Life Sciences Commons^™

The World Of Underground Ecology In A Changing Environment, Elsa Abs, Moira Hough

Michigan Tech Publications

This special feature presents state-of-the-art soil ecological science and was sparked following the 2-day long online live event entitled “Ecology Underground” during the Ecological Society of America annual meeting of 2020. Here, we, the co-guest-editors of this special feature, present this body of research in context of the current state of the field. This issue highlights that we are currently in a hot time for microbial research in soil science. Specifically, we find that two themes emerge from this corpus as key next questions to answer to move the field forward. How do microbial processes scale up in space and …

The View From Ventress - 2021-22 Academic Year, University Of Mississippi, College Of Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts Newsletters

News from the College of Liberal Arts

Insight From Biology Program Learning Outcomes: Implications For Teaching, Learning, And Assessment, Noelle Clark, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Learning goals and objectives are a key part of instruction, informing curricular design, assessment, and learning. These goals and objectives are also applied at the programmatic level, with program learning outcomes (PLOs) providing insight into the skills that undergraduate biology programs intend for their students to master. PLOs are mandated by all major higher education accreditation agencies and play integral roles in programmatic assessment. Despite their importance, however, there have not been any prior attempts to characterize PLOs across undergraduate biology programs in the United States. Our study reveals that many programs may not be using PLOs to communicate learning …

Simulated Impacts Of Winter Rye Cover Crop On Continuous Corn Yield And Soil Parameters, Girma Birr, Andualem S. Shiferaw, Tsegaye Tadesse, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin, Brian D. Wardlow, Katja Koehler-Cole, Tala Awada, Sarah Beebout, Teferi Tsegaye, Tulsi Kahrel

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cover crops (CC) provide numerous ecosystem services such as improving soil health, reducing nutrient loss, increasing productivity, and mitigating greenhouse gas emission. However, adoption of CC has been hindered by perceived negative impacts on main crop productivity and additional production costs. This is partly attributed to the gap in current state of knowledge in CC and its interaction with main crop production under different biophysical conditions. In this study, Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer model was used to evaluate the long-term impact of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) on corn (Zea mays L.) yield, soil organic carbon …

Detection Of Toxins And Harmful Algal Bloom Cells In Shellfish Hatcheries And Efforts Toward Removal, Marta P. Sanderson, Karen Hudson, Lauren Gregg, Amanda Chesler-Poole, Ja M. Small, Kimberly S. Reece, Ryan Carnegie, Juliette L. Smith

VIMS Articles

As the start of the supply chain for the aquaculture industry, hatcheries are a crucial component in the success of oyster and northern quahog (hard clam) aquaculture on the East Coast of the US. Intermittent failures in hatchery production slow industry growth and reduce profits. To begin investigations into the possible role of algal toxins in hatchery production failure, post-treatment hatchery water from one research and four commercial hatcheries in lower Chesapeake Bay, USA, was sampled for (1) toxin presence and (2) harmful algal bloom (HAB) cell enumeration. Overall, seven toxin classes, likely produced by six different HAB species, were …

Environmental Enrichment Factors Associated With The Activity Level Of Bottlenose Dolphins Under Professional Care, Lisa K. Lauderdale, K. Alex Shorter, Joaquin Gabaldon, Jill D. Mellen, Multiple Additional Authors

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Environmental enrichment can be used to improve the welfare of dolphins in zoos and aquariums. Bottlenose dolphins under professional care are typically provided with a range of enrichment that has a variety of features and levels of complexity at various frequencies. In the present study, a subset of data from a larger study entitled “Towards understanding the welfare of cetaceans in zoos and aquariums” (colloquially called the Cetacean Welfare Study) was used to examine the relationship between activity level and enrichment buoyancy as well as enrichment provisioning schedules. Survey data were collected from accredited zoos and aquariums related to the …

Hedging Your Average Crop Price Using Seasonals, Cory Walters, Richard K. Preston

Cornhusker Economics

In this article, we connect what the industry says and what producers say to improve the disconnect and the decision-making environment associated with hedging. We accomplish this by inspecting the distribution of producer prices with and without hedging in the fall as the distribution contains both yearly outcomes (producer concern) as well as the average outcome (another point of view). Computer models are used to lift the mystery surrounding the role of hedging. Computer models help understand complex processes, allowing for a better decision environment, leading to improved financial standing and stability. Our model reproduces the risk profile that individual …

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Pacific Brook Lamprey (Lampetra Pacifica), Eleanor P. Gaines

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Pacific Brook Lamprey (Lampetra pacifica) using NatureServe methodology, 2023.

Type Ii Taste Cells Participate In Mucosal Immune Surveillance, Yumei Qin, Salin Raj Palayyan, Xin Zheng, Shiyi Tian, Robert F. Margolskee, Sunil Kumar Sukumaran

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

The oral microbiome is second only to its intestinal counterpart in diversity and abundance but its effects on taste cells remains largely unexplored. Using single-cell RNASeq, we found that mouse taste cells, in particular, sweet and umami receptor cells that express taste 1 receptor member 3 (Tas1r3), have a gene expression signature reminiscent of Microfold (M) cells, a central player in immune surveillance in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) such as those in the Peyer’s patch and tonsils. Administration of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 11 (TNFSF11; also known as RANKL), a growth factor required for differentiation …

Changes In Cognition And Brain Function Following 26 Weeks Of Progressive Resistance Training In Older Adults At Risk For Diabetes: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Joyla Furlano, Becky Horst, Robert Petrella, Kevin Shoemaker, Lindsay Nagamatsu

Kinesiology Publications

Introduction

Methods

Systemic Interindividual Epigenetic Variation In Humans Is Associated With Transposable Elements And Under Strong Genetic Control, Chathura J Gunasekara, Harry Mackay, C Anthony Scott, Shaobo Li, Eleonora Laritsky, Maria S Baker, Sandra L Grimm, Goo Jun, Yumei Li, Rui Chen, Joseph L Wiemels, Cristian Coarfa, Robert A Waterland

Journal Articles

BACKGROUND: Genetic variants can modulate phenotypic outcomes via epigenetic intermediates, for example at methylation quantitative trait loci (mQTL). We present the first large-scale assessment of mQTL at human genomic regions selected for interindividual variation in CpG methylation, which we call correlated regions of systemic interindividual variation (CoRSIVs). These can be assayed in blood DNA and do not reflect interindividual variation in cellular composition.

RESULTS: We use target-capture bisulfite sequencing to assess DNA methylation at 4086 CoRSIVs in multiple tissues from each of 188 donors in the NIH Gene-Tissue Expression (GTEx) program. At CoRSIVs, DNA methylation in peripheral blood correlates with …

Insights From The Management Of Offshore Energy Resources: Toward An Ecosystem-Services Based Management Approach For Deep-Ocean Industries, M. Emilia Bravo, Miriam I. Brandt, Jesse M. A. Van Der Grient, Thomas G. Dahlgren, Patricia Esquete, Sabine Gollner, Daniel O. B. Jones, Lisa A. Levin, Craig R. Mcclain, Bhavani E. Narayanaswamy, Tracey Sutton, Lissette Victorero, Erik E. Cordes

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

The deep ocean comprises complex ecosystems made up of numerous community and habitat types that provide multiple services that benefit humans. As the industrialization of the deep sea proceeds, a standardized and robust set of methods and metrics need to be developed to monitor the baseline conditions and any anthropogenic and climate change-related impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem function, and ecosystem services. Here, we review what we have learned from studies involving offshore-energy industries, including state-of-the-art technologies and strategies for obtaining reliable metrics of deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystem function. An approach that includes the detection and monitoring of ecosystem services, with …

Fda Greenlights Lab-Grown Meat For Human Consumption, John Rose

D.U.Quark

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Muscle Recruitment Across Three Straight-Legged, Hinge-Pattern Resistance Training Exercises, Jeremy R. Dicus, Samuel H. Ellestad, Jesse E. Sheaffer, Carol A. Weber, Noah C. Novak, Michael E. Holmstrup

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 12-22, 2023. Hinge exercises are critical to building a balanced resistance training program in concert with ‘knee-dominant’ (e.g., squat, lunge) exercises. Biomechanical differences between various straight-legged hinge (SLH) exercises may alter muscle activation. For example, a Romanian deadlift (RDL) is a closed-chain SLH, while a reverse hyperextension (RH) is open-chain. Likewise, the RDL offers resistance via gravity while the cable pull-through (CP) offers redirected-resistance through a pulley. A deeper understanding of the potential impact of these biomechanical differences between these exercises may improve their application to specific goals. Participants completed repetition-maximum (RM) testing on …

How Did Participating In A Prenatal Nutrition And Exercise Program Influence Postpartum Experiences During Covid-19?, Rozhan Momen, Maya Weinreich, Taniya S. Nagpal, Michelle F. Mottola

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 1-11, 2023. Lifestyle interventions focusing on prenatal physical activity (PA) and healthy nutritional habits can carry forward into the postpartum period. As many health resources, like PA facilities and postpartum support groups, were inaccessible due to the Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, it may be plausible that individuals who participated in a prenatal lifestyle intervention continued engaging in positive health behaviours on their own. This study explored experiences of postpartum individuals during the pandemic who had engaged in a prenatal PA and nutrition program prior to COVID-19. Semi-structured interviews were completed with postpartum individuals following …

Home Tap Water In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska, Rebecca J. Vogt

Cornhusker Economics

Water is an important resource in Nebraska. Most of the drinking water in the state (85%) comes from groundwater sources. Public water sources are required to test their water to ensure it is safe. However, private wells are not subject to any safety or quality standards. Given that, what are the main sources of home tap water for rural Nebraskans? Do they test or treat their water? The 2022 Nebraska Rural Poll examined these questions.

Habitat Suitability Models For Endangered Hawaiian Flora, Bronwyn Meldrum, Richard Gill

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2023

Hawaii contains the highest percentage of endangered and threatened flora in the United States. Restoration is expensive and time-consuming, and most replanting failures are mainly due to incorrect habitat. Without understanding the ideal habitat of endangered plants such as ohai (Sesbania tomentosa) and aweoweo papa (Chenopodium oahuense), it is impossible to know what areas the Molokai Land Trust should prioritize in conservation and restoration.

Antibody Duration After Infection From Sars-Cov-2 In The Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey, Michael D Swartz, Stacia M Desantis, Ashraf Yaseen, Frances A Brito, Melissa A Valerio-Shewmaker, Sarah E Messiah, Luis G Leon-Novelo, Harold W Kohl, Cesar L Pinzon-Gomez, Tianyao Hao, Shiming Zhang, Yashar Talebi, Joy Yoo, Jessica R Ross, Michael O Gonzalez, Leqing Wu, Steven H Kelder, Mark Silberman, Samantha Tuzo, Stephen J Pont, Jennifer A Shuford, David Lakey, Eric Boerwinkle

Journal Articles

Understanding the duration of antibodies to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus that causes COVID-19 is important to controlling the current pandemic. Participants from the Texas Coronavirus Antibody Response Survey (Texas CARES) with at least 1 nucleocapsid protein antibody test were selected for a longitudinal analysis of antibody duration. A linear mixed model was fit to data from participants (n = 4553) with 1 to 3 antibody tests over 11 months (1 October 2020 to 16 September 2021), and models fit showed that expected antibody response after COVID-19 infection robustly increases for 100 days postinfection, and predicts …

Strange Bedfellows: Npm1 Mutations In Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Stephen E. Langabeer

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

No Abstract for this article type

Outcome Of Myeloma Patients With Covid-19 On Active Lenalidomide-Based Therapy: Does Lenalidomide Protect From Severe Covid-19?, Imran K. Tailor, Nawal F. Alshehry, Syed Z. Zaidi, Mohammed A. Marei, Ibraheem H. Motabi, Mansour Alfayez, Syed Y. Altaf

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

No abstract for this article type.

Use Of Checkpoint Inhibitors In Gray Zone Lymphoma, Yensy Mariana Zelaya Rosales, Juliene Lima Mesquita, Yhasmine Delles Oliveira Garcia, Fernando Ricardo Fernandes Paz, Naiana Castelo Branco Campos, Joa˜O Paulo De Vasconcelos Leita˜O, Francisco Da´Rio Rocha Filho, Ricardo Vale Albino Oliveira Filho, Rome´Lia Pinheiro Gonc¸Alves Lemes, Fernando Barroso Duarte

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Checkpoint inhibitors, cancer immunotherapies, are the new forms of treatment for gray zone lymphoma, a rare subtype that combines the characteristics of both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin disease forms. Programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1/PD-1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) modulate the immune system function. Immunological checkpoints can be stimulatory or inhibitory, and tumors can use these checkpoints to protect against immune system attacks. This is a case report of a difficult diagnosis and describes the most current treatment using checkpoint inhibitors, through the review of the clinical record of a patient diagnosed with gray area …

High Expression Of Long Noncoding Rna Norad Is Associated With Poor Clinical Outcomes In Non-M3 Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients, Mohammad Masoud Eslami, Mina Soufizomorrod, Mohammad Ahmadvand

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Objective/Background: Dysregulation of long noncoding RNA NORAD has been identified in human solid tumors. However, the expression profile of NORAD and its clinical implications in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is unclear. The current study aimed to explore the NORAD expression status and its clinical significance in non-M3 AML patients. Methods: NORAD expression was evaluated in 60 de novo non-M3 AML patients and 49 healthy individuals using quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction method. The correlation between NORAD transcription levels and clinicopathologic characteristics was statistically studied. Results: Compared with the healthy controls, NORAD was consistently higher in non-M3 AML patients (p = …

Prophylactic Pretransplant Ganciclovir To Reduce Cytomegalovirus Infection After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Daniel R. Reed, Gina R. Petroni, Melissa West, Caroline Jones, Abeer Alfaraj, Paige G. Williams, Kathlene Degregory, Kyle Grose, Sandra Monson, Indumathy Varadarajan, Leonid Volodin, Gerald R. Donowitz, Tamila L. Kindwall-Keller, Karen K. Ballen

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Objective/Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation remains a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) occurring in approximately 60–70% of CMV-seropositive HCT recipients. CMV reactivation leads to adverse outcomes including end-organ damage, graft-versus-host disease, and graft failure. Methods: Ganciclovir was administered pretransplant at 5 mg/kg twice daily intravenously from the start of conditioning to Day T-2 to CMV-seropositive patients receiving their first allogeneic HCT. CMV DNA was monitored weekly until at least Day 100 posttransplant. Results: A total of 109 consecutive patients were treated, median age 57 (range 20–73) years. Of these, 36 (33%) patients had a CMV reactivation within the …

Azacitidine Maintenance Therapy Postallogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation In Poorrisk Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Amany R. Keruakous, Jennifer Holter-Chakrabarty, Sarah A. Schmidt, Mohamad O. Khawandanah, George Selby, Carrie Yuen

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Objective/Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) is the potential curative modality for poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML), relapse remains the main reason for transplant failure. Early-phase studies showed azacitidine is safe for post-transplant maintenance therapy in AML. Methods: We performed a single institutional prospective cohort study to evaluate the benefit of azacitidine maintenance therapy following allogeneic HSCT in poor-risk AML. The main objective of this study is to generate a hypothesis aiming to optimize post-transplantation outcomes in poor-risk AML. Forty-nine adults with poor-risk AML who underwent allogeneic HSCT were evaluated in a nonrandomized prospective cohort fashion. Thirty-one participants received …

Current Practice Of Oral Care For Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients: A Survey Of The Eastern Mediterranean Blood And Marrow Transplantation Group, Hani Mawardi, Nathaniel Treister, Osama Felemban, Waleed Alamoudi, Ghada Algohary, Abdulrahman Alsultan, Nawal Alshehri, Illias Tazi, Marwan Shaheen, Mohamed Alsharani, Salem Alshemmari, Mutlu Arat, Mohamed Amine Bekadja, Murtadha Al-Khabori, Samar Okaily, Natasha Ali, Husam Abujazar, Wasil Jastaniah, Amir Ali Hamidieh, Sharukh Hashmi, Mahmoud Aljurf

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Introduction: The oral cavity is one of the most common sites impacted by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with acute complications including mucositis, bleeding, salivary gland dysfunction, infection, and taste alteration. These complications may result in significant morbidity and can negatively impact outcomes such as length of stay and overall costs. As such, oral care during HSCT for prevention and management of oral toxicities is a standard component of transplant protocols at all centers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the current oral care practices for patients during HSCT at different transplant centers within the Eastern Mediterranean region. …

Outcomes Of Patients With Thrombocytopenia Evaluated At Hematology Subspecialty Clinics, Zaid H. Abdel Rahman, Kevin C. Miller, Hiba Jabbour, Yaser Alkhatib, Vijaya Donthireddy

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Background: Thrombocytopenia is a frequently encountered laboratory abnormality and a common reason for hematology referrals. Workup for thrombocytopenia is not standardized and frequently does not follow an evidence-based algorithm. We conducted a systematic analysis to evaluate the laboratory testing and outcomes of patients evaluated for thrombocytopenia at hematology clinics in a tertiary referral center between 2013 and 2016. Patient and methods: We performed a comprehensive chart review for patients evaluated for thrombocytopenia during the study period. Patients were followed for 1 year from the initial hematology evaluation and assessed for the development of a hematologic malignancy, rheumatologic, or infectious diseases …

Therapeutic Roles Of Antibody Drug Conjugates (Adcs) In Relapsed/Refractory Lymphomas, Hamza Hashmi, Alicia Darwin, Taiga Nishihori

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Relapsed or refractory lymphoma is commonly treated with combination chemoimmunotherapy and cellular immunotherapy. Modest response rates and associated toxicities are obstacles to achieving durable remission using traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy, especially in frail patients with advanced disease. Antibody drug conjugates represent a new class of novel targeted agents with significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of lymphomas. Several of these agents, which offer improved targeting, greater potency, and better therapeutic index over traditional chemotherapy, are changing the treatment landscape for lymphomas and other hematological malignancies. Despite the therapeutic potential of these agents, the delivery and release of cytotoxic agents …

Radiotherapy And Immunotherapy In Melanoma Brain Metastases, Amir Anvari, Pegah Sasanpour, Mania Rajabzadeh Kheradmardi

Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Therapy

Background and objective: Melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) generally portends a dismal prognosis. Simultaneous use of radiotherapy (RT) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy demonstrated tremendous promise and emerged as the new standard. This meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate survival outcomes and toxicities of this combination in patients with MBM. Data analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 2) and IBM SPSS software (version 27). Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library (via Wiley) was conducted using PICOS/PRISMA selection protocol and included studies to evaluate survival and safety-associated outcomes of ICI + RT for the …

Role Of Microorganisms In Horticulture To Improve Plant Quality, Domenico Prisa

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

One of the most anticipated challenges in the field of agriculture is to ensure high production levels while limiting the use of environmentally harmful synthetic chemicals. One of the most interesting strategies to overcome this challenge is the exploitation of the interactions between soil microorganisms and plants which result in stimulating plants’ natural activity. The interactions among mycorrhiza, growth-promoting microorganisms and plants play a crucial role in soil fertility, biocontrol and protection. The use of mixed microbial products can simulate interactions between fungi and bacteria, realising all the benefits that can be obtained from these associations in terms of quantity …

Functional Impact Of A Cancer-Related Variant In Human Δ1‑Pyrroline-5-Carboxylate Reductase 1, Oseeyi I. Daudu, Kaylen R. Meeks, Lu Zhang, Javier Seravalli, John J. Tanner, Donald F. Becker

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (PYCR) is a proline biosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes the NAD(P)H-dependent reduction of Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) to proline. Humans have three PYCR isoforms, with PYCR1 often upregulated in different types of cancers. Here, we studied the biochemical and structural properties of the Thr171Met variant of PYCR1, which is found in patients with malignant melanoma and lung adenocarcinoma. Although PYCR1 is strongly associated with cancer progression, characterization of a PYCR1 variant in cancer patients has not yet been reported. Thr171 is conserved in all three PYCR isozymes and is located near the P5C substrate binding site. We found that …