Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Student Noticing Of Quantitative Reasoning In Introductory Biology Labs, Jeremy L. Hsu, Sara Gartland, Joelle Prate, Charles Hohensee

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is a key skill for undergraduate biology education. Despite this, many students struggle with QR. Here, we use the theoretical framework of student noticing to investigate why some students struggle with QR in introductory biology labs. Under this framework, what students notice when given new information and data influences how they process this information and connect it with other events to form new conceptions. Students must mentally isolate given features, create mental records of those features, and identify features or objects that they connect to existing knowledge. Identifying these features or objects is thus critical since they …

Spatial Distribution Of Tumor Cells In Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Is Associated With Metastasis And A Matrisome Gene Expression Signature, Prahlad Bhat, Pheroze Tamboli, Kanishka Sircar, Kasthuri Kannan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Predicting the behavior of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is challenging using standard-of-care histopathologic examination. Indeed, pathologic RCC tumor grading, based on nuclear morphology, performs poorly in predicting outcomes of patients with International Society of Urological Pathology/World Health Organization grade 2 and 3 tumors, which account for most ccRCCs.

Methods: We applied spatial point process modeling of H&E-stained images of patients with grade 2 and grade 3 ccRCCs (n = 72) to find optimum separation into two groups.

Results: One group was associated with greater spatial randomness and clinical metastasis (p < 0.01). Notably, spatial analysis outperformed standard pathologic grading in predicting clinical metastasis. Moreover, cell-to-cell interaction distances in the metastasis-associated group were significantly greater than those in the other patient group and were also greater than expected by the random distribution of cells. Differential gene expression between the two spatially defined groups of patients revealed a matrisome signature, consistent with the extracellular matrix's crucial role in tumor invasion. The top differentially expressed genes (with a fold change > 3) stratified a larger, multi-institutional …

The Southwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (Sw Casc), Michelle Baker

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Anti-Ctla-4 Generates Greater Memory Response Than Anti-Pd-1 Via Tcf-1, Stephen Mok, Huey Liu, Didem Ağaç Çobanoğlu, Nana-Ama A S Anang, James J Mancuso, E John Wherry, James P Allison

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The effects of T cell differentiation arising from immune checkpoint inhibition targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on the immunological memory response remain unclear. Our investigation into the effects of anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 on memory T cell formation in mice reveals that memory T cells generated by anti-CTLA-4 exhibit greater expansion, cytokine production, and antitumor activity than those from anti-PD-1. Notably, anti-CTLA-4 preserves more T cell factor-1 (TCF-1)+ T cells during priming, while anti-PD-1 leads to more thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box (TOX)+ T cells. Experiments using conditional

Venoms And Extracellular Vesicles: A New Frontier In Venom Biology, Auwal A. Bala, Naoual Oukkache, Elda E. Sánchez, Montamas Suntravat, Jacob Galan

School of Medicine Publications

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticle-sized vesicles secreted by nearly all cell types under normal physiological conditions. In toxicological research, EVs have emerged as a crucial link between public health and multi-omics approaches, offering insights into cellular responses to disease-causing injury agents such as environmental and biological toxins, contaminants, and drugs. Notably, EVs present a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of the pathophysiology of envenomation by natural toxins. Recent advancements in isolating and purifying EV cargo, mass spectrometry techniques, and bioinformatics have positioned EVs as potential biomarkers that could elucidate biological signaling pathways and provide valuable information on the relationship …

ʽAmqa: Faunal Remains From The Late Fatimid–Early Crusader Periods, Nimrod Marom

Qadum: Journal of Excavation Reports from Israel

This report analyzes faunal remains found in a building complex at ‘Amqa, primarily from the late Fatimid–early Crusader periods (eleventh–twelfth centuries CE). The assemblage consists mainly of cattle, sheep and goats, with a smaller number of camel, wild boar, equid, chicken and tortoise remains. Cattle bones, particularly from young individuals, are most prevalent, suggesting a focus on cattle rearing. Butchery marks indicate the use of tools for carcass processing, and bone fragmentation patterns suggest both intentional breakage and natural weathering. Comparisons with other sites from the same period highlight the unique predominance of cattle in ‘Amqa, possibly due to the …

Studying The Impact Of Weather Changes On Bird Breeding., Perle Suana, Yangyang Tao

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Climate change start to impact our daily life recently. The shifting climate introduces frequent and unpredictable temperature fluctuations. For species like birds, particularly those that reproduce through eggs, maintaining stable temperatures during incubation is crucial for reproductive success. Despite the significance of temperature stability, limited research has delved into understanding the thresholds of temperature tolerance during incubation. In this investigation, we will apply the data science tools to analyze the local temperature dataset over the past decade and the birds incubation dataset. Our aim was to explore potential correlations between extreme temperature swings coinciding with the breeding season and instances …

Supporting Wildlife Restoration In Eastern States Via State Wildlife Action Plans, L. Mark Elbroch, John Vucetich, Christa Rose, Jeremy T. Bruskotter

Michigan Tech Publications

The biodiversity crisis is driven by extinction at two scales: the global extinction of species and the local extirpation of populations (i.e., range contraction). Local extirpations are especially acute in the eastern United States, which has lost a substantial portion of its native mammalian fauna. Species restoration in the U.S., therefore, should be utilised more to revitalise and restore degraded systems. State wildlife agencies can elevate discussions about species restoration and facilitate internal capacity to conduct restoration projects by including locally extirpated species in State Wildlife Action Plans, which are currently under revision, and will guide state conservation programs for …

Combined Kras Inhibition And Immune Therapy Generates Durable Complete Responses In An Autochthonous Pdac Model, Yonghong Liu, Jincheng Han, Wen-Hao Hsu, Kyle A Labella, Pingna Deng, Xiaoying Shang, Paulino Tallón De Lara, Li Cai, Shan Jiang, Ronald A Depinho

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) resists conventional chemo/radiation and immunotherapy. In PDAC, oncogenic KRAS (KRAS*) drives glycolysis in cancer cells to consume available glucose and produce abundant lactate, creating profound immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we combined KRAS* inhibition with agents targeting the major arms of the immunity cycle: CXCR1/2 inhibitor for myeloid cells, antagonistic anti-LAG3 antibody for T cells, and agonistic anti-41BB antibody for dendritic cells. This combination elicited robust anti-tumor regression in iKPC mice bearing large autochthonous tumors. While untreated mice succumbed within 3 weeks, sustained treatment led to durable complete tumor regression and prolonged survival in …

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Promote Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation In The Omentum By Expanding Innate-Like B Cells That Express Il-10, Wonjae Lee, Song Yi Ko, Hironari Akasaka, Melanie Weigert, Ernst Lengyel, Honami Naora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Disseminated cancer cells in the peritoneal fluid often colonize omental fat-associated lymphoid clusters but the mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identify that innate-like B cells accumulate in the omentum of mice and women with early-stage ovarian cancer concomitantly with the extrusion of chromatin fibers by neutrophils called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Studies using genetically modified NET-deficient mice, pharmacologic inhibition of NETs, and adoptive B cell transfer show that NETs induce expression of the chemoattractant CXCL13 in the pre-metastatic omentum, stimulating recruitment of peritoneal innate-like B cells that in turn promote expansion of regulatory T cells and omental metastasis through producing …

Integrating Priorities At The Intersection Of Cancer And Neuroscience, William L Hwang, Ella N Perrault, Alexander Birbrair, Brandi J Mattson, David H Gutmann, Donald J Mabbott, Edna Cukierman, Elizabeth A Repasky, Erica K Sloan, Hui Zong, Ihsan Ekin Demir, Jami L Saloman, Jeremy C Borniger, Jian Hu, Jorg Dietrich, Joshua J Breunig, Kaan Çifcibaşı, Khalil Ali Ahmad Kasm, Manuel Valiente, Max Wintermark, Munjal M Acharya, Nicole N Scheff, Nisha J D'Silva, Paola D Vermeer, Richard J Wong, Sebastien Talbot, Shawn L Hervey-Jumper, Timothy C Wang, Yi Ye, Yuan Pan, Yuri L Bunimovich, Moran Amit

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer neuroscience is a rapidly growing multidisciplinary field that conceptualizes tumors as tissues fully integrated into the nervous system. Recognizing the complexity and challenges in this field is of fundamental importance to achieving the goal of translational impact for cancer patients. Our commentary highlights key scientific priorities, optimal training settings, and roadblocks to translating scientific findings to the clinic in this emerging field, aiming to formulate a transformative and cohesive path forward.

Nerves At Play: The Peripheral Nervous System In Extracranial Malignancies, Paola D Vermeer, Anthony C Restaino, Jeffrey L Barr, Dan Yaniv, Moran Amit

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The exponential growth of the cancer neuroscience field has shown that the host's immune, vascular, and nervous systems communicate with and influence each other in the tumor microenvironment, dictating the cancer malignant phenotype. Unraveling the nervous system's contributions toward this phenotype brings us closer to cancer cures. In this review, we summarize the peripheral nervous system's contributions to cancer. We highlight the effects of nerve recruitment and tumor innervation, the neuro-immune axis, glial cell activity, and neural regulation on cancer development and progression. We also discuss harnessing the neural control of peripheral cancers as a potential therapeutic approach in oncology. …

Root Decomposition And Nutrient Dynamics In Multifunctional Forage-Biomass Buffer-Strip Systems, Helen C.S. Amorium, Amanda J. Ashworth, Taylor C. Adams, Mary C. Savin, Philip A. Moore Jr

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Perennial crops are thought as a solution for enhancing food security and providing ecosystem services under a changing climate, including forage-biomass production, reduced erosion and nutrient leaching, and soil C accumulation. However, the drivers of root decomposition and C allocation in perennial multifunctional forage-biomass buffer-strips as affected by fertility management are poorly elucidated. Thus, study objectives were to assess root decomposition and soil CO2 efflux on switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.), silphium (Silphium integrifolium Michx.), and intermediate wheatgrass Kernza (Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth & D.R. Dewey) treated with poultry litter (PL) relative to the unfertilized control. …

Soil Residual Activity Of Tetflupyrolimet And The Influence Of Soil Moisture And Flood Timeliness On Barnyardgrass Efficacy, Mason C. Castner, Jason K. Norsworthy, Trenton L. Roberts, Travis R. Faske, Thomas R. Butts, Nick R. Bateman

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Tetflupyrolimet is the first herbicide with a novel site of action to be commercialized for use in agronomic crops in three decades. Direct-seed rice field experiments were conducted at research facilities near Stuttgart (silt loam), AR, and Keiser (clay), AR, to evaluate tetflupyrolimet as a preemergence herbicide versus commercial standards. Greenhouse experiments determined the influence of soil moisture on pre- and postemergence barnyardgrass control with tetflupyrolimet and clomazone and the impact of a delayed flood on efficacy when POST-applied. For the field experiments, clomazone, tetflupyrolimet, and quinclorac were applied individually PRE at 336 and 560, 134 and 224, and 336 …

Performance Of Eight Lettuce Cultivars In A Water Culture System, Ricky C. Young, Hudson M. Cox, Jacob D. Frodge, Mollie K. Mayabb, Brycen C. Shephard, Alireza Rahemi

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most well-known vegetables in the world. About 27 million tons of lettuce were produced in the world in 2022 and global demand for lettuce is increasing steadily, driven by the importance of fiber consumption. Lettuce can be grown in multiple media, including hydroponic systems in a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system. Growing lettuce in hydroponic systems is an alternative to lettuce production optimization. Since little information is available about lettuce cultivar trials in hydroponic systems, a research project was developed and executed to study the ability of different types of lettuce …

Intermediate And Middle Bronze Age Settlement Remains, Domestic Worship, Pits And Burial Practices In Nahal RefaʼIm, Jerusalem, Shlomit Weksler-Bdolah, Alexander Onn

'Atiqot

Excavations on the northern bank of the Refa’im Valley uncovered four sites: a shaft tomb and building remains with a standing stone dating to the Intermediate Bronze Age; a concentration of eight pits dating to the Intermediate Bronze Age and the Middle Bronze Age II; and an Ottoman-period agricultural watchtower. The building remains and installations were probably part of the Intermediate Bronze Age settlement along Naḥal Refa’im. The standing stone’s prominent location, and the large concentration of pits and installations near it, may support its identification with domestic worship. The thin fill at the bottom of some of the pits …

Figurines And Their Makers: A View From A Canaanite Cultic Enclosure At Tel Burna, Jon Ross, Itzhaq Shai

'Atiqot

Plaque figurines are a well-established Canaanite tradition of the Late Bronze Age Southern Levant. In this paper, we go beyond typology to consider who made these ritual objects at Tel Burna, based on impressions of fingerprints from shaping these figurines using an open mold. The lack of care exhibited on the backs and sides of the plaques has enabled a fingerprint analysis using proven biometric methods to clarify the demographics of their producers and the division of labor. Such analyses, when possible, potentially add another dimension to existing debates over how these cultic objects functioned in society, who made them …

А Review Of Scorpiofauna Of China: Nomenclatural Notes And Updated Faunistic Catalogue (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Victoria Tang

Euscorpius

Two genera associated with the Chinese scorpiofauna are reviewed, Razianus Farzanpay, 1987 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972. Holotype female of Razianus xinjianganus Lourenço et al., 2010 is presumed to be lost, as well as all type material of other Chinese scorpions described before 2020. Comments are given on the species composition of genus Reddyanus with a new synonym: Isometrus (Reddyanus) tibetanus Lourenço & Zhu, 2008 = Reddyanus assamensis (Oates, 1888) syn. n. Reddyanus kanak Lourenço, 2023 is tentatively considered as a nomen dubium. An updated catalogue of Chinese scorpiofauna is provided, including their type locality and type depository, protonym, synonym(s), …

Role Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi In Maintaining Sustainable Agroecosystems, Anju Chaudhary, Shital Poudyal, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agroecosystems by forming mutualistic relationships with plant roots, improving soil health, facilitating nutrient uptake, and enhancing resilience to abiotic stresses. The mutualistic relationship between AM fungi and plants promotes a balanced microbial community and improves soil structure by forming stable soil aggregates. Additionally, AM fungi can lower the adverse effects of high soil phosphorus (P) while also enhancing plant tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity through osmotic regulation and antioxidant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also support beneficial microorganisms, such as potassium (K)-solubilizing microbes and nitrogen (N)-transforming bacteria, …

Changes In Vertical Stratification Of Neotropical Nymphalid Butterflies At Forest Edges Are Not Directly Caused By Light And Temperature Conditions, Brian K. Oye, Ryan I. Hill

Pacific Faculty Work

Habitat fragmentation and land use changes threaten neotropical habitats and alter patterns of diversity at forest edges. Like other arthropod assemblages, neotropical fruit-feeding butterfly communities show strong vertical stratification within forests, with some recent work showing its potential role in speciation. At forest edges, species considered to be forest canopy specialists have been observed descending to the forest understory, with the similarity in light conditions between the canopy and understory strata at edges hypothesized to be responsible for this phenomenon. We conducted a study using standardized sampling to document and quantify this edge effect, characterize edge and forest strata, and …

Conformational Switching Of Arp5 Subunit Regulates Ino80 Chromatin Remodeling, Shagun Shukla, Somnath Paul, Jeison Garcia, Yuan Zhong, Sara Sanz Juste, Karissa Beauchemin, Blaine Bartholomew

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The INO80 chromatin remodeler is a versatile enzyme capable of several functions, including spacing nucleosomes equal distances apart, precise positioning of nucleosomes based on DNA shape/sequence and exchanging histone dimers. Within INO80, the Arp5 subunit plays a central role in INO80 remodeling, evidenced by its interactions with the histone octamer, nucleosomal and extranucleosomal DNA, and its necessity in linking INO80's ATPase activity to nucleosome movement. We find two distinct regions of Arp5 binding near the acidic pocket of nucleosomes. One region has an arginine anchor that binds nucleosomes and is vital for INO80 mobilizing nucleosomes. The other region has a …

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 …

Sitravatinib In Combination With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab In Patients With Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Phase 1 Trial, Pavlos Msaouel, Kai Yu, Ying Yuan, Jianfeng Chen, Xinmiao Yan, Menuka Karki, Fei Duan, Rahul A Sheth, Priya Rao, Kanishka Sircar, Amishi Y Shah, Amado J Zurita, Giannicola Genovese, Min Li, Chih-Chen Yeh, Minghao Dang, Guangchun Han, Yanshuo Chu, Max Hallin, Peter Olson, Rui Yang, Daniela Slavin, Hirak Der-Torossian, Curtis D Chin, Nizar M Tannir, Linghua Wang, Jianjun Gao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

We conducted a phase I trial to determine the optimal dose of triplet therapy with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sitravatinib plus nivolumab plus ipilimumab in 22 previously untreated patients with advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), 1-year survival probability, and sitravatinib pharmacokinetics. Sitravatinib dose of 35 mg daily plus nivolumab 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg resulted in high frequency of immune-related adverse events. Subsequent dose reduction of ipilimumab to 0.7 mg/kg allowed safe …

Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy In Frontline Treatment Of Advanced Ovarian Cancer: Clinical And Translational Results From A Phase 2 Trial, Jeffrey A How, Minghao Dang, Sanghoon Lee, Bryan Fellman, Shannon N Westin, Anil K Sood, Nicole D Fleming, Aaron Shafer, Ying Yuan, Jinsong Liu, Li Zhao, Joseph Celestino, Richard Hajek, Margaret B Morgan, Edwin R Parra, Caddie D Laberiano Fernandez, Claudio A Arrechedera, Luisa Maren Solis Soto, Kathleen M Schmeler, Alpa Nick, Karen H Lu, Robert Coleman, Linghua Wang, Amir A Jazaeri

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: The efficacy and feasibility of pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy in frontline management of advanced high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is unknown. Additionally, modification of the tumor microenvironment following neoadjuvant therapy is not well understood.

Methods: In this single-arm phase 2 trial (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02520154), eligible patients received up to 4 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval cytoreduction, 3 cycles of adjuvant intravenous carboplatin/weekly paclitaxel/pembrolizumab, and finally maintenance pembrolizumab until progression or toxicity (maximum 20 cycles). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included feasibility, toxicity, and overall survival (OS). PD-L1 staining, …

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, …

Charting A New Vision: Lessons On Vision & Change From A Network Of Biology Educators, Jeremy L. Hsu, Anjali Misra, Michael J. Wolyniak, Carlos C. Goller, Stephanie Mathews, Uma Swamy, Dina L. Newman, Michael E. Moore

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The 2011 Vision & Change report outlined several recommendations for transforming undergraduate biology education, sparking multiple pedagogical reform efforts. Among these was the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) network, an NSF-funded program that provided mentorship and training to instructors on implementing active learning in the classroom. Here, we provide a perspective on how members of the biology education community in PALM view the recommendations of Vision & Change, drawing upon our experiences both as members of PALM and as leaders of an associated project funded by another NSF grant that hosted PALM alumni at various conferences. These efforts …

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 …

Tdp43 Autoregulation Gives Rise To Dominant Negative Isoforms That Are Tightly Controlled By Transcriptional And Post-Translational Mechanisms, Megan M. Dykstra, Kaitlin Weskamp, Nicolás B. Gómez, Jacob Waksmacki, Elizabeth Tank, M. Rebecca Glineburg, Allison Snyder, Emile Pinarbasi, Michael Bekier, Xingli Li, Morgan R. Miller, Jen Bai, Shameena Shahzad, Neha Nedumaran, Clare Wieland, Corey Stewart, Sydney Willey, Nikolas Grotewold, Jonathon Mcbride, John J. Moran, Aditya V. Suryakumar, Michael Lucas, Peter M. Tessier, Michael Ward, Peter K. Todd, Sami J. Barmada

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The nuclear RNA-binding protein TDP43 is integrally involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previous studies uncovered N-terminal TDP43 isoforms that are predominantly cytosolic in localization, prone to aggregation, and enriched in susceptible spinal motor neurons. In healthy cells, however, these shortened (s)TDP43 isoforms are difficult to detect in comparison to full-length (fl)TDP43, raising questions regarding their origin and selective regulation. Here, we show that sTDP43 is created as a by-product of TDP43 autoregulation and cleared by nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD). sTDP43-encoding transcripts that escape NMD are rapidly degraded post-translationally via the proteasome …

Extensive Admixture Among Karst-Obligate Salamanders Reveals Evidence Of Recent Divergence And Gene Exchange Through Aquifers, Chris C. Nice, Katherine L. Bell, Zachariah Gompert, Lauren K. Lucas, James R. Ott, Ruben U. Tovar, Paul Crump, Peter H. Diaz

Biology Faculty Publications

Karst ecosystems often contain extraordinary biodiversity, but the complex underground aquifers of karst regions present challenges for assessing and conserving stygobiont diversity and investigating their evolutionary history. We examined the karst-obligate salamanders of the Eurycea neotenes species complex in the Edwards Plateau region of central Texas using population genomics data to address questions about population connectivity and the potential for gene exchange within the underlying aquifer system. The E. neotenes species complex has historically been divided into three nominal species, but their status, and spatial extent of species ranges, have remained uncertain. We discovered evidence of extensive admixture among species …

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.