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Dietary Modulation Of Obesity-Specific Gut Microbial Signatures And Their Functional Roles, Anjula Swathi Sagam

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Obesity remains a major global health concern, contributing significantly to chronic diseases. While diet is a well-known driver of obesity, emerging evidence suggests the key role of gut microbiota in mediating diet-related metabolic outcomes. Numerous epidemiological and microbiome studies suggested diet-microbiome-obesity associations. However, consistent microbial markers and mechanistic insights remain limited. To address this gap, this study aimed to identify consistent microbial species associated with obesity and investigate how diet influences their growth and function. A review of over 200 publicly available 16S rRNA and shotgun metagenomic studies revealed consistent microbial patterns in obesity, including members of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. …

Dynamics And Controls Of Greenhouse Gas Emissions In Bioenergy Croplands, Lovish Kasrija

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture contributes considerably to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, requiring sustainable methods for tackling climate change. This thesis includes two mega-analyses and one field experiment to investigate the impact of conservation tillage and soil amendments on crop productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. The first mega-analysis combined data from 30 meta-analyses to assess the impact of no-tillage (NT), reduced-tillage (RT), and combination NT+RT on crop yields and soil GHG emissions. NT decreased yields by 3.3% and increased N₂O emissions by 8.7%, but RT and NT+RT had no effect. The second mega-analysis found that both NT and RT considerably increased soil organic …

Effects Of Soil Profile Rebuilding Techniques On Soil Properties And Tree Growth, Diksha Tamang

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Urban land development usually results in compacted soils, creating unfavorable conditions for tree establishment and growth. Soil Profile Rebuilding (SPR) is an urban soil rehabilitation technique to address soil compaction on site. However, the impacts of SPR on urban soils and tree growth in the southeast region remain unexplored. To address this research gap, this study assessed the efficacy of the SPR techniques in improving degraded urban soils including soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, and tree growth. Twelve experimental plots (12.2 m L*0.5 m W; 5.6 m2) were established using a completely randomized experimental design (4 soil treatments; 3 …

Comparison Of Plant Characteristics Across Multiple Varieties Of Winter Canola In Tennessee, Sudip Bk

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Canola (Brassica napus L.), a significant oil seed crop, has numerous advantages, including a high seed oil concentration, use as a feedstock for biofuel, pollinator habitat, an excellent cover crop, and importance as a rotational crop with winter wheat. Various high yielding varieties are being released to meet the increasing demand and must be evaluated to determine which ones perform best in a specific ecoregion. Consequently, a study was conducted at the Tennessee State University Agricultural Education and Research Center in Ashland City, Tennessee in the year 2022–2023 (Year I) and 2023–2024 (Year II) using a randomized complete block design …

Effects Of Straw Return On Crop Yield, Soil Organic Carbon And Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Maazeera Fatima

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Global crop residue production was substantial, at approximately 3758 × 106 mg annually. The practice of straw return, was found to enhance soil organic matter content, increase crop yield, and mitigate soil greenhouse gas emissions. However, individual studies showed inconsistent results. While meta-analyses synthesized multiple individual studies and provided overall effects of straw return, but their conclusions were varied. We evaluated meta-analyses on the effects of straw return on crop yield, soil organic carbon, and greenhouse gas emissions and proposed a grand mean response ratio to estimate an overall effect and the impacts of different properties. The result showed that …

Identification And Functional Verification Of Powdery Mildew Resistant Genes In Hydrangea Macrophylla, Christina Jennings

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Ornamental plant production is a continuously expanding industry in the United States and worldwide. Hydrangea species are highly valued in ornamental plant production, especially bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Powdery mildew is of particular interest on bigleaf hydrangea as there are no resistant varieties. The causal agent of powdery mildew of bigleaf hydrangea is Golovinomyces orontii (formerly Erysiphe polygoni). The goal of this research was to provide solutions for powdery mildew disease of hydrangea through improved chemical control, development of laboratory-based research systems, and identification of genes related to powdery mildew. A detached-leaf assay was developed and evaluations correlated to whole …

Genetic Profiling Of Tennessee Johnsongrass And Pigweed Accessions Per Weedicide Resistance And Agronomic Traits, Gouse Mohiddin Shaik

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Herbicide-resistant weeds pose an escalating threat to crop productivity in Tennessee, leading to notable economic losses and complicated conventional weed control strategies. Among the most persistent species, Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass) and various Amaranthus species (pigweeds) have exhibited remarkable adaptability and increasing resistance to widely used herbicides. Addressing this growing issue necessitates a thorough understanding the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that drive herbicide resistance. This study conducted an extensive genetic analysis of Pigweed and Johnsongrass samples collected from a broad range of counties across Tennessee, ensuring representation from both the northern and southern portions of the state’s Eastern, Central, and Western …

Heat Stress On Germinating Tomato Pollen And The Molecular Mechanisms For Heat Response Using Single Cell Type Proteomics, Dibya Thapa Magar

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

The primary objective of this study is to develop the technical workflow for collecting homogenous germinating pollen samples. Two tomato varieties, Black Vernissage (BV) and Micro Tom (MT), were grown in temperature-controlled plastic greenhouses. For the non-heated control conditions, greenhouse temperature was set at 25C/21oC (16/8 hours; day/night). For the heat-treated greenhouse, temperature was set at 32/25 oC (16/8 hours; day/night). Supplemental light was provided using plant growth LED light. Ten freshly opened flowers were collected and pollen were released into 2ml pollen germination medium (PGM) in 5-ml centrifuge tubes. After centrifugation, pollen pellets were washed three times in 2 …

Ibi-Dt: A Novel Approach Combining Individualized Bayesian Inference And Decision Tree For Identifying Cancer Drivers And Their Interactions, Md Asad Rahman, Gregory F. Cooper, Jinying Zhao, Xinghua Lu, Jinling Liu

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cancer is mainly caused by a relatively small portion of somatic genome alterations (SGAs), called cancer drivers. Despite success in identifying a good number of cancer drivers, many more remain to be discovered to explain various cancers. Moreover, limited tools are available to identify potential interactions among cancer drivers for a better understanding of oncogenesis. To tackle these challenges, we have developed a novel approach called individualized Bayesian inference using a decision tree (IBI-DT). IBI-DT recognizes the genetic heterogeneity among cancer patients, where different individuals or patient subgroups of distinct genomic makeup may have different drivers. IBI-DT works by constructing …

Helminth And Malaria Co-Infection Among Pregnant Women In Battor And Adidome Towns Of The Volta Region Of Ghana, Navneet Kaur, William K. Anyan, Abraham K. Anang, Nilanjan Lodh

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Aim: In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 40 million pregnant women are exposed to parasitic diseases such as malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosome parasites, and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). When parasitic diseases share the same habitat and overlap in distribution, then high co-infection rates occur. The co-infection can lead to consequences for the child, such as intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, pre-term delivery, and neonatal mortality.

Methods: The objective of the study was to determine the nature and extent of coinfection from 100 samples collected from the Battor (50) and Adidome (50) towns of Ghana in collaboration with the Noguchi …

Resource Assessment Report No. 4: North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource - Kimberley 2025 Assessment, Fabian Trinnie, Rubie Evans-Powell, Ainslie Denham, Sybrand A. Hesp, Corey Wakefield, Craig L. Skepper, Brett Crisafulli, Stephen J. Newman

Resource Assessment Reports

The North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (NCDSR) comprises ecological suites of tropical demersal fish species that occur predominantly in inshore waters (20–250 m deep) and offshore waters ( > 250 m deep) of the North Coast Bioregion (NCB). More than 60 demersal species are landed by fisheries operating in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of the NCB each year, including high-value snappers (Lutjanidae), groupers (Epinephelidae), and emperors (Lethrinidae). As outlined in the NCDSR Harvest Strategy (DPIRD, 2017), the Kimberley resource is currently monitored through annual reviews of total removals and catch rate trends of indicator species, as well as periodic (every …

Impact Of Varied Dietary Macronutrient Ratios On The Nutrition Status Of Swiss Albino Mice, Hellen Kinyi, Charles Kato, Gertrude Kiwanuka

Biomedical Sciences, East Africa

The nutrition status of an organism depends on the balance between nutrient intake and utilization. Malnutrition results not only from inadequate caloric intake but also from imbalanced macronutrient ratios, which can affect aging, metabolism, and health. While many studies focus on individual nutrients, this study used purified, isocaloric diets with varying macronutrient ratios to assess dietary effects on nutrition markers in Swiss albino mice.

Mice were randomized into 6 dietary groups, each containing 6 males and 6 females housed separately. Each group received an isocaloric diet with different carbohydrate, protein, and lipid ratios for 15 weeks. Animal weight, body mass …

The Role Of Liver Macrophages In Viral Liver Pathogenesis, Alexis Brantly, Kyle Yeakle, Michael J. Bouchard, Peter J. Gaskill, Michael R. Nonnemacher

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Liver macrophages play important roles in the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, liver macrophages are a heterogenous population and have differing roles in maintenance of liver function and response in disease. In a healthy liver, macrophages play a critical role in antigen processing, maintaining tolerance to the high levels of gut-derived bacterial products, and regulating inflammation through cytokine response. However, macrophages also play a critical role in liver pathology, specifically in the context of viral infection. The liver is targeted by multiple viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus, which dysregulate macrophage …

Influence Of Disaster Experience On Farmers’ Livelihood Strategies Under Extreme Climate Events In Guizhou Province, China, Yumei Bai, Huiqing Han, Yuanju Jian

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Extreme climate events have emerged as a critical challenge to global agricultural production and farmers’ livelihoods. Climate change not only directly impacts crop yields and quality but also compels farmers to adjust their livelihood strategies to address escalating climate risks. This study aimed to investigate how disaster experiences influence farmers’ choice of livelihood strategies, focusing on post-disaster adjustments to cope with climate risks. Using survey data from 1,066 farmers in Guizhou Province, China, ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit models were employed to explore the influence of disaster experience on livelihood strategies, analyzing the mediating role of risk attitudes and …

A Co-Design Approach To Integrating Gender Into The Cacao Value Chain In Davao City, Philippines, Mia Barbara Aranas, Aileen Lapitan, Mitchiko Lopez, Nico Jayson Anastacio, Canesio Predo, Mara Faylon, Emmanuel Flores, Claire Estelle Cruz, Anjelyn Joy Enong

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The specific needs and challenges of women and their contributions are often not integrated when developing interventions and policies targeted to improve agricultural value chains. Therefore, this study developed a codesign approach to creating solutions to improve gender relations in agri-food value chains. Specifically, it focused on the cacao value chain in Davao City, which is located in the southern Philippines. Co-design is a highly participatory approach in which solutions are designed with, and not just for, the people who have lived experiences of the problems being addressed. The approach emphasizes understanding gender-related barriers and opportunities to inform government interventions …

Crispr-Cas9 Gene Editing In Tomato: Development And Characterization Under Stress, Jun Guo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factor (TF) families played essential roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, contributing significantly to stress tolerance and adaptation. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF family included 161 members in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Previous proteomic analysis identified TF bHLH148 (Solyc01g058670) as being upregulated under aluminum (Al) stress, suggesting a potential role in Al tolerance. To investigate this, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate SlbHLH148 knockout mutants in the ‘Black Vernissage’ tomato cultivar. Two homozygous T2 lines, Slbhlh148-1 and Slbhlh148-2, were confirmed to contain frameshift mutations that resulted in truncated proteins lacking the bHLH_AtIBH1_like domain, as shown by protein modeling. Phenotypic evaluation …

Dissecting The Function Of The Dnmt2-Homolog (Dnma) In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Zaza Gelashvili, Denis Larochelle, Jacqueline Dresch, Maddison A. Hincher, Javier F. Tabima, Robert A. Drewell

Biology

Methylation of cytosine residues in nucleic acids plays a critical role in a range of biological activities in eukaryotes, including regulation of transcription, organization of chromatin structure, modulation of translation, cellular differentiation, and development. While much of the scientific focus in this field was centered on DNA methylation over the past few decades, it has also become clear that methylation of RNA is a crucial modification. A group of homologous DNMT2 methyltransferase enzymes in different model organisms are now known to catalyze the transfer of a methyl group to the cytosine at position 38 in tRNAAspGUC molecules. The important biological …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Pilbara And Southern Rangelands 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Pilbara and southern rangelands region which has predominantly shrub-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Kimberley which has grass pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (defined in the ‘Pasture condition guides for the Pilbara’ and ‘Pasture condition guides for the southern rangelands including the Gascoyne, Murchison and Goldfields-Nullarbor’) and soils as determined by erosion, using the …

Procedures For Rangeland Condition Assessment In The Kimberley 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

This report defines the procedures used in 2025 by DPIRD to complete rangeland condition assessment (RCA) in the Kimberley region which has grass-based pastures. For the rest of the pastoral estate, DPIRD uses the Procedures for RCA in the Pilbara and southern rangelands which have predominantly shrub pastures.

RCA is the process DPIRD uses to make systematic, station-level assessment of rangeland. Rangeland condition considers both the condition of pastures (as defined in the 'Pasture condition guide for the Kimberley') and soils as determined by erosion, using the erosion assessment method on pastoral lands in Western Australia. The methods have evolved …

Stock-To-Use Ratio And Price Of Rice: Deciphering The Relationships, Khondoker Abdul Mottaleb, Joohun Han, Willy Mulimbi, Durand-Morat Alvaro

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The stock-to-use ratio (STU) is a widely utilized indicator to assess market conditions and forecast price movements for agricultural commodities. However, before drawing any conclusions, it is essential to empirically investigate the relationship between STU and commodity prices. Using rice as a case study, this research examines the empirical linkage between rice prices and STU, both collectively and individually across 16 leading rice-producing and consuming countries. To do so, the study first employs the panel vector autoregression approach to capture the dynamic interrelationships in a panel data setting, followed by vector autoregression estimation at the individual country level. The results …

Appearance Over Function - The Impact Of Long-Term Oral Contraceptive Use On Brain Development, Breast Tissue Composition, And Future Lactation Outcomes, Fiona M. Wang

Dissertations

This integrative review examines the long-term effects of combined oral contraceptive (COC) use beginning in puberty on brain development, breast tissue composition, and future breastfeeding outcomes. Puberty is a critical developmental stage during which hormonal changes significantly impact the neurological and reproductive systems. The introduction of synthetic estrogen and progestin through COC use during this time may disrupt natural hormonal pathways, potentially altering neuroendocrine signaling and breast tissue maturation. Such changes may have lasting consequences, including impaired milk production, a weakened milk ejection reflex, disrupted maternal-infant bonding, and reduced overall breastfeeding success. The review synthesizes findings from endocrinology, neuroscience, and …

Options For Fox Control, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

Foxes can cause significant losses to some agricultural producers, and they prey on many native animals. The best option is to control foxes before they become a problem. This factsheet explains the available options fox control and when these options should be used

Feed Prices, Substitution Patterns, And Technical Efficiency In Feedlot Cattle, Andrew E. Anderson, James L. Mitchell, Jamie R. Luke

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

The cattle feeding industry is sandwiched between relatively volatile commodity markets, and efficiency is critical. Changing prices for feedstuffs may cause substitution and output effects, in turn impacting technical efficiency. Using Kansas feedlot data, we estimate the effects of feed prices on cattle performance, focusing on the feed conversion ratio, average daily gain, and days on feed. Results show that several feed prices do indeed impact technical efficiency. These results have implications for management adapting to changing feed prices. Further, there are policy implications for programs that may impact commodity prices.

Single Nuclei Transcriptomics Reveals Cellular Diversity In Tsc Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytomas, Jennie C. Holmberg, Vijay Shankar, Rachel A. Lyman, Trudy F.C. Mackay, David M. Feliciano

Publications

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic disorder characterized by benign growths called hamartomas that are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Hamartomas are found along the neurocutaneous axis including along the brain’s ventricles near the boundaries of the striatum. They can be categorized by size and include small subependymal nodules (SENs) or larger subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs). Here, we describe a quantitative analysis of SEGA cell identities based on single nuclei RNA sequencing. SEGAs contain several cell types. In contrast to unaffected samples, SEGAs have pronounced vasculature, more endothelial cells, increased perivascular macrophages, less myelination, and altered …

Synthetic Zfta Fusions Pinpoint Disordered Protein Domain Acquisition As A Mechanism Of Brain Tumorigenesis, A Arabzade, H K Shirnekhi, S Varadharajan, S M Ippagunta, A H Phillips, N Laboe, D W Baggett, Wahiduzzaman, M Jo, T Zheng, R Pathak, D Gee, D Bhimsaria, H Wu, X Gao, J Liu, E Emanus, A Bland, A Kardian, A Hancock, B Holcomb, T Wright, T Bugbee, H Sun, M Zhai, E Caesar, M Park, S Tripathi, A Shirinifard, K Lowe, A Khalighifar, R A Petersen, S King, D Stabley, A Pitre, G E Campbell, C-G Park, W T Freyaldenhoven, B Chandra, Y Xia, E Bonten, A Achari, S Kandikonda, A Carisey, S B Pounds, J Xu, D W Ellison, B Deneen, K C Bertrand, R W Kriwacki, S C Mack

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Over 95% of ependymomas that arise in the cortex are driven by a gene fusion involving the zinc finger translocation-associated (ZFTA) protein. Here, using super-resolution and lattice light-sheet microscopy, we demonstrate that the most frequent fusion variant, ZFTA-RELA (ZR), forms dynamic nuclear condensates that are required for oncogene expression and tumorigenesis. Mutagenesis studies of ZR reveal a key intrinsically disordered region (IDR) in RELA that governs condensate formation. Condensate-modulating IDR mutations introduced into ZR impaired its genomic occupancy at oncogenic loci and inhibited the recruitment of transcriptional effector proteins, such as MED1, BRD4 and RNA polymerase II. Using nuclear magnetic …

Randomized Trial: Peppermint Oil (Menthol) Pharmacokinetics In Children And Effects On Gut Motility In Children With Functional Abdominal Pain: 540 Mg Vs. 900 Mg Dose Comparison, Robert J Shulman, Bruno P Chumpitazi, Daniel Gonzalez, Uttam Garg, Salma Musaad, Jiali Wen, Gregory L Kearns

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Aims: There is a paucity of information on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of menthol, the active ingredient in peppermint oil (PMO). We studied the PK of menthol (540 and 900 mg) in children and measured their effects on gut transit/contractility.

Methods: Children 7-12 years of age with functional abdominal pain underwent wireless motility capsule (WMC) testing. One week later, they were randomized to 540 mg or 900 mg of oral enteric-coated PMO. Blood was sampled over 24 h to determine menthol PK. The WMC test was repeated while they took their respective dose (180 mg thrice or 180 …

Systematic Review And Evidence Gap Mapping Of Alzheimer's Disease Biomarker Studies In Those With Intellectual And Developmental Disability, Lubnaa B. Abdullah, Ney Alex Alliey, Emma Elizondo, Ney Alliey Rodriguez, Gladys Maestre, James Hall

School of Medicine Publications

There are a relatively small number of investigations into brain aging in those with intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD). This project seeks to (1) characterize the internationally available multi-omics Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker studies including those with I/DD, and (2) discuss future research directions. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched under the following criteria: cross-sectional or longitudinal AD-omics studies on adults (18 +) with I/DD. 532 studies were identified, 186 studies were evaluated for full-text, 79 studies were excluded, and 117 studies were extracted. Most biological specimens were analyzed in blood, plasma, or serum. Metabolomics, hormonomics, and transcriptomics …

Shallow Coastal Bays As Sediment Carbon And Nutrient Reservoirs In The Baltic Sea, Betty Gubri, Joakim P. Hansen, Sofia A. Wikström, Martin Snickars, Martin Dahl, Martin Gullström, Emil Rydin, Pere Masqué, Andrius Garbaras, Mats Björk, Christoffer Boström

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Coastal vegetated ecosystems are being increasingly recognized for their capacity to capture carbon, provide long-term biogenic storage, and alleviate nutrient pollution. To assess the ability of shallow, vegetated coastal bays to function as blue carbon and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) sinks, we collected sediment cores in nine shallow enclosed bays (representative of the EU Habitats 1153 and 1154) in the archipelago areas of Sweden (Stockholm), Åland Island, and southwestern Finland. Our study showed strong uniformity of carbon and nutrient storage, substantial accumulation of carbon and nutrients, and minimal regional differences in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus sediment stocks. These findings are …

Evaluation Of Tracheal And Cecal Microbial Composition In Heat Stressed Broilers Supplemented With Phytogenic Additives, Andressa Silveira Stein

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rise in global temperatures has become a concern due to its significant impact on the agricultural sector, including poultry production. Heat stress caused by high temperatures directly affects animal welfare, health and productivity, leading to major losses in the poultry sector. In broilers, heat stress affects feed consumption, weight gain, mortality and may also lead to changes in the microbiome, which can increase the predisposition to disease and impact the overall performance of these animals. The aim of this thesis was to reproduce field conditions, simulating an increase in temperature, and to evaluate possible changes in the respiratory and …

Impact Of Retail Display Case On Shelf-Life, Palatability, And Color-Stability Of Fresh Beef Steaks, Stephanie Elizabeth Shimer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the study was to determine: the impact of two retail display cases, three beef muscles, and three packaging schemes on palatability traits, flavor development, lipid oxidation, objective and subjective evaluation of color stability, and microbial shelf-life. No muscle × package × case × day interactions were observed for any instrumental or panelist color evaluation (P > 0.851). No retail case effect was observed for TBARS, consumer sensory evaluation, or cook loss (P >0.05). A muscle × case × package interaction was observed for L* and b* (P< 0.05). No muscle × case × package observations were observed for shelf-life or palatability analyses (P > 0.05). No significant two-way or three-way interactions were observed for evaluation …