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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Genome-Wide Snp Identification In Fraxinus Linking Genetic Characteristics To Tolerance Of Agrilus Planipennis, Cecelia E. Hale, Mark A. Jordan, Gloria Iriarte, Kirk Broders, Andrew J. Storer, Vamsi J. Nalam, Jordan M. Marshall Nov 2021

Genome-Wide Snp Identification In Fraxinus Linking Genetic Characteristics To Tolerance Of Agrilus Planipennis, Cecelia E. Hale, Mark A. Jordan, Gloria Iriarte, Kirk Broders, Andrew J. Storer, Vamsi J. Nalam, Jordan M. Marshall

Michigan Tech Publications

Ash (Fraxinus spp.) is one of the most widely distributed tree genera in North America. Populations of ash in the United States and Canada have been decimated by the introduced pest Agrilus planipennis (Coleoptera: Buprestidae; emerald ash borer), having negative impacts on both forest ecosystems and economic interests. The majority of trees succumb to attack by A. planipennis, but some trees have been found to be tolerant to infestation despite years of exposure. Restriction site-associated DNA (RAD) sequencing was used to sequence ash individuals, both tolerant and susceptible to A. planipennis attack, in order to identify single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) …


The Future Of Wildlife Conservation Funding: What Options Do U.S. College Students Support?, Lincoln R. Larson, Markus Nils Peterson, Richard Von Furstenberg, Victoria R. Vayer, Kangjae Jerry Lee, Daniel Y. Choi, Matt Kelly, Richelle Winkler, Et. Al Oct 2021

The Future Of Wildlife Conservation Funding: What Options Do U.S. College Students Support?, Lincoln R. Larson, Markus Nils Peterson, Richard Von Furstenberg, Victoria R. Vayer, Kangjae Jerry Lee, Daniel Y. Choi, Matt Kelly, Richelle Winkler, Et. Al

Michigan Tech Publications

Insufficient funding is a major impediment to conservation efforts around the world. In the United States, a decline in hunting participation threatens sustainability of the “user-pay, public benefit” model that has supported wildlife conservation for nearly 100 years, forcing wildlife management agencies to contemplate alternative funding strategies. We investigated support for potential funding options among diverse college students, a rapidly expanding and politically active voting bloc with a potentially powerful influence on the future of conservation. From 2018 to 2020, we surveyed 17,203 undergraduate students at public universities across 22 states. Students preferred innovative approaches to conservation funding, with 72% …


Vulnerability Of Street Trees In Upper Midwest Cities To Climate Change, Leslie A. Brandt, Gary R. Johnson, Eric A. North, Jack Faje, Annamarie Rutledge Sep 2021

Vulnerability Of Street Trees In Upper Midwest Cities To Climate Change, Leslie A. Brandt, Gary R. Johnson, Eric A. North, Jack Faje, Annamarie Rutledge

Michigan Tech Publications

Urban trees play an important role in helping cities adapt to climate change, but also are vulnerable to changes in climate themselves. We developed an approach for assessing vulnerability of urban tree species and cultivars commonly planted in cities in the United States Upper Midwest to current and projected climate change through the end of the 21st century. One hundred seventy-eight tree species were evaluated for their adaptive capacity to a suite of current and future-projected climate and urban stressors using a weighted scoring system based on an extensive literature review. These scores were then evaluated and adjusted by leading …


Tragic Trade-Offs Accompany Carnivore Coexistence In The Modern World, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, John A. Vucetich, Sophie L. Gilbert, Neil H. Carter, Kelly A. George Sep 2021

Tragic Trade-Offs Accompany Carnivore Coexistence In The Modern World, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, John A. Vucetich, Sophie L. Gilbert, Neil H. Carter, Kelly A. George

Michigan Tech Publications

Two vital policy aims—biodiversity conservation and food production—are increasingly in conflict. Efforts to evaluate trade-offs between agriculture and conservation have shaped scholarly discourse around two broad strategies to agricultural production that seek to either “share” land with biodiversity or “spare” land from agriculture. However, efforts to negotiate these trade-offs are challenged by rising concern for the welfare of individual animals, both wild and domestic. We use recent efforts to “coexist” with large carnivores to illustrate how sharing and sparing strategies both create tragic, and often unacknowledged trade-offs between livestock production and carnivore conservation. We conclude the best means of conserving …


Can Deliberative Democracy Favor A Flourishing Relationship Between Humans And Carnivores?, John A. Vucetich, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, David W. Macdonald Sep 2021

Can Deliberative Democracy Favor A Flourishing Relationship Between Humans And Carnivores?, John A. Vucetich, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, David W. Macdonald

Michigan Tech Publications

There is considerable interest in improving participatory governance in decision-making processes for the conservation of biodiversity and management of conflicts between humans and wildlife. Among the various modes of participatory governance, deliberative democracy has received virtually no attention for decisions focused on conserving biodiversity. This is surprising given that deliberative democracy is an important branch of democratic theory and is associated with decision-making processes that have been successfully applied to a wide range of complicated decisions across diverse cultural settings. Moreover, deliberative democracy has several distinctive properties that would seem to make it well-suited for many conservation decisions. First, deliberative …


Corrigendum: Bel1-Like Homeodomain Protein Blh6a Is A Negative Regulator Of Cald5h2 In Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis In Poplar (Front. Plant Sci., (2021), 12, (695223), 10.3389/Fpls.2021.695223), Qiao Wang, Xinren Dai, Hongying Pang, Yanxia Cheng, Xiong Huang, Hui Li, Xiaojing Yan, Fachuang Lu, Hairong Wei, Ronald R. Sederoff, Quanzi Li Sep 2021

Corrigendum: Bel1-Like Homeodomain Protein Blh6a Is A Negative Regulator Of Cald5h2 In Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis In Poplar (Front. Plant Sci., (2021), 12, (695223), 10.3389/Fpls.2021.695223), Qiao Wang, Xinren Dai, Hongying Pang, Yanxia Cheng, Xiong Huang, Hui Li, Xiaojing Yan, Fachuang Lu, Hairong Wei, Ronald R. Sederoff, Quanzi Li

Michigan Tech Publications

When originally published, the article title contained a typographical error. The correct gene name should be “CAld5H2” instead of “CAl5H2” as originally published. The correct title is “BEL1-like Homeodomain Protein BLH6a is a Negative Regulator of CAld5H2 in Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis in Poplar.” The authors state that this does not change the scientific conclusions of the article in any way. The original article has been updated.


Incorporation Of Biochar To Improve Mechanical, Thermal And Electrical Properties Of Polymer Composites, Chinmoyee Das, Sandeep Tamrakar, Alper Kiziltas, Xinfeng Xie Aug 2021

Incorporation Of Biochar To Improve Mechanical, Thermal And Electrical Properties Of Polymer Composites, Chinmoyee Das, Sandeep Tamrakar, Alper Kiziltas, Xinfeng Xie

Michigan Tech Publications

The strive for utilization of green fillers in polymer composite has increased focus on application of natural biomass-based fillers. Biochar has garnered a lot of attention as a filler material and has the potential to replace conventionally used inorganic mineral fillers. Biochar is a carbon rich product obtained from thermochemical conversion of biomass in nitrogen environment. In this review, current studies dealing with incorporation of biochar in polymer matrices as a reinforcement and conductive filler were addressed. Each study mentioned here is nuanced, while addressing the same goal of utilization of biochar as a filler. In this review paper, an …


Improved Forest Management As A Natural Climate Solution: A Review, Lilli Kaarakka, Meredith Cornett, Grant Domke, Todd A. Ontl, Laura E. Dee Jul 2021

Improved Forest Management As A Natural Climate Solution: A Review, Lilli Kaarakka, Meredith Cornett, Grant Domke, Todd A. Ontl, Laura E. Dee

Michigan Tech Publications

Natural climate solutions (NCS), a set of land management, conservation and restoration practices aimed at mitigating climate change, have been introduced as cost-effective strategies to increase carbon (C) sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems. Improved forest management (IFM) has been identified as one NCS for working forests with substantial climate change mitigation potential. However, there is a disconnect between the policy and carbon markets context and the scientific evidence for verifiable C benefits. Further, forest soil C—the largest forest C pool—has largely been excluded from current forest management guidelines and has not been included in the IFM discourse. Herein, we assess the …


Coarse Woody Debris Decomposition Assessment Tool: Model Validation And Application, Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew Burton, Martin Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner Jul 2021

Coarse Woody Debris Decomposition Assessment Tool: Model Validation And Application, Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew Burton, Martin Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner

Michigan Tech Publications

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is a significant component of the forest biomass pool; hence a model is warranted to predict CWD decomposition and its role in forest carbon (C) and nutrient cycling under varying management and climatic conditions. A process-based model, CWDDAT (Coarse Woody Debris Decomposition Assessment Tool) was calibrated and validated using data from the FACE (Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) Wood Decomposition Experiment utilizing pine (Pinus taeda), aspen (Populous tremuloides) and birch (Betula papyrifera) on nine Experimental Forests (EF) covering a range of climate, hydrology, and soil conditions across the continental USA. The model predictions were evaluated against …


The Motion Of Trees In The Wind: A Data Synthesis, Toby D. Jackson, Sarab Sethi, Ebba Dellwik, Nikolas Angelou, Amanda Bunce, Tim Van Emmerik, Mark Rudnicki, Et. Al. Jul 2021

The Motion Of Trees In The Wind: A Data Synthesis, Toby D. Jackson, Sarab Sethi, Ebba Dellwik, Nikolas Angelou, Amanda Bunce, Tim Van Emmerik, Mark Rudnicki, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Interactions between wind and trees control energy exchanges between the atmosphere and forest canopies. This energy exchange can lead to the widespread damage of trees, and wind is a key disturbance agent in many of the world's forests. However, most research on this topic has focused on conifer plantations, where risk management is economically important, rather than broadleaf forests, which dominate the forest carbon cycle. This study brings together tree motion time-series data to systematically evaluate the factors influencing tree responses to wind loading, including data from both broadleaf and coniferous trees in forests and open environments. We found that …


A Systems Biology Approach Identifies A Regulator, Bplerf1, Of Cold Tolerance In Betula Platyphylla, Kaiwen Lv, Wenqi Wu, Hairong Wei, Guifeng Liu Jun 2021

A Systems Biology Approach Identifies A Regulator, Bplerf1, Of Cold Tolerance In Betula Platyphylla, Kaiwen Lv, Wenqi Wu, Hairong Wei, Guifeng Liu

Michigan Tech Publications

Cold is an abiotic stress that can greatly affect the growth and survival of plants. Here, we reported that an AP2/ERF family gene, BplERF1, isolated from Betula platyphylla played a contributing role in cold stress tolerance. Overexpression of BplERF1 in B. platyphylla transgenic lines enhanced cold stress tolerance by increasing the scavenging capability and reducing H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in transgenic plants. Construction of BplERF-mediated multilayered hierarchical gene regulatory network (ML-hGRN), using Top-down GGM algorithm and the transcriptomic data of BplERF1 overexpression lines, led to the identification of five candidate target genes of BplERF1 which include MPK20, …


Bel1-Like Homeodomain Protein Blh6a Is A Negative Regulator Of Cal5h2 In Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis In Poplar, Qiao Wang, Xinren Dai, Hongying Pang, Yanxia Cheng, Xiong Huang, Hui Li, Hairong Wei, Et. Al. Jun 2021

Bel1-Like Homeodomain Protein Blh6a Is A Negative Regulator Of Cal5h2 In Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis In Poplar, Qiao Wang, Xinren Dai, Hongying Pang, Yanxia Cheng, Xiong Huang, Hui Li, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Lignin is one of the major components of xylem cell walls in tree stems. The lignin in the wood of most flowering plants (dicotyledonous angiosperms) is typically polymerized from three monolignol precursors, coniferyl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, and p-coumaroyl alcohol, resulting in guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S), and hydroxyphenyl (H) subunits, respectively. In this study, we focus on the transcriptional regulation of a coniferaldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAld5H2) gene, which encodes a key enzyme for sinapyl alcohol biosynthesis. We carried out a yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) screen to identify candidate upstream transcription factors (TFs) regulating CAld5H2. We obtained 12 upstream TFs …


Successful Management Of Invasive Rats Across A Fragmented Landscape, Sarah K. Barney, Devin R. Leopold, Kainana Francisco, David J. Flaspohler, Tadashi Fukami, Christian P. Giardina, Daniel S. Gruner, Jessie L. Knowlton, William C. Pitt, Erin E. Wilson Rankin Jun 2021

Successful Management Of Invasive Rats Across A Fragmented Landscape, Sarah K. Barney, Devin R. Leopold, Kainana Francisco, David J. Flaspohler, Tadashi Fukami, Christian P. Giardina, Daniel S. Gruner, Jessie L. Knowlton, William C. Pitt, Erin E. Wilson Rankin

Michigan Tech Publications

Summary Introduced mammalian predators are responsible for the decline and extinction of many native species, with rats (genus Rattus) being among the most widespread and damaging invaders worldwide. In a naturally fragmented landscape, we demonstrate the multi-year effectiveness of snap traps in the removal of Rattus rattus and Rattus exulans from lava-surrounded forest fragments ranging in size from 10 ha. Relative to other studies, we observed low levels of fragment recolonization. Larger rats were the first to be trapped, with the average size of trapped rats decreasing over time. Rat removal led to distinct shifts in the foraging height and …


Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Of A Regenerable Maize Inbred Line A188, Guifang Lin, Cheng He, Jun Zheng, Dal Hoe Koo, Ha Le, Huakun Zheng, Hairong Wei, Et. Al. Jun 2021

Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly Of A Regenerable Maize Inbred Line A188, Guifang Lin, Cheng He, Jun Zheng, Dal Hoe Koo, Ha Le, Huakun Zheng, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Background: The maize inbred line A188 is an attractive model for elucidation of gene function and improvement due to its high embryogenic capacity and many contrasting traits to the first maize reference genome, B73, and other elite lines. The lack of a genome assembly of A188 limits its use as a model for functional studies. Results: Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of A188 using long reads and optical maps. Comparison of A188 with B73 using both whole-genome alignments and read depths from sequencing reads identify approximately 1.1 Gb of syntenic sequences as well as extensive structural variation, including …


Coarse Woody Debris Decomposition Assessment Tool: Model Development And Sensitivity Analysis, Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew Burton, Martin Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner Jun 2021

Coarse Woody Debris Decomposition Assessment Tool: Model Development And Sensitivity Analysis, Zhaohua Dai, Carl C. Trettin, Andrew Burton, Martin Jurgensen, Deborah S. Page-Dumroese, Brian T. Forschler, Jonathan S. Schilling, Daniel L. Lindner

Michigan Tech Publications

Coarse woody debris (CWD) is an important component in forests, hosting a variety of organisms that have critical roles in nutrient cycling and carbon (C) storage. We developed a process-based model using literature, field observations, and expert knowledge to assess woody debris decomposition in forests and the movement of wood C into the soil and atmosphere. The sensitivity analysis was conducted against the primary ecological drivers (wood properties and ambient conditions) used as model inputs. The analysis used eighty-nine climate datasets from North America, from tropical (14.2° N) to boreal (65.0° N) zones, with large ranges in annual mean temperature …


Transcriptome-Wide Identification And Characterization Of Micrornas In Diverse Phases Of Wood Formation In Populus Trichocarpa, Ruiqi Wang, Mengxuan Reng, Shuanghui Tian, Cong Liu, He Cheng, Yingying Liu, Hairong Wei, Et. Al. Jun 2021

Transcriptome-Wide Identification And Characterization Of Micrornas In Diverse Phases Of Wood Formation In Populus Trichocarpa, Ruiqi Wang, Mengxuan Reng, Shuanghui Tian, Cong Liu, He Cheng, Yingying Liu, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

We applied miRNA expression profiling method to Populus trichocarpa stems of the three developmental stages, primary stem (PS), transitional stem (TS), and secondary stem (SS), to investigate miRNA species and their regulation on lignocellulosic synthesis and related processes. We obtained 892, 872, and 882 known miRNAs and 1727, 1723, and 1597 novel miRNAs, from PS, TS, and SS, respectively. Comparisons of these miRNA species among different developmental stages led to the identification of 114, 306, and 152 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs), which had 921, 2639, and 2042 candidate target genes (CTGs) in the three respective stages of the same order. …


The Diverse Roles Of Cytokinins In Regulating Leaf Development, Wenqi Wu, Kang Du, Xiangyang Kang, Hairong Wei Jun 2021

The Diverse Roles Of Cytokinins In Regulating Leaf Development, Wenqi Wu, Kang Du, Xiangyang Kang, Hairong Wei

Michigan Tech Publications

Leaves provide energy for plants, and consequently for animals, through photosynthesis. Despite their important functions, plant leaf developmental processes and their underlying mechanisms have not been well characterized. Here, we provide a holistic description of leaf developmental processes that is centered on cytokinins and their signaling functions. Cytokinins maintain the growth potential (pluripotency) of shoot apical meristems, which provide stem cells for the generation of leaf primordia during the initial stage of leaf formation; cytokinins and auxins, as well as their interaction, determine the phyllotaxis pattern. The activities of cytokinins in various regions of the leaf, especially at the margins, …


Beyond Planning Tools: Experiential Learning In Climate Adaptation Planning And Practices, Kristen M. Schmitt, Todd A. Ontl, Stephen D. Handler, Maria K. Janowiak, Leslie A. Brandt, Patricia Butler-Leopold, P. Danielle Shannon, Courtney L. Peterson, Christopher W. Swanston May 2021

Beyond Planning Tools: Experiential Learning In Climate Adaptation Planning And Practices, Kristen M. Schmitt, Todd A. Ontl, Stephen D. Handler, Maria K. Janowiak, Leslie A. Brandt, Patricia Butler-Leopold, P. Danielle Shannon, Courtney L. Peterson, Christopher W. Swanston

Michigan Tech Publications

In the past decade, several dedicated tools have been developed to help natural resources professionals integrate climate science into their planning and implementation; however, it is unclear how often these tools lead to on-the-ground climate adaptation. Here, we describe a training approach that we developed to help managers effectively plan to execute intentional, climate-informed actions. This training approach was developed through the Climate Change Response Framework (CCRF) and uses active and focused work time and peer-to-peer interaction to overcome observed barriers to using adaptation planning tools. We evaluate the effectiveness of this approach by examining participant evaluations and outlining the …


Measuring Dynamic Changes In The Spatial Pattern And Connectivity Of Surface Waters Based On Landscape And Graph Metrics: A Case Study Of Henan Province In Central China, Bo Mu, Guohang Tian, Gengyu Xin, Miao Hu, Panpan Yang, Yiwen Wang, Hao Xie, Audrey L. Mayer, Yali Zhang May 2021

Measuring Dynamic Changes In The Spatial Pattern And Connectivity Of Surface Waters Based On Landscape And Graph Metrics: A Case Study Of Henan Province In Central China, Bo Mu, Guohang Tian, Gengyu Xin, Miao Hu, Panpan Yang, Yiwen Wang, Hao Xie, Audrey L. Mayer, Yali Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

An understanding of the scientific layout of surface water space is crucial for the sustainable development of human society and the ecological environment. The objective of this study was to use land-use/land-cover data to identify the spatiotemporal dynamic change processes and the influencing factors over the past three decades in Henan Province, central China. Multidisciplinary theories (landscape ecology and graph theory) and methods (GIS spatial analysis and SPSS correlation analysis) were used to quantify the dynamic changes in surface water pattern and connectivity. Our results revealed that the water area decreased significantly during the periods of 1990–2000 and 2010–2018 due …


Research Inequity In The Plant Sciences, Theresa M. Culley, Megan Philpott, Robert Tunison, Benjamin J. Merritt, José M. Barreiro Sanchez, Alexis Wafer, Rebecca Holdren Apr 2021

Research Inequity In The Plant Sciences, Theresa M. Culley, Megan Philpott, Robert Tunison, Benjamin J. Merritt, José M. Barreiro Sanchez, Alexis Wafer, Rebecca Holdren

Michigan Tech Publications

Do all plant biologists worldwide have equal access to novel methods, enabling them to be equally productive, publish, and receive credit for their research? Or does reduced access to cutting-edge techniques in countries with lower financial resources create an inequity for researchers located there? Such disparities and biases do exist within our discipline and must be addressed if we are to move forward as a more just society. Applications in Plant Sciences has taken steps to address this important issue of research inequity, as outlined below. We now call upon the entire botanical community—researchers, editors and reviewers, funding agencies, and …


Comparing Genetic Diversity In Three Threatened Oaks, Emma Suzuki Spence, Jeremie B. Fant, Oliver Gailing, M. Patrick Griffith, Kayri Havens, Andrew L. Hipp, Priyanka Dipak Kadav, Andrea Kramer, Patrick Thompson, Raakel Toppila, Murphy Westwood, Jordan Wood, Bethany A. Zumwalde, Sean Hoban Apr 2021

Comparing Genetic Diversity In Three Threatened Oaks, Emma Suzuki Spence, Jeremie B. Fant, Oliver Gailing, M. Patrick Griffith, Kayri Havens, Andrew L. Hipp, Priyanka Dipak Kadav, Andrea Kramer, Patrick Thompson, Raakel Toppila, Murphy Westwood, Jordan Wood, Bethany A. Zumwalde, Sean Hoban

Michigan Tech Publications

Genetic diversity is a critical resource for species’ survival during times of environmental change. Conserving and sustainably managing genetic diversity requires understanding the distribution and amount of genetic diversity (in situ and ex situ) across multiple species. This paper focuses on three emblematic and IUCN Red List threatened oaks (Quercus, Fagaceae), a highly speciose tree genus that contains numerous rare species and poses challenges for ex situ conservation. We compare the genetic diversity of three rare oak species-Quercus georgiana, Q. oglethorpensis, and Q. boyntonii-to common oaks; investigate the correlation of range size, population size, and the abiotic environment with genetic …


Intended And Unintended Consequences Of Wolf Restoration To Yellowstone And Isle Royale National Parks, Douglas W. Smith, Rolf O. Peterson Apr 2021

Intended And Unintended Consequences Of Wolf Restoration To Yellowstone And Isle Royale National Parks, Douglas W. Smith, Rolf O. Peterson

Michigan Tech Publications

Wolves (Canis lupus), a once widely distributed species, were systematically removed from many temperate zone ecosystems due to conflicts with humans. A change in human attitudes and cultural norms has brought about a recovery in some suitable areas, yet reintroductions are still controversial. Two notable reintroduction areas in the United States were Yellowstone and Isle Royale National Parks. Both proposals caused polarization and debate. In Yellowstone opposition focused on outside the park effects, mainly wolves killing livestock and wild game also desired by human hunters. At Isle Royale, opposition was mostly about human interventions into nature and impairment of wilderness …


Hb-Pls: A Statistical Method For Identifying Biological Process Or Pathway Regulators By Integrating Huber Loss And Berhu Penalty With Partial Least Squares Regression, Wenping Deng, Kui Zhang, Cheng He, Sanzhen Liu, Hairong Wei Mar 2021

Hb-Pls: A Statistical Method For Identifying Biological Process Or Pathway Regulators By Integrating Huber Loss And Berhu Penalty With Partial Least Squares Regression, Wenping Deng, Kui Zhang, Cheng He, Sanzhen Liu, Hairong Wei

Michigan Tech Publications

Gene expression data features high dimensionality, multicollinearity, and non-Gaussian distribution noise, posing hurdles for identification of true regulatory genes controlling a biological process or pathway. In this study, we integrated the Huber loss function and the Berhu penalty (HB) into partial least squares (PLS) framework to deal with the high dimension and multicollinearity property of gene expression data, and developed a new method called HB-PLS regression to model the relationships between regulatory genes and pathway genes. To solve the Huber-Berhu optimization problem, an accelerated proximal gradient descent algorithm with at least 10 times faster than the general convex optimization solver …


Finding Purpose In The Conservation Of Biodiversity By The Commingling Of Science And Ethics, John A. Vucetich, Ewan A. Macdonald, Dawn Burnham, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, Dominic D.P. Johnson, David W. Macdonald Mar 2021

Finding Purpose In The Conservation Of Biodiversity By The Commingling Of Science And Ethics, John A. Vucetich, Ewan A. Macdonald, Dawn Burnham, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, Dominic D.P. Johnson, David W. Macdonald

Michigan Tech Publications

Averting the biodiversity crisis requires closing a gap between how humans tend to behave, individually and collectively, and how we ought to behave—“ought to” in the sense of behaviors required to avert the biodiversity crisis. Closing that gap requires synthesizing insight from ethics with insights from social and behavioral sciences. This article contributes to that synthesis, which presents in several provocative hypotheses: (i) Lessening the biodiversity crisis requires promoting pro-conservation behavior among humans. Doing so requires better scientific understanding of how one’s sense of purpose in life affects conservation-relevant behaviors. Psychology and virtue-focused ethics indicate that behavior is importantly influenced …


Bird Communities In African Cocoa Agroforestry Are Diverse But Lack Specialized Insectivores, Crinan Jarrett, Thomas B. Smith, Tabe T.R. Claire, Diogo F. Ferreira, Melanie Tchoumbou, Malange N.F. Elikwo, Jared D. Wolfe, Kristin Brzeski, Andreanna J. Welch, Rachid Hanna, Luke L. Powell Mar 2021

Bird Communities In African Cocoa Agroforestry Are Diverse But Lack Specialized Insectivores, Crinan Jarrett, Thomas B. Smith, Tabe T.R. Claire, Diogo F. Ferreira, Melanie Tchoumbou, Malange N.F. Elikwo, Jared D. Wolfe, Kristin Brzeski, Andreanna J. Welch, Rachid Hanna, Luke L. Powell

Michigan Tech Publications

Forests are being converted to agriculture throughout the Afrotropics, driving declines in sensitive rainforest taxa such as understorey birds. The ongoing expansion of cocoa agriculture, a common small-scale farming commodity, has contributed to the loss of 80% rainforest cover in some African countries. African cocoa farms may provide habitat for biodiversity, yet little is known about their suitability for vertebrate fauna, or the effect of farm management on animal communities. Here, we report the first in-depth investigation into avian diversity and community composition in African cocoa, by assembling a dataset of 9,566 individual birds caught across 83 sites over 30 …


Birds And Bioenergy Within The Americas: A Cross‐National, Social–Ecological Study Of Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs, Jessie L. Knowlton, Kathleen E. Halvorsen, David J. Flaspohler, Christopher R. Webster, Jesse Abrams, Sara M. Almeida, Stefan L. Arriaga‐Weiss, Brad Barnett, Maíra R. Cardoso, Pablo V. Cerqueira, Diana Córdoba, Marcos Persio Dantas‐Santos, Jennifer L. Dunn, Amarella Eastmond, Gina M. Jarvi, Julian A. Licata, Ena Mata‐Zayas, Rodrigo Medeiros, M. Azahara Mesa‐Jurado, Lízbeth Yamily Moo‐Culebro, Cassandra Moseley, Erik Nielsen, Colin Phifer, Erin Pischke, Chelsea Schelly, Theresa Selfa, Chelsea A. Silva, Tatiana Souza, Sam R. Sweitz Mar 2021

Birds And Bioenergy Within The Americas: A Cross‐National, Social–Ecological Study Of Ecosystem Service Tradeoffs, Jessie L. Knowlton, Kathleen E. Halvorsen, David J. Flaspohler, Christopher R. Webster, Jesse Abrams, Sara M. Almeida, Stefan L. Arriaga‐Weiss, Brad Barnett, Maíra R. Cardoso, Pablo V. Cerqueira, Diana Córdoba, Marcos Persio Dantas‐Santos, Jennifer L. Dunn, Amarella Eastmond, Gina M. Jarvi, Julian A. Licata, Ena Mata‐Zayas, Rodrigo Medeiros, M. Azahara Mesa‐Jurado, Lízbeth Yamily Moo‐Culebro, Cassandra Moseley, Erik Nielsen, Colin Phifer, Erin Pischke, Chelsea Schelly, Theresa Selfa, Chelsea A. Silva, Tatiana Souza, Sam R. Sweitz

Michigan Tech Publications

Although renewable energy holds great promise in mitigating climate change, there are socioeconomic and ecological tradeoffs related to each form of renewable energy. Forest‐related bioenergy is especially controversial, because tree plantations often replace land that could be used to grow food crops and can have negative impacts on biodiversity. In this study, we examined public perceptions and ecosystem service tradeoffs between the provisioning services associated with cover types associated with bioenergy crop (feedstock) production and forest habitat‐related supporting services for birds, which themselves provide cultural and regulating services. We combined a social survey‐based assessment of local values and perceptions with …


Early Bud-Break 1 And Early Bud-Break 3 Control Resumption Of Poplar Growth After Winter Dormancy, Abdul Azeez, Yiru Chen Zhao, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Yordan S. Yordanov, Madhumita Dash, Pal Miskolczi, Katja Stojkovic, Steven H. Strauss, Rishikesh P. Bhalerao, Victor Busov Feb 2021

Early Bud-Break 1 And Early Bud-Break 3 Control Resumption Of Poplar Growth After Winter Dormancy, Abdul Azeez, Yiru Chen Zhao, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Yordan S. Yordanov, Madhumita Dash, Pal Miskolczi, Katja Stojkovic, Steven H. Strauss, Rishikesh P. Bhalerao, Victor Busov

Michigan Tech Publications

Bud-break is an economically and environmentally important process in trees and shrubs from boreal and temperate latitudes, but its molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we show that two previously reported transcription factors, EARLY BUD BREAK 1 (EBB1) and SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE-Like (SVL) directly interact to control bud-break. EBB1 is a positive regulator of bud-break, whereas SVL is a negative regulator of bud-break. EBB1 directly and negatively regulates SVL expression. We further report the identification and characterization of the EBB3 gene. EBB3 is a temperature-responsive, epigenetically-regulated, positive regulator of bud-break that provides a direct link to activation of the cell …


Thinking Big And Thinking Small: A Conceptual Framework For Best Practices In Community And Stakeholder Engagement In Food, Energy, And Water Systems, Andrew Kliskey, Paula Williams, David L. Griffith, Virginia H. Dale, Chelsea Schelly, Anna Maria Marshall, Valoree Gagnon, Weston M. Eaton, Kristin Floress Feb 2021

Thinking Big And Thinking Small: A Conceptual Framework For Best Practices In Community And Stakeholder Engagement In Food, Energy, And Water Systems, Andrew Kliskey, Paula Williams, David L. Griffith, Virginia H. Dale, Chelsea Schelly, Anna Maria Marshall, Valoree Gagnon, Weston M. Eaton, Kristin Floress

Michigan Tech Publications

Community and stakeholder engagement is increasingly recognized as essential to science at the nexus of food, energy, and water systems (FEWS) to address complex issues surrounding food and energy production and water provision for society. Yet no comprehensive framework exists for supporting best practices in community and stakeholder engagement for FEWS. A review and meta‐synthesis were undertaken of a broad range of existing models, frameworks, and toolkits for community and stakeholder engagement. A framework is proposed that comprises situational awareness of the FEWS place or problem, creation of a suitable culture for engagement, focus on power‐sharing in the engagement process, …


Genome Sequence And Evolution Of Betula Platyphylla, Su Chen, Yucheng Wang, Lili Yu, Tao Zheng, Sui Wang, Zhen Yue, Sapna Kumari, Hairong Wei, Et. Al. Feb 2021

Genome Sequence And Evolution Of Betula Platyphylla, Su Chen, Yucheng Wang, Lili Yu, Tao Zheng, Sui Wang, Zhen Yue, Sapna Kumari, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Betula L. (birch) is a pioneer hardwood tree species with ecological, economic, and evolutionary importance in the Northern Hemisphere. We sequenced the Betula platyphylla genome and assembled the sequences into 14 chromosomes. The Betula genome lacks evidence of recent whole-genome duplication and has the same paleoploidy level as Vitis vinifera and Prunus mume. Phylogenetic analysis of lignin pathway genes coupled with tissue-specific expression patterns provided clues for understanding the formation of higher ratios of syringyl to guaiacyl lignin observed in Betula species. Our transcriptome analysis of leaf tissues under a time-series cold stress experiment revealed the presence of the MEKK1–MKK2–MPK4 …


Bacterium-Enabled Transient Gene Activation By Artificial Transcription Factor For Resolving Gene Regulation In Maize, Mingxia Zhao, Zhao Peng, Yang Qin, Ling Zhang, Bin Tian, Yueying Chen, Hairong Wei, Et. Al. Feb 2021

Bacterium-Enabled Transient Gene Activation By Artificial Transcription Factor For Resolving Gene Regulation In Maize, Mingxia Zhao, Zhao Peng, Yang Qin, Ling Zhang, Bin Tian, Yueying Chen, Hairong Wei, Et. Al.

Michigan Tech Publications

Cellular functions are diversified through intricate transcription regulations, and an understanding gene regulation networks is essential to elucidating many developmental processes and environmental responses. Here, we employed the Transcriptional-Activator Like effectors (TALes), which represent a family of transcription factors that are synthesized by members of the γ-proteobacterium genus Xanthomonas and secreted to host cells for activation of targeted host genes. Through delivery by the maize pathogen, Xanthomonas vasicola pv. vasculorum, designer TALes (dTALes), which are synthetic TALes, were used to induce the expression of the maize gene glossy3 (gl3), a MYB transcription factor gene involved in the …