Digital Commons Network^™

The Aspergillus Flavus Homeobox Gene, Hbx1, Is Required For Development And Aflatoxin Production, Jeffrey W. Cary, Pamela Y. Harris-Coward, Leslie Scharfenstein, Brian M. Mack, Perng-Kuang Chang, Qijian Wei, Matthew Lebar, Carol Carter-Wientjes, Rajtilak Majumdar, Chandrani Mitra, Sourav Banerjee, Anindya Chanda

Faculty Publications

Homeobox proteins, a class of well conserved transcription factors, regulate the expression of targeted genes, especially those involved in development. In filamentous fungi, homeobox genes are required for normal conidiogenesis and fruiting body formation. In the present study, we identified eight homeobox (hbx) genes in the aflatoxin-producing ascomycete, Aspergillus flavus, and determined their respective role in growth, conidiation and sclerotial production. Disruption of seven of the eight genes had little to no effect on fungal growth and development. However, disruption of the homeobox gene AFLA_069100, designated as hbx1, in two morphologically different A. flavus strains, CA14 and AF70, resulted in …

Exopolysaccharides Regulate Calcium Flow In Cariogenic Biofilms, Monika Astasov-Frauenhoffer, Muth M. Varenganayil, Alan W. Decho, Tuomas Waltimo, Olivier Braissant

Faculty Publications

Caries-associated biofilms induce loss of calcium from tooth surfaces in the presence of dietary carbohydrates. Exopolysaccharides (EPS) provide a matrix scaffold and an abundance of primary binding sites within biofilms. The role of EPS in binding calcium in cariogenic biofilms is only partially understood. Thus, the aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the calcium dissolution rates and calcium tolerance of caries-associated bacteria and yeast as well as to examine the properties of EPS to quantify its binding affinity for dissolved calcium. Calcium dissolution was measured by dissolution zones on Pikovskaya’s agar. Calcium tolerance was assessed …

Integrating Nutrition Interventions Into An Existing Maternal, Neonatal, And Child Health Program Increased Maternal Dietary Diversity, Micronutrient Intake, And Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices In Bangladesh: Results Of A Cluster-Randomized Program Evaluation, Phuong Hong Nguyen, Sunny S. Kim, Tina Sanghvi, Zeba Mahmud, Lan Mai Tran, Sadia Shabnam, Bachera Aktar, Raisul Haque, Kaosar Afsana, Edward A. Frongillo Jr., Marie T. Ruel, Purnima Menon

Faculty Publications

Maternal undernutrition is a major concern globally, contributing to poor birth outcomes. Limited evidence exists on delivering multiple interventions for maternal nutrition simultaneously. Alive & Thrive addressed this gap by integrating nutrition-focused interpersonal counseling, community mobilization, distribution of free micronutrient supplements, and weight-gain monitoring through an existing Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) program in Bangladesh. We evaluated the effect of providing nutrition-focused MNCH compared with standard MNCH (antenatal care with standard nutrition counseling) on coverage of nutrition interventions, maternal dietary diversity, micronutrient supplement intake, and early breastfeeding practices. We used a cluster-randomized design with cross-sectional surveys at baseline (2015) …

Retinoic Acid Induces White Adipose Tissue Browning By Increasing Adipose Vascularity And Inducing Beige Adipogenesis Of Pdgfrα+ Adipose Progenitors, Bo Wang, Xing Fu, Xingwei Liang, Jeanene M. Deavila, Zhixiu Wang, Liang Zhao, Qiyu Tian, Junxing Zhao, Noe Alberto Gomez, Sophie C. Trombetta, Mei Jun Zhu, Min Du

Faculty Publications

© 2017 The Author(s). Formation of beige adipocytes within white adipose tissue enhances energy expenditure, which is a promising strategy to reduce obesity and prevent metabolic symptoms. Vitamin A and its bioactive metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), have regulatory roles in lipid metabolism. Here we report that RA induces white adipose tissue browning via activating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. RA triggered angiogenesis and elicited de novo generation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor α positive (PDGFRα +) adipose precursor cells via VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling. In addition, RA promoted beige/brown adipocyte formation from capillary networks in vitro. Using PDGFRα tracking mice, we …

A Fishnet-Constrained Land Use Mix Index Derived From Remotely Sensed Data, Yanqing Xu, Lei Wang, Cong Fu, Tim Kosmyna

Faculty Publications

Research works related to public health, transportation and urban planning have called for indices of land use mix (LUM) to support their spatial models. We propose a fishnet-based LUM calculation algorithm that works with the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) land cover data, a high-level product of Landsat satellite images. Comparing to the traditional LUM calculation, the fishnet structure can work at various spatial scales if aggregating to the administrative boundaries. Test results from regression models showed that our method was able to solve the scale problem identified as modifiable area unit problem that caused an unexpected positive correlation of …

#Nodapl: Social Media, Empowerment, And Civic Participation At Standing Rock, Hayley Johnson

Faculty Publications

The struggle for environmental and social justice within American Indian communities is one that has been ongoing since the beginning of United States history, but the main catalyst to effect change and to promote and disperse the American Indian narrative has emerged through the power of social media in today's hyperconnected society. This article examines the power of social media to effect change, as well as a hyperconnected society's ability to empower historically disadvantaged groups that have often been misrepresented within traditional media outlets. The historic movement occurring at Standing Rock, North Dakota, and the #NoDAPL protests illustrates the capacity …

How Important Is Farm Profitability To Meat Goat Farmers?, Narayan P. Nyaupane, Jeffrey M. Gillespie, Kenneth W. Mcmillin

Faculty Publications

© 2017 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists This study investigates United States meat goat producers’ goal structure and examines whether these goals are consistent with farm profitability. Data were collected using a nationwide mail survey, and 7 potential goals of meat goat farmers were analyzed. Results showed that “maximize profit” and “have family involved in agriculture” were the 2 most important goals, whereas “control weeds/vegetation” and “increase farm size” were the least-ranked goals. Regression results showed that farmer demographics, farm characteristics, economic indicators, and regional variables affected farmer goal structure. Results did not support a correlation between farm profitability …

Variation In Seed Size Is Structured By Dispersal Syndrome And Cone Morphology In Conifers And Other Nonflowering Seed Plants, Andrew B. Leslie, Jeremy M. Beaulieu, Sarah Mathews

Faculty Publications

© 2017 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2017 New Phytologist Trust Seed size varies tremendously in plants and its evolution is influenced by multiple ecological and biological factors that are difficult to disentangle. In this study, we focus on understanding the role of seed dispersal by animals in the evolution of seed size in conifers, the most diverse extant nonflowering seed plant group. Relationships among seed size, dispersal syndrome, climate and cone morphology were analyzed across conifers using quantitative models of character evolution and phylogenetic regression techniques. Dispersal syndrome is a more consistent predictor of seed size within major extant …

Distribution And Female Reproductive State Differences In Orexigenic And Anorexigenic Neurons In The Brain Of The Mouth Brooding African Cichlid Fish, Astatotilapia Burtoni, Danielle T. Porter, David A. Roberts, Karen P. Maruska

Faculty Publications

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Integration of reproduction and metabolism is necessary for species survival. While the neural circuits controlling energy homeostasis are well-characterized, the signals controlling the relay of nutritional information to the reproductive axis are less understood. The cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni is ideal for studying the neural regulation of feeding and reproduction because females cycle between a feeding gravid state and a period of forced starvation while they brood developing young inside their mouths. To test the hypothesis that candidate neuropeptide-containing neurons known to be involved in feeding and energy homeostasis in mammals show conserved distribution patterns, …

Cut-Point Levels Of Phosphatidylethanol To Identify Alcohol Misuse In A Mixed Cohort Including Critically Ill Patients, Majid Afshar, Ellen L. Burnham, Cara Joyce, Brendan J. Clark, Meagan Yong, Jeannette Gaydos, Richard S. Cooper, Gordon S. Smith, Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Erin M. Lowery

Faculty Publications

Background: Although alcohol misuse is associated with deleterious outcomes in critically ill patients, its detection by either self-report or examination of biomarkers is difficult to obtain consistently. Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is a direct alcohol biomarker that can characterize alcohol consumption patterns; however, its diagnostic accuracy in identifying misuse in critically ill patients is unknown. Methods: PEth values were obtained in a mixed cohort comprising 122 individuals from medical and burn intensive care units (n = 33), alcohol detoxification unit (n = 51), and healthy volunteers (n = 38). Any alcohol misuse and severe misuse were referenced by Alcohol Use Disorders Identification …

Lipid Profile, Cardiovascular Disease And Mortality In A Mediterranean High-Risk Population: The Escarval-Risk Study, Domingo Orozco-Beltran, Vicente F. Gil-Guillen, Josep Redon, Jose M. Martin-Moreno, Vicente Pallares-Carratala, Jorge Navarro-Perez, Francisco Valls-Roca, Carlos Sanchis-Domenech, Antonio Fernandez-Gimenez, Ana Perez-Navarro, Vicente Bertomeu-Martinez, Vicente Bertomeu-Gonzalez, Alberto Cordero, Manuel Pascual De La Torre, Jose L. Trillo, Concepcion Carratala-Munuera, Salvador Pita-Fernandez, Ruth Uso, Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, Richard Cooper, Gines Sanz, Jose M. Castellano, Juan F. Ascaso, Rafael Carmena, Maria Tellez-Plaza

Faculty Publications

Introduction: The potential impact of targeting different components of an adverse lipid profile in populations with multiple cardiovascular risk factors is not completely clear. This study aims to assess the association between different components of the standard lipid profile with all-cause mortality and hospitalization due to cardiovascular events in a high-risk population. Methods: This prospective registry included high risk adults over 30 years old free of cardiovascular disease (2008–2012). Diagnosis of hypertension, dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus was inclusion criterion. Lipid biomarkers were evaluated. Primary endpoints were all-cause mortality and hospital admission due to coronary heart disease or stroke. We estimated …

Union Status, Educational Attainment, And Body Mass Index Among Emerging Adults, Rhiannon A. Kroeger

Faculty Publications

This study uses fixed-effects regression modeling and three waves of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) to examine whether union status and educational attainment interact to influence change in body mass index (BMI) during emerging adulthood. The results support the hypothesis that the effect of union status on change in BMI is smaller for those with more educational attainment. In particular, emerging adults with no college education experience significant increases in BMI associated with both marriage and cohabitation. The increases in BMI associated with marriage and cohabitation are significantly smaller for those with …

Development And Characterization Of Emulsions Containing Purple Rice Bran And Brown Rice Oils, Luis Alfaro, Jie Zhang, Alexander Chouljenko, Ronson Scott, Zhimin Xu, David Bankston, Peter J. Bechtel, Subramaniam Sathivel

Faculty Publications

The aims of this study were to use extracted purple rice bran oil (PRBO) to produce oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions and to compare the emulsions to emulsions of conventional brown rice bran oil (BRBO). Four emulsions were produced: (1) a PRBO emulsion produced with ultrasonic processing (Emulsion I PRBO), (2) a BRBO emulsion produced with ultrasonic processing (Emulsion I BRBO), (3) Emulsion II PRBO produced from Emulsion I with an ultrashearing homogenizer and (4) Emulsion II BRBO produced from Emulsion I with an ultrashearing homogenizer. The emulsions were analyzed for stability, particle size, microstructure, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive-substances (TBARS) and rheological properties. The droplet …

Lettuce Grow: Universities Collaborating With Nonprofits To Provide Child Care Development Educators With Garden Knowledge And Experience, Kathryn Fontenot, Edward Bush, Rebecca Gravois

Faculty Publications

University-based horticulture departments and extension agents have explored the relationship between gardening programs and consumer knowledge and preferences. Studies have established positive correlations between garden participation and increased science scores and heightened environmental stewardship. The objective of this research was to determine if participation in ‘‘Lettuce Grow’’ garden workshops cohosted by the Louisiana State University Agriculture Center (LSU AgCenter) and Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge (VOAGBR) had positive effects on child care providers’ garden knowledge and willingness to implement garden programming with children aged 5 years and younger. Participation led to a 67% increase (P ≤ 0.05) in horticulture …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And Colorectal Cancer Risk – A Meta-Analysis, Nitin Shivappa, Justyna Godos, James R. Hébert, Michael David Wirth, Gabriele Piuri, Attilio Speciani, Giuseppe Grosso

Faculty Publications

Diet and chronic inflammation of the colon have been suggested to be risk factors in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). The possible link between inflammatory potential of diet, measured through the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®), and CRC has been investigated in several populations across the world. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis on studies exploring this association. Data from nine studies were eligible, of which five were case-control and four were cohort studies. Results from meta-analysis showed a positive association between increasing DII scores, indicating a pro-inflammatory diet, and CRC. Individuals in the highest versus …

Open Accessarticle Food Shopping And Acquisition Behaviors In Relation To Bmi Among Residents Of Low-Income Communities In South Carolina, Angela D. Liese, Xiaonan Ma, Brett Hutto, Patrica A. Sharpe, Bethany A. Bell, Sarah Wilcox

Faculty Publications

Low-income areas in which residents have poor access to healthy foods have been referred to as “food deserts.” It is thought that improving food access may help curb the obesity epidemic. Little is known about where residents of food deserts shop and if shopping habits are associated with body mass index (BMI). We evaluated the association of food shopping and acquisition (e.g., obtaining food from church, food pantries, etc.) with BMI among 459 residents of low-income communities from two South Carolina counties, 81% of whom lived in United States Department of Agriculture-designated food deserts. Participants were interviewed about food shopping …

The 9th Conference On Metal Toxicity And Carcinogenesis: The Conference Overview, James T.F. Wise, Lei Wang, Zhuo Zhang, Xianglin Shi

Faculty Publications

Heavy metals, such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, nickel, mercury, and uranium are known to cause many human diseases and health complications after occupational or environmental exposure. Consequently, metals are environmental health concerns. This manuscript is an overview of the 9th Conference on Metal Toxicity and Carcinogenesis held in October 2016 in Lexington, Kentucky. Since 2000, this biennial meeting brings together experts in the field to discuss current and prospective research in an effort to advance research pertaining to metal toxicity and carcinogenesis. In this review we summarize the major topics discussed and provide insight regarding current research in the field …

Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal And Child Health In Conflict: A Case Study On Syria Using Countdown Indicators, Jocelyn Dejong, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Hyam Bashour, Rima Mourtada, Chaza Akik, Amelia Reese-Masterson

Faculty Publications

Introduction Women and children account for a disproportionate morbidity burden among conflictaffected populations, and yet they are not included in global accountability frameworks for women's and children's health. We use Countdown to 2015 (Millennium Development Goals) health indicators to provide an up-to-date review and analysis of the best available data on Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and internally displaced within Syria and explore data challenges in this conflict setting.

Methods We searched Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Popline and Index Medicus for WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Office and relevant development/humanitarian databases in all languages from January 2011 until December 2015. …

Integrating Soil Silicon Amendment Into Management Programs For Insect Pests Of Drill-Seeded Rice, James M. Villegas, Michael O. Way, Rebecca A. Pearson, Michael J. Stout

Faculty Publications

© 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Silicon soil amendment has been shown to enhance plant defenses against insect pests. Rice is a silicon-accumulating graminaceous plant. In the southern United States, the rice water weevil and stem borers are important pests of rice. Current management tactics for these pests rely heavily on the use of insecticides. This study evaluated the effects of silicon amendment when combined with current management tactics for these rice insect pests in the field. Field experiments were conducted from 2013 to 2015. Rice was drill-planted in plots subjected to factorial combinations of variety (conventional …

Effect Of Different Silicon Sources On Yield And Silicon Uptake Of Rice Grown Under Varying Phosphorus Rates, Flavia B. Agostinho, Brenda S. Tubana, Murilo S. Martins, Lawrence E. Datnoff

Faculty Publications

A series of pot experiments were conducted to: (1) evaluate the effects of different Si sources (soil- and foliar-applied) on grain yield and Si accumulation of rice supplied with varying P rates, and (2) evaluate Si absorption of rice using foliar- and soil-applied Si fertilizers. Three P rates, (0, 112, and 224 kg ha-1) combined with five Si treatments (wollastonite and slag applied at 4.5 ton ha-1 and one foliar Si solution applied at 20, 40 and 80 mg Si L-1) and a check were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The presence of P and …

Response By Bress Et Al To Letters Regarding Article, "Potential Deaths Averted And Serious Adverse Events Incurred From Adoption Of The Sprint (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) Intensive Blood Pressure Regimen In The United States: Projections From Nhanes (National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey)", Adam P. Bress, Holly Kramer, Richard S. Cooper

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Cannibalism And Infectious Disease: Friends Or Foes?, Benjamin G. Van Allen, Forrest P. Dillemuth, Andrew J. Flick, Matthew J. Faldyn, David R. Clark, Volker H.W. Rudolf, Bret D. Elderd

Faculty Publications

© 2017 by The University of Chicago. Cannibalism occurs in a majority of both carnivorous and noncarnivorous animal taxa from invertebrates to mammals. Similarly, infectious parasites are ubiquitous in nature. Thus, interactions between cannibalism and disease occur regularly. While some adaptive benefits of cannibalism are clear, the prevailing view is that the risk of parasite transmission due to cannibalism would increase disease spread and, thus, limit the evolutionary extent of cannibalism throughout the animal kingdom. In contrast, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the other half of the interaction between cannibalism and disease, that is, how cannibalism affects parasites. …

Genetic Dissection Of Seedling Stage Salinity Tolerance In Rice Using Introgression Lines Of A Salt Tolerant Landrace Nona Bokra, Venkata Ramana Rao Puram, John Ontoy, Steven Linscombe, Prasanta K. Subudhi

Faculty Publications

Salinity is an important abiotic stress affecting rice production worldwide. Development of salt tolerant varieties is the most feasible approach for improving rice productivity in salt affected soils. In rice, seedling stage salinity tolerance is crucial for better crop establishment. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping using introgression lines (ILs) is useful for identification and simultaneous transfer of desirable alleles into elite genetic background. In the present study, 138 ILs derived from the cross between a high yielding elite salt susceptible japonica rice cultivar Jupiter and a salt tolerant indica landrace Nona Bokra were evaluated for salt tolerance at seedling stage …

Poultry Litter Ash Rate And Placement Affect Phosphorus Dissolution In A Horticultural Substrate1, Daniel E. Wells, Jeffrey S. Beasley, Edward W. Bush, Lewis A. Gaston

Faculty Publications

Poultry litter ash (PLA) is a byproduct of bioenergy production and an effective P source for horticultural crops since it reduces P losses from container production due to its low P solubility. Experiments were conducted to determine effects of rate and placement of PLA on P loss from greenhouse crop production and growth and quality of two commonly-grown greenhouse crops, Verbena canadensis Britton ‘Homestead Purple’ and Lantana camara L. ‘New Gold’, by comparing two rates (140 and 280 g·m-3P or 0.4 and 0.8 lb·yd-3) and two application methods (post-plant topdressed and pre-plant incorporated). Leachate-dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations were reduced …

Amblyomma Maculatum Secis Binding Protein 2 And Putative Selenoprotein P Are Indispensable For Pathogen Replication And Tick Fecundity, Khemraj Budachetri, Gary Crispell, Shahid Karim

Faculty Publications

Selenium, a vital trace element, is incorporated into selenoproteins to produce selenocysteine. Our previous studies have revealed an adaptive co-evolutionary process that has enabled the spotted fever-causing tick-borne pathogen Rickettsia parkeri to survive by manipulating an antioxidant defense system associated with selenium, which includes a full set of selenoproteins and other antioxidants in ticks. Here, we conducted a systemic investigation of SECIS binding protein 2 (SBP2) and putative selenoprotein P (SELENOP) by transcript silencing in adult female Gulf-coast ticks (Amblyomma maculatum). Knockdown of the SBP2 and SELENOP genes depleted the respective transcript levels of these tick selenogenes, and …

Connecting The Dots: Stopover Strategies Of An Intercontinental Migratory Songbird In The Context Of The Annual Cycle, Kristina Paxton, Frank R. Moore

Faculty Publications

The phases of the annual cycle for migratory species are inextricably linked. Yet, less than five percent of ecological studies examine seasonal interactions. In this study, we utilized stable hydrogen isotopes to geographically link individual black-and-white warblers (Mniotilta varia) captured during spring migration with breeding destinations to understand a migrant's stopover strategy in the context of other phases of the annual cycle. We found that stopover strategy is not only a function of a bird's current energetic state, but also the distance remaining to breeding destination and a bird's time-schedule, which has previously been linked to habitat conditions experienced …

A Whooping Cough Education Module For Wic Clients In Utah, Karlen E. Luthy, Alicia Anderson, Janelle L. B. Macintosh, Renea L. Beckstrand, Lacey M. Eden, Ryan Amy, Christopher I. Macintosh

Faculty Publications

Background: Clients in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are required to complete education modules quarterly to maintain eligibility. The purposes of this project were to: (1) create a whooping cough vaccination education module for WIC clients; (2) evaluate baseline perceptions of WIC clients on the whooping cough vaccine and disease; and (3) evaluate whooping cough knowledge following completion of the module. Problem: A decline in vaccination rates among infants and children using WIC services was reported by a local WIC program director who requested whooping cough vaccination education materials. This quality improvement project included …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Nutrient Timing, Chad M. Kerksick, Shawn M. Arent, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Jeffrey R. Stout, Bill Campbell, Colin D. Wilborn, Lem Taylor, Doug Kalman, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Richard B. Kreider, Darryn Willoughby, Paul J. Arciero, Trisha A. Vandusseldorp, Michael J. Ormsbee, Robert Wildman, Mike Greenwood, Tim N. Ziegenfuss, Alan A. Aragon

Faculty Publications

Position statement

The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) provides an objective and critical review regarding the timing of macronutrients in reference to healthy, exercising adults and in particular highly trained individuals on exercise performance and body composition. The following points summarize the position of the ISSN.

1. Nutrient timing incorporates the use of methodical planning and eating of whole foods, fortified foods and dietary supplements. The timing of energy intake and the ratio of certain ingested macronutrients may enhance recovery and tissue repair, augment muscle protein synthesis (MPS), and improve mood states following high-volume or intense exercise.
2. Endogenous glycogen stores …

Blood Pressure And Cardiovascular Health Has Relationship With Age In Adults During Adulthood, Allyson K. Getty, Jessica M. Lenzo, Tia R. Wisdo, Jovann E. Oakman, Christina M. Cromwell, Jessica A. Hill, Lauren N. Chavis, Deborah L. Feairheller

Faculty Publications

Efforts to combat cardiovascular disease (CVD) have proven effective, especially in the population aged 55-74 years. However, less research has been conducted in younger populations to determine at what age CVD risk develops. The purpose of this study is to compare cardiovascular health markers in adults, specifically CVD risk between younger adults aged 18-22 and a slightly older group of adults in middle adulthood aged 23-54. Cardiovascular health measures were collected from a group of adults; 13 younger adults (20.2±0.9 yrs) and 10 adults in middle adulthood (42.9±10.1 yrs). All participants were free of CVD and diabetes, taking no cholesterol …

Response Of East Texas Mid-Rotation Loblolly Pine Plantations To Poultry Litter And Chemical Fertilizer Amendments, Brian P. Oswald, Micah-John Bieirle, Hans M. Williams, Kenneth W. Farrish, I-Kuai Hung

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.