Life Sciences Commons^™

Analysing An Imbalanced Stroke Prediction Dataset Using Machine Learning Techniques, Viswapriya Subramaniyam Elangovan, Rajeswari Devarajan, Osamah I. Khalaf, Mhd Saeed Sharif, Wael Elmedany

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

A stroke is a medical condition characterized by the rupture of blood vessels within the brain which can lead to brain damage. various symptoms may be exhibited when the brain's supply of blood and essential nutrients is disrupted. To forecast the possibility of brain stroke occurring at an early stage using Machine Learning and Deep Learning is the main objective of this study. Timely detection of the various warning signs of a stroke can significantly reduce its severity. This paper performed a comprehensive analysis of features to enhance stroke prediction effectiveness. A reliable dataset for stroke prediction is taken from …

Potential Enhancement Of Microbial Disinfection Using Oxygen Enriched Cold Atmospheric-Pressure Argon (Ar/O2) Plasma Jet, Waleed O. Younis, Mahmoud M. Berekaa, Mostafa A. Ellbban, Abdel-Sattar S. Gadallah, Jamal Q. Almarashi, Abdel-Aleam H. Mohamed

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Oxygen activated cold-atmospheric-pressure-argon plasma jet (APPJ) has gained prominence over the regular argon plasma especially in disinfection and decontamination. As an objective of the current research, an oxygen-enriched argon system was built, where plasma produced through a vessel metallic tube that is introduced into alumina one. A sinusoidal high voltage signal of 25 kHz was used to generate plasma jet. Potential impact of oxygen enriched APP jet (Ar/O₂) in decontamination of different microbial cells was observed. For examination, suspension of each tested microbe was placed in contact with plasma jet nearly 10 mm away from the jet nozzle …

A Potential Of Watercress Nasturtium Officinale Bioactive Compounds In Inhibiting Infectious Myonecrosis Virus (Imnv) By Targeting Rna-Dependent Rna Polymerase (Rdrp) Virus From Several Countries: In Silico Approach, Qurrota A’Yunin, Fatchiyah Fatchiyah, Maftuch Maftuch, Feri Eko Hermanto, Muhammad Hermawan Widyananda, Narendra Santika Hartana, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) disease causes mass mortality and decreased shrimp production. The RdRp region projects to the interior, where it may function in transcription. The focus of this study was to determine the effect of amino acid polymorphisms from several countries on the structure of RdRp and identify the potential of watercress in inhibiting IMNV by targeting the RdRp protein of IMNV through an in silico approach. The results showed that the structure of the IMNV RdRp protein from Indonesia was similar to Mexico, and the protein structure from India_QDN was identical to India_QIL. Ligand binding affinity values showed …

Extraction Of Morphometric Features The Shape Of Mangrove Leaves Based On Digital Images And Classification Using The Support Vector Machine, Ishak Ariawan, Della Ayu Lestari, Luthfi Anzani, Tri Yanti, Cakra Rahardjo, M. Saleh, Sahril Angga Permana, Dea Aisyah Rusmawati

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

At present, several botanists still rely on the use of manual estimating methods to assess the carbon content in mangrove. However, these methods have been reported to be extremely time-consuming, showing the need to develop a system for prediction. An effective solution lies in the creation of an artificial intelligence application, which can provide rapid and cost-effective results. In constructing this application, careful consideration must be given to the selection of parameters or attributes. Species is an essential parameter for the assessment of carbon content, but its determination has proven to be challenging due to the similarities of mangrove. The …

A New Case Of Pedipalp Regeneration In Scorpio Kruglovi Birula, 1910 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae), Ersen A. Yağmur, Mehmet S. Kılıç, Eyüp Güneş

Euscorpius

A new case of pedipalp regeneration is described and illustrated in a subadult female of Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910. A small, regenerated part of chela is observed on the anterior aspect of a normally developed right patella. This is the second published case of pedipalp regeneration.

Land Use Intensification And Bio-Resource Utilisation In The South Pacific Islands, David Lopez Cornelio

International Journal of Islands Research

The long and gradual colonisation of the Pacific islands created settlements of cohesive social networks that fused or were displaced by western ways of life, trade and governance through the centuries. In this paper, a historical review of the processes of island discovery, plants domestication, and of land use practices are discussed alongside the main socioeconomic drivers of land cover change. The native trees of the South Pacific constitute an invaluable resource for sustainable development; they were used and domesticated for thousands of years but logging, commercial agriculture, mining, the introduction of exotic species and urban expansion are threatening them …

A Pilot Study On The Measurement Of Connectedness To Nature Around Nature Immersion With Green Exercise On Desert Trails, Dustin W. Davis, Elias M. Malek, Robert Salatto, Marcus M. Lawrence, Jacob W. Manning, Mark Debeliso, Merrill Russen Landers, Graham Mcginnis, James W. Navalta

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 5: Issue 1, Article 5, 2024. Studies have reported that non-exercise nature immersion (e.g., sitting) and green exercise increase connectedness to nature. The sitting was long, and the exercise was moderate-to-vigorous. And whether the scales used are valid and test-retest reliable is unclear. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether brief sitting and walking in green space affects connectedness to nature. The second purpose was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Visual Analog Scale-Nature (VAS-N) with the Love and Care for Nature Scale (LCN). The third purpose was to …

Draining Chicago’S Food Swamps: Legal Approaches, Sofia Fernandez

DePaul Journal of Health Care Law

Public health is a collective responsibility of society to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, focusing on preventing disease and promoting health as opposed to providing medical care for those already ill.1 The law consists of rules issued and enforced by government entities “through which populations organize their governments, regulate social and economic interactions, and guide behavior.”2 Public health law exists at the intersection of these two fields, comprising “the legal powers and duties of the state to identify, prevent, and ameliorate risks to the health of populations, as well as the study of legal structures that have a …

Perceived Benefits And Barriers To Livestock Mortality Composting, Rachel Wieme, Lynne Carpenter-Boggs

The Journal of Extension

We conducted webinars in 2020 about livestock mortality composting (LMC). Forty-five attendees completed a survey to evaluate the webinar and help define future educational needs. Major barriers to LMC were lack of experience, public and neighbor perceptions, and environmental management. Most respondents indicated convenience, cost, biosafety, use of product, and environmental management as benefits. An unexpected emotional theme indicated that LMC also supports the “circle of life” and “respect for the animal.” We propose that this theme may be a uniting message to improve public and producer perception of LMC, increase use of LMC, and improve public-producer relationships overall.

An Evaluation Of A Cooperative Extension Internship Program, Lisa Ellis Mccormick, Karen A. Vines, Subrato Kumar Kuri

The Journal of Extension

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Virginia Cooperative Extension internship program from the perspective of student participants and their supervisors. Three focus groups were conducted with internship supervisors from the summer of 2019. Student survey data was used to identify concerns from the student perspective to inform the supervisor focus group questions. In addition to the questions, a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was also used to collect qualitative data within the supervisor focus groups. Findings suggest areas of strength that can be used in marketing as well as opportunities for program improvement.

Teens Teach Nutrition Virtually To Youth During Covid-19: Improved Leadership Skills And Health Behaviors, Wendy S. Wolfe, Jacqueline Davis-Manigaulte, Dana M. Wheeler, Emma R. Dhimitri, Josie G. Ford, Kieu A. Phan, Dylan G. Ratnarajah

The Journal of Extension

The Choose Health Action Teens (CHAT) program of Cornell Cooperative Extension engages teens to teach a nutrition curriculum to younger youth, with the goal of enhancing the leadership skills and health behaviors of the teen teachers. Due to COVID-19, an in-person CHAT program in New York City was converted to virtual and implemented online during Summer 2020. Twelve teens, mentored by eight college interns, taught youth virtually in their homes. Quantitative and qualitative assessments demonstrated improvement in teen leadership and facilitation skills and health behaviors, and suggest that converting this type of programming to a virtual environment can be successful.

Maturation Of An Off-Channel Habitat Concept To Conserve Native Fishes In The Lower Colorado River, Paul C. Marsh, Thomas E. Dowling, Thomas F. Turner, Megan J. Osborne, Brian R. Kesner

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

Two endemic, “large river” fishes of the Colorado River basin of western North America, bonytail Gila elegans and razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus, are among several critically endangered species in the system. Wild populations of bonytail are gone, and there are no self-sustaining populations of razorback sucker anywhere; reproduction occurs but recruitment does not. Both species have been under intensive management in the Lower Colorado River since the 1980s. Today, with the single exception of Lake Mead, remaining populations are composed entirely of repatriated individuals that depend on stocking for their continued existence. In 2003, a conceptual off-channel habitat (OCH) …

An Exploration Of Learning And Teaching Methods In Agricultural Extension, Jeremy Levinson, Dave Lamie, Michael Vassalos, Chris Eck, Juang Chong, Francis P. F. Reay-Jones

The Journal of Extension

Abstract

The Train-the-Trainer approach is widely used in Cooperative Extension education to efficiently disseminate research-based information to many clientele groups, including farmers. This paper compares the traditional Train-the-Trainer model to a comprehensive Collaborative Train-the-Trainer model and discusses weaknesses of the traditional model that are addressed in the Collaborative model. Sources of information used by farmers (growers) and overall effectiveness were measured through a survey instrument created and distributed to farmers in South and North Carolina. The Collaborative Train-the-Trainer model, which emphasizes peer-to-peer interaction and feedback loops, represents an enhanced approach for conceptualizing and implementing Extension educational programs.

Hay Inventory And Purchasing Calculator For Horse Owners, Robyn L. Stewart, Brooklyne M. Wassel

The Journal of Extension

The Hay Inventory and Purchasing Calculator for Horse Owners is an Excel-based tool for estimating hay needs and expenses for horse owners. Challenges with hay quality and availability can result in higher than expected costs for horse owners as they attempt to purchase enough horse-quality hay to meet their needs. Estimating intake requirements and creating a budget for hay purchasing is key for the effective management and profitability of equine operations. This tool can be used regardless of geographic location and will benefit a diverse audience including Extension educators, equine business owners, and horse owners.

Expanded Food And Nutrition Education Program Generates Economic Value Through Body Mass Index Improvement: A Cost-Benefit Analysis, Andrea Leschewski, M. Catalina Aragon, Dave Weatherspoon, Karen Barale, Garry Auld, Richard Acquah-Sarpong, Susan S. Baker

The Journal of Extension

Prior economic evaluations of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) perform cost-benefit analyses (CBA) reliant on self-reported behavioral data and unvalidated criteria for disease prevention. This study aims to conduct a CBA of Colorado and Washington EFNEP using an objective biomarker, Body Mass Index, to monetize program benefits. A longitudinal study of a convenience sample of EFNEP participants was conducted utilizing a single-group pretest-posttest design. Results indicate Colorado and Washington EFNEP generates $9.23 of benefits per $1.00 of costs and demonstrate the feasibility and value of using biomarkers in economic evaluations of nutrition education interventions delivered through Extension.

On-Farm Hog Processing Demonstration For Teenage Exhibitors: Blending Academic, Laboratory, And Farm-Based Learning, Katherine A. Wells, Chris L. Bruynis, Lyda G. Garcia

The Journal of Extension

COVID-19 challenges induced a U.S. meatpacking industry bottleneck. [University] Extension identified the need and responded by creating a three-step hands-on training for teenage junior fair exhibitors. [University] Extension Meat Scientist and graduate students assisted in demonstrating an on-farm hog harvest and processing event in collaboration with a local Extension office for 4-H and FFA teenagers. To add a practical perspective, a local hog-producing and harvesting family was asked to assist with the event. An online post-survey reflected 90-100% gains in five educational areas and 100% said they would a similar event in the future and recommend it to a friend.

College Students’ Domestic Kitchen Food Safety Perceptions And Knowledge, Kailing Chen, Zhihong Lin, Isabelle Do Prado, Zahra Mohammad, Karla M. Acosta, Sujata A. Sirsat

The Journal of Extension

This study investigates college students’ current food safety knowledge and food-handling perceptions and utilized an online survey which designed based on previous studies as method. The questionnaire measured respondents’ food safety knowledge and perception, and were divided into knowledge, attitudes and perception categories. The results show that college students significantly lacked in basic food safety knowledge as well as food handling skills and implies a high need to develop enhanced food safety resources for college students, especially on topics related to cross-contamination prevention, correct food preparation procedures, time and temperature control, and awareness of pathogens that cause foodborne illness.

The Dependence Level Among Adolescent Vape Users: A Cross-Sectional Study, Violette Abo Karnib, Ghenwa Abedallhalim, Adam Ikkawi, Housam A. Saad, Hiba Deek

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Vape is a battery-powered device that works by heating a liquid called “e-liquid”. The use of vape has significantly increased in the past years among high and middle school students. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the level of dependence among adolescent vape users in Lebanon and to assess their knowledge about vape health hazards. A descriptive cross-sectional study with a self-administered questionnaire. A link for the survey was generated on Google Forms and sent to adolescents in the community. The survey was sent to parents of vape users and after their approval, it was shared with …

An Observational, Retrospective, Study To Assess Sehetna Wellness Program Impact On Employees’ Well-Being And Health, Wafaa Saeed, Lina Shaker, Laila Ghanem, Mohamed El Aziz, Omer Mostafa, Rabab Youssef

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Wellness is an ongoing process that leads to realizing one's full potential, with studies showing reduced inpatient admissions, healthcare costs, and improved health-related quality of life through participation in large-scale wellness programs. SEHETNA program is a wellness initiative conducted with the Egyptian Group for Import and Export (EGMED) to enhance employees’ well-being. This study aimed to assess the SEHETNA wellness program impact on the general health of employees. This is a retrospective descriptive observational study including employees enrolled in wellness program for up to 12-months in 2021. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive analysis was done, categorical variables …

Knowledge, Attitude, And Experience Of Lebanese Females Toward Oral Contraceptive Use, Nisrine Al Rifaii, Chaza Alaeddine, Souraya Domiati, Abdalla El-Lakany

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Family planning is a key to slow unsustainable population growth and the resulting negative impacts on the national development efforts. Birth control pills or oral contraceptives are commonly used among childbearing-age women for family planning. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and experience of oral contraceptive use among Lebanese women. A descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Beirut and suburbs in 2018. The questionnaire included sociodemographic information consisting of age, educational level, occupation, marital status, and past medical history. It also included four different sections describing the pattern of use of oral contraceptives, attitude, knowledge, and …

The Psychological Conditions Of Pregnant Women During The Covid-19 Outbreak In Lebanon, Ibrahim Kadamani, Ali Samaha, Maya Gebbawi, Najwa Yahfoufi, Hanadi Mohamad Nur Steitiyeh, Abbas Samaha

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

In Lebanon, the psychological conditions of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic have not been reported, which creates the need to conduct this study that aims to evaluate the psychological conditions of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional design was adopted to reach the aim of this study. The study sample was reached through OBS/GYN clinics to be able to contact the pregnant women in the community, where a convenient sampling technique was followed. The total number of participants was 360 pregnant women: 101 (27.77%) first trimester, 140 (38.88%) second trimester, and 119 (33.33%) third trimester. There is …

Improving Healthcare Workers’ Biohazardous Spill Safe Handling Skills, Zeina Mhanna, Ahmad Tassi

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

All healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to biohazardous material. Biohazardous material may come in the form of spills, posing a risk of infection to (HCWs) who are not trained on how to safely handle them. While international guidelines recommend training HCWs on how to safely handle biohazardous spills in order to improve their skills, there are no studies that tackled this recommendation. The aim of this study is to improve HCWs’ biohazardous spill safe handling skills through training, and to evaluate the association between the HCWs’ improvement level and demographical characteristics. The study was conducted in a Southern Lebanese hospital …

Two New Species Of Inocybe (Inocybaceae: Agaricomycetes) From Turkey Based On Morphological Characteristics And Phylogenetic Evidence, Oğuzhan Kaygusuz, Ditte Bandini, Henning Knudsen, Meike Piepenbring

Turkish Journal of Botany

During a survey of agarics in the Mediterranean region of southwestern Turkey, some noteworthy mushrooms were collected. Among the specimens, two represent new species of Inocybe which are proposed and illustrated in this study as Inocybe pseudogeophylla and I. succinea. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on a nuc rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and partial 28S rDNA (LSU) dataset reveal that these species belong to the Inocybe geophylla group. The sequences of the new species form two independent lineages and differ from the known species of Inocybe by a unique combination of morphological characteristics. Detailed macro- and micromorphological features, colour photographs, habitat and …

Cephalaria Gokturkii (Caprifoliaceae), A New Species From Southwestern Anatolia, Türkiye, Gürkan Semi̇z, Meryem Bozkurt, Batıkan Günal, Tuna Uysal

Turkish Journal of Botany

A new Cephalaria (Caprifoliaceae) species, Cephalaria gokturkii, is described and illustrated from Girdev Mountain (Muğla Province) for the Flora of Türkiye. Throughout this manuscript, the new species and its relatives were compared in terms of morphological, palynological and molecular features. The obtained findings indicated that the new species is similar to C. elmaliensis but is characterized by having larger capitula and receptacular bracts in flower (vs. 1‒2 cm capitula and less than 3 mm in flower) and hairy trigonous-narrowly ovate involucral bracts (vs. glabrous and broadly ovate involucral bracts) and smaller involucels (vs. involucels longer than 10 mm in fruit). …

Eco-Assessment Of Phytoplankton Composition In Relation To Environmental Conditions Of Saltwater And Freshwater Lakes In The Konya Closed Basin (Türkiye), Abuzer Çelekli, Ömer Lekesiz, Tolga Çetin

Turkish Journal of Botany

Great importance is given to maintaining lentic ecosystems, threatened by human-induced consequences worldwide. The present study hypothesized to assess differences in species-environment relationships and ecological status of 15 lakes (saline water systems, high-altitude freshwater lakes, and other freshwater lakes) in the Konya Closed River Basin using phytoplankton indices throughout wet and dry periods. Results of canonical correspondence analysis separated saline and freshwater (high-altitude) habitats, which were characterized by different phytoplankton species. Total phosphorus (TP), electrical conductivity (EC), nickel-Ni, and altitude were the most influential environmental factors affecting phytoplankton dispersal in these ecosystems. Saline lakes were under pressure of high EC, …

The Sect. Tricheroides In The Genus Knautia (Caprifoliaceae) Is More Complex Then Known: An Unusual New Species From Türkiye, Candan Aykurt, Mertcan Gülben, Sinem Günaydin, Duygu Sari, Ramazan Süleyman Göktürk, Emirhan Berberoğlu, Serkan Gülsoy

Turkish Journal of Botany

During a biodiversity survey in the Western Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Türkiye), a new species of the genus Knautia (Dipsacoideae, Caprifoliaceae), K. sivridaghense, was discovered. The new species, which is characterized by its dwarf caespitose perennial habit, is found in rocky places under mixed forests at elevations of 1400–1450 m. Knautia sivridaghense is distinguished from its morphologically similar species, K. goecmenii, especially by its dwarf caespitose perennial habit, unbranched stems, length of involucral bracts, and other floral characteristics. Our phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ITS and chloroplast petN(ycf6)-psbM regions confirm its placement within Sect. Tricheroides, contributing to the understanding of …

Purification Of Recombinant E. Coli Topoisomerase Iii For Structure-Based Drug Design Using Protein Crystallization, Miguel A. Perez Rodriguez, Yuk-Ching Tse-Dinh

FIU Undergraduate Research Journal

Type IA Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes found throughout all life forms and species. These topoisomerases relieve the topographical constrains formed by DNA during processes like replication and transcription via a cleavage-religation mechanism performed through a catalytically active tyrosine residue in the primary structure of the enzyme. E. coli Topoisomerase III (EtopIII) is a type of Type IA topoisomerase, and its main function in the cell is as a decatenase, which means that it unlinks circular or intertwined pieces of genetic material and creates two unlinked segments of DNA from a singular linked chain. Structure-based determination of the enzyme’s three-dimensional structure …

Validation Of A Forensic Method To Be Used In Food Fraud Investigation, Jennifer Melayes, Nicole Deangelo, Vallarie Ostenson, Fabiana Taglia Dr., Deetta Kay Mills Dr.

FIU Undergraduate Research Journal

Food fraud is the act in which food is purposefully mislabeled, adulterated, or contaminated, often to make up a percentage of a missing substance when the product is being made. It is often done purposefully to mislead consumers into thinking some ingredient is or is not present in the food, which can be hazardous to the consumer. This project aimed to validate a forensic domestic animal species reference ladder and multiplex PCR kit that can be used in animal investigations, with a focus on food fraud. A multiplex PCR protocol targeting mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers and a species reference ladder …

The Evolution Of Tumor Suppressing Genes In Multicellular Organisms: Nature’S Prevention Of Oncogenesis, Melanie Perez

FIU Undergraduate Research Journal

The p53 gene family, a well-known group of genes, is the primary propagator of tumor-suppressing mechanisms in multicellular organisms. Although they are currently critical drug targets in cancer, the p53 family also serves specific functions in the development of multicellular organisms. In this paper, the current function, origin, and evolutionary purpose of the p53 family are reviewed in the evolution of multicellular organisms. The TP53 gene induces cellular responses such as apoptosis as a way to combat detrimental environmental and cellular factors that can damage the integrity of a cell’s DNA. The other two members of the p53 family are …

The Effect Of Saltwater Stress On The Performance Of Cherry Tomatoes, Samarah R. Martin, Ivan Oyege, Kateel G. Shetty, Krish Jayachandran, Maruthi Sridhar Balaji Bhaskar

FIU Undergraduate Research Journal

Rising sea levels and saltwater intrusion in aquifers pose significant challenges for South Florida agriculture, leading to increased groundwater salinity and potential crop losses. Utilizing salttolerant crop species presents a potential solution for saline soils and regions with active saltwater intrusion. However, the effects of soil salinization through groundwater alone remains less studied. This research investigates the impact of short-term, below-ground saltwater stress on the growth, survival, and overall health of commonly grown cherry tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum). The objectives of the study are to: 1) determine the impact of saline groundwater on tomato plant health and 2) compare the nutrient …