Life Sciences Commons^™

How Many Tiny Snails? Circumscription Of Three Species Of Pyrgulopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)In Nevada Mountain Springs, Trenton Meadows

Theses and Dissertations

The springsnail genus Pyrgulopsis is one of the most diverse groups of freshwater gastropods in North America (Hershler, 2014), with many species displaying high levels of endemism (Hurt, 2003). This study attempts to circumscribe three putative species of springsnails: Pyrgulopsis serrata, Pyrgulopsis marcida, and a newly identified clade, referred to as Lineage C, from the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA and nearby springs. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined morphological, anatomical, and molecular data to examine species boundaries and evolutionary relationships.

Many lines of evidence were considered to determine species boundaries. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial …

Bioindicators Of Mercury In Riverine Systems, Kathryn Mudica

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the bioaccumulation and biomagnification of mercury in freshwater food webs, with emphasis on bioindicators, such as macroinvertebrates, crayfish, and river otters. Despite regulatory efforts and advancements in monitoring, significant gaps remain in understanding mercury dynamics in freshwater systems—especially regarding its transport, methylation, and bioavailability across different ecosystems. To address these knowledge gaps, this study adopts a biocentric approach, emphasizing the role of living organisms in their environment. By utilizing macroinvertebrates, crayfish, and river otters as bioindicators, we aim to assess mercury bioavailability and distribution. These organisms provide varying temporal and spatial scales of mercury accumulation, offering …

Use Of Electrocardiogram To Evaluate Welfare Of Laying Hens And Chicks During Different Life Stages And Events, Ashley Elizabeth Bigge

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Three separate studies were conducted to evaluate the welfare of laying hens and chicks during different life stages. The stress responses of mature laying hens in two different scenarios were also investigated. All three studies utilized the electrocardiogram (ECG) as the chosen tool for data collection. Study 1 examined the startle response, prompted by an acute stressor that created sudden movement and noise, in White and Brown Leghorn hens housed in either cages or aviaries. The presence of a chronic stressor, a 23-hour feed failure, was also assessed as a factor. These hens had been surgically implanted with wireless ECG …

Examining Factors Of Variance In Energy Metabolism Of Dairy Cattle, Addison Lee Carroll

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Variation is thought to occur in the use of dietary energy for production in dairy cattle. First, variance can be observed when new methane mitigation strategies are fed resulting in increased H₂ output potentially resulting in downstream effects on estimates heat production via the Brouwer (1965) equation. Therefore, in chapter 3 a review was created to systematically describe the mathematics and theory behind the Brouwer equation, and rederive a heat production equation to integrate H₂ production. Results indicate heat production using the classical Brouwer equation (1965) relative to the rederived equation resulted in an overestimation of heat production …

Nitrogen Limitation In Soybean: Physiology And Diagnosis, Luzviminda Ann Ramos Sazon

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

In high-yield soybean environments, the seed yield is limited by nitrogen (N) supply. However, the response of soybean to N fertilizer application is inconsistent. Understanding the seasonal N uptake dynamics in soybean can provide insights on diagnosing N limitation if soybean. To understand soybean N dynamics, we assessed seasonal trends on dry matter and N accumulation in vegetative organs (leaves, stems, and petioles) from 42 field experiments. Each experiment included a ‘zero-N’ treatment, where crops relied on N supply from soil and biological N fixation (BNF), and a ‘full-N’ that received ample N via N fertilizer addition. Vegetative storage proteins …

Investigating The Biochemical Aspects Of Meat Tenderness, Chandler D. Stafford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Of all the attributes that define beef's eating quality, tenderness stands out as one of the most important. Previous studies have shown that consumers are willing to pay a premium for beef that is guaranteed to be more tender and are more likely to purchase that product repeatedly. Yet, due to the influence of numerous internal and external factors, controlling and predicting tenderness remains to be difficult. However, among these factors, meat aging is the primary contributor to end-product tenderness, as it is recognized for breaking down muscle tissue via enzymes present within the muscle. The activity of these enzymes …

Morphological And Physiological Changes Of Katuray (Sesbania Grandiflora) During Seed Maturation [Research Note], Alangelico San Pascual, Lucille Elna De Guzman, Maurice Gravidez, Elijah Estante

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Katuray (Sesbania grandiflora), whose flowers are consumed as steamed vegetables, is an important green manure crop in the Philippines. Understanding different processes leading to seed maturity can aid in determining S. grandiflora’s seed quality, preventing premature harvesting for seed increase, ensuring efficient propagation and production of seedlings, and breeding new varieties of this crop. Multiple flowers were tagged, and three to five pods were collected five days after anthesis (DAA) and at a five-day interval thereafter until 100% germination was achieved. Seed size, moisture content (MC), dry weight, germination percentage, and embryo development were observed and recorded. Seed length was …

Comparative Analysis Of Household Food And Nutrition Security In Selected Philippine Urban And Rural Households During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jay-Al Reyes, Julieta Delosreyes

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study analyzed the food and nutrition security of selected urban and rural households in Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic. It determined the prevalence of food insecurity among the selected urban and rural households, analyzed the determinants of food insecurity in these households, determined the prevalence of malnutrition, and assessed the relationship between the households’ food security and nutrition security. Primary data from a survey of 185 urban and rural households and secondary data from the Electronic Operation Timbang Plus (e-OPT) Tool were used to determine the prevalence of food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale …

Bioactivity And Synergism Of Tagpo (Ardisia Tomentosa) Molluscicidal Extracts, Darwin C. Gomez, Grechelle Socias, Rosemarie Galanza, Florlyn C. Gayas Ma., Fe T. Piedad, Brian John Sarno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Population control of golden apple snails (GAS, Pomacea canaliculata) is beneficial in rice farming; however, the associated control measures can be expensive and time-consuming. Currently, farmers use synthetic molluscicides such as niclosamide to control GAS infestation, but this has some drawbacks. For example, niclosamide has broad toxicity to non-target organisms and negatively affects the growth of rice seedlings. Plant extracts with potent bioactivity and low toxicity to non-target organisms are attractive alternatives to synthetic molluscicides. In this study, the bioactivity of the crude fruit extract of tagpo (Ardisia tomentosa) was assessed against GAS and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fries. The potential …

Field Assessment Of Fertilization, Nursery, And Crop Management Practices Among Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Growers In The Ilocos Provinces, Philippines, Annalissa Aquino, Sancho Bon, Angelica Guanlao, Ann Mylalulex Magnaye, Filomena Sta Cruz, Pompe C. Sta. Cruz

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Growth and yield of many economically important vegetables like tomatoes are heavily influenced by crop management practices, particularly fertilizer application, irrigation scheme, and pest management. To attain maximum tomato yields and increase farmers’ profits, these crop production components must be optimized in local farm levels. Before optimization measures can be conducted, baseline information on prevailing practices needs to be evaluated. To assess the nutrient management and other crop production practices of tomato farmers in the Ilocos provinces, Philippines, on-farm surveys were conducted in 16 and 18 barangays planting fresh-type and processing-type tomatoes, respectively. The study involved a total of 88 …

Effects Of Culture Media And Duration On In Vitro Maturation And Production Of Cỏ Goat Embryos, Van Khanh Nguyen, Huong Thi Thu Vu, Au Thi Hoang, Yen Thi Kim Pham, Dat Van Le, Lan Anh Thi Nguyen, Huu Xuan Quan, Lan Doan Pham

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of maturation media and duration on the in vitro maturation (IVM) of Cỏ goat oocytes for the in vitro production of Cỏ goat embryos. In Experiment 1, the highest percentage of matured oocytes and blastocyst rates were observed in the IVM medium consisting of tissue culture medium (TCM) 199 + 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) + 50 ng/mL follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) + 100 μM cysteamine + 10 ng/mL epidermal growth factor (EGF) + 100 units/mL penicillin G potassium + 0.1 mg/mL streptomycin sulphate (P < 0.05). In Experiment 2, Cỏ goat oocytes were cultured in the same IVM medium for 20, 22, and 24 h, respectively. The matured oocyte and blastocyst rates of the 20-h group were lower than those of the 22- and 24-h groups (61.56% vs. 76.81% and 73.48%; 13.76% vs. 24.75% and 24.72% respectively; P < 0.05), while there was no difference between the 22- and 24-h groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the TCM 199 medium supplemented …

A031: Design And Practice Of Ai-Powered Precision Teaching Model For Public Physical Education Courses In Universities, Dongxiao Liu, Xuankun Sun, Aowei Zhang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Five major teaching pain points often occur in the teaching of public physical education courses in universities: (1) First pain point is easy to have deviations in movement cognition and self-practice. (2) It is difficult to accurately grasp the intensity and density of exercise. (3) Lack of process and phased teaching evaluations can inhibit the cultivation of autonomous exercise drive. (4) Unhealthy aesthetics have a negative impact, leading to a deviation in aesthetic perception among students. (5) Students lack autonomous learning ability and have difficulty cultivating post-class exercise habits. How to resolve these "pain points" are now the key …

A040: The Effect Of Blended Online And Offline Physical Education On The Health-Related Indexes Of Undergraduates, Shijun Gong, Aowei Zhang, Dongxiao Liu, Yanxin Liu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: With the explosive development of artificial intelligence, many scholars have carried out research around the combination of online and offline physical education courses. Current research has focused on developing the application of information technology in the classroom teaching of physical education. The main purpose addressed in this study was to investigate the possible effects of implementing such a blended online and offline physical education at home on the health-related indices of students.

Method: Totally 14,708 college students participated, including 6,125 males and 8,583 females. In the analysis approach, research was adopted using SPSS 26.0, specifically the paired-samples T test …

A046: Recreational Skiing Injury Rate: A Case Study Of A Ski Resort In Central New York, Hongwei Guan, David Guan, Xiaoran Li

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: More people in China are participating in snow sports, especially after the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Despite health benefits, skiing and snowboarding are associated with injury risk. Ski safety and injury prevention are essential for sustainable operation of ski resorts with the rapid development of snow sports in China. The purpose of this study was to examine the injury rate at a popular medium-sized ski resort in Central New York and compare it with that of similar ski resorts in Northeastern China.

Method: Direct ski patrol observation and injury incident reports of three seasons from 2020-21 to 2022-23 were …

A049: Associations Between 24-Hour Accelerometer-Derived Novel Metrics With Health-Related Physical Fitness In Chinese Adolescents, Yanping Qiu, Lijuan Wang, Huan Chen, Xiaoqing Li

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Time-use estimates are commonly utilized for describing 24-hour movement behaviors. Nonetheless, the average acceleration (AvAcc), intensity gradient (IG) and the most active X minutes (MX metrics) have been proposed as 24-hour movement behaviors novel metrics describing the volume of activity, the intensity distribution and the most active time periods of the 24-h cycle. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine associations between 24-h accelerometer-derived metrics and health-related physical fitness in Chinese adolescents.

Methods: This study recruited 240 students aged 12-18 (143 males, 97 females) from a middle school in Haizhu District, Guangzhou City. The data collection period was from March …

A052: Construction Of Ski Instructors' Competency Evaluation Index System Based On O*Net Working Analysis, Juan Ran, Hongyan Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Skiing has emerged as a preeminent activity in ice and snow tourism, with ski resorts significantly bolstering the winter tourism economy. However, the burgeoning demand for instructors, coupled with the increasing number of enthusiasts, poses critical challenges for the sport's development. To address these issues, we have undertaken a comprehensive competency assessment to inform the training and retraining of instructors. This evaluation is also pertinent for selecting unlicensed instructors.

Method: The study involved 12 experts and 250 ski instructors from Jilin Province. Research was conducted using keywords such as 'competency model' and 'instructor quality'. The O*NET questionnaire and a …

A055: The Relationship Between Grip Strength And Quality Of Life In The Elderly Based, Fanhao Meng

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the "Decade of Healthy Ageing" from 2021 to 2030 to address the challenges of a rapidly ageing global population. The extension of human lifespan is a manifestation of social progress, but aging and increased longevity may be accompanied by problems such as reduced physical and mental abilities and increased risk of diseases, which affects quality of life (QOL). Grip as an indicator of strength and is associated with physical activity in older adults. It is readily applicable in clinical and community settings, and there is an association between grip strength and health-related …

A058: The Impact Of Multi-Directional Training On Change-Of-Direction Speed And Short-Distance Sprint Ability In Tennis Student-Athletes, Ke Zhang, Yue Zhao, Zhihui Zhou, Haijun Wu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objective: Tennis, characterized by rapid multi-directional sprints, involves lateral movements along the baseline constituting approximately 70% of gameplay, with each single movement covering around 3 meters. On average, there are 2-4 direction changes per point, and each stroke requires 0.4 seconds. Recognizing the imperative need for tennis players to rapidly change direction and execute short-distance sprints, influenced by factors like the ball's trajectory, opponent's movements or disguise movements, this study aimed to investigate the impact of three weeks of multi-directional sprint training on the change-of-direction speed and short-distance sprint ability of tennis student-athletes.

Methods: Nineteen male tennis athletes with an …

A062: Experimental Research Of Impact Of Large-Unit Soccer Teaching On Elementary School Students' Physical Health, Yin Zhao, Ziming Shao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Objective: The "Compulsory Education Curriculum Standards: Physical Education and Health(2022 Edition) in China" explicitly proposes that from grades 3-6, at least one sport from six major specialized sports skills should be chosen for at least 18 class periods of relatively systematic and complete teaching, enabling students to not only master the sports skills of the chosen project but also deepen their comprehensive experience and understanding of the sport. Long-standing issues in elementary school football teaching include superficial teaching depth, isolated and incoherent content, and disconnection between educational stages. There is an urgent need for physical education teachers to organize systematic …

A059: Multidimensional Interpretation And Development Strategies For The International Communication Of Dragon And Lion Dancing, Weiyan Wang, Li Zhou, Cuili Zhai

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The dragon and lion dance, as the bright treasure of Chinese traditional sports culture, demonstrates Chinese cultural confidence and distinct national characteristics, serving as an important showcase for China's image. However, the international communication of dragon and lion dance faces numerous challenges, including understanding barriers caused by cultural differences, limitations in promotion scope, uneven overall development levels, and balancing cultural impact with cultural identity. These issues are pertinent to the future development of dragon and lion dance.

After conducting a literature analysis, the historical origins, cultural connotations, and communication processes of dragon and lion dances were systematically examined, laying a …

A063: Electroencephalogram (Eeg) Signal Analysis For College Students' Attention And Meditation Level In Yoga Courses, Zhonghui He, Fangxin Li, Xi Qi, Honglin Chen

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

PURPOSE: Yoga is associated with psychological and physiological benefits, including relaxation and increased attention. Electroencephalograms (EEG) signals reflect the electrical activity of the brain and transformed Alpha and Beta brainwaves into meditation and attention values. This study primarily aimed to measure college students’ attention and meditation level in yoga courses. The secondary aim was to explore yoga’s effect on students’ cognitive ability.

METHODS: The study selected two yoga classes in the first semester of 2023 in an academic university in China. Using convenience sampling methods, 16 college students who attended yoga courses voluntarily participated in this study. All learning phases, …

A064: An Experimental Study On Pe Teachers' Motivational Style Change On Adolescents' Physical Activity, Zhigang Xue

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Research background: Realistic demands: The decline of adolescents' physical health has been the focus of global attention. Current needs: Youth physical activity needs to be improved. Key issue: The interest and motivation of adolescents to participate in physical activity are generally low. Ways to improve: physical education can effectively promote the physical activity of teenagers in their leisure time. It is of great theoretical and practical value to study the integration of planned behavior theory and self-determination theory to explain adolescents' leisure time physical activity behavior to promote physical activity level using physical activity interventions.

Research method: Mainly through the …

A066: Differences In Body Stability During Continuous Turning In Older And Younger Adults, Yulong Bo

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: The deterioration of body stability with age remains an area of interest, particularly in the context of continuous turning during walking among older adults. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of body stability during continuous turning in older and younger individuals, as well as identify potential risk factors, providing a theoretical basis for fall prevention in older adults during continuous turning.

Methods: Fifteen older adults (mean age 69.58 ± 3.84 years) and fifteen younger individuals (mean age 23.93 ± 1.14 years) were recruited from the community. Participants were asked to walk around an 8-shaped continuous turning path (diameter …

A068: A Case Study Of Hippy Family Intervention On Motor Ability In Children With Developmental Delays, Jiayu Zhou, Xiaozan Wang, Qinping Xu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: The phenomenon of motor retardation caused by serious insufficient physical activity of children is increasing. Improving the family's parenting knowledge and skills can promote the family's healthy lifestyle and have a positive impact on the healthy development of children.

Method: The children with developmental delays were followed in their natural state for three months, combined with the "HIPPY family intervention model" to improve their family's parenting knowledge and skills, and to intervene in the behavioral performance and physical activity of children with motor development delays.

Results: After 3 months of HIPPY family intervention, TGMD showed an overall upward trend, …

A070: Research On The Promotion Strategy Of Sports Tourism Consumption Based On Consumer Evaluation, Wang Yan, Jinsheng Liu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Recently, challenges coupled with constraints such as shrinking demand and weakening consumption expectations have greatly increased the complexity and vulnerability of the internal and external environment of the sports tourism consumption system. Consumer evaluation is an important way of consumption decision-making reference and information exchange, which affects consumers' purchase decision, consumption experience, habits and attitude. Sports tourism boutique project is a consumption project and key consumption content with sports tourism characteristics. The purpose of this study was to conduct an analysis of the consumption evaluation of specific Chinese sports tourism boutique projects through the user evaluation data from Ctrip …

A073: Factors Affecting Continuous Use Of Metaverse-Based Sports Products: Based On Perceived Value, Enjoyment, And Immersion, Qiao Yang, Aisha Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Purpose: Metaverse technology has introduced a new era of sports interaction, offering users an extraordinary virtual environment for immersive experiences. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the determinants of continuous use in metaverse-based sports products. This study aimed to delve into the factors influencing the continuous use of sports products based on the metaverse.

Methods: To collect data for this study, an online questionnaire survey was conducted among Chinese digital natives residing in major cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen) who frequently used metaverse-based sports products. A total of 634 participants were collected, of which 520 …

A083: Effects Of Muscle Energy Technique On Neuromuscular Function In Patients With Non-Specific Lower Back Pain, Zhipeng Zhou, Jianbin Zhao

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background/Purpose: Non-specific lower back pain (NLBP) is one of the most common causes of disability worldwide. In patients with NLBP, reduced lumbar flexion-relaxation and reduced variability of muscle activity distribution are reported as abnormal muscle activity. Muscle energy technique (MET) is used to be a conservative, non-pharmacological treatment method for somatic dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system. However, the effect of MET approach on the flexion-relaxation phenomena (FRP) is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of MET on pain, lumbar function, and FRP in patients with NLBP.

Methods/Design: Thirty patients with NLBP were randomized into …

A082: Theoretical Deconstruction And Value Implication Of Physical Participation Of Fitness Group Under Field Theory, Mengyu Huo, Pengfei Gao, Guangbin Bai, Xinyan Shi, Chongqing Hu, Ruidi Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Research background: In the transformation of consumer society, the body is gradually regarded as an important symbol. People are often willing to consume for the body in different ways to seek the shaping of body image. Therefore, the value of body shaping through sports has been gradually paid attention to, and "Fitness fever" has gradually become a new fashion. Based on this, Pierre Bourdieu's social practice theory makes a rational interpretation of the participation behavior of individual actors in the field of sports and analyzes the value correlation between individual sports behavior and society, which is another important consideration for …

A088: Virtual And Real: An Exploration Of The Body Sense Of Generation Z E-Sports Players, Yuxin Luo, Xianglin Luo, Lu Liu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background：The advent of eSports has catalyzed a fresh wave of contemplation within the sports science community regarding the concept of the body. With the digital revolution, eSports has emerged as a significant segment within the realm of sports, further solidified by its recognition in prestigious events like the Asian Games. However, despite its elevated status, eSports continues to grapple with skepticism over its 'non-physical' nature due to the apparent lack of physical activity that characterizes traditional sports. Exploring Generation Z's experiences in eSports enhances our grasp of digital gaming's corporeal aspects and unveils complex ties between the body, eSports, …

A084: Research On The Value Connotation And Development Strategy Of Chinese Mass Fencing Event Certification System, Yue Wang, Tianfeng Lu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Background: Sports events are one of the most important forms of national fitness activities and promoting its high-quality development is an inevitable requirement to protect the basic sports rights and interests of the people and respond to the need for a higher quality of life. As a pioneer in the fencing industry, Chinese Fencing Association has taken the lead in developing and implementing certification standards for mass fencing events. This study proposed optimization strategies to improve the development environment of mass fencing events through research and analysis of the certification system of mass fencing events in China.

Methods: The author …