Digital Commons Network^™

Ecosystem Models Of Lake Victoria (East Africa): Exploring The Sensitivity Of Ecosystem Effects Of Fishing To Model Choice, Vianny Natugonza, Cameron Ainsworth, Erla Sturludóttir, Laban Musinguzi, Richard Ogutu-Ohwayo, Tumi Tomasson, Chrisphine Nyamweya, Gunnar Stefansson

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Ecosystem simulation models are valuable tools for strengthening and promoting ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM). However, utility of these models in practical fisheries management is often undermined by lack of simple means to test the effect of uncertainty on model outputs. Recently, the use of multiple ecosystem models has been recommended as an ‘insurance’ against effects of uncertainty that comes with modelling complex systems. The assumption is that if models with different structure and formulation give consistent results, then, policy prescriptions are robust (i.e. less sensitive to model choice). However, information on the behaviour of trends from structurally-distinct ecosystem models with …

Producing Distribution Maps For A Spatially-Explicit Ecosystem Model Using Large Monitoring And Environmental Databases And A Combination Of Interpolation And Extrapolation, Arnaud Grüss, Michael D. Drexler, Cameron H. Ainsworth, Elizabeth A. Babcock, Joseph H. Tarnecki, Matthew S. Love

Marine Science Faculty Publications

To be able to simulate spatial patterns of predator-prey interactions, many spatially-explicit ecosystem modeling platforms, including Atlantis, need to be provided with distribution maps defining the annual or seasonal spatial distributions of functional groups and life stages. We developed a methodology combining extrapolation and interpolation of the predictions made by statistical habitat models to produce distribution maps for the fish and invertebrates represented in the Atlantis model of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Large Marine Ecosystem (LME) (“Atlantis-GOM”). This methodology consists of: (1) compiling a large monitoring database, gathering all the fisheries-independent and fisheries-dependent data collected in the northern (U.S.) …

Remote Sensing As A Monitoring And Modeling Tool, Jennifer Cannizzaro, Inia Soto, Chuanmin Hu

Marine Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Global Water Clarity: Continuing A Century-Long Monitoring, Z. Lee, R. Arnone, D. Boyce, B. Franz, S. Greb, C. Hu, S. Lavender, M. Lewis, B. Schaeffer, S. Shang, M. Wang, M. Wernand, C. Wilson

Marine Science Faculty Publications

An approach that combines field observations and satellite inferences of Secchi depth could transform how we assess water clarity across the globe and pinpoint key changes over the past century.

Can Modis Land Reflectance Products Be Used For Estuarine And Inland Waters?, Lian Feng, Chuanmin Hu, Junsheng Li

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Although designed for land surfaces, MODIS Aqua surface reflectance data products (MYD09, termed as R_Land in this work) have also been used for water applications. Yet to date their uncertainties and general suitability in such applications have rarely been documented. In this study, R_Land products of two regions (Chesapeake Bay and Taihu Lake) between July 2002 and December 2015 are evaluated against in situ measurements and against reflectance products derived by the MODIS Ocean Team using atmospheric correction schemes specifically designed for water applications, namely the default atmospheric correction method based on the near-infrared (NIR) bands (denoted as R_NIR, data …

A Color-Index-Based Empirical Algorithm For Determining Particulate Organic Carbon Concentration In The Ocean From Satellite Observations, Chengfeng Le, Xueying Zhou, Chuanmin Hu, Zhongping Lee, Lin Li, Dariusz Stramski

Marine Science Faculty Publications

An empirical algorithm for estimating particulate organic carbon (POC) concentration in the surface ocean from satellite observations is formulated and validated using in situ POC data and remote-sensing reflectance (R_rs) data obtained from match-up satellite ocean color measurements. The algorithm builds upon the band-difference algorithm concept, which was originally developed for estimating chlorophyll-a concentration in clear waters. This algorithm utilizes three spectral bands centered approximately at 490, 550, and 670 nm to determine a color index (CI_POC), from which POC can be estimated from satellite measurements. For comparison, the blue-green band-ratio algorithm is also formulated …

Incorporation Of Acoustic Sensors On A Coastal Ocean Monitoring Platform For Measurements Of Biological Activity, James Locascio, David Mann, Kyle Wilcox, Mark Luther

Marine Science Faculty Publications

Ocean observing stations have mainly focused on data collection of physical parameters measured in the ocean and atmosphere and also, to some extent, of biogeochemical parameters. Robust sensors capable of measuring biological data reflective of higher tropic level function at the same time scales as other parameters are not yet commonly incorporated into the sensor array used on observing platforms. In this project, we reengineered a coastal ocean observatory to include two hydrophones for this purpose. One hydrophone (HTI 96-MIN) was used to record ambient acoustic signals of fish reproductive sounds, and a second hydrophone (Vemco VR2C) was used to …

2018 Accountability Plan St. Petersburg, Usf

USF Accountability Reports

No abstract provided.

2018 Accountability Plan System, Usf

USF Accountability Reports

No abstract provided.

Public School Teacher Support Of Transgender Students, Phoebe Singletary

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Using qualitative interviews, this study explored public school support of transgender students using questions concerning their knowledge, ideas of what inclusion looks like, level of preparation for teaching transgender students, and openness to learning new information concerning best practices. This study aims to fill gaps in the existing research concerning experiences of transgender public school students, examining teacher support for the sake of helping determine policy steps and education that would best help transgender students looking for inclusive education. Emerging themes included generalized acceptance, fear of teaching outside curriculum, emphasis placed on student needs, and teachers' desires to learn more. …

Reconstructing Ancient Burials At Loma Don Genaro, Alexandra M. Kulenguski

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis reconstructs and analyzes a Classic period (AD 250-800) burial collection from the archaeological site of Loma Don Genaro in Oaxaca, Mexico. This research aims to address two main questions: 1.) What information about the burial collection is available through the archaeological archives? 2.) What does this information tell us about social organization during the Classic period at Loma Don Genaro? In order to address these questions, the following objectives were explored: to reconstruct ancient burials using archival material; to describe the burial demography across the site; to describe variation in grave goods; to relatively date and order the …

Disaster Risk In The Lake Nyos Area, Cameroon: Effects Of The Gas Hazard And Socially Produced Vulnerability, Mary Witucki

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Effective disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts depend on comprehensive risk assessments that consider potential hazard events and social vulnerability. The Lake Nyos Disaster (LND) caused the deaths of about 1,700 people, forced another 4,000 people from their homes, and left survivors more vulnerable to future hazards. There is considerable research on the gas hazard and some work on local vulnerability; however studies rarely consider both aspects of disaster risk (DR). This study addresses both the hazard and vulnerability and uses several qualitative and quantitative methods which have never been applied to LND survivor vulnerability or gas hazard. Interviews, participant observation, …

Using Colony Monitoring Devices To Evaluate The Impacts Of Land Use And Nutritional Value Of Forage On Honey Bee Health, Matthew D. Smart, Clint R.V. Otto, Robert Cornman, Deborah Iwanowicz

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Colony monitoring devices used to track and assess the health status of honey bees are becoming more widely available and used by both beekeepers and researchers. These devices monitor parameters relevant to colony health at frequent intervals, often approximating real time. The fine-scale record of hive condition can be further related to static or dynamic features of the landscape, such as weather, climate, colony density, land use, pesticide use, vegetation class, and forage quality. In this study, we fit commercial honey bee colonies in two apiaries with pollen traps and digital scales to monitor floral resource use, pollen quality, and …

The Six-Legged Subject: A Survey Of Secondary Science Teachers’ Incorporation Of Insects Into U.S. Life Science Instruction, Erin Ingram, Douglas Golick

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

To improve students’ understanding and appreciation of insects, entomology education efforts have supported insect incorporation in formal education settings. While several studies have explored student ideas about insects and the incorporation of insects in elementary and middle school classrooms, the topic of how and why insects are incorporated in secondary science classrooms remains relatively unexplored. Using survey research methods, this study addresses the gap in the literature by (1) describing in-service secondary science teachers’ incorporation of insects in science classrooms; (2) identifying factors that support or deter insect incorporation and (3) identifying teachers’ preferred resources to support future entomology education …

Powering Progress With Evidence: Annual Report 2017, Population Council

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Mir-29c Plays A Suppressive Role In Breast Cancer By Targeting The Timp3/Stat1/Foxo1 Pathway., Wan Li, Jie Yi, Xiangjin Zheng, Shiwei Liu, Weiqi Fu, Liwen Ren, Li Li, Dave S B Hoon, Jinhua Wang, Guanhua Du

Articles, Abstracts, and Reports

Background: miR-29c has been associated with the progression of many cancers. However, the function and mechanism of miR-29c have not been well investigated in breast cancers.

Methods: Real-time quantitative PCR was used to assess expression of miR-29c and DNMT3B mRNA. Western blot and immunochemistry were used to examine the expression of DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) protein in breast cancer cells and tissues. The functional roles of miR-29c in breast cancer cells such as proliferation, migration, invasion, colony formation, and 3D growth were evaluated using MTT, transwell chambers, soft agar, and 3D Matrigel culture, respectively. In addition, the luciferase reporter assay …

Validating A Reduced-Order Model For Synthetic Jet Actuators Using Cfd And Experimental Data, Tim Persoons, Rick Cressall, Aliimohammadi Sajad

Articles

Synthetic jet actuators (SJA) are emerging in various engineering applications, from flow separation and noise control in aviation to thermal management of electronics. A SJA oscillates a flexible membrane inside a cavity connected to a nozzle producing vortices. A complex interaction between the cavity pressure field and the driving electronics can make it difficult to predict performance. A reduced-order model (ROM) has been developed to predict the performance of SJAs. This paper applies this model to a canonical configuration with applications in flow control and electronics cooling, consisting of a single SJA with a rectangular orifice, emanating perpendicular to the …

Optimising The Identification Of Causal Variants Across Varying Genetic Architectures In Crops, Chenyong Miao, Jinliang Yang, James C. Schnable

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Association studies use statistical links between genetic markers and the phenotype variation across many individuals to identify genes controlling variation in the target phenotype. However, this approach, particularly conducted on a genome-wide scale (GWAS), has limited power to identify the genes responsible for variation in traits controlled by complex genetic architectures. In this study, we employ real-world genotype datasets from four crop species with distinct minor allele frequency distributions, population structures and linkage disequilibrium patterns. We demonstrate that different GWAS statistical approaches provide favourable trade-offs between power and accuracy for traits controlled by different types of genetic architectures. FarmCPU provides …

Transcriptional Reprogramming Of Legume Genomes: Perspective And Challenges Associated With Single-Cell And Single Cell-Type Approaches During Nodule Development, Marc Libault

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Transcriptomic approaches revealed thousands of genes differentially or specifically expressed during nodulation, a biological process resulting from the symbiosis between leguminous plant roots and rhizobia, atmospheric nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria. Ultimately, nodulation will lead to the development of a new root organ, the nodule. Through functional genomic studies, plant transcriptomes have been used by scientists to reveal plant genes potentially controlling nodulation. However, it is important to acknowledge that the physiology, transcriptomic programs, and biochemical properties of the plant cells involved in nodulation are continuously regulated. They also differ between the different cell-types composing the nodules. To generate a more accurate …

First Case Of Glufosinate-Resistant Rigid Ryegrass (Lolium Rigidum Gaud.) In Greece, Ilias S. Travlos, Nikolina Cheimona, Rafael De Prado, Amit J. Jhala, Demosthenis Chachalis, Eleni Tani

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Repeated applications of the same herbicide(s), which are characterized by the same mode of action, increase selection pressure, which in turn favours the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds. Glufosinate is a broad-spectrum non-selective herbicide being used for weed control for many years around the world. Rigid ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) is an economically important grass weed in Greece. Recent complaints by growers about control failure of rigid ryegrass with glufosinate require further investigation and have been the basis of this study. The objectives of this study were to confirm the existence of glufosinate-resistant L. rigidum in Greece and evaluate the …

Empowerment And Tech Adoption: Introducing The Treadle Pump Triggers Farmers’ Innovation In Eastern Ethiopia, Shimelis Beyene, Teshome H. Regassa, Belaineh Legesse, Martha Mamo, Tsegaye Tadesse

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In 2013, thirty-eight treadle pumps (TPs) were installed as low-cost technology introduction for small-scale irrigation in eastern Ethiopia. This pilot project also trained six farmers on tube well excavation, as well as the installation and maintenance of pumps. In June 2015, researchers visited nine of the thirty-eight TP villages and found only two TPs functioning as originally installed. The rest were replaced with a new technology developed by the trained farmers. Farmers, empowered by training, gained more control in developing technology options tailored to local needs and conditions of their communities. Adopters of the new technology stated that the limited …

Beyond The Plot: Technology Extrapolation Domains For Scaling Out Agronomic Science, Juan I. Rattalino Edreira, Kenneth G. Cassman, Zvi Hochman, Martin K. Van Ittersum, Lenny Van Bussel, Lieven Claessens, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Ensuring an adequate food supply in systems that protect environmental quality and conserve natural resources requires productive and resource-efficient cropping systems on existing farmland.Meeting this challenge will be difficult without a robust spatial framework that facilitates rapid evaluation and scaling-out of currently available and emerging technologies. Here we develop a global spatial framework to delineate ‘technology extrapolation domains’ based on key climate and soil factors that govern crop yields and yield stability in rainfed crop production. The proposed framework adequately represents the spatial pattern of crop yields and stability when evaluated over the data-rich US Corn Belt. It also facilitates …

Is Conservation Agriculture A Potential Option For Cereal-Based Sustainable Farming System In The Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains Of Nepal?, Dipendra Pokharel, Raj Kant Jha, Thakur Prasad Tiwari, Mahesh Kumar Gathala, Hari Krishna Shrestha, Dinesh Panday

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A decline in land and water productivity, increase in the cost of cultivation, and labor-intensive practices are affecting the cereal-based farming system in Nepal, particularly in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP). Conservation agriculture (CA) practices have been found to be the climate-, energy-, and labor-smart and sustainable agricultural production technologies. Sustainable and Resilient Farming System Intensification (SRFSI) has been working since 2014 in response to the sustainability of the cereal-based (rice–wheat and rice–maize) farming in Sunsari and Dhanusha districts of Nepal. This study was conducted to assess the adoption and scaling up of CA in addition to input usage, production, net …

Impact Of Drought On Chemical Composition And Sugar Yields From Dilute-Acid Pretreatment And Enzymatic Hydrolysis Of Miscanthus, A Tall Fescue Mixture, And Switchgrass, Amber Hoover, Rachel Emerson, Allison Ray, Daniel Stevens, Sabrina Morgan, Marnie Cortez, Robert Kallenbach, Matthew Sousek, Rodney Farris, Dayna Daubaras

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Environmental factors like drought impact the quality of biomass entering a bioconversion process. Drought often reduces the sugar content in lignocellulosic biomass, which could have economic impacts, particularly when compounded with losses in dry biomass yield; however, the effects on conversion efficiency are not completely understood. This study investigated how drought may impact biomass composition and sugar yields from dilute-acid pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of Miscanthus, a tall fescue mixture, and switchgrass from Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma, respectively, grown as part of Regional Feedstock Partnership field trials. Samples were grown and harvested in 2010 during non-drought conditions and in …

Impaired Phloem Loading In Zmsweet13a,B,C Sucrose Transporter Triple Knock-Out Mutants In Zea Mays, Margaret Bezrutczyk, Thomas Hartwig, Marc Horschman, Si Nian Char, Jinliang Yang, Bing Yang, Wolf B. Frommer, Davide Sosso

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Crop yield is critical for human nutrition, yet the underlying machinery that ultimately determines yield potential is still not understood. Crop productivity under ideal conditions is determined by the efficiency with which plants intercept light, convert it into chemical energy, translocate photosynthates and convert these to storage products in harvestable organs (Zhu et al., 2010). In many crops, sucrose is the primary form for translocation inside the conduit (i.e. the phloem). A combination of SWEETmediated efflux from phloem parenchyma and subsequent secondary active sucrose import by SUT sucrose/H+ symporters is thought to create the driving force for pressure gradient-driven …

Tetracycline And Sulfonamide Antibiotic Resistance Genes In Soils From Nebraska Organic Farming Operations, Marylynn Cadena, Lisa M. Durso, Daniel N. Miller, Heidi M. Waldrip, B. L. Castleberry, Rhae A. Drijber, Charles S. Wortmann

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

There is widespread agreement that agricultural antibiotic resistance should be reduced, however, it is unclear from the available literature what an appropriate target for reduction would be. Organic farms provide a unique opportunity to disentangle questions of agricultural antibiotic drug use from questions of antibiotic resistance in the soil. In this study, soil was collected from 12 certified organic farms in Nebraska, evaluated for the presence of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes (n = 15 targets), and correlated to soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Tetracycline and sulfonamide antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were found in soils from all 12 …

Need (More Than) Two To Tango: Multiple Tools To Adapt To Changes In Oxygen Availability, Deborah Fratantonio, Francesco Cimino, Antonio Speciale, Fabio Virgili

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Oxygen is a fundamental element for the life of a large number of living organisms allowing an efficient energetic utilization of substrates. Organisms relying on oxygen evolved complex structures for oxygen delivery and biochemical machineries dealing with its safe utilization and the ability to overcome the potentially harmful consequences of changes in oxygen availability. On fact, cells composing complex Eukaryotic organisms are set to live within an optimum narrow range of oxygen, quite specific for each cell type. Minute modifications of oxygen availability, either positive or negative, induce the expression of specific genes, the major actors of this responses being …

Development And Validation Of A Simple Convenience Store Shelf Audit, Tanya M. Horacek, Elif Dede Yildirim, Erin Kelly, Adrienne A. White, Karla P. Shelnutt, Kristin Riggsbee, Melissa D. Olfert, Jesse Stabile Morrell, Anne E. Matthews, Terezie T. Mosby, Tandalayo Kidd, Kendra Kattelmann, Geoffrey Greene, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Sarah E. Colby, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner, Onikia Brown

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background This paper describes the development, reliability, and convergent validity of a practical tool—the Convenience Store Supportive Healthy Environment for Life-Promoting Food (SHELF) Audit. Methods Audit items included: a variety of fresh, processed, and frozen fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy products; healthy staples and frozen meals; healthy food incentive programs; items sold in check-out areas; portion/cup sizes; and pricing. Each audit item was scored using a five-point semantic-differential scale (1 = provides little or no support for healthful foods to 5 = provides high support for healthful foods). Convergent validity was examined by comparing the SHELF audit to Ghirardelli et …

Independent Association Of Sudden Cardiac Death And The Tpeak-Tend Interval On Vectorcardiogram, Ryan Richard Gonzales

CUP Undergraduate Research

The causes of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) are still uncertain in the field of electro-cardiology. Cardiac repolarization may be the instance in which fatal arrhythmias lead to SCD development. Cardiac disease has not been well treated, as it is the leading cause of death in industrialized nations. Correlation of the T wave length to Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) has been demonstrated in recent studies, most notably in a meta-analysis published in 2017, (Tse, Gong, Wong, Georgopoulos, Letsas, Vassiliou, … Liu, 2017). However, this project is attempting to show independent association of the T wave and SCD. Independent association demonstrates some …

Measuring Visual Acuity In Awake Mice Using Visually Evoked Potentials (Veps), Emanuel Drutu

CUP Undergraduate Research

We investigated a means to measure visual acuity in awake mice using visually evoked potentials (VEPs). Using counter-phasing sinusoidal gratings as stimuli, we compared the effectiveness of vertical and horizontal orientations in generating VEPs. Using stereotaxic implanted electrodes in the animal’s primary visual cortex, the evoked VEPs were recorded and analyzed. At the lowest spatial frequency, vertical stimuli evoked the largest VEP amplitude. However, at higher spatial frequencies, a reversal occurs where horizontal gratings evoked larger VEPs. These data suggest vertical and horizontal stimuli have different effects on generating VEPs although further investigation is required to determine which stimulus is …