Digital Commons Network^™

In Vitro Propagation Of A New Clonal Apple Rootstock Candidate Hatay, Zeynep Nas, Ahmet Eşi̇tken, Lütfi̇ Pirlak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

​Some clonal apple rootstocks are traditionally propagated using the layering technique. However, traditional propagation methods are seasonal and require a lot of space and labor. In addition, the multiplication rate is low with these methods, resulting in low-profit sapling production for growers. In vitro propagation techniques provide an efficient and effective method of obtaining species-appropriate, quality saplings in less time and space. The study aims to determine the in vitro propagation protocol of the Hatay genotype and to establish an appropriate method. In the study, the highest number of shoots was observed in media containing BA and mT at concentrations …

Cultivar, Canopy Architecture, And Harvest Stage Shape The Chemical Profile Of Plum (Prunus Domestica) Fruit, Jelisaveta Seka Cvijanović, Milica Sredojević, Dragana Dabić Zagorac, Maja Natić, Geza Bujdoso, Miljan Cvetković

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plum (Prunus domestica L.) is a nutritionally valuable fruit with significant commercial importance, yet consumer acceptance is often constrained by inconsistent fruit quality. This study investigated the effects of cultivar, training system, and harvest stage on the chemical composition of plum fruit, focusing on polyphenols, organic acids, sugars, and sugar alcohols. Three cultivars (Čačanska lepotica, Stanley, and Empress) were evaluated under different canopy architectures, including plum spindle as a control and novel 2-dimensional systems (Bi axe and upright fruiting offshoot), across multiple ripening stages. The results showed that genotype and canopy structure significantly influenced the accumulation of primary and secondary …

Enhancing Salinity Tolerance In Phyla Nodiflora L. With Potassium Humate: Crosstalk Between Osmolytes, Antioxidants, And Mineral Uptake, Fatemeh Sadeghi, Somayeh Esmaeili, Mehrangiz Chehrazi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Salinity stress impairs plant growth, nutrient homeostasis, and metabolism, particularly in arid ecosystems. Phyla nodiflora, a ground cover used for erosion control, shows preliminary salinity tolerance, but the mechanistic basis of its long-term adaptation and the potential for enhancement via potassium humate (KH) were unknown. Plant growth, key biochemical attributes, and nutrient uptake were assessed to elucidate how KH modulates physiological performance under increasing salinity. In a 129-day greenhouse experiment, plants were exposed to five salinity levels (0 to 16 dS m⁻¹ NaCl) and three KH concentrations (0, 500, and 1000 mg L⁻¹). Severe salinity (16 dS m⁻¹) without KH …

Distribution And Seasonal Prevalence Of Nosema Maddoxi (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) In The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha Halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Populations In Türkiye, Ömer Ertürk, Samet Eker, Mustafa Yaman, Gönül Algi

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys feeds on a wide range of crops and causes major economic losses. With its high flight capacity, H. halys is an invasive species that damages many crops worldwide. By elucidating the activity, distribution, and prevalence of the microsporidian pathogen Nosema maddoxi, the damage and economic losses caused by H. halys can be reduced. This study aimed to assess the distribution and seasonal prevalence of N. maddoxi in H. halys populations distributed throughout hazelnut fields the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye. H. halys adults were collected and examined in detail under the microscope …

Long-Term Effects Of Harvesting Disturbance And Site Preparation On Soil Properties And Tree Growth In A Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda) Forest, Kyle M. Caccamesi

LSU Master's Theses

Productivity decline between rotations has long been a concern in intensively managed forest plantations. Research done over the last century has provided greater clarity on why this phenomenon occurs. The objective of this research was to observe long-term soil and tree growth characteristics that are likely to be influenced by operational harvesting activities. The experiment was conducted in Washington Parish, Louisiana on a site dominated by Ruston soil series, a well-drained, fine loamy, siliceous and thermic typic Paleudult. A randomized complete block design with 2 x 2 x 2 factorial treatments was used. The treatment factors were harvesting method, fertilization, …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Carob Germplasm From Lebanon, Morocco, And Spain Reveal Potential For Innovative Breeding Programs, Mohamad Ali El Chami, Guillermo Palacios-Rodriguez, Rafael Maria Navarro-Cerrillo, Lamis Chalak, Maria Dolores-Rey

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a drought-tolerant species native to the Mediterranean Basin. It has been cultivated for centuries for its highly nutritious, edible pods. Genetic diversity is one of the key requirements for the effective management and utilization of plant genetic resources. In this study, we evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure of 169 seminatural carob individuals from Lebanon, Spain, and Morocco using nine expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers. A total of eight polymorphic EST-SSR loci produced 43 alleles, with Cesi_187 and Cesi_1187 identified as the most informative markers. Results of AMOVA and SAMOVA …

Molecular Characterization Of Pasteurella Multocida Capsular Type A Strains Isolated From Different Regions Of Anatolia, Türkiye​, Adam Bashir Tawor, Osman Ergani̇ş, Asli Balevi̇, Suliman Mohamed Yousof Sadam

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Pasteurella multocida serotype A is an important pathogen that causes respiratory illness in both farm animals and poultry, leading to severe economic losses worldwide. This study aimed to isolate P. multocida capsular type A (capA) as well as investigate the virulence-associated genes (VAGs) within the isolates. Samples (n = 250) were collected in the Anatolia region from cattle (n = 130), sheep (n = 70), goats (n = 45), and pet birds (n = 5) with clinical respiratory signs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were conducted using kmt1 and capA primers for P. multocida species identification and capsular serogroup A …

Trace Elements In Complete Feeds Used In Intensive Rearing Of Cattle, Poultry, And Pigs: Occurrence And Predicted Transferred Concentrations In Animal-Derived Food, Elizabeta Dimitrieska Stojkovikj, Vangelica Enimiteva, Aleksandra Angjeleska, Risto Uzunov

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study investigated the concentrations of essential (Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, and Mo) and toxic (Pb, Cd, As, and Hg) trace elements in complete feeds used for the intensive rearing of cattle, poultry, and pigs in North Macedonia and predicted their transfer into animal-derived foods. A total of 107 feed samples were collected from 40 farms between May 2023 and April 2024 and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results revealed that while most essential elements were within the regulatory limits, Co exceeded the maximum level in two cattle feed samples. Zn, Cu, and Mn levels were generally …

Effect Of Rangeland Quality On Rumen Development Of Angora (Mohair) Goat Kids And Bucks, Betül Zehra Sariçi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study was conducted to determine the effect of rangeland quality on the rumen development of Angora goat kids and bucks. Twenty male singleton Angora goat kids with similar birth dates and birth weights were selected from each farm in an area with three different rangeland quality levels (good, medium, or poor) in Ankara Province. The kids were weaned at 60 days of age and then grazed completely on rangeland until slaughter. Rumen volumetric and papillary development of animals slaughtered at 4 and 7 months of age were determined. Empty rumen length, width, and weight were affected by rangeland quality …

Arterial Architecture Of The Goat Spleen (Capra Hircus) Revealed By Corrosion Casting And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Baran Erdem, Sevi̇nç Ateş, Meryem Karan

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The spleen is an essential organ involved in hematopoietic and immune functions. A comprehensive understanding of its anatomy, including vascular topography and segmentation, is essential for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of splenic diseases, and the minimization of complications during surgical procedures. Detailed knowledge of the vascular architecture also supports the accurate prediction and management of hemorrhage severity in cases of splenic rupture. The spleen’s microvascular system has a unique and complex organization that is distinct from other organs, and its elucidation is critical for understanding splenic function. In the present study, the spleens of 20 hair goats were examined. …

Hard Palate Morphology In The Anatolian Water Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis), Mehmet Can, Şükrü Hakan Atalgin, Mehmet Faruk Aydin, Soner Bekmezci̇

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

This study aimed to examine the morphological and histological features of the hard palate in the Anatolian water buffalo through light and scanning electron microscopy, complemented by gross and morphometric evaluations. Eight hard palates were used in the study. A total of eight Anatolian water buffalo heads from healthy adult female water buffaloes were collected immediately after slaughter from various slaughterhouses in Balıkesir, Türkiye. After analyzing and identifying the obtained hard palate samples, measurements were taken and documented through photography. The papilla incisiva, located in the middle of the caudal concave edge on the ventral surface of the pulvinus dentalis, …

Beyond Autophagic Dysregulation: Vma21 Deficiency Reveals Altered Vesicle Trafficking And Broadens The Pathogenic Framework Of X-Linked Myopathy With Excessive Autophagy, Christian Suarez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Maintenance of protein homeostasis is essential for cellular function and depends on the coordinated regulation of protein synthesis and degradation. The major intracellular pathways responsible for protein degradation are the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Disruption of these processes has been implicated in a broad range of diseases, including neuromuscular disorders. X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy (XMEA) is a rare vacuolar myopathy caused by mutations in VMA21, which encodes an assembly chaperone required for proper assembly of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase), the primary proton pump responsible for acidifying intracellular compartments, including lysosomes. Although impaired lysosomal acidification and autophagic dysregulation have …

Full Issue, Volume 14, Number 1., Donna J. Peterson Dr., Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Responses Of Staphylococcus Aureus In Simulated Spaceflight Conditions, Mikayla Dutkiewicz, Yegor Bushnev

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Microbial persistence in confined environments, such as spacecraft, can pose challenges to astronaut health and habitat maintenance. This project investigates Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram-positive bacterium commonly associated with human microbiota and opportunistic infections, in spaceflight-relevant environmental conditions. Further, this project will assess the influence of the antimicrobial/antioxidant compound quercetin to assess its effects on bacterial growth and virulence under standard Earth gravity and simulated International Space Station (ISS) conditions. This approach will assess whether spaceflight-relevant stressors, including microgravity and radiation, alter treatment efficacy by influencing microbial physiology and antimicrobial susceptibility. Data collection and analysis are ongoing, and results are expected …

Observing Antibiotic Resistance In Bacterial Co-Cultures Under Simulated Microgravity, Tyler Jenkins, Marina Vaden

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Bacteria grow in complex natural environments with multiple factors affecting their growth, metabolism, and physiology. While astronauts are still preparing to travel to Mars, scientists must learn how to simulate a more realistic Martian environment. While a small volume of publications investigates the independent effects of microgravity or Martian regolith on microorganisms (Liao et al., 2025; Allen et al., 2022; Naz et al., 2023; Duri et al., 2025), to our knowledge no current experiments exist on the joint effects of microgravity and Martian simulant on a co-culture. This experiment aims to investigate the effect of a microgravity analog on the …

Instruction Guide, Mark C. Hall

Analytical Biochemistry: A Practical Handbook for Undergraduates

The instruction guide provides useful information for setting up and running the lab activities each week and assessing student preparation, performance, and comprehension.

Integrative Evidence For Cryptic Diversity In The Thomomys Mazama Species Complex: Phylogenetics, Cranial Morphometrics, And Ecological Niche Modeling, Jessica Kate St. Michael

Dissertations and Theses

The population genetic structure and geographic distribution of the pocket gopher genus Thomomys Wied-Neuwied, 1839, lends itself to speciation events. Conserved morphology, ecological specialization, and high rates of molecular evolution may increase the probability of allopatric speciation, thereby contributing to the presence of morphologically cryptic taxa. In light of these patterns of evolution, we assessed genetic divergence and phylogenetic relationships, cranial morphometric differentiation, and ecological divergence among taxa in the Thomomys mazama species complex to test the hypothesis that T. mazama is a single species. Species delimitation analysis using Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes (bPTP) and data from the mitochondrial cytochrome …

Parental Thermal Environment Affects Offspring Resilience To Winter And Spring Weather Anomalies, Ruzhuo Chen, Mariel Dunn, Caroline A. Curtis, Mariana Abarca

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Recent increases in the frequency and intensity of thermal anomalies can result in recurrent stressful weather events. Among annual insects, this phenomenon may expose parents and offspring to a succession of different weather anomalies (e.g. summer heatwaves and late spring frosts). Parental stress can alter offspring physiology and performance, potentially affecting their tolerance of environmental variation. We investigated the transgenerational effects of thermal anomalies on a univoltine wetland butterfly. We induced parental thermal stress by exposing pupae to a constant temperature, ranging from stressfully cold to stressfully hot (10 ◦C, 26 ◦C, 28 ◦C, 32 ◦C), for three days. Offspring …

The Gut-Bladder Axis: How Symbiont Microbes Alter Urinary Tract Infections, Benjamin S. Olson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections worldwide. Consequently, they are one of the leading indications for antibiotic prescription. Despite the typically successful treatment of an acute UTI, recurrent infections are exceedingly common, particularly among women. Nearly a quarter of otherwise healthy women will suffer recurrent UTIs (rUTI) after a primary UTI; why these select individuals are continually afflicted is unkown. There are no successful therapeutics to treat rUTI representing a gap not just in the medical toolkit but in our understanding of why rUTI is so prevalent. There are many hypotheses for the risk factors …

New Locality Records And Future Habitat Suitability Of Sassanidotus Gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In The Iran–Afghanistan–Pakistan Arid Belt, Ersen A. Yağmur, Kerim Çiçek, Homa Barati, Mohammad Moradi

Euscorpius

This study reports new locality records from Iran and a climate-based habitat suitability assessment for Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iran–Afghanistan–Pakistan arid belt. We document new specimens from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Iran, with an updated distribution map and illustrations, and we model the species' potential distribution across south-eastern Iran and adjacent parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Habitat suitability was associated mainly with precipitation seasonality, precipitation of the wettest month, precipitation of the driest month, and slope. In an arid setting these rainfall variables are unlikely to indicate a need for moist habitat; they more plausibly track …

Tardigrade Bio-Exploration Reproduction Research Payload, Natalie Brattain, Chloe Nissen, Kylie Nager, Peter Ulrich, Enoch Tonkine

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The Tardigrade Bio-ExplorAtion Reproduction Research Payload (tBEARR) is an external International Space Station (ISS) standardized laboratory payload module mission under development by the Embry-Riddle Orbital Research Association (ERORA), an undergraduate research organization at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida. As a club-driven mission, tBEARR provides undergraduate students with hands-on experience across all phases of space research, including payload design, biological experimentation, systems integration, and mission operations. The mission is supported by a biology research team focused on stress-response biology, experimental design, and biological validation throughout ground testing, high-altitude balloon flights, and orbital operations.   The primary objective of tBEARR …

Apical-Out Lung Organoids: A Platform For Spaceflight And Cf Research, Valeria Jimenez, Ally Schwennesen

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

A genetic condition known as cystic fibrosis (CF) is brought on by mutations in the CFTR gene, which results in chronic lung inflammation and impaired chloride ion transport. CF bronchial epithelial cells enable direct comparison of disease pathology, while normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells offer an essential model for researching airway physiology. Realistic modeling of respiratory tissue and its reaction to environmental stressors like microgravity is made possible by the creation of 3D lung organoids from these cells. In this project, we developed apical-out organoids, which expose the apical surface of epithelial cells to the external environment. These organoids …

Investigation Of Biofilm Formation And Osmotic Stress Tolerance Of Nonmotile Escherichia Coli In Simulated Microgravity, Tyler Jenkins

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Simulated microgravity presents multiple physiological stressors for astronauts, including bone demineralization, muscle loss, and weakening of the immune system. Bacteria serve as viable model organisms to study physiological changes because of their abundance in the human digestive system and skin. Motility in bacteria plays a significant role in cell survival, but few studies have been conducted on microgravity’s effect on motility phenotypes. While motile strains like Escherichia coli K12 have been studied extensively under microgravity conditions, the effects of simulated microgravity on non-motile strains are largely unknown. To better understand this relationship, the nonmotile E. coli MG1655 strain was inoculated …

Metabolic Regulation And Immunity In The Spaceflight Environment, Graeme Grainger, Riley Dienna, Astrid Senko, Angela Cebula, Arden Rodriguez Arden Rodriguez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Long-duration spaceflight exposes astronauts to chronic ionizing radiation and microgravity that disrupts homeostasis in the immune system and cellular metabolism. While simulated spaceflight models demonstrate altered T-cell polarization and sex-dependent shifts toward regulatory phenotypes, the metabolic mechanisms driving these immune changes remain unclear. Immune cell function is tightly linked to metabolic programming, with effector T cells relying on glycolysis and regulatory T cells favoring oxidative metabolism, making them highly sensitive to shifts in nutrient availability and redox balance. Emerging research further suggests that neutrophils act as metabolic regulators capable of reshaping the immune microenvironment through oxidative stress, cytokine production, and …

Effects Of Human-Animal Interaction On Positive Youth Development: A Replication Study, Allison Pachunka, Jay Jeffries, Lisa Karr, Lena Luck, Bryan A. Reiling, Douglas H. Schultz, Jeffrey R. Stevens

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Interacting with animals can improve health and well-being across the lifespan. Some programs such as 4-H and FFA center around youth interacting with animals, potentially enhancing youth development. Mueller (2014) investigated whether these interactions and attitudes about animals influenced measures of positive youth development. The aim of our studies was to replicate Mueller’s methods and extend her work by evaluating whether membership in animal-focused youth programs moderate associations between interactions, attitudes, and positive youth development. We did not find strong relationships among human–animal inter-action and positive youth development, which failed to replicate Mueller’s findings. However, we did find relationships between …

Evaluating The Potential Of Cajanus Cajan (L.) Millsp. Root To Improve Atopic Dermatitis With Different Anti-Inflammatory Models And Active Compounds, Shu-Er Yang, Xiang-Ming Cai, Yu-Wen Chu, Jen-Chieh Tsai, Mey-Fann Lee, Tuzz-Ying Song

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurrent bacterial infections that cause pruritus, erythema, xerosis and thickening. Cajanus cajan root extract prepared with 95% ethanol (EECR95) has been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties in previous studies. This study aimed to evaluate EECR95’s ability to improve AD by inhibiting methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) growth and reducing inflammation. This study found EECR95 effectively inhibits MRSA growth (IC₅₀ = 103.74 μg/mL) and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in an MRSA-keratinocyte-macrophage model. LC/MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of active compounds- flavonoids, isoflavones, and flavonoid glycosides, highlighting EECR95's potential …

Clara S. Ludlow: Mississippi A & M Graduate And American Military Entomology Pioneer, Bradley Brazzeal

Midsouth Entomologist

The systematic study of the mosquitoes of the world did not begin until the early years of the 20^th century. Among the early entomologists to specialize in the field was Clara S. Ludlow, who graduated from Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College. Her research began in the Philippines in 1901, while American troops were still fighting in the Philippine-American War, and for over 20 years she researched mosquitoes in connection with the U.S. Army. This article explores Ludlow’s scientific career and the legacy of her research.

Oregon State Rank Assessment For Deer-Cabbage (Nephrophyllidium Crista-Galli), Lindsey K. Wise

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Oregon state conservation status assessment for Deer-cabbage (Nephrophyllidium crista-galli) using NatureServe methodology, 2026.

Comparing Non-Invasive Survey Methods For Southern Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys Volans) At The Western Edge Of Their Range, Jay E. Winfield, Jeremy A. White

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is a threatened species in Nebraska that occurs along the Missouri River in the southeastern corner of the state. Recently, a population was discovered in the city of Lincoln, but it is unknown whether this population represents a natural range expansion from the Missouri River population or whether it is isolated and results from a human-assisted movement. A survey of southern flying squirrels in Nebraska is needed, but surveys of this elusive species are challenging. This study investigated and compared two noninvasive survey techniques for rapid detection of flying squirrels: acoustic detectors …

The Defining Role Of Ago4 And Its Catalytic Activity During De Novo Rna-Directed Dna Methylation, Tianyi Li

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Plant transposable elements and transgenes are continuously targeted for transcriptional repression via the pathway of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Although perpetual RdDM of the endogenous genomic loci has been well studied in the field, much less is known about the de novo RdDM pathway, the pioneering round of DNA methylation responsible for triggering and initiating silencing of new transgenes. Despite being two distinct pathways, both perpetual and de novo mechanisms of RdDM require the production of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and the key proteins of the ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4) clade. However, the order and likely mechanism of recruitment of AGO4 to …