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Characterizing The Effects Of Radiation On Muscle Cells, Lori Caldwell, Charles Harding, Jr Dennison, Elizabeth Vargis

Posters

As longer space missions become more desirable to public and private institutions, the physiological impact on astronauts must be considered. One of the primary concerns for those spending time in low gravity and high radiation environments is muscle atrophy. A major cause of muscular atrophy is oxidative stress which is amplified by increased levels of ionizing radiation during spaceflight. Additionally, high levels of radiation can damage DNA, increasing the risk of cancer. Utah State University’s Space Environment Test Facility was used to irradiate C2C12 myoblasts and human vascular endothelial cells with a dosage mimicking that on the International Space Station …

Nutrient Criterion Data, Paul M. Jakus, Nanette Nelson, Jeffrey Ostermiller

Browse all Datasets

We present a scientific replication of a benthic algae nuisance threshold study originally conducted in Montana, but we do so using a different sampling methodology in a different state. Respondents are asked to rate eight photographs that depict varying algae conditions. Our initial results show that Utah resident preferences for benthic algae levels are quite similar to those of Montana residents, thus replicating the Montana study. For the full Utah sample, though, Cronbachís ? indicated poor internal consistency in rating the photographs, so a ëmonotonicity ruleí was used to identify respondents providing monotonic preferences with respect to chlorophyll a densities. …

The Geological Record And Phylogeny Of Spider Wasps (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae): A Revision Of Fossil Species And Their Phylogenetic Placement, Juanita Rodriguez, Caleb T. Walker, Carol D. Von Dohlen, James P. Pitts

Biology Faculty Publications

Accurate fossil identification has become increasingly relevant with the widespread use of phylogenetic divergence time estimation methods, which rely on fossil data to determine clade hard-minimum ages. Here we revise, diagnose and illustrate known spider wasp (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae) fossil species and place them within the latest Pompilidae phylogenetic hypothesis. Ceropalites infelix Cockerell, from the Florissant Fossil Beds (Priabonian), is no longer recognized as Pompilidae, but as Aulacidae. Agenioideus saxigenus (Cockerell) comb. nov., Deuteragenia wettweri (Statz) comb. nov., Caputelus scudderi (Cockerell, 1906) comb. nov., Pepsinites avitula (Cockerell, 1941) comb. nov., Pepsinites contentus (Theobald, 1937) comb. nov., …

General Control Nonrepressible4 Degrades 14-3-3 And The Rin4 Complex To Regulate Stomatal Aperture With Implications On Nonhost Disease Resistance And Drought Tolerance, Amita Kaundal, Vemenna S. Ramu, Sunhee Oh, Seonghee Lee, Bikram Pant, Hee-Kyung Lee, Clemencia M. Rojas, Muthappa Senthil-Kumar, Kirankumar S. Mysore

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Plants have complex and adaptive innate immune responses against pathogen infections. Stomata are key entry points for many plant pathogens. Both pathogens and plants regulate stomatal aperture for pathogen entry and defense, respectively. Not all plant proteins involved in stomatal aperture regulation have been identified. Here, we report GENERAL CONTROL NONREPRESSIBLE4 (GCN4), an AAA+-ATPase family protein, as one of the key proteins regulating stomatal aperture during biotic and abiotic stress. Silencing of GCN4 in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis thaliana compromises host and nonhost disease resistance due to open stomata during pathogen infection. AtGCN4 overexpression plants have reduced H+-ATPase activity, stomata …

Impaired Latent Inhibition In Gdnf-Deficient Mice Exposed To Chronic Stress, Mona Buhusi, Colten K. Brown, Catalin V. Buhusi

Psychology Faculty Publications

Increased reactivity to stress is maladaptive and linked to abnormal behaviors and psychopathology. Chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) alters catecholaminergic neurotransmission and remodels neuronal circuits involved in learning, attention and decision making. Glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is essential for the physiology and survival of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus. Up-regulation of GDNF expression during stress is linked to resilience; on the other hand, the inability to up-regulate GDNF in response to stress, as a result of either genetic or epigenetic modifications, induces behavioral alterations. For example, GDNF-deficient mice exposed to chronic stress exhibit …

Congratulations A-Pin Recipients! | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Interim College of Engineering Dean Dr. Jagath Kaluarachchi and department heads from across the College of Engineering on Tuesday recognized 28 students for receiving the prestigious A-Pin award.

4.2 Jet Lag Worksheet, Utah State University

Module 1 – Health

No abstract provided.

Phd Student Anna Doloman Wins Grco Grant | Sustainable Waste-To-Bioproducts Engineering Center, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Biological Engineering Doctoral candidate Anna Doloman has earned a Graduate Research and Creative Opportunity (GRCO) Grant for the 2017-2018 year.

The Grey To Green Infrastructure Transition - An Historical Shift In The Modern Infrastructure Paradigm, Ryan Dupont

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Living In The Journey' | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Civil Engineering alumna Megan Montgomery never thought she’d be a valedictorian. She hadn’t even considered a degree in engineering.

Faculty Senate Agenda, October 2, 2017, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC September and Annual Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• Parking Committee Annual Report
• Libraries Advisory Council Annual Report

Priming Plants To Tolerate Drought | College Of Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Food growers are facing a difficult reality: climate change is expected to intensify drought conditions, and expanding urban populations are competing for arable land and water supplies.

Utah State Magazine, Fall 2017, Utah State University

Utah State Magazine

The quarterly magazine for friends and alumni of Utah State University.

Effects Of Livestock Grazing On Rangeland Biodiversity: A Meta-Analysis Of Grouse Populations, Seth J. Dettenmaier, Terry A. Messmer, Torre J. Hovick, David K. Dahlgren

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Livestock grazing affects over 60% of the world’s agricultural lands and can influence rangeland ecosystem services and the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat, resulting in changes in biodiversity. Concomitantly, livestock grazing has the potential to be detrimental to some wildlife species while benefiting other rangeland organisms. Many imperiled grouse species require rangeland landscapes that exhibit diverse vegetation structure and composition to complete their life cycle. However, because of declining populations and reduced distributions, grouse are increasingly becoming a worldwide conservation concern. Grouse, as a suite of upland gamebirds, are often considered an umbrella species for other wildlife and thus …

Simple Soil Tests For Onsite Evaluation Of Soil Health In Orchards, Esther Thomsen, Jennifer R. Reeve, Diane G. Alston, Grant Cardon

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the importance of soil health and best soil testing practices.

Halogen Bonds Formed Between Substituted Imidazoliums And N Bases Of Varying N-Hybridization, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Heterodimers are constructed containing imidazolium and its halogen-substituted derivatives as Lewis acid. N in its sp³, sp² and sp hybridizations is taken as the electron-donating base. The halogen bond is strengthened in the Cl < Br < I order, with the H-bond generally similar in magnitude to the Br-bond. Methyl substitution on the N electron donor enhances the binding energy. Very little perturbation arises if the imidazolium is attached to a phenyl ring. The energetics are not sensitive to the hybridization of the N atom. More regular patterns appear in the individual phenomena. Charge transfer diminishes uniformly on going from amine to imine to nitrile, a pattern that is echoed by the elongation of the C-Z (Z=H, Cl, Br, I) bond in the Lewis acid. These trends are also evident in the Atoms in Molecules topography of the electron density. Molecular electrostatic potentials are not entirely consistent with energetics. Although I of the Lewis acid engages in a stronger bond than does H, it is the potential of the latter which is much more positive. The minimum on the potential of the base is most negative for the nitrile even though acetonitrile does not form the strongest bonds. Placing the systems in dichloromethane solvent reduces the binding energies but leaves intact most of the trends observed in vacuo; the same can be said of ∆G in solution.

Commentary: Wildlife Tourism As Crop Protection? Double-Goal Provisioning And The Transvaluation Of The Macaque In Postwar Japan, John Knight

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–wildlife interfaces are often sites of friction and conflict in the form of crop and livestock depredations that can lead to negative local attitudes towards the animals responsible. This paper examines the use of provisioning to reduce wildlife damage through diversion (‘diversionary feeding’) and to display the diverted animals for tourism. It focuses on a macaque (Macaca fuscata) provisioning initiative from the municipality of Ōita in western Japan that set out to achieve these two objectives of crop protection and tourism. Provisioning succeeded in establishing the macaques as a popular tourist attraction, but it has been far less …

Use Of Soil Chemical Analysis To Detect Commercial Wildlife Game Baits, Aaron Haines, Angela Fetterolf, Meta Griffin, Tristan Conrad, Steven Kennedy

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Hunters and poachers often use commercially-available, nutrient-rich baits to attract wildlife game animals. We used atomic absorption spectroscopy and ion selective electrochemical analysis techniques to determine whether two common proprietary baits (Deer Cane and Acorn Rage) would leave detectable chemical signatures in soil (i.e., Na⁺, Cl^-, and Ca⁺²). Our goal was to evaluate low cost tests which could be replicated by wildlife conservation officers in the field. To complete the evaluation we randomly placed two commercial baits on 3 sites in The Millersville University Biological Preserve in Millersville, PA. We collected soils samples from …

Humans As Prey: Coping With Large Carnivore Attacks Using A Predator-Prey Interaction Perspective, Vincenzo Penteriani, Giulia Bombieri, José María Fedriani, José Vicente López-Bao, Pedro José Garrote, Luca Francesco Russo, María Del Mar Delgado

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The number of attacks on humans by large carnivores in North America is increasing. A better understanding the factors triggering such attacks is critical to mitigating the risk of future encounters in landscape where humans and large carnivore co-exist. Since 1955, of the 632 attacks on humans by large carnivores, 106 (17%) involved predation. We draw on concepts and empirical evidence from the Predator-Prey Interaction Theory to provide insights into how to reduce predatory attacks and, thus, improve human-large carnivore co-existence. Because large carnivore-caused mortality risks for humans are comparable to those shown by other mammal species in response to …

Community Perceptions Of Grivet Monkey Crop Depredation In The Ethiopian Highlands: Implications For Primate Conservation, Aschalew Alelign, Meheretu Yonas

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–primate conflicts in Africa have been increasing due to increased human population growth and the resulting competition for forest resources. The Ethiopian Highlands in northern Ethiopia, home to the grivet monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops), once consisted of large forested areas. This region has been severely denuded and now exhibits only small forest patches remaining at sites with special cultural significance in the immediate vicinity of churches. These forest patches, surrounded by agricultural crops, provide refugia habitat for the grivet monkey. We randomly surveyed 50 villagers living near the Batiero Church Forest, a 45-ha forest patch located in northern Ethiopia, to determine …

Do You Hear What I Hear? Human Perception Of Coyote Group Size, Kyle Brewster, Scott E. Henke, Alfonso Ortega, John Tomecek, Benjamin Turner

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Recordings of 1 – 4 coyotes (Canis latrans) that were howling and yip-yapping were played to 427 participants who were asked to estimate the number of coyotes they perceived to hear. Participants were separated by gender (M or F), age group ( 35), resident location (urban, suburban, or rural), and occupation type (rancher/farmer or non-rancher/farmer). Differences between participants concerning gender, age group, resident location, and occupation type were not observed; however, treatment differences were observed. Participants were able to discern differences in the number of coyotes howling with the addition of each coyote; however, participants consistently overestimated the …

Food Habits And Anthropogenic Supplementation In Coyote Diets Along An Urban-Rural Gradient, Erica Santana, Jim Armstrong

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Coyotes are recent colonists of the Southeast and have broadened their niche to include exploitation of urban areas. The aim of this study was to examine diet of coyotes inhabiting areas of differential development by humans and assess prevalence of anthropogenic feeding, to detect a possible shift in dietary trends. In urban, exurban, and rural areas of east-central Alabama, 159 fecal samples were collected and examined to reconstruct the diet. Consumption of anthropogenic food did not vary significantly along an urban-rural gradient and foods consumed were similar among habitats. While results of this study can provide insight to guide decisions …

Using Resident-Based Hazing Programs To Reduce Human-Coyote Conflicts In Urban Environments, Mary Ann Bonnell, Stewart W. Breck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Abstract The concept of hazing (aversive conditioning) is often promoted as a tool for reducing human-coyote (Canis latrans) conflicts in urban environments. Little scientific evidence exists on the effectiveness of hazing, particularly hazing applied by residents (i.e., community-level hazing). Wildlife professionals question if residents will properly and consistently apply hazing techniques and if hazing impacts coyote behavior over short- and long-term periods. We describe two separate efforts designed to encourage residents to haze coyotes in the Denver Metro Area; a citizen-science program and an open space hazing trial. Both efforts were intended to be management techniques that either …

Evaluating Lethal And Nonlethal Management Options For Urban Coyotes, Stewart W. Breck, Sharon A. Poessel, Mary Ann Bonnell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human-coyote conflict in urban environments is a growing issue in cities throughout the United States with the primary problem being the development of problem individuals that are overly bold and aggressive with people and pets. Little research has focused on management options to deal with this conflict. We better define lethal and nonlethal management strategies associated with proactive and reactive management of coyotes with an emphasis on management of problem individuals. We then provide data from research in the Denver Metropolitan Area (DMA) that focused on reactive lethal removal of problem coyotes and reactive nonlethal hazing (i.e., community-level hazing, a …

Coyote Attacks On Humans, 1970-2015: Implications For Reducing The Risks, Rex O. Baker, Robert M. Timm

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Beginning with the emerging pattern of urban and suburban coyotes (Canis latrans) attacking humans in southern California in the late 1970s, we analyzed information from reported attacks to better understand the factors contributing to changes in coyote behavior. We subsequently used updated data collected largely in urban and suburban environments in the United States and Canada during the past 30 years to develop strategies to reduce the risk of attacks. In the 1990s, increased incidents of coyote attacks were reported in states beyond California and in Canadian provinces. We documented 367 attacks on humans by coyotes from 1977 …

Spatial And Temporal Variation In Brackish Wetland Seedbanks: Implications For Wetland Restoration Following Phragmites Control, Eric L. G. Hazelton, Rebekah Downard, Karin M. Kettenring, Melissa K. Mccormick, Dennis F. Whigham

Ecology Center Publications

Chesapeake Bay tidal wetlands are experiencing a broad-scale, aggressive invasion by the non-native, clonal grass Phragmites australis. The grass is often managed with herbicides in efforts to restore native plant communities and wildlife habitat. Management efforts, however, can act as a disturbance, resulting in increased light availability, potentially fostering reinvasion from soil seedbanks. If native vegetation establishes quickly from seedbanks, the site should have greater resiliency against invasion, while disturbed sites where native plants do not rapidly establish may be rapidly colonized by P. australis. We surveyed the soil seedbank of three vegetation cover types in five Chesapeake …

A Retrospective Look At The Physiological Stresses Response Of Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears, Susannah S. French

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Improving The Pcr Protocol To Amplify A Repetitive Dna Sequence, J. Riet, L.R. V. Ramos, Randolph V. Lewis, L. F. Marins

Biology Faculty Publications

Although PCR-based techniques have become an essential tool in the field of molecular and genetic research, the amplification of repetitive DNA sequences is limited. This is due to the truncated nature of the amplified sequences, which are also prone to errors during DNA polymerase-based amplification. The complex structure of repetitive DNA can form hairpin loops, which promote dissociation of the polymerase from the template, impairing complete amplification, and leading to the formation of incomplete fragments that serve as megaprimers. These megaprimers anneal with other sequences, generating unexpected fragments in each PCR cycle. Our gene model, MaSp1, is 1037-bp long, …

The Utah Statesman, September 19, 2017, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Coordinating Ipm Successes In Utah's Crops, Communities And Schools, Marion Murray

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.