compared to control human DNA after treatment with DMAC solutions. The solutions were spotted onto filter paper and sandwiched between two saturated sheets containing DMAC solution. After being left in a dark room for 1-2 days. The filter paper was excited with a 455nm light source to visualize fluorescence. Photographs were taken and ImageJ was used to quantify the intensity of fluorescence captured by the images. After statistical analysis was performed, significant differences were shown by the high concentrations of the amino acids compared to the negative control, distilled water. There was no significant difference, however, with annealed and denatured DNA compared to the controls of distilled water and EDTA TE. Further research is needed to determine whether DNA can react with DMAC.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2020, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Relationships between members of Ericaceae subfamily Monotropoideae have been notoriously difficult to resolve due to convergent evolution in parasitic plants. Ghost pipes (Monotropa uniflora, L.) are fully mycoheterotrophic, meaning they obtain nutrients by parasitizing ectomycorrhizal fungi rather than through photosynthesis. The southern Ghost pipe (Monotropa brittonii, Small) was a species proposed to be distinct from the closely related and more widespread M. uniflora by John K. Small from his study of Florida flora. It has since largely been treated as a synonym of M. uniflora. Here we use several lines of evidence including genetics, morphology, host specificity, and habitat to investigate whether there is evidence to treat M. brittonii as its own species or if synonymization with M. uniflora is supported. Through morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis of Monotropa collected throughout their range in the US, we determine there is evidence for two separate lineages in Florida, one of which corresponds morphologically to the description of M. brittonii put forth by Small. We also discovered a high degree of host specificity in M. brittonii, which almost exclusively parasitize fungi in Lactifluus subgenus Lactariopsis section Albati. While M. uniflora have been shown to parasitize many species of Russulaceae, most M. brittonii were found to parasitize a single species; Lactifluus deceptivus. Through principal component analysis we found support for several morphological characters that differ significantly between the two species. Additionally, M. brittonii were almost exclusively collected from Florida scrub habitats, which are dry, shrub-dominated environments that differ greatly from the typical moist woodland habitat where M. uniflora is primarily found. Our results suggest there is genetic, morphological, and ecological support to recognize M. brittonii as a separate species from M. uniflora.