Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Annealing Based On The Structural, Optical, Morphological And Antibacterial Activities Of Copper Oxide Thin Films By Silar Technique, K. Dhanabalan, A.T. Ravichandran, A.Vasuhi, R. Chandramohan, P. Karthick, Srinivas Mantha

International Journal of Thin Film Science and Technology

Copper oxide thin films were deposited onto a glass substrate using Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction (SILAR) method. The structural, optical, surface morphology, and antibacterial activities are studied. The structural studies revealed that the as-deposited and annealed film at different temperatures like 150 °C, 200 °C, and 250 °C. The preferential orientations of all films are (111) plane with the cubic system. The XRD patterns are well-matched with JCPDS card No: 05-0667. From the UV-vis-NIR studies, the transmittance and absorbance of the film are increased with the increase of annealing temperature. It can attain a maximum temperature of 250 …

Hmong Parent Day/Hnub Txhawb Nqa Niam Txiv: Implementing Psychosociocultural Educational Programming To Honor Rau Siab, Pa Her, Alberta M. Gloria, Shee Yee Chang, Pahoua Thao

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

This paper describes the interrelated conceptual activities that took a Psychosociocultural (PSC) approach to direct best practices, interactions, and processes to implement HMong Parent Days effectively. The purpose of HMong Parent Day/ Hnub Txhawb Nqa Niam Txiv, a culturally-centered community-focused intervention, was to bring HMong parents onto a midwestern predominantly White university campus for a day of college knowledge. The day honored HMong parents' support of their children into and through higher education via the cultural value of rau siab (hard work). Three levels of learning that emergent as new knowledge for HMong parents were highlighted and discussed relative to …

Jmu Libraries Magazine, Jenne M. Klotz, Kristen S. Shuyler, Emily D. Blake

Libraries

This magazine describes highlights from the JMU Libraries from 2020-2021.

Data-Driven Modeling Predicts Gene Regulatory Network Dynamics During The Differentiation Of Multipotential Hematopoietic Progenitors, Joanna Handzlik, Manu

Biology Faculty Publications

Cellular differentiation during hematopoiesis is guided by gene regulatory networks (GRNs) comprising transcription factors (TFs) and the effectors of cytokine signaling. Based largely on analyses conducted at steady state, these GRNs are thought to be organized as a hierarchy of bistable switches, with antagonism between Gata1 and PU.1 driving red- and white-blood cell differentiation. Here, we utilize transient gene expression patterns to infer the genetic architecture—the type and strength of regulatory interconnections—and dynamics of a twelve-gene GRN including key TFs and cytokine receptors. We trained gene circuits, dynamical models that learn genetic architecture, on high temporal-resolution gene-expression data from the …

Rehabilitation/Recovery Journals, Judy Schmitt

Library Faculty Works

Comprehensive list of rehabilitation/recovery journals

Impact Of Pooling Samples On Analytic Sensitivity Of A Real-Time Reverse Transcriptase Pcr Assay For Sars Cov-2, Subathra Marimuthu, Stephen P. Furmanek, Holly Aliesky, Leslie A. Wolf

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

During the COVID-19 pandemic, laboratories experienced periods of shortages for certain critical materials required to meet the high demand for SARS-CoV-2 testing. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration provided a template for molecular diagnostic testing, including guidance for a specimen pooling process in order to evaluate performance of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification assay. This study aimed to evaluate the testing of pooled specimens consisting of four nasopharyngeal swab specimens using the Luminex ARIES^® nucleic acid amplification platform. Results indicated that there was a loss of analytic sensitivity with pooled nasopharyngeal swab samples, demonstrating that this approach should be …

Machine Learning Approach To Simulate Soil Co2 Fluxes Under Cropping Systems, Toby A. Adjuik, Sarah C. Davis

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Graduate Research

With the growing number of datasets to describe greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, there is an opportunity to develop novel predictive models that require neither the expense nor time required to make direct field measurements. This study evaluates the potential for machine learning (ML) approaches to predict soil GHG emissions without the biogeochemical expertise that is required to use many current models for simulating soil GHGs. There are ample data from field measurements now publicly available to test new modeling approaches. The objective of this paper was to develop and evaluate machine learning (ML) models using field data (soil temperature, soil …

Conquer And Prevail Issue 95 January 14 2022, Wofford College. Office Of Marketing And Communications

Conquer and Prevail Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Generation And Application Of Inducible Chimeric Rna, Yichen Luo, Liang Du, Zhimeng Yao, Fan Liu, Kai Li, Feifei Li, Jianlin Zhu, Robert P Coppes, Dianzheng Zhang, Yunlong Pan, Shegan Gao, Hao Zhang

PCOM Scholarly Works

Chimeric RNAs (chiRNAs) play many previously unrecognized roles in different diseases including cancer. They can not only be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases but also serve as potential therapeutic targets. In order to better understand the roles of chiRNAs in pathogenesis, we inserted human sequences into mouse genome and established a knockin mouse model of the tamoxifen-inducible expression of ASTN2-PAPPA antisense chimeric RNA (A-PaschiRNA). Mice carrying the A-PaschiRNA knockin gene do not display any apparent abnormalities in growth, fertility, histological, hematopoietic, and biochemical indices. Using this model, we dissected the role of …

Cancer Screening Differences Among Muslims And Non-Muslims: Insights From The Chicago Multiethnic Prevention And Surveillance Study., Amry Majeed, Zeeshan A. Khan, Briseis Aschebrook-Kilfoy, Muhammad G Kibriya, Habibul Ahsan, Aasim I Padela

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

BACKGROUND: While cancer screening disparities along socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines are well studied, differences based on religious affiliation are under-researched. Though diverse in terms of race/ethnicity, Muslim Americans appear to share values and beliefs that similarly inform their health and healthcare seeking behaviors. Cancer screening disparities among Muslim Americans are also understudied.

METHODS: To examine differences in cancer screening behaviors based on Muslim affiliation, we analyzed data from a longitudinal cohort study examining lifestyle, healthcare access, environmental, and genetic factors on the health of Chicagoans.

RESULTS: Of 7552 participants, 132 (1.7%) were Muslim. Between Muslim and non-Muslims, there were no …

Reprogramming Of Sorghum Proteome In Response To Sugarcane Aphid Infestation, Sajjan Grover, Juan Betancurt Cardona, Prince Zogli, Sophie Alvarez, Michael J. Naldrett, Scott E. Sattler, Joe Louis

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner) is a key piercing-sucking pest of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) that cause significant yield losses. While feeding on host plants, complex signaling networks are invoked from recognition of insect attack to induction of plant defenses. Consequently, these signaling networks lead to the production of insecticidal compounds or limited access of nutrients to insects. Previously, several studies were published on the transcriptomics analysis of sorghum in response to SCA infestation, but no information is available on the physiological changes of sorghum at the proteome level. We used the SCA resistant sorghum genotype SC265 for …

Politics Is Making Us Sick: The Negative Impact Of Political Engagement On Public Health During The Trump Administration, Kevin Smith

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Objectives To quantify the effect of politics on the physical, psychological, and social health of American adults during the four-year span of the Trump administration.

Methods A previously validated politics and health scale was used to compare health markers in nationally representative surveys administered to separate samples in March 2017 (N = 800) and October 2020 (N = 700). Participants in the 2020 survey were re-sampled approximately two weeks after the 2020 election and health markers were compared to their preelection baselines.

Results Large numbers of Americans reported politics takes a significant toll on a range of health markers—everything from …

Harnessing Mycobacterium Bovis Bcg Trained Immunity To Control Human And Bovine Babesiosis, Reginaldo G. Bastos, Heba F. Alzan, Vignesh A. Rathinasamy, Brian M. Cooke, Odir A. Dellagostin, Raul G. Barletta, Carlos E. Suarez

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Babesiosis is a disease caused by tickborne hemoprotozoan apicomplexan parasites of the genus Babesia that negatively impacts public health and food security worldwide. Development of effective and sustainable vaccines against babesiosis is currently hindered in part by the absence of definitive host correlates of protection. Despite that, studies in Babesia microti and Babesia bovis, major causative agents of human and bovine babesiosis, respectively, suggest that early activation of innate immune responses is crucial for vertebrates to survive acute infection. Trained immunity (TI) is defined as the development of memory in vertebrate innate immune cells, allowing more efficient responses to subsequent …

Larval Habitats, Species Composition And Distribution Of Malaria Vectors In Regions With Autochthonous And Imported Malaria In Roraima State, Brazil, Nathália Coelho Vargas De Almeida, Jaime Louzada, Maycon Sebastião Alberto Santos Neves, Thiago M. Carvalho, Júlio Castro‑Alves, Teresa Fernandes Silva‑Do‑Nascimento, Ananias A. Escalante, Joseli Oliveira‑Ferreira

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

Background: Malaria control requires local action. Assessing the vector diversity and abundance provides information on the local malariogenic potential or risk of transmission. This study aimed to determine the Anopheles species composition, habitats, seasonal occurrence, and distribution in areas with autochthonous and imported malaria cases in Roraima State.

Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted from January 2017 to October 2018, sampling larvae and adult mosquitoes in three municipalities of Roraima State: Boa Vista, Pacaraima and São João da Baliza. These areas have different risks of malaria importation. Four to six mosquito larval habitats were selected for larval sampling …

Montane Temperate-Boreal Forests Retain The Leaf Economic Spectrum Despite Intraspecific Variability, Matthew J. Hecking, Jenna M. Zukswert, John E. Drake, Martin Dovciak, Julia I. Burton

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Trait-based analyses provide powerful tools for developing a generalizable, physiologically grounded understanding of how forest communities are responding to ongoing environmental changes. Key challenges lie in (1) selecting traits that best characterize the ecological performance of species in the community and (2) determining the degree and importance of intraspecific variability in those traits. Recent studies suggest that globally evident trait correlations (trait dimensions), such as the leaf economic spectrum, may be weak or absent at local scales. Moreover, trait-based analyses that utilize a mean value to represent a species may be misleading. Mean trait values are particularly problematic if species …

Older Hispanic Women With Health Care Provider Diagnosed Osteoarthritis: Experience And Perceptions Of Culturally Competent Care, Claudia A. Oglivie

Dissertations

Arthritis is the leading cause of disability among U.S. adults over the age of 65. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, has an incidence rate that increases with age with the highest rates among women. Hispanic women are more affected than any other racial or ethnic group. Little is known about how Hispanic women respond to having osteoarthritis and how they manage its symptoms and limitations. Few studies have examined the specific experiences and perceptions of this population. We do not know how differences in incidence, access to care, disease burden, and activity limitations affect the treatment of Hispanic …

Molecular Characterization Of Antibiotic Resistant Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia Coli From Clinical And Food Samples, Khulud Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in foodborne pathogens can be a consequence of using antimicrobial drugs in food-producing animals. The emergence of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens is of great concern due to adverse patient health outcomes and the possibility of transferring genes encoding AMR to other clinically relevant pathogens. One of these bacteria is Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which can cause serious illness in humans for a haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This study characterized and determined the mechanism of antibiotic resistance in 46 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from food and clinical …

Crassostrea Gigas Invasion In Southern California: Macrofaunal Diversity And Local Community Impacts Of Ecosystem Engineers On Estuarine Habitats, Noah Jansen-Yee

Theses

Many marine ecosystems are facing the growing threat of biological invasions. These invasions can have a variety of different impacts on ecosystems and their inhabitants. The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, is currently in the relatively early stages of invasion in San Diego estuaries. Crassostrea gigas is a large, filter-feeding bivalve that forms dense oyster beds on hard substrate. These oysters are known to outcompete native counterparts and drastically alter habitats where they are present. Crassostrea gigas is an ecosystem engineer that, through shell creation and formation of a dense oyster matrix, impacts ecosystems in a variety of direct and indirect …

Health Expectations, Risk Tolerance, And Walking In Peripheral Artery Disease-Related Claudication, Sherene Sharath, Panos Kougias, Neal Barshes

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

We examined the association between health expectations, baseline physical activity, and self-reported symptom severity among patients with claudication: calf pain that occurs during walking and is relieved at rest. Beliefs and attitudes toward exercise influence the behavior. When walking is prescribed as an alternative to surgical intervention with the intention of decreasing symptom severity, as is the case with claudication, it is important to assess patient perceptions, beliefs, and expectations. Through a phone survey, participants described the severity of their symptoms via the Walking Impairment Questionnaire. Data were collected on (1) health expectations and attitudes, assessments of value placed on …

Faculty Senate Agenda

Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Nipah Virus V Protein Binding Alters Mda5 Helicase Folding Dynamics, Nicole D Wagner, Hejun Liu, Henry W Rohrs, Gaya K Amarasinghe, Michael L Gross, Daisy W Leung

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging and deadly zoonotic paramyxovirus that is responsible for periodic epidemics of acute respiratory illness and encephalitis in humans. Previous studies have shown that the NiV V protein antagonizes host antiviral immunity, but the molecular mechanism is incompletely understood. To address this gap, we biochemically characterized NiV V binding to the host pattern recognition receptor MDA5. We find that the C-terminal domain of NiV V (V

Review On Applications Of Lignin In Pavement Engineering: A Recent Survey, Hui Yao, Yiran Wang, Junfu Liu, Mei Xu, Pengrui Ma, Jie Ji, Zhanping You

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Lignin is the second-largest plant polymer on Earth after cellulose. About 98% of lignin produced in the papermaking and pulping industry is used for combustion heating or power generation. Less than 2% of lignin is used in more valuable fields, mainly in the formulation of dispersants, adhesives, and surfactants. Asphalt is one of the most important materials in pavement engineering. It is a dark brown complex mixture composed of hydrocarbons with different molecular weights and their non-metallic derivatives. Because the chemical structure of lignin is similar to that of asphalt, it is a carbon-based hydrocarbon material. More researchers studied the …

Total Water Column Analysis Shows The Importance Of A Single Species In Subsurface Chlorophyll Maximum Thin Layers In Stratified Waters, Michelle L. Barnett, Alan E.S. Kemp, W. Alex M. Nimmo-Smith, Duncan A. Purdie

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Marine phytoplankton form the base of marine food webs and are the driving force of the marine carbon cycle, so understanding the dynamics of their blooms is critical. While near-surface marine productivity (<10 m water depths) is extensively documented, that of the subsurface is less well characterised. Increasing evidence of the importance of subsurface chlorophyll maxima (SCM) and climatically driven increases in stratification of surface waters that promote SCM development call for improved sampling of the subsurface. To address this, we targeted the summer stratified waters of the Western English Channel, part of the NW European shelf seas, where SCM are commonly developed. In situ holography was applied to undertake the highest ever resolution, total water column, quantitative analysis of microplankton distribution, and demonstrated the importance of a SCM, co-located with the thermocline, dominated by a single species, the dinoflagellate Ceratium fusus. This species was dominant in the SCM over a wide area of the NW European shelf in the June/July 2015 study period and comprised up to 85% of the SCM biomass. Analysis of similarity and multivariate non-metric multidimensional scaling showed the phytoplankton community of the SCM to be statistically distinct from those of the surface and deep waters. Holography also revealed a fine scale layering of taxa at different levels within the SCM, likely reflecting ecological differences. Some taxa followed the peak abundance of C. fusus, while others reached maximum abundances immediately below or above the C. fusus maximum, suggesting the possible operation of exclusion mechanisms. Additionally, the detection of abundant aggregates located only within and beneath the SCM demonstrates the potential importance of this deep production for the export of carbon to the sea floor. Some predictions of phytoplankton productivity propose a shift to smaller cells in the more stratified oceans of the future resulting in declining production and export. Results presented here, however, contribute to a growing body of evidence that suggests, on the contrary, that key species among the larger celled/colonial, SCM-adapted diatoms and dinoflagellates may instead be selected in stratified conditions, driving increased production and export.

Moisture-Tolerant And Operationally Simple Synthesis Of Synthetic Polypeptides And Polypeptoids By Ring-Opening Polymerization Of N-Thiocarboxyanhydrides, David Siefker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This work aims to develop a new synthetic strategy for synthesizing advanced functional This work aims to develop a new synthetic strategy for synthesizing advanced functional pseudo-peptidic polymers. Pseudo-peptidic polymers mimic poly(glycine) backbone with substituents on either the α-carbon or the nitrogen, appealing properties for various biomedical applications. One of the critical challenges in pseudo-peptidic polymers research is the synthesis of functional pseudo-peptidic polymers under mild conditions. We developed a system based on ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-Thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs) initiated by primary amines to synthesize polypeptides with a wide range of controlled molecular weights …

Impact Of Enclosures On Range Productivity In Chepareria West Pokot County Kenya, Regina W. Waiganjo, P. N. Mwangi, Rebecca H. Karanja

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the semi-arid areas of West Pokot particularly Chepareria, majority of the people live semi sedentary lives while others are nomadic pastoralists. In the last three decades, there have been concerted efforts to restore and improve rangeland in this area. Use of enclosures, which is one of the key interventions, by the Vi Agro- forestry a Non-Governmental Organisation, enhancing with many ecological processes such as disturbance, is a method of rehabilitating degraded rangeland, which in turn affects vegetation dynamics. Adoption of these strategies by farmers has been gradual and some areas are still open and degraded. The aim of this …

Increased Above-Ground Biomass And Plant Species Decline Related To The Presence Of Eragrostis Curvula Across Multiple Grazing Grasslands In The Snowy Monaro Region Of Australia, J. Brown, L. Ingram

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

"It will be noticed that invasions most often come to cultivated land, or to land much modified by human practice." This quote was published in 1958 by Charles Elton, and holds true today, backed by empirical evidence suggesting mechanisms of disturbance, plant functional traits and propagule pressure can push a cultivated system towards an invaded state. 17 farms, with either a current or previous history of grazing and land modification, within the Snowy Monaro Region, NSW, Australia, were surveyed to explore the relationship between the non-native C4 perennial tussock grass Eragrostis curvula [Schrad.] Nees. and species richness. As E. curvula …

The Use Of Open Communal Grazing Designs To Screen Options For Grazing Management, David R. Kemp, D. L. Michalk, P. M. Dowling, G. Millar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An open communal grazing design is described that enables a large number of grazing tactics to be concurrently evaluated in small plots under common grazing conditions. Pasture data indicated that the same level of utilisation occurred inside the experimental plots as in the surrounding field. However, differential grazing may occur where plots have divergent composition. The open communal design was economical using < 5% of the land, livestock and fencing resources of alternative designs. The limitations of the open communal design as a research tool are also discussed.

Stocking Rate And Supplementation Effects On Performance Of Lambs Grazing Triticale And Ryegrass Sward In Uruguay, R. San Julián, Fabio Montossi, L. Guarino, F. Pittaluga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment was carried out from 9 June to 2 October 1997, using a Lolium multiflorum Lom. (Ryegrass) and X Triticosecale Wittmack (triticale) sward to evaluate the effect of stocking rate (SR; 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha), and supplementation (S; with or without) on Corriedale lamb performance. SR had a significant effect on: liveweight gain (160, 130 and 90 g/an/d, P< 0.01); greasy fleece weight (2.8, 2.7 and 2.3 kg, P< 0.01); fiber diameter (28, 27, and 26 microns, P< 0.05); rib eye depth (2.4, 2.1 and 2.0 cm, P< 0.05); fat cover (3.2, 2.1 and 1.5 cm, P< 0.01); hot carcass weight (17.7, 15.6 and 13.5 kg/an, P< 0.01); GR (10.5, 6.6 and 4.2 mm, P< 0.01) and boneless leg weight (1.56, 1.42 and 1.24 kg, P< 0.05), for 20, 30 and 40 lambs per ha, respectively. At the highest SR, lambs increased grazing time (59 vs 52%) and biting rate (29 vs 26 bites/lamb/min). The mayor influence of S on lamb performance was found in grazing behavior variables: (grazing time (63 vs 50%, P< 0.01); biting rate (26.8 vs 28.4 bites/lamb/min, P< 0.01)), carcass characteristics: (hot carcass weight (15.3 vs 16.0 kg, P< 0.05); GR (7.9 and 6.3 mm, P< 0.05)) for with and without supplement, respectively. Over the experimental period (115 days), liveweight production and wool production ranged from 358 to 437 kg/ha for 20 and 30 lambs/ha respectively, and wool production from 55 to 93 kg/ha for 20 and 40 lambs/ha respectively. These results show the potential use of mixed ryegrass and triticale swards to produce high quality lamb meat even at high SRs, and the convenience of using supplements only when sward conditions are not sufficient to maintain an adequate lamb performance, particularly when high lamb SRs are used.

Lamb Stocking Rate And Supplementation Effects On Mixed Triticale And Ryegrass Swards Characteristics, R. San Julián, Fabio Montossi, L. Guarino, F. Pittaluga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment was carried out from 9 June to 22 October 1997, using a Lolium multiflorum L. (ryegrass) and Triticosecale Wittmack (triticale) mixed sward grazed by lambs in a rotational grazing system, to determine the effect of stocking rate (SR; 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha) and supplementation (S; with or without) on herbage production, composition and nutritive value. SR affected significantly before and after grazing herbage mass and sward height, being higher the values of these variables at the lower SR (3232, 2611 and 2345 kg DM ha^-1, P < 0.05; 2557, 1761 and 1612 kg DM ha^-1, P < 0.01; 17, 11 and 9 cm, P < 0.01 respectively). Increments in SR had an effect on post grazing sward composition, increasing the proportion of ryegrass (32, 36 and 47 %, P< 0.05) and decreasing triticale contribution (68, 64 and 55 %, P< 0.05) for 20, 30 and 40 lambs/ha. The effect of SR on sward nutritive value was not very clear. Before grazing, S affected significantly herbage mass, being higher the values at the supplemented treatments (2787 vs. 2672 kg DM ha^-1, P < 0.10). This experiment showed the high potential of forage production and nutritive value of ryegrass and triticale swards for lamb production in the sandy soil region of Uruguay, and the dominant effect of SR, compared to S, on most of the sward variables considered.

Invasive Plants For Commercial Use

Thomas Jefferson University Research Magazine

Invasive plants can have an array of negative ecological effects. In Northeast deciduous forests, for example, invasive plants outcompete natives, disrupt soil nutrient cycling and spread disease that affects humans as well as other plants.

“Invasives are creating increasingly difficult problems across the United States,” says Anne Bower, PhD, professor of biology. “While there are some public and nonprofit efforts to address those problems, we also need to employ free market incentives to overcome this major ecological challenge.” Dr. Bower, Mary Ann Wagner-Graham, PhD, assistant professor of biology, and Becky Flax, MS, assistant professor of textile design, have been working …