Digital Commons Network^™

Improvised Centrifugal Spinning For The Production Of Polystyrene Microfibers From Waste Expanded Polystyrene Foam And Its Potential Application For Oil Adsorption, Marco Laurence M. Budlayan, Jonathan N. Patricio, Jeanne Phyre B. Lagare, Susan D. Arco, Arnold C. Alguno, Antonio M. Basilio, Felmer S. Latayada, Rey Y. Capangpangan

Physics Faculty Publications

A straightforward approach to recycle waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam to produce polystyrene (PS) microfibers using the improvised centrifugal spinning technique is demonstrated in this work. A typical benchtop centrifuge was improvised and used as a centrifugal spinning device. The obtained PS microfibers were characterized for their potential application for oil adsorption. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed similarity on the transmission bands of EPS foam and PS microfibers suggesting the preservation of the EPS foam’s chemical composition after the centrifugal spinning process. Scanning electron microscopy displayed well-defined fibers with an average diameter of 3.14 ± 0.59 μm. At the …

Cognitive Deficits And Impaired Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation In K Atp-Induced Dend Syndrome, Shaul Yahil, David F Wozniak, Zihan Yan, Steven Mennerick, Maria S Remedi

Open Access Publications

ATP-sensitive potassium (K

Using Postmarket Surveillance To Assess Safety-Related Events In A Digital Rehabilitation App (Kaia App): Observational Study, Deeptee Jain, Kevin Norman, Zachary Werner, Bar Makovoz, Turner Baker, Stephan Huber

Open Access Publications

BACKGROUND: Low back pain (LBP) affects nearly 4 out of 5 individuals during their lifetime and is the leading cause of disability globally. Digital therapeutics are emerging as effective treatment options for individuals experiencing LBP. Despite the growth of evidence demonstrating the benefits of these therapeutics in reducing LBP and improving functional outcomes, little data has been systematically collected on their safety profiles.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the safety profile of a multidisciplinary digital therapeutic for LBP, the Kaia App, by performing a comprehensive assessment of reported adverse events (AEs) by users as captured by a standardized process …

Inability To Switch From Arid1a-Baf To Arid1b-Baf Impairs Exit From Pluripotency And Commitment Towards Neural Crest Formation In Arid1b-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Luca Pagliaroli, Patrizia Porazzi, Alyxandra T Curtis, Chiara Scopa, Harald M M Mikkers, Christian Freund, Lucia Daxinger, Sandra Deliard, Sarah A Welsh, Sarah Offley, Connor A Ott, Bruno Calabretta, Samantha A Brugmann, Gijs W E Santen, Marco Trizzino

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Subunit switches in the BAF chromatin remodeler are essential during development. ARID1B and its paralog ARID1A encode for mutually exclusive BAF subunits. De novo ARID1B haploinsufficient mutations cause neurodevelopmental disorders, including Coffin-Siris syndrome, which is characterized by neurological and craniofacial features. Here, we leveraged ARID1B+/- Coffin-Siris patient-derived iPSCs and modeled cranial neural crest cell (CNCC) formation. We discovered that ARID1B is active only during the first stage of this process, coinciding with neuroectoderm specification, where it is part of a lineage-specific BAF configuration (ARID1B-BAF). ARID1B-BAF regulates exit from pluripotency and lineage commitment by attenuating thousands of enhancers and genes of …

The Relationship Between Motivation And Professional Learning For Teachers In Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Yassir Alzahrani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Even though, there are many studies on teacher professional learning and many studies on teacher motivation, there is a lack of research to examine the relationship between teacher professional learning and motivation. This study examined the relationship between teacher motivation and professional learning in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

This study was conducted using two instruments. The first instrument was the Education Participation Scale (EPS) originally developed by Boshier (1991). However, the researcher used the most recent version of EPS by Richter et al. (2019). The EPS determines what factors most motivate teachers to participate in professional development. These factors are personal …

Exercise Prescription Practices In University Counseling Centers: Testing The Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills Model, A'Naja M. Newsome

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The co-occurence of physical inactivity and poor mental health in the college student population can lead to chronic health issues that have negative short-term (e.g., academic success and weight gain) and long-term (e.g., obesity, serious mental illness, and premature mortality) impacts. Integrating exercise prescription into the mental health treatment plan of college students could enhance the holistic care model described by The American College Health Association (ACHA) and Healthy Campus task force. Understanding the knowledge, attitudes, and skills that mental health professionals (MHPs) hold regarding exercise prescription is important for policy formation and program development for college student health. The …

Examining The Effects Of Hydrology And Reclaimed Water Application On Nutrient Retention In Wetlaculture Mesocosms In Southwest Florida, Andrew Wilson

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The substantial increase among agricultural and urban land use over the past century is widely regarded as the leading cause in a variety of negative environmental impacts, particularly regarding eutrophication of both salt and fresh surface waters. Usage of both synthetic and natural fertilizers on agricultural fields and residential lawns has increased significantly in order to achieve maximum crop yield and green lawns. The nitrogen and phosphorus in these fertilizers inevitably run off the landscape and into downstream surface waters. The geographic scale of this issue makes it a challenge to overcome, as targeting specific sources/polluters is nearly impossible. Landscape-scale …

A System Architecture For Water Distribution Networks, Noha Abdel-Mottaleb

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines structure-function relationships of water distribution networks (WDNs), with focus on improving the decision-making process for water utilities. WDNs are lifeline infrastructure systems, necessary for the functioning of cities. Yet water utilities around the world struggle with emerging challenges that include but are not limited to aging infrastructure components, limited budgets, increased interdependencies between infrastructure systems, increased rates of urbanization, and increasing extreme weather conditions. This is why enhancing the performance of WDNs is a priority for water utilities around the world. This research begins to delineate a system architecture for WDNs and evaluates the use of various …

Candida Albicans Elicits Protective Allergic Responses Via Platelet Mediated T Helper 2 And T Helper 17 Cell Polarization, Yifan Wu, Zhimin Zeng, Yubiao Guo, Lizhen Song, Jill E Weatherhead, Xinyan Huang, Yuying Zeng, Lynn Bimler, Cheng-Yen Chang, John M Knight, Christian Valladolid, Hua Sun, Miguel A Cruz, Bernhard Hube, Julian R Naglik, Amber U Luong, Farrah Kheradmand, David B Corry

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Fungal airway infection (airway mycosis) is an important cause of allergic airway diseases such as asthma, but the mechanisms by which fungi trigger asthmatic reactions are poorly understood. Here, we leverage wild-type and mutant Candida albicans to determine how this common fungus elicits characteristic Th2 and Th17 cell-dependent allergic airway disease in mice. We demonstrate that rather than proteinases that are essential virulence factors for molds, C. albicans instead promoted allergic airway disease through the peptide toxin candidalysin. Candidalysin activated platelets through the Von Willebrand factor (VWF) receptor GP1bα to release the Wnt antagonist Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) to drive Th2 and …

Guidelines On The Submissions Of New Course Proposals And Course Changes, November 9, 2021, Individual Course Committee

Individual Course Committee (ICC)

No abstract provided.

Utilization Of Information Sources By The Biologists In Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai: An Analytical Study, Venkateshwaran S, Ranganathan Chandrakasan

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This study revealed importance of information sources among the biological faculty members and research scholars of Madurai Kamaraj University. In this studies the relative importance of information sources among the biologist on the basis of statistical tests concludes that the personal attributes of biologists such as designation, gender, age, qualification, subject, experience, nature of work and nature of research in a university level have bearing on the use of information resources. The results show that position and education are good predictors of information use while professional experience has little power in explaining variations in information source use. The findings of …

A Scoping Review Of Research Ethics And Practices In Library And Information Science In Scopus And Library And Information Science Source Databases, Irewole Dorcas I. D. Ibinaiye, Suleiman Sambo Dr., Ahmed Yusuf,, Abdulrahim Abdulfatah

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Introduction and Background: Library and information science scholars are partially aware of the research ethics regarding data falsification, fabrication, data cooking, gifted authorship, neglected authorship, and other factors. Such activities are not only unethical but may equally cause harm to the academic community and society. Purpose: This paper aims to identify the gaps in studies focusing on research ethics and practices in Library and Information Science in the Scopus and Library and Information Science Source Databases. The review seeks to respond to research questions such as what is the scope of articles focusing on research ethics and practices between 2011 …

Ultrafiltration Rate And Incident Atrial Fibrillation Among Older Individuals Initiating Hemodialysis, Jennifer E Flythe, Sai Liu, Maria E Montez-Rath, Wolfgang C Winkelmayer, Tara I Chang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Higher ultrafiltration (UF) rates are associated with numerous adverse cardiovascular outcomes among individuals receiving maintenance hemodialysis. We undertook this study to investigate the association of UF rate and incident atrial fibrillation in a large, nationally representative US cohort of incident, older hemodialysis patients.

METHODS: We used the US Renal Data System linked to the records of a large dialysis provider to identify individuals ≥67 years of age initiating hemodialysis between January 2006 and December 2011. We applied an extended Cox model as a function of a time-varying exposure to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) …

Lily Leaf Beetle, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

The lily leaf beetle (LLB) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an important pest from Eurasia that threatens native and cultivated true lilies (Lilium spp.) and fritillaries (Fritillaria spp.). It is also known as the red lily leaf beetle or scarlet lily beetle. LLB was first reported in North America in Montréal, Canada, in 1945 and in the U.S. in 1992 in Massachusetts, likely arriving via European shipments of lily bulbs. LLB has been detected in nine of the 10 Canadian provinces and 14 U.S. states, including the New England states, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Washington (EDDMapS, 2021). Based on LLB’s native distribution …

Evaluation Of Centrosema Rotundifolium For Sand-Soil Savannas In Eastern Venezuela, I. Rodríguez, R. Schultze-Kraft, S. González

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An evaluation of a collection of amphicarpic Centrosema rotundifolium showed considerable variability among the six accessions tested, regarding above- and below-ground seed production. Dry-season forage yields were very low but rainy-season yields reached acceptable levels. Contents of crude protein, P and Ca were intermediate to high (CP and P) or low (Ca). Three accessions are suggested for on-farm testing in association with grasses in order to explore the plant persistence implications of belowground seed production under practical conditions. Furthermore, the potential of this amphicarpic species for the conservation of sandy soils deserves attention.

Methodology To Evaluate Forage Legumes For Oversowing Grasslands In The Basaltic Region Of Uruguay, D. Real, J. Franco, J. Crossa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A methodology used to evaluate around 300 temperate and subtropical forage legumes for oversowing the native grasslands of the Basaltic Region of Uruguay is presented in a four-year plan using the minimum amount of seeds per accession and resources. Row-column experimental designs are used to reduce the error variance existing due to the large soil heterogeneity intrinsic to the Region. The ability of the species to grow and reproduce was measured and adjusted least square means were estimated to rank them. Cluster analysis was also useful to group species with similar behaviour overall traits. Preliminary results for the temperate species …

Seasonal Variation Of White Clover Morphology At The North Of Buenos Aires Province, Argentine, E. M. Pagano, Jorge O. Scheneiter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In order to study the seasonal variation in morphological characters that contribute to forage production in white clover (Trifolium repens L.) cultivars, a trial was conducted at Pergamino Agricultural Experimental Station INTA located north of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. The experimental plots were set out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Measurements were performed over eight seasons throughout two years. The used cultivars had been previously reported as having differences in seasonal productivity. Significant differences were detected among seasons for all measured characters i.e. stolon length, number of buds, branches and leaves, and leaf area. Differences among …

Stolon Attributes Related To Persistence Of White Clover In Buenos Aires, Argentina, E. M. Pagano, Jorge O. Scheneiter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A trial was carried out at Pergamino Agricultural Experimental Station (33º 56’ S, 60º 33’ W), Argentina, to study the stolon morphology of white clover cultivars with different leaf size, inflorescence production through reproductive cycle, and vegetative persistence. Treatments were four white clover cultivars: Espanso (Italy), Experimental L.49 (Argentina), Jacui S2 (Brazil) and Nora (Sweden). A completely randomized block design was used (n=6). Throughout two years, measurements of stolon length and dry and organic matter were performed every 60 days. The inflorescence number was also recorded. Results showed significant differences among cultivars in all the studied characters and almost in …

Left-Handed Dna: The Right Way Forward, Tracy Mallette

Shared Knowledge Conference

Rapid detection of emerging pathogens, environmental monitoring of waterways, and cancer treatments that operate on a cell by cell basis are all technological advances which could be achieved with DNA-based molecular computers. DNA encodes the building blocks of life and researchers have already shown that it can be used as a powerful tool for us to build nanoscale devices that can interact with the molecular world. However, DNA-based molecular devices are susceptible to degradation by natural defense mechanisms called nucleases. This makes operating in the desired biological settings challenging and has thus limited their practical application. My NSF-funded research in …

Olfactory Detection Of Viruses Shapes Brain Immunity And Behavior, Aurora Kraus

Shared Knowledge Conference

Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) directly contact the environment and are exposed to pathogens, such as viruses. When OSNs detect a virus, they coordinate antiviral immune responses locally to stop virus progression into the brain, termed the central nervous system (CNS). For example, in COVID-19 patients the SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in the olfactory epithelium resulting in loss of olfaction, yet viral detection in the CNS is rare. However, neuronal detection of a virus by OSNs will send electrical signals to the CNS via the olfactory bulb (OB) and shape our CNS. Because the OB is the nexus between the pathogen exposed …

Evaluation Of Thermal Infrared Imaging From Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles For Arboreal Wildlife Surveillance, Blair Mirka

Shared Knowledge Conference

An important component of wildlife management and conservation is monitoring the health and population size of wildlife species. Monitoring the population size of an animal group can inform researchers of habitat use, potential changes in habitat and the resulting behavioral adaptation, individual health, and the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Arboreal primates are difficult to monitor as their habitat is often poorly accessible and most primate species have some degree of camouflage, making them hard to observe in and below the tree canopy. Surveys conducted using uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with thermal infrared (TIR) cameras can help overcome these limitations …

Land, Society, And Justice: Reframing Geoscience Education Through A Storied Anti-Colonial And Environmental Justice Lens, Cameron Reed

Shared Knowledge Conference

Geoscience has been paramount to the transformation and advancement of society, fundamentally changing the way we view, interact, and live with the surrounding natural and built environment. It is important to recognize the value and importance of this interdisciplinary scientific field while reconciling its ties to imperial and colonizing extractive systems which have led to harmful and invasive endeavors. To prevent future injustices and resolve inequalities in colonized communities, the future of geosciences must be pushed in a new direction and be framed through a decolonial, and anti-colonial, lens where possible. Additionally, geology and its tangential studies in geosciences must …

The Documentation And Grammatical Description Of Sanapaná (Enlhet-Enenlhet, Paraguay), Jens Van Gysel

Shared Knowledge Conference

The Sanapaná language is spoken by around 1000 people in the Paraguayan Chaco region (Crevels 2012). Only about a third of the members of the ethnic Sanapaná group still speak the language, and in five of the seven Sanapaná communities, children now learn Spanish or Paraguayan Guaraní as their native language. This makes Sanapaná one of the many languages that are in danger of disappearing. Documenting such endangered languages is of vital importance to preserving the world's cultural and intellectual diversity, as well as a representative sample of human linguistic behaviours and their social functions. Language endangerment has also been …

Highly Durable Doped Barium Niobate Perovskite Electrodes For Electrochemical Oxidative Coupling Of Methane, Luke Denoyer

Shared Knowledge Conference

Highly Durable Doped Barium Niobate Perovskite Electrodes for Electrochemical Oxidative Coupling of Methane Luke H. Denoyer1,2, Kyle J Troche Angelica Benavidez1, Fernando H. Garzon*,1,2, Kannan P. Ramaiyan*,1,2 1 Primary Affiliation: University of New Mexico Contact: [email protected] 2 CISTAR/NSF Abstract Recently discovered large, and unused shale gas reserves provide an inexpensive methane source which is unfortunately difficult to transport in an economically viable manner. Hence, the on-site conversion of methane to ethylene for better utilization of the trapped methane gas is highly intriguing. Our studies here focus on the electrochemical oxidative coupling of methane (EC-OCM), which aims to convert methane using …

Comparing Biological Parametersof Rrparian Outfalls And Associated Rio Grande Main Channel In Valencia County New Mexico, Mollie Hanttula

Shared Knowledge Conference

Aridland rivers in the southwestern United States often experience times of intermittent drying where portions of the main river channel are no longer flowing. This is true for the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico, often through the summer months. This study is centered around the portion of the Middle Rio Grande that flows through Valencia County, New Mexico and the outfalls which flow from the agricultural ditches, that parallel the Rio Grande. Where an outfall is a channel of water that flows from the irrigation ditch, through the bosque, and into the Rio Grande. This research will compare aquatic …

Tracing Transmission Of Sin Nombre Virus And Discovery Of Infection In Multiple Rodent Species, Samuel Goodfellow

Shared Knowledge Conference

Orthohantaviruses are a family of negative-sense, single-stranded segmented RNA viruses that can cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) throughout North, Central and South America. Transmission of these viruses is primarily through exposure to droppings from infected rodents. Sin Nombre virus (SNV), found in North America, is primarily carried, and transmitted, by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) and has a ~36% case fatality rate in humans. New Mexico has the highest number of human SNV cases in the United States making it important to understand the distribution and genetics of SNV within this region. In August 2020, amidst the severe acute respiratory syndrome …

Role Of Aim2 Inflammasome In Pulmonary Host Defense Against Staphylococcus Aureus-Induced Pneumonia, Bibek Dhakal

LSU Master's Theses

Bacterial pneumonia is the leading cause of death in children under the age of five, claiming the lives of two million children each year. Staphylococcus aureus is the extracellular Gram-positive bacteria that causes necrotizing pneumonia. Moreover, the spread of antibiotic-resistant and hypervirulent strains has made treatment more challenging. Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) is a dsDNA-sensing cytosolic innate immune receptor that activates inflammasomes and is crucial for host defense against intracellular bacteria and DNA viruses. However, its role in extracellular bacterial pathogen-induced pneumonia is unclear. Therefore, understanding how AIM2 initiates host responses during Staphylococcus aureus is crucial for the development …

Willingness Of Non-Industrial Private Forest Landowners To Obtain A Private Versus Public Consultation, Erika Largacha

LSU Master's Theses

Promoting conservation practices among family forests landowners play a critical role to enhance forest health and ecosystem services. Several certification programs recognize such efforts, but participation among landowners varies based on their characteristics, program requirements, and incentives. One crucial step of certification is to obtain a forest management plan, but acquisition among landowners remains extremely low. Several studies suggest connecting landowners with foresters as the key element towards the adoption of forest management plans. Because foresters are typically employed by public forestry agencies or as private self-employed consultants, landowners' willingness to work with either may differ. As far as we …

Observation Of Root Rot And Internal Breakdown Of Redclover (Trifolium Pratense L.) In The 3rd Year, H. Nakashima, H. Morishita, T. Hirata, K. Yoshida

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Two red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cultivars; Hokuseki and Merviot were surveyed growth habits and deterioration at the crown and taproot in the 3rd year. Each cutting plants were marked and measured the plant height and dry matter weight. After 3rd cutting of the 3rd year, plants were digged out and scored the degree of root rot and internal break down (no symptom: 0-severe damaged: 5). The severe damaged plants at the 3rd cutting tend to have larger plant size at the 1st cutting. And other root development traits during growth were observed.

Amphicarpy In The Tropical Legume Centrosema Rotundifolium: A Research Project In Eastern Venezuela, S. Müller, R. Schultze-Kraft, I. Rodríguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Amphicarpy is a particular reproduction mechanism by which a plant can produce both above-ground and below-ground seeds and thus has the potential to contribute to an enhanced persistence of a plant population. It can be found in a range of tropical legumes, e.g. in several Centrosema species. The balance between above- and below-ground seed production is evidently influenced by environment and management factors but these influences are not well known. In the case of perennial tropical legumes, in addition to seed production shifts the allocation of resources affects also the production of tuberous roots as storage organs. A research project …