Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Of Strongyle Nematodes In New England Dairy Goats, D.J. Richardson, E.M. Wray, D. Watters, U. Hanif, E. Jalbert, E. Thompson, G. Trajkovic, A.R. Sirois, N. Pilotte

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The paucity of information concerning the occurrence of strongyle nematodes in New England dairy goats prompted a survey of 241 dairy goats from throughout New England. Of the 241 goats examined using the McMaster technique, 104 (42.7%) were infected with strongyles with a mean intensity (+ SE) of 369.7 + 45.8 eggs per gram. Subsequent molecular examination of 50 random samples from these goats revealed a prevalence of 88% infection specifically with Haemonchus contortus. Haemonchus contortus is the most important internal parasite of sheep and goats, exerting a crushing economic burden on the livestock industry worldwide due to lowered milk …

Gerontovis: Data Visualization At The Confluence Of Aging, Zack While, R. Jordan Crouser, Ali Sarvghad

Computer Science: Faculty Publications

Despite the explosive growth of the aging population worldwide, older adults have been largely overlooked by visualization research. This paper is a critical reflection on the underrepresentation of older adults in visualization research. We discuss why investigating visualization at the intersection of aging matters, why older adults may have been omitted from sample populations in visualization research, how aging may affect visualization use, and how this differs from traditional accessibility research. To encourage further discussion and novel scholarship in this area, we introduce GerontoVis, a term which encapsulates research and practice of data visualization design that primarily focuses on older …

An Overview Of The Relationships Between The Food Industry And Nanotechnology, Mehdi Koushki, Nasrin Amiri-Dashatan, Hossein Pourghadamyari, Hadi Khodabandehloo, Fatemeh Bagheri, Masoumeh Farahani, Lobat Tayebi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Background and Objective: Due to the growth of the global population, food demands are increasing. Hence, the need to develop more efficient methods for producing better quality, safer, and more sustainable food seems essential. In the past decades, the use of nanoscale materials has increased greatly due to the unique chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of nanomaterials compared to bulk materials. This research presents nanotechnology role in improving sensorial properties (taste, appearance, and texture) and safety aspects as well as processing and packaging of foods. The use of nano-omics-based technologies and artificial intelligence-nanotechnology-based technologies in the food industry is also …

Examining Seasonality Of Zooplankton Communities And Water Quality In Yellowknife Area Lakes, Northwest Territories, Nicole Andreola

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Frame Lake, located in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, is one of the city's main attractions. Unfortunately, urbanization and eutrophication have led to a decline in water quality in the lake. Eutrophication has caused a buildup of organic matter in sediments on the bottom of the lake, which can cause a high oxygen demand when processed by aerobic bacteria. Dissolved oxygen levels are high during the summer, but ice shields the lake from gas exchange with the atmosphere, leading to winter anoxia. This oxygen depletion makes it impossible for sensitive aquatic life, such as fish, to survive in the lake over the …

Response Of Helenium Amarum To Environmental Stressors In The Presence Of Mycorrhizal Fungi And Its Role As A Pollinator Resource, Austin Jameson, Lisa Horth

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Globally, climate change is causing shifts in precipitation patterns. Shifting precipitation patterns can be a stressor for many species. One species that is experiencing such stress is Helenium amarum Raf (H. Rock). H. amarum, thrives in dry upland pastures and low-lying grassy and sandy habitat in the mid-Atlantic (USA), where it persists despite storm-driven standing water. Helenium amarum is a species that is toxic to livestock and has been found outside its native range. Temperature and light impacts on germination are already known, but the role of water availability and potential ameliorating effects of mycorrhizae during water stress have …

An Experiment To Determine Mineral-Associated Organic Matter Turnover In A Sandy Clay Loam, Samantha Abel

All Master's Theses

Soil is an important terrestrial carbon sink. Through regenerative land management, which includes minimizing soil disturbance, the carbon content of soil can be raised towards preindustrial levels. This feat requires effectively storing carbon in a natural system that is inclined to cyclicity. The most stable form of soil organic matter is mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM). This carbon labelling experiment was designed to identify short-term CO₂ fluxes within the soil-plant-atmosphere system, particularly those related to MAOM turnover in the rhizosphere. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) was planted on a plot at the campus farm at Central Washington University. Another plot …

Exploration Of Sulfonamides And Benzothiazoles As Peptide-Based Cleavable Linkers, Abigail Dalton

Honors Theses

Cleavable linkers have demonstrated great potential in various applications of medicinal organic chemistry, such as in modern therapeutic development. Linkers are stable compounds that cleave in specific conditions to release molecular cargo. We have developed cleavable linkers based on nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions on sulfonamide and benzothiazole substrates in small molecule and in peptide studies. Sulfonamides, commonly with an electron-withdrawing group, reacted in high conversion of starting material to the sulfide product in small molecule studies, but was unable to successfully cleave the sulfonamide linker on peptide in mild conditions. Next, a benzothiazole sulfone substrate was analyzed and optimized in …

Potential Landscape Connectivity For Invasive Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) Across The Northern Prairies Of North America, Corey J. Kramer, Melanie R. Boudreau, Ryan Powers, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Ryan S. Miller, Ryan K. Brook

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding landscape scale connectivity is an essential component in the management of invasive species since connectivity facilitates their invasion potential. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are among the most prolific invaders on the planet, causing billions of dollars in agricultural and environmental damage annually. Newly introduced to Canada in the 1980s, we examined wild pig invasion potential across the northern prairies from western Canada into the currently wild pig-free northern U.S. states. We used GPS collar data collected in the Canadian prairies to quantify resource selection and incorporated results into an electric circuit theory framework to evaluate potential …

Low Secondary Risks For Turkey Vultures From A Sodium Nitrite Toxic Bait For Wild Pigs, Justin A. Foster, John C. Kinsey, Michael J. Lavelle, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan P. Snow

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An acute and orally‐delivered toxic bait for wild pigs (Sus scrofa) containing sodium nitrite (SN) is being developed and tested for potential registration in the U.S. We evaluated oral toxicity of SN and risk of secondary consumption in a common avian scavenger, the turkey vulture (Carthartes aura), by 1) conducting an acute oral toxicity test (LD₅₀) for turkey vultures by oral gavage, and 2) allowing turkey vultures to feed on whole carcasses and digestive tracts of wild pigs that died from consuming SN‐laden bait. Captive tests were conducted during fall 2016 and spring 2017 in the …

Various Surfactant Soil Conditioner Effect On Plant Nutrient Concentration, Soil Nutrient Depletion, Soil Volumetric Water Content, Plant Biomass And Yield In Corn, Timothy Veldkamp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil conditioners help improve soil structure by increasing aeration, water infiltration and water holding capacity leading to nutrient availability and reduced irrigation needs. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of multiple soil conditioners (SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4, and SC5) on corn (Zea mays L.) and their ability to reduce irrigation by 30%. This was evaluated in the field in 2022 and 2023 by Aurora, SD using a Randomized Complete Block Design with six replications. Conditioners were applied as broadcast pre-emergence treatments with 70% irrigation. Control treatments of 70% and 100% irrigation, respectively were included. SC1 application …

Plant Root Hair Adhesion Mediated Through Variation In Sodium Ion Concentration, Natasha Mulenga

Honors Program Theses

This study investigates the effects of sodium ion (Na+) concentration on the adhesion of Brassica Rapa root hairs using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Plant root hair adhesion to soil particles plays a crucial role in anchoring plants and facilitating nutrient uptake. Previous research has shown that calcium ions (Ca2+) cross-link pectin molecules in the cell wall, increasing rigidity and reducing adhesion. As Na+ binds to pectin without cross-linking, we expected that root hairs exposed to sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions would exhibit longer adhesive interactions and similar binding forces compared to those exposed to calcium chloride (CaCl2) solutions of equal concentrations. …

Atg11 And Atg9 Interaction In Selective Autophagy, Chimi Dolker Sherpa

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Selective autophagy, induced by cellular stresses, degrades/recycles a specific cargo. Ithelps prevent diseases like Parkinson’s, Huntington's, cancer, and bacterial infections. It involves the formation of an autophagosome, a double-membrane vesicle that takes the cargo to the vacuole/lysosome for degradation. Atg11, the central organizer of selective autophagy, acts as a scaffold protein, interacting with Atg9, Atg1 and other Atg proteins. Our research focuses on finding mutations in Atg11 that specifically disrupt its interaction with Atg9 without affecting its dimerization or interaction with Atg1. We targeted residues 455-535 of Atg11 as a putative Atg9 interaction site, performing mutagenesis on four key residues …

Prevalence Of Resistant Escherichia Coli Isolated From Local Meats Sold In Tema Metropolis, Ghana, Frederick Adzitey, Innocent Allan Anachinaba, Charles Addo-Quaye Brown, Nurul Huda, Masmuniri Rambli

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Contamination of meat by Escherichia coli (E. coli) can take its source from the live animal or by cross contamination. The study determined the prevalence of resistance of E. coli isolated from locally produced meats in the Tema Metropolis. Beef (n=200), chicken (n=200) and pork (n=200) were randomly selected and evaluated for the presence of E. coli using the procedure in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual of USA-FDA. The disc diffusion method was used for antibiotic susceptibility test of E. coli (n=55) isolates. Locally produced beef (67%), chicken (41%) and pork (23%) were contaminated by E. coli. Escherichia coli isolates were …

Sequencing Conversational Turns In Peer Interactions: An Integrated Approach For Evidence-Based Conversational Agent For Just-In-Time Nicotine Cravings Intervention, Tavleen Singh, Michael Truong, Kirk Roberts, Sahiti Myneni

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Risky health behaviors place an enormous toll on public health systems. While relapse prevention support is integrated with most behavior modification programs, the results are suboptimal. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) applications provide us with unique opportunities to develop just-in-time adaptive behavior change solutions.

METHODS: In this study, we present an innovative framework, grounded in behavioral theory, and enhanced with social media sequencing and communications scenario builder to architect a conversational agent (CA) specialized in the prevention of relapses in the context of tobacco cessation. We modeled peer interaction data (n = 1000) using the taxonomy of behavior …

Linking Artificial Sweetener Intake With Kidney Function: Insights From Nhanes 2003-2006 And Findings From Mendelian Randomization Research, Zhuoling Ran, Yuxuan Zheng, Lin Yu, Yuxian Zhang, Zhenjiang Zhang, Huijie Li, Xuhan Li, Jing Song, Li Zhang, Ran Zhang, Chang Lu, Yang Gong, Jian Gong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The current investigation examines the association between artificial sweetener (AS) consumption and the likelihood of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD), along with its impact on kidney function.

METHODS: We utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2003-2006 to conduct covariance analysis and weighted adjusted logistic regression, aiming to assess the association between artificial sweetener intake and CKD risk, as well as kidney function indicators. Subsequently, we employed Mendelian randomization methods to validate the causal relationship between the intake of artificial sweeteners, CKD risk, and kidney function indicators. Instrumental variable analysis using inverse-variance weighting and Robust …

Crossing The “Valley Of Death”: How Climate Technology Entrepreneurs Navigate Relationships With Venture Capital Investors, Allison Lucas

Wayne State University Dissertations

As the world faces the ongoing and intensifying impacts of climate change, a group of innovative changemakers known as climate tech entrepreneurs (CTEs) are working on climate adaptation, mitigation, and/or resilience efforts by brining innovative technologies to the global market (UNFCC, 2018; Endeavor 2022). To realize the full potential of these technologies—tools, techniques, specialized knowledge or skillsets—they must be developed, deployed, and implemented at scale (IPCC, 2000). To do this, CTEs require external funding support, especially during a crucial period of the start-up lifecycle known as the “valley of death”. In this period between development and commercialization, production costs and …

Unlocking The Potential Of Simulated Hyperspectral Imaging In Agro Environmental Analysis: A Comprehensive Study Of Algorithmic Approaches, Shafaq Khan, Munir Majdalawieh, Boubakeur Boufama, Yajan Sharma, Ashwitha Basani

All Works

This study focuses on identifying and evaluating the severity of powdery mildew disease in tomato plants. The uniqueness of this work lies in combining the imaging and advanced deep learning methods to develop a technique that transforms Red Green Blue (RGB) images into Simulated Hyperspectral Images (SHSI) to perform spectral and spatial analysis for precise detection and assessment of powdery mildew severity, thereby enhancing disease management. Furthermore, this research evaluates three advanced pre-trained VGG16 models, ResNet50 and EfficientNet-B7 algorithms for image preprocessing and feature extraction. Extracted features are passed to a neural network generator model to convert RGB image features …

The Attitudes And Practices Of United Arab Emirates Consumers Towards Food Waste: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study, Lynne Kennedy, Samir Safi, Tareq M. Osaili, Ala Al Rajabi, Ayesha Alblooshi, Dima Al Jawarneh, Ahmed Al Kaabi, Fakhra Al Rubaei, Maitha Albreiki, Maryam Alfadli, Aseilah Alhefeiti, Moez Al Islam Ezzat Faris, Kholoud Allaham, Sameeha Junaidi, Moien A.B. Khan

All Works

Background: Reducing global food waste is an international environmental, health, and sus-tainability priority. Although significant reductions have been achieved across the food chain, progress by UAE households and consumers remain inadequate. This study seeks to understand the association between consumer attitudes, knowledge, and awareness relating to food waste practice of residents living in the UAE. to help inform policy and action for addressing this national priority. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated semi-structured online questionnaire through stratified sampling (n =1052). The Spearman correlation coefficient was performed to determine the correlations. Two independent regression analysis were used to …

Development And Optimisation Of Convolutional Neural Networks (Cnns) To Predict The Nutrition And Sustainability Scores Of Foods From Crowd Sourced Images., Cormac Mcelhinney

ICT

This research explores the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for the automated classification and profiling of food products based on publicly sourced data. With the vast array of food products available worldwide and the complexity of labelling regulations, food business operators face challenges in ensuring compliance, while regulators struggle to verify adherence. This study addresses the need for efficient and accurate methods for food classification and eco/nutritional profiling. It begins with a comprehensive literature review on the application of CNNs in food product classification, followed by the collection of a large-scale dataset from Open Food Facts. A CNN architecture …

The Effect Of Social Determinants Of Health On End-Stage Kidney Disease Mortality Across Diverse Adult Populations: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Prince Agyapong

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the influence of social determinants of health (SDOH) on End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) mortality among diverse racial populations. Given the high morbidity and mortality associated with ESKD, understanding the impact of various SDOH factors across different racial groups is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify studies reporting on the relationship between SDOH and ESKD mortality using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) format. Citations were collated in EndNote 21 and screened in Covidence by two independent reviewers, with inter-rater …

Recent Beak Evolution In North American Starlings After Invasion, Julia M. Zichello, Shelagh T. Deliberto, Paul Shrewsbury, Agnieszka A. Pierwola, Scott J. Werner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

European starlings are one of the most abundant and problematic avian invaders in the world. From their native range across Eurasia and North Africa, they have been introduced to every continent except Antarctica. In 160 years, starlings have expanded into different environments throughout the world, making them a powerful model for understanding rapid evolutionary change and adaptive plasticity. Here, we investigate their spatiotemporal morphological variation in North America and the native range. Our dataset includes 1,217 specimens; a combination of historical museum skins and modern birds. Beak length in the native range has remained unchanged during the past 206 years, …

Use Of Rhodamine B As A Biomarker In A Simulated Oral Vaccine Deployment Against Bovine Tuberculosis In White-Tailed Deer, David Dressel, Kurt Vercauteren, Michael Lavelle, Nathan P. Snow, Henry Campa Iii

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Introduction Free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in northeastern lower Michigan, United States are a self-sustaining reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (bTB). Farm mitigation practices, baiting bans, and antlerless deer harvests have been ineffective in eliminating bTB in white-tailed deer and risks to cattle. The apparent prevalence has remained relatively constant in deer, prompting interest among wildlife researchers, managers, and veterinarians for an effective means of vaccinating deer against bTB. The commonly used human vaccine for bTB, Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), is the primary candidate with oral delivery being the logical means for vaccinating deer.

Materials and methods We developed …

Effects Of Pregnancy Prevention On Brucella Abortus Shedding In American Bison (Bison Bison), Pauline Nol, Rebecca Frey, Morgan Wehtje, Jack C. Rhyan, Patrick Ryan Clarke, Matthew Mccollum, Christine Quance, Douglas C. Eckery, Suelee Robbe-Austerman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Products of parturition are the predominant source of Brucella abortus for transmission in bison (Bison bison). Our objective was to assess whether preventing pregnancy in Brucella-seropositive bison reduced B. abortus shedding. Brucella-seropositive and -seronegative bison from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA were used in a replicated experiment. Each of two replicates (rep1, rep2) included a group of seropositive females treated with a single dose of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-based immunocontraceptive (Treatment rep1, n = 15; Treatment rep2, n = 20) and an untreated group (Control rep1, n = 14; Control rep2, …

Population Growth Rates Of Pronghorn: Influence Of Temporally And Spatially Explicit Conditions, Density Dependence, And Scale, Eric M. Gese, Cole A. Bleke, Shane B. Roberts, Paul Atwood, Patricia A. Terletzky

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Density-independent and density-dependent population regulation has long been a subject of investigation. We examined density-dependent and density-independent factors on growth rates of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana (Ord, 1815)) using a retrospective analysis of population survey data. Across Idaho, we found that as the proportion of the subpopulation harvested the previous year increased, growth rates increased. Similarly, as fawn recruitment increased, growth rates increased. We also found when the growth rate in the previous year increased, the growth rate the subsequent year decreased. When subpopulations were examined independently, we found that in a low-elevation desert subpopulation, growth rates were influenced by …

Invasive Wild Pig (Sus Scrofa) Diets On Barrier Islands In The Southeastern United States, Vienna R. Canright, Antoinette J. Piaggio, James C. Beasley

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background

Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems.

Results

We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the …

Taphonomic Signatures Of Early Scavenging By Black And Turkey Vultures, Marian L. Wahl, Grant N. Burcham, Amanda M. Herbert, Lee A. Humberg, Patrick A. Zollner, Landon R. Jones, Brandon M. Quinby, Bryan M. Kluever

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Scavenging is critical for nutrient cycling and maintenance of healthy ecosystems. While there is substantial research into the identification of taphonomic signatures from facultative mammalian scavengers, early stage scavenging signatures by vultures remain unknown. Further, some vulture species are opportunistic predators, highlighting the need to define signatures observed in the course of normal scavenging behavior. We placed stillborn neonatal calves in an unoccupied pasture and used motion-trigger camera traps to quantify scavenging effort, then conducted necropsies to evaluate the effect of black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) scavenging effort on carcass consumption. We …

Temporal And Spatial Influences On Fawn Summer Survival In Pronghorn Populations: Management Implications From Noninvasive Monitoring, Cole A. Bleke, Eric M. Gese, Juan J. Villalba, Shane B. Roberts, Susannah S. French

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Monitoring vital rates allowsmanagers to estimate trends in growth rates of ungulate populations. However, connecting the influence of nutrition on ungulate demography is challenging. Noninvasive sampling offers a low-cost, low-effort alternative for measuring nutritional indices, allowing for an increased understanding of the mechanistic relationships between environmental factors, nutrition, and specific population vital rates. We examined the temporal influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) fawn recruitment. We collected fresh fecal samples from adult female pronghorn in five subpopulations spanning three sampling periods associated with critical maternal life-history stages (late gestation, early lactation, breeding season) for …

Surveillance Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus In Wild Canids From Pennsylvania, Usa, Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Taylor C. Chan, Ashley Mcdowell, Lauren Mxwell, Madison Stevens, Lane Potts, Erica Miller, Eman Anis, Kyle Van Why, Thomas Keller, David Stallknecht, Rebecca L. Poulson, Kaitlyn Bahrs, Justin D. Brown

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The avian influenza virus is a global pathogen with significant health and economic implications. While primarily a pathogen of wild and domestic birds, recent outbreaks of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) clade 2.3.4.4b have caused mortality in a wide variety of mammals, including members of the Canidae family, on multiple continents. Despite sporadic mortality events globally, the epidemiology and pathobiology of H5N1 HPAIV in wild canids remains poorly defined. During 2022–2024, 41 wild canid carcasses (diagnostic cases), including 23 red foxes and 18 gray foxes, were tested for the influenza A virus (IAV) via PCR, with five …

Evaluating The Risk Posed By Gadolinium In The Grand River Watershed, Johann Memmel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Gadolinium (Gd) is a rare earth element (REE), primarily used in contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with additional applications in metallurgy, phosphors, neutron shielding, and other niche applications. Both Gd and Gd-based contrast agents (GBCAs, the form used for MRIs) have been detected downstream of wastewater effluent discharges and there is currently little research into the risk this poses to aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the potential environmental risks of Gd and GBCAs using the Grand River watershed (GRW) in southwestern Ontario as a model ecosystem due to it containing a variety of land uses (urban, industrial, agricultural) …

Season Influences Interspecific Responses Of Canopy-Forming Kelps To Future Warming And Acidification At High Latitude, Lauren E. Bell, Lily Westphal, Evan O' Brien, Jason A. Toy, Haleigh Damron, Kristy J. Kroeker

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Variability in primary producers' responses to environmental change may buffer higher trophic levels against shifts in basal resource composition. Then again, in instances where there is a lack of functional redundancy because consumers rely on a few species to meet their energetic requirements at specific times of the year, altered community production dynamics may significantly impact food web resilience. In high-latitude kelp forests, a complementary annual phenology of seaweed production supports coastal marine consumers' metabolic needs across large seasonal variations in their environment. Yet, marine consumers in these systems may face significant metabolic stress under the pronounced low pH conditions …