Digital Commons Network^™

Finding Synergy: Improving Biopesticide Efficacy For Disease Control Through Co-Application With The Natural Product Chitosan, Liza M. Degenring

Doctoral Dissertations

Annual crop losses caused by plant diseases are estimated worldwide at 220 billion US dollars. Conventional fungicides are the primary means to control these diseases, however there are growing concerns over human health, effects on non-target species, and environmental contamination. Furthermore, many plant pathogens have developed fungicide resistance due to overexposure to chemicals with single modes of action. There is a worldwide trend to explore alternative tools to reduce the use of synthetic fungicides while continuing to reduce plant disease. Among these control strategies are the use of antagonistic microorganisms (biopesticides) and naturally occurring compounds that have fungicidal activity. Chitosan …

Effects Of Dietary Cation Anion Difference And Nicotinic Acid Supplementation On Jersey Prepartum Cows, Colostrum, And Calves And Creating A Model For The Prediction Of Colostrum Quality And Quantity In Jersey Cows From Performance In The Previous Lactation And Environmental Changes, Tess Catherine Stahl

Doctoral Dissertations

Two experiments were conducted. The objectives of the first experiment were to evaluate colostrum quantity, quality, nutrient composition, and bioactive compounds from Jersey cows fed two levels of dietary cation anion difference (DCAD; –40 or –80 mEq/kg) with or without 23 g/d unprotected nicotinic acid (NA) and its effect on cow and calf performance. The hypothesis is that both DCAD and nicotinic acid could improve colostrum quality, increase quantity and bioactive compound concentration, and improve calf intestinal development. Previous research indicated the benefits of supplementing NA in prepartum Holsteins towards improved colostrum quality, as well as enhanced feed efficiency (FE) …

Physiological And Biochemical Analysis Of The Nitrogen Metabolism And Lead Treatment In Hybrid Poplar Clone Nm6 (Populus Nigra L. X P. Maximowiczii A. Henry), Medini Weerasinghe

Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACTThe first objective of my Ph.D. research was focused on understanding the reasoning for changes observed in the physiology and metabolism of the poplar plants in response to foliar application of nitrogen. Increased use of nitrogen in the soil in agriculture, in the form of nitrogen fertilizers, has helped to promote high-yield agriculture over the past decades. However, a large fraction of nitrogen applied to croplands in the form of fertilizer and manure ends up entering the freshwater system causing degradation of the water quality and eutrophication of groundwater, rivers, lakes, and coastal and marine ecosystems. Chemical fertilization is also …

Building An Open Source Toolkit For Integrating Multiple Datasets For Seafloor Characterization And Habitat Mapping, Massimo Di Stefano

Doctoral Dissertations

Characterizing and mapping the seafloor and its features requires collecting and analyzing datasets of varied types and scales. Remotely-sensed data can increase our understanding of seafloor processes by providing insight into seabed geomorphology, substrate characteristics, etc., over large areas. Collecting direct observations or physical samples of the seafloor, also known as ground-truth data, holds the key to interpreting and validating remote sensing data. In this thesis, the case is made that by concurrently analyzing some or all of these datasets, knowledge about seafloor processes is gained more efficiently and I develop tools for seafloor habitat mapping.

In Paper I, I …

Securing Approximate Computing Systems, Pruthvy Yellu

Doctoral Dissertations

Approximate Computing (AC) techniques have been leveraged to improve computing performance and energy efficiency with minor degradation in accuracy. Different than conventional computing, AC allows the computation to deviate from the reference or deterministic execution behavior. Thus, AC has emerged as a new paradigm of computing systems, especially for the applications such as image processing, audio recognition, and artificial intelligence. The majority of research efforts on approximate computing focus on new approximation mechanism design and implementation, rather than examining the security vulnerabilities of AC systems. To fill this gap, we first analyze the potential security threats induced by the AC …

Homesteading In Maine: Motivations And Current Trends, Alexandrea Merchant

Master's Theses and Capstones

People in the United States who practice the alternative lifestyle of “homesteading” seek to live self-sufficient lives by growing food, building dwellings, and living with resolute autonomy. Great variation exists in the degree of self-sufficiency attained and desired by individuals engaged in homesteading. It was the purpose of this study to illuminate the motivations underlying adopting and engagement in this lifestyle in Maine homesteaders. Through interviews with 10 homesteaders in Maine and participant observation, I documented the narratives and elucidated the motivations of this under researched group. Common themes emerged. Participants expressed concerns about personal health, the environment, and institutions. …

Impacts Of Human Development On Mammalian Wildlife In An Exurban And Rural Landscape, Mairi Poisson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Urbanization is increasing worldwide, with over half the world’s population living in urban areas. Urbanization impacts wildlife by fragmenting habitat and restricting space use, which can in turn lead to a decrease in biodiversity, ecosystem services, and species abundance. In some cases, wildlife can adapt to land-use change present in urban areas and will respond positively to urbanization. In these cases, urbanization can create new niches and enhance niche partitioning. With increased urban growth, suburban and exurban sprawl has also increased. Globally, this “exurbanization” is the most rapidly developing land use type, though research into the impacts of exurban development …

Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Journal, Volume 12, William & Mary Law School

Brigham-Kanner Property Rights Journal

The Importance of Property Rights

September 29-30, 2022

Panel 1: The Importance of Property Rights: A Tribute to James S. Burling

Panel 3: Roundtable: Emerging Issues in Takings and Property Rights Litigation

Featured Authors (Burling, Kanner, and Valois)

Biol 475-H01: Ecological Field Methods, Maria Stanko

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 321-001, 003: Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Brooke Flammang

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Biol 338-001: Ecology Of The Dining Hall, Maria Stanko

Biology Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Social Noting Meditation: Social Connection And Intersubjective Awareness Through Online Interpersonal Practice, Jennifer Carter

Mindfulness Studies Theses

While an abundance of research exists on various aspects of meditation, relatively few studies explore interpersonal practice. Those that do often explore the outcome of mindfulness where an individual practitioner applies mindfulness in a relational context. However, there is a lack of research into interpersonal practice involving intersubjective awareness with two or more practitioners engaging in synchronous interpersonal practice. In addition, while research into the consistently growing field of online meditation practice is expanding, studies examining interpersonal meditation practices taking place online are few and far between. In response to this situation, the following thesis explores existing studies on interpersonal …

Castor Canadensis Fall 2023, Jedediah Smith Society

Castor Canadensis - Jedediah Smith Society

Newsletter of the Jedediah Smith Society

Alkaline Pretreatment And Air Mixing For Improvement Of Methane Production From Anaerobic Co-Digestion Of Poultry Litter With Wheat Straw, Yuanhang Zhan, Jun Zhu, Yiting Xiao, Leland C. Schrader

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Alkaline pretreatment (AL) and air mixing (air) both have the potential to improve anaerobic co-digestion (Co-AD) of poultry litter with wheat straw for methane production. In this study, the effects of the combination of AL (pH 12 for 12 h) and air mixing (12 mL·d⁻¹) on the Co-AD process were investigated. The substrate hydrolysis was enhanced by AL, with soluble chemical oxygen demand increased by 4.59 times and volatile fatty acids increased by 5.04 times. The cumulative methane yield in the group of Co-AD by AL integrated with air (Co-(AL + air)), being 287 mL·(g VS_added) …

Associations Of Dietary Patterns With Brain Volume In The Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, Chris Guarino

Master's Theses and Capstones

Adherence to the MeD (Mediterranean Diet), MIND (Mediterranean-Dietary Approaches to Reduce Hypertension Intervention for Neurocognitive Delay), and other dietary patterns may benefit cognitive function among Hispanic/Latino adults. Greater regional and total brain volumetric measures are associated with an increased risk of dementia, but whether the MeD and MIND dietary patterns relate to brain volume among Hispanic/Latino adults remains unclear. The objective of the current study was to quantify the associations of the MeD, MIND, and empirically derived dietary patterns with brain volume among Hispanic/Latino adults. We used data from the longitudinal Boston Puerto Rican Health Study. Approximately 12.7 y from …

A 10x Visium Approach: A Spatial Rna-Seq Analysis Of Renal Tissue In Peromyscus Eremicus, Molly Kephart

Master's Theses and Capstones

Arid environments continue to increase their global coverage yearly due to climate change, and leaves harsh environmental effects in their wake. Of these effects—which include high UV radiation, extreme temperatures, and sparse food sources —lack of free water poses the greatest challenge to the ecosystem as a whole. Water resources are predicted to continue to decrease with the rise in desertification, increasing the threat of dehydration and its harmful effects on bodily function. Dehydration-related kidney injury has been linked to the onset of chronic kidney disease in humans, which has become a leading cause of mortality worldwide . Therefore, studies …

The Estimation Of Forest Inventory Biometrics Using Uas-Lidar, Sarah Ashley Reny

Master's Theses and Capstones

Knowing how to best conserve and sustain forests is of the utmost importance given the indispensable direct and indirect ecosystems services they provide. In order to make informed management decisions for better conservation and sustainability, forest change and growth (biometrics) must be quantified. Biometrics are typically made through forest inventorying, but this field-based procedure has spatial and temporal limitations. Given the vital role forests have, it is imperative that different technologies be explored for their potential to improve forest inventorying methodologies. Remote sensing technology, specifically unmanned aerial system (UAS) light detection and ranging technology (Lidar), has presented itself as a …

Effects Of Flaxseed-Based Feed Supplement On Production Performance, Energy Utilization, Milk Fatty Acid Profile, And Enteric Methane Emissions In Jersey Cows Grazing Mixed Grass-Legume Pasture, Md Atikur Rahman

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study investigated the effect of an extruded flaxseed-based feed supplement ‘LinPRO-R (LNPR)’ on milk production and composition, milk FA profile, nutrient digestibility, ruminal metabolism, purine derivatives (PD) excretion, and enteric methane (CH4) emissions in grazing dairy cows during the summer season. Eighteen multiparous and 2 primiparous mid-lactating organic Jersey cows (128 ± 52 DIM) were used in a randomized complete block design. cows grazed mixed grass-legume pasture (Dactylis glomerata L., Trifolium repens L., Trifolium pratense L., Lolium perenne L., Phleum pratense L.) overnight (herbage allowance = 15 kg of DM/cow/day) following a strip grazing method and fed partial total-mixed …

Evaluating Growth Patterns Of Beech Bark Disease Fungal Agents Neonectria Faginata And Neonectria Ditissima Under Different In Vitro Conditions, Santiago Rivera Reyes

Master's Theses and Capstones

The co –occurring fungal species Neonectria ditissima and Neonectria faginata are major canker-forming pathogens in the beech bark disease (BBD) systems which has caused restructuring of forests throughout northeastern North America. The role of nutrients in structuring microbial community interactions has been studied in BBD forests stands but has yet to be fully understood and examined under specific in-vitro conditions. This study aimed to investigate how nitrogen, phosphorus, and temperature levels influence the growth, reproduction, and competitive hierarchies between N. ditissima and N. faginata. We performed in-vitro assays where species were first individually and then jointly grown under different concentrations …

Comunidades En Torno Al Metaverso En X/Twitter, Gema Bonales-Daimiel, Sheila Liberal Ormaechea, Raquel Ávila Muñoz

Artículos científicos

La creciente popularidad del metaverso ligado a la industria del entretenimiento ha llevado a la aparición de influencers que han logrado un aumento significativo en su base de seguidores en X/Twitter. El presente estudio aplica una metodología de investigación mixta sobre las interacciones en X/Twitter. La principal conclusión es que está creciendo muy rápidamente, principalmente en comunidades específicas de usuarios con conocimientos avanzados y muy especializados, como los entusiastas de las criptomonedas o los aficionados a los juegos en línea. Para que el metaverso se convierta en un fenómeno de masas, deberá simplificar su experiencia de uso

Loss Of The Maternal Effect Gene Nlrp2 Alters The Transcriptome Of Ovulated Mouse Oocytes And Impacts Expression Of Histone Demethylase Kdm1b, Sangeetha Mahadevan, Eleni Theodora Nasiotis, Li Su, Zhandong Liu, Ying-Wooi Wan, Ignatia B Van Den Veyver

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) is a multiprotein complex in oocytes and preimplantation embryos that is encoded by maternal effect genes. The SCMC is essential for zygote-to-embryo transition, early embryogenesis, and critical zygotic cellular processes, including spindle positioning and symmetric division. Maternal deletion of Nlrp2, which encodes an SCMC protein, results in increased early embryonic loss and abnormal DNA methylation in embryos. We performed RNA sequencing on pools of meiosis II (MII) oocytes from wild-type and Nlrp2-null female mice that were isolated from cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) after ovarian stimulation. Using a mouse reference genome-based analysis, we found 231 …

Evaluation Of Clostridium Septicum Hemolytic Activity, Administration Route, And Dosage Volume Of A Clostridial Dermatitis (Cellulitis) Bacterin-Toxoid On Humoral Immune Response In Commercial Turkeys, Aaron Forga, Kabel Robbins, Andrew Smith, Makenly Coles, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Christine N. Vuong, Billy Hargis, Danielle Graham

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Clostridial cellulitis or dermatitis affects commercial turkey flocks, primarily as they approach market age. In the field, this disease has been effectively controlled with antibiotics, but alternatives to antibiotics are needed. Bacterin-toxoid vaccination programs have been shown to prevent clostridial diseases in other species, including humans. Results from previous field studies indicate that vaccination with an experimental whole-cell Clostridium septicum (CS) bacterin-toxoid oil emulsion vaccine reduced clostridial dermatitis-associated mortality and antibiotic usage for some commercial turkey flocks, but vaccination was not always efficacious. To improve vaccine efficacy, studies were conducted to optimize the antigenic component of the experimental …

Aquatic Peptide: The Potential Anti-Cancer And Anti-Microbial Activity Of Ge18 Derived From Pathogenic Fungus Aphanomyces Invadans, Manikandan Velayutham, P. Snega Priya, Purabi Sarkar, Raghul Murugan, Bader O. Almutairi, Selvaraj Arokiyaraj, Zulhisyam Abdul Kari, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias, Ajay Guru, Jesu Arockiaraj

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Small molecules as well as peptide-based therapeutic approaches have attracted global interest due to their lower or no toxicity in nature, and their potential in addressing several health complications including immune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis and cancer. This study proposed a peptide, GE18 of subtilisin-like peptidase from the virulence factor of aquatic pathogenic fungus Aphanomyces invadans, which elicits anti-cancer and anti-microbial activities. To understand the potential GE18 peptide-induced biological effects, an in silico analysis, in vitro (L6 cells) and in vivo toxicity assays (using zebrafish embryo), in vitro anti-cancer assays and anti-microbial assays were performed. The outcomes of …

Antiviral Susceptibility Of Clade 2.3.4.4b Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5n1) Viruses Isolated From Birds And Mammals In The United States, 2022, Ha T. Nguyen, Anton Chesnokov, Juan De La Cruz, Philippe Noriel Q. Pascua, Vasiliy P. Mishin, Yunho Jang, Joyce Jones, Han Di, Andrei A. Ivashchenko, Mary Lea Killian, Mia K. Torchetti, Kristina Lantz, David E. Wentworth, Charles T. Davis, Alexandre V. Ivachtchenko, Larisa V. Gubareva

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses that are responsible for devastating outbreaks in birds and mammals pose a potential threat to public health. Here, we evaluated their susceptibility to influenza antivirals. Of 1,015 sequences of HPAI A(H5N1) viruses collected in the United States during 2022, eight viruses (∼0.8%) had a molecular marker of drug resistance to an FDA-approved antiviral: three adamantane-resistant (M2-V27A), four oseltamivir-resistant (NA-H275Y), and one baloxavir-resistant (PA-I38T). Additionally, 31 viruses contained mutations that may reduce susceptibility to inhibitors of neuraminidase (NA) (n = 20) or cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) (n = 11). A panel of 22 …

A Sensitive Strain Sensor Based On Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes/Polyaniline/Silicone Rubber Nanocomposite For Human Motion Detection, Seyedmajid Hosseini, Mohsen Norouzi, Jian Xu

Faculty Publications

Strain sensors play a pivotal role in quantifying stress and strain across diverse domains, encompassing engineering, industry, and medicine. Their applicability has recently extended into the realm of wearable electronics, enabling real-time monitoring of body movements. However, conventional strain sensors, while extensively employed, grapple with limitations such as diminished sensitivity, suboptimal tensile strength, and susceptibility to environmental factors. In contrast, polymer-based composite strain sensors have gained prominence for their capability to surmount these challenges. The integration of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as reinforcing agents within the polymer matrix ushers in a transformative era, bolstering mechanical strength, electrical conductivity, and thermal stability. …

Resource Recovery Of Biological Residues From The Brazilian Poultry Industry In Mitigating Environmental Impacts: A Life Cycle Assessment (Lca) Approach, Edmar Costa Alves, Israel Henrique Dos Santos Alves, Bruna Borges Soares, Aurélio Ferreira Borges, Arshad Jalal, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Gian Franco Capra, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Poultry farming is often associated with negative environmental impacts, such as water quality degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. This study covers important gaps in the geographic scope of poultry farming using Life Cycle Assessment analysis. Data on animal feed, energy, packaging, and waste were collected from the poultry industry in Rondônia, Brazil. The life cycle inventory included all inflows and outflows of feed production, poultry housing, slaughter, processing, the retail market, and the functional unit of “1 kg chicken meat with 0.22 kg protein”. The ReCiPe Midpoint (H) method was used for seven categories of impact. The results …

Physical Treatments To Modify The Functionality Of Carrot Pomace And The Development Of An Enhanced Beef Patty, Jordan O.A Richards

Master's Theses

Approximately one-third of the global food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted somewhere along the food chain. Carrots are one of the most important and widely produced root vegetables grown worldwide; they are rich in many beneficial bioactive compounds such as dietary fiber and carotenoids. Every year, an estimated 29% of processed carrots are lost as waste. The U.S. is the 3^rd largest producer of carrots worldwide, 85% of which come from California. During carrot juice processing, up to 50% of the raw material remains as carrot pomace. Carrot pomace may contain up to 55% total dietary …

Student Handbook 2023-2024, Saint Mary's College Of California

Student Handbook

No abstract provided.

Ipulse: September 2023, Lynn University

Student Newspapers

Issue:

• September 2023 [Fall Week #1]: Digitalization Has Hit the Art Scene; Watson Institute at Lynn University; Y2K is Here to Stay; Film Club's Fun Frenzy; Impacting Student Experiences; A Lynn Alum's 'Claim to Fame'; Women in Environmental Science; Invasive Species or Revolutionary Energy Source?; Early Graduation for Students; A New Tennis Superstar Has Arrived; A South Korean Student's Path to Success; Lynn University Celebrates Cultural Diversity; How to Romanticize Your Life

Vol. 52, No. 1: Faculty And Admin, Denver Journal Of International Law & Policy

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

No abstract provided.