Digital Commons Network^™

Hot-Headed Peckers: Thermographic Changes During Aggression Among Juvenile Pheasants ( Phasianus Colchicus ), Sophia Knoch, Mark A. Whiteside, Joah R. Madden, Paul E. Rose, Tim W. Fawcett

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

In group-living vertebrates, dominance status often covaries with physiological measurements (e.g. glucocorticoid levels), but it is unclear how dominance is linked to dynamic changes in physiological state over a shorter, behavioural timescale. In this observational study, we recorded spontaneous aggression among captive juvenile pheasants ( Phasianus colchicus ) alongside infrared thermographic measurements of their external temperature, a non-invasive technique previously used to examine stress responses in non-social contexts, where peripheral blood is redirected towards the body core. We found low but highly significant repeatability in maximum head temperature, suggesting individually consistent thermal profiles, and some indication of lower head temperatures …

Dietary Nitrate Supplementation Does Not Alter Exercise Efficiency At High Altitude – Further Results From The Xtreme Alps Study, Philip J. Hennis, Andrew F. Cumpstey, Alasdair F. O’Doherty, Bernadette O. Fernandez, Edward T. Gilbert-Kawai, Kay Mitchell, Helen Moyses, Alexandra Cobb, Paula Meale, Helmut Pöhnl, Monty G. Mythen, Michael P.W. Grocott, Denny Z.H. Levett, Daniel S. Martin, Martin Feelisch

Peninsula Medical School

IntroductionNitrate supplementation in the form of beetroot juice (BRJ) ingestion has been shown to improve exercise tolerance during acute hypoxia, but its effect on exercise physiology remains unstudied during sustained terrestrial high altitude exposure. We hypothesized that performing exercise at high altitude would lower circulating nitrate and nitrite levels and that BRJ ingestion would reverse this phenomenon while concomitantly improving key determinants of aerobic exercise performance.MethodsTwenty seven healthy volunteers (21 male) underwent a series of exercise tests at sea level (SL, London, 75 m) and again after 5–8 days at high altitude (HA, Capanna Regina Margherita or “Margherita Hut,” 4,559 …

Plant Protein-Based Food Packaging Films; Recent Advances In Fabrication, Characterization, And Applications, Milad Hadidi, Shima Jafarzadeh, Mehrdad Forough, Farhad Garavand, Saeid Alizadeh, Ali Salehabadi, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, Seid Mahdi Jafari

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Plant-based proteins as an alternative to synthetic polymers have attracted the interest of the global packaging industry in the last decade due to their biodegradability, sustainability, environmental, and beneficial health claims.

Scope and approach: This review covers the recent developments in biodegradable packaging such as edible films/coatings and innovative packaging materials based on plant protein sources. The importance, sources, and techno-functional properties of plant-derived proteins for food packaging are discussed. The impact of different additives on the functionality of plant protein-based biodegradable materials is also investigated. In addition, plant protein-based packaging characteristics and their application in food are also …

Prenatal Exposure To Metal Mixtures And Newborn Neurobehavior In The Rhode Island Child Health Study, Pei Wen Tung, Amber Burt, Margaret Karagas, Brian P. Jackson, Tracy Punshon, Barry Lester, Carmen J. Marsit

Dartmouth Scholarship

Background: Prenatal exposure to metals can affect the developing fetus and negatively impact neurobehavior. The associations between individual metals and neurodevelopment have been examined, but little work has explored the potentially detrimental neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with the combined impact of coexisting metals. The objective of this study is to evaluate prenatal metal exposure mixtures in the placenta to elucidate the link between their combined effects on newborn neurobehavior. Method: This study included 192 infants with available placental metal and NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale data at 24 hours-72 hours age. Eight essential and nonessential metals (cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, …

Development Of Add-On Materials To Supplement Food Safety Modernization Act Trainings In The Western U.S., Jovana Kovacevic

Journal of Extension

During the 2017 annual meeting of the Western Regional Center to Enhance Food Safety, 52 representatives from 15 western states/territories, regional centers funded through USDA-NIFA Food Safety Outreach Program, federal and state government agencies, and non-governmental organizations prioritized topics for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) training materials that address region-specific agricultural production and processing systems. This article describes supplemental materials or “add-ons” developed to support FSMA-related food safety trainings. Although the materials were developed for the western region stakeholders, they can be applied or adapted to other regions in or outside the U.S. to enhance food safety trainings.

What And Who Has Determined Adoption? A Study On Improved Forage Technologies In Colombia From An Agricultural Innovation System (Ais) Perspective, K. Enciso, N. Triana, M. Díaz, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The complex process behind the adoption of improved forages in Colombia remains largely unexplored. Despite governmental and scientific efforts to promote and disseminate the implementation of improved forages for the sake of sustainable livestock production, local livestock producers continue to extensively use native species and adoption rates of more efficient forages remain low. This study explores the dynamics behind the development and diffusion of improved forage technologies in Colombia, from the 1960's to the present through an Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) perspective. Here we map the agents involved, classify the roles they exerted over time and reconstruct the historical context …

From Theory To Practice: What Should We Have In Mind When Building Effective And Sustainable Payments For Ecosystem Services (Pes) Schemes For Silvo-Pastoral Systems? Evidence From Colombia, M. Díaz, K. Enciso, N. Triana, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In most Latin American countries, payment for ecosystem services (PES) can be a useful strategy for restoration and conservation of the environment, increasing productivity and promoting sustainable development in rural areas. Despite these plausible benefits, PES implementation can be challenging due to the contextual framework in which it takes place (e.g. institutional weakness in the implementation and monitoring stages, limited connectivity among stakeholders, low adoption levels of agricultural technology). This study aims at evaluating PES schemes for silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia by considering six dimensions based on an extensive literature review: policy and governance; social context; environmental context; risks and …

Smallholder Dairy Farmers In The Peruvian Andes Fulfilling The Role Of Extension Agents, C. S. Pinares-Patino, J. Manhire, R. Garcia Ticllacuri, J. L. Bernal Madrid, V. M. Velez Marroquin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dairy farming in the Peruvian Andes is mostly undertaken by smallholder farmers (4-6 cows/family) and of relatively recent development. In fact, over the last 2 decades dairy farming at high altitudes (3,500‒4200 masl) has grown rapidly, replacing the camelids and sheep farming that once predominated. Dairying growth has been catalysed by subsides from state and private organizations. It promotes high input systems based on feedlot technology. Compared to sheep and camelids farming, dairying at the Andes does not have yet an inherent local/indigenous knowledge associated to it. High altitude Andean ecosystems pose many constraints for dairy farming (hypoxia and high …

The Rhetoric Of Detachment And Collective Identity Politics In Out Of Place By Edward Said: Transcending Modernist Aesthetics, Ahmad Qabaha

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

This study aims to trace the construction of affiliations and modes of belonging in Out of Place (1999) by Edward Said, in conjunction with his other works, that transgress real connections and present realities, and challenge the coherence of conventional notions of identity and detachment. It argues that Said reassesses his attachments and collective identity politics, not by rejecting his filiations but by finding a way to reconstruct or retrieve them. By thinking of Said and Darwish contrapuntally, this paper shows that Said works through these detachments, and moves between multiple identities to reconstruct a ‘filiative’ personal narrative which in …

Male Breast Cancer: The Three Decades' Experience Of A Tertiary Care Hospital In A Lower-Middle Income Country, Sana Zeeshan, Muhammad Tayyab, Fatima Shaukat, Muhammad Usman Tariq, Nargis Khan, Lubna Vohra

Section of General Surgery

Introduction Male breast cancer is uncommon and managed on the guidelines of female breast cancer due to tumor rarity. We sought to identify the incidence, clinicopathological features, and survival of all male breast cancer patients managed in our hospital. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, Pakistan, from January 1986 to December 2018. Demographic data, treatment records, and follow-up data of all male breast cancer patients who were treated at AKUH was reviewed. Results Thirty-eight out of 42 patients who presented over a period of 32 years were included. The mean age was …

Decellularized Articular Cartilage Microgels As Microcarriers For Expansion Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Esmaiel Jabbari, Azadeh Sepahvandi

Faculty Publications

Conventional microcarriers used for expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) require detachment and separation of the cells from the carrier prior to use in clinical applications for regeneration of articular cartilage, and the carrier can cause undesirable phenotypic changes in the expanded cells. This work describes a novel approach to expand hMSCs on biomimetic carriers based on adult or fetal decellularized bovine articular cartilage that supports tissue regeneration without the need to detach the expanded cells from the carrier. In this approach, the fetal or adult bovine articular cartilage was minced, decellularized, freeze-dried, ground, and sieved to produce articular …

Kathy Palmer, Oral History Interview, 2022, Matt Jones

Oral Histories

In 2021, Eastern Michigan University Archives lecturer Matt Jones began documenting the story of Ypsilanti’s Human Rights Ordinance #1279 in an effort to explore the ways in which local queer activism has evolved multi-generationally in Ypsilanti. What began as a refusal of service by a local print shop to a small EMU student group quickly turned into a years-long battle over who was deserving of basic human rights. To the LGBTQ activists and community members documented here, they had always been present in the community: working, paying taxes, painting their houses, mowing their lawns, attending council meetings, and even serving …

Acetylsalicylic Acid Suppresses Alcoholism-Induced Cognitive Impairment Associated With Atorvastatin Intake By Targeting Cerebral Mirna155 And Nlrp3: In Vivo, And In Silico Study, Doaa I. Mohamed, Dalia Alaa El-Din Aly El-Waseef, Enas S. Nabih, Omnyah A. El-Kharashi, Hanaa F. Abd El-Kareem, Hebatallah H. Abo Nahas, Basel A. Abdel-Wahab, Yosra A. Helmy, Samar Zuhair Alshawwa, Essa M. Saied

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Alcoholism is one of the most common diseases that can lead to the development of several chronic diseases including steatosis, and cognitive dysfunction. Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that are commonly prescribed for patients with fatty liver diseases; however, the exact effect of statins on cognitive function is still not fully understood. In the present study, we have investigated the molecular and microscopic basis of cognitive impairment induced by alcohol and/or Atorvastatin (ATOR) administration to male Wistar albino rats and explored the possible protective effect of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). The biochemical analysis indicated that either alcohol or ATOR or together in …

Challenges In Gluten Analysis: A Comparison Of Four Commercial Sandwich Elisa Kits, Plaimein Amnuaycheewa, Lynn Niemann, Richard E. Goodman, Joseph L. Baumert, Steve L. Taylor

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Gluten is composed of prolamin and glutelin proteins from several related grains. Because these proteins are not present in identical ratios in the various grains and because they have some differences in sequence, the ability to accurately quantify the overall amount of gluten in various food matrices to support gluten-free labeling is difficult. Four sandwich ELISAs (the R-Biopharm AG R5 RIDASCREEN®, the Neogen Veratox® R5, the Romer Labs AgraQuant® G12, and the Morinaga Wheat kits) were evaluated for their performance to quantify gluten concentrations in various foods and ingredients. The Morinaga and AgraQuant® G12 tests yielded results comparable to the …

Recombination Mediator Proteins: Misnomers That Are Key To Understanding The Genomic Instabilities In Cancer, Justin Courcelle, Travis K. Worley, Charmain Courcelle

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recombination mediator proteins have come into focus as promising targets for cancer therapy, with synthetic lethal approaches now clinically validated by the efficacy of PARP inhibitors in treating BRCA2 cancers and RECQ inhibitors in treating cancers with microsatellite instabilities. Thus, understanding the cellular role of recombination mediators is critically important, both to improve current therapies and develop new ones that target these pathways. Our mechanistic understanding of BRCA2 and RECQ began in . Here, we review the cellular roles of RecF and RecQ, often considered functional homologs of these proteins in bacteria. Although these proteins were originally isolated as genes …

Decellularized Articular Cartilage Microgels As Microcarriers For Expansion Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Esmaiel Jabbari, Azadeh Sepahvandi

Faculty Publications

Conventional microcarriers used for expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) require detachment and separation of the cells from the carrier prior to use in clinical applications for regeneration of articular cartilage, and the carrier can cause undesirable phenotypic changes in the expanded cells. This work describes a novel approach to expand hMSCs on biomimetic carriers based on adult or fetal decellularized bovine articular cartilage that supports tissue regeneration without the need to detach the expanded cells from the carrier. In this approach, the fetal or adult bovine articular cartilage was minced, decellularized, freeze-dried, ground, and sieved to produce articular …

Strategies To Promote Responsive Bottle-Feeding In Wic Predict Less Frequent Use Of Food To Soothe And Healthier Weight Status For Infants With Negative Temperaments, Alison K. Ventura, Shannon E. Whaley

Kinesiology and Public Health

Background: Infants with greater temperamental negative affectivity are at higher risk for overfeeding and excess weight gain.

Objective: To examine whether strategies to promote responsive bottle-feeding within WIC promoted healthier maternal feeding practices and infant weight status among infants with greater negative affectivity.

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from a matched-pair cluster randomized trial. Policy, systems and environmental change (PSE) strategies to promote responsive bottle-feeding were implemented at three WIC clinics; these clinics were compared with three matched control clinics. Linear mixed models tested whether infant negative affectivity interacted with PSE strategies to predict feeding and weight outcomes when infants …

Pastoralists’ Perception Of Poverty: A Case Of The Somali And Turkana Of Northern Kenya, W. P. Watete, Kogi-Makau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Poverty is a complex phenomenon, without a single definition or standard methods of reducing it. Income based methods of assessing poverty have been shown to have limitations that undermine their application in measuring and attacking poverty among pastoral households. Stages of progress method of poverty assessment was used to assess poverty among pastoral households in Turkana and Mandera Counties of Northern Kenya. Three hundred and three hundred and fifty-four households in Mandera and Turkana Counties respectively were sampled across three different livelihood zones: pastoral, agro-pastoral and off-farm. Accumulation of livestock was regarded as a key indicator of wealth among pastoral …

Pastoralist Conservation: Local Ecological Knowledge And Collective Action For Grassland Conservation In Sierra De Segura (Spain), P. Sanosa-Cols, F. Ravera, F. Dominguez, M. Ventura

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Even if Pastoralism is not practised anymore by a majority of families in the Sierra de Segura (south-eastern Andalusia, Spain), it is still considered a paradigmatic way of life and management of its highlands and a key cultural heritage deeply rooted in local identity. In this article we explore two pastoral communities of this region, Santiago and Pontones, with their body of situated knowledge of the territory and natural resources, which helps pastoralists to organize their livelihoods, while requiring collective organization to manage access to grasslands. Through an ethnographic research based on participant observation and in-depth interviews, we explore the …

Intensification Of Pastoralism As A Driver Of Degradation In The Algerian Steppe, S. Bencherif, P. Manzano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Land degradation linked to pastoralism use has been a worldwide concern for decades. A biological approach has often been use to understand such phenomena, usually disregarding economic and social factors. Radical transformations of pastoralism at the Algerian steppe constitute a good case study to provide an integrated understanding and to better orient development in other pastoralist areas across the world. Different actions by the public sector since the 1960s, as well as the land legislation adopted and the strong agricultural subventions during 2000-2010, have favored a massive conversion of land and resource management. This translates into conversion of many pastures …

Perceptions Of Rangeland Degradation In The Peruvian Altiplano Dry Puna And Implications, C. Turin, J. Gilles

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Peruvian altiplano’s dry puna is the main feed source for specialized alpaca pastoralist systems. Experts argue that rangelands are severely degraded and have formulated policies and programs to address this. However, these programs have had little success. This paper presents a qualitative case study of the perceptions of rangeland degradation held in three Aymara communities, by range scientists of academia, personnel of NGOs operating in the region and by government officers. We found that each of these groups had distinct views of the level and causes of degradation in the region. Differences in perceptions undermined cooperation and trust between …

Endangered Sustainable Innovation: Indigenous Milk Hygiene And Preservation Techniques By Maasai Too Valuable To Lose, J. Y. Laffa, C. R. Mcculloch, D. Schoder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The indigenous Parakuyo Maasai communities of Tanzania are traditional pastoralists who depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple food. However, the arid climate and a lack of clean water challenge milk production and conventional milk hygiene practices.

By conducting informational interviews in eight Parakuyo Maasai regions and 13 districts of Tanzania we sought to identify the key indigenous plants preferred and establish their traditional manner of use. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to: (i) determine the plants used, (ii) the parts used, (iii) methods of preparation and utensil smoking, (iv) therapeutic applications and associated health benefits of these plants, …

Using Personality And Temperament To Predict Exercise Behavior: A Pilot Study Of The Braverman Nature Assessment, Ben M. Rosicky, Eric E. Hall

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(5): 341-357, 2022. The Braverman Nature Assessment (BNA) is intended to determine the dominant monoamine neurochemical that drives an individual’s temperament and behavior. The measure has been colloquially praised for the ability to determine the most effective exercise protocols for an individual based on their “dominant nature.” This study seeks to examine the proposed relationship between the Braverman Natures and exercise behavior. Seventy-three adults (57 females) between ages 18-65 (mean = 26 years) completed an online survey consisting of the BNA, Big Five Personality Inventory (BFI), and Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study Physical Activity Questionnaire (ACLSPAQ). …

Chronic Effects Of Heavy Load Activity Performed Before Resistance Training Sessions On The Physical Performance Of Youth Soccer Players, Guilherme Borsetti Businari, Julio Benvenutti Bueno De Camargo, Paulo Henrique Barbosa, Felipe Alves Brigatto, Marcelo Saldanha Aoki, Tiago Volpi Braz, Charles Ricardo Lopes

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(6): 1421-1434, 2021. The adoption of resistance training (RT) programs has been shown to positively influence sports performance-related parameters. However, the chronic effects of maximal strength protocols on the performance of soccer players are not completely investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of performing two repetition maximum (2RM) before a resistance training session on the physical performance of youth soccer players. Seventeen players (under-20 category) were allocated in one of the following groups: 2RM + resistance training group (2RM + RT, n = 8) and resistance training group (RTG, n …

“It Is Not Breasts Or Vaginas That Women Use To Wash Dishes”: Gender, Class, And Neocolonialism Through The Women In Nigeria Movement (1982-1992), Sara Panata

Journal of International Women's Studies

The first self-declared Nigerian feminist organization was founded under the name of Women in Nigeria (WIN) at a meeting in Zaria in May 1982. WIN was a left-wing movement including women and men. This article seeks to shed light on knowledge production in the field of feminism and gender studies in Nigeria, focusing on WIN’s texts and discourses. Approaching knowledge production from the perspective of social history, my analysis examines the biographical trajectories of the association’s activists, the ways in which their journeys influenced the use of global knowledge and the production of “situated knowledges”, and how intellectual work operated …

Women’S Studies, Gender Studies, And Lgbt/Queer Studies: Defining And Debating The Subject Of Academic Knowledge In India, Virginie Dutoya

Journal of International Women's Studies

Women’s Studies is first introduced in Indian academia in the 1970s. There are now more than 150 centres conducting research on women and gender as well as numerous teaching programmes on these topics in India. Research on sexualities and non-heterosexual identities and practices, while less developed, also emerged in the 1990s. As in any academic field, research on Women’s Studies, gender, and sexuality has been marked by epistemic debates, in particular “terminology debates” (i.e., debates about the proper concepts for discussing gender and sexuality in India). Using a corpus of academic texts, course syllabi, and other academic documents as well …

Developing A Glossary Of People-Focused Terms Related To Rangelands And Grasslands, Dana Kelly, Katherine I. Johnsen, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer, Ann Waters-Bayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Excellent glossaries on rangelands and grasslands have been developed by the Society for Range Management (SRM), the International Grassland Congress (IGC) and the International Rangeland Congress (IRC). However, these are largely confined to biophysical and technical terminology and contain very few concepts referring to social, institutional and policy aspects of using rangelands and grasslands. After the 10^th IRC in Saskatoon, Canada, in 2016, an informal group started to develop a glossary of such “people-focused” terms. The short and non-academic definitions are meant to improve communication and understanding by users/practitioners in rangeland and grassland management, policymakers, teachers, students, journalists and …

Could Cheese Be The Missing, Hard, Stable Currency To Fortify Self-Sufficiency Of Pastoralist Communities?, D. Schoder, J. Y. Laffa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional pastoral existence in Africa has always necessitated close, sustainable interaction with a harsh natural environment. Pastoralists, such as the indigenous Parakuyo Maasai of Tanzania traditionally depend on fresh cow’s milk as a staple. They are among the few African ethnic groups that still live as small, socially intact associations close to nature. Unfortunately, fresh milk is difficult to store and inevitably, times of plenty fluctuate with the times of hunger that threaten cultural retreat. Milk storage is particularly challenging in an arid climate without refrigeration and at such times, survival takes precedence over prosperity. We describe an ongoing pilot …

Comparative Analysis Of Cbrm Cases In Kenya, Ethiopia And Tunisia, I. N. Nganga, L. W. Robinson, B. Eba, F. Flintan, E. M. Ontiri, M. Sghaier, N. H. Abdu, S. S. Moiko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In various countries, development and conservation organizations and national policymakers have been experimenting with ways of applying the community-based natural resource management approach to the unique social and biophysical characteristics of pastoralist rangeland settings, with mixed results. We carried out comparative case study research on community-based rangeland management (CBRM) in a variety of settings in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tunisia with the objective of identifying what kinds of strategies and methods work in which social and ecological contexts. We used an “options by context” approach guided by a research protocol that includes key variables and descriptors for characterizing the implementing organization’s …

Comparative Analysis Of Agri-Food Systems For Extensive Livestock In The High Pyrenees And Creation Of A Multicriterian Tool For Its Evaluation, Laia Motos, Federica Ravera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main objective of this study is to compare the different agri-food systems of extensive livestock (ecological and conventional) of big and small ruminants (cattle and sheep respectively) in high Pyrenees. This objective is formulated by looking at the general lack of knowledge of the population regarding the functionality of these systems, the changes of management that have been introduced in the recent years, especially in terms of commercialization, and the different capacity of response of extensive livestock systems to climate change and other socio-economic complementary changes. Attributes and indicators have been selected for the comparative evaluation of livestock systems, …