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Role of transmembrane protein strabismus in motor neuron migration in the zebrafish hindbrain
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
Nervous system development involves extensive cell migration, causing immature neurons to move from proliferative zones to specific locations to generate functional circuits. Defective in neuronal migration can cause severe ...
Regulation of ceramide synthase 1 in cellular stress response
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Ceramides are intimately involved in a wide range of cellular processes. In mammals, de novo ceramide synthesis is catalyzed by the 6 ceramide synthase ...
A multi-scale investigation of ecologically relevant effects of agricultural runoff on amphibians
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
Modification of landscapes for agricultural production can introduce agrochemicals into surface waters and degrade aquatic habitats used by many amphibians for breeding and larval development. Although many ecotoxicological ...
Behavioral endocrinology of female gray treefrogs, Hyla versicolor, in response to acoustic stimulation
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2008)
Particularly in organisms with a limited breeding period, females must rely on both external and physiological cues to regulate the phenology of reproduction and behavior. I investigated the relationship between male ...
Evolution of signal frequency in Neoconocephalus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) : a study of perceptual and environmental sources of selection
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] Mate-attraction signals offer an ideal opportunity to examine the sources of selection that shape traits and trait diversity, as they are very diverse ...
Sphingolipid metabolic enzymes modulate anticancer drug resistance
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT REQUEST OF AUTHOR.] One of the most challenging aspects of cancer therapy today is the problem of drug resistance. The aim of our research is to understand the molecular ...
Noise and signal transmission properties as agents of selection in the vibrational communication environment
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Members of the Enchenopa binotata species complex (Hemiptera: Membracidae) are host-specific phytophagous insects that communicate by sending vibrations through their host plants. Successful communication depends on the ...
Behavioral choice and demographic consequences of wood frog habitat selection in response to land use
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Land use is a pervasive form of disturbance affecting natural systems on Earth. My dissertation research is set within the context of a large scale project referred to as Land-use Effects on Amphibian Populations (LEAP), ...
Obesity: a growing concern about fetal nutrition
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Obesity is a growing epidemic and a major health concern in the United States and elsewhere. The Fetal Basis of Adult Disease (FBAD) theory holds that events that occur during development can permanently alter gene expression ...
The role of terrrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
I used both demographic modeling and experimental field research to evaluate the role of terrestrial habitat in the population dynamics and conservation of pond-breeding amphibians. I began by using literature data to ...
Nectar in nicotiana : pollinator associations, sources of variation, and evolutionary consequences
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
Nectar is the primary floral reward offered by plants to attract pollinators. Pollinators often exhibit a preference for certain types of nectars over others. If pollinator preferences for certain nectar traits are strong ...
The biology of the Florida scrub endemic millipede: Floridobolus penneri
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Even though millipedes provide a number of important ecosystem services, the group overall is understudied and nowadays largely ignored in the USA. Most millipedes that are well-studied occur in temperate, mesic environments, ...
Centromere function and evolution in maize (Zea mays)
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
A dispensable supernumerary chromosome present in maize, the B chromosome, was the focus of many centromere studies. First, I examine the variation in copy number of centromeric elements and other repeats among different ...
The interploidy hybridization barrier in Zea Mays L.
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
The failure of endosperm development due to interploidy crosses could be due to two reasons, neither of which has been studied on its own. 1) There is an imbalance of inherited imprinted loci in the endosperm (HAIG and ...
Differential roles for hedgehog signaling in motor neuron development
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2006)
Induction of neurons in the correct number and location is essential for the proper development and function of a nervous system. Signaling mediated by the Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins plays a vital role in ...
Identification and characterization of M cells in the mammalian conjunctiva
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
The M cell is a morphologically and functionally distinct epithelial cell found in the follicle associated epithelium (FAE) above organized lymphoid tissue at distinct locations along mucosal surfaces. By sampling antigens ...
Age effects on reproductive behavior in the treehopper umbonia crassiscornis (Hemipera: membracidae)
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2007)
In many animal species females select mates based on male age. This choice is often linked to the reproductive benefits females derive. Age-based choice is also influenced by variation in the ability of males to find and ...
Multi-scale investigations of gray treefrong movements: patterns of migration, dispersal, and gene flow
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
The movement of individuals within and among populations has been recognized as an important determinant of the persistence of species. Fragmentation of terrestrial landscapes has exacerbated the need to understand the ...
The role of the AP-1 adaptor complex in trafficking between the trans-Golgi Network and endosomal system
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae it is generally accepted that there are two routes for trafficking of proteins from the trans-Golgi network (TGN) to the vacuole. One involves direct transport from the TGN to the vacuole. The ...
Drug resistance in D. discoideum: isolation of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide resistant mutants
(University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005)
The drug 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) displays both carcinogenic and antitumor effects, a well known characteristic of many chemotherapeutic drugs. In addition 4NQO shares a similar operating mechanism with the commonly ...