Digital Commons Network^™

Pasture Attributes And Live-Weight Gain Of Lambs Grazing With Different Supplementation Levels, P A. Martinez-Hernandez, M Meza-Nieto, J Perez-Perez, R Barcena, J G. Herrera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The purpose of this study was to determine pasture attributes, liveweight gain and stocking rate from a mixed pasture grazed by lambs recieving different supplementation levels. There were four treatments: in two, lambs grazed at 4 or 8% herbage allowance, no supplement; in the other two, lambs grazed at 4% herbage allowance plus a concentrate to cover 25 and 30 or 50 and 60% of estimated daily needs of metabolizable energy and crude protein. Pasture was of perennial and annual ryegrass, orchard grass and red clover. Pre and postgrazing forage mass, crude protein and dead material were not different (P …

Makengineering Kits: Design Principles For Family Engineering Experiences, Amber Simpson, Jing Yang, Adam Maltese

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Research has consistently highlighted the importance of promoting child-parent interactions. In this essay, we describe the development of MAKEngineering kits that provide collaborative learning experiences for children in Grades 2–6 to engage in engineering design tasks with members of their families in their home environment. First, we present five design principles that emerged through a design-based research approach. Second, we used data from our research project to examine the impact of the MAKEngineering kits, guided by each design principle, on children’s and parents’ experiences as engineering learners and/or educators. In attending to both of these purposes, we argue for the …

Safety And Utility Of Statins In Pregnancy, Isaiah Schmitt

BUHealth

The recent removal of statin’s contraindication in pregnancy by the Food & Drug Administration opens the potential for exploring the use of this class of medications in pregnant women. Statins have shown potential in pregnancy not only as treatment for cardiovascular disease but also in its role in preventing preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a disorder that affects 2-8% of pregnancies in the US and is responsible for about 60,000 maternal deaths and more than 500,000 premature births worldwide. Despite preeclampsia’s relative prevalence, aspirin is still the only drug commonly used for prevention. Recent studies have found a lower risk of preeclampsia …

Illuminating The Path To Healing: Unveiling The Potential Of Mdma-Assisted Therapy For Ptsd, Hannah Howard

BUHealth

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) presents a significant challenge in mental health treatment, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. While conventional therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have shown some efficacy, a considerable portion of patients remains resistant to treatment. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy leading to the Food and Drug Administration's designation of Breakthrough Therapy status and the submission of a New Drug Application. Despite promising results, challenges such as stigma, regulatory barriers, and therapist training remain. However, the need for innovative treatments for PTSD necessitates further exploration of …

Improving Nurse Response To Seizure Events In A Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit With Use Of A Standardized Process, Stacey Obst Paule

Dissertations

Problem: Nurses responding to seizure events in the pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) should initiate a neurological exam in addition to managing seizure activity. When nurses respond to these events, however, there can be significant variability, which can result in diagnostic inaccuracy and adverse patient outcomes. The purpose of this project is to implement a nursing response checklist and neurological assessment guide to standardize the process of response to seizure events in the pediatric EMU.

Methods: This quality improvement (QI) project utilized a cohort study design. Standardized tools were placed in an accessible area outside patient rooms. Education was provided …

Implementation Of Skin-To-Skin Contact Immediately Post Cesarean Birth: A Quality Improvement Project, Sophia Cooke

Dissertations

Problem: Skin-to-skin contact implemented within the first hour of a newborn’s life improves health outcomes for both mother and infant. One of these health outcomes includes exclusive breastfeeding. The purpose of this quality improve project was to implement an infant securement device within the operating room after cesarean section births to decrease the time to initiate skin-to-skin contact and increase exclusive breastmilk feeding rates at discharge.

Methods: This study utilized a descriptive, observational design and was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework. A pre-test, post-test design was utilized to compared retrospective and prospective data. The retrospective data was collected to assess …

The History Of Diapers And Their Environmental Impact, Cansu Tokat, Nicholas C. Rickman, Cynthia F. Bearer

Faculty Scholarship

Impact: This article examines diaper practices around the world throughout history. This article reviews the innovation of the modern diaper and the environmental effects of disposable diapers.

Experimentally Verified Effective Doping Model For Lactate And Troponin Ofet Biosensors Using Machine Learning Algorithm, Sameh O. Abdellatif, Hana Masalam, Salma Ahmed

Electrical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Is It Really A Neuromyth? A Meta-Analysis Of The Learning Styles Matching Hypothesis, Virginia Clinton-Lisell, Christine Litzinger

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Learning styles have been a contentious topic in education for years. The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of the effects of matching instruction to modality learning styles compared to unmatched instruction on learning outcomes. A systematic search of the research findings yielded 21 eligible studies with 101 effect sizes and 1,712 participants for the meta-analysis. Based on robust variance estimation, there was an overall benefit of matching instruction to learning styles, g = 0.31, SE = 0.12, 95% CI = [0.05, 0.57], p = 0.02. However, only 26% of learning outcome measures indicated matched instruction benefits …

Unh Awarded $10 Million To Expand Climate Resilient Agriculture, Robbin Ray

Media Relations

No abstract provided.

Systems And Methods For Cultivating Algae, Daniel H. Yeh, Ivy Lea Cormier Drexler, Melanie Pickett, David Fulcher

USF Patents

In one embodiment, an algae cultivation system includes a basin that contains a liquid and a photobioreactor at least partially immersed in the liquid of the basin, the photobioreactor comprising a closed container including multiple panels that together define an interior space in which algae can be cultivated, at least one of the panels being transparent, the photobioreactor further comprising an inflatable float associated with the container that can be filled with a gas to change one or both of the position and orientation of the container within the liquid.

Persistent Interruption In Parvalbuminpositive Inhibitory Interneurons: Biophysical And Mathematical Mechanisms, Carol M. Upchurch, Christopher J. Knowlton, Simon Chamberland, Carmen C. Canavier

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Persistent activity in excitatory pyramidal cells (PYRs) is a putative mechanism for maintaining memory traces during working memory. We have recently demonstrated persistent interruption of firing in fastspiking parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PV-INs), a phenomenon that could serve as a substrate for persistent activity in PYRs through disinhibition lasting hundreds of milliseconds. Here, we find that hippocampal CA1 PV-INs exhibit type 2 excitability, like striatal and neocortical PV-INs. Modeling and mathematical analysis showed that the slowly inactivating potassium current KV1 contributes to type 2 excitability, enables the multiple firing regimes observed experimentally in PV-INs, and provides a mechanism for robust persistent interruption …

Adjunctive Therapy With An Oral H2s Donor Provides Additional Therapeutic Benefit Beyond Sglt2 Inhibition In Cardiometabolic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction, Jake E. Doiron, Huijing Xia, Xiaoman Yu, Alexandra R. Nevins, Kyle B. Lapenna, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, Timothy D. Allerton, Mona Elgazzaz, Eric Lazartigues, Sanjiv J. Shah, Zhen Li, David J. Lefer

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background and Purpose: Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as a potent therapy for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a well-studied cardioprotective agent, could be beneficial in HFpEF. SGLT2i monotherapy and combination therapy involving an SGLT2i and H2S donor in two preclinical models of cardiometabolic HFpEF was investigated. Experimental Approach: Nine-week-old C57BL/6N mice received L-NAME and a 60% high fat diet for five weeks. Mice were then randomized to either control, SGLT2i monotherapy or SGLT2i and H2S donor, SG1002, for five additional weeks. Ten-week-old ZSF1 obese rats were randomized to control, SGLT2i or …

The Ecofeminist And Gaian Spirituality: Subverting The Patriarchal Discourse In Doris Lessing’S Selected Novels, Shereen Mohamed Safwat

Computer Science

Doris May Lessing (1919-2013) lived most her life on the veld of South Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and came back to London in 1949. Her multicultural upbringing allowed her to gain a special connection with nature via her intuitive instinct. This article sheds light on three novels by Lessing namely, The Golden Notebook (1962), The Four-Gated City (1969) and The Memoirs of a Survivor (1974) that are to be tackled within the theoretical frame of ecofeminist and Gaian spirituality. This paper dives into the depth of the Gaian and ecofeminist spiritual realm in the selected novels. It explores the alternative path …

Agenda De Investigación Para El Manejo Sustentable Del Manglar En Tamaulipas, México [Research Agenda For The Sustainable Management Of Mangroves In Tamaulipas, Mexico], Carlos Zamora-Tovar, Alejandro Fierro-Cabo, Glenda Nelly Requena-Lara

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Se presenta un análisis de la información ecológica disponible sobre los manglares de Tamaulipas, México. El objetivo fue establecer una línea base de conocimiento que defina el estado del arte a partir de la información publicada; actualizar la estructura forestal con datos propios observados en el año 2018; y determinar una agenda de investigación prioritaria para el manejo sostenible del ecosistema de man-glar, ecosistema de vital importancia por la gran variedad de recursos y servicios ambientales que aporta a la sociedad. La investigación bibliográfica recopiló 32 trabajos relevantes: 16 publicaciones formales, siete ediciones institucionales y nueve consideradas literaturas gris; recopilación …

Review Of The Life History And Conservation Of Federally Endangered Plant Species Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Usa, Beth A. Middleton, Elizabeth A. Gonzalez, Emily J. Lain, Benito Trevino, Christopher A. Gabler, Jerald T. Garrett, Brenda Molano-Flores, Janice Coons, Laura M. De La Garza, Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

This review aims to summarize information critical to the conservation of the federally listed endangered species of South Texas, which occur along the border of Texas and Mexico. This paper describes the characteristics, habitat, population status, distribution, life history, threats, and restoration of endangered plant species of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, which includes Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo, and Starr County. Seven federally listed species are considered including Ambrosia cheiranthifolia, Asclepias prostrata, Astrophytum asterias, Ayenia limitaris, Manihot walkerae, Lesquerella thamnophila (syn. Physaria thamnophila), and Thymophylla tephroleuca. An eighth species, Physostegia correllii is under consideration for federal listing by the U.S. …

Leukocyte Immunoglobulin-Like Receptor B1 (Lilrb1) Protects Human Multiple Myeloma Cells From Ferroptosis By Maintaining Cholesterol Homeostasis, Miao Xian, Qiang Wang, Liuling Xiao, Ling Zhong, Wei Xiong, Lingqun Ye, Pan Su, Chuanchao Zhang, Yabo Li, Robert Z Orlowski, Fenghuang Zhan, Siddhartha Ganguly, Youli Zu, Jianfei Qian, Qing Yi

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow. MM patients with aggressive progression have poor survival, emphasizing the urgent need for identifying new therapeutic targets. Here, we show that the leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B1 (LILRB1), a transmembrane receptor conducting negative immune response, is a top-ranked gene associated with poor prognosis in MM patients. LILRB1 deficiency inhibits MM progression in vivo by enhancing the ferroptosis of MM cells. Mechanistic studies reveal that LILRB1 forms a complex with the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and LDLR adapter protein 1 (LDLRAP1) to facilitate LDL/cholesterol …

Progenitors Of Distinct Lineages Shape The Diversity Of Mature Type 2 Conventional Dendritic Cells, Patrick Fernandes Rodrigues, Tihana Trsan, Grozdan Cvijetic, Darya Khantakova, Santosh K Panda, Zhaoyuan Liu, Florent Ginhoux, Marina Cella, Marco Colonna

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Conventional dendritic cells (cDC) are antigen-presenting cells comprising cDC1 and cDC2, responsible for priming naive CD8

Bempedoic Acid Falls In Line, Maya S Safarova, Patrick M Moriarty, Iftikhar J Kullo, Christie M Ballantyne, Eugenia Gianos

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Incidence And Types Of Cardiac Arrhythmias In The Peri-Ictal Period In Patients Having A Generalized Convulsive Seizure, Laura Vilella, Christina Y Miyake, Ganne Chaitanya, Johnson P Hampson, Shirin Jamal Omidi, Manuela Ochoa-Urrea, Blanca Talavera, Oscar Mancera, Norma J Hupp, Jaison S Hampson, M R Sandhya Rani, Nuria Lacuey, Shiqiang Tao, Rup K Sainju, Daniel Friedman, Maromi Nei, Catherine A Scott, Brian Gehlbach, Stephan U Schuele, Jennifer A Ogren, Ronald M Harper, Beate Diehl, Lisa M Bateman, Orrin Devinsky, George B Richerson, Guo-Qiang Zhang, Samden D Lhatoo

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background and objectives: Generalized convulsive seizures (GCSs) are the main risk factor of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), which is likely due to peri-ictal cardiorespiratory dysfunction. The incidence of GCS-induced cardiac arrhythmias, their relationship to seizure severity markers, and their role in SUDEP physiopathology are unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of seizure-induced cardiac arrhythmias, their association with electroclinical features and seizure severity biomarkers, as well as their specific occurrences in SUDEP cases.

Methods: This is an observational, prospective, multicenter study of patients with epilepsy aged 18 years and older with recorded GCS during …

Cotargeting Ebv Lytic As Well As Latent Cycle Antigens Increases T-Cell Potency Against Lymphoma, Sandhya Sharma, Naren U Mehta, Tim Sauer, Lisa A Rollins, Dirk P Dittmer, Cliona M Rooney

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The remarkable efficacy of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T cells for the treatment of posttransplant lymphomas has not been reproduced for EBV-positive (EBV+) malignancies outside the transplant setting. This is because of, in part, the heterogeneous expression and poor immunogenicity of the viral antigens expressed, namely latent membrane proteins 1 and 2, EBV nuclear antigen 1, and BamHI A rightward reading frame 1 (type-2 [T2] latency). However, EBV lytic cycle proteins are also expressed in certain EBV+ malignancies and, because several EBV lytic cycle proteins are abundantly expressed, have oncogenic activity, and likely contribute to malignancy, we sought and identified viral …

Constructing The Other: Unveiling The Exotic, Barbaric And Parodied Archetypes In Western Discourse, Alexandra Goitia Goitia

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis builds upon Edward Said’s seminal work, "Orientalism," to explore the complex dynamics of "Otherness" in Western thought across various contexts. Said’s theory elucidates how the West has historically constructed a distorted image of the East to justify colonial dominance, framing the East as a mere extension of Western fantasies and fears. This study expands Said’s framework by applying it to a diverse range of texts beyond the Muslim world, examining how Western narratives perpetuate the Exotic, Barbaric, and Parodied Other. The first part of the thesis juxtaposes Hernán Cortés’s "Cartas de relación" with Netflix’s "Marco Polo," illustrating how …

Tfeb Safeguards Trophoblast Syncytialization In Humans And Mice, Wanshan Zheng, Yue Zhang, Peiqun Xu, Zexin Wang, Xuan Shao, Chunyan Chen, Han Cai, Yinan Wang, Ming-An Sun, Wenbo Deng, Fan Liu, Jinhua Lu, Xueqin Zhang, Dunjin Cheng, Indira U Mysorekar, Haibin Wang, Yan-Ling Wang, Xiaoqian Hu, Bin Cao

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The formation of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast (STB) through cell fusion of cytotrophoblast, also termed syncytialization, ensures the proper placental structure and functions. Nutrient insufficiency and inactivation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) in trophoblasts have been shown to enhance STB formation; however, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we showed that the deficiency of a mTORC1 downstream transcriptional factor, TFEB, significantly impaired STB formation in human trophoblasts and knock-out mice. TFEB conferred direct transcriptional activation of the fusogen ERVFRD-1 and thereby promoted trophoblast syncytialization. Additionally, TFEB expression positively correlated with the reinforced trophoblast syncytialization in human fetal growth …

Cxcl16-Dependent Scavenging Of Oxidized Lipids By Islet Macrophages Promotes Differentiation Of Pathogenic Cd8+ T Cells In Diabetic Autoimmunity, Neetu Srivastava, Hao Hu, Orion J Peterson, Anthony N Vomund, Marta Stremska, Mohammad Zaman, Shilpi Giri, Tiandao Li, Cheryl F Lichti, Pavel N Zakharov, Bo Zhang, Nada A Abumrad, Yi-Guang Chen, Kodi S Ravichandran, Emil R Unanue, Xiaoxiao Wan

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The pancreatic islet microenvironment is highly oxidative, rendering β cells vulnerable to autoinflammatory insults. Here, we examined the role of islet resident macrophages in the autoimmune attack that initiates type 1 diabetes. Islet macrophages highly expressed CXCL16, a chemokine and scavenger receptor for oxidized low-density lipoproteins (OxLDLs), regardless of autoimmune predisposition. Deletion of Cxcl16 in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice suppressed the development of autoimmune diabetes. Mechanistically, Cxcl16 deficiency impaired clearance of OxLDL by islet macrophages, leading to OxLDL accumulation in pancreatic islets and a substantial reduction in intra-islet transitory (Tex

Canine Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Evaluating Pgam5 And Heterobilharzia Americana, Priscilla Devora

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer in humans and domestic dogs. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms that drive HCC carcinogenesis and perpetuate cancer survival are incompletely understood in both species. The work described herein focused on finding similarities between canine and human HCC, which could be harnessed to benefit humans and dogs with cancer. The first aim was to investigate the expression of phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) in canine HCC. Upregulation of PGAM5 is a negative prognostic indicator in human HCC. Using archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, we found that PGAM5 was overexpressed in canine HCC ( …

Attenuating Midline Thalamus Bursting To Mitigate Absence Epilepsy, Ping Dong, Konstantin Bakhurin, Yuhui Li, Mohamad A Mikati, Jianmin Cui, Warren M Grill, Henry H Yin, Huanghe Yang

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Advancing the mechanistic understanding of absence epilepsy is crucial for developing new therapeutics, especially for patients unresponsive to current treatments. Utilizing a recently developed mouse model of absence epilepsy carrying the BK gain-of-function channelopathy D434G, here we report that attenuating the burst firing of midline thalamus (MLT) neurons effectively prevents absence seizures. We found that enhanced BK channel activity in the BK-D434G MLT neurons promotes synchronized bursting during the ictal phase of absence seizures. Modulating MLT neurons through pharmacological reagents, optogenetic stimulation, or deep brain stimulation effectively attenuates burst firing, leading to reduced absence seizure frequency and increased vigilance. Additionally, …

Removal Of Textile Dyes By Ecofriendly Aquatic Plants From Wastewater: A Review On Plants Species, Mechanisms, And Perspectives, Manal M. El-Sadaawy, Nancy S. Agib

Blue Economy

Water, an essential resource for sustaining life on our planet, is crucial for both human beings and the overall ecosystem. However, in recent decades, several factors, including population growth, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and unsustainable utilization of natural resources, have significantly impacted the quality of water. Industries such as textiles, leather tanning, cosmetics, and pigmentation extensively employ colored compounds called dyes for various purposes. Synthetic dyes have largely replaced natural dyes due to their superior durability against washing, heat, light, pH, and exposure to biological agents. Azo dyes, sulfur dyes, and pigment dyes are some examples of dyes used in industrial …

Live-Weight Gain Of Steers Grazing African Star Grass Four Herbage Allowances, J Perez-Perez, J O. Hernandez-Velez, J G. Herrera-Haro, R Barcena-Gama

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective was to determine weight changes of steers grazing African star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus) at four herbage allowances (2.0, 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 kg of dry matter/100 kg of live weight day-1). A rotational grazing system with 10 grazing days and 30 days rest was followed. A Split Plot Design with four replications was used. Response variables were: daily gain per steer (DGS) and per hectare (DGH), dry matter forage yield (FY), % of utilization (% U) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMIVD). DGS and DGH were not different (P >0.05) among allowances and grazing periods. …

Strategic Use Of Brachiaria Decumbens Pasture To Beef Heifers During Dry Season, E G. Cardoso, N F. Seiffert, J Marques Da Silva, V.P. B. Euclides, J M. Vieira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main objective of this study was to evaluate a Brachiaria decumbens pasture, instead of a common rangeland, for zebu beef heifers during the dry season of the year as a means of anticipating the first calving age from four to three years of age, and so improve the production rate of the herd. Daily liveweight gains (DLWG) were analyzed for the effects of year and three stocking rates during the dry season (SR1=1.5; SR2=2.0 and SR3=2.5 head/ha). The main effect on heifers DLWG was the year (P<0.01), but SR was also important (P<0.05), mainly during the last half of the dry season when pastures are under severe constraints such as soil moisture deficit and low temperatures. The lowest SR presented the highest DLWG (0.204a, 0.174ab and 0.145b kg/head, respectively for SR1, SR2 and SR3), during the dry season. If climatic conditions are not exceptionally bad, heifer first calving occurs at 37 months of age when reared on B. decumbens.

Quality Grassland For Dairy Production In North-West Spain, A Gonzalez-Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment with two groups of 15 Friesian cows grazing independent areas, with no N and 240 kg N ha-1, was run during two years to see the levels of milk production based on a grass/white clover pasture, maintaining high levels of herbage quality. N application decrease clover content from 55% to 42%. The total DM response to N was low. Herbage utilization was maintained similar in both treatments. Moderate levels of milk production can be reached, more than 4000 litres cow-1 and 9000 litres ha-1, with low use of concentrates, only 400 kg cow-1. Crude protein levels were high …