Digital Commons Network^™

An Environmental History Of The Civil War, Matthew Stith

Civil War Book Review

In this"effort to rediscover and recast the war in the same natural prism through which the war’s original actors viewed and experienced it 160 years ago" Browning and Silver "give a level of agency to the natural environment as it pertained to humans and their actions" in the great conflagration.

Gender In Emergency Services: Foundations For Greater Equity In Professional Codes Of Ethics, Sebawit Bishu, Sean Mccandless, Nicole M. Elias

Publications and Research

The lack of gender equity in the public sector is a critical issue, especially for emergency services. We explore the gendered nature of firefighting and policing at both professional and organizational levels. We assess gender equity by asking the following questions: (1) How have understandings of gender in emergency services evolved over time? (2) What are the normative implications of emergency services' lack of gender equity? We draw from feminist literature to critique the lack of progress and examine firefighting and policing histories along with the professional ethics codes of the U.S. Fire Administration and the International Association of Chiefs …

Documenting The Establishment, Spread, And Severity Of Phyllachora Maydis On Corn, In The United States, Nathan M. Kleczewski, Diane E. Plewa, Kaitlyn M. Bissonnette, Norman D. Bowman, Jan M. Byrne, Joseph Laforest, Felipe Dalla-Lana, Dean K. Malvick, Daren S. Mueller, Martin I. Chilvers, Pierce A. Paul, Richard N. Raid, Alison E. Robertson, Gail E. Ruhl, Damon L. Smith, Darcy E.P. Telenko

Faculty Publications

Tar spot on corn, caused by the fungus (Phyllachora maydis Maubl. [Phyllachorales: Phyllachoraceae]), is an emerging disease in the United States. In 2018 and 2019, significant but localized epidemics of tar spot occurred across the major corn producing region of the Midwest. After being first detected in 2015, tar spot was detected in 135 and 139 counties where the disease was not previously detected in 2018 and 2019, respectively, and is now established across 310 counties across the United Sates. Foliage with signs (stromata) of P. maydis and symptoms of tar spot were collected from 128 fields in 2018 and …

Biology And Management Of The Rice Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) In Rice, Oryza Sativa (Poales: Poaceae), Santhi Bhavanam, Blake Wilson, Bryce Blackman, Michael Stout

Faculty Publications

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax (Fabricius), is the most important late-season insect pest of rice in the southern United States. Nymphs and adults feed on rice grains, resulting in losses in yield and grain quality. Aspects of the biology, ecology, life history, and chemical ecology have been investigated in southern rice producing states but several outstanding questions remain. Standard economic threshold levels (ETLs) based on sweep net sampling for rice stink bug have been established depending on grain development stage and geographic location. However, recent studies on the relationship between rice stink bug densities, feeding damage, and its economic …

Pest Management Needs And Limitations For Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), An Emergent Key Pest Of Hemp In The United States, Kadie E. Britt, Thomas P. Kuhar, Whitney Cranshaw, Christopher T. Mccullough, Sally V. Taylor, Benjamin R. Arends, Hannah Burrack, Melissa Pulkoski, David Owens, Tigist A. Tolosa, Simon Zebelo, Katelyn A. Kesheimer, Olufemi S. Ajayi, Michelle Samuel-Foo, Jeffrey A. Davis, Nathan Arey, Hélène Doughty, Joanne Jones, Marguerite Bolt, Bradley J. Fritz, Jerome F. Grant, Julian Cosner, Melissa Schreiner

Faculty Publications

Corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has emerged as an injurious insect pest to hemp, Cannabis sativa L., a crop newly reintroduced to the United States. Growing hemp presents a potential alternative economic opportunity for farmers but can be challenging with a market that is unstable and just developing. One of the most notable production challenges is managing corn earworm, an insect pest that is particularly damaging when it feeds on flower buds produced in cannabinoid varieties, creating extensive bud tunneling and wounds that allow entry of pathogens that can aid development and presence of bud rot. Damage to …

Identification And Biology Of Common Caterpillars In U.S. Soybean, Erin W. Hodgson, Robert L. Koch, Jeffrey A. Davis, Dominic Reisig, Silvana V. Paula-Moraes

Faculty Publications

Soybean is an established crop with a high production value in the United States. The insects that utilize soybean as a food source have changed drastically over the last 20 yr. Much of the extension literature summarizing pest species distribution and abundance is out of date. This article provides profiles for five common soybean caterpillars, including description, life cycle, and injury to plants.

Current Distribution And Population Persistence Of Five Lepidopteran Pests In U.S. Soybean, Anders S. Huseth, Robert L. Koch, Dominic Reisig, Jeffrey A. Davis, Silvana V. Paula-Moraes, Erin W. Hodgson

Faculty Publications

The distribution of lepidopteran pests in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is a current knowledge gap limiting accurate prioritization of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research. Regional characterizations of lepidopteran distribution in soybean are now more than 25 yr old. The goal of this study was to generate a contemporary assessment of the distribution and population persistence of lepidopteran soybean pests. To understand which species are currently infesting soybean and their persistence, we conducted a survey of soybean entomologists with responsibility for approximately 33.6 million hectares of production in 31 U.S. states. Soybean entomologists were asked questions about presence of lepidopteran …

Climate Mismatch Between Introduced Biological Control Agents And Their Invasive Host Plants: Improving Biological Control Of Tropical Weeds In Temperate Regions, Nathan E. Harms, Ian A. Knight, Paul D. Pratt, Angelica M. Reddy, Abhishek Mukherjee, Ping Gong, Julie Coetzee, S. Raghu, Rodrigo Diaz

Faculty Publications

Many weed biological control programs suffer from large-scale spatial variation in success due to restricted distributions or abundances of agents in temperate climates. For some of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, agents are established but overwintering conditions limit their survival in higher latitudes or elevations. The resulting need is for new or improved site-or region-specific biological control tools. Here, we review this challenge with a focus on low-temperature limitations of agents and propose a roadmap for improving success. Investigations across spatial scales, from global (e.g., foreign exploration), to local (selective breeding), to individual organisms (molecular modification), are discussed. A combination …

Revision Of The Genus Schoenlandella (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) In The New World, With A Potential Biological Control Agent For A Lepidopteran Pest Of Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia L.), Ilgoo Kang, Michael J. Sharkey, Rodrigo Diaz

Faculty Publications

Schoenlandella Cameron, 1905 is the second largest genus of Cardiochilinae. Most members are recorded from the Old World, with a small number of species in the New World. Herein, the New World species of Schoenlandella are revised based on morphological data. This work entails a description of a new species: S. montserratensis Kang, sp. nov. and potential lepidopteran host information of the new species associated with bitter gourds on the Caribbean Island of Montserrat. Schoenlandella diaphaniae (Marsh, 1986) and S. gloriosa Mercado & Wharton, 2003 are re-described, and a key to species of New World Schoenlandella is provided. The taxonomic …

Host Genotype And Tissue Type Determine Dwv Infection Intensity, Hannah J. Penn, Michael Simone-Finstrom, Sarah Lang, Judy Chen, Kristen Healy

Faculty Publications

Varroa mite-vectored viruses such as Deformed wing virus (DWV) are of great concern for honey bee health as they can cause disease in individuals and increase colony mortality. Two genotypes of DWV (A and B) are prevalent in the United States and may have differential virulence and pathogenicity. Honey bee genetic stocks bred to resist Varroa mites also exhibit differential infection responses to the Varroa mite-vectored viruses. The goal of this project was to determine if interactions between host genotype could influence the overall infection levels and dissemination of DWV within honey bees. To do this, we injected DWV isolated …

The Functional Role Of Eye Movements During The Formation Of Relational And Item Memories, Kara Hobbs

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Soybean Farmers' Supportiveness Of Two Integrated Pest And Pollinator Management Tactics, Hannah J. Penn, Jerrod Penn, Michael Cunningham-Minnick, Wuyang Hu

Faculty Publications

Beneficial insect conservation in agriculture is often studied in the context of integrated pest management (IPM). For instance, vegetative field edges provide habitat and changing the timing of insecticidal sprays decreases risk for pollinators and natural enemies of insect pests. However, the attitudes and confidence of U.S. growers towards IPM implementation in traditional row crops remain understudied. We developed an online survey using a convenience sample and surveyed Kentucky soybean growers to understand their current pest and general management practices, beliefs about sources of insect pests/weeds, and attitudes towards pollinators. We also asked about their willingness to implement two management …

Dominance And Fitness Costs Of Insect Resistance To Genetically Modified Bacillus Thuringiensis Crops, Fangneng Huang

Faculty Publications

Evolution of resistance to genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops in pest populations is a major threat to the sustainability of the technology. Incidents of field resistance that have led to control problems of Bt crops or significantly reduced susceptibility of individual Bt proteins in pyramided plants have increased dramatically across the world, especially in recent years. Analysis of globally published data showed that 61.5% and 60.0% of the cases of resistance with major alleles that allowed homozygous resistant genotypes to survival on Bt crops were functionally non-recessive and did not involve fitness costs, respectively. Dominance levels (DFLs) measured on …

Biology, Ecology, And Management Of Key Sorghum Insect Pests, Olabimpe O. Okosun, Kerry C. Allen, James P. Glover, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

Sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (Poaceae), is a highly valued crop cultivated worldwide, with the grain and stover being of equal importance in some developing countries. Sorghum can produce high yields even under adverse environmental conditions, however, damage from insect pests at various stages of the plant's development can reduce its productivity, impacting low-income farmers in developing countries. Important sorghum insect pests include leaf-sucking species, leaf-feeding species, stalk or stem borers, pests of the panicle and of the stored grain. Modern control strategies include cultural controls, biological control, pesticides (chemical, botanicals, or microbial), and host plant resistance. An integrated approach …

First Record Of Native Entomopathogenic Nematodes From Montana Agroecosystems, Ramandeep K. Sandhi, Ratnasri Pothula, Satyendra K. Pothula, Byron J. Adams, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

A total of 30 different agricultural fields in the Golden Triangle Region of Montana, USA were surveyed, and 150 soil samples were evaluated for the presence of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs). The authors isolated EPNs from 10% of the collected samples. The recovered isolates were identified as Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora by using morphological and molecular analysis. Steinernema feltiae was found from two fields, Kalispell (S. feltiae 1) and Choteau (S. feltiae 2). Steinernema feltiae (1 and 2) differed significantly from each other in terms of morphological characters for infective juveniles (distance from anterior end to excretory pore and nerve …

Biology, Ecology, And Management Strategies For Pea Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) In Pulse Crops, Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

Pea aphid, Acyrthospihon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the key pests of pulse crops worldwide. The aphid has a broad host range, infesting crops such as faba bean, lupin, alfalfa, lentil, chickpea, grass pea, and pea. This broad host range with a complex life cycle and ability to quickly adapt to new environmental conditions make it difficult to control this pest. Different studies focusing on the biology, ecology, and management practices of A. pisum, along with case studies conducted on different integrated pest management strategies such as host plant resistance, cultural, genetic, biological, and chemical control are reviewed …

On-Farm Evaluation Of Regenerative Land-Use Practices In A Semi-Arid Pasture Agroecosystem In West Texas, Usa, Lindsey Slaughter, Sanjit Deb, Somsubhra Chakraborty, Bin Li, Noura Bakr, Bryanna Edwards, David Weindorf

Faculty Publications

Continually rising scarcity in water and nutrient resources, especially in semi-arid agricultural systems, combined with increased frequency of extreme weather events such as drought, contribute to a growing need for resilient and regenerative agricultural ecosystems. However, evaluating a myriad of combinations of producer-led sustainable management practices in on-farm research remains challenging. Few studies have elucidated spatial variability in measured soil properties across the study area due to logistical and economic constraints. As such, this study aimed to: 1) establish soil health assessment and landscape variability data immediately after land-use change to a sustainable pasture management system, and 2) delineate relationships …

Studying Morphological, Physiological, And Molecular Regulation Of Stomatal Conductance And Its Relationship To Water Use Efficiency In Alfalfa, Surbhi Gupta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), being a leguminous, highly fibrous, and proteinaceous plant has always been one of the top choices for the forage production but has high cost of irrigation in many dry and warm areas such as California and Arizona. Thus, a reduction of irrigation by using the higher water use efficiency (WUE) varieties can help the growers in reducing the cost and is critical for sustainable agriculture production. WUE is closely related to water loss through transpiring stomata. A study in our lab reported that Riverside (RS) an alfalfa genotype that has naturized in the national grassland in South …

Long Term Evaluation Of E. Coli Removal From Stormwater Using Recycled Steel Byproducts, Brenden Olevson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater runoff often carries a variety of pollutants and pathogens that can endanger public health and wildlife. One contaminant of concern often highlighted in stormwater quality is Escherichia Coli (E.Coli) because its presence indicates microbial contamination in water. Different types of media filtration are being studied to reduce contaminant concentrations in stormwater. In this study, steel byproducts were examined as a potential material to use in media filtration to remove E. Coli and other contaminants from stormwater. Batch scale studies were conducted in laboratory to evaluate the E. Coli removal potential of steel chips and steel slag over a 24-hour …

Novel Acetylcholine Chloride Based Water Immiscible Deep Eutectic Solvent: Formulation, Characterization And Application In Drug Solubilization, Shiksha Subedi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are the emerging class of new and inexpensive solvents composed of two or three safe components capable of self-association through hydrogen bond interaction. The depression in the melting point characterizes DESs compared to those of the individual components. These solvents have properties like the traditionally used ionic liquids (ILs), but they can offset the significant drawbacks of ILs, such as biodegradability, toxicity, and complex synthesis. Due to these remarkable advantages, the research in DESs is increasing exponentially. However, current deep eutectic solvents still have limitations to apply to the real chemical industries due to hydrophilicity and …

Viral And Immune Studies On Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (Bvdv) In Bovine Species, Karim Abdelsalam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

BVDV is a major pathogen of ruminants that causes immune dysfunction and lead to secondary bacterial infection. The underlying mechanism of this dysfunction is not well understood. Based on previous results, we believe that macrophages play a central role in BVDV-associated immune dysfunction. Previously, we have shown that the infected monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) supernatant of the high virulent strains of BVDV significantly induced lymphocyte apoptosis. In the current study, we performed experiments to identify the apoptotic factors in the infected MDM supernatants in vitro. Also, we have extended our investigation to include testing the impact of infected macrophages on neutrophil …

Stability Analysis For Time-Varying Systems With Asynchronous Sampling Using Contractivity Approach, Frederic Mazenc, Michael Malisoff, Miroslav Krstic

Faculty Publications

We provide new sufficient conditions for a generalized exponential input-to-state stability condition to hold. Our proofs use innovative trajectory based contractivity and cooperative systems arguments. Another key ingredient is a new variant of Halanay's inequality, which differs from prior Halanay inequalities because of its use of sampling. Our sufficient conditions allow arbitrarily long intervals between some consecutive sampling times, provided the intervals between consecutive sampling times are frequently small enough. This removes a significant limitation of prior results that relied on versions of Halanay's inequality that did not contain sampling. Unlike standard stability conditions, the upper bounds for the norm …

Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory And His Ideas On Promoting Creativity, Hani Morgan

Faculty Publications

This book chapter highlights Howard Gardner's contributions to the areas of education and creativity. It includes an introductory section on his background and accomplishments. The chapter focuses on his theory of multiple intelligences, Gardner's best-known theory, and provides details on how he got the idea for this theory. It offers an explanation of this theory and the implications it has for educators. His theory of human intelligence contradicts the view that there is one type of intelligence that could be measured by standardized tests. Gardner first described seven intelligences and later added an eighth. The chapter also focuses on Gardner's …

Potential Ecological Impacts Of Climate Intervention By Reflecting Sunlight To Cool Earth, P.L. Zarnetske, J. Gurevitch, J. Franklin, P.M. Groffman, C.S. Harrison, J.J. Hellmann, F.M. Hoffman, S. Kothari, A. Robock, S. Tilmes, D. Visioni, J. Wu, L. Xia, C.-E. Yang

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Identifying Global Favourable Habitat For Early Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles, C.S. Harrison, J.Y. Luo, N.F. Putman, Q. Li, P. Sheevam, K. Krumhardt, J. Stevens, M.C. Long

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Virtual Hrd’S Role In Crisis And The Post Covid-19 Professional Lifeworld: Accelerating Skills For Digital Transformation, Elisabeth E. Bennett, Rochell Mcwhorter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

Problem: The Covid-19 pandemic brought unprecedented crisis to a world already undergoing digital transformation. Millions of people began working virtually to prevent the spread of disease and to maintain business continuity, suddenly participating in virtual human resource development (VHRD) and alternative work strategies that helped organizations adapt to current challenges and prepare for future disruption. The purpose of this article is to analyze VHRD’s role in the crisis and the transition to a new era marked by further disruption and change.

Solution: This article provides a primer for understanding the environmental perspective of VHRD, analyzes reskilling and upskilling trends during …

High-Performance Biocomposite Polyvinyl Alcohol (Pva) Films Modified With Cellulose Nanocrystals (Cncs), Tannic Acid (Ta), And Chitosan (Cs) For Food Packaging, Ruowen Tan, Feng Li, You Zhang, Zihui Yuan, Xuefei Feng, Wansong Zhang, Ting Liang, Jiwen Cao, Cornelis F. De Hoop, Xiaopeng Peng, Xingyan Huang

Faculty Publications

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been widely applied in industries for its low cost, nontoxicity, biodegradability, and renewable advantages. However, its unstable structure may not meet some strong physical and mechanical needs. In order to enhance the performances of the PVA film, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), tannic acid (TA), and chitosan (CS), working as a reinforcer, a crosslinker, and an antimicrobial agent, respectively, were introduced into the PVA matrix. The results indicated that CNCs, TA, and CS were evenly distributed and cohesively incorporated within the PVA matrix, which contributed to the good mechanical properties and thermal stabilities of biocomposite PVA films. Besides, …

Siah2 Is Expressed In Adipocyte Precursor Cells And Interacts With Ebf1 And Zfp521 To Promote Adipogenesis, Thanh N. Dang, Jessica L. Taylor, Gail Kilroy, Yongmei Yu, David H. Burk, Z. Elizabeth Floyd

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Expression of zinc finger protein 423 (ZFP423), a key proadipogenic transcription factor in adipocyte precursor cells, is regulated by interaction of the proadipogenic early B-cell factor 1 (EBF1) and antiadipogenic ZFP521. The ubiquitin ligase seven-in-absentia homolog 2 (SIAH2) targets ZFP521 for degradation. This study asked whether SIAH2 is expressed in adipocyte precursor cells and whether SIAH2 interacts with ZFP521 and EBF1 to regulate ZFP521 protein levels during adipogenesis. Methods: SIAH2 expression in precursor cells was assessed in primary cells and tissues from wild-type and SIAH2 null mice fed a control or high-fat diet. Primary cells, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, and HEK293T …

Special Issue: Islet Inflammation And Metabolic Homeostasis, Susan J. Burke, J. Jason Collier

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Caloric Restriction On Human Physiological, Psychological, And Behavioral Outcomes: Highlights From Calerie Phase 2, James L. Dorling, Stephan Van Vliet, Kim M. Huffman, William E. Kraus, Manjushri Bhapkar, Carl F. Pieper, Tiffany Stewart, Sai Krupa Das, Susan B. Racette, Susan B. Roberts, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman, Corby K. Martin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Caloric restriction (CR) is a strategy that attenuates aging in multiple nonhuman species. The Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) trials are part of a research program aiming to test the effects of CR on aging and longevity biomarkers in humans. Building on CALERIE phase 1, CALERIE phase 2 (CALERIE 2) was the largest study to date to assess sustained CR in healthy humans without obesity. In a 24-month randomized controlled trial comprising 218 participants at baseline, CALERIE 2 showed that moderate CR, 11.9% on average, induced improvements in aging-related biomarkers without adversely affecting psychological …