Life Sciences Commons^™

The Aeschynomene Genus As A Source Of Pasture Legumes For Tropical And Subtropical Australia, H G. Bishop, T B. Hilder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Three Aeschynomene cultivars are currently used as pasture legumes for tropical and subtropical Australia; A. falcata·cv, Bargoo released in 1973, A. americana cv, Glenn released in 1983 and A. americana cv. Lee released in 1991. Five other Aeschynomene accessions from 2 species are on "pre-release" registration with the Queensland Herbage Plant Liaison Committee pending additional data on adaptation and animal production: A. brasiliana CPI 92519 and CPI 93592 and A. villosa CPI 37235, 91209 and 93621. A collection of over 300 Aesc/1y1wme11e accessions was grown at Mackay, Queensland, in 1982-83 to describe the diversity within this genus. This diversity supports …

Characterization And Prelimiary Evaluation Of A Large Germplasm Collection Of The Tropical Forage Legume Stylosanthes Scabra Vog., Brigitte L. Maass, R Schultze-Kraft

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Within the genus, Stylosamhes scabra Vog. has the second largest number of collected accessions worldwide. This tropical forage legume has potential to improve extensive, tropical pastures in subhumid to semi-arid regions with acid and infertile soils, Characterisation and preliminary evaluation of 557 accessions were carried out at Quilichao, Colombia. The main objectives were to characterise. variability within the species and to guide further agronomic evaluation. Wide ranges of morphological, phenological, and agronomic variation exist within the germplasm collection, Accessions originated from north-east and south-east Brazil gave the highest forage yields in 2 cuts. Several accessions were more productive than the …

A Flower Color Marker In The Tropical Forage Legume Centrosema Brasilianum (L.) Benth., Brigitte L. Maass, A M. Torres

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cemrosema brasillianum is a legume with high potential for pasture improvement in the semi-arid tropics with acid and infertile soils. Although genetic improvement for disease and pest resistance is taken into consideration, little is known about the species' breeding ·system. Moreover, no plant character inherited in simple Mendelian fashion has been reported for any Centrosema species. In experiments at Palmira, Colombia, 2 white-flowered accessions were hybridised with 6 violet­flowered accessions, each of a different hue. Segregation for flower colourin F2 populations fitted a single gene model,colour being dominant over white, Hence, flower colour is a useful genetic marker, Because segregation …

Evaluation And Development Of Desmanthus Virgatus On Medium- To Heavy Textured Soils In Queensland, Australia, B G. Cook, T.W.G Graham, R L. Clem, T J. Hall, M F. Quirk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Desmanthmus virgatus is a summer-growing, perennial legume comprising a wide diversity of growth forms. It is native to North and South America where it is often found on neutral to alkaline soils and in areas of low rainfall. Its potential for persistence and spread under grazing on clay soils in semi-arid environments in Queensland has been demonstrated in various experiments since 1978. Three varieties have been selected for commercial release through a state-wide co­ordinated programme of evaluation which began in 1987. These were selected on the basis of yield and persistence, and to exploit the range of growth habits and …

Arachus Spp.: Introduction And Evaluation Of New Accessions In Seasonally Flooded Land In The Brazilian Cerrado, E A. Pizarro, J.F. M. Valls, M A. Carvalho, M.J D'Avila Charchar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Results are summarised from the agronomic evaluation of 33 new accessions of Arachis spp., especially of the Ca1dorhizae and Rhizomatosae sections, on seasonally flooded land with 2 levels of fertiliser (low::pasture establishment and high=crop production). Level of fertiliser had no significant effect on the dry mailer yield (DMY) of any plant component. The edible green DMY of the best 9 accessions ranged from 2-6 tlha, with an average IVDMO of 63% for the stems and 61% for the leaves, respectively. The total DMY in the wet season ranged from 2.5 to 10 tlha, The ratio of above-ground to underground DMY …

Agronomic Evaluation Of Centrosema Germplasm On An Acid Utisol In The Humid Tropics Of Peru. Iii. Selected Centrosema Rubescens Benth. Accessions, Gerhard Keller-Grein, F Passoni

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agronomic performance of new accessions of Centroseum pubescens on an acid ultlsol (pH 4.5, 80% Al saturation) was assessed over a 26- month period in a small-plot cutting trial near Pucallpa, Peru. 23 accessions, selected from a collection of 575 introductions, were tested along with 2 lines of C. pubescens and 3 of C. acutifolium as controls. Several new accessions of C. pubescens had significantly higher dry matter yields and better stolon root development and produced more seeds than the C. pubescens control lines, which were considerably affected by cercospora leaf spot and rhizoctonia foliar blighi. The new accessions …

Agronomic Evaluation Of Centrosema Germplasm On Acid Utisol In The Humid Tropics Of Peru. Ii. Centrosema Tetragonolobum Schultze-Kraft & Williams, Gerhard Keller-Grein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The agronomic potential of 11 accessions of Centrosema tetragonolobum was assessed In a small-plot clipping trial conducted near Pucallpa, Peru. These accessions were compared with 8 selected accessions of C. acutifolium, C, brasilianum and C. macrocarpum, and 3 accessions of the agronomically little-known C. brachypodum and C. capitatum. All C. tetragonolobum accessions were well adapted to an acid ultisol (pH 4.S, 80% Al saturation). Several of them produced dry matter and seed yields similar to those of promising lines of C. acutifolium and C. macrocarpum, The capacity to root at trailing stems was poor for C. tetragonolobum …

Agronomic Evaluation Of Centrosema Germplasm On An Acid Utisol In The Humid Tropics Of Peru. I. Centrosema Macrocarpum Benth., Gerhard Keller-Grein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

As part of the search for new forage germplasm options for cleared­forest ecosystems in the humid tropics of South America, a small­plot clipping trial was conducted with 128 accessions of Centrosema macrocarpum near Pucallpa, Peru. Most of the accessions showed good adaptation to an acid ultisol with a high Al level (pH 4.4, 81% Al saturation), Considerable variation was detected among accessions for the agronomic attributes studied. On the basis of seasonal dry matter production and seed yield, the germplasm tested was classified into 8 cluster groups. All accessions proved to have a high level of pest and disease tolerance …

Commercialization Of Arachis Pintoi Cv. Amarillo In Northern Australia, B G. Cook

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Arachis pintoi is an herbaceous, stoloniferous perennial legume, native to river valleys of central Brazil. In 1987, the accession CPI 58113 was released in Australia as cv. Amarillo. It grows on a range of soils, produces good yields of high quality forage in Che humid tropics and subtropics, persists under heavy grazing even with competitive grasses, and is an effective shade-tolerant ground cover under ·orchard and plantation crops. New seed production and harvesting techniques were developed because conventional methods used for A. hypogaea are unsuitable, Commercial acceptance of Amarillo by extension workers and. farmers has been successfully promoted since release.

Perennial Arachis Germplasm For The Subtropics And Tropics, K H. Quesenberry, A E. Ruttinger-Lamperti, C A. Kelly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Evaluation of a limited number of perennial Aracliis plant introductions in the 1960s led to the release of the cultivars Florigraze and Arbrook of rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata Benth). Beginning in 1987, 110 more recently collected introductions of primarily rhizomatous perennial Arachis species were evaluated for response to 3 foliar leaf diseases, root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne arenarla) and agronomic traits related to establishment and production. Significant variability for plant spread, plant vigour, flowering, rhizome morphology and mass, leaf morphology, foliar disease response, and root-knot nematode resistance was identified. Some accessions showed small lesions in response to Cercospora arachidicola, …

Effects Of Inertial Measurement Unit Location On The Validity Of Vertical Acceleration Time-Series Data And Jump Height In Countermovement Jumping, Dianne Althouse, Cassidy Weeks, Steven B. Spencer, Joonsun Park, Brennan J. Thompson, Talin Louder

Kinesiology and Health Science Student Research

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are an example of practical technology for measuring countermovement jump (CMJ) performance, but there is a need to enhance their validity. One potential strategy to achieve this is advancing the literature on IMU placement. Many studies opt to position a single IMU on anatomical landmarks rather than determining placement based on anthropometric principles, despite the knowledge that linear mechanics act through the segmental centers of mass of the human body. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of positioning IMU sensors to approximate the trunk and lower-extremity segmental centers of mass on the …

Emerging Technologies For Forensic Genetic Identification, Lilly Llanos

Senior Honors Theses

There are many new innovations in forensic science that are being developed for the identification of biological evidence. These techniques include next-generation DNA sequencing, DNA phenotyping, and forensic genetic genealogy. This thesis will explore each, as well as newer applications of proteomics. The methodologies, reliability, practicality of cost and training, moral implications, and past research of each will be discussed. Finally, some ideas for future research and steps to drive growth and greater understanding will be suggested. This will encourage further innovations and the increased acceptance of forensic evidence in court. Each method was found to have both advantages and …

Nanostructure Retention To 1100 °C In Soft-Templated Niobium Tungstates Using Dual-Carbon Strategy, Sean C. Wechsler, Alexander Gregg, Coby S. Collins, Santosh Kiran Balijepalli, Morgan Stefik

Faculty Publications

Mesoporous metal oxides (MMOs) have diverse applications including energy storage, catalysis, and separation membranes. Block polymer structure directing agents enable the control of morphology and pore size, however preservation of the nanostructure is often limited to a narrow range of heat treatment temperatures which constrains the tailoring of defect chemistries. High temperature treatments typically lead to collapse of the porous structure as surface area is reduced during crystal growth. Here, using a mesoporous niobium tungstate it is shown that neither in situ carbon generation nor ex situ carbon infiltration alone enable preservation of the ordered mesostructure at temperatures high enough …

The Encyclopedia Of North American Drosophilids Volume 3: Drosophilids Of The Northwest, Thomas Werner, Tessa Steenwinkel, John Jaenike

Open Access Books

The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids Volume 3: Drosophilids of the Northwest provides an introduction to the flies of the family Drosophilidae of the Northwest of the United States. The book strives to facilitate identification of most of the drosophilid species in this region and provides remarks on interesting aspects of their biology and suggestions for future research on them. The book is intended for researchers, teachers, and students wishing to discover the diversity of these flies.

View the 3 Volume Series of The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids here: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/fruitflies/

Access The Encyclopedia of North American Drosophilids Volume 1: …

Antibody-Drug Conjugates Targeting The Egfr Ligand Epiregulin Elicit Robust Antitumor Activity In Colorectal Cancer, Joan Jacob, Yasuaki Anami, Peyton C High, Zhengdong Liang, Shraddha Subramanian, Sukhen C Ghosh, Solmaz Aghaamiri, Cara Guernsey-Biddle, Ha Tran, Julie Rowe, Ali Azhdarinia, Kyoji Tsuchikama, Kendra S Carmon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As colorectal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related death, identifying therapeutic targets and approaches is essential to improve patient outcomes. The EGFR ligand epiregulin (EREG) is highly expressed in RAS wild-type (WT) and mutant colorectal cancer, with minimal expression in normal tissues, making it an attractive target for antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development. In this study, we produced and purified an EREG mAb, H231, which had high specificity and affinity for human and mouse EREG. H231 also internalized to lysosomes, which is important for ADC payload release. ImmunoPET and ex vivo biodistribution studies showed significant tumor uptake of zirconium-89-labeled H231, …

Accumulation Of Cd38 In Hybrid Epithelial/Mesenchymal Cells Promotes Immune Remodeling And Metastasis In Breast Cancer, Tanvi H Visal, Recep Bayraktar, Petra Den Hollander, Michael A Attathikhun, Tieling Zhou, Jing Wang, Li Shen, Corina-Elena Minciuna, Meng Chen, Elizve Barrientos-Toro, Harsh Batra, Maria Gabriela Raso, Fei Yang, Edwin R Parra, Aysegul A Sahin, George A Calin, Sendurai A Mani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly metastatic subtype of breast cancer. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is a nonbinary process in the metastatic cascade that generates tumor cells with both epithelial and mesenchymal traits known as hybrid EM cells. Recent studies have elucidated the enhanced metastatic potential of cancers featuring the hybrid EM phenotype, highlighting the need to uncover molecular drivers and targetable vulnerabilities of the hybrid EM state. Here, we discovered that hybrid EM breast tumors are enriched in CD38, an immunosuppressive molecule associated with worse clinical outcomes in liquid malignancies. Altering CD38 expression in tumor cell impacted migratory, invasive, …

Ancestral Differences In Anticancer Treatment Efficacy And Their Underlying Genomic And Molecular Alterations, Mei Luo, Jingwen Yang, Alejandro A Schäffer, Chengxuan Chen, Yuan Liu, Yamei Chen, Chunru Lin, Lixia Diao, Yong Zang, Yanyan Lou, Huda Salman, Gordon B Mills, Eytan Ruppin, Leng Han

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Systematic multi-omics analysis revealed ancestry-dependent molecular alterations, but their impact on the efficacy of anti-cancer treatment is yet largely unknown. Here, we analyzed clinical trials from ClinicalTrials.gov and found that only 8,779/102,721 (8.5%) oncology clinical trials posted information on enrollment by race/ethnicity. The underrepresentation of non-White populations suggests that it remains challenging to determine differences in the efficacy of anti-tumor treatments among different racial groups. Through a comprehensive analysis of clinically actionable genes, imputed drug responses, and immune features, we identified potential differences in treatment response to targeted, chemo and immunotherapies between different ancestral populations. Further analysis of multiple independent …

Epigenetic Landscapes Of Aging In Breast Cancer Survivors: Unraveling The Impact Of Therapeutic Interventions-A Scoping Review, Nikita Nikita, Zhengyang Sun, Swapnil Sharma, Amy L Shaver, Victoria Seewaldt, Grace Lu-Yao

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Breast cancer therapies have dramatically improved survival rates, but their long-term effects, especially on aging survivors, need careful consideration. This review delves into how breast cancer treatments and aging intersect, focusing on the epigenetic changes triggered by chemotherapy, radiation, hormonal treatments, and targeted therapies. Treatments can speed up biological aging by altering DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling, affecting gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. The review explains the double-edged sword effect of therapy-induced epigenetic modifications, which help fight cancer but also accelerate aging. Chemotherapy and targeted therapies, in particular, impact DNA methylation and histone modifications, promoting …

Gain-Of-Function Chromatin Remodeling Activity Of Oncogenic Foxl2c134w Reprograms Glucocorticoid Receptor Occupancy To Drive Granulosa Cell Tumors, Thomas Welte, Veena K Vuttaradhi, Eleonora Y Khlebus, Allison Brodsky, Alejandra Flores Legarreta, Joseph Celestino, Reid T Powell, Clifford C Stephan, Nghi Nguyen, Jian Li, Shiro Takamatsu, Katherine Calzoncinth, Anil K Sood, David M Gershenson, P Andrew Futreal, Barrett Lawson, R Tyler Hillman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Adult type ovarian granulosa cell tumors (AGCT) are rare malignancies with the near universal c.C402G (p.Cys134Trp) somatic mutation in FOXL2, a forkhead box family transcription factor important for ovarian function. Relapsed AGCT is incurable, but the mechanism of the unique FOXL2 mutation could confer therapeutic vulnerabilities. To identify FOXL2C134W-dependent pharmacologic synergies, we created and characterized endogenous FOXL2 isogenic AGCT cells and an AGCT tumoroid biobank. A drug screen identified that glucocorticoids promote FOXL2C134W-dependent AGCT growth. Epigenetic investigation revealed that the Cys134Trp mutation exposes latent DNA sequence-specific chromatin remodeling activity in FOXL2. FOXL2C134W-dependent chromatin remodeling activity redirected glucocorticoid receptor chromatin occupancy …

First-In-Human Clinical Trial Of A Small-Molecule Ebna1 Inhibitor, Vk-2019, In Patients With Epstein-Barr-Positive Nasopharyngeal Cancer, With Pharmacokinetic And Pharmacodynamic Studies, A Dimitrios Colevas, Zahra Talebi, Elizabeth Winters, Caroline Even, Victor Ho-Fun Lee, Maura L Gillison, Saad A Khan, Rong Lu, Benjamin A Pinsky, Samantha S Soldan, Olga Vladmirova, Paul M Lieberman, Troy E Messick

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: A first-in-human phase I study was conducted in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma to assess the safety and tolerability of VK-2019, a small-molecule selective inhibitor of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1).

Patients and methods: Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies were performed, including the measurement of EBV DNA plasma levels. Twenty-three patients received VK-2019 orally once daily at doses ranging from 60 to 1,800 mg using an accelerated titration design, with cohort expansion at 1,800 mg. EBV genome copy number and spatial transcriptomic analyses were conducted on biopsies collected from three patients at baseline and after treatment.

Results: VK-2019 was …

A Novel Sensitivity Maximization At A Given Specificity Method For Binary Classifications, Seyyed Mahmood Ghasemi, Chunhui Gu, Johannes F Fahrmann, Samir Hanash, Kim-Anh Do, James P Long, Ehsan Irajizad

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

In the cancer early detection field, logistic regression (LR) is a frequently used approach to establish a combination rule that differentiates cancer from noncancer. However, the application of LR relies on a maximum likelihood approach, which may not yield optimal combination rules for maximizing sensitivity at a clinically desirable specificity and vice versa. In this article, we have developed an improved regression framework, sensitivity maximization at a given specificity (SMAGS), for binary classification that finds the linear decision rule, yielding the maximum sensitivity for a given specificity or the maximum specificity for a given sensitivity. We additionally expand the framework …

Impact Of Fresh-Cut Onion Types And Flavonoid Profiles On The Survival Kinetics Of Foodborne Pathogen During Refrigerated Storage, Veerachandra Yemmireddy, Matthew Mancias

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effect of onion flavonoid profiles on the growth, survival, and/or death kinetics of foodborne pathogens in fresh-cut onions at 4 °C. Fresh-cut white, yellow, red, and sweet onions were inoculated with separate four-strain cocktail(s) of nalidixic acid-adapted Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Listeria monocytogenes achieving a 4 to 5 log CFU g−1. The samples were stored in clam shell containers at 4 °C and 70 ± 2 % relative humidity for 14 days. Additionally, flavonoid profiles were determined on uninoculated control samples stored under similar conditions using standard chromatography techniques, with quercetin derivatives identified as …

Cargo Hitchhiking Autophagy - A Hybrid Autophagy Pathway Utilized In Yeast, Katrina F Cooper

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Macroautophagy is a catabolic process that maintains cellular homeostasis by recycling intracellular material through the use of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes. In turn, autophagosomes fuse with vacuoles (in yeast and plants) or lysosomes (in metazoans), where resident hydrolases degrade the cargo. Given the conservation of autophagy,

Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Investigate The Trophic Ecology Of Aquatic Insects, Shelby Ann Medlock

Master's Theses

Despite their abundance on the landscape, ponds and associated macroinvertebrate assemblages have largely been underrepresented in scientific studies, which usually focus on lakes or streams. Similar to other waterbodies, ponds can harbor high levels of invertebrate biodiversity, which is important as aquatic insects are experiencing declines due to habitat destruction, pollution, climate change, and invasive species introductions. To evaluate how these threats impact pond insects and the ecosystem services they may provide, a thorough understanding of their ecology is essential. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, especially regarding trophic levels and species-specific diets. To address these knowledge gaps, I used carbon …

Associations Among Shopping Methods, Diet Adherence, And Nutrition Knowledge Of Employed Primary Grocery Shoppers In Households With Children, Baylee Schneider

Master's Theses

Obesity is a prominent risk factor for chronic disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity and chronic disease rates continue to rise, requiring a need for prevention and intervention efforts. The future role of dietetics is to provide treatment and prevention through holistic approaches, by understanding individuals’ habits that contribute to the onset of disease, specifically their food choices, grocery shopping methods, and influences that waver these selections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between grocery shopping methods (online or in-store), Mediterranean diet adherence, nutrition knowledge, and food purchase patterns …

Protein Digestibility Impacted By Bacillus Coagulans, Pasteurization And Protein Source In Ready-To-Drink Protein Beverages, Samantha L. Bass, Samantha L. Bass

Master's Theses

The goal of this study was to assess how to maximize the digestibility of protein in protein beverages utilizing various protein sources, differing temperature/storage combinations, and the addition of probiotics (Bacillus coagulans). The protein sources used included 3 milk proteins and 2 plant protein sources (micellar casein, milk protein concentrate, reduced-calcium milk protein concentrate, pea protein isolate, and soy protein isolate). Soy protein isolate was chosen because it is readily available and commonly used as a plant protein alternative. Pea protein isolate was chosen because it is a non-allergen, and similarly, it is readily available. Milk protein concentrates …

Comparison Of Caregiver-Reported Dietary Intake Methods In Zellweger Spectrum Disorder, Mousumi Bose, Nancy L. Von Thun, Adrian L. Kerrihard, Melisa L. Lopez, Chelsea I. Donlon, Alyssa K. Smolen, Nicole P. Fontes

Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Scholarship and Creative Works

Background/Objectives: Zellweger spectrum disorder (ZSD), a rare genetic disease characterized by defects in peroxisome biogenesis, results in dysfunction of all organ systems, including feeding difficulties, gastrointestinal bleeding, and reduced overall growth. Despite this nutritional impact, no published studies have assessed dietary intake in ZSD. The purpose of this study was to determine nutrient intake in individuals with ZSD or a related peroxisomal disorder using two methods of dietary assessment as provided by family caregivers. Methods: Family caregivers participated in multiple 24 h dietary recall interviews and completed 3-day food records for their child with ZSD or a related single-enzyme peroxisomal …

An Exploratory Case Study Of A Community Food Pantry In Northwest Louisiana, Abigail Clair Henington

Master's Theses

Many individuals are struggling with food insecurity in Louisiana; according to the Louisiana Food Bank Association's website, Feeding Louisiana’s 2023 impact report, an estimated 683,100 people in Louisiana experience food insecurity. In northwest Louisiana, 30% of the population lives below the poverty line, with an average income of $34,485 per household. Common Ground is a nonprofit community outreach program in Northwest Louisiana, specifically Shreveport. The program has been in operation for over 20 years and strives to provide a place free of judgment and a place of common ground for those in the Cedar Grove community. Each week, they have …

Cryptosporidium Virus Integration Into The Host Cells, Alyssa Genaro

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidiosis is a disease that affects a large amount of people and having a high mortality rate for those that are immunocompromised such as the elderly and infants. The disease is linked to a parasite called Cryptosporidium parvum, which is mostly known to infect cattle and other mammals such as mice and humans. The parasite contains a double stranded RNA virus, the Cryspovirus (CSpV1) that has a non-enveloped icosahedral capsid, with a T=2* icosahedral symmetry. Little is known is known about the contribution of CSpV1 to the disease; In this study we show that infection of an immunocompromised mouse model …

Bright Ideas: How Leaf Cells Shape The Way Plants Capture Light, Nicola Trozzi, Janlo M. Robil

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.