Life Sciences Commons^™

Sustainable Fishmeal Alternatives: Impact Of Partially Defatted Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia Illucens) Meal On Growth And Health Of Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi), Luke Pilmer, Lindsey Woolley, Alan J. Lymbery, Michael Salini, Chinh Dam, Md Javed Foysal, Gavin Partridge

Fisheries Research Articles

Reducing fishmeal (FM) in aquaculture diets is essential for improving sustainability and reducing reliance on marine resources. Black soldier fly (BSF; Hermetia illucens) larvae meal is a promising alternative protein source. This study evaluated the effects of replacing FM with BSF meal on the growth and health of juvenile yellowtail kingfish (YTK) (Seriola lalandi, initial weight ~22 g). Fish were reared in 24 tanks (three replicates per treatment) and fed for 33 days under controlled conditions. Eight diets were tested: a control (40% FM) and seven diets with BSF meal replacing FM at 25%, 50%, or 75%, …

Blood-Based Proteomic Profiling Identifies Osmr As A Novel Biomarker Of Aml Outcomes, Patrick K Reville, Bofei Wang, Jennifer Marvin-Peek, Bin Yuan, Yu-An Kuo, Araceli Garza, Jessica Root, Wei Qiao, Andrea Arruda, Ivo Veletic, Yiwei Liu, Nicholas J Short, Courtney D Dinardo, Tapan M Kadia, Naval G Daver, Philip L Lorenzi, Koji Sasaki, Steven Kornblau, Mark D Minden, Farhad Ravandi, Hagop M Kantarjian, Hussein A Abbas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inflammation is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis. We performed blood-based proteomic profiling of 251 inflammatory proteins in 543 patients with newly diagnosed AML. Using a machine learning model, we derived an 8-protein prognostic score termed the leukemia inflammatory risk score (LIRS). Individual proteins were evaluated in multivariable Cox models, and model performance was assessed by cumulative concordance index. Findings were validated in internal and external cohorts across 2 institutions. Blood-based LIRS significantly outperformed the European LeukemiaNet 2022 risk model and was independently prognostic of overall survival after accounting for known clinical and molecular …

Branching Corals Modulate Their Hydrodynamic Environment, Enhancing Capture Rates Of Evasive Prey, Kelsey Daniels

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Reef-building corals obtain nutrients through two primary means: autotrophy (via mutualism with photosynthetic zooxanthellae) and heterotrophy (via feeding). The latter form of resource acquisition is understudied and many aspects of predator-prey interactions between coral and naturally occurring prey species remain unexplored. In this thesis, I elucidate the role of branching coral morphology in shaping the colony’s local hydrodynamic environment and describe how this environment impacts prey capture, particularly among evasive and hydrodynamically sensitive, but highly abundant prey such as copepods. I used acrylic cylinders of three sizes in aquaria to model the structure of coral branches across the range of …

Identification Of Host Nuclear Factors Exploited By Kshv Lana To Maintain Latency, Anandita Ghosh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Kaposi’s Sarcoma Associated Herpes Virus (KSHV or HHV-8) is a γ-herpesvirus implicated in multiple lymphoproliferative human cancers and immune dysregulatory diseases. Like other herpesviruses, KSHV has a biphasic mode of infection primarily orchestrated by two viral proteins: the Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen (LANA), which promotes viral persistence through latency, and the Replication and Transcription Activator (RTA), which triggers lytic reactivation. During latency, the KSHV genome exists as a highly heterochromatinized, extrachromosomal episome in the nucleus, which can be reverted to euchromatin in response to certain stimuli, like stress. KSHV has evolved to exploit numerous host proteins to orchestrate its lifecycle, especially …

Using Stomach Content Analysis To Determine The Trophic Ecology Of Omosudis Lowii, A Deep-Sea Predator In The Gulf Of Mexico, Claire De Noyo

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about the feeding dynamics of deep-sea communities, despite their significant ecological importance. Deep-pelagic communities contribute to marine biodiversity and ecosystem stability while directly offsetting climate change via carbon sequestration. Omosudis lowii is an understudied, deep-sea fish found in temperate and tropical waters worldwide, including the Gulf of Mexico. Omosudis lowii have large jaws and distensible stomachs, allowing them to capture prey items larger than their body size. The present seminal study used stomach content analysis to quantitatively describe the O. lowii trophic ecology, providing baseline data regarding diet composition, feeding selectivity, and factors that impact prey selection. …

Science Communication Through Cool Critters: An Informal Learning Experience For Youth, Jamila L. Bajelan, Mary J. Harner

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

There are numerous ways to communicate science and assess the effectiveness of that communication. One approach focuses on increasing awareness, enjoyment, interest, opinion, and/or understanding of science. For this study, we created an informal learning experience for youth to communicate the science of animals in Nebraska. We developed Cool Critters, a weeklong summer camp for elementary school-aged students, to increase participants' enjoyment, interest, and opinion of Nebraska animals. In 2023, Cool Critters was led in three educational settings in central Nebraska and reached sixty-six participants. Surveys were used to determine the camp's success in effective science communication and whether …

2025 Legislative Update, J. David Aiken

Cornhusker Economics

The 2025 Nebraska state Unicameral dealt with major state budget challenges but also managed to enact four bills affecting Nebraska agriculture and holding three other bills over for possible action in the 2026 legislative session. Enacted legislation dealt with a ban on laboratory-grown meat, the merger of state natural resource and environmental agencies, amending the 2024 paid sick leave initiative, and establishing a School Financing Review Commission. Agricultural-related bills carried over to the 2026 legislative session include modifying cattle feedlot brand inspection fees, inheritance tax reductions, and modifying the 2022 minimum wage initiative.

Photo-Crosslinked Persistent Micelle Templates With Near Universal Solvent Compatibility, Coby S. Collins, Mengxue Zhang, Cj Strurgill, Christian X. Ruff, Bryce Melton, Morgan Stefik

Faculty Publications

The controlled preparation of porous nanomaterials from block polymer templates is important for diverse applications from energy devices to optical coatings and sorbents. The architectural dimensions determine the overall performance for many of these applications, however the independent control of these dimensions has remained limited to a narrow range of solvent conditions for kinetically trapped (“persistent”) micelle templates. Polymers with a photo-reactive chemistry are shown to enable cross-linked micelle templates that universally remain persistent under diverse solvent conditions. Specifically, poly(poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate))-b-poly(butyl methacrylate-co-coumarin methacrylate) (OBC) was prepared by RAFT polymerization and the resulting micelles were crosslinked …

Computational Advances For Single-Cell Proteomics, Hannah Boekweg

Theses and Dissertations

The overarching goal of biologists is to characterize biological systems. When the workings of a system are understood, they can be fixed, broken, preserved, mimicked, and even replicated. The field of proteomics seeks to characterize systems through the lens of proteins. Proteins are referred to as the 'workhorse' of the cell to illustrate that they perform most functional tasks within the cell. These tasks are highly varied, including enzymatic activity, structural support, transport, storage, cell signaling, gene regulation, immune response, and more. Proteomics has been instrumental in new biological discoveries by characterizing the functional state of cells. A new area …

Tomato Seedling Performance In Five Commercial Organic Growing Media With And Without Supplemental Fertilizer, Elizabeth Maynard, Wenjing Guan, Petrus Langenhoven, Lori A. Hoagland

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

Commercially available growing media permitted for use in certified organic production differ substantially in quantity and availability of essential macronutrients. Nutrient availability from fertilizers applied during production will depend on chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of both media and fertilizers; therefore, best practices for fertilizing seedlings are likely to differ. This study evaluated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) emergence, seedling growth, and posttransplant performance when grown in five organic growing media with and without supplemental fertilizer during transplant production in three diverse locations. A 5N–0.88P–3.32K–3Ca (5–2–4) dry fertilizer was tested in all media, and a liquid 3N–0.88P–2.49K (3–2–3) fertilizer was …

Therapy, Safety, And Logistics Of Preoperative Vs Postoperative Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: A Preliminary Analysis Of A Randomized Clinical Trial, Debra Nana Yeboa, Jing Li, Ruitao Lin, Sujit S Prabhu, Thomas H Beckham, Kristina Woodhouse, Todd Allen Swanson, Jeffrey S Weinberg, Xuemei Wang, Xiaohan Chi, Chinenye Lynette Ejezie, Dima Suki, Chenyang Wang, Chibawanye Ene, Ian E Mccutcheon, Susan Mcgovern, Mary Frances Mcaleer, Martin Tom, Amol Ghia, Subha Perni, Wen Jiang, Brian De, Caroline Chung, Betty Y S Kim, Barbara J O'Brien, Jason T Huse, Jeffrey S Wefel, Laurence Court, Hussein Tawbi, Filip Janku, Nandita Guha-Thakurta, J Matthew Debnam, Jason Johnson, Ceylan Altintas Taslicay, Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, Shaan M Raza, Amy B Heimberger, Franco Demonte, Robert North, Tina M Briere, John F De Groot, Raymond Sawaya, David Grosshans, Frederick F Lang, Ganesh Rao, Sherise D Ferguson

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance: Preoperative stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) vs postoperative SRT logistics and toxic effects provides clinically significant data on management outcomes.

Objective: To determine preoperative SRT logistics and safety profile compared with postoperative in patients with brain metastases.

Design, setting, and participants: This single-institution phase 3 randomized clinical trial included patients 18 years and older and undergoing a planned surgical resection. Patients were required to have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status score of 2 or greater and be candidates for SRT within 30 days of surgical resection. Patients with radiosensitive histologies (eg, small cell lung cancer and lymphoma), brain …

The Multilayered Control Of Acetylation During Adenovirus-Based Immunotherapy Of Cancer, Akhila Parthasarathy, Maria Frost, Andrew G Gillard, Marta M Alonso, Candelaria Gomez-Manzano, Juan Fueyo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adenoviruses are highly immunogenic agents that have shown promise first as gene delivery vectors and later as oncolytic viruses. Currently, oncolytic adenoviruses are featured in over 30% of cancer virotherapy clinical trials. Due to their effective cellular uptake and hijack of cellular machinery, replication-competent adenoviruses are promising therapeutic agents for treating a wide range of tumors. Adenoviral influence on host cell acetylome regulation has regained attention, as these viruses redirect or suppress acetylation during replication, making them potentially desirable therapeutic agents for cancers driven by epigenetic modifications. In this review, we aim to cover the viral processes influencing the acetylome …

Evaluating The Chemical Composition And Sensory Attributes Of Japanese And U.S. Sake, Rahul Sen, Katie Hope, Ben Bell, Scott Robert Lafontaine

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sake, a traditional rice beverage from Japan, is brewed using four key ingredients: rice, water, a koji mold, and yeast. While sake is gaining popularity in the US market, there remains a significant knowledge gap regarding the best practices for sake production and how different methods impact the chemical and sensory aspects of American sake as well as its resemblance to traditional Japanese sake. This study compared 21 sake samples from Japan and the U.S., covering grades such as ginjo, diaginjo, junmai, and nigori. Out of total 209 features, 120 were significant aromatic compounds with esters (e.g., ethyl decanoate, hexyl …

Predicting Single-Leg Eccentric Hamstrings Strength In Aging Athletes Using Diagnostic Ultrasound- And Survey-Derived Parameters, Lee J. Hinkle

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Eccentric hamstring strength declines with age and contributes to mobility limitations. Although Nordbord testing quantifies eccentric strength, few studies have examined it in older adults, and none have predicted strength performance on this test using ultrasound or survey- based measures. Methods: We recruited 122 senior athletes (60 female) at the 2024 Huntsman World Senior Games. Ultrasound-derived cross-sectional area (CSA), echogenicity, and subcutaneous fat thickness, along with demographic and activity data, were used to predict single-leg peak force using Bayesian regression. Models were sex-stratified, and predictors were selected using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOO IC). Results: In males, CSA, age, leg side, …

The Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response To Activities Of Daily Living And Exercise Is Dependent Upon The Fitness Of People With Hypertension, Joseph D. Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Determine if the previously reported exaggerated systolic blood pressure response to daily activity and moderate exercise amongst hypertensive adults could be accounted for by differences in fitness. Methods: 30 normotensives adults (15 low fitness control (LFC) and 15 high fitness control (HFC)) and 15 unmedicated adults with ambulatory hypertension (HTN) participated in this study. Participants completed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Lactate Threshold (LT) and estimated ����̇O2max were determined for each participant. A week later, blood pressure was measured while participants completed 5-minute bouts of treadmill exercise at fixed absolute intensities (2.5 mph 0% and 12% grade) and …

Beyond Diversity Initiatives: Building A Community Of Care In Scientific Societies, Richelle L. Tanner, Kathryn Wilsterman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

"In this Professional Biologist article, we present one such reframing that centers individualized care through structural changes. We argue that psychological and sociological motivations of belonging and social capital in the academy are funda- mental challenges contributing to the cultural problems within STEM fields and are particularly present within professional scientific societies. In support of this argument, we present survey- based data alongside significant literature from the humanities. In this reframing supported by existing organizational culture literature and our survey results, we suggest that scientific societies are uniquely positioned to promote significant cultural change within STEM by focusing on building …

Education Improves Perceived Control But Not Risk Identification In Adolescents Regarding Fentanyl, Christine Bakos-Block, Francine R Vega, Marylou Cardenas-Turanzas, Bhanumathi Gopal, Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: In 2022, 2.2 million adolescents were diagnosed with substance use disorders, including 265,000 with opioid use disorder. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health revealed that 130,000 adolescents misused prescription pain medications, often obtaining them from friends or relatives. This age group perceives weekly heroin use as less risky than those younger or older.

Methods: A questionnaire was developed for 7th to 12th graders in a rural Texas school district as part of a fentanyl awareness curriculum. The questionnaire included Likert scale, multiple choice, and yes/no questions. The participants were categorized into younger (grades 7th and 8th) and …

The N-Pact Factor, Replication And Power Associated With Quantitative Research In Physical Activity And Health, Angelina Haidar, Jeffrey J. Martin, Adam J. Martin, Sarah Rogers, Fatemeh Dehghan, Eva Prokesova

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical Activity (PA) and health science researchers often face challenges related to sample size, which can impact the reliability and generalizability of study findings. The purpose of the current paper is to address these issues by discussing key statistical concepts: effect size and Type I and Type II errors, with a specific focus on examining statistical power and sample size using studies from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ). We examined research articles published in DHJ over a 15-year period (2008–2022), covering 62 issues and analyzing a total of 1,177 articles. Our analysis revealed that the median sample sizes …

The Maturity-Onset Diabetes Of The Young (Mody) Calculator Overestimates Mody Probability In Hispanic Youth, Guido Alarcon, Anh Nguyen, Angus Jones, Beverley Shields, Maria J Redondo, Mustafa Tosur

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Context: The applicability of the maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) risk calculator to non-White European populations remains unknown.

Objective: We aimed to test its real-world application in Hispanic youth.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of Hispanic youth (< 23 years) with diabetes (n = 2033) in a large pediatric tertiary care center in the United States. We calculated MODY probability for all subjects, splitting them into 2 cohorts based on the original model: individuals who were started on insulin within 6 months of diabetes diagnosis (Cohort 1) and those who were not (Cohort 2).

Results: Cohort 1 consisted of 1566 individuals (median age [25p, 75p]: 16 [13, 19] years, 49% female), while Cohort 2 comprised 467 youth (median age [25p, 75p]: 17 [15, 20] years, 62% female). The mean MODY probability was 5.9% and 61.9% in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, respectively. The mean probability for both cohorts combined was 18.8%, suggesting an …

Integrative Taxonomy Confirms The Synonymy Of Three Springsnail Species (Hydrobiidae: Pyrgulopsis), Kathryn E. Perez, Megan Solis, Michelle Flores, Chanté Lundskog

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The small, spring-dwelling snails, Pyrgulopsis Call & Pilsbry, 1886, form a diverse radiation in Western North America. In this study, we examine the validity of three species of Pyrgulopsis, Pyrgulopsis pilsbryana (Baily & Baily, 1952), P. nonaria Hershler, 1998, and P. transversa Hershler, 1998. These three species of Pyrgulopsis are found primarily in Utah, with ranges extending into Idaho, Wyoming, and Nevada. They were originally diagnosed primarily on the number and position of penial glands, but subsequent examination with mitochondrial DNA data suggested they should be synonymized. Here, we incorporate additional mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data, increased geographic sampling, …

Potential Epigenetic Impacts Of Phytochemicals On Ruminant Health And Production: Connecting Lines Of Evidence, Sebastian P. Schreiber, Juan Villalba, Mirella L. Meyer-Ficca

Wildland Resources Student Research

The once mysterious “dark matter of nutrition”, comprising countless plant derived secondary compounds, also known as phytochemicals, is now understood to have significant and wide-ranging effects on consumers, including myriad health benefits in humans and livestock. The selective consumption of phytochemically rich and diverse plants, in appropriate doses, by ruminants represents an adaptive means of therapeutic and prophylactic self-medication. Due to their chemical structure, phytochemicals have long been recognized as antioxidants. However, the mechanisms that underlie numerous additional phytochemical-based health benefits are generally less understood. These effects (i.e., anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticarcinogenic effects) are likely related to epigenetic processes. Evidence …

Dosimetric Advantage Of Scanning Beam Proton Therapy In Gynecologic Patients Receiving Adjuvant Radiotherapy, Rachel B Ger, Jarrod M Lentz, Joshua S Niedzielski, Sujay A Vora, Martin Bues, Danairis Hernandez Morales, Justin D Anderson, Christopher J Kutyreff, Christie A Schulz, Pedro R Lara, Ana K Ridgway, Pamela R Lemish, Justin D Gagneur, Aman Anand

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Adjuvant radiation for gynecologic malignancies often exposes organs at risk (OARs), such as the bone marrow, bowel, rectum, and bladder, to radiation, leading to toxicities that impact treatment tolerance and patient quality of life. Scanning proton beam therapy, particularly with Individual Field Simultaneous Optimization (IFSO), may offer dosimetric and biological advantages over volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). This study evaluates the clinical impact of IFSO-based proton planning in post-operative gynecologic cancer patients.

Materials and Methods: Fourteen patients receiving adjuvant proton therapy to 45 Gy in 25 fractions were retrospectively analyzed. Comparison VMAT plans were generated on the same datasets. …

Aso Visual Abstract: Characterization Of The Germline Pathogenic Mutational Landscape And Oncologic Outcomes Among 877 Patients With Invasive Lobular Carcinoma, Victoria D Huynh, Jason Mouabbi, Henry M Kuerer, Kerollos Nashat Wanis, Hiam M Abdel-Salam, Angelica M Gutierrez, Helen M Johnson, Anthony Lucci, Kelly K Hunt, Banu K Arun

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Filtration Challenges In Non-Alcoholic And Low-Alcohol Beer Production With A Focus On Different Yeast Strains, Christian Schubert, Joerg Maxminer, Matthew Aitkens, Andrew Maust, Bernardo Pontes Guimaraes, Rahul Sen, Scott Lafontaine

Food Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study examines the impact of yeast selection on fermentation performance, filtration efficiency, and the stability of low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beer (NAB). Three yeast strains (LA-01, LoNa, and W-34/70) were evaluated for their effects on key NAB parameters like ABV, bitterness, color, haze readings, and filtration-linked performance. Filtration trials revealed that highly flocculating W-34/70 resulted in lower post-filtration turbidity, whereas LA-01 and LoNa (which flocculated less) required more effective filtration techniques to achieve clarity. Among the tested filter sheets, AF 31, AF 71, and AF 101 successfully reduced turbidity below 2 EBC. However, all NABs exhibited haze formation during storage, …

Global Mitophagy Inhibition Via Bnip3 Ablation Is Not Sufficient To Alleviate Skeletal Muscle Impairments In Male And Female Tumor-Bearing Mice, Francielly Morena, Ana Regina Cabrera, Toby L. Chambers, Pietier J. Koopmans, Seongkyun Lim, Stavroula Tsitanou, Sabin Khadgi, Calvin Peterson, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ruqaiza Muhyudin, Sepideh Shakeri, Kevin Zhao, Devan Mishra, Tyrone Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cancer cachexia (CC) is marked by severe skeletal muscle loss and dysfunction, associated with mitochondrial degeneration. Our previous studies showed induction of the mitophagy marker BNIP3 3-wk post-Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) induction. We hypothesize that excessive mitophagy contributes to muscle wasting in CC. To test this, we used a Bnip3 knockout (KO) mouse model with LLC-induced CC to assess its impact on muscle outcomes. Eight-wk-old male and female mice were injected with 1 x 10(6) LLC cells or PBS (sham controls). After 4 wk, we assessed muscle function through dorsiflexor electrophysiology, muscle protein synthesis via deuterium oxide labeling, and mitochondrial …

Identification Of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor Hif1a As A Therapeutic Target During Sars-Cov-2-Associated Lung Injury, Bentley Bobrow, Samuel D Luber, Paul Potnuru, Katherine Figarella, Jieun Kim, Yanyu Wang, In Hyuk Bang, David Robinson, Paulina B Sergot, Steven K Burke, Tingting Mills, Constanza De Dios, Robert Suchting, George W Williams, Adit A Ginde, Yafen Liang, Hongfang Liu, Charles Green, Marie-Francoise Doursout, Alparslan Turan, Daniel I Sessler, Xiaoyi Yuan, Holger K Eltzschig

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) promote lung protection and pathogen eradication during acute lung injury. We therefore tested the theory that pharmacologic stabilization of HIFs dampens lung injury during SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Initial studies in murine SARS-CoV-2 models showed improved outcomes after treatment with the FDA-approved HIF-stabilizer vadadustat. Subsequent studies in genetic models implicated alveolar-expressed Hif1a in mediating lung protection. Therefore, we performed a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter phase 2 trial in patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection and concomitant hypoxia (SpO2 ≤ 94%). Patients (n=448) were randomized to oral vadadustat (900 mg/day) or placebo for up to 14 days. Safety events were similar between …

Using Lrr Standard Deviation As A Genotype Quality Control Measure And Its Downstream Effect On Cnv Calling., Adam Dunne

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background:

Log R Ratio (LRR) is a genotype intensity measurement returned alongside routine genotype results and used to detect structural variation in the genome known as copy number variation (CNVs). Although LRR standard deviation (SD) is commonly applied as a quality control measure in CNV studies, limited research has explored its effect on genotype quality and the potential impact on CNV calling.

Methods:

A total of 720,152 genotypes were available on 716,234 cattle. Among these were 1,044 cattle that had duplicate genotype samples where one sample was considered gold standard (LRR SD < 0.3, Call Rate ≥ 0.95). Genotype concordance was calculated for all duplicates. PennCNV was used to call CNVs and concordance among CNV calls per duplicate animal was determined using the Jaccard index.

Results:

Across all 720,152 cattle samples, the mean …

Selecting For Less: How Much Methane Can We Truly Breed Away?, Sean B. Crowley

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Background

Genetic selection has potential to reduce enteric methane emissions from cattle, but a key challenge is determining how much of the genetic variation in methane traits is independent of traits already targeted in breeding programs, such as feed intake and growth.

Methods

Methane and carbon dioxide emissions were recorded in 1,700 crossbred, indoor-fed beef cattle using Greenfeed systems. Performance data included feed intake, metabolic liveweight, average daily gain, carcass weight, and ultrasound and skeletal traits. Genetic parameters and correlations among traits were estimated using animal linear mixed models to quantify the independence of methane-related genetic variation.

Results

Daily methane …

Exploiting Genomics To Advance Genetic Gain For Reproductive Traits In Sheep, Mujibur Rahman

ORBioM (Open Research BioSciences Meeting)

Poor reproductive performance has a negative impact on the profitability of sheep production systems with the number of lambs reared highlighted as a key driver of farm profitability. Nevertheless, the genetic improvement of reproductive traits in sheep has been constrained by their low heritability and pleiotropic nature. Understanding the underlying genetic architecture can improve genomic prediction estimates and enhance genetic gain.

This study will utilize large-scale genomic and phenotypic datasets to enhance genetic gain in sheep reproductive traits through four approaches: 1) to determine the effect of inbreeding depression on reproduction, 2) to identify causal variants impacting reproductive performance through …

Proceedings Of The Cuny Games Conference 11.0, Robert O. Duncan, Grace Axler-Diperte, Joe Bisz, Christina Boyle, Devorah Kletenik, Carolyn Stallard

Publications and Research

The CUNY Games Conference combines workshops, idea exchanges, interactive participant presentations, playtesting, and playing tabletop games into a one-day online event to promote and discuss game-based learning. The conference focuses on creative pedagogy, such as playful learning activities or games, that teachers can use in the classroom every day. The conference is online and features interactive presentations by attendees, informal idea exchange sessions, and workshops by the conference organizers.