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Puberty-Associated Changes In Kiss1r, Mc3r, And Mc4r In The Ewe, Ashleigh Caitlyn Thomson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The neural mechanisms that control the onset of puberty are not completely understood. In livestock, the onset of puberty relies on an increase in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Kisspeptin, neurokinin B, and dynorphin neurons (KNDy) and their receptors, Kiss1r, NK3R, and KOR, respectively, are important regulators of puberty. Previous data from our laboratory has shown that KNDy neurons may be responding to other inputs, including the melanocortin system, that will affect the timing of puberty. Given this, we examined kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1r) mRNA expression in GnRH neurons as well as examining melanocortin 3 and 4 receptor …

Effects Of Land Cover Changes And Hydropower Development On Fish Communities In Amazonian Floodplain Rivers, Samuel Baron Grinstead Hessburg

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In Amazonian River systems, diverse fish communities depend on the floodplains for providing feeding opportunities and critical spawning habitat during the seasonal flood pulse, which annually submerges floodplain forests. In the Amazon, large-scale deforestation and hydroelectric dam construction can have profound impacts on entire ecosystems by altering river-floodplain connectivity. This study attempts to improve understanding of Amazonian fish responses to these two stressors. The first chapter aims to understand how deforestation impacts floating meadow fish assemblages. For this study, we surveyed fish in floodplain lakes along the lower Amazon River, recording their abundance in relation to forest cover and local …

Traumatic Brain Injury Induces Cerebrovascular Dysfunction: Consequences For Ischemia And Cerebral Hypoperfusion, Bailey J. Whitehead

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant health concern across the United States as well as the broader globe, affecting millions of individuals on an annual basis. While most recover from their TBI and resume their lives normally, some subsets of TBI survivors continue to experience impairments and increased risk for future diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and aging related disease like Alzheimer’s Disease or VCID.

TBI remains a fundamentally difficult neurological injury to pin down mechanistically, due to the variability in severity, timing, and age of patient, among other factors. One significant factor in the pathology has consistently been …

Informing Standardized Wood Turtle (Glyptemys Insculpta) Population Monitoring: Influences Of Sampling Approach And Turtle Behavior On Model Estimation, Allyson N. Beard

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

To better understand wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) population trends, two standardized population survey protocols were recently developed for use by state monitoring programs. The protocols were independently developed, tested, and deployed for population monitoring in the eastern and upper midwestern United States. It was unknown if the sampling designs result in similar detection success or if data from the two protocols are compatible for broad-scale analyses. Additionally, neither monitoring protocol includes a sampling design that allows for the separation of detection (p) into availability (p_a), and detection given availability (p_d). …

Structural And Functional Consequences Of Pde6 Prenylation In Rod And Cone Photoreceptors, Faezeh Moakedi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Phosphodiesterase-6 (PDE6) serves as a pivotal component in the phototransduction pathways of both cone and rod photoreceptors. In cones, PDE6 consists of tetrameric subunits: inhibitory (γ') and catalytic (α'). The catalytic subunit, PDE6α', contains a C-terminal prenylation motif. Deletion of this motif is associated with achromatopsia (ACHM), a form of color blindness. The mechanisms underlying the disease and the roles of PDE6 lipidation in vision remain elusive. Meanwhile, rod PDE6 is composed of α and β catalytic subunits and γ inhibitory subunits, with alterations in the C-terminal "prenylation motif" of PDE6β linked to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) pathology. In this comprehensive …

Active Uncertainty Representation Learning: Toward More Label Efficiency In Deep Learning, Salman Mohamadi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The primary goal of this dissertation is to investigate and improve the efficiency of deep learning algorithms, especially within computer vision problem domains, from the perspective of label-efficiency. This investigation showed that deep learning algorithms are mostly notorious for the lack of uncertainty representation. Accordingly, we aimed to develop an array of deep learning frameworks rich with uncertainty representation. These frameworks are mainly within two current pillars of machine learning, deep active learning and self-supervised learning. These frameworks include deep active ensemble sampling for efficient sample selection within deep active learning, a two-stage ensemble-based general self-training approach for existing visual …

Effects Of Dietary Supplementation Of A Blend Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Multiple Live Probiotic Bacteria, And Their Fermentation Products On Performance, Health, And Rumen Bacterial Community Of Newly Weaned Beef Steers During A 56-D Receiving Period, Emily Treon

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

We examined the effects of a blend of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, multiple live probiotic bacteria and their fermentation products on performance, health, and the ruminal bacterial community of newly weaned beef steers during a 56-day receiving period. Forty newly weaned Angus crossbred steers (221 ± 25.6 kg BW; 180 ± 17 d of age) were stratified by body weight into four pens (10 steers per pen) such that each pen had a similar average body weight at the beginning of the experiment. The pens were randomly assigned to receive a corn silage basal diet (CON; n = 20) or the …

The Sex Chromosome Complement And Gut Microbiome Act Independently And Collaboratively To Impart Sex Dimorphisms In Humoral Immunity, Carly J. Amato-Menker

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Sex dimorphisms in immunity are well-documented and have significant clinical implications. While the immunomodulatory effects of sex hormones have been extensively documented, recent recognition of the nuanced contributions of the sex chromosome complement (XX vs. XY) and the gut microbiome to immune sex dimorphisms underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding. Within this context, the work herein focuses on unraveling the individual and collaborative impacts of the sex chromosome complement and gut microbiota on humoral immune activation. We assessed humoral immune responses to immunization with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae (HKSP) in Four Core Genotype (FCG) mice and found elevated IgM-secreting …

The Function Of Protein Glutamylation In Vision, Rawaa Aljammal

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Posttranslational glutamylation of protein has emerged as a novel candidate for cellular integrity. In a dynamic process, Tubulin Tyrosine Ligase Like proteins (TTLLs) introduce glutamate groups to their substrates, while Cytosolic Carboxypeptidases members (CCP1-CCP6) remove these glutamate groups. The outcome of this interplay is a wide range of substrates; each is glutamylated to a level crucial for its function.

Protein glutamylation is particularly abundant in neurons and in the axoneme of cilia and flagella. This distribution, along with the correlation between imbalanced glutamylation levels and compromised cellular functions, underscores the significance of protein glutamylation in maintaining cellular viability. However, the …

Investigating Birds As Dispersal Vectors Of Litylenchus Crenatae Subsp. Mccannii (Anguinidae), The Nematode Associated With Beech Leaf Disease, Spencer Rock Parkinson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Beech leaf disease (BLD) is an emerging forest pathogen primarily affecting American beech (Fagus grandifolia, Ehrh.) in North America and has been attributed to tree mortality of sapling sized trees within five to seven years of infection. Symptoms typically occur in regenerating American beech thickets sprouting from roots of trees killed by beech bark disease. Scientists first observed BLD in Ohio in 2012 and currently has spread to 15 states in the USA and one Canadian province. The nematode Litylenchus crenatae subsp. mccannii (Lcm) is highly associated with BLD symptoms, interveinal chlorosis and defoliation of leaves, and is currently …

Bioenergy Cropping Systems Established On Marginal Lands: Effects Of Land Use, Energy Crop, And Fertility Amendments On Soil Health, Mica M. Keck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Bioenergy crops offer a promising strategy for renewable energy production, accompanied by carbon (C) storage benefits when managed sustainably. Utilizing marginal lands for energy feedstock production presents an opportunity for bioenergy generation and concurrent climate mitigation without competing with food crops. However, achieving optimal yields requires strategies to restore soil fertility, which require increased understanding of the interactive effects of prior land use, energy crop species, and fertility amendments available. This study, conducted as part of the Mid-Atlantic Sustainable Biomass (MASBio) Consortium, investigated the effects of biochar incorporation—a C-rich charcoal derived from biomass, intended for soil enhancement—on bioenergy cropping systems …

Estradiol’S Role In Timely Puberty Onset In The Ewe, Eliana Gerardine Aerts

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In female sheep, the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus triggers luteinizing hormone (LH) to be released from the pituitary. Luteinizing hormone, in turn, acts on the ovaries to elicit estradiol (E₂) release. E₂ acts in a negative feedback manner to control the amount of LH released. The increase in LH release that drives puberty onset results from a decrease in sensitivity to E₂ as the animal ages. However, the neural mechanisms mediating this change in sensitivity are not known, as is where in the hypothalamus E₂-negative feedback occurs. In the arcuate …

Transparent And Conductive Gallium Oxide Electrode For Simultaneous Recording And Optogenetic Stimulation, Christopher Patrick Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Neural electrode technology has been around for centuries since the times of Galvani. In early electrophysiology experiments metal wires were used to induce contractions in dissected animals. The metal wire electrode has since been a standard tool to both stimulate and record neural activity. In the past two decades, a new strategy for neural stimulation has been formulated based on the emergent field of optogenetics. Optogenetics refers to the use of light-sensitive proteins genetically imbedded in the membrane of a neuron to elicit neural activity. This technique offers more selectivity in the stimulation of neurons. Typical optogenetic neural electrodes, or …

Women In Extension Persevering In Leadership Roles, Lexis Danielle Trickett

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Over the last several decades, the rates at which women have been pursuing higher levels of education have steadily increased. However, there is a discrepancy between the number of women graduating, and the amount entering the workforce, specifically in leadership roles. The purpose of this study was to share a current profile of women in the West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service by allowing them to describe their career journeys, supports and barriers they may or may not have faced, and mentoring experiences. By using a non-experimental quantitative methodology, a population of male and female Extension Agents and Specialists were surveyed …

Characterization Of Host Cell Specific Interactions During Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae Infection, Emerson Towey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Vector-borne diseases have been increasing over the past few years due to changes in climate and disturbances in the vectors’ natural environment. To mitigate the risks of these diseases, it is necessary to understand pathogen biology and how it interacts with a host to cause disease. Here we focus our attention on the tick-borne pathogen, Rickettsia rickettsii. R. rickettsii is a member of the spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsiae and is the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), a fatal human disease that is lacking an effective vaccine. Members of the bacterial genus Rickettsia are obligate intracellular endoparasites …

Anti-Listeria Of H2o2-Peroxyacetic Acid Anti-Listeria Efficacy Of A Hydrogen Peroxide-Peroxyacetic Acid Mixer In Bacterial Buffered Solution And On Bell Peppers, Peighton Denae Foster

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This study aims to 1) evaluate the efficacy of H₂O₂-peroxyacetic acid (PAA) mixer to inactivate Listeria monocytogenes in 0.1% buffered-peptone-water; 2) evaluate the reduction and mitigation of cross-contamination on peppers. For the study-1, aliquots of 1.0-ml mixer solutions (0.25, 0.50 and 0.84%) were added to the first 3-well of 8-strip-deep-well microplates. Then, the 0.1 ml of 10-fold dilution the Nalidixic-acid-resistant (NaL) L. monocytogenes was added and mixed immediately with a multichannel pipette. After exposure for 0, 5, 15, 30, and up to 120-s, 1 ml of 2×D/E neutralized solution was added to terminate the reaction followed …

Development And Application Of Functional Immune Assays To Understand Disease In Wild Smallmouth Bass Populations, Cheyenne R. Smith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Over recent decades, the scientific community has observed a disconcerting trend – a decline in the health and stability of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) populations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed with growing economic and ecological implications. Disease, declines, and death have been observed in multiple locations, particularly in the Susquehanna and Potomac drainages with the adults disproportionately affected in the Potomac River basin and young-of-year in the Susquehanna River basin. There has not been a single or consistent cause to the declines or mortality events. More likely, it is believed immunosuppression relating to a complex mixture of stressors has been …

Immune Outcomes Affected By Selection For Parasite Resistance In Katahdin Sheep, Kelsey Lynne Bentley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Our understanding of the complex connection between selection for parasite resistance and the overall health outcomes in livestock is unclear. This study investigates the impact of post-weaning fecal egg count (PFEC) estimated breeding values (EBV) on health outcomes and immune responses in Katahdin sheep. Selection for PFEC, favoring Low-PFEC lambs, not only affects survivability to weaning but also suggests broader implications for immunity beyond parasite resistance. The effect of PFEC EBV on antibody production in response to vaccination against Clostridium perfringens type C&D and tetanus toxoid (CD&T) revealed a stepwise decrease in immunoglobin (IgG) from Low-PFEC to High-PFEC groups upon …

Zoo Communication: A Study Of Stewardship With Animal Conservation In Zoos Across The United States, Abby Rachelle Lester

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis investigates the communication strategies employed by zoo professionals to promote engagement and advanec animal conservation education. Through in-depth interviews with zoo experts, the stidy explores the intricate connections between communication practices and stewardship princliples within zoo facilities. Findings from this study contribute to the understanding of effective communication in the realm of animal conservation, with implications for both zoo practitioners and conservation educators. The study delves into the effective strategies for identifying and fostering relationships with environmental stewards, alongside encouraging their involvement in zoo-based animal conservation initiatives. The theoretical implications highlight gaps in existing models, emphasizing the need …

Implementing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles To Collect Human Gait Data At Distance And Altitude For Identification And Re-Identification, Donn E. Bartram

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Gait patterns are a class of biometric information pertaining to the way a person moves and poses. Gait information is unique to each person and can be used to identify and reidentify people. Historically, this task has been achieved through the use of multiple ground-based imaging sensors. However, as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) advance, they present the opportunity to evolve the process of persons identification and re-identification. Collecting human gait data using UAVs at distances ranging from 20m to 500m and altitudes ranging from 0m to 120m is a challenging task. The current biometric data collection methods, primarily designed for …

Exogenous Factors That Impact Huntingtin Aggregation, Adam Skeens

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

While expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) domain is the immediate cause of huntingtin (htt) aggregation associated with Huntington’s Disease (HD), other cellular factors modify aggregation. These include interactions with cellular membranes, protein biding partners, molecular crowding, and proteinaceous seeds. Here, two important factors are biophysically characterized: 1) the interaction of htt with endomembranes and 2) proteinaceous seeds obtained from a variety of htt-derived peptides. In the first project, the aggregation of htt at bilayer interfaces and in the presence of divalent cations was investigated. A major cellular factor implicated in altered htt aggregation is the binding of lipids. Furthermore, the …

The Immediate Effects Of The Nunee Patellar Support On Individuals With Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, Nick Linn

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common form of anterior knee pain caused by general overuse, muscular weakness or strength imbalances, and poor movement coordination leading to abnormal alignment or mal-tracking of the patella. Recent guidelines do not recommend the use of a knee orthosis due to a lack of evidence supporting their effectiveness. A new patellar support (NuNee, K-Neesio LLC.) which uses distraction force to relieve pressure placed on the patella, has been proposed. The purpose of this study was to examine the immediate effects of the NuNee patellar support on perceived pain, biomechanics, and function in individuals with …

Relationships Between Watershed Factors And Community Size Spectra Of The Fish And Macroinvertebrate Communities Of Mid-Appalachian Streams, Jarrett Hunter Landreth

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Freshwater lotic communities are complex, dynamic, and quick to respond to changes to their environment. However, some of the specific mechanisms driving those changes are yet to be fully understood. Here, I will use the community size spectrum (CSS) approach to assess how the CSS slope, elevation, and food chain length of the fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages as well as the combined CSS of 15 mid-sized (2nd-4th order) streams in north-central West Virginia respond across gradients of watershed factors (drainage area, mean drainage slope, mean drainage elevation, drainage % forest, and stream specific conductance). Field sampling was carried out in …

The Role Of Nedd9 In Her2-Driven Breast Cancer., Marc Louis Purazo

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Tumor initiation is often driven by unrestricted proliferation. One such driver of proliferation is Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). HER2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is part of the epidermal growth factor receptor family (EFGR) that is commonly overexpressed in breast cancer. HER2 positive (+) breast cancers often respond to anti- HER2 therapy, yet many patients eventually develop resistance. Multiple mechanisms contribute to resistance, including activation of HSP90, PI3K/Akt or Src that rely on adaptor molecules (GRB2, p130cas, NEDD9). Neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally downregulated protein 9 (NEDD9) is an adaptor protein that promotes integrin signaling. We …

Optimizing Sample Collection And Data Interpretation For Effective Wastewater-Based Epidemiology In Combined Sewer Systems, Christopher Allen Anderson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

COVID-19 has spurred growth in the science surrounding wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) pertaining to the detection of severe acute respiratory virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in waste streams as an early warning signal for public health. However, the highly variable wastewater environment has made it difficult to standardize an approach for sampling and analysis, especially in locations using combined sewer infrastructure. This study addresses knowledge gaps of WBE via three specific aims: (1) to compare diurnal fluctuations of SARS-CoV-2 and the human fecal indicator, pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent samples collected during dry versus wet weather conditions; …

Rumen And Urine Amine/Phenol-Metabolome Of Beef Steers With Divergent Residual Feed Intake, Taylor S. Sidney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Cattle production is one of the most important agricultural industries in the United States. Despite its overall production efficiency, the industry is facing considerable adversities to its long-term sustainability due to population growth, decreased land availability, and the increase in global warming. Since feed efficiency imposes an immense influence on the cost of production for animals and is a major cost determinant for profitability, the improvement of feed utilization through the understanding of animal-to-animal variation in feed efficiency is pertinent to increase farm productivity and profitability. Residual feed intake (RFI) is a measure of feed efficiency and is defined as …

Artificial Light At Night Disrupts Pain Behavior And Cerebrovascular Structure In Mice, Jacob Raymond Bumgarner

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Artificial Light at Night Disrupts Pain Behavior and Cerebrovascular Structure in Mice

Jacob R. Bumgarner

Circadian rhythms are intrinsic biological processes that fluctuate in function with a period of approximately 24 hours. These rhythms are precisely synchronized to the 24- hour day of the Earth by external rhythmic signaling cues. Solar light-dark cycles are the most potent environmental signaling cue for terrestrial organisms to align internal rhythms with the external day. Proper alignment and synchrony of internal circadian rhythms with external environmental rhythms are essential for health and optimal biological function.

The modern human environment on Earth is no longer …

Effects Of Climate Change And Landscape-Scale Forest Management On Avian Communities, Abundance, And Nest Success In The Appalachian Mountains, Hannah L. Clipp

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Birds are integral components of ecosystems and account for billions of dollars in tangible benefits to humans. As such, recent continental declines of bird species have ecological and economic consequences, providing the impetus for my dissertation research. I identified knowledge gaps and proposed novel questions about how birds in the Appalachian Mountains are influenced by changing environmental conditions due to climate change and forest management. The Appalachian Mountains encompass an important biogeographical region with high conservation value due to its myriad habitats and corresponding bird species diversity. Thus, there is a critical need to evaluate the effects of shifting climate …

Meiotic Recombination In Zea Mays And Its Contribution To Genetic Diversity, Jasmine Elizabeth Freeman

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Meiotic recombination plays a vital role in shaping genome evolution by introducing genetic diversity necessary for natural selection. Recombination rates exhibit extensive variation within and between species, occurring in specific regions known as hotspots and coldspots along individual chromosomes. Maize, with its well-characterized genome, provides an excellent model for studying the nonrandom pattern of meiotic recombination. While retrotransposon activity contributes to significant intergenic variation in maize inbred lines, the genic space remains conserved in terms of gene order and sequence. To investigate recombination activity in the Bz1/Sh1 region, the maize haplotypes W22 and B73, which share genetic backgrounds but differ …

Spatial Distribution And Insect Associations Of Frangula Alnus In The Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania: Implications For Management, Jennifer S. Greenleaf

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) is an invasive European shrub that threatens to displace native vegetation in roadsides and disturbed forests in North America due to its lack of natural enemies, long leaf-out periods, and its ability to survive in a multitude of soil conditions. While well understood in its native range, information regarding F. alnus in North America is lacking. Currently, the management of this invasive shrub relies on an understanding of where it can be found and thus where treatments should be applied. This research investigated the spatial distribution patterns of F. alnus and profiled …