Life Sciences Commons^™

Vascular Streak Dieback An Emerging Threat To The Redbud Nursery Production In The Southeastern United States, Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Prabha Liyanapathiranage

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

The Unbelievable Fauna Of American Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): Description Of Two New Species, Transference, And Notes In Acanthocinini, And A New Record In Calliini, Antonio Santos-Silva, Juan Pablo Botero

Insecta Mundi

Two new species and one new genus of Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) are described in Acanthocinini: Embera flava new species, new genus, from Panama; and Nealcidion lingafelteri new species from Costa Rica. The species-group name of Nealcidion napoensis Nascimento and McClarin, 2018 is corrected and morphological variations in Leptostylus cristulatus Bates, 1872 are reported. Trypanidius mimicavus Carelli, Monné, and Souza, 2013 is redescribed and transferred to Carphina Bates, 1872, forming the new combination Carphina mimicavus. Colombicallia curta Galileo and Martins, 1992 (Calliini) is recorded from Panama for the first time.

Two New Species Of Bumblebee Scarabs (Coleoptera: Glaphyridae: Lichnanthe Burmeister) From The Central United States: A New Discovery In Wyoming Resolves A Century-Old Puzzle From The Nebraska Sand Hills, Matthew J. Paulsen

Insecta Mundi

The genus Lichnanthe Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Glaphyridae) has comprised eight Nearctic species and contains the only New World members of their family. Here, two new species of arenicolous bumblebee scarabs are described from the central United States. The recent discovery of an undescribed Wyoming species led to the reevaluation of a dubious 134-year-old Nebraska Lichnanthe specimen, indicating that it also was an undescribed species. These two species, Lichnanthe brusti new species from central Wyoming and L. bruneri new species from central Nebraska are immediately distinguishable from all existing species of the genus by their square mandibles.

Limitations Of Invasive Snake Control Tools In The Context Of A New Invasion On An Island With Abundant Prey, Shane R. Siers, Melia G. Nafus, Jereid E. Calaor, Rachel M. Volsteadt, Matthew S. Grassi, Megan Volsteadt, Aaron F. Collins, Patrick D. Barnhart, Logan T. Huse, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Diane L. Vice

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In October 2020, a new population of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) was discovered on the 33-ha Cocos Island, 2.5 km off the south coast of Guam, United States. Cocos Island is a unique conservation resource, providing refuge for many lizards and birds, including endangered species, which were extirpated from mainland Guam by invasive predators including brown treesnakes. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of toxic baiting with acetaminophen-treated carrion baits and cage trapping, common tools for the control of brown treesnakes on mainland Guam, as potential eradication tools on Cocos Island. We evaluated multiple bait types and …

Fused In Sarcoma Regulates Glutamate Signaling And Oxidative Stress Response, Chiong-Hee Wong, Abu Rahat, Howard C Chang

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Scholarship

Mutations in fused in sarcoma (fust-1) are linked to ALS. However, how these ALS causative mutations alter physiological processes and lead to the onset of ALS remains largely unknown. By obtaining humanized fust-1 ALS mutations via CRISPR-CAS9, we generated a C. elegans ALS model. Homozygous fust-1 ALS mutant and fust-1 deletion animals are viable in C. elegans. This allows us to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of fust-1-dependent responses. We found FUST-1 plays a role in regulating superoxide dismutase, glutamate signaling, and oxidative stress. FUST-1 suppresses SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 in the nervous system. FUST-1 also regulates synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor …

Optimizing Tomato Seedling Growth With Indigenous Mangrove Bacterial Inoculants And Reduced Npk Fertilization, Soumaya Tounsi-Hammami, Munawwar Ali Khan, Aroosa Zeb, Aneesa Rasheed Anwar, Naman Arora, Muhammad Naseem, Sunil Mundra

All Works

The search for ecofriendly products to reduce crop dependence on synthetic chemical fertilizers presents a new challenge. The present study aims to isolate and select efficient native PGPB that can reduce reliance on synthetic NPK fertilizers. A total of 41 bacteria were isolated from the sediment and roots of mangrove trees (Avicennia marina) and assessed for their PGP traits under in vitro conditions. Of them, only two compatible strains of Bacillus species were selected to be used individually and in a mix to promote tomato seedling growth. The efficiency of three inoculants applied to the soil was assessed in a …

Phenotypic Constraints At The Top Of The World: An Arctic Songbird Faces The Cumulative Cost Of Maintaining A Winter-Like Phenotype During Breeding, Audrey Le Pogam, Ryan S. O’Connor, Oliver P. Love, Kevin G. Young, Justine Drolet, Lyette Régimbald, Gabrielle Roy, Francis Robitaille, Dominique Berteaux, Andrew Tam, François Vézina

Integrative Biology Publications

Among birds, several body composition traits typically decrease in size or mass during breeding likely as a result of competing demands during this critical life history stage. However, a recent outdoor captive study in an Arctic-breeding cold-specialist songbird (snow buntings – Plectrophenax nivalis) demonstrated that these birds maintain winter cold acclimatization during the spring and summer, despite facing summer temperatures much warmer than on their Arctic breeding grounds. This suggests that buntings may face a cumulative physiological cost during breeding: having to support a winter phenotype while also upregulating additional traits for reproduction. The current study aimed to test this …

Agricultural Groundcover Update December 2023, Justin Laycock

Natural resources published reports

Summary

• About 96% of the grainbelt had adequate vegetative groundcover (more than 50%) to prevent wind erosion in December 2023.
• In the northern half of the grainbelt, a larger-than-average area has 51–60% groundcover, which is expected to decrease to below 50% over the summer.
• Just under 4% of the grainbelt (553,000 ha) had less than 50% groundcover, which is inadequate to prevent wind erosion. West Midlands Ag Soil Zone had the highest risk of wind erosion and 11.4% of this farmland had inadequate groundcover.
• Less than 0.5% of the grainbelt had a high to very high risk of wind erosion …

Translation Of: Trembley À Réaumur, Abraham Trembley, Morgan Mclaughlin

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

While examining a jar filled with aquatic plants and animals, Abraham Trembley, a young tutor working for Count William Bentinck in the Netherlands, noticed tiny, green, tube-shaped organisms attached to aquatic plants. Uncertain whether they were plants or animals, he devised a brilliant series of experiments to understand their biology. He observed them contract when disturbed and take steps towards a light, gathering in front of a chevron-shaped opening in a piece of cardboard. Nearly convinced they were animals, he cut one in half expecting to see it die. Instead, it regenerated two perfectly formed bodies from the severed halves. …

Assessing Changing Carbon Pool Dynamics And Species Composition In A Pennsylvania Broadleaf Forest Fragment, Kyleigh Levinsky, Jessica L. Schedlbauer

Sustainability Research & Creative Activities Grants Reports

Temperate broadleaf forests are pivotal to the global carbon cycle, Representing 37% of the global forest carbon pool (Pan et al 2011). • Maintaining compositional diversity in temperate broadleaf forests, such as the Gordon Natural Area (GNA) is critical to maintaining ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration. • Pressures from native and non-native herbivores threaten the biodiversity of temperate broadleaf forests in the United States (Ghandi et al. 2010). The introduction of non-native insects such as the emerald ash borer (Argrilus planipennis), as well as the overpopulation of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has led to declines in some tree species. …

That’S Not In My Position Description: A Discourse Analysis Of Sbae Migratory Context, Becky Haddad, Jonathan Velez, Josh Stewart, Haden Botkin

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

While the choice to move to a new school is personal, many play a role in justifying that choice for the mobile teacher. These justifiers—or influencers—make up the socializing network for teachers (in this case, SBAE teachers) in new settings. Our study outlined how mobile SBAE teachers rationalize the choice to change schools and validate career moves. We used a positioning theory approach to discourse to give migrators (teachers who change schools) and influencers a voice. Positioning theory allowed us to situate migrators as they reflected on their choice to change school districts, and influencers as they recounted their …

Measuring Mobility: A Quantitative Description Of Sbae Teacher Mobility In Minnesota, Becky Haddad, Lavyne L. Rada, Amy R. Smith

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Considerations around teacher attrition, supply and demand, and retention are incomplete without including teacher mobility. The problem, as it currently stands, finds SBAE ill-equipped, at the professional level, to support mobile teachers. Providing support, however, starts with understanding the population; in this case, mobile teachers. The purpose of our study was to quantitatively describe teacher mobility in [State] over the last 20 years (1999-2021). To describe SBAE teacher mobility in our state, we utilized teacher retention data compiled from state teacher directories over the last 20 years (1999-2021). We corroborated previous findings noting heightened attrition after year one in a …

The Casnr L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter: Learning Innovation Network For K-12 Schools, Volume 3, Edition 1, January 2024, Bailey Feit, Tammy Mittelstet

CASNR L.I.N.K.S. Newsletter

The purpose of this L.I.N.K.S. newsletter is to provide a monthly update of opportunities and resources for K-12 schools to connect with the University of Nebraska's CASNR Food, Energy, Water, and Societal Systems (FEWS²) programs and partners.

Included in this edition:

K-12 curriculum and resources

2024 World Food prize Nebraska Youth Institute

Upcoming events on UNL's East Campus 2023-2024

Data Driven 2024: Statistics Field Day

CASNR Ag Tech Day, April 23, 2024

UNL-CASNR six interest areas

Food system futurists spotlight

Career exploration

Summer Camp 2024

Career pathways at Seed Your Future

Student opportunities including: Women in Ag Conference, BioNebraska STEM …

The Effect Of Soluble Soybean Polysaccharide Addition To Permeate Concentrate On Lactose Crystallisation, Growth And Recovery During Lactose Manufacturing, Venkateswarlu Sunkesula, Prafulla Salunke, Lloyd E. Metzger

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

Lactose is manufactured from permeates of cheese whey, milk protein concentrate and a mix of both using a crystallisation process. Several factors, such as solute supersaturation, cooling rate and impurities, influence lactose crystallisation. This study focussed on the effect of soluble soybean polysaccharides (SSPS) on crystallisation during lactose manufacture from concentrated permeate solutions by evaluating lactose crystal growth and recovery with and without SSPS addition. Adding 0.1% (w/w) SSPS resulted in a significant difference (P > 0.05) in lactose crystal size and yield. The results suggest that using SSPS during lactose manufacturing from permeate concentrates could influence lactose crystallisation and recovery

Effects Of Dietary Rumen-Protected Choline Supplementation To Periparturient Dairy Cattle On Inflammation And Metabolism In Mammary And Liver Tissue During An Intramammary Lipopolysaccharide Challenge, Turner H. Swartz, Barry Bradford, Laman Mamedova, Kari Estes

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects of supplementation and dose of rumenprotected choline (RPC) on markers of inflammation and metabolism in liver and mammary tissue during an intramammary lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Parous Holstein cows were blocked by calving month and randomly assigned within block to receive 45 g/d of RPC (20.4 g/d of choline ions; CHOL45), 30 g/d of RPC (13.6 g/d of choline ions; CHOL30), or no RPC (CON) as a top-dress starting 24 d before expected calving until 21 d postpartum. Cows were alternately assigned within treatment group to either receive an intramammary LPS …

Can Phytoremediation-Induced Changes In The Microbiome Improve Saline/Sodic Soil And Plant Health?, Achal Neupane, Duncan Jukubowski, Douglas Fiedler, Liping Gu, Sharon A. Clay, David E. Clay, Shin-Yi Marzano

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Increasing soil salinity and/or sodicity is an expanding problem in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) of North America. This study investigated the impact of phytoremediation on the soil microbiome and if changes, in turn, had positive or negative effects on plant establishment. Amplicon sequencing and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer analysis compared root metabolites and microbial composition of bulk vs. rhizosphere soils between two soil types (productive and saline/sodic). Beta-diversity analysis indicated that bacterial and fungal communities from both the bulk and rhizosphere soils from each soil type clustered separately, indicating dissimilar microbial composition. Plant species also influenced both root-associated bacterial and …

Characterization Of The Disease-Causing Mechanism Of Kif3b Mutations From Ciliopathy Patients, Jessica M. Adams, Caleb Sawe, Skye Rogers, Jordyn Reid, Ronith Dasari, Martin F. Engelke

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

The heterodimeric kinesin-2 motor (KIF3A/KIF3B with accessory protein KAP3) drives intraflagellar transport, essential for ciliogenesis and ciliary function. Three point mutations in the KIF3B subunit have recently been linked to disease in humans (E250Q and L523P) and Bengal cats (A334T) (Cogné et al., Am. J. Hum. Genet., 2020, 106, 893–904). Patients display retinal atrophy and, in some cases, other ciliopathy phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanism leading to disease is currently unknown. Here, we used Kif3a−/−;Kif3b−/− (knockout) 3T3 cells, which cannot make cilia, to characterize these mutations. While reexpression of KIF3B(E250Q) and KIF3B(L523P) did not rescue ciliogenesis, reexpression …

Wildar Northeast Florida, Kailan Sindelar

UNF Faculty Research and Scholarship

Learn about some of the unique aspects of life in the wetlands and rivers of Northeast Florida and how we study them. In this app players see the memories of a student at the University of North Florida play out in front of them in AR. This app was created with funding the Digital Humanities Institute at the University of North Florida and informed by subject matter experts at the university.

Predictors Of Occupational Distress Of Catholic Priests On The Eastern Seaboard Of The United States, Michael D. Kostick, Xihe Zhu, Justin A. Haegele, Pete Baker

Human Movement Sciences & Special Education Faculty Publications

With ever-increasing demands placed upon active priests in the United States, insight into protecting their mental health may help strengthen vocational resilience for individual priests. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of individual variables, workplace characteristics, and physical activity participation with occupational distress levels among Catholic priests. A 22-question survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Clergy Occupational Distress Index, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was employed to collect individual variables, workplace characteristics, physical activity participation, and occupational distress levels of Catholic priests from the Eastern seaboard of the United States. Regression analyses showed that …

Tarantula Toxin Transcripts And Toxin Structure Prediction By Alphafold, Christine Vega, Rebekkah Sepulveda, Ying Jia

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tarantula venom predominantly comprises peptides and small proteins (venom toxins). To explore this further, we generated a combined gland cDNA library from five different tarantula species. Subsequently we randomly sequenced 752 clones, which led to the identification of sixteen distinct toxin groups, including one novel group. Each group consists of a minimum of three identical sequences. A comprehensive analysis of these toxin groups was carried out, and we simulated the 3D structures of certain predicted toxins. These transcripts can be used to the production of venom toxins through recombinant techniques, offering promising applications in various biomedical applications.

Genomic Surveillance Of Sars-Cov-2 Sequence Variants At Universities In Southwest Idaho, Jennifer R. Chase, Laura Bond, Daniel J. Vail, Milan Sengthep, Adriana Rodriguez, Joe Christianson, Stephanie F. Hudon, Julia Thom Oxford

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Although the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on major metropolitan areas is broadly reported and readily available, regions with lower populations and more remote areas in the United States are understudied. The objective of this study is to determine the progression of SARS-CoV-2 sequence variants in a frontier and remote intermountain west state among university-associated communities. This study was conducted at two intermountain west universities from 2020 to 2022. Positive SARS-CoV-2 samples were confirmed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and variants were identified by the next-generation sequencing of viral genomes. Positive results were obtained for 5355 samples, representing …

The Influence Of Habitual Physical Activity And Sedentary Behavior On Objective And Subjective Hot Flashes At Midlife, Sarah Witkowski, Quinn White, Sofiya Shreyer, Daniel E. Brown, Lynette Leidy Sievert

Exercise and Sport Studies: Faculty Publications

The years surrounding the transition to menopause are marked by multiple challenges to health. Hot flashes are a commonly reported symptom of women at this time and their frequency has been associated with disease risk. Regular physical activity and reduced sedentary time are recommended for health and wellbeing. However, the effect of physical activity and sedentary behavior on hot flashes remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between physical activity, sedentary time and hot flashes during both waking and sleeping periods using concurrent objective and subjective measures of hot flashes in midlife women. METHODS: Women …

Editorial: Volume Ii: Fibrotic Tissue Remodeling As A Driver Of Disease Pathogenesis, Arkadeep Mitra, Sarika Saraswati, Trayambak Basak

Biology Faculty Research

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Comparison Of Presenilin Protein Expression Reveals Greater Activity Of Ps2-Γ-Secretase, Melissa K. Eccles, Nathan Main, Rodrigo Carlessi, Ayeisha M. Armstrong, Miheer Sabale, Brigid Roberts-Mok, Janina E. E. Tirnitz-Parker, Mark Agostino, David Groth, Paul E. Fraser, Giuseppe Verdile

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

γ-secretase processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) has long been of interest in the pathological progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its role in the generation of amyloid- . The catalytic component of the enzyme is the presenilins of which there are two homologues, Presenilin-1 (PS1) and Presenilin-2 (PS2). The field has focussed on the PS1 form of this enzyme, as it is typically considered the more active at APP processing. However, much of this work has been completed without appropriate consideration of the specific levels of protein expression of PS1 and PS2. We propose that expression is an …

Development Of A Regional Climate Change Model For Aedes Vigilax And Aedes Camptorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) In Perth, Western Australia, Kerry Staples, Peter J. Neville, Steven Richardson, Jacques Oosthuizen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mosquito-borne disease is a significant public health issue and within Australia Ross River virus (RRV) is the most reported. This study combines a mechanistic model of mosquito development for two mosquito vectors; Aedes vigilax and Aedes camptorhynchus, with climate projections from three climate models for two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs), to examine the possible effects of climate change and sea-level rise on a temperate tidal saltmarsh habitat in Perth, Western Australia. The projections were run under no accretion and accretion scenarios using a known mosquito habitat as a case study. This improves our understanding of the possible implications of sea-level …

Swosu Research And Scholarly Activity Fair 2024, Swosu Office Of Sponsored Programs

SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair Programs

On behalf of the members of the University Research and Scholarly Activity Committee (USRAC) and the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) - Welcome to the Thirty-Second SWOSU Research and Scholarly Activity Fair! There are 61 poster presentations and 10 oral presentations involving over 100 student and faculty researchers, writers, presenters, artists, collaborators, and faculty sponsors encompassing activities from the SWOSU Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Physics, Engineering Technology, Kinesiology, Language & Literature, Mathematics, Music, Parks and Recreation Management, Pharmacy, Psychology, and Social Sciences.

The Helicobacter Pylori Methylome Is Acid-Responsive Due To Regulation By The Two-Component System Arsrs And The Type I Dna Methyltransferase Hsdm1 (Hp0463), Elise H. Zimmerman, Erin L. Ramsey, Katherine E. Hunter, Sarah M. Villadelgado, Celeste M. Phillips, Ryan T. Shipman, Mark H. Forsyth

Arts & Sciences Articles

In addition to its role in genome protection, DNA methylation can regulate gene expression. In this study, we characterized the impact of acidity, phase variation, and the ArsRS TCS on the expression of the Type I m6A DNA methyltransferase HsdM1 (HP0463) of Helicobacter pylori 26695 and their subsequent effects on the methylome. Transcription of hsdM1 increases at least fourfold in the absence of the sensory histidine kinase ArsS, the major acid-sensing protein of H. pylori. hsdM1 exists in the phase-variable operon hsdR1-hsdM1. Phase-locking hsdR1 (HP0464), the restriction endonuclease gene, has significant impacts on the transcription of hsdM1. To determine the …

Optimisation Of Polyphenol Extraction For The Valorisation Of Spent Gin Botanicals, Ekene C. Umego

Articles

An average of 0.21 kg spent gin botanicals (SGB) is generated for every 1 L of gin, making it the major by-product of gin distillation. The present circular economy dynamics and increased awareness on resource use presents an opportunity for valorisation of SGB. SGB was optimised for polyphenol extraction using a three-factor Box-Behnken Design in response surface methodology (RSM). This was used to both optimise and study how the extraction variables affected yields and values of polyphenol and antioxidant activity of SGB. The generated optimum conditions for polyphenol extraction from SGB were 50% (v/v) solvent concentration, 40 mL g−1 solvent: …

Causal Association Between Gut Microbiomes And Different Types Of Aneurysms: A Mendelian Randomization Study, Youjia Qiu, Yucheng Hou, Xingzhou Wei, Menghan Wang, Ziqian Yin, Minjia Xie, Aojie Duan, Chao Ma, Ke Si, Zhong Wang

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggests that gut microbiomes are associated with the formation and progression of aneurysms. However, the causal association between them remains unclear.

METHODS: A two-sample Mendelian randomization was conducted to investigate whether gut microbiomes have a causal effect on the risk of intracerebral aneurysm (IA), thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and aortic aneurysm (AA). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) smaller than the locus-wide significance level (1 × 10

RESULTS: The phylum

CONCLUSION: Our MR analysis confirmed the causal association of specific gut microbiomes with AAA, and these microbiomes were considered as protective factors. Our result …

Correlation Between Lower-Body Strength And Performance Tests Among Female Ncaa Division Ii Softball Players, Elizabeth L. Alfaro, Jocarol Shields, Javier Zaragoza, Marcel Lopes Dos Santos, J. Jay Dawes, Doug Smith

Faculty Publications - Kinesiology and Recreation

Softball is a sport that requires speed, agility, and lower-body power to be successful. Accordingly, strength and conditioning programs have focused on improving speed and lower-body power, which are beneficial to players performing softball-related tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between absolute and relative lower-body strength to performance measures among female collegiate softball players. Archived data collected during pre-season performance testing for twenty-one (n = 21) NCAA Division II collegiate softball players was used for this analysis. Measurements included countermovement jump (CMJ), broad jump (BJ), linear speed (LS), 505 test for change of direction …