Life Sciences Commons^™

Long-Term Analysis Of Pm2.5 Elemental Composition And Source Contributions In Coastal Urban Environments Of Corpus Christi And Houston In Texas, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Jeremy A. Sarnat, Amit U. Raysoni

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Long-term assessments of fine particulate matter play a key role in identifying persistent and emerging emission contributors. Coastal urban areas are highly susceptible to transboundary dust and wildfire events in addition to local pollution sources. Multi-decadal assessments in these regions using chemical speciation data could offer insights into major pollutant sources and their trends. This study utilizes nearly two decades of PM2.5 elemental composition data at two major coastal cities in Texas: Houston and Corpus Christi. Fourteen trace elements were analyzed to characterize the seasonal variability and long-term source evolution using a combination of Spearman’s correlation analysis, principal component analysis, …

Managing Collaboration Under Conservation Crisis: Trust, Risk, And Control In The Gulf Of Maine Fishery Management Network, Evelyn Roozee, Owen Temby, Dongkyu Kim, Antonia Sohns, Anthony Rocha Lima, Jasper R. De Vries, Gordon M. Hickey

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Transboundary fishery management and the intertwined conservation of critically endangered species represent significant governance challenges that require ongoing inter-organizational communication, collaboration, and collective action to achieve shared objectives. Previous research suggests that inter-organizational collaborative performance depends heavily on different dimensions of trust and complementary control mechanisms to mitigate the perceived risks of collaborating and enable the reciprocal sharing of resources and the coordination of activities. However, it is unclear how proposed relationships between trust, risk, and control are shaped by disruptions to established transboundary management networks. This study presents the results of survey research conducted in the Gulf of Maine …

Blue Carbon Ecosystems As Climate Solutions: Sequestration Across Coastal And Marine Environments, Allison K. White, Richard J. Kline, Md. Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, sequester significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. These ecosystems capture and store carbon in biomass and sediments over long periods. Other marine ecosystems, including the open ocean, kelp forests, bivalve reefs, and coral reefs, have been excluded from the BCEs, but they have the potential to serve as crucial blue carbon sinks or to support adjacent BCEs. Climate change, however, poses severe threats to these ecosystems. Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and ocean acidification can lead to habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and impaired carbon sequestration capacity. Consequently, anthropogenic …

Integration Of Lipidomic And Polygenic Risk Scores Within Contemporary Clinical Cardiovascular Risk Assessment Pathways: A Multi-Cohort Development And Validation Study, Aleksandar Dakic, Jingqin Wu, Tingting Wang, Thomas G. Meikle, Kevin Huynh, Changyu Yi, Habtamu B. Beyene, Agus Salim, Michelle Cinel, Nat Mellett, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Guideline-recommended clinical risk scores such as AusCVDRisk underestimate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in a substantial proportion of individuals who later experience events, with up to 65% initially classified as low or intermediate risk. This limitation is most consequential in the intermediate-risk group, where treatment decisions are uncertain and additional risk refinement could alter management. Circulating lipid species and inherited genetic variation capture complementary molecular aspects of atherosclerotic risk that are not fully reflected by conventional clinical variables, but are not routinely incorporated into primary-care risk assessment. We investigated whether selective integration of lipidomic and genomic risk signals into AusCVDRisk …

Molecular Refinement Of The Taxonomy Of Pyrgulopsis Springsnails In Western North America, Michael K. Young, Kristine L. Pilgrim, Eric S. Miskow, Chante L. Lundskog, Kathryn E. Perez, Michael K. Schwartz

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Springsnails in the genus Pyrgulopsis in western North America have long been a dilemma for taxonomists. Defining species boundaries has been complicated by the presence of undiscovered or cryptic taxa, range over- or underestimation, species complexes representing an unknown number of species, and named species synonymous with other taxa. To address these issues, we conducted an array of molecular species delimitation analyses using sequences from up to 2 mitochondrial and 2 nuclear genes from over 5000 specimens representing 140 of the 151 currently recognized taxa. These analyses reaffirmed most species hypotheses, favored synonymy for some taxa and redrawing of species …

Why Technical Readiness Is Not Enough: Institutional Barriers To Full Harvest Strategy Adoption In The International Pacific Halibut Commission, Evelyn Roozee, Owen Temby, Gordon M. Hickey

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Harvest strategies are increasingly promoted as a mechanism to reduce political discretion and align fisheries management with pre-agreed scientific objectives. While substantial progress has been made in tuna regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), non-tuna RFMOs have lagged behind. Existing research has focused primarily on technical modeling challenges, with comparatively limited attention to the governance dynamics shaping adoption. Using the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) as an instrumental case study, we examine the progress and delays in the development of a harvest strategy policy (HSP) through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. We find that the IPHC successfully addressed commonly cited barriers, …

Shared And Distinct Alterations In Brain Structure Of Youth With Internalizing Or Externalizing Disorders: Findings From The Enigma Antisocial Behavior, Adhd, Major Depressive Disorder, And Anxiety Working Groups, Sophie Townend, Marlene Staginnus, Yidian Gao, Nina Alexander, Volker Arolt, Tobias Banaschewski, Katja Beesdo-Baum, Mark A. Bellgrove, Vivek Benegal, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Externalizing and internalizing disorders are common in youth but are often studied separately, preventing researchers from identifying shared (i.e., transdiagnostic) alterations in brain structure. Using data from the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium, we conducted a mega-analysis to identify shared and distinct cortical and subcortical brain alterations across internalizing (anxiety disorders and depression) and externalizing (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] and conduct disorder [CD]) disorders in youth.

Methods: 3D T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data from youths (age range 4-21 years) with anxiety disorders (n = 1044), depression (n = 504), ADHD (n = 1317), and CD (n = 1172) …

Environmental Dna For Endangered Freshwater Mussel Monitoring: A Review On Global Synthesis Of Edna Methods, Challenges, And Innovative Strategies, Mizanur Rahman, Md. Saydur Rahman, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Freshwater mussels (family Unionidae) are among the most endangered aquatic species worldwide, making effective monitoring vital for their conservation. Traditional surveys are laborious, time-consuming, and often miss rare or low-density populations. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a highly sensitive, non-invasive approach for freshwater mussel detection and monitoring; however, uncertainties in ecological interpretation continue to limit its broader application in freshwater biodiversity monitoring. We conducted a systematic review of 49 peer-reviewed studies, identified through an extensive literature search, to assess temporal research trends, methodological advancements, ecological contexts, and regulatory readiness of freshwater mussel eDNA monitoring. Findings show that freshwater mussel eDNA research …

Multi-Sensor Tracking Reveals The Extent Of Nocturnal Migration In Landbirds, Paul Dufour, Raphaël Nussbaumer, Paul Doniol-Valcroze, Yann Rime, Peter Adamík, Susanne Åkesson, Raphaël Arlettaz, Arnaud G. Barras, Nyambayar Batbayar, Andrea Contina

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Most bird species are diurnal but drastically change their diel cycle of activity to migrate at night. Nocturnal migration has been documented using different methods (e.g., experiments, radar and radio tracking, and acoustic monitoring), but accurately quantifying the proportion of nocturnal versus diurnal flight at the individual and species levels, and understanding how this behavior evolved across the avian tree, has remained methodologically challenging.1,2,3 Such uncertainty is not only of theoretical importance but also limits our ability to mitigate conservation threats, particularly from light pollution and building collisions.4,5,6 With multi-sensor …

Longitudinal Patterns In Stygobiont Distribution In The Hyporheic Zone Of The Karst Spring-Fed San Marcos River, Texas, Usa, Kenneth Sparks, Benjamin F. Schwartz, Safra Altman, Kathryn E. Perez, Zoey B. Chanin, Caroline Mierzejewski, Benjamin T. Hutchins

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Groundwater-obligate taxa (stygobionts) exhibit variable degrees of habitat specialization, ranging from those restricted to single micro-habitats to generalists occurring in a broad range of habitat types. The karstic Edwards Aquifer is the most biodiverse and well-studied groundwater habitat in the continental United States, but some Edwards Aquifer-associated species also occupy the hyporheic zone of rivers downstream from karst. The goals of this research were to 1) assess the potential of the off-karst hyporheic zone as habitat for ‘karst’ species and 2) to determine how stygobiont richness, diversity, and abundance related to distance from karst in the hyporheic zone of a …

Developmental Stability Of Task-Rest Neural Efficiency In Youth Using A Threat And Cognitive Control Task, Parmis Khosravi, Julia O. Linke, Anjali D. Poe, Chase Antonacci, Reut Naim, Elise M. Cardinale, Katharina Kircanski, Anderson M. Winkler, Nathan A. Fox, Daniel Samuel Pine, Simona P. Haller

School of Medicine Publications

Behaviors arise from coordinated neural activity across diverse spatial and temporal scales. Prior work has linked better task performance and cognitive functioning to patterns of global network connectivity requiring minimal reconfiguration when switching between task demands. This metric indexing similarity in functional connectivity across task and rest has been termed “neural efficiency.” Here we assess stability of neural efficiency over approximately 3 years in adolescence, specificity across two task-rest combinations and associations with anxiety. At approximately age 16 and/or 19, 95 participants completed a resting state scan alongside a cognitive control and/or threat task. Neural efficiency was quantified as partial …

Height Does Not Impair The Hydraulic System Of The Tallest Tropical Dipterocarp Trees, Paulo Bittencourt, Arne Scheire, Palasiah Jotan, Jehova Lourenço-Junior, Lindsay F. Banin, Mohd. Aminur Faiz Bin Suis, David Frp Burslem, Bradley O. Christoffersen, David Coomes, Peter Groenendijk

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Half of the aboveground biomass in forests is stored in a disproportionately small number of very tall trees. These giants are predicted to be more vulnerable to drought-induced damage because height impairs their hydraulic system. We evaluated whether the hydraulic system of world’s tallest tropical tree species—Southeast Asian dipterocarps—are negatively affected by their height. The more negative xylem pressures caused by tree height were fully compensated for through adjustment of vessel anatomy and leaf hydraulic traits, and the trees suffered no height-related loss in growth during a severe drought. Therefore, height does not make the hydraulic systems of the world’s …

A Comparative Study Of Aging And Cortical Folding In Chimpanzees And Olive Baboons, William D. Hopkins, Angela M. Achorn, Michele M. Mulholland, Elizabeth R. Magden, Steven J. Schapiro, Courtney L, Fults, Jean‐Francois Mangin, Adrien Meguerditchian

Anthropology Faculty Publications

In light of the evidence that nonhuman primates naturally develop Alzheimer's disease neuropathologies, there is a renewed interest in research on the comparative biology of aging, including neurological changes across the age groups in species with diverse lifespans. In this paper, we examined age‐related differences in two measures of cortical folding, mean depth and fold opening, in a sample of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and olive baboons (Papio anubis). We found significant species differences in the slope and pattern of age‐related changes in cortical folding. As predicted, chimpanzees showed negative linear associations between age and mean depth and …

An Emergent Seafood Nationalism Takes Hold In The United States, Owen Temby

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper introduces the concept of ‘seafood nationalism’ to describe how, since 2024–2025, the United States increasingly uses tariffs, trade remedies, food safety enforcement and origin-based rules to favour American seafood over foreign products. Federal actions include Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which directs agencies to address unfair trade practices, unsafe imports and to develop a coordinated seafood trade strategy. Additional measures include a tariff package imposing a 10% duty on nearly all seafood imports and 30% on seafood from China, as well as new anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on warm-water shrimp. This paper presents Gulf …

Farm Workers And The Structural Basis Of Climate Change Perceptions, Cody Mortell, Anna Erwin, Zhao Ma, Dongkyu Kim, Elizabeth Rodriquez, Marla Perez-Lugo

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Farm workers are particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially from extreme heat; however, little is known about how they perceive this risk. This study examines climate change perceptions (CCP) among 404 farm workers surveyed in person in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas from April to May 2024. Guided by Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice, we conducted a latent class analysis of economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital indicators to identify distinct class profiles. We then assessed CCP by latent profile, using two primary outcome variables: (1) perceived temperature trends in the region (assessed alongside NOAA data) and (2) perceived …

Multi-Ancestry Polygenic Risk Scores For The Prediction Of Type 2 Diabetes And Complications In Diverse Ancestries, Alicia Huerta-Chagoya, Joohyun Kim, Ravi Mandla, Yingchang Lu, Ken Suzuki, Lauren E. Petty, Hong Kiat Ng, Jaewon Choi, Simon Lee, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRSs) improve prediction of the development of type 2 diabetes over the use of clinical risk factors alone; however, they perform poorly in populations of non-European ancestry, limiting their global clinical utility. We aimed to deliver comprehensive and rigorously tested multi-ancestry PRSs for prediction in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We conducted meta-analyses using data from type 2 diabetes genome-wide association studies (GWAS) across cohorts from five major global ancestries: European, African or African American, Admixed American, South Asian, and East Asian. We used summary statistics from the GWAS to construct single-ancestry PRSs (using the continuous-shrinkage PRS-CS …

Association Of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Insulin Secretion And Sensitivity In Mexican American Children: Results From The Safari Study, Hemant Kulkarni, Rector Arya, Srinivas Mummidi, Sharon P. Fowler, Roy G. Resendez, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Vidya Farook, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background/Objectives: There is increasing interest in and evidence for the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in cardiometabolic risk. We tested the hypothesis that UPF intake score derived from dietary history is associated with measures of insulin secretion and sensitivity in a family setting even when the process of type 2 diabetes is still to ensue. Methods: We used data from our well-characterized San Antonio Family Assessment of Metabolic Risk Indicators in Youth (SAFARI) study cohort of nondiabetic children (aged 6–17 years). Dietary history was assessed using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Outcomes of interest were 19 clinically useful indexes of …

Mosaic Loss Of Y Chromosome Associates With Lung Function, Emphysema, And Epigenetic Aging, Woei Yuh Saw, Kangjin Kim, Yichen Huang, Jeong H. Yun, Xiaolong Ma, Jason Bacon, Yash Pershad, Daniel Levy, George T. O’Connor, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Rationale: As the global population ages, identifying risk factors for age-related diseases, such as COPD, is crucial for public health. Mosaic loss of Y chromosome (mLOY) in blood cells is an age-related somatic mosaicism event, but its relationship with pulmonary health remains undercharacterized. Objectives: To examine the association between mLOY and pulmonary outcomes in men. Methods: Leveraging mLOY assessment (cell fraction ≥ 5%) in over 12 000 men, including 5097 from the COPDGene Study and 7235 from six additional cohorts in the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine program, we investigated mLOY associations with respiratory outcomes and epigenetic aging using multivariable cross-sectional, …

Regional, Functional And Transcriptomic Decoding Of Multidimensional Brain Structure Alterations In Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Leonardo Cardoso Saraiva, João Ricardo Sato, Isaac Sebenius, Nadza Dzinalija, Carla Del Río-Torné, Fábio Godinho, Antonio C. Lopes, Thomas V. Fernandez, Monicke O. Lima, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Studies of brain morphology in mental illness often focus on a few neuroimaging phenotypes. Here we present a comprehensive morphological characterization in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a large sample (2255 OCD, 2264 controls) using nine cortical and four subcortical phenotypes, including several not previously examined in OCD, among them a subcortical structural similarity network phenotype developed here. Spatially distinct regional alterations emerged across structural phenotypes: cortical curvature alterations in default mode and frontoparietal networks, increased structural similarity network node degree in sensorimotor regions, widespread volume reductions associated with medication use, and localized subcortical shape alterations. In brain-behavior predictive models, curvature …

Editorial: Plant Responses To Abiotic Stress: Unraveling Complex Mechanisms Through Genomics And Physiology, Mizanur Rahman, Takashi Asaeda, Md Harun Rashid

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Quantitative Genetic Analysis Of Baboon Facial Variation Challenges A Classic Papionin Trait, A. Thiebaut, C. C. Roseman, Michael Mahaney, Leslea J. Hlusko

Human Genetics Publications

The Linnaean family of monkeys that includes baboons, macaques, and mandrills (among others) is notably characterized by large, extended muzzles that vary in lateral nasal dorsum profile. In paleontological studies, this variation is referred to as the anteorbital drop (AOD). Here, we first devise a method to quantify this phylogenetic character. We then employ quantitative genetic analyses using a MCMCglmm model of facial variation in a captive, pedigreed baboon colony (n = 934), including admixed individuals derived from at least two Papio species, from the Southwest National Primate Research Center to assess the quantitative variation of the AOD, its …

Enhancer Rna Transcription Near Segmentation Gene Enhancers Can Be Analyzed In Situ Using Fish, Christine Mau, Benjamin Schmid, Ezzat El-Sherif

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are non-coding transcripts produced at enhancer regions, which appear to be involved in transcriptional regulation. Up to date, these have been primarily investigated using labor- and cost-intensive genomic techniques. However, the precise mechanisms by which eRNA transcription or eRNA transcripts themselves mediate transcriptional regulation remain unclear. Here, we present a novel experimental approach that allows us to analyze characteristics of eRNA transcription in fixed and live whole Drosophila melanogaster embryos. We employ the anterior–posterior patterning genes as a model system to investigate the dynamics of eRNA expression, utilizing an imaging-based approach. We combined high-sensitivity fluorescence in situ …

Examining The Relationship Between Civic Agriculture Participation And Civic Engagement In South Texas, Allison Kaika, Dongkyu Kim, William Donner, Alexis Racelis, Owen Temby

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Civic agriculture is often credited with strengthening democratic life by encouraging civic and political engagement, yet this claim has scarcely been tested in socioeconomically marginalized regions. Using original survey data collected through a combination of random and purposive sampling, this study assesses that relationship in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a majority-Hispanic agricultural region marked by high poverty and low civic participation. Phone and online surveys were administered in English and Spanish to reach both the general population and individuals involved in civic agriculture initiatives, yielding over 400 responses. We examine whether civic agriculture participation predicts greater community …

Agrivoltaic Shading Reduces Soil Greenhouse Gas Fluxes In A Semi-Arid Vineyard, Marcelo Gomes Da Silva, Rafael M. Almeida, Carine Cocco, Engil Pereira

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Agrivoltaic systems are expanding in semi-arid regions, raising questions about how panel driven shading alters soil greenhouse gas exchange. We used automated chambers to measure high frequency soil CO2, N2O, and CH4 fluxes in a newly established vineyard agrivoltaic system in Texas across three shading intensities (0%, 35%, 88%) that represent the light environment beneath panels as shaped by panel tilt and solar trajectory. Shading primarily cooled the soil, reducing mean soil temperature from 35.9 °C (0%) to 32.5 °C (35%) and 30.5 °C (88%), while mean soil water content shifted modestly (0.125, 0.106, and 0.130 m3 m−3, respectively). Over …

Gene × Sex Interactions On Cognition In The Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, Josephine Mollon, Emma M. Knowles, Samuel R. Mathias, Amanda Rodrigue, Ruben C. Gur, Juan M. Peralta, Daniel J. Weiner, Elise B. Robinson, Armin Raznahan, Raquel E. Gur, John Blangero, Laura Almasy, David C. Glahn

School of Medicine Publications

Background: Small differences between females and males in cognitive abilities have been consistently reported, but the factors underlying these sex differences remain unclear. Social and cultural factors are thought to play a key role, but studies on this topic have been inconclusive. Examination of genetic factors may shed some light on the mechanisms underlying cognitive sex differences.

Methods: Using data from the Philadelphia Neurodevelopmental Cohort, a large, general population sample of individuals aged 8 to 21 years old (N = 4,694), we tested for sex differences in the genetic factors (i.e., Gene × Sex interactions) underlying cognitive ability. Participants completed …

Comparison Of Fish Biomass And Fish Carbon Content Associated With Reef Sites At The Rio Grande Valley Artificial Reef In The Gulf Of Mexico, Allison K. White, Md Saydur Rahman, Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

As global fisheries stocks have decreased due to overfishing and climate change, artificial reefs have gained significant attention. In addition to providing or restoring habitat, artificial reefs may serve as carbon capture sinks and potential climate mitigation strategies. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Reef is an artificial reef located in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas. The RGV Reef area spans 1,650 acres and is comprised of hundreds of groupings of recycled and pre-formed materials ranging from low relief (1–2 ft) to high relief (8–30 ft) reef structures. This reef provides a variety of novel habitat …

Vitamin D–Amp Axis In Host Defense Against Fungal Infections, Nuraly S. Akimbekov, Ilya Digel, Svetlana K. Sakhanova, Kuanysh Tastambek, Dinara K. Sherelkhan, Mohammed S. Razzaque

School of Medicine Publications

Vitamin D–mediated regulation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is an important focus in innate immunology and is aimed at elucidating the role of vitamin D in enhancing antimicrobial defense. AMPs are short protein chains that serve as a first line of defense against invading pathogens, including fungi, bacteria and viruses. Unlike conventional antibiotics, AMPs are produced endogenously and are less likely to induce antimicrobial resistance, making them promising candidates for treating infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Studies indicate that optimal vitamin D levels are essential for activating antimicrobial pathways and regulating AMPs that target multiple fungal pathogens. This article summarizes recent …

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Brain Age Prediction In Generalized Anxiety Disorder Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Corey Richier, André Zugman, Anita Harrewijn, Elise M. Cardinale, Parmis Khosravi, Moji Aghajani, Willem B. Bruin, Kevin Hilbert, Narcis Cardoner, Anderson M. Winkler

Human Genetics Publications

Higher predicted brain age difference has been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is associated with markers of accelerated aging. In this study, we determined brain predicted age difference (PAD) in individuals with GAD and healthy controls (HC) as well as group differences in PAD variability using voxel-wise structural MRI. The training dataset included 3511 controls, and the testing dataset included 1595 individuals with GAD and 4552 HC from the ENIGMA-Anxiety GAD Working Group. A convolutional neural network model using four input modalities per subject and a model ensemble approach was used to predict brain age. The …

Do Cover Crops Influence Beneficial And Herbivorous Arthropod Communities Across Growing Seasons?, Adegboyega Fajemisin, Satinderpal Kaur, Alejandro Vasquez, Alexis Racelis, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Cover crops provide multiple ecosystem services in agriculture, yet their influence on arthropod communities remains poorly understood, especially in commercial farming. Despite their potential benefits, it remains unexplored how cover crops affect arthropod community dynamics across multiple growing seasons. We conducted a two-year study across three commercial farms in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, to examine how cover crops influence arthropod community composition and abundance, whether beneficial arthropods (natural enemies and pollinators) persist into cash-crop phases, and how cover crops affect natural enemy–herbivore relationships. We compared arthropod communities between cover-crop treatments and control plots and tracked responses through subsequent …