Digital Commons Network^™

Ant Queens Divide Tasks Among Themselves To Maximize Efficiency In Multi-Queen Colonies, Ian Brush

Research on Capitol Hill

Before workers arrive, founding queens must sustain the colony on their own. In single-queen colonies, one queen performs all necessary tasks. In contrast, when several queens co-found a colony, their contributions often differ: some queens invest more in egg-laying, while others devote more effort to brood care or nest maintenance.

How Can We Protect Utah Vineyards From Insect Pests And Diseases?, Josh Westhora

Research on Capitol Hill

The Utah Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab (UPPDL) at USU conducts surveys of Utah vineyards for plant diseases and insect pests affecting production to notify growers of their presence. Last year’s survey was conducted without funding to provide immediate support to growers. Funding for this year’s has been requested through the USDA APHIS PPQ PPA 7721 program.

We Can Use Coyotes As A Model To Understand How Social Loss Alters The Brain, Rebekah Rowe

Research on Capitol Hill

While we understand some factors that increase psychological distress for grieving individuals, little is known about this biological basis.

Ovarian Transplants Drastically Improved The Health Of Post-Menopausal Mice, Nathan Mccoy

Research on Capitol Hill

Women generally experience health advantages compared to men before menopause. Following menopause, this advantage diminishes, and women become more susceptible to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

Changes In Metabolomics And Tissue Architectural Alterations Jointly Ameliorate Salt Mediated Injuries In Nigella Sativa L., Noreen Akhter, Ayesha Ali, Muhammad Aqeel, Muhammad Muslim Shahnaz, Saima Iqbal, Ayesha Riaz, Mohammed O. Alshahrani, Ali Noman, Noreen Khalid, Khairah M. Alwutayd Alomran, Fahad Mohamed Al-Zuibar

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study evaluated plant resistance to salinity across varying salt concentrations: 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl. Thestudy revealed how these salt levels affected the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and developmental characteristics of theplants. At the 50 mM NaCl treatment level, plant height dropped by 8% in comparison to the control. The shoot fresh and dry weightsof every plant subjected to different levels of salt stress decreased noticeably. At 200 mM NaCl, the plants fresh weight of root decreasedby the greatest percentage (42.8%). The total number of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in Nigella sativa L. was significantly lower …

Accumulation Of Polyphenolic Compounds In Amelanchier × Lamarckii Fruit In Conditions Of Southwestern Slovakia, Luba Durisova, Tunde Jurikova, Monika Ondrasova, Pavol Elias Jr., Deni̇z Hazar, Jiri Mlcek

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In Slovakia, snowy mespilus (Amelanchier × lamarckii F. G. Schroed.) is recognized both as an ornamental plant and alesser-known fruit species, prized for its high levels of bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols. The aim of this study was todetect the polyphenolic profile of snowy mespilus and to assess polyphenol accumulation in cells. The total polyphenol content wasdetermined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assayand the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, and individual polyphenolic compounds by the highperformanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The results of analyses revealed that among the phenolic acids, chlorogenicacid was the most prevalent [44.24 …

Rapid Single-Cell Measurement Of Transient Transmembrane Water Flow Under Osmotic Gradient, Hong Jiang, Jinnawat Jongkhumkrong, Y. J. Chao, Qian Wang, Guiren Wang

Faculty Publications

Aquaporins (AQPs) are critical for transmembrane water transport in response to osmotic gradients, but their gating and regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. A central challenge is the lack of methods to measure water flow across AQPs from individual cells with the spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity equivalent to patch-clamp recordings of ion fluxes—a limitation stemming from the electrically silent nature of water flow. Here, we present a novel optical technique—Flow-Induced Fluorescence Increase Velocimetry (FIFIV) based on Laser-Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometry (LIFPA)—that enables direct, real-time monitoring of cytoplasmic flow induced by transmembrane water transport under osmotic pressure gradients. Using small molecular fluorescent …

Assessing Tree Species Diversity In Forests Using Combined Remote Sensing Data, Tufan Demi̇rel

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Tree species diversity (TSD) is a critical biological variable for ecosystem functioning and sustainable forest management.This study aimed to model TSD in forest ecosystems using spectral and texture metrics extracted from Sentinel-2, WorldView-3,and PlanetScope satellite imagery, and structural metrics derived from LiDAR data. Tree species data collected through field surveyswere used to calculate Shannon, Simpson, and species richness biodiversity indices. These biodiversity indicators were then related toexplanatory variables derived from remote sensing (RS) metrics. The Boruta algorithm was applied for variable selection and randomforest regression analysis was used for modeling. The results show that combining LiDAR and satellite data is …

Pretreatment Risk Model For Radiation-Induced Lymphopenia Is Associated With Adjuvant Durvalumab Efficacy In Patients With Unresectable Stage Iii Nsclc, Peter S N Van Rossum, Pim J J Damen, Francesco Cortiula, Brian P Hobbs, Lorenzo De Marchi, Radhe Mohan, Max Peters, Famke L Schneiders, Dirk De Ruysscher, Robin Wijsman, Joost J C Verhoeff, Ting Xu, Zhongxing Liao, Steven H Lin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Severe radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) for NSCLC has been associated with poorer outcomes and reduced immunotherapy efficacy. Because RIL often develops late during CCRT, identifying patients at risk before treatment may be clinically relevant. This study aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on pretreatment predictors for severe RIL, and secondarily to explore associations between predicted RIL risk and adjuvant durvalumab-associated survival.

Methods: A retrospective development cohort of consecutive patients with NSCLC treated with CCRT (2010-2019) was established, along with an independent external validation cohort from other institutions. A multivariable logistic regression model was developed …

Chrysin Alleviates Salt Stress By Enhancing Antioxidant Enzymes, Nutrient Balance, And Phytohormone Contents In Forage Pea, Sedat Severoğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of chrysin (Chr), a flavonoid compound, on growth, biochemical,hormonal, and nutrient levels in forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) seedlings under NaCl-induced salt stress. The experimentwas conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized design with three different concentrations of Chr(Chr0: 0 mM, Chr1: 0.1 mM, and Chr2: 0.5 mM Chr) and three levels of salt stress (S0: 0 mM, S1: 100 mM, and S2: 200 mM NaCl),resulting in nine treatment combinations (T0: Chr0S0, T1: Chr0S1, T2: Chr0S2, T3: Chr1S0, T4: Chr1S1, T5: Chr1S2, T6: Chr2S0, T7: Chr2S1, andT8: …

Effects Of Gamma Irradiation On Antioxidant Enzyme Activities In Black Carrot Callus Under Drought Stress, Damla Turan Büyükdi̇nç, Di̇lruba Tabay Sümbül, Sheikh Mansoor

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Daucus carota L. (carrot) is a commercially significant root vegetable widely cultivated in temperate regions for its edible taproot and valued for its high nutritional content. This study aimed to investigate the effects of drought stress on callus tissues of the Hatay black carrot (Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) genotype and to determine the impact of different gamma radiation doses on antioxidant enzyme activities. Black carrot callus tissues were exposed to gamma irradiation at doses of 0, 7, 8, and 9 Gy to evaluate their responses to drought stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), …

Bioactive Profile And Mineral Composition Of Fruit Extracts From Four Wild Hawthorn (Crataegus Spp.) Species, Özlem Çakir, Kübra Çinar Topçu, Abdurrahman Sefali, İshak Bayyi̇ği̇t, Gülçe İlhan, Jyoti̇ Singh

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study compared the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content (TPC), phenolic composition, lipid oxidation level, andmineral profiles of extracts obtained from four wild hawthorn species (Crataegus tanacetifolia, C. orientalis subsp. orientalis, C. orientalissubsp. szovitsii, and C. monogyna) collected from northeastern Türkiye. Significant interspecific variations were observed in DPPH,FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. While C. monogyna had the highest reducing capacity and TPC, C. orientalis subsp. szovitsii had the highestDPPH activity. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed that catechin,epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, and quinic acid were the major phenolics, and were particularly abundant in C. monogyna. Despitehaving a …

Production Of The Antitumor Compound Deoxyharringtonine By Suspension-Culturedcells Of Cephalotaxus Hainanensis, Liang Wang, Muhammad Mubashar Zafar, Chongyu Wu, Zhiqiang Xiong, Jingyi Sun, Huapeng Sun, Hanqing Cong, Xuefei Jiang, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Fei Qiao, Peter Nick

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plant cell fermentation can be a sustainable biotechnological alternative to the wild collection of medicinal plants. As aparadigm, we explored the potential of using the highly endangered endemic tree Cephalotaxus hainanensis, which accumulatescephalotaxine esters—potent anticancer compounds. We successfully established a suspension cell line able to convert cephalotaxineinto its esters, including deoxyharringtonine, harringtonine, isoharringtonine and homoharringtonine at a remarkable maximalconversion rate of up to 86%, when supplemented with L-homoleucine, a precursor for the side chains of these esters. Furthermore, byadding elicitors, we were able to enhance the yield significantly beyond the values expected from the complete conversion of the addedcephalotaxine. In …

Pest Management For Utah Cut Flower Production: Insects And Their Relatives, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Pest management is important in cut flower production, marketability, and farm profitability. This fact sheet focuses on animal pests (insects, arthropods, mollusks, and vertebrates), not diseases or weeds, and has two parts. Part 1 applies Integrated Pest Management (IPM): using preventive techniques, pest thresholds, and best management practices with pests in cut flower crop production. Part 2 highlights the top 10 common pests of cut flowers in Utah and their management.

Neurosurgical Management Of Pineal Lesions: Insights From A Single-Center Study Of 27 Cases, David Montesinos Contreras, Walter Stummer, Maryam Khaleghi Ghadiri

BioMedicine

Introduction: Pineal lesions are rare and surgically challenging due to their deep location, histological diversity, and potential malignancy. The complexity of the pineal region anatomy and the diverse pathological spectrum contribute to the lack of standardized treatment strategies, making appropriate management controversial. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of patients with pineal tumors or cysts and to assess the impact of different surgical approaches, particularly the extent of resection, on progression-free survival. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 27 patients treated for pineal tumors or cysts at our institution between 2010 and 2020. Data regarding clinical …

A Glimpse Into The Impact Of Physical Activity On Linear Growth In Children And Adolescents Through Activity Restrictions Accompanying The Covid-19 Outbreak, Yi-Chun Lin, Wen-Ling Liao, Chung-Hsing Wang, Fuu-Jen Tsai

BioMedicine

Background: Linear growth in children and adolescents, a key health indicator, is influenced by various factors, including physical activity (PA). The COVID-19 lockdown in Taiwan created a unique opportunity to examine the effect of PA restrictions on growth.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at two hospitals in central Taiwan. The study included 72 children and adolescents (26 males, 46 females) who attended a growth clinic. Height and weight measurements were recorded in three stages: pre-lockdown, during lockdown, and post-lockdown. Growth rates were compared across stages using paired t-tests.

Results: The average growth rate was lowest during lockdown (0.0181 …

Assessing The Capabilities Of Ai-Based Large Language Models (Ai-Llms) In Interpreting Histopathological Slides And Scientific Figures: Performance Evaluation Study, Khanisyah Erza Gumilar, Grace Ariani, Priangga A. Wiratama, Rimbun Rimbun, Tri H. Yuliawati, Hong Chen, Ibrahim H. Ibrahim

BioMedicine

Background: Integrating artificial intelligence-based large language models (AI-LLMs) into medical and other scientific domains is increasingly recognized as a tool to support complex tasks, such as interpreting histopathology slides and scientific figures. AI-LLMs can simplify these processes by providing clearer explanations. By improving accessibility and comprehension, AI-LLMs can significantly assist healthcare professionals in diagnosing and therapy determination. Students and the public also find it easier to understand complex scientific concepts and images.

Objectives: This study explores the capability of AI-LLMs in interpreting histopathological slides and scientific images. This study aims to evaluate the performance of AI-LLMs in supporting diagnostics and …

Increased Dairy Product Consumption Is Associated With Shorter Telomere Length In Buccal Cells Among Normotensive Adults, Hsin-Hwa Tsai, Yang-Di Su, Zi-Lun Lai, Chia-Yu Lin, Shu-Fan Lin, Hsiu-Ching Hsu, Wen-Yuan Lin, Po-Ren Hsueh

BioMedicine

Background: Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of biological aging and a predictor of age-related diseases. Dietary patterns, including dairy consumption, may influence telomere dynamics, but the evidence remains limited, particularly in Asian populations. This study investigates the association between dairy consumption and relative telomere length (RTL) in Taiwanese adults, with results analyzed by hypertension status.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 259 adults in Taipei, Taiwan. RTL was measured using quantitative PCR from buccal cells. Dietary intake was assessed through self-reported questionnaires, with a focus on dairy frequency and fat content. Multiple linear regression models were used to …

Temporal Induction Of The Homeodomain Transcription Factor Nkx2-1 Is Sufficient To Respecify Foregut And Hindgut Endoderm To A Pulmonary Fate In Xenopus Laevis, Brian Hyatt, Erin Lundberg, Rachael Eye, Scott Rankin, Aaron M. Zorn

Day of Scholarship

During development the expression of numerous genes is required to direct the proper formation of cells, tissues and organs. One special class of genes, transcription factors, code for proteins which regulate the expression of multiple genes to ensure tissues and organs develop at the right time and place. One transcription factor, NKX2-1, is necessary for proper lung formation in vertebrates. We investigated if NKX2-1, on its own, could drive the formation of lung tissue in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Both frog and human NKX2-1 was able to cause the formation of pulmonary tissue, examined by the expression of lung specific …

Controlled Epidemics: Examining The Effect Of Virus Density And Strain Competition In Gulf Fritillary (Dione Vanillae), Lizbeth Reyes

Biology: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

This study examines how different virus strains compete within a single host population of Dione vanillae butterflies, which is important in the study of disease ecology research. For this study, we conducted controlled experimental epidemics on passionflower plants (Passiflora caerulea) in the field. First, we infected caterpillars with one of two different virus strains from Butterfly Farms in North County (BFF004) and the City of San Diego (GRM060) and placed these caterpillars on P. caerulea plants in one of three treatments (control, BFF004, and GRM060; n=3 plants per treatment). Next, we allowed healthy butterflies in the local population to lay …

Effectiveness Of A Network Open House Model To Recruit Trainees To Post-Baccalaureate Stem Programs, Sarah Mordan-Mccombs, Scott Takeo Aoki, Lindsay Lewellyn, Sarah Justice, Neetu Tewari, Jorge Cantu, Robert Seiser, Ahmed Lakhani, Jennifer R. Kowalski

Biology Faculty publications

Post-baccalaureate (post-bac) programs can be instrumental in strengthening science training and expanding STEM career opportunities for junior trainees. Many of these sponsored programs are designed to increase research exposure for underrepresented minorities, including African American, Hispanic, Native American, and first-generation college students, among others. Recruiting trainees to post-bac programs can be challenging for reasons including a lack of awareness about available programs. To address this gap, an Open House event was created with the goal of raising awareness and generating interest among potential students for future post-bac programs. Students were recruited from partnering Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to attend a …

Comparison Of The Mars And Xgboost Algorithms For Predicting Body Weight In Kalahari Red Goats, Louis Thobela Tyasi, Cem Tirink, Kwena Mokoena, Hasan Önder, Uğur Şen, Demet Çanga Boğa, Tolga Tolun, İsmai̇l Gök, Yüksel Aksoy, Lütfi̇ Bayyurt, Ömer Faruk Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Estimating goat body weight from morphometric traits is essential for growth monitoring, health management, and welfare. Accurate weight informs nutrition, clinical interventions, and mating decisions. In this study, the MARS and XGBoost algorithms were used to estimate the live weight of Kalahari Red goats based on body measurements. A dataset containing body length (BL), birth type (single, twin, or triplet), withers height (WH), rump height (RH), and heart girth (HG) information for 200 goats was used in the training and testing of the models. The performances of the models were evaluated with the goodness-of-fit criteria. XGBoost showed a performance of …

Hatchability And Nestling Viability In An Extremely Short-Beaked Pigeon Breed, Türker Savaş, Hakan Erdem, Cemi̇l Tölü

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The selection of hobby animals for breeding by enthusiasts is often based on aesthetic considerations, which can have a negative impact on the animals’ biology. Furthermore, “extreme traits” that deviate from ancestral norms, such as short beaks in pigeons, can be detrimental to the animal’s welfare. Beaks perform many essential functions, such as facilitating feed intake and eggshell breaking. The present study investigates possible hatching problems and the nestling viability of short-beak pigeons through a study of the breeding records of Mısıri (short beak), Baska (medium beak), and Turkish Dönek (normal beak) pigeons, as well as data from one breeding …

Determination Of Cortisol Concentrations Using Different Biomarkers In Dairy Goats During Pregnancy, Fatma Mi̇ra Güven, Erkan Pehli̇van

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

Pregnancy is considered one of the most physiologically stressful periods in mammals. In the present study, serum and hair cortisol concentrations were measured in nine female Akkeçi goats, including five primiparous (1.5 years old) and four multiparous (3.5 years old), to evaluate chronic stress during pregnancy. Hair samples were collected in October, November, and December following the introduction of bucks to the herd and within the first 12 h postpartum (corresponding to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th sampling times). Hair samples were not collected in January, February, or March (the 4th, 5th, and 6th sampling times) due to insufficient …

Effects Of Zinc-Reinforced Clinoptilolite On Hematological Parameters, Igg Levels, And Enzyme Histochemistry In Fattening Lambs, İhsan Kisadere, Muhi̇tti̇n Zengi̇n, Özkan Demi̇rbaş, Mehmet Faruk Aydin

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The study aimed to determine the effects of zinc-reinforced clinoptilolite supplementation to the diet on selected hematological parameters, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) concentrations, and enzyme histochemical characteristics in fattening lambs. For this purpose, 40 healthy male lambs were randomly allocated into five equal groups: control (C; n = 8), natural clinoptilolite (NC; n = 8), zinc (ZN; n = 8), natural clinoptilolite plus zinc (NCZN; n = 8), and zinc-reinforced clinoptilolite (ZNRC; n = 8). All animals were housed in individual pens, and the supplementation period continued for 42 days. Blood samples were collected before the trial (day 0) and …

Zinc Imbalance And Its Effect On Nutritional Status, Behavior, Gut Microbiota, And Inflammatory Biomarkers In Btbr T+Itpr3tf/J And C57bl/6j Mice: Insights Into Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asma Nasrullah Ahmadani

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been associated with altered zinc homeostasis and disruptions in the gut microbiota. Zinc is a vital trace mineral involved in multiple biological processes such as inflammatory regulation, intestinal integrity, and neurobehavioral function, and has an important role in influencing microbial activity along the gut–brain axis. Both deficiency and excess of zinc can alter microbial balance. However, their collective effects on behavior, overall physiology, and mineral status in ASD-relevant models are not yet fully understood.

Aim: This comprehensive study explored the effect of dietary zinc variation on body weight, food intake, behavior, gut microbiota composition, …

Science Communication Tools: Rubrics For Generating Posters And Manuscripts That Are Authentic To The Practice Of Science, Quinn Vega

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Traditional undergraduate science courses often prioritize content mastery over authentic engagement with the scientific process. Course-based research, also referred to as course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), addresses this limitation by immersing students in authentic scientific practice. In course-based research, assessment practices can also mirror the authentic scientific practice, where extensive formative feedback supports refinement of skills and understanding. Here, we present two rubrics designed to support the teaching and assessment of science communication in a way that reflects how scientists prepare to disseminate their research findings. One rubric is for creating scientific posters and another for writing short-format manuscripts. Developed …

The Effect Of St. John’S Wort Solution On Climbing Activity Reflecting Depressive-Like Behavior In Drosophila Melanogaster To Model Seasonal Depression In Low Sunlight Exposure, Madison Simon

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Although depression is a known substantial threat to public health, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is under-researched. SAD refers to recurrent seasonal patterns of depression. This depressive disorder has few accepted treatments. The purpose of this study was to test whether St. John’s Wort (SJW), a natural supplement with researched antidepressant properties, could be a cheaper alternative with fewer limitations for treating SAD. SJW’s efficacy as a seasonal depression inhibitor was tested through a Drosophila depression-like model using climbing activity to reflect depressive behavior. It was hypothesized that as the concentration of SJW solution increases, the climbing activity of stressed Drosophila …

An Examination Of Trends And Factors Influencing Teen Retention In 4-H Youth Development Program: A Case Study, Bethany R. Corona

LSU Master's Theses

Teen participation in 4-H has declined nationally in recent years, raising concerns about long-term program sustainability and youth engagement. Understanding the factors that influence teens’ decisions to remain involved in 4-H is critical for informing program design and delivery. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, this qualitative study explored teen perceptions of 4-H programming, youth voice, social influences, communication, and barriers to participation. Data were collected through two group interviews with teen 4-H members representing multiple parishes. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the constant comparative method through a three-phase coding process consisting of open, axial, …