Digital Commons Network^™

Pathways To Freedom Project: Finding Matilda Hicks Research Report, Roseann Bacha-Garza

Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Educational Resources

The CHAPS Program sponsored a research trip to Georgia and Alabama in August of 2022 to search for the origins of the Nathaniel Jackson and a family slave named Matilda Hicks. A presentation was given to family, friends, and interested historians at the Jackson Ranch Church on Saturday, May 6, 2023. The report includes the results of the research trip, along with technological surveys of the Jackson Ranch Church property along the US-Mexico border in San Juan, Texas. TEKS-aligned lesson plans developed by regional teachers are also included in this report.

Dual Function Molecular Imaging Probes For Breast Cancer, Christopher Denyse

Theses

Breast cancer (BrCa) is a pressing health concern, necessitating the development of effective imaging and therapeutic agents. To address this need, we designed and synthesized molecularly targeted imaging and therapeutic agents that combine visualization and treatment of tumors in real-time. Our approach involved the development of dual-modal agents, incorporating the fluorescent near infrared (NIR) dye, IRDye78, and a chlorin-based photosensitizer (PS) dye, Mesopyropheoborbide-a (mPPa), coupled to a BrCa-targeting peptide, "18-4." Additionally, we created a water-soluble, single-modal targeted PS probe for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of BrCa for use guided by other imaging methods. Our methodology was based on a modular approach, …

An Investigation Of Freshwater Turtle Ecology Using Stable Isotopes, Jonathan Duran

Biology ETDs

In 2022 I investigated niche partitioning among native and invasive freshwater turtles across three sites in the Middle Rio Grande using bulk stable isotope analysis. I found high degrees of niche partitioning at sites in which Red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta) have yet to establish. However, at sites in which red-eared sliders are now the most abundant species they overlapped greatly in isotopic niche with all native turtles, in particular the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta). Using these same techniques, I then examined the trophic interactions between red-eared sliders and their acanthocephalan parasites. My results suggest that acanthocephalans …

Diversification By Dispersal Out Of The Andes Revealed By A Newly Discovered Hummingbird Clade, The ‘True Brilliants’, Marialejandra Castro-Farías

Biology ETDs

We identified a novel clade with striking biogeographic implications. Unsampled genera, Hylonympha and Sternoclyta, were found to be close to the genus Heliodoxa within the Brilliants. Heliodoxa tend to occur in lower montane habitats, such as the tropical, upper tropical, and subtropical elevational zones of the Andes and the Neotropics. Analysis of geographic and elevational zones showed that genus Heliodoxa and related genera diversified by out-of-Andes dispersal to mountain ranges of Central America, coastal Venezuela, the Pantepui, and southeastern Brazil, since the mid-Miocene. Within the Brilliants, reductions in elevation preceded these geographic expansions. Secondary colonization of the lowlands from …

Post-Fire Plant Community Response In Subalpine Mixed Conifer Forest, Sasha Escamilla

Biology ETDs

Increased wildfire activity may lead to significant shifts in vegetation dynamics in high elevation mixed conifer forests. These changes raise concerns about the resilience of forests following wildfire, prompting the need for a deeper understanding of post-fire plant community response. We analyzed up to 11 years of post-fire vegetation data from Valles Caldera National Preserve in northern New Mexico to determine how burned vegetation sites were recovering following high severity wildfire, and whether or not plant communities were transitioning to montane grassland. We found burned understory herbaceous communities were not transitioning into distinctive montane grasslands and were instead recovering to …

Evidence Of Competitive Release Following Overstory Mortality In A Semi-Arid Piñon-Juniper Woodland, Corrie D. Gonzalez

Biology ETDs

Extreme temperatures and severe drought events have led to widespread tree mortality worldwide. In semi-arid regions of the Southwest United States, these events pose a significant threat to piñon-juniper (PJ) woodlands. We studied the effects of piñon and juniper mortality on the growth and physiology of existing saplings in PJ woodlands by analyzing water status, photosynthetic activity, and tissue chemistry to gain insights into these impacts. Juniper saplings exhibited improved water status and water use efficiency in response to overstory mortality, whereas piñon saplings did not. Additionally, both piñon and juniper saplings exhibited increased photosynthetic rates, increased photosynthetic capacity, and …

Thermoregulation In Nocturnal Volant Endotherms Occupying Hot Deserts, William A. Talbot

Biology ETDs

The study of thermoregulation is of growing concern in this era of rapid climate change. Earlier studies such as those pioneered by Scholander and Bartholomew directed focus toward the study of endotherm survival in conditions of cold weather adversity. As techniques evolved in the measurement of parameters quantifying thermoregulation, metabolism and energy allocation, the standardization procedures has increased the comparability of data from diverse taxa. We can now search historical records and current research for explanations to the changes in the distribution, migration, extirpation or survival of animal and plant populations through time. It is increasingly common to observe dramatic …

Resolving The Paradox Of Polyploidy: Underexplored Facets Of Polyploid Plants, Benjamin P. Gerstner

Biology ETDs

Polyploidy, or whole genome duplication, is a common phenomenon in plants, but the establishment and persistence of mixed-ploidy populations remains a paradox. This dissertation explores factors that contribute to the persistence and establishment of mixed-ploidy populations in nature. The first chapter investigates the role of unreduced gametes in neopolyploid establishment and finds that variability in their formation rate can have a significant impact on polyploid establishment and persistence. The second chapter searches for evidence of soil microbes exhibiting ploidy-specificity, a pre-condition for microbe-mediated niche differentiation, a possible stabilizing mechanism contributing to ploidy coexistence. Finally, the third chapter tests for microbe-mediated …

University Of Central Florida Graduate Catalog, 2023 - 2024, University Of Central Florida

UCF Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Trophic Assessment Of The Invasive Hydrozoan Gonionemus Vertens Using Stable Isotope Analysis : You Are What You Eat, Diana Sisk-Gritz

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Gonionemus vertens, commonly known as the clinging jellyfish, is a small hydrozoan known for their conflicts with humans due to their neurotoxins that can lead to paralysis. Native to the Pacific Ocean, it has now invaded numerous ecosystems in the coastal waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Europe, and the United States. In the United States, it has flourishing populations from New Jersey to Maine. However, many questions remain as to how it arrived and spread, but equally important is what impact this species may have in the invaded communities they now reside. Research suggests that G. vertens actively feeds on …

The Guardian The Month Of August 2023, Wright State Student Body

The Guardian Student Newspaper

News articles from The Guardian for the Month of August 2023. The Guardian is the official student-run newspaper for Wright State University. It has been published regularly since March of 1965.

A Novel Brain Computer Interface Design, Steven Vogan

Senior Honors Theses

A brain computer interface (BCI) is a system which connects neural signals to a computer system. They have been used for controlling systems including robotics, on-screen computer control such as mouse movement, typing, and synthesizing audio signals. Invasive, or implanted, systems are often long-term medical solutions, or used for research where very clear signal is required. Non-invasive systems usually rely on exterior signals gathered through a headset using one or more electrode sensors. These signals are composed of sums of neuron activation potentials from brain activity and can be used to determine particular aspects of brain function. All BCIs rely …

Differential Movement Response Of Silver Carp To Individual And Environmental Conditions In The Illinois And Wabash Rivers, Taylor Mogavero

Theses

Knowledge about the spatial dynamics of invasive species is essential to predict, restrict, and prevent their spread to new areas. Invasive Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) populations are expanding on all fronts and are threatening to establish in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Understanding their movement patterns is vital to prevent their populations from spreading further and to improve management efficiency. This study looked at multiple factors to understand which have an influence on the movement of invasive Silver Carp in two different river systems. Chapter 1 examined the relationship between individual and environmental factors—including length, body condition, temperature, and discharge—and movement …

Breaking Barriers: Exploring Women's Identities And Challenges Around Work Through Photos And Reports In Delhi Ncr, Sonal Vij

Research Papers

This paper explores the relationships between women and their work in India's Delhi National Capital Region. Using a journalistic ethnographic research approach, the study examines women's experiences from different socioeconomic backgrounds, professions, and castes. The research aims to understand the complex dynamics of female relationships at work, focusing on how women negotiate and resist patriarchal structures. The research uses participant observational techniques and involves spending time with the participants in their workplaces, observing their interactions, capturing them on camera, and conducting semi-structured interviews. The data is analyzed thematically to identify the patterns and themes that emerge from the participants' experiences. …

Investigation Of Orthohantavirus Genetics In Rodent Reservoirs And Clinical Samples, Samuel Melvin Goodfellow

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Orthohantaviruses are negative-sense, single stranded RNA viruses with trisegmented genomes that can cause severe disease in humans and are carried by several host reservoirs throughout the world. In the United States, Sin Nombre orthohantavirus (SNV) is the primary cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) with a fatality rate of ~36% and the highest cases occuring in the southwest region. The primary SNV host reservoir is thought to be the western deer mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus, however it has been shown that other rodents can carry different orthohantaviruses. We designed a pan-orthohantavirus detection tool to survey several small mammal populations throughout New …

Non-Target Potential Of Neonicotinoid And Fungicide Seed Cane Treatments On Solenopsis Invicta, Hannah J. Penn, Paul M. White, Blake E. Wilson, Randy T. Richard

Faculty Publications

Traditionally, Louisiana sugarcane has been grown vegetatively from whole stalks, but innovations in machinery and rising labor costs have increased interest in billet planting. Billets, short stalk pieces containing several viable eyes, are more susceptible to pathogen exposure and may require fungicide and/or insecticide applications at planting to increase stand potential. Work in other crops indicates such treatments may alter arthropod predator abundance, so the goal of this study was to evaluate the potential non-target effects of select treatments at planting on the red important fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, and other arthropod predators of the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis, …

Longitudinal Assessment Of Cognitive Function In The Appswe/Ps1de9 Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's-Related Beta-Amyloidosis, Paul L. Soto, Michael E. Young, Giuliana M. Dimarco, Brianna George, Tatiana Melnikova, Alena V. Savonenko, Breanna N. Harris

Faculty Publications

Preclinical models of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive decline can be useful for developing therapeutics. The current study longitudinally assessed short-term memory, using a delayed matching-to-position (DMTP) task, and attention, using a 3-choice serial reaction time (3CSRT) task, from approximately 18 weeks of age through death or 72 weeks of age in APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, a widely used mouse model of AD-related amyloidosis. Both transgenic (Tg) and non-Tg mice exhibited improvements in DMTP accuracy over time. Breaks in testing reduced DMTP accuracy but accuracy values quickly recovered in both Tg and non-Tg mice. Both Tg and non-Tg mice exhibited high accuracy in …

Pharmacological Inhibition Of Lipolysis Prevents Adverse Metabolic Outcomes During Glucocorticoid Administration, Melissa A. Linden, Susan J. Burke, Humza A. Pirzadah, Tai Yu Huang, Heidi M. Batdorf, Walid K. Mohammed, Katarina A. Jones, Sujoy Ghosh, Shawn R. Campagna, J. Jason Collier, Robert C. Noland

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Glucocorticoids are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of anti-inflammatory drugs; however, chronic treatment promotes iatrogenic (drug-induced) diabetes. As part of their physiological role, glucocorticoids stimulate lipolysis to spare glucose. We hypothesized that persistent stimulation of lipolysis during glucocorticoid therapy plays a causative role in the development of iatrogenic diabetes. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were given 100 μg/mL corticosterone (Cort) in the drinking water for two weeks and were fed either normal chow (TekLad 8640) or the same diet supplemented with an adipose triglyceride lipase inhibitor (Atglistatin - 2 g/kg diet) to inhibit the first step of lipolysis. …

Gdf15 Mediates The Effect Of Skeletal Muscle Contraction On Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion, Hui Zhang, Anny Mulya, Stephan Nieuwoudt, Bolormaa Vandanmagsar, Ruth Mcdowell, Elizabeth C. Heintz, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, J. Jason Collier, Nadejda Bozadjieva-Kramer, Randy J. Seeley, Christopher L. Axelrod, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Exercise is a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes and preserves b-cell function by hitherto unknown mechanisms. We postulated that proteins fromcontracting skeletalmuscle may act as cellular signals to regulate pancreatic b-cell function. We used electric pulse stimulation (EPS) to induce contraction in C2C12myotubes and found that treatment of b-cells with EPS-conditioned medium enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Transcriptomics and subsequent targeted validation revealed growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) as a central component of the skeletal muscle secretome. Exposure to recombinant GDF15 enhanced GSIS in cells, islets, andmice. GDF15 enhanced GSIS by upregulating the insulin secretion pathway in b-cells,whichwas abrogated …

Quality Of Farmed Shrimp (Penaeus Monodon, Fabricius, 1798 And Macrobrachium Rosenbergii, Deman, 1879) As Affected By Melanosis Inhibiting Compounds, M. Khan, J. A. Lively

Faculty Publications

A problem associated with shrimp is blackspot or melanosis and to prevent blackspot, sulfites have been used for years but come with additional health risks. Newer 4-hexylresorcinol formulations exist that allow sulfite-free shrimp, but effects on the quality of Penaeus monodon Fabricius, 1798, and Macrobrachium rosenbergii, de Man, 1879, beyond melanosis prevention are unknown. Adverse effects on the quality of the shrimp from melanosis prevention treatments would negatively offset the benefits of a sulfite-free product. In order to determine if prevention compounds (sulfite powder or 4-hexylresorcinol based compounds, Everfresh® and Xyrex® Prawnfresh™) affect quality, proximate composition and total plate count …

When Can Local Bird Detection Radars Best Complement Broad-Scale Early-Warning Forecasts Of Risk Potential For Bird–Aircraft Strikes As Part Of An Integrated Approach To Strike Mitigation?, Melanie R. Colón, Ashley M. Long

Faculty Publications

Worldwide, wildlife–aircraft strikes cost more than US$1.2 billion in aircraft damage and downtime and jeopardize the safety of aircrews, passengers, and animals. Radar has long been used to monitor flying animal movements and can be a useful tool for strike mitigation. In the USA, the Avian Hazard Advisory System (AHAS) is an early-warning system that integrates data from next-generation weather radar (NEXRAD) weather surveillance radars (WSRs) with historic bird occurrence data to quantify avian activity and forecast the relative bird risk within a ~9.3-km radius of military and civilian airfields. Bird detection radars (BDRs) with both horizontal-surveillance and vertical-scanning components …

Dna Methylation Near Cpt1a And Changes In Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins In Response To Weight-Loss Diet Interventions, Xiang Li, Xiaojian Shao, Qiaochu Xue, Minghao Kou, Catherine M. Champagne, Boryana S. Koseva, Yoriko Heianza, Elin Grundberg, Lydia A. Bazzano, George A. Bray, Frank M. Sacks, Lu Qi

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Context: Carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1A, encoded by the CPT1A gene, plays a key role in the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids in the mitochondria and may be important in triglyceride metabolism. Previous work has shown that high fat intake was negatively associated with CPT1A methylation and positively associated with CPT1A expression. Objective: We aim to investigate the association of DNA methylation (DNAm) at the CPT1A gene with reductions in triglycerides and triglyceride-rich lipoproteins (TRLs) in response to weight-loss diet interventions. Methods: The current study included 538 White participants, who were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets varying in macronutrient components. We …

A High-Quality De Novo Genome Assembly For Clapper Rail (Rallus Crepitans), Elisa C. Elizondo, Brant C. Faircloth, Robb T. Brumfield, Subir B. Shakya, Vincenzo A. Ellis, Carl J. Schmidt, Adrienne I. Kovach, W. Gregory Shriver

Faculty Publications

The clapper rail (Rallus crepitans), of the family Rallidae, is a secretive marsh bird species that is adapted for high salinity habitats. They are very similar in appearance to the closely related king rail (R. elegans), but while king rails are limited primarily to freshwater marshes, clapper rails are highly adapted to tolerate salt marshes. Both species can be found in brackish marshes where they freely hybridize, but the distribution of their respective habitats precludes the formation of a continuous hybrid zone and secondary contact can occur repeatedly. This system, thus, provides unique opportunities to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving …

Science Diplomacy From The Global South: The Case Of Intergovernmental Science Organizations, Anna Lena Rüland, Nicolas Rüffin, Katharina Cramer, Prosper Ngabonziza, Manoj Saxena, Stefan Skupien

Faculty Publications

Intergovernmental science organizations (IGSOs) address many challenges of the 21st century. Several countries of the Global South have joined established IGSOs or have created new ones. Yet we know little about their interests in IGSOs. Our study addresses this blind spot by investigating which objectives Southern actors pursue in IGSOs and under which conditions they are likely to achieve their objectives. Using insights from three strands of literature, we compare four IGSOs with Southern participation: the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the Square Kilometer Array, and the African Lightsource. We show that countries of the …

The Master Growth Regulator Della Binding To Histone H2a Is Essential For Della-Mediated Global Transcription Regulation, Xu Huang, Hao Tian, Jeongmoo Park, Dong Ha Oh, Jianhong Hu, Rodolfo Zentella, Hong Qiao, Maheshi Dassanayake, Tai Ping Sun

Faculty Publications

The DELLA genes, also known as ‘Green Revolution’ genes, encode conserved master growth regulators that control plant development in response to internal and environmental cues. Functioning as nuclear-localized transcription regulators, DELLAs modulate expression of target genes via direct protein–protein interaction of their carboxy-terminal GRAS domain with hundreds of transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic regulators. However, the molecular mechanism of DELLA-mediated transcription reprogramming remains unclear. Here by characterizing new missense alleles of an Arabidopsis DELLA, repressor of ga1-3 (RGA), and co-immunoprecipitation assays, we show that RGA binds histone H2A via the PFYRE subdomain within its GRAS domain to form a TF–RGA–H2A …

Chemical Characterization And Impact Of Nipple Fruit (Solanum Mammosum) On The Characteristics Of Lactobacillus Acidophilus La K, Ricardo S. Aleman, Dany Avila, Allan Avila, Jack N. Losso, David Picha, Zhimin Xu, Kayanush Aryana

Faculty Publications

Nipple fruit (Solanum mammosum) has been considered to have great pharmaceutical potential because of its high amounts of solamargine and solasonine. This study aimed to examine the effect of nipple fruit at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, and 2% (w/v)) on the viability, acid, bile, lysozyme, and gastric juice tolerance, and protease activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA K. The viability was studied in MRS broth. Acid tolerance was determined by adjusting the pH to 2, whereas bile tolerance was examined with oxgall 0.3% (w/v) in MRS broth. Lysozyme resistance was investigated in an electrolyte solution with lysozyme (100 mg/L), while gastric …

Inspire : Vol 6, Issue 9, Department Of Medicine

INSPIRE – Department of Medicine Archives

• Message from the Chair
• Medicine at National and International Forums Dermatology & the Journey of Education
• Risk Management training
• Nuts and Bolts of Research Administration training research program
• Pitfalls of Harmful Cosmetics and Skincare Trends
• In-depth- featuring Dr Zeba Rasmussen | Visiting Faculty By Zahrah Rahmatullah & Shahnoor Ahmed
• Featured Faculty | Dr Nashiz Inayet | Gastroenterology Section “…everyday, life brings its own challenges and with every challenge, an opportunity
• What Academics Are Reading?
• Poem

2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog, The University Of Alabama In Huntsville

Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Production Efficiency And Farm Profitability Through Innovative Extension Programming, Nathan W. Conner, Matt Stockton, Daran Rudnick, Charles Burr, Tessa Burford

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

Cooperative Extension strives to provide agricultural producers with non-formal educational opportunities designed to positively impact agriculture (NIFA, 2021). Therefore, a team of Extension professionals at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln developed and facilitate an ongoing professional development program designed to enhance the engagement of agricultural producers in farm management, especially in the areas of input use efficiency and profitability. Andragogy was used as the framework to help ensure the Testing Agricultural Performance Solutions (TAPS) program provided agricultural producers with non-formal education that aligned with andragogical principles. Knowles (1980) refers to andragogy as the “art and science of helping adults …

Global Security In The Third Millennium Of The Common Era, Michael Andregg

Comparative Civilizations Review

The primary purpose of this short essay is to catalyze discussion among security professionals about how perspectives on ‘global security’ and ‘wise civilizations’ might affect military affairs during a time of great, interdisciplinary stresses that impact everyone on earth today.

Global civilization faces two main existential threats this century. The first is a quick death from general thermonuclear war or release of other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) like exotic, genetically engineered biological weapons. The second is a slow death from incremental destruction of the living system that supports all civilizations, wise or unwise, by mechanisms like deforestation, desertification, climate …