No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The global demand for animal proteins is projected to rise by 14% by 2030, amplifying the environmental toll of conventional animal-based protein production. Cultivated meat technology can alleviate the growing demand for protein and address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with conventional livestock farming. However, it faces a critical challenge: the high cost of cell culture media, primarily due to the use of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Substituting serum with protein hydrolysates reduces the production expense of cultivated meat products and promotes establishing a sustainable food system. This study explores black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as an emerging ethical and cost-effective alternative protein source to replace serum in media, particularly for cultivated meat production. The development of BSFL protein isolate involved defatting the larva, followed by protein extraction. The protein isolate was then hydrolyzed using an enzyme to produce BSFL hydrolysates. The goal was to supplement the protein isolate and hydrolysates with a serum-free media (B8) and determine their efficacy in replacing the 20% serum requirement for the cell culture of Bovine Satellite Cells. The BSFL protein isolate developed had a crude protein content of 80.42% and an amino acid composition conducive to cell proliferation. Experimental concentrations, ranging from 0.006 mg/ml for hydrolysate to 0.06 mg/ml for protein isolate, exhibited enhanced cell growth. Data from dsDNA quantification revealed no significant difference in growth between cells fed serum-containing growth media (BSC-GM) and BSFL protein hydrolysate (BSFLH_1h) over a short-term study. Results from the multi-passage growth study revealed that BSFLH_1h significantly improved cell growth compared to B8 over 4 passages. However, its doubling time was slower than BSC-GM. Additionally, it was observed that the protein isolate and hydrolysate were cytotoxic at higher concentrations. In the future, identifying and removing the cytotoxic compounds can further optimize the media composition. Immunostaining using Pax7 and DAPI identified supplemented media-maintained satellite cell identity of Bovine satellite cells, offering crucial insights into cellular proliferation. Furthermore, since each cell type requires varying serum and nutrients, testing these isolates and hydrolysates on different cell lines can provide better insight into creating a universal serum-free media. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / The global demand for animal proteins is projected to rise by 14% by 2030, amplifying the environmental toll of conventional animal-based protein production. Meat, dairy, aquaculture, and eggs significantly contribute to food-related emissions and occupy a vast portion of global farmland. Cultivated meat production can alleviate the growing demand for protein and address the environmental and ethical concerns associated with conventional livestock farming. Currently, the production of cultivated meat faces a significant hurdle: the high cost of culture media, primarily attributed to the use of Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS). Substituting serum with protein isolates or hydrolysates reduce the production expense of cultivated meat products and promotes a sustainable food system. Protein isolate and hydrolysates derived from black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) are rich in protein and essential amino acids and can be used as a cost-effective alternative to serum in cell culture media. The protein isolate and hydrolysates derived from BSFL were tested as supplements to a serum-free media (B8) to evaluate their effectiveness in supporting the growth of Bovine Satellite Cells. The protein hydrolysate demonstrated enhanced cell growth at experimental concentrations. However, it could not completely replace serum requirements without slowing cell growth. Despite challenges such as cytotoxicity at higher concentrations, our study suggests that further refinements and application on various cell types can assist in creating a sustainable and affordable serum-free media for cultivated meat production.

Patterns of heterospecific matings are important to understand in order to learn about speciation. I proposed a classical signal detection model as a representation of heterospecific mating patterns in both sexes. From the model I proposed that males would be able to achieve successive heterospecific mating success, as those males were more similar to conspecifics. I also proposed that restrictive females that rejected heterospecific matings would also be more likely to reject conspecific matings. I used the sibling species Drosophila pseudoobscura and D. persimilis to examine heterospecific mating patterns in males and females. I found that males previously accepted as heterospecific mates were more likely to achieve heterospecific matings than males that had previously been rejected as heterospecific mates. This was most likely due to decreased courtship by rejected males. Males rejected heterospecifically but mated conspecifically also were less likely to achieve heterospecific matings than males that had initially been accepted as heterospecific mates. This indicated that the same males were able to achieve successive heterospecific matings, despite rejected males also having had initial mating success. This was again likely influenced by decreased courtship in rejected males. Furthermore, I found that females that rejected heterospecific males were also more likely to reject conspecific males than naive females. There was also a non-significant trend of females that previously accepted heterospecific males were more likely to again accept heterospecific males than females that had previously rejected heterospecific males. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Blow flies are often utilized in the field of forensic science due to their ability to aid in the estimation of time since death. Currently, estimations of postmortem interval require assumptions to be made and are prone to a margin of error, prompting research that may contribute to more accurate postmortem interval estimations and help to fill in the gaps of unknown information. Blow flies are necrophagous, feeding on feces and carrion, and therefore, are constantly sampling the environment. This behavior can be exploited in order to monitor the biodiversity in an environment. Through analysis of DNA isolated from the guts of blow flies, information can be obtained regarding what animals have died in an environment, what animals are still living in that environment, and the abundance and diversity of the animals present in a specific environment. Using fly-derived ingested DNA is a viable method for vertebrate resource identification and biodiversity monitoring. Over the course of a two-summer sampling period, in and around two national parks, a total of 162 blow fly (Phormia regina) samples returned a positive vertebrate DNA identification, with 33 species identified from five animal orders. Of the total number of flies collected and analyzed, 23.58% returned a positive vertebrate species identification. The method detected both abundant and common species based on National Park surveys, as well as some uncommon or unknown to the park species. In the SE region, 9 individuals belonging to the Rodentia order, 12 individuals belonging to the Artiodactyla order, 21 individuals belonging to the Carnivora order, 1 individual belonging to the Cingulata order, and 3 individuals belonging to the Lagomorph order were detected. In the SE region, 63% of the individuals detected belonged to the common category, 14% of the individuals detected belonged to the uncommon category, and 23% of the individuals detected belonged to the not in park/unknown category. In the NW region, 42 individuals belonging to the Rodentia order, 46 individuals belonging to the Artiodactyla order, and 28 individuals belonging to the Carnivora order were detected. In the NW region, 52% of the individuals detected belonged to the abundant category, 36% of the individuals detected belonged to the common category, and 12% of the individuals detected belonged to the uncommon category. The relative biodiversity of the sampled environment can be inferred. In the SE region, the Shannon Biodiversity Index was calculated to be 2.28 with an evenness of 0.844, while in the NW region, the Shannon Biodiversity Index was calculated to be 2.79 with an evenness of 0.855. Unsurprisingly, there was greater biodiversity in the Northwest Park samples than in the Southeast Park samples. Additionally, the ideal weather conditions for blow fly collection were determined be at a temperature of between 60- and 80-degrees Fahrenheit, a relative humidity between 50% and 60%, no precipitation, and a wind speed between 2 and 8 miles per hour. This information has further implications in the field of forensic science, specifically dealing with wildlife forensics, pathogen distributions, and can help to improve accuracy in regards to postmortem interval (PMI) estimations.

Yes / The present study investigated long-term drying shrinkage strains of self-compacting concrete (SCCs). For all SCCs mixes, Portland cement was replaced with 0–60% of fly ash (FA), fine and course aggregates were kept constant with 890 kg/m3 and 780 kg/m3, respectively. Two different water binder ratios of 0.44 and 0.33 were examined for both SCCs and normal concrete (NCs). Fresh properties of SCCs such as filling ability, passing ability, viscosity and resistance to segregation and hardened properties such as compressive and flexural strengths, water absorption and density of SCCs and NCs were also determined. Experimental results of drying shrinkage were compared to five existing models, namely the ACI 209R-92 model, BSEN-92 model, ACI 209R-92 (Huo) model, B3 model, and GL2000. To assess the quality of predictive models, the influence of various parameters (compressive strength, cement content, water content and relative humidity) effecting on the drying shrinkage strain as considered by the models are studied. The results showed that, using up to 60% of FA as cement replacement can produce SCC with a compressive strength as high as 30 MPa and low drying shrinkage strain. SCCs long-term drying shrinkage from 356 to 1000 days was higher than NCs. ACI 209R-92 model provided a better prediction of drying shrinkage compared with the other models. / Financial support of Higher Education of Libya (469/2009).

Yes / The impact behavior of deflection-hardening High Performance Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Concretes (HPFRCs) was evaluated herein. During the preparation of HPFRCs, fiber type and amount, fly ash to Portland cement ratio and aggregate to binder ratio were taken into consideration. HPFRC beams were tested for impact resistance using free-fall drop-weight test. Acceleration, displacement and impact load vs. time graphs were constructed and their relationship to the proposed mixture parameters were evaluated. The paper also aims to present and verify a nonlinear finite element analysis, employing the incremental nonlinear dynamic analysis, concrete damage plasticity model and contact surface between the dropped hammer and test specimen available in ABAQUS. The proposed modelling provides extensive and accurate data on structural behavior, including acceleration, displacement profiles and residual displacement results. Experimental results which are further confirmed by numerical studies show that impact resistance of HPFRC mixtures can be significantly improved by a proper mixture proportioning. In the presence of high amounts of coarse aggregates, fly ash and increased volume of hybrid fibers, impact resistance of fiberless reference specimens can be modified in a way to exhibit relatively smaller displacement results after impact loading without risking the basic mechanical properties and deflection-hardening response with multiple cracking.