Life Sciences Commons^™

Blend Matters: Interactions Of Rice Cultivars On Milling, Physico-Chemical & End Use Traits, Bindu Regonda

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice blending or mixing of different rice cultivars, a common practice in the industry, significantly impacts processing efficiency and end-product quality, yet its effects on end products remain understudied. This research investigated the implications of blending contemporary Arkansas rice cultivars through two comprehensive studies focusing on milling yields and physicochemical properties, instantization, and parboiling processes. Five long-grain cultivars, including hybrids (RT 7521 FP, RT 7321 FP, XP 753) and purelines (Ozark, CLL 16), were blended in various combinations and different drying.

The first study revealed that blending significantly affected milling yields and physicochemical attributes. Pre-drying blending yielded better results compared …

Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) From The Usda-Grin Germplasm Collection, Ibtisam Alatawi, Haizheng Xiong, Hanan Alkabkabi, Kenani Chiwina, Qing Luo, Kai-Shu Ling, Yuejun Qu, Renjie Du, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The genetic diversity and population structure of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) were investigated to support breeding strategies and germplasm conservation. A total of 276 accessions from the USDA-GRIN collection were analyzed using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing (GBS). After stringent filtering, 5162 high-quality polymorphic SNPs were retained for analysis. Population structure analysis revealed three distinct genetic groups (Q1, Q2, and Q3) among the accessions. Accessions from the USA, Asia, and Central and South America were assigned to all three groups, while accessions from Europe and Oceania were predominantly clustered within Q2. Genetic diversity indices, including major …

The Impact Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) On Avian Occupancy And Vegetation Structure, Kenneth Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species, particularly wild pigs (Sus scrofa), pose a significant threat to native ecosystems through both direct and indirect impacts. Wild pigs are large-bodied omnivorous species that can consume a wide variety of plants and animals and are known for destructive foraging behaviors, which likely threatens avian communities through habitat alteration and can impact the long term structure of ecosystems where they are present.

In chapter 1, we used a combination of avian point count surveys, vegetation assessments, and camera trap surveillance to quantify how the occupancy of breeding birds in bottomland hardwood forests changed in relation to …

Utilization Of Prosur Phr As A Novel Phosphate Alternative In Tumble, Inject, And Tumble Injection Marinated Chicken Breast, Sarah E. Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Poultry is the most widely consumed meat protein worldwide for its health consideration, affordability, and versatility. Historically, the poultry industry has utilized numerous methods to improve meat quality most significantly, marination. Marination is practice commonly used in the industry by imparting various chemical functional ingredients that are known to enhance sensory characteristics such as tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. Various marination methods used in the industry including tumble, injection, and soaking. Ingredients, such as sodium chloride and phosphates are commonly used in the marination process. In recent years the industry has witnessed a shift in consumer preferences to “clean-label”. This trend …

The Bacterial Cell Wall Components Lipopolysaccharide And Peptidoglycan Initiate Divergent Local Tissue And Systemic Inflammatory Response Profiles In The Chicken Model, Kristen A. Byrne, Gisela F. Erf

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The innate immune system plays an important role in the early defense against pathogens. To better understand the chicken’s innate inflammatory responses, we concurrently examined the cellular responses at the injection site and in the blood following intradermal (i.d.) injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PGN) into the pulp of growing feathers (GFs). Both LPS from Gram-negative bacteria and PGN from Gram-positive bacteria are potent stimulators of innate inflammatory responses. The time-course study conducted revealed similarly elevated levels of heterophils and macrophages in injected GF-pulps during the first 24 h for both LPS and PGN. However, PGN also stimulated rapid …

Reducing Dna Extraction Costs Through Factorial Design For The Dnadvance Kit, Carson J. Neal, Zachery D. Zbinden, Michael E. Douglas, Marlis R. Douglas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective

Extracting DNA is essential in wildlife genetic studies, and numerous methods are available. However, the process is costly and time-consuming for non-model organisms, including most wildlife species. Therefore, we optimized a cost-efficient protocol to extract DNA from the muscle tissue of White-tailed Deer using the DNAdvance kit (Beckman Coulter), a magnetic-bead-based approach. We devised a 3 × 3 factorial design using combinations of tissue mass (10 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg) and reaction volume (25%, 33%, and 50% of the manufacturer's recommended volumes). DNA was extracted for N = 81 tissue sub-samples (9 replicates/treatment).

Results

Our target yield …

Gc-Ms Analysis And Evaluation Of Antioxidant, Anticancer, Cytotoxicity, And Hypoglycemic Properties Of The Libyan Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract On Alloxan-Induced Diabetes In Mice, Osama Abdel-Hafeez Mohammed Al-Bedak, Ahlam Rashed, Seham T.M. Oskandali, Nouri Kushlaf, Amal Eishebani, Samira A. Alacrouk, Fadia T.M. Oshkandale, Manal Eisheli, Zahur R. Almesai, Ameerah Shaeroun, Steven L. Stephenson, Fuad Ameen

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Libyan Moringa oleifera leaves were extracted using methanol, and the bioactive components' antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer characteristics were assessed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Moringa oleifera exhibited antioxidant activity, with an IC50 of 11.53 µg/mL. Wi38 cell line's viability decreased with increasing M. oleifera extract concentration, while its cytotoxicity increased with an IC50 of 393.41±7.77 μg/mL. Alloxan-induced diabetes model in Swiss albino mice was implemented. Three different doses (100, 200, or 300 mg/kg of mice body weight) of M. oleifera’s extract were evaluated for their effects on blood sugar concentration and the histology of the pancreatic islets. …

Traittrainr: Accelerating Large-Scale Simulation Under Models Of Continuous Trait Evolution, Jenniffer Roa Lozano, Mataya Duncan, Duane D. Mckenna, Todd A. Castoe, Michael Degiorgio, Richard Adams

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Abstract

The scale and scope of comparative trait data are expanding at unprecedented rates, and recent advances in evolutionary modeling and simulation sometimes struggle to match this pace. Well-organized and flexible applications for conducting large-scale simulations of evolution hold promise in this context for understanding models and more so our ability to confidently estimate them with real trait data sampled from nature. Results

We introduce TraitTrainR, an R package designed to facilitate efficient, large-scale simulations under complex models of continuous trait evolution. TraitTrainR employs several output formats, supports popular trait data transformations, accommodates multi-trait evolution, and exhibits flexibility …

Rice Sucrose Non-Fermenting Related Protein Kinase (Snrk1) Has A Limited Role In Defense Against Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda), Devi Balakrishnan, Vibha Srivastava, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sucrose non-fermenting (SNF) related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is a master regulator of energy deprivation signaling, has also been implicated in abiotic and biotic stress regulation. SnRK1 promotes stress tolerance through metabolic and transcriptional changes and plays important roles in innate immunity against various pathogens. However, whether it plays a role against insect herbivory is not understood. To test this, using the wild type (with SnRK1) and snrk1 mutant lines in rice, we examined the potential role of SnRK1 in rice against the ruinous pest, Fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda. We also investigated the response of FAW towards these …

Decoding Fgf/Fgfr Signaling: Insights Into Biological Functions And Disease Relevance, Oshadi Edirisinghe, Gaetane Ternier, Zeina Alraawi, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) and their cognate receptors, FGFRs, play pivotal roles in a plethora of biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, tissue repair, and metabolic homeostasis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of FGF-FGFR signaling pathways while highlighting their complex regulatory mechanisms and interconnections with other signaling networks. Further, we briefly discuss the FGFs involvement in developmental, metabolic, and housekeeping functions. By complementing current knowledge and emerging research, this review aims to enhance the understanding of FGF-FGFR-mediated signaling and its implications for health and disease, which will be crucial for therapeutic development against FGF-related pathological conditions.

Cognitive Bias, Memory, And Fearfulness Of Red Jungle Fowl And Athens Canadian Random Bred Chickens, Victor Juwon Oyeniran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Our understanding of how poultry perceive and interpret their environment is essential to enhancing their welfare; over the years, animal welfare science has relied on measures of the behavioral and physiological components of affective states (positive and negative) as welfare indicators. There is an increasing interest in the study of chicken’s affective states using the Judgment bias test (JBT) as a tool for assessing welfare through their responses to ambiguous cues. This study investigates the cognitive performance of two chicken breeds with different evolutionary histories: Red Junglefowl (RJF), the primary ancestor of modern chickens, and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), …

Frogs On A Plain: Spatial Ecology Of Crawfish Frogs In Arkansas’ Remnant Prairies, Elliot T. Lassiter

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The prairie peninsula was an expansive and important habitat that covered much of midwestern North America, from Canada to Arkansas, USA. But the prairie peninsula has shrunk by as much as 99% since 1830, and therefore, land acquisition and public/private partnerships are critical for the preservation of prairies and their associated species. In Arkansas, one species that benefits from protected prairies is the Crawfish Frog (Lithobates areolatus), which is currently declining precipitously throughout its range. Adult Crawfish Frogs spend most of their lives in terrestrial refugia (crayfish burrows), making them highly vulnerable to habitat loss and fragmentation, thereby …

Influence Of Hydrologic And Anthropogenic Disturbance On Stream Populations And Communities, Sarah Frances Sorensen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Disturbances occur when an external force modifies a habitat, destroying living space, removing food resources, or altering or destroying habitat structure. In lotic systems, a primary source of disturbance is hydrologic disturbance, including drought and flood. Hydrologic disturbances lead to increased mortality rates and dispersal out of disturbed habitats, causing population sizes to decrease and changes to community structures. More research is needed on how disturbances impact stream species and communities, as disturbances are predicted to become more intense with climate change. This dissertation aims to understand how disturbance influences streams at both the population and community level, through a …

Predictive Model For Listeria Monocytogenes In Rte Meats Using Exclusive Food Matrix Data, N.A. Nanje Gowda, Manjari Singh, Gijs Lommerse, Saurabh Kumar, Eelco Heintz, Jeyamkondan Subbiah

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Post-processing contamination of Listeria monocytogenes has remained a major concern for the safety of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products that are not reheated before consumption. Mathematical models are rapid and cost-effective tools to predict pathogen behavior, product shelf life, and safety. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a comprehensive model to predict the Listeria growth rate in RTE meat products as a function of temperature, pH, water activity, nitrite, acetic, lactic, and propionic acids. The Listeria growth data in RTE food matrices, including RTE beef, pork, and poultry products (731 data sets), were collected from the literature …

Measuring Palatability Of Pet Food Products: Sensory Components, Evaluations, Challenges, And Opportunities, Natalia Calderon, Brittany L. White, Han-Seok Seo

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The pet food industry is a growing business launching a variety of new products in the market. The acceptability or preference of pet food samples has traditionally been measured using either one-bowl or two-bowl tests. Academic researchers and professionals in the pet food industry have explored other methods, including the cognitive palatability assessment protocols and the ranking test, to evaluate more than two samples. A variety of approaches and perspectives were also utilized to predict palatability and key sensory attributes of pet foods, including descriptive sensory analysis by human-trained panelists and pet food caregivers’ perceptions of pet food. This review …

Extraction Of Anthocyanins From Purple Sweet Potato Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide And Conventional Approaches, Gabriel Laquete De Barros, Arda Tuhanioglu, Sumanjot Kaur, Leonardo Lora, Ali Ubeyitogullari

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This research investigates the potential of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO₂) technology as a green and sustainable approach to improve anthocyanin extraction from purple sweet potatoes (PSP). The study explored different extraction parameters (i.e., temperatures of 35–55 °C, cosolvent concentrations of 10–30 % (w/w), ethanol ratios of 30–70 % (v/v), pressures of 30–40 MPa, extraction times of 120–180 min, and solvent: sample ratios of 25:1–45:1(v/w)), to optimize the total phenolic content (TPC), anthocyanin content (ANC), and antioxidant activity (AA). Additionally, conventional extraction methods using different solvent (ethanol and methanol) mixtures, solvent: sample ratios (15:1; 45:1; 6:1 (v/w)), temperatures (35–50 …

Association Mapping For Water Use Efficiency In Soybean Identifies Previously Reported And Novel Loci And Permits Genomic Prediction, Siva K. Chamarthi, Larry C. Purcell, Felix B. Fritschi, Jeffrey D. Ray, James R. Smith, Avjinder S. Kaler, C. Andy King, Jason D. Gillman

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soybean is a major legume crop cultivated globally due to the high quality and quantity of its seed protein and oil. However, drought stress is the most significant factor that decreases soybean yield, and more than 90% of US soybean acreage is dependent on rainfall. Water use efficiency (WUE) is positively correlated with the carbon isotopic ratio ¹³C/¹²C (C13 ratio) and selecting soybean varieties for high C13 ratio may enhance WUE and help improve tolerance to drought. Our study objective was to identify genetic loci associated with C13 ratio using a diverse set of 205 soybean maturity …

An Integrative Approach Clarifies Species Delimitation And Biogeographic History Of Debregeasia (Urticaceae), Amos Kipkoech, Ke Li, Richard I. Milne, Oyetola Olesegun Oyebanji, Moses C. Wambulwa, Xiao-Gang Fu, Dennis A. Wakhungu, Zheng-Yuan Wu, Jie Liu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Integrative data from plastid and nuclear loci are increasingly utilized to resolve species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within major angiosperm clades. Debregeasia (Urticaceae), an economically important genus, presents challenges in species delimitation due to its overlapping morphological traits and unstable taxonomic assignments. Here, we analyzed 14 morphological traits and generated 12 data matrices from the plastomes and nrDNA using genome skimming from the nine recognized morphospecies to clarify species boundaries and assess barcode performance in Debregeasia. We also used a universal set of 353 nuclear genes to explore reticulate evolution and biogeographic history of Debregeasia. Plastomes of Debregeasia …

Metagenome-Assembled Genomes Of Pig Fecal Samples In Nine European Countries: Insights Into Antibiotic Resistance Genes And Viruses, Boxuan Yang, Jianbo Yang, Routing Chen, Jianmin Chai, Xiaoyuan Wei, Jiangchao Zhao, Junxiang Zhao, Feilong Deng, Ying Li

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Simple Summary

Abstract

Structural Stability Comparisons Between Natural And Engineered Group Ii Chaperonins: Are Crenarchaeal “Heat Shock” Proteins Also “Ph Shock” Resistant?, Mercede Furr, Shadi A. Badiee, Sreenivasulu Basha, Shilpi Agarwal, Zeina Ismael Ibrahem Alraawi, Sobroney Heng, Carson L. Stacy, Yeasin Ahmed, Mahmoud Moradi, Thallapuranam Krishnaswamy Suresh Kumar, Ruben Michael Ceballos

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Archaeal group II chaperonins, also known as heat shock proteins (HSPs), are abundantly expressed in Sulfolobales. HSPα and HSPβ gene expression is upregulated during thermal shock. HSPs form large 18-mer complexes that assist in folding nascent proteins and protecting resident proteins during thermal stress. Engineered HSPs have been designed for industrial applications. Since temperature flux in the geothermal habitats of Sulfolobales impacts intracellular temperature, it follows that HSPs have developed thermotolerance. However, despite the low pH (i.e., pH < 4) typical for these habitats, intracellular pH in Sulfolobales is maintained at ~6.5. Therefore, it is not presumed that HSPs have evolved acid-tolerance. To test tolerance to low pH, HSPs were studied at various pH and temperature values. Both circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence indicate that HSPα and HSPβ retain structural integrity at neutral pH over a wide range of temperatures. Structural integrity is compromised for all HSPs at ultra-low pH (e.g., pH 2). Secondary structures in HSPs are resilient under mildly acidic conditions (pH 4) but Anilino naphthalene 8-sulfonate binding shows shifts in tertiary structure at lower pH. Trypsin digestion shows that the HSPβ-coh backbone is the most flexible and HSPβ is the most resilient. Overall, results suggest that HSPα and HSPβ exhibit greater thermostability than HSPβ-coh and that there are limits to HSP acid-tolerance. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations complement the wet lab data. Specifically, MD suggests that the HSPβ secondary structure is the most stable. Also, despite similarities in pH- and temperature-dependent behavior, there are clear differences in how each HSP subtype is perturbed.

How Does Herbicide Resistance Change Farmer’S Weed Management Decisions? Evidence From The Roundup Ready Experiment, Huichin Sun, Terrance Hurley, George B. Frisvold, Katherine Dentzman, David Ervin, Wesley J. Everman, Jeffrey Gonsalus, Jason K. Norsworthy, Michae Owen

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Adoption of diverse weed management practices is viewed as essential for slowing the spread of herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds. Yet, adoption of diverse tactics has remained low, while there has been explosive growth of resistant weeds. This study analyzes U.S.-farm-level data to identify factors affecting adoption of diverse weed management practices. This study uses directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) to consider how practice adoption is influenced by different causal pathways between farmer and farm characteristics and farmer awareness of and concern over HR weeds. This study then uses multiple regression analysis to estimate the direct and indirect pathways that influence practice adoption. …

Genome-Wide Association Analysis And Genomic Prediction Of Salt Tolerance Trait In Soybean Germplasm, Rongqing Xu, Qing Yang, Zhi Liu, Xiaolai Shi, Xintong Wu, Yuenhan Chen, Xingyu Du, Qiqi Gao, Di He, Ainong Shi, Peijun Tao, Long Yan

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction:

Soybean is an important protein and oil crop, and improving yield has traditionally been a major breeding goal. However, salt stress is an important abiotic factor that can severely impair soybean yield by disrupting metabolic processes, inhibiting photosynthesis, and hindering plant growth, ultimately leading to a decrease in productivity.

Methods:

This study utilized phenotypic and genotypic data from 563 soybean germplasms sourced from over 20 countries. Employing four distinct models—we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using four models, including MLM, MLMM, FarmCPU, and BLINK in GAPIT 3, we conducted a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide …

Transitions Into Freezing Environments Linked With Shifts In Phylogenetic Integration Between Vitaceae Leaf Traits, Charles Tomo Parins-Fukuchi, Gregory W. Stull, Jun Wen, Jeremy M. Beaulieu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Understanding how the intrinsic ability of populations and species to meet shifting selective demands shapes evolutionary patterns over both short and long timescales is a major question in biology. One major axis of evolutionary flexibility can be measured by phenotypic integration and modularity. The strength, scale, and structure of integration may constrain or catalyze evolution in the face of new selective pressures. We analyze a dataset of seven leaf measurements across Vitaceae to examine how correlations in trait divergence are linked to transitions between freezing and nonfreezing habitats. We assess this by applying a custom algorithm to compare the timing …

Effect Of Cereal Rye Cover Crop Termination Timings On Weed Control And Corn Yield Under A Two-Pass Herbicide Program, Amar S. Godar, Jason K. Norsworthy, Tom Barber

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cover crops, including cereal rye, are generally known to suppress weeds in various cropping systems; however, research on their effective use is lacking. This study investigated the effects of different cereal rye termination timings on weed control and corn performance in a two-pass herbicide program across 5 site-years (2021–2023) in Arkansas, USA. The herbicide program consisted of one application at cereal rye (Secale cereale) termination (cereal rye environment) or at corn (Zea mays) planting (conventional system) and another at the V4 corn stage. Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) at V4 corn was better controlled in …

A Markov Regime-Switching Event Response Model: Beef Price Spread Response To Processing Capacity Shocks, Eunchun Park, Christopher N. Boyer, Clinton L. Neill

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

This research introduces a new method for event studies in time-series analysis named the Markov regime-switching event response model (MS-ERM). The MS-ERM is a comprehensive approach that integrates two different event study approaches: 1) measuring the impact of an event through structural shift and 2) measuring the impact via additional distributional components. As an empirical application, the study measures the impact of beef-packing plant closures on the weekly live-to-cutout beef price spread. The results indicate that the MS-ERM is a promising tool for event studies, particularly when an empirical dataset has both groups of events that cause and do not …

Analysis Of Nanobubble-Oxygenated Water For Horticultural Applications, Eric J. Deboer, Michael D. Richardson, Thanos Gentimis, John Mccalla

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

The theoretical properties of nanobubbles (NBs), such as a negative surface charge and large interfacial surface area, allow for highly efficient gas transfer and stagnation time in water and may reduce the surface tension of NB-treated water sources. These properties make NBs unique candidates for addressing issues like root zone oxygen deficiency, common in conventional and hydroponic crop production. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to confirm the presence of NBs in treated water and determine how time and temperature affect dissolved oxygen (DO) retention in NB-oxygenated water. Two membrane-based NB injection systems were compared with a standard method …

Efficient Correction Of Dna Hetero–Duplexes Formed During Selex Procedure, Adil Sabr Al-Ogaili, Billy Hargis, Young Min Kwan

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background:Aptamers, oligos-based (ssDNA or RNA) and peptide-based, are now emerging as the first-choice biomolecules in various applications in medicine and biology. DNA aptamers selection process includes repeatable steps of DNA amplification and digestion. The amplification process of the enriched DNA aptamers includes using PCR. Objectiveof study:In this article, we sought to describe an efficient and robust method that corrects or permanently removes the PCR by–products during the cycles of DNA aptamers selection. Materialsand Methods:Our method is simple, efficient, and requires no enzymatic treatment. In this method, we applied repetitive cycles of thermal treatment to the enriched aptamers final products during …

Integrating Ecophysiology And Omics To Unlock Crop Response To Drought And Herbivory Stress, Insha Shafi, Manish Gautam, Rupesh Kariyat

Entomology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction: Plants are constantly exposed to a diverse spectrum of environmental stressors that typically occur concurrently as multifactorial challenges, both spatially and temporally (Joshi et al., 2024). These stressors include abiotic stresses, such as drought, flooding, salinity, nutrient deficiencies, metal toxicity and extreme temperatures, as well as biotic pressures such as herbivory, pathogen attacks, and inter and intraspecific competition (Porter et al., 2020; González Guzmán et al., 2022). Drought and herbivory are arguably among the most critical factors that limit crop productivity in agricultural settings (Gautam et al., 2024), making it imperative to understand plant responses to their combined effects. …

Structural Molecular And Developmental Evidence For Cell-Type Diversity In Cnidarian Mechanosensory Neurons, Julia Baranyk, Kristen Malir, Miguel A.P. Silva, Sakura Rieck, Gracie Scheve, Nagayasu Nakanishi

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Deploying a conserved mechanosensory neuron known as the concentric hair cell, cnidarians have evolved diverse mechanoreceptors from hydroid filiform tentacles to jellyfish statocysts. However, it is unknown whether cnidarian mechanoreceptor evolution has relied solely on repurposing a single ancestral mechanosensory neuron type. Here we report evidence for cell-type diversity of mechanosensory neurons in sea-anemone cnidarian Nematostella vectensis. Uncovered in the ectoderm of feeding tentacles are conventional type I hair cells and previously unrecognized type II hair cells differing in the structure of apical sensory apparatus and synapses. Moreover, we identify TRP channel-encoding gene polycystin-1 as a type-II-hair-cell-specific essential mediator of …

Multiomics Of Yaks Reveals Significant Contribution Of Microbiome Into Host Metabolism, Shuli Yang, Jeiyi Zheng, Huaming Mao, Paramintra Vinitchaikul, Dongwang Wu, Jianmin Chai

Animal Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

An intensive feeding system might improve the production cycle of yaks. However, how intensive feeding system contributes to yak growth is unclear. Here, multi-omics, including rumen metagenomics, rumen and plasma metabolomics, were performed to classify the regulatory mechanisms of intensive feeding system on yaks. Increased growth performance were observed. Rumen metagenomics revealed that Clostridium, Methanobrevibacter, Piromyces and Anaeromyces increased in the intensively fed yaks, contributing to amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. The grazing yaks had more cellulolytic microbes. These microbiomes were correlated with the pathways of "Alanine aspartate and glutamate metabolism" and "Pyruvate metabolism". Intensive feeding increased methane degradation functions, …