Coral reefs, found in tropical regions, are renowned for their rich biodiversity and their contributions to ecological, cultural, and economic aspects worldwide. The success of coral reefs hinges on the symbiotic partnership between corals and their dinoflagellate algae, from the family Symbiodiniaceae. The algae reside within the coral host’s gastrodermal...
The focus of this thesis is to design, characterize, and apply novel computational methods and molecular systems to interrogate heterogeneous human gut microbiome-related phenomena. In Chapter 2, I design, implement, and characterize a method for embedding co-occurrence patterns derived from massive 16s amplicon datasets. I use this method to 1....
Hop (Humulus lupulus L. var. lupulus) is a diploid, dioecious plant with an extensive history of cultivation and use in brewing, as a textile, and for its therapeutic properties. Hop is prized for its ability to produce a variety of aromatic and flavor compounds, as well as compounds with anti-microbial...
The immune system is a complex network of cellular processes working in harmony to guard us against pathogenic attack. Of utmost importance is the ability of the immune system to discriminate between “self” and “non-self” and diseased versus healthy. Recognition of antigens complexed to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules is...
Given the many significant roles that bacteria play in modern food manufacturing, it is crucial that we have a fundamental understanding of how bacterial communities assemble and behave in the food manufacturing environment. The focus of this dissertation was to investigate both the spatial and temporal distributions of microbial communities...
The Treasure Valley (TV) of Idaho is an arid valley in the southwest portion of the state that contains the state’s largest city, Boise and surrounding metropolitan area. A regional Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment was performed for the TV in 2013. This assessment documented 10% UTC for the Treasure...
This study investigated the impact of organic chromium (Cr) supplementation and flaxseed on live performance, carcass yield, serum metabolites, muscle lipid profile, histopathological aspects, and meat quality parameters. Ninety (n=90), day-old Cobb chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal-based diet containing 0% flaxseed (Control), 10% flaxseed (Diet 1) and Diet 1...
In this work, colloidal PbSe quantum dots (QDs) are shown to be synthesized in a controlled manner by changing the growth time and reaction temperature in a microwave synthesis method. It is explained why quantum dots make such a unique material to create electronic devices and the specific benefits that...
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging biological monitoring tool that can aid in assessing the effects of forestry and forest manufacturing activities on biota. Monitoring taxa across broad spatial and temporal scales is necessary to ensure forest management and forest manufacturing activities meet their environmental goals of maintaining biodiversity. Our...
The fifth volume of a five-volume series is presented. The contents are arranged under the following chapter headings: (1) Purification, (2) Effects on Materials, (3) Heaters and Coolers, (4) Radiators, Condensers, and Boilers, and (5) Applications.