Digital Commons Network^™

Drought Responsive Gene Expression Regulatory Divergence Between Upland And Lowland Ecotypes Of A Perennial C4 Grass, John T. Lovell, Scott Schwartz, David B. Lowry, Eugene V. Shakirov, Jason E. Bonnette, Xiaoyu Weng, Mei Wang, Jenifer Johnson, Avinash Sreedasyam, Christopher Plott, Jerry Jenkins, Jeremy Schmutz, Thomas E. Juenger

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Climatic adaptation is an example of a genotype-by-environment interaction (G×E) of fitness. Selection upon gene expression regulatory variation can contribute to adaptive phenotypic diversity; however, surprisingly few studies have examined how genome-wide patterns of gene expression G×E are manifested in response to environmental stress and other selective agents that cause climatic adaptation. Here, we characterize drought-responsive expression divergence between upland (drought-adapted) and lowland (mesic) ecotypes of the perennial C₄ grass, Panicum hallii, in natural field conditions. Overall, we find that cis-regulatory elements contributed to gene expression divergence across 47% of genes, 7.2% of which exhibit drought-responsive G×E. …

Word-Slam Stories As Venues For Stimulating Learning And Developing Agency With Urban High School Students, Elite Ben-Yosef, Limor Pinhasi-Vittorio

The Qualitative Report

Word-slam was used with our high school urban students as instrument and method to elicit engagement with learning and develop agency through personal storytelling. The word-slam text (as it appears on YouTube and in hard-copy format as well) was chosen due to its being a personal story and an alternative, artistic and critical form of text that our students could relate to directly as the format and content were relevant to their lives and experiences. By using the text as a mentor text and studying the author’s craft together, students were able to write, rewrite and develop their own word-slam …

Some Thoughts Before Spring Break: Great Teachers, Engaging Students, High Standards, And Busting Boredom, John Bird, Teaching And Learning Center

The Weekly Reader

No abstract provided.

A Parallel G Quadruplex-Binding Protein Regulates The Boundaries Of Dna Elimination Events Of Tetrahymena Thermophila, Christine M. Carle, Hani S. Zaher, Douglas L. Chalker

Biology Faculty Research

Guanine (G)-rich DNA readily forms four-stranded quadruplexes in vitro, but evidence for their participation in genome regulation is limited. We have identified a quadruplex-binding protein, Lia3, that controls the boundaries of germline-limited, internal eliminated sequences (IESs) of Tetrahymena thermophila. Differentiation of this ciliate’s somatic genome requires excision of thousands of IESs, targeted for removal by small-RNA-directed heterochromatin formation. In cells lacking LIA3 (ΔLIA3), the excision of IESs bounded by specific G-rich polypurine tracts was impaired and imprecise, whereas the removal of IESs without such controlling sequences was unaffected. We found that oligonucleotides containing these polypurine tracts formed …

Curriculum Minutes 03/07/2016, Curriculum Committee

Curriculum Committee Minutes

In these minutes: Sport Studies and Athletics (SSA) Program Review Report (Ray Bowman, Mike Bryant, and Matt Johnson); Foreign Language proposal discussion

Social Science Division Meeting Minutes 03/07/2016, Social Science Division

Social Science Division

No abstract provided.

A Systems Approach To Stress And Resilience In Humans: Mindfulness Meditation, Aging, And Cognitive Function, Barry S. Oken

Dissertations and Theses

Psychological stress is common and contributes to many physical and mental health problems. Its effects are mediated by a complex neurobiological system centering in the brain with effectors including autonomic nervous system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammatory system, and gene expression. A stressor pushes the human physiological system away from its baseline state towards a lower utility state. The physiological system may return towards the original state but may be shifted to a lower utility state. While some physiological changes induced by stressors may benefit health, chronic stressors usually have negative effects on health. In contrast to this stressor effect is the …

Cirrhosis And Advanced Fibrosis In Hispanics In Texas: The Dominant Contribution Of Central Obesity, Jingjing Jiao, Gordon P. Watt, Minjae Lee, Mohammad H. Rahbar, Kristina Vatcheva, Jen-Jung Pan, Joseph B. Mccormick, Susan P. Fisher-Hoch, Michael Fallon, Laura Beretta

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of death in Hispanics and Hispanics who live in South Texas have the highest incidence of liver cancer in the United States. We aimed at determining the prevalence and associated risk factors of cirrhosis in this population. Clinical and demographic variables were extracted for 2466 participants in the community-based Cameron County Hispanic Cohort in South Texas. Aspartate transaminase to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) was used to predict cirrhosis in Cameron County Hispanic Cohort. The prevalence of cirrhosis using APRI≥2 was 0.94%, which is nearly 4-fold higher than the national prevalence. Using APRI≥1, the overall …

The Need For Speed In A Crisis Discipline: Perspectives On Peer-Review Duration And Implications For Conservation Science, Steven J. Cooke, Vivian M. Nguyen, Alexander D.M. Wilson, Michael R. Donaldson, Austin J. Gallagher, Neil Hammerschlag, Neal R. Haddaway

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

No abstract provided.

Medical School Watercooler Newsletter - March 6, 2016, Lindsey Lyle

Watercooler Newsletter

This is the March 6, 2016 edition of the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine's newsletter - Watercooler.

Contents Include:

• Med School Café - Expert Advice for the Community
• March 10 DSS to Feature Dr. Bruce Freeman
• Mark Your Calendar: 2016 Gumbo Chili Showdown

Il-17 In Protective Immunity To Vaginal Candidiasis, Meethaq S. Abood, Khalid A. Habib, Eman N. Najee

Baghdad Science Journal

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is caused by Candida albicans affects a significant number of women during their reproductive ages. Th17 cells play a major role in coordinating the host defense in oropharyngeal candidiasis. In this study we investigated the involvement of the Th17 response in an animal model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The present study aimed to shed light on detect concentration of the IL-17 of infected animal and control . A direct Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to quantify IL-17 concentrations in 30 infected animal with VVC and 10 control group. Rats were intravaginally inoculated with C.albicans, and …

Molecular Identification Of Rhizosphere Trichoderma Spp. And Their Antagonistic Impact Against Some Plant Pathogenic Fungi, Safaa Al-Deen Ahmed Shanter Al-Qaysi, Adel Hamdan Alwan

Baghdad Science Journal

The main aim of this study was to molecular identification and determine the antagonistic impact of rhizosphere Trichoderma spp. against some phytopathogenic fungi, including (Magnaporthe grisea) pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani and Macrophomina phasolina. Four Trichoderma isolates were isolated from rhizosphere soils of the different host plants in different locations of Egyptian governorates. The morphological characterization of isolated Trichoderma as well as using of (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) ribosomal gene sequence acquisition and data analyses. By comparing the results of DNA sequences of ITS region, the fungi represented one isolate were positively identified as T. asperellum (1 isolate T1) and one as T. longibrachiatum …

Geomorphological Mapping Of Razzaza–Habbaria Area Using Remote Sensing Techniques, Moutaz A. Al-Dabbas, Hussain Zaydan Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

Landforms on the earth surface are so expensive to map or monitor. Remote Sensing observations from space platforms provide a synoptic view of terrain on images. Satellite multispectral data have an advantage in that the image data in various bands can be subjected to digital enhancement techniques for highlighting contrasts in objects for improving image interpretability. Geomorphological mapping involves the partitioning of the terrain into conceptual spatial entities based upon criteria. This paper illustrates how geomorphometry and mapping approaches can be used to produce geomorphological information related to the land surface, landforms and geomorphic systems. Remote Sensing application at Razzaza–Habbaria …

Ummc Researchers Study Brain Changes In Depression, Karen Bascom

University of Mississippi News

Scientists put heads together to unlock secrets that may lead to better treatments

Autocrine Epiregulin Activates Egfr Pathway For Lung Metastasis Via Emt In Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, Shuli Liu, Dongxia Ye, Dongliang Xu, Yueling Liao, Ling Zhang, Liu Liu, Wenwen Yu, Yanan Wang, Yue He, Jingzhou Hu, Wenzheng Guo, Tong Wang, Beibei Sun, Hongyong Song, Huijing Yin, Jingyi Liu, Yadi Wu, Hanguang Zhu, Binhua P. Zhou, Jiong Deng, Zhiyuan Zhang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) is characterized by invasive local growth and a high incidence of lung metastasis. Patients with lung metastasis have a poor prognosis. Treatment of metastatic SACC has been unsuccessful, largely due to a lack of specific targets for the metastatic cells. In this study, we showed that epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) were constitutively activated in metastatic lung subtypes of SACC cells, and that this activation was induced by autocrine expression of epiregulin (EREG), a ligand of EGFR. Autocrine EREG expression was increased in metastatic SACC-LM cells compared to that in non-metastatic parental SACC cells. Importantly, …

Microbial Contamination Of Infant Milk Formula In Local Markets, Salim Salih Al-Timimi, Nadia Hussein Manki

Baghdad Science Journal

This study is conducted to identify the microbial content of some types of infant milk formula available in the local markets of the city of Baghdad and their conformity microbial limits sited by the Iraqi standard. Seventy samples were collected from trademarks of imported infant milk formula included of five samples of infant milk formula No (1) and five samples of follow-up formula No (2). These samples were collected randomly from shops in the local markets of Baghdad city on both sides of Karkh and Rusafa included the following kinds: Dialac 1, Dialac 2 ,Celia 1, Celia 2 ,Biomil 1, …

Biological And Physiological Effects Of Coriandrum Sativum On House Fly Musca Domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), Feryal Bahjat Hermize, Raad Fadhel Ahmed, Maki Hamed Abed-Ali

Baghdad Science Journal

This Study is conducted to evaluate effects of (leaves, fruits) powder and (oil, alcohol) extract of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) plant on some biological and physiological aspects of House fly, Musca domestica at laboratory conditions. Result show that these preparations caused biological effects represented in high dead percentage in second instar, fed on different concentrations of food treated with them reached to 27.6, 55.3 at concentration 20% of leaf and fruit powder respectively and 67.3, 77.2% at 10% of oil and alcohol extract of fruit, respectively. Furthermore, study also show reduction in pupation and adults emergence percentage. However, leafs powder had …

Prevalence Of Urinary Schistosomiasis In Al-Rusafah Regions Of Baghdad Governarate, Nuha Khalaf Khalil, Nada Hatam Abdul Rahman, Huda Sa’Doon Al Bayati

Baghdad Science Journal

Urinary Schistosomiasis is one of important diseases that cause irritation and damage of urinary tract and other systems and tissues and can not be expected by doctors when diagnosing urinary tract diseases.The current study is conducted to investigate the prevalence of schistosomiasisin Baghdad / Al-Rusafa. 191urine samples were collected fromresidents ofsome areas of Al-Rusafain Baghdad governarate (Almashtal, Albaladyat, Alameen, Baghdad aljadida and Alnahrawan) for the period from March until the end of September 2010.The samples were examined by the precipitation and examination of micro hematuria by reagent strips. The total infection percentage was 9.42% (18/191) and was significantly higher in …

Evaluating The Humoral Immunity And Interleukin 18 Receptor 1 In Some Patients With Molluscum Contagiosum Infection, Mohammed Abdul-Daim Saleh

Baghdad Science Journal

The molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is a dermatotropic poxvirus. The causative agent of molluscum contagiosum (MC) is nonlethal, common and worldwide. Additionally, little inflammation is associated with MC papules. The present study aims to evaluate the immune status of MC patients by measuring the level of immunoglobulins IgG and IgM by using the radial immune diffusion assay (RIA) and the level of interleukin 18 receptor 1 (IL-18R1) by the Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The study is conducted during November 2013 to April, 2014 in outpatient clinic of Baquba Teaching Hospital. There are 75 patients, diagnosed with clinical lesions of MCV on …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some New Benzimidazole Derivatives, Abdel-Amir M. Fenjan, Sahar T Adday

Baghdad Science Journal

In this paper the new starting material 2-(5-chloro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl) aniline (1) was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 4-chloro-o-phenylenediamine and anthranilic acid .The new Mannich base derivatives were synthesized using formaldehyde and different secondary amines to synthesize a new set of benzimidazole derivatives(2-5). Also, the new Schiff-base derivatives (6-10) were synthesized from the reaction of compound (1) with various aromatic aldehydes and the closure-ring was done successfully using mercapto acetic acid to get the new thiazolidine derivatives(11-12).These new compounds were characterized using some physical techniques like:FT-IR Spectra and 1HNMR Spectra.

Synthesis And Characterization Of 3 - Substituted Coumarin, Shatha F. Al- Zobaydi, Kawther Abdu Al-Hammed, Ban Dha. Ismael

Baghdad Science Journal

The reaction of(2-oxo-2H-chromen-3-Carbonyl chloride)(k1) with hydrazine in boiling ethanol gives the hydrazide(K2).When compound (k2) reacts with various aromatic aldehydes ,the corres ponding Schiff bases(k3–k4) achieve new series of thiazotidines (k5–k6) and azetidinones (k7–k8) obtained from the reactions of appropriate Schiff bases with mercapto acetic acid and chloro acetyl chloride respectively. All the compounds are characterized by FT-IR,1H-NMR and GC-Ms.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some New Metals Complexes Of [N-(4-Nitrobenzoyl Amino)-Thioxomethyl] Phenylalanine, Basima M. Sarhan, Mohammed A. Al-Karboly, Dena H. Zaidan

Baghdad Science Journal

A new ligand [N-(4-nitrobenzoylamino)-thioxomethyl] phenylalanine is synthesized by reaction of 4-nitrobenzoyl isothiocyanate with phenylalanine (1:1). It is characterized by micro elemental analysis (C.H.N.S.), FT-IR, (UV-Vis) and 1H and 13CNMR spectra. Some metals ions complexes of this ligand were prepared and characterized by FT-IR, UV-Visible spectra, conductivity measurements, magnetic susceptibility and atomic absorption. From results obtained, the following formula [M(NBA)2] where M2+ = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pd, Cd and Hg, the proposed molecular structure for these complexes as tetrahedral geometry, except copper and palladium complexes are have square planer geometry.

A Study Of Soil Invertebrates Community In A Date - Palm Plantation In Baghdad, Iraq, Haifa J. Jaweir, Saba S S. Albayati

Baghdad Science Journal

Soil invertebrates community an important role as part of essential food chain and responsible for the decomposition in the soil, helps soil aeration , nutrients recycling and increase agricultural production by providing the essential elements necessary for photosynthesis and energy flow in ecosystems.The aim of the present study was to investigate the soil invertebrates community in one of the date palms plantation in Aljaderia district South of Baghdad, , and their relationships with some physical and chemical properties of the soil , as Five randomly distributed replicates of soil samples were collected monthly. Invertebrates samples were sorted from the soil …

Association Of Glutathione–S-Transferase (Gstp1) Genetic Polymorphism In Iraqi Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Type2, Raghad H. Rasheed, Nagham E. Al-Essa, Batool A. Shihab

Baghdad Science Journal

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes that included, in a more range of detoxifying reactions by conjugation of glutathione, to electrophilic material. Polymorphisms n the genes that responsible of GSTs affect, the function of the GSTs. GSTs play an active role in protection of cell against oxidative stress mechanism. Polymorphisms of GSTP1 at codon 105 amino acids forms GSTP1 important site for bind of hydrophobic electrophiles and the substitution of Ile/Val affect substrate specially catalytic activity of the enzyme and may correlate with reach to different diseases in human like diabetes mellitus type2 disease. Correlation between these polymorphisms and changes in …

The Protective Effect Of Radish (Raphanus Sativus) Seeds Against The Oxidative Stress Induced By Sodium Nitrite In Male Rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus), Lena A. Abed-Alazeez, Alia H. Ali, Mukhtar K. Haba

Baghdad Science Journal

The aim of this study is to investigate the protective effect of Radish (Raphanus sativus) seed alcoholic extract 70% against oxidative stress induced by sodium nitrite NaNO2 Twenty five adult male rabbits were devided into five groups of (five rabbits in each group) and treated daily for 30 days. Group T1: intubated orally 20 mg/kg NaNO2, Group T2: intubated orally 20 mg/kg NaNO2 + 50 mg/kg of alcoholic extract from Raphanus sativus seeds, Group T3: intubated orally 20 mg/kg NaNO2 + 100 mg/kg of alcoholic extract from Raphanus sativus seeds, Group T4: intubated orally 20 mg/kg NaNO2 + 200 mg/kg …

Addition Of Some Primary And Secondary Amines To Graphene Oxide, And Studying Their Effect On Increasing Its Electrical Properties, Ahmed Najem Abd, Abdulwahhabb H. Al-Agha, Mustafa.A Alheety

Baghdad Science Journal

Previously many properties of grapheneoxide in the field of medicine, biological environment and in the field of energy have been studied. This diversity in properties is due to the possibility of modification on the composition of this Nano compound, where the Graphene oxide is capable ofmore modification via addition other functional groups on its surface or at the edges of the sheet. The reason for this modification possibility is that the Sp3 hybridization (tetrahedral structure) of the carbon atoms in graphene oxide, and it contains manyoxygenic functional groupsthat are able toreac with other groups. In this research the effect of …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Some New Azo Dyes Derivatives Via Chalcone And Study Some Of Their Biological Activity, Hilal Masoud Abdullah, Maysoon Tariq Tawfiq

Baghdad Science Journal

This work includes synthesis of new six membered heterocyclic rings with effective amino group using the reaction of benzylideneacetophenone (chalcone) (1) with thiourea or urea in alcoholic basic medium to form: 1,3-thiazen-2-amine (2), and 1,3-oxazin-2-amine (8) respectively. The diazotization reaction was carried out with sodium nitrite in presence of hydrochloric acid to form diazonium salts which suffered coupling reaction with naphthols and phenols in the presence of sodium hydroxide to form colored azo dyes (4-7, and 10-13). o-methylation reaction of compounds (7) and (10) yielded : 1,3-thiazin -2-yl-diazenyl (14), and 1,3-oxazin-2-yl-diazenyl (15) respectively.The new compounds were characterized using various physical …

The Acute Impact Of Relaxation Techniques On Student Psychological And Physiological Health, Emma Leffler,, Angelica Lajaunie, Nicholas Lockyear, Gwen Burgess, Melinda Burgess, Lisa Appeddu

Student Research

No abstract provided.

The Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) Of Oklahoma, Peter M. Grant

Faculty Articles & Research

No abstract provided.

Fishery Biologist For The Day, Mary Sweeney-Reeves, Mare Timmons

Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference (2012-2019) (Archived)

Cruise aboard an ocean trawler (via video) as it tows a shrimp net and learn how scientists collect data once the catch is on deck.

Researchers must act quickly to sort, count, measure, and then release the fish back to the water.

The education program is a multidisciplinary biology/math exercise allowing participants to observe sampling techniques and analyze the catch. Just like a fishery biologist participant’s will:

• Identify fish
• Measure fish
• Calculate percentage of each species caught from the trawl sample
• Apply statistics (e.g. mean length) a variety of fish species

The Fishery Biologist for the Day is designed for …