Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison Of Culturable Microbial Groups Present In Selected Peatlands In Midlands Of The Republic Of Ireland: Effect Of ‘Peatland Use’ Type On Microbial Consortia; A Pilot Study, Gouri Atapattu, Samuel Apori, Tara Battersby, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

Articles

Soil microbial ecology in the Irish wetlands is still poorly understood, although it is crucial in introducing effective rewetting schemes to restore and conserve the Irish peatlands. As an initiative, peatlands with distinct land-use types (cutaway, raised semi-degraded, unimproved grassland and grassland) were collected from farms in the midlands to analyse various microbial populations. Peat was homogenized and serially diluted to culture on a range of specific and non-specific culture media. Culture isolation and microbial enumeration were performed. Gram staining and other microscopic observations of morphologically distinct microorganisms were performed, followed by isolation procedures. The numbers of total viable bacteria …

Perspectives On The Doctor Of Public Health (Drph) Education Among Students And Alumni In The United States: A Cross-Sectional National Online Survey, Chulwoo Park, Cindy Delgado, Ans Irfan

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Background

This study explored the current and desired identity of the DrPH degree, focusing on whether the competencies set by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) adequately prepare DrPH graduates for effective public health practice. Additionally, the study investigated the necessity of standardization in DrPH training, referring to a consensus-driven approach that equips future public health practitioners with practical skillsets applicable in real-world scenarios.

Methods

A national cross-sectional online survey titled “National DrPH leaders & practitioners needs assessment” was conducted from November 2020 to February 2021. The survey was based on a self-report by DrPH students and DrPH …

Class-Driven Synergy And Antagonism Between A Pseudomonas Phage And Antibiotics, Paul Nicholls, Justin R Clark, Carmen Gu Liu, Austen Terwilliger, Anthony W Maresso

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The ubiquitous bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for severe infections in patients with burns, cystic fibrosis, and neutropenia. Biofilm formation gives physical refuge and a protected microenvironment for sessile cells, rendering cure by antibiotics a challenge. Bacteriophages have evolved to prey on these biofilms over millions of years, using hydrolases and depolymerases to penetrate biofilms and reach cellular targets. Here, we assessed how a newly discovered KMV-like phage (ΦJB10) interacts with antibiotics to treat P. aeruginosa more effectively in both planktonic and biofilm forms. By testing representatives of four classes of antibiotics (cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and carbapenems), we demonstrated …

Labeling Piezo2 Activity In The Peripheral Nervous System, Nicholas W Villarino, Yasmeen M F Hamed, Britya Ghosh, Adrienne E Dubin, Amanda H Lewis, Max A Odem, Meaghan C Loud, Yu Wang, M Rocio Servin-Vences, Ardem Patapoutian, Kara L Marshall

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

Sensory neurons detect mechanical forces from both the environment and internal organs to regulate physiology. PIEZO2 is a mechanosensory ion channel critical for touch, proprioception, and bladder stretch sensation, yet its broad expression in sensory neurons suggests it has undiscovered physiological roles. To fully understand mechanosensory physiology, we must know where and when PIEZO2-expressing neurons detect force. The fluorescent styryl dye FM 1-43 was previously shown to label sensory neurons. Surprisingly, we find that the vast majority of FM 1-43 somatosensory neuron labeling in mice in vivo is dependent on PIEZO2 activity within the peripheral nerve endings. We illustrate the …

Genome-Wide Association Studies And Fine-Mapping Identify Genomic Loci For N-3 And N-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Hispanic American And African American Cohorts, Chaojie Yang, Jenna Veenstra, Traci M Bartz, Matthew C Pahl, Brian Hallmark, Yii-Der Ida Chen, Jason Westra, Lyn M Steffen, Christopher D Brown, David Siscovick, Michael Y Tsai, Alexis C Wood, Stephen S Rich, Caren E Smith, Timothy D O'Connor, Dariush Mozaffarian, Struan F A Grant, Floyd H Chilton, Nathan L Tintle, Rozenn N Lemaitre, Ani Manichaikul

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) play critical roles in human health. Prior genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of n-3 and n-6 PUFAs in European Americans from the CHARGE Consortium have documented strong genetic signals in/near the FADS locus on chromosome 11. We performed a GWAS of four n-3 and four n-6 PUFAs in Hispanic American (n = 1454) and African American (n = 2278) participants from three CHARGE cohorts. Applying a genome-wide significance threshold of P < 5 × 10

Strategies For Overcoming The Single-Molecule Concentration Barrier, David S White, Mackinsey A Smith, Baron Chanda, Randall H Goldsmith

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Fluorescence-based single-molecule approaches have helped revolutionize our understanding of chemical and biological mechanisms. Unfortunately, these methods are only suitable at low concentrations of fluorescent molecules so that single fluorescent species of interest can be successfully resolved beyond background signal. The application of these techniques has therefore been limited to high-affinity interactions despite most biological and chemical processes occurring at much higher reactant concentrations. Fortunately, recent methodological advances have demonstrated that this concentration barrier can indeed be broken, with techniques reaching concentrations as high as 1 mM. The goal of this Review is to discuss the challenges in performing single-molecule fluorescence …

Exploring The Experiences Of Black, Brown, Indigenous, And People Of Color In High School Concert Bands And Orchestral Ensembles, Matthew J. Smith

Doctor of Education Program Dissertations

The traditional concert band/orchestra model in many public high schools often passively presents content regarding Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). BIPOC students in these ensembles bring a wealth of experience from their communities. Meanwhile, BIPOC face barriers including invalidation and a diminished sense of representation in these ensembles. This qualitative investigation explored how BIPOC students in a public 9-12 high school district experienced social, pedagogical, curricular practices in their school’s concert band/orchestra. Guided by critical race theory and culturally responsive pedagogy, and employing interpretive phenomenological analysis, this study addressed the lack of inclusivity and representation experienced by BIPOC …

2017 Mississippi Historical Society Award Winners

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

Metaversity And Metaworth, Two Important Prerequisites To Prepare For The Metaverse, Mohammad Fathi, Ahmad Shabani, Alireza Mansouri

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Currently, the world is in the fourth industrial revolution, where the speed of innovation has accelerated both in terms of development and diffusion; technologies bring more in sync with the needs of societies, and the complex technologies of a new world named “Metaverse” are rapidly increasing, expanding, and spreading. There are many uncertainties and questions in this emerging. This paper, after trying to understand the metaverse, its opportunities, and challenges, has discussed the reasons for the necessity to prepare societies, how to make policies, and finally how to enter this mysterious world. After studying the sources and information available in …

Editorial: Innovative, Non-Conventional Ingredients For Sustainable Aquafeeds, Janice A. Ragaza, Vikas Kumar, Rex Ferdinand M. Traifalgar

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Integrated Healthcare In The U.S. Safety-Net System: Meeting The Needs Of Patients Through Comprehensive Medical And Social Care, Jacqueline Devaney

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis examines how a Patient-Centered Medical Home addresses, implements, and provides medical and social resources and services within the Florida U.S. safety-net system, and how patients and providers perceive health care interactions between each other. The safety-net clinics seek to fill the care gap for millions of uninsured low-income U.S. residents who cannot afford private insurance, are unemployed, self-employed, undocumented, or their low income exceeds the qualification threshold, and they face barriers in accessing expensive medical care in the U.S. I have conducted ethnographic research at Grace Medical Home, a safety-net clinic in Central Florida, which included five months …

Assessing The Overall Utility Of Rapid Digital Documentation Methods On The Juniper Springs Recreational Site In The Ocala National Forest, Alexander Nalewaik

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The use of rapid digital documentation technologies remains in its infancy, although it promises to change the course of future archaeological work. With rising sea levels, the natural deterioration of historic sites and structures, and the lack of proper funding for historic and cultural sites, more of these sites are at risk of destruction. With the implementation of rapid digital documentation methods, researchers can address risks associated with data loss. To date, only a handful of cultural resource management (CRM) firms use these technologies, citing the lack of use as too expensive or difficult to learn. Using rapid digital documentation …

Improving Basic Cadet Training For Changing Environment: Case Study At The Korea Air Force Academy, Yoojin Kwon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Increasing uncertainty, such as Covid-19 and weather changes, threatens BCT (Basic Cadet Training) at ROKAFA (Republic of Korea Air Force Academy). In preparation for the changing and adverse environment, this study carried out the following steps to propose a system improvement utilizing LVC (Live, Virtual, Constructive) in BCT system at ROKAFA; 1) Researching the examples of BCT and LVC by advanced countries, 2) Analyzing BCT (ROKAFA) through systems approach (document analysis, survey of 140 cadets and officers, written interviews with military experts), 3) Applying LVC to BCT. BCT is a vital step in the transition from civilian to military status …

Flow Induced Vibration In Corrugated Metal Flexhoses, Patrick Tran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study on flow-induced vibration provides valuable insights into the fundamental dynamics of fluid-structure interactions. The findings contribute to the development of predictive models and design guidelines for engineering systems susceptible to flow-induced vibration. By improving our understanding of this phenomenon, engineers can enhance the safety and reliability of various structures subjected to fluid flow, such as pipelines, flexhoses, and bellows. Flowinduced vibration is a phenomenon that occurs when fluid flow interacts with a structure, leading to oscillations and potentially causing mechanical damage. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and predicting the vibration characteristics is crucial for the design and safe operation …

Florida's Vanishing Heritage: Climate Risk And Adaptation At Florida Heritage Sites, Levi Watson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This thesis examines history and preservation at coastal cultural heritage sites threatened by climate change and explores climate adaptation strategies at two sites on Florida's Atlantic coast. Current climate change models indicate the planet may see as much as 1.1 meters, or four feet, of global average sea level rise by the year 2100, requiring site managers to intervene by using adaptation techniques to improve resilience and guard against the loss of cultural heritage monuments. Understanding the history and importance of these sites to the surrounding communities and their numerous stakeholders is the first step to ensuring these sites remain …

Understanding The Mechanisms By Which Cable Sway Produces Motion Artifact In Mobile Electroencephalography, David Rojas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Mobile brain/body imaging utilizes electroencephalography (EEG) to record brain activity during human walking in dynamic environments. Motion artifact from cable sway affects the quality of EEG signals collected from the scalp, masking contributions of synchronously firing neurons. Previous studies have explored cable sway-induced motion artifact, but only during vigorous exercise or controlled sinusoidal motion. Therefore, a need remains to further understand the underlying mechanisms of this artifact, as it may help with developing real-time mitigation methods, reducing reliance on offline signal processing. In this thesis, I aimed to show that controlled cable sway could produce specific motion artifact waveforms in …

Digital Disconnect: The Relationship Between In-Game And Real-World Issues In World Of Warcraft, Taylor Devereaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This dissertation explores how players of the Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), World of Warcraft, responded to in-game instances of sexism and racism before and after the Activision Blizzard lawsuit was made public. It also covers the responses of players to the lawsuit itself to see if player responses changed once the lawsuit was made public. These results illustrate if and how player responses may change regarding in-game social issues based on the real-world environment that the game is being created within. To establish what players are seeing in the game, I first analyzed the narratives of four major …

Topological Data Analysis Using The Mapper Algorithm, Jessica Girard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Topological data analysis is an expanding field that attempts to obtain qualitative information from a data set using topological ideas. There are two common methods of topological data analysis: persistent homology and the Mapper algorithm; the focus of this thesis is on the latter. In this thesis, we will be discussing the key ideas behind the Mapper algorithm, following the flow from Morse Theory to Reeb graphs to the topological version of the algorithm and finally to the statistical version. Lastly, we will present an application of Mapper to the USAIR97 data set using the RTDAmapper package.

"I Want To Save A Million Lives." Uab Spring 2023 Graduate Set To Start Post-Baccalaureate Intramural Research Training With The National Institutes Of Health., Micah Hardge

Browse All News

No abstract provided.

A Multi-Tiered Assessment Of Primary Production In Great Salt Lake, Soren Brothers, Melissa Cobo, R. Douglas Ramsey, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Erin N. Rivers

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is the largest saline lake in the western hemisphere. Despite this, relatively little is known regarding ecological functioning within the lake, including detailed assessments of rates of primary productivity and ecosystem productivity. Analyses of primary production in GSL are complicated by the high heterogeneity of the system, including a broad salinity gradient from near-fresh conditions at the river confluences in Farmington and Bear River Bays to the hyper-saline conditions of the lake’s northwest arm (Gunnison Bay). Further complicating estimates of primary productivity is the possibility of high rates of benthic primary production (by benthic algae and …

Reduction Of Sparc Protects Mice Against Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation And Obesity, Seungjin Ryu, Olga Spadaro, Sviatoslav Sidorov, Aileen H. Lee, Sonia Caprio, Christopher Morrison, Steven R. Smith, Eric Ravussin, Irina Shchukina, Maxim N. Artyomov, Yun Hee Youm, Vishwa Deep Dixit

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The comprehensive assessment of long-term effects of reducing intake of energy (CALERIE-II; NCT00427193) clinical trial established that caloric restriction (CR) in humans lowers inflammation. The identity and mechanism of endogenous CR-mimetics that can be deployed to control obesity-associated inflammation and diseases are not well understood. Our studies have found that 2 years of 14% sustained CR in humans inhibits the expression of the matricellular protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), in adipose tissue. In mice, adipose tissue remodeling caused by weight loss through CR and low-protein diet feeding decreased, while high-fat diet–induced (HFD-induced) obesity increased SPARC expression …

Small Molecules Targeting Insm1 For The Treatment Of High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Michael S. Lan, Chiachen Chen

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Human neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common childhood extracranial tumor arising from the sympathetic nervous system. It is also a clinically heterogeneous disease that ranges from spontaneous regression to high-risk stage 4 disease. The cause of this disease remains elusive. However, the amplification of NMYC oncogene occurred in roughly 30% of NB patients, which strongly correlated with the advanced stage of disease subtype and the worse prognosis status. We discovered that N-Myc oncoprotein binds and activates INSM1, a zinc-finger transcription factor of neuroendocrine tumors. We also found that INSM1 modulates N-Myc stability mediated through PI3K/AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway. Therefore, INSM1 emerges …

The Effects Of Microgravity On The Development Of Osteoporosis, Jackson Asiatico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Previous research has identified a potential link between microgravity conditions and the onset of osteoporosis, a connection that stems from altered fluidic pathways crucial in nutrient dispersion and cell stimulation. Specifically, the absence of mechanical loading in space environments reduces fluid shear stress, thereby disrupting the normal flow of interstitial fluid in trabecular bone. This disruption greatly impacts the functionality of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, the vital cells responsible for maintaining healthy bones. The focus of this study aims to explore the impact of microgravity on bone loss in astronauts, establishing the connection between the lack of mechanical loading and the …

Compositions And Methods For Modulating The Endothelial Barrier, Jerome William Breslin, Zeinab Yehia Khalil Motawe

USF Patents

Disclosed are compositions and methods for modulating endothelial barrier function.

Late Starts Leading To Native-Like Pronunciation In Second Language Acquisition, Antonio Losavio

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study sought to investigate the self-perceived factors that led adult language learners, who acquired L2 after the critical period, to acquire native like pronunciation in their second language. Given the impact of accent and pronunciation on perceptions of a speaker's status, intelligence and/or competence, there exists a need for thoughtful and comprehensive research into why adult second language learners reach different outcomes in pronunciation attainment. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to recruit adults who began learning English as an L2 after 12 years old but attained a native-like English accent. Participants recorded vocal samples that were presented with …

Amazonian Wetland Domestication: A Spatial Analysis Of Pre-Columbian Fish Weirs In Lowland Bolivia, Charlotte Robinson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Recent archaeological studies show that pre-Columbian communities began modifying Southwestern Amazonia approximately 3,500 years ago. In lowland Bolivia, a recently mapped network of fish weirs in West Central Llanos de Mojos (WCM) demonstrates how ancient Mojeño groups built artificial earthworks to harness seasonal flooding and catch fish. In the eastern region of Baures, a similar complex of fish weirs has been studied since the 1990s, generating questions about how this system may function in a different hydrological and anthropogenic setting. Similarly, previous research within WCM has focused on the fields and forest islands that pre-Columbian populations built to elevate themselves …

The Effect Of Extended Reality On The Science Achievement Gap Between Students With And Without Disabilities, Shalece Kohnke

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

A science achievement gap between students with disabilities (SWD) and students without disabilities continues to persist, impacting academic and occupational outcomes. Traditional science instruction and the abstract nature of science concepts are a barrier to science achievement for students with disabilities. The current research study examined the effect of extended reality (XR; Browser-based 360° virtual reality) on closing the science achievement gap between students with and without disabilities in inclusive biology classrooms using a one group pretest-posttest design. The researcher expands on existing research by utilizing a larger sample size, with free and easily accessible XR technology implemented in 9th …

An Investigation Of Change Mechanisms Using Psychophysiological Data: Child-Centered Play Therapy With Children Exposed To Adverse Childhood Experiences, Caitlin Frawley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Children who endure complex trauma and multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) suffer with various physical, social, and mental health-related consequences, such as increased rates of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cardiometabolic disorders, substance abuse disorders, ischemic heart disease, and suicidality. Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a promising evidence-based child mental health intervention, and researchers have demonstrated the efficacy of CCPT for improving empathy, social competence, behavior problems, and self-regulation among children with multiple ACE exposures. In the current study, the researcher examined the co-regulatory process and relational mechanisms of CCPT with children with histories of complex …

Changes In Preservice Secondary Science Teachers' Views, Beliefs, And Their Nos Teaching During A Science Methods Course Guided By Rfn, Kelsey Beeghly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This multiple-case study investigated the changes in three secondary science preservice teachers' views of the nature of science (NOS), their beliefs about the importance of NOS, as well as how these changes relate to their NOS teaching at the end of a science methods course guided by the reconceptualized family resemblance approach (RFN). RFN is a conceptual framework that visualizes science as a cognitive-epistemic and socioinstitutional system, and its educational applications have recently begun to be explored. Data sources included the pre and post course RFN Questionnaire (Kaya et al., 2019) and individual interviews, as well as each preservice teachers' …

How Plants Cope With Stress, Nabila Riaz

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Iron (Fe) is one of the essential micronutrients required by both plants and animals. In humans, Fe deficiency causes anemia, the most prevalent nutritional disorder in the world today. Most people rely on plant-based foods as their major Fe source, but plants are a poor source of dietary Fe.

Fe deficiency has many adverse effects on photosynthesis, which is not surprising given that 95% of foliar Fe is found in chloroplast. The Gueirnot lab had previously showed that the bHLH transcription factors ILR3 and PYE are required for photoprotection during Fe deficiency by preventing ROS damage to photosystem II (PSII). …