Digital Commons Network^™

Covid-19: In The Absence Of Vaccination – ‘Mask-The-Nation’, Roy D. Sleator, Steven Darby, Alan Giltinan, Niall Smith

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

“In the absence of a vaccine, or effective antiviral, one of our only remaining strategies for controlling COVID-19 is to physically block the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the community”

Detection Of The Thietane Precursor In The Uva Formation Of The Dna 6-4 Photoadduct, Luis A. Ortiz-Rodríguez, Christian Reichardt, Sean J. Hoehn, Carlos E. Crespo-Hernández

Faculty Scholarship

Notwithstanding the central biological role of the (6-4) photoadduct in the induction of skin cancer by sunlight, crucial mechanistic details about its formation have evaded characterization despite efforts spanning more than half a century. 4-Thiothymidine (4tT) has been widely used as an important model system to study its mechanism of formation, but the excited-state precursor, the intermediate species, and the time scale leading to the formation of the (6-4) photoadduct have remained elusive. Herein, steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques are combined with new and reported quantum-chemical calculations to demonstrate the excited state leading to the formation of the thietane intermediate, …

Do Plant Secondary Metabolite‐Containing Forages Influence Soil Processes In Pasture Systems?, Andrea K. Clemensen, Juan J. Villalba, George E. Rottinghaus, Stephen T. Lee, Frederick D. Provenza, Jennifer R. Reeve

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Grazed pastures are susceptible to N loss from urine/manure additions, which increases eutrophication, affecting the global N cycle. Plant secondary metabolites (PSM), such as condensed tannins (CT) and terpenes, influence silviculture soil dynamics by generally decreasing N mineralization. We investigated whether cattle‐grazed pastures of non‐traditional grass and legume forage monoculture strips including CT‐containing sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) and tall fescue (TF) [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] influenced soil dynamics compared with traditional grass and legume forage monoculture strips of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), without tannins, and TF. Throughout the study, CT in sainfoin averaged 58.9 g kg^{−1 …}

Multivariate Analysis Of Open Field Exploration Identifies Latent Spatial And Social Behavioral Axes In Domestic Dogs, Budhaditya Chowdhury, Moira Van Staaden, Robert Huber

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Recent methodological advances in studying large scale animal movements have let researchers gather rich datasets from behaving animals. Often collected in small sample sizes due to logistical constraints, these datasets are however, ideal for multivariate explorations into behavioral complexity. In behavioral studies of domestic dogs, although automated data loggers have recently seen increasing use, a comprehensive framework to identify complex behavioral axes is lacking. Dog behavioral studies frequently rely on subjective ratings, despite demonstrable evidence that these are insufficient for identifying behavioral variables. Taking advantage of dogs' innate running abilities and readily available GPS data loggers, we extracted latitude-longitude coordinates …

Effect Of Substrate Characteristics On The Growth And Sporulation Of Two Biocontrol Microorganisms During Solid State Cultivation, Ga Young Lee, Wenqi Li, Ulalo M. Chirwa, Jian Shi

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Biocontrol agents are a group of naturally occurring organisms capable of interrupting the lifespan and suppressing the propagation of disease organisms. The use of biocontrol agents offers an environment-friendly and sustainable solution to the synthetic agrochemicals. In this study, we investigated parboiled rice and millets as substrates for spore production of two model biocontrol microorganisms (Bacillus pumilus and Streptomyces griseus) under solid state cultivation (SSC) conditions. The effects of cultivation parameters such as initial moisture content, water activity, and cultivation time on microbial growth and spore production were studied. Furthermore, texture profile analysis was performed to test the …

Id Proteins Promote A Cancer Stem Cell Phenotype In Mouse Models Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Via Negative Regulation Of Robo1, Wee S. Teo, Holly Holliday, Nitheesh Karthikeyan, Aurélie S. Cazet

Open Access archive

Breast cancers display phenotypic and functional heterogeneity and several lines of evidence support the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in certain breast cancers, a minor population of cells capable of tumor initiation and metastatic dissemination. Identifying factors that regulate the CSC phenotype is therefore important for developing strategies to treat metastatic disease. The Inhibitor of Differentiation Protein 1 (Id1) and its closely related family member Inhibitor of Differentiation 3 (Id3) (collectively termed Id) are expressed by a diversity of stem cells and are required for metastatic dissemination in experimental models of breast cancer. In this study, we show that …

Marine Biofouling Communities Of Manila South Harbor, Philippines, Nacorda Hildie M.E., Austero Nero M., Pagdilao Cesar R., Tan Koh Siang, Azanza Rhodora V.

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

An immersion experiment was conducted in the Manila South Harbor to document the development of sessile biofouling communities. Test panels were submerged below the sea surface in April 2012 for short- (one and three months) and long-term (one year) exposures in seawater, then foauling types and occurrences were scored based on digital images of panel surfaces. The short-term immersed panels were found with significant cover of soft fouling (undet.), slime, and the invasive Balanus (=Amphibalanus) amphitrite. These also filled the long-term immersed panels, although some fell off due to mortality from crude oil smothering. Perna viridis, native but also invasive, …

Dose Analysis Of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (Bnct) Treatment For Lung Cancer Based On Particle And Heavy Ion Transport Code System (Phits), Harish Ahmad Faisal, Warsono, Sardjono Yohannes

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of boron concentration on total dose rate for lung cancer treatment, and to determine the effect of boron concentration on the length of irradiation time for lung cancer treatment. This study was computer simulation-based using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) by defining the geometry and components of lung cancer and the surrounding organism as the object being studied and the source of radiation used. The type of phantom used was the ORNL of an adult Asian male. The neutron source used was Kartini Reactor. The independent …

Renal Infarction And Pulmonary Embolism In Patient With Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Unclassifiable, Mounia Bendari, Nouama Bouanani, Mohamed Amine Khalfaoui, Maryam Ahnach, Aziza Laaraj, Kamal Doghmi

Health Sciences

The myelodysplastic syndrome-myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPNs) are defined by a group of heterogeneous hematological malignancies resulting from stem cell−driven clonal growth of pathological hematopoietic progenitors and ineffective hematopoiesis, they are characterized by concomitant myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative signs. Myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorders have been considered to have a higher risk of thrombus formation. We report a rare case about a 64 years old Moroccan woman, who experienced renal infarction (RI) associated with pulmonary embolism as a complication of a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative disorder. The patient complained of acute-onset severe left flank pain, a contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the chest and abdomen revealed RI by a …

Plasma And Serum Proteins Bound To Nanoceria: Insights Into Pathways By Which Nanoceria May Exert Its Beneficial And Deleterious Effects In Vivo, D. Allan Butterfield, Binghui Wang, Peng Wu, Sarita S. Hardas, Jason M. Unrine, Eric A. Grulke, Jian Cai, Jon B. Klein, William M. Pierce, Robert A. Yokel, Rukhsana Sultana

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Nanoceria (CeO2, cerium oxide nanoparticles) is proposed as a therapeutic for multiple disorders. In blood, nanoceria becomes protein-coated, changing its surface properties to yield a different presentation to cells. There is little information on the interaction of nanoceria with blood proteins. The current study is the first to report the proteomics identification of plasma and serum proteins adsorbed to nanoceria. The results identify a number of plasma and serum proteins interacting with nanoceria, proteins whose normal activities regulate numerous cell functions: antioxidant/detoxification, energy regulation, lipoproteins, signaling, complement, immune function, coagulation, iron homeostasis, proteolysis, inflammation, protein folding, protease inhibition, adhesion, protein/RNA …

The Perceptions Of Participation In A Mentored Title I Elementary String Instrumental Music Program, Manuel C. Capote

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

When elementary school-aged students want to learn to play a string instrument, they have the option to rent or purchase one, take private lessons, practice at home, and participate in their school orchestra program. In order for students to accomplish this, parental economic support and involvement is essential. Underserved Title I elementary school students without this socioeconomic support are at a distinct disadvantage: They do not have the parental socioeconomic support necessary to acquire an instrument and pay for private lessons. A string instrumental mentoring program aims to provide private instruction with mentors, free of charge, to those Title I …

Rare A-Type, Spiro-Type, And Highly Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins From Pinus Massoniana, Bin Zhou, Yvette Alania, Mariana C. Reis, James Mcalpine, Ana K. Bedran-Russo, Guido F. Pauli, Shao-Nong Chen

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

An investigation of the dental bioactive proanthocyanidin (PAC) oligomer fractions led to three structurally distinct new PACs (1–3) from pine bark. Pinutwindoublin (1) is the first reported trimer with double A-type interflavanyl linkages (2α→O→5,4α→6 and 2α→O→7,4α→8). Pinuspirotetrin (2) represents the first reported PAC tetramer with a heterodimeric framework consisting of one spiro-type and one A-type dimer. Pinumassohexin (3) was elucidated as a mixed A + B-type hexamer that consists of a peanut-derived tetramer, peanut procyanidin E, and an A-type dimer (5). Compound 3 increased the modulus of elasticity of dentin …

Not At All!, Joseph Khabbaz

The Main Thing Devotional

The Main Thing Devotional: Not at All!

“About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. ‘Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?’ Jesus asked. ‘Is that why they suffered? Not at all!...’” - Luke 13:1–3 (a)

Your suffering may not be due to your mistakes.

The Invasive Caribbean Mytilopsis Sallei (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae): A Short Review, Tan Koh Siang, Tay Teresa

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The mussel-like bivalve species from the Caribbean, Mytilopsis sallei, is now well established in the vicinities of several ports in South and Southeast Asia. Although it may not be as notorious as its relative the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha, this brackish-water bivalve has the ability to colonise and displace native species in intertidal and subtidal habitats. It is also another testament to how well a tropical species can travel beyond its natural biogeographical boundaries. Here we briefly review its taxonomy, morphology, growth and reproduction, habitat and distribution, as well as its impact on natural habitats after invasion, based on published …

Survey Of Marine Phytoplankton In Ship’S Ballast Tanks At Laem Chabang International Port, Thailand, Kajonwattanakul Sumana, Numnual Waranya, Sirichaiseth Thanyapas, Wannarangsri Tanet

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Marine phytoplankton was investigated in ballast water of ships from 2010 to 2012 with a collection of 30 marine vessels that docked at Laem Chabang International Port in Chonburi Province, Thailand. The results showed that the dominant group of phytoplankton was diatoms. The amount of phytoplankton in the ballast tanks averaged less than 10 cells/ mL, which is less than Regulation D-2 of the Ballast Water Management Convention which requires that marine organisms between the sizes of 10 ? X <50 µm should be less than 10 cells/mL and size ? 50 µm should be less than 10 cell/m3 in ballast water. Alien species of phytoplankton was not recorded in this survey.

Research News. Publications, 2020. Volume 2, Soumyajit Majumdar

Publications (2015-)

Publications that appeared during the period April 1 through June 30, 2020

Stem Crisis Teaching: Curriculum Design With E-Learning Tools, Sonya E. Van Nuland, Elissa Hall, Natalie R. Langley

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent social distancing protocols have accelerated the shift to online teaching across the globe. In Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs this means a shift from face-to-face laboratory instruction to self-directed learning with e-learning tools. Unfortunately, selecting and integrating an e-learning tool into a curriculum can be daunting. This article highlights key questions and practical suggestions instructors should consider in choosing the most effective option for their course and learners.

Light-Addressable Electrochemical Sensing With Electrodeposited N-Silicon/Gold Nanoparticle Schottky Junctions, Irina M. Terrero Rodríguez, Alexandra J. Borrill, Katherine J. Schaffer, Jocelyn B. Hernandez, Glen D. O'Neil

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Light-addressable electrochemical sensors (LAESs) are a class of sensors that use light to activate an electrochemical reaction on the surface of a semiconducting photoelectrode. Here, we investigate semiconductor/metal (Schottky) junctions formed between n-type Si and Au nanoparticles as light-addressable electrochemical sensors. To demonstrate this concept, we prepared n-Si/Au nanoparticle Schottky junctions by electrodeposition and characterized them using scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. We found that the sensors behaved almost identically to Au disk electrodes for the oxidation of an outer-sphere redox couple (ferrocene methanol) and two inner-sphere redox couples (potassium ferrocyanide and dopamine). In buffered dopamine …

Variable Uptake Of Selenium: Exposing Bryophytes In-Situ To A Se-Gradient Watershed, Del Wayne R. Nimmo, Scott J. Herrmann, James S. Carsella, Igor V. Melnykov

Western North American Naturalist

We investigated the uptake of selenium (Se) at 14 sites in a Se-rich watershed, using an aquatic bryophyte (Hygrohypnum ochraceum). We expressed uptake using the symbol K_d to underscore the relationships between Se in water and Se in plants as “partitioning coefficients” related to the bases of aquatic food chains. A 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed with K_d as the dependent variable and season and stream segment (location) as main effects. Selenium concentrations, measured as dissolved Se, total Se, and pore water Se, were also examined. There were significant differences in K_d values …

Front Matter, Vol. 80 No. 2

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 80 No. 2

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Behavioral Response To High Temperatures In A Desert Grassland Bird: Use Of Shrubs As Thermal Refugia, Janet M. Ruth, William A. Talbot, Eric Krabbe Smith

Western North American Naturalist

Birds inhabiting hot, arid ecosystems contend with trade-offs between heat dissipation and water conservation. As temperatures increase, passerines engage in various behaviors to reduce exposure to heat, solar radiation and insolation, and reradiation of heat from the ground. These responses to rising temperatures may result in subordination of reproductive urgency or nutrient acquisition to the need for thermoregulation. During studies on Arizona Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum ammolegus) life history and ecology, we noted that these sparrows abandoned territoriality and foraging behaviors under certain circumstances in favor of cooler microsites. In this paper we document the extreme temperatures to …

Protecting Endangered Species In The Usa Requires Both Public And Private Land Conservation, Niall G. Clancy, John P. Draper, J. Marshall Wolf, Umarfarooq A. Abdulwahab, Maya Cassidy Pendleton, Soren Brothers, Janice Brahney, Jennifer M. Weathered, Edd Hammill, Trisha B. Atwood

Ecology Center Publications

Crucial to the successful conservation of endangered species is the overlap of their ranges with protected areas. We analyzed protected areas in the continental USA to assess the extent to which they covered the ranges of endangered tetrapods. We show that in 80% of ecoregions, protected areas offer equal (25%) or worse (55%) protection for species than if their locations were chosen at random. Additionally, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve sufficient protection for 100% of the USA’s endangered tetrapods through targeted protection of undeveloped public and private lands. Our results highlight that the USA is likely to …

Shannon Zenk '95 Named Director Of National Institute Of Nursing Research, Megan Baker

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review Of Natural Language Processing For Knowledge Management In Healthcare, Ganga Prasad Basyal, Bhaskar P. Rimal Dr., David Zeng

Research & Publications

Driven by the visions of Data Science, recent years have seen a paradigm shift in Natural Language Processing (NLP). NLP has set the milestone in text processing and proved to be the preferred choice for researchers in the healthcare domain. The objective of this paper is to identify the potential of NLP, especially, how NLP is used to support the knowledge management process in the healthcare domain, making data a critical and trusted component in improving health outcomes. This paper provides a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art NLP research with a particular focus on how knowledge is created, captured, shared, …

Biomechanical Comparison Of A New Memory Compression Alloy Plate Versus Traditional Titanium Plate For Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion: A Finite Element Analysis, Jiantao Liu, Runqing Wang, Hongbo Wang, Yanbiao Wang, Dongbo Lv, Pan Diao, Shihan Fang, Yanzheng Gao

Student Publications

Objective: To compare the biomechanical properties of a new memory compression alloy plate and traditional titanium plate after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Methods: A finite element model of the C3-7 segments was developed and validated. The C5-6 disc was removed, and an intervertebral cage made of peek material was implanted. Then, a new memory compression alloy plate composed of Ti-Ni memory alloy and a traditional titanium plate were integrated at the C5-6 segment. All models were subjected to a load of 73.6 N to simulate the head weight and 1 Nm of flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation. …

The Ego At An Impasse: Aesthetic Empathy And The Abject D’Art In Fin De Siècle Supernatural Fiction, Leandra E. Binder

English Language and Literature ETDs

This dissertation examines the symbol of an art object which represents a corpse or dead person’s identity, what I call the abject d’art, as it appears in fin de siècle supernatural fiction by Vernon Lee (Violet Paget) to identify late Victorian notions of Kristevan abjection, avant la lettre. Lee’s aesthetic philosophy informs her use of the abject d’art, especially her examination of the empathetic process as part of aesthetics to explain how individuals represent and respond to objects mentally and emotionally. Through her analysis of empathy, Lee identifies the ego as a fallible moderator of an individual’s …

Exploring Policies And Strategies For The Diffusion Of Remote Patient Monitoring (Rpm) For The Care Of Senior Population, Hamad Asri Alanazi

Dissertations and Theses

Telemedicine offers great promise in addressing some of the healthcare challenges such as the increase of healthcare expenditure, a growing population, and a projected physician shortage; telemedicine is increasingly being included in the discussion of medicine's future. Telemedicine offers the capabilities to deliver healthcare across distances at reduced costs while maintaining or even increasing the quality of treatment and services.

The objective of this research is to develop a model to evaluate alternative solutions to increase the adoption of RPM for the senior population. Also, the research provides a systematic approach for a comprehensive assessment of teleconsultation adoption, develop a …

Using A Systems Thinking Approach And Health Risk Assessment To Analyze The Food-Energy-Water System Nexus Of Seaweed Farming In Belize, Estenia J. Ortiz Carabantes

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Certain macroalgae, commonly referred to as seaweed, have traditionally been used as a food source for many coastal communities around the world. In Belize, residents of the Placencia Peninsula cultivate two seaweed types, Eucheuma isiforme and Gracilaria spp. at Little Water Caye located 19 miles offshore. The dried seaweed is sold at the Placencia Producers Cooperative Society Limited (PPCSL) where community members process it into a variety of value-added products such as soaps, cosmetics, hair products, and food additives.

The overall goal of this research was to understand the existing food-energy-water system (FEWS) infrastructure landscape for seaweed production in Placencia, …

Test–Retest Reliability Of The One- Repetition Maximum (1rm) Strength Assessment: A Systematic Review, Jozo Grgic, Bruno Lazinica, Brad J. Schoenfeld, Zeljko Pedisic

Publications and Research

Background: The test–retest reliability of the one-repetition maximum (1RM) test varies across different studies. Given the inconsistent findings, it is unclear what the true reliability of the 1RM test is, and to what extent it is affected by measurement-related factors, such as exercise selection for the test, the number of familiarization trials and resistance training experience.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to review studies that investigated the reliability of the 1RM test of muscular strength and summarize their findings.

Methods: The PRISMA guidelines were followed for this systematic review. Searches for studies were conducted through eight databases. Studies …