Digital Commons Network^™

The Eastern Oyster Behavioral Response To Low Salinity And Hypoxia In Controlled And Natural Settings, Siyah Yongue

LSU Master's Theses

Oyster aquaculture is expanding in the northern Gulf of Mexico, but climate change may challenge the sustainability of this industry. Projected increases in the frequency and intensity of low salinity and low dissolved oxygen (DO) periods could impact the behavior, metabolism, growth, and survival of oysters. Characterizing how oyster behavior links to environmental stressors could help better identify thresholds in their tolerance and inform predictive tools for aquaculture professionals. In this research, the effect of separate and concomitant exposures to low salinity and DO on the behavioral response of oysters was examined in the lab. The impact of other environmental …

Comparison Of Virtual Vs. Traditional Cycling Exercise On Perceived Duration And Exercise Enjoyment: A Pilot Study, Kyle W. Reason, Lauren G. Killen, T. Scott Lyons, Jean A. Helm Allen, Matt Green

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(2): 147-157, 2025. Participating in regular physical activity has been shown to increases one’s quality of life. Individuals may choose not to participate in regular physical activity because of a perceived lack of time and enjoyment. With the potential of these barriers to decrease exercise adherence, the purpose of this study was to compare perceived exercise duration and enjoyment between a virtually interactive stationary bike and a clamped workload on a standard non-interactive stationary bike. Thirteen active participants completed a VO₂ peak test and four counterbalanced trials (two 20-min, two 40-min) with one trial …

The Use Of Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Encapsulated In Organic Nanoparticles Within Boar Semen Extenders To Control Bacterial Growth And Preserve Sperm Quality During Short-Term Storage Without Antibiotics, Congbang Ngo, Naiyaphat Nittayasut, Teerapong Yata, Junpen Suwimonteerabutr, Nuvee Prapasarakul, Jane M. Morrell, Padet Tummaruk

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of adding ethyl lauroyl arginate (ELA), encapsulated in organic nanoparticles, to a semen extender without antibiotics on sperm quality and bacterial load during short-term storage. Three ejaculates from Duroc boars were divided into four equal portions and diluted with Beltsville Thawing Solution to produce semen doses containing 3 billion spermatozoa in 80 ml. The extended semen did not include antibiotics but instead incorporated different concentrations of ELA nanoparticles into the extenders: 0 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm, and 15 ppm. The semen doses were stored for 4 days, with …

Superstable Lipid Vacuoles Endow Cartilage With Its Shape And Biomechanics, Raul Ramos, Kim T Pham, Richard C Prince, Leith B Leiser-Miller, Maneeshi S Prasad, Xiaojie Wang, Rachel C Nordberg, Benjamin J Bielajew, Jerry C Hu, Kosuke Yamaga, Ji Won Oh, Tao Peng, Rupsa Datta, Aksana Astrowskaja, Axel A Almet, John T Burns, Yuchen Liu, Christian Fernando Guerrero-Juarez, Bryant Q Tran, Yi-Lin Chu, Anh M Nguyen, Tsai-Ching Hsi, Norman T-L Lim, Sandra Schoeniger, Ruiqi Liu, Yun-Ling Pai, Chella K Vadivel, Sandy Ingleby, Andrew E Mckechnie, Frank Van Breukelen, Kyle L Hoehn, John J Rasweiler, Michinori Kohara, William J Loughry, Scott H Weldy, Raymond Cosper, Chao-Chun Yang, Sung-Jan Lin, Kimberly L Cooper, Sharlene E Santana, Jeffrey E Bradley, Michael A Kiebish, Michelle Digman, David E James, Amy E Merrill, Qing Nie, Thomas F Schilling, Aliaksandr A Astrowski, Eric O Potma, Martín I García-Castro, Kyriacos A Athanasiou, Richard R Behringer, Maksim V Plikus

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Conventionally, the size, shape, and biomechanics of cartilages are determined by their voluminous extracellular matrix. By contrast, we found that multiple murine cartilages consist of lipid-filled cells called lipochondrocytes. Despite resembling adipocytes, lipochondrocytes were molecularly distinct and produced lipids exclusively through de novo lipogenesis. Consequently, lipochondrocytes grew uniform lipid droplets that resisted systemic lipid surges and did not enlarge upon obesity. Lipochondrocytes also lacked lipid mobilization factors, which enabled exceptional vacuole stability and protected cartilage from shrinking upon starvation. Lipid droplets modulated lipocartilage biomechanics by decreasing the tissue's stiffness, strength, and resilience. Lipochondrocytes were found in multiple mammals, including humans, …

Species Differences In The Biotransformation Of Aflatoxin B1: Primary Determinants Of Relative Carcinogenic Potency In Different Animal Species, David L. Eaton, David E. Williams, Roger A. Coulombe

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors …

Effects Of Pericarp Removal And Different Germination Conditions On Seed Germination And Saline-Alkali Tolerance Of Amorpha Fruticosa, Zhan-Wu Gao, Yong-Guang Mu, Feng Chen, Li-Jie He, Xin-Ning Li, Jia-Tong Li, Ke-Jia Ding, Yan-Hui Cu, Chun-Sheng Mu, Adnan Rasheed

Turkish Journal of Botany

In this paper, neutral salt NaCl and basic salt Na2CO3 were used to simulate salt stress and alkali stress respectively, and the effects of salt stress and alkali stress on seed germination and growth changes in natural saline-alkali soil were studied, in order to provide theoretical basis for making full use of plant resources and improving production efficiency. The fruit peel of Amorpha fruticosa contains a lot of lipids, which has a significant effect on seed germination. Under salt stress, removal of pericarp significantly increased germination rate, germination potential and germination index (P< 0.05), and significantly shortened germination time of seeds (p< 0.05), which accelerated the establishment of seedlings, reduced the stress time during germination, and advanced the transition from heterotrophic to autotrophic, accumulating more anions and organic solutes to adapt to salt stress. Therefore, when planting in neutral salt soil, it can be used to remove the peel for sowing to improve the planting effect. However, under alkali stress, the growth is inhibited by the absorption of a large amount of Na+ and high pH value, so it is not suitable for removing the peel for sowing. Different germination conditions had significant effects on seed germination. The length and biomass of radicle and germ in sand culture were significantly higher than those in paper culture (P< 0.05). Under the condition of sand culture, the concentration of the treatment solution can be well maintained, which is conducive to fixing the seedlings and reducing the interference of other mineral elements. Therefore, sand culture method is recommended for seed germination experiments under stress, especially for plants with developed roots.

Utah Producers And Soil Health: Statewide Survey Results, Peggy Petrzelka, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Earl Creech, Linda Schott, Tony Richards, Kristy Davis

All Current Publications

To gain soil health perspectives and actions from a representative sample of Utah farmers and ranchers, a mail and online survey of Utah producers was conducted in 2024, focused on those who indicated they produced crops in 2023. In this report, we provide an overview of the survey results, with a specific focus on producers’ views on soil health, indicators used for soil health, factors that influence soil health adoption, and information sources used for soil health.

Impact Of Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria On The Growth Of Arabidopsis Thaliana Under Salt Stress, Behi̇ye Nur Aksoy, Hamza Ettadili, Caner Vural

Turkish Journal of Botany

The effect of a microbial mixture containing anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotype Col-0 under salt stress was investigated. To induce salt stress, 150 mM NaCl was applied to A. thaliana. Four treatments were employed to assess the impact of APB: (1) control plants, (2) plants inoculated with a mixture of enriched photosynthetic bacteria, (3) plants inoculated with a mixture of enriched photosynthetic bacteria and irrigated with 150 mM NaCl solution, and (4) plants irrigated with 150 mM NaCl solution. The analysis demonstrated that the inoculated plants exhibited increased leaf formation and leafsize. Furthermore, an …

Acetylcholine Treatments Enhance Growth, Photosynthesis Efficiency And Stress Resilience In Maize Seedlings Exposed To Arsenic, Büşra Arikan-Abdulveli

Turkish Journal of Botany

Arsenic (As) is a widespread and highly toxic metalloid that adversely affects plant health, leading to reduced yields, impaired photosynthesis, and compromised root structures. Although acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter implicated in plant growth and stress responses, has shown potential in mitigating heavy metal stress, its effects on As stress in maize (Zea mays L.) remain largely unexplored. This study investigated the impact of ACh treatments on maize seedlings exposed to As stress (100 µM), focusing on physiological responses, growth rates, photosynthesis, and the antioxidant system. Our findings revealed that ACh treatments conferred differential protective effects against As stress. The lowest …

Ghost Fishing Due To Derelict Crab Traps In Louisiana’S Barataria Basin, Emma C. Villemarette

LSU Master's Theses

Ghost fishing, the unintentional entrapment of sea life by derelict fishing gear, is an ecologic and socioeconomic concern in Louisiana's crabbing industry (blue crab, Callinectes sapidus). These ghost fishing traps cause unknown and unaccounted for mortality in blue crab and bycatch species. I aimed to track changes to derelict crab trap catch and trap deterioration over seasons and between habitats. I set and monitored 33 simulated derelict crab traps over 367 soak days in three varying habitats along Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Traps were checked once every two weeks and an additional daily check for five days per season. Blue …

Functional Characterization Of Qt Interval Associated Scn5a Enhancer Variants Identify Combined Additive Effects, Lavanya Gunamalai, Parul Singh, Brian Berg, Leilei Shi, Ernesto Sanchez, Alexa Smith, Ghislain Breton, Mark T Bedford, Darius Balciunas, Ashish Kapoor

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Several empirical and theoretical studies suggest the presence of multiple enhancers per gene that collectively regulate gene expression, and that common sequence variation impacting on the activities of these enhancers is a major source of inter-individual gene expression variability. However, for the vast majority of genes, enhancers and the underlying regulatory variation remains unknown. Even for the genes with well-characterized enhancers, the nature of the combined effects from multiple enhancers and their variants, when known, on gene expression regulation remains unexplored. Here, we have evaluated the combined effects from five SCN5A enhancers and their regulatory variants that are known to …

A Β-Hydroxybutyrate Shunt Pathway Generates Anti-Obesity Ketone Metabolites, Maria Dolores Moya-Garzon, Mengjie Wang, Veronica L Li, Xuchao Lyu, Wei Wei, Alan Sheng-Hwa Tung, Steffen H Raun, Meng Zhao, Laetitia Coassolo, Hashim Islam, Barbara Oliveira, Yuqin Dai, Jan Spaas, Antonio Delgado-Gonzalez, Kenyi Donoso, Aurora Alvarez-Buylla, Francisco Franco-Montalban, Anudari Letian, Catherine P Ward, Lichao Liu, Katrin J Svensson, Emily L Goldberg, Christopher D Gardner, Jonathan P Little, Steven M Banik, Yong Xu, Jonathan Z Long

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is an abundant ketone body. To date, all known pathways of BHB metabolism involve the interconversion of BHB and primary energy intermediates. Here, we identify a previously undescribed BHB secondary metabolic pathway via CNDP2-dependent enzymatic conjugation of BHB and free amino acids. This BHB shunt pathway generates a family of anti-obesity ketone metabolites, the BHB-amino acids. Genetic ablation of CNDP2 in mice eliminates tissue amino acid BHB-ylation activity and reduces BHB-amino acid levels. The most abundant BHB-amino acid, BHB-Phe, is a ketosis-inducible congener of Lac-Phe that activates hypothalamic and brainstem neurons and suppresses feeding. Conversely, CNDP2-KO mice exhibit …

Brain Delivery Of Erythropoietin Results In A Significant Reduction Of Brain Aβ And Spatial Memory Deficits In The App Knock-In Mouse Model, Rudy Tieu Chang, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, Grace-Ann Chuli Roules, Emi Iwasaki, Nataraj Jagadeesan, Rachita K. Sumbria

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Although novel treatments for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have begun to show modest therapeutic effects, agents that target hallmark AD pathology and offer neuroprotection are desired. Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone with neuroprotective effects but is faced with challenges including limited brain uptake and increased hematopoietic side effects with long-term dosing. Therefore, EPO has been modified and bound to a chimeric transferrin receptor monoclonal antibody (cTfRMAb); the latter shuttles EPO past the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into brain parenchyma and reduces its plasma exposure and potential for side effects. Our study sought to characterize the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of …

A Review And Meta-Analysis Of The Efficacy Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Remediating Toxic Metals In Mine-Affected Soil, Sonali Banerjee, Jajati Mandal, Dibyendu Sarkar, Rupali Datta, Pradip Bhattacharyya

Michigan Tech Publications

Mines are natural reservoirs of various minerals, metals, and metalloids. Several heavy metals (HMs), such as Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni, are major anthropogenic pollutants that cause severe environmental pollution. The accumulation of these toxic HMs in soils has raised several concerns for crop growth, food safety, and marketing. Physiological and biochemical processes in plants are severely impacted by HMs, disrupting normal metabolic activities and reducing biomass production. Phytoremediation plays a pivotal role in addressing HM contamination by offering an eco-friendly, economical, and holistic solution. Similarly, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a significant role by forming a symbiotic relationship …

A Phase Ia Study Of A Novel Anti-Her2 Antibody-Drug Conjugate Gq1001 In Patients With Previously Treated Her2 Positive Advanced Solid Tumors, Chenfei Zhou, Bin Wang, Christina Teng, Hui Yang, Sarina A Piha-Paul, Gary Richardson, Ashanya Malalasekera, Yajun Sun, Wei Wang, Jieqiong Liu, Yan Shi, Xianbao Zhan, Charlotte Lemech

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: A novel anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) GQ1001 was assessed in patients with previously treated HER2 positive advanced solid tumors in a global multi-center phase Ia dose escalation trial.

Methods: In this phase Ia trial, a modified 3 + 3 study design was adopted during dose escalation phase. Eligible patients were enrolled, and GQ1001 monotherapy was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. The starting dose was 1.2 mg/kg, followed by 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, 6.0, 7.2 and 8.4 mg/kg. Extra patients were enrolled into 6.0, 7.2, and 8.4 mg/kg cohorts as dose expansion phase. The primary …

Alleviation Of Liver Fibrosis By Inhibiting A Non-Canonical Atf4-Regulated Enhancer Program In Hepatic Stellate Cells, Li-Xian Yang, Chuangye Qi, Si Lu, Xiang-Shi Ye, Parnaz Merikhian, Du-Yu Zhang, Tao Yao, Jiang-Sha Zhao, Ying Wu, Yongshi Jia, Bo Shan, Jinghai Chen, Xiaozhou Mou, Jia You, Wenbo Li, Yu-Xiong Feng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Liver fibrosis is a critical liver disease that can progress to more severe manifestations, such as cirrhosis, yet no effective targeted therapies are available. Here, we identify that ATF4, a master transcription factor in ER stress response, promotes liver fibrosis by facilitating a stress response-independent epigenetic program in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Unlike its canonical role in regulating UPR genes during ER stress, ATF4 activates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene transcription under fibrogenic conditions. HSC-specific depletion of ATF4 suppresses liver fibrosis in vivo. Mechanistically, TGFβ resets ATF4 to orchestrate a unique enhancer program for the transcriptional activation of pro-fibrotic EMT genes. …

Full Issue, Volume 12, Number 3, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Sex, Mating Status, And Genetic Background On Circadian Behavior In Drosophila, Oghenerukevwe Akpoghiran, Alexandra K. Strich, Kyunghee Koh

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Circadian rhythms play a crucial role in regulating behavior, physiology, and health. Sexual dimorphism, a widespread phenomenon across species, influences circadian behaviors. Additionally, post-mating physiological changes in females are known to modulate various behaviors, yet their effects on circadian rhythms remain underexplored. Here, using Drosophila melanogaster, a powerful model for studying circadian mechanisms, we systematically assessed the impact of sex and mating status on circadian behavior. We measured circadian period length and rhythm strength in virgin and mated males and females, including females mated to males lacking Sex Peptide (SP), a key mediator of post-mating changes. Across four wild-type and …

Agri-Technology Transforming Farms And Ranches Across Nebraska, Shannon Sand

Cornhusker Economics

In summary, agri-tech is reducing the demand for traditional farm and ranch labor in Nebraska while creating new opportunities in technical, analytical, and management roles. As Nebraska maintains its leadership in agri-tech, there will be a growing need for a tech-savvy and versatile agricultural workforce.

Evaluating Elk Distribution And Conflict Under Proposed Management Alternatives At The National Elk Refuge In Jackson, Wyoming, Gavin G. Cotterill, Paul C. Cross, Eric K. Cole, Jonathan D. Cook, Margaret C. Mceachran, Tabitha A. Graves

Aspen Bibliography

We evaluated measurable attributes describing the current and future distribution of Cervus elaphus canadensis (elk) across a region surrounding Jackson, Wyoming, for five feedground management alternatives proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a revision to 2007 "Bison and Elk Management Plan" of the National Elk Refuge. A resource selection function evaluated measurable attributes of interest to managers, including elk use of private property and sensitive habitat types at monthly timesteps and varying winter conditions. The study area boundaries were created through an expert elicitation process and consist of the Jackson Elk Herd Unit, Grand Teton National Park, …

Enhancing In Vitro Digestibility And Volatile Profile Of Sorghum Proteins Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Drying, Nafisa Sadaf, Arda Tuhanioglu, Safoura Ahmadzadeh, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The goal of this research was to use supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) drying as a novel approach to generate sorghum protein concentrates with enhanced functional characteristics. Sorghum protein concentrates were extracted from white whole-grain sorghum flour and dried in two ways: freeze-drying and SC-CO2 drying. The dried proteins were characterized for their volatile compound content, in vitro digestibility, and amino acid composition. A more porous structure was observed for the SC-CO2-dried sorghum proteins compared with their freeze-dried counterparts. In the SC-CO2-dried samples, the levels of alcohols, esters, and organic acids were significantly lower than those in the freeze-dried ones, whereas …

Exploring The Role Of Brain Angiogenesis Inhibitor 3 (Bai3) In Regulating Body Weight, Haifa Alsahrif

All ETDs from UAB

Obesity is a significant public health issue, strongly associated with various metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to obesity is essential for developing effective interventions. One critical area of interest involves G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are important in regulating metabolic health. These receptors are known to be involved in critical metabolic functions such as insulin secretion, lipid metabolism, and glucose uptake. The role of the GPCR, brain angiogenesis inhibitor-3 (BAI3), in metabolic regulation has not been fully explored. This dissertation focuses on the known functions of the BAI isoforms (BAI1-3) and presents …

Remodeling Pedagogical Evaluation Tools To Incorporate Student Self-Efficacy And Sense Of Belonging In Scientific Research, Richelle L. Tanner, Nicholas P. Burnett, Emily E. King, Anne E. Todgham

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Curated undergraduate research experiences have been widely used at colleges and universities for decades to build student interest, technical preparation, and confidence in the pursuit of scientific careers. Educators often employ standardized survey instruments to evaluate learning outcomes for research experiences, but many of these assessments consider only technical skill development and career interests and are not rooted in discrete pedagogical theories. As higher education aims to create inclusive and equitable learning experiences for students, we argue that pedagogical assessment tools for undergraduate research experiences need to expand to consider outcomes such as increased science literacy, confidence in relational “soft” …

A Mamluk-Period Mausoleum Near The ‘Sleepy Spring’ At Safed (Ẓefat), Hervé Barbé

'Atiqot

A trial excavation near the ‘Sleepy Spring’ fountain in Safed revealed the remains of a mausoleum, which was built during the late Mamluk period and remained in use until the early twentieth century. Three late Ottoman-period tombs found within the vaulted structure, and Ottoman-period cist tombs adjacent to the building, attest to the burial function of the site. No pre-Mamluk-period finds were uncovered at the site, indicating that the earliest occupation in this part of the ancient town was in the Mamluk period. Based on archaeological excavations and textual sources, urbanization of Safed was intensified during the Mamluk period, possibly …

The Faunal Remains From Ramla, Dana Shtainberg Finali, Ram Bouchnick

'Atiqot

The majority of the faunal remains from the excavation at Ramla were retrieved from Area A. The assemblage mostly comprises domestic livestock, including domestic fowl. It also includes a few remains of wild mammals, fish and songbirds. The very low numbers of pig bones at the site are characteristic of assemblages associated with cultures that imposed a taboo on eating pork, as Jewish and Muslim communities. The assemblage appears to represent refuse deposits, although their precise origin is unclear.

Early Bronze Age Fauna From Tel Lod, Edward F. Maher Maher

'Atiqot

The excavations at Tel Lod yielded a small zooarchaeological assemblage, primarily dating to Early Bronze Age IB (Strata VII–IV); the material from the latest occupation (Strata III–II) dates to late EB IB or the EB IB/EB II transition. The fauna of both phases is dominated by domestic stock, comprising sheep, goats, cattle and pigs, which were used both for primary products, such as meat, and secondary products, such as dairy, wool, hair, traction and for breeding. Wild animals, such as boar, gazelle, deer and hare, were also occasionally exploited.

Early Bronze Age Ia Settlement Remains At Ḥorbat Ḥammim (South), Near Modi‘In, Edwin C.M. Van Den Brink, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Ofer Marder, Henk K. Mienis

'Atiqot

The excavation at Ḥorbat Ḥammim (South) yielded a rock-cut basin and a small cave within a limestone bedrock outcrop. The basin is similar to other rock-cut installations previously exposed in the area and dated to the Chalcolithic period.
The manmade rock-cut cave was entered through a shaft. The sediments from the shaft and the cave consisted of many potsherds, stone tools and animal bones, that may have been washed into the cave, or intentionally discarded in it. The cave may have been quarried as early as the Late Chalcolithic period, although the bulk of the pottery dates to EB IA, …

The Mollusks From Tel Bet Yeraḥ, Inbar Ktalav

'Atiqot

Bivalve remains retrieved from EB II–III Strata at Tel Bet Yeraḥ include specimens originating from the Sea of Galilee and from the Mediterranean Sea. The mollusks indicate the exploitation of nearby sources for food and raw material for fashioning decorative items, as well as long distance trade connections with the Mediterranean coastal region. A broken valve of Glycymeris nummaria, with an artificial perforation in the umbo, was probably collected on the shore and used as a pendant.

The Fauna From Tel Bet Yeraḥ, Miriam Pines

'Atiqot

A small assemblage of 20 bones was retrieved from Tel Bet Yeraḥ, the majority originating from EB III Strata III–I. Most of the bones belong to adult sheep/goat and cattle.

A Ceramic Zoomorphic Figurine From Tel Bet Yeraḥ, Nadeshda B. Knudsen

'Atiqot

A well-made ceramic zoomorphic figurine was recovered from a domestic EB IB context (Stratum V) in the southern part of Tel Bet Yeraḥ. The physical characteristics of this figurine suggest that it was intended to represent an equid, possibly a donkey. Such animal figurines are common at Early Bronze Age sites, usually representing familiar domesticate animals. The purpose of these figurines remains obscure, with multiple suggestions offered, including their use as toys, talismans, teaching aids, exchange tokens, or for rituals.