Life Sciences Commons^™

Climate And Gypsum Parent Material Shape Biocrust Communities And Moss Ecology In The Chihuahuan And Mojave Deserts, Nicole Pietrasiak, Katelyn G. Gobbie, Brian Jusko, Rebecca E. Drenovsky

Life Sciences Faculty Research

Biological soil crust communities (biocrusts) establishing on gypsum soils have been well-documented for their prolific appearance and rich diversity of lichens and bryophytes. However, studies characterizing gypsum biocrusts have occurred primarily outside of the U.S., most of which lack comparisons to other soil types. We conducted intensive field surveys to evaluate the ground cover and frequency of biocrust functional groups and moss species on gypsum and non-gypsum soils in the U.S. regions with the most extensive gypsum outcrops, the northern Chihuahuan and eastern Mojave Deserts. Study sites were stratified by geomorphology and paired, so that every gypsum site was matched …

Gonadal Absence Of Pig-1: Exploration Of Pig-1 In The Gonad Of Caenorhabditis Elegans, Winston S. Bennah

Undergraduate Theses

Caenorhabditis elegans are model organisms frequently studied to better understand biological processes. They have short life spans and produce a large number of progeny. Additionally, many of their molecular development processes can be found in human, providing insight into cell death and cell fate. In this project, our research aims to create a triple mutant strain to test the importance of the pig-1 gene in the gonad of C. elegans. This strain carries the following alleles: ckb-3::degron; him-8; gfp::pig-1. The pig-1 gene has been previously studied in neuroblast cells in C. elegans and is required for …

12.02.2024 Orsp Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

Email Address Matters

All of Us Researcher Symposium

Welcome Anya Goldman

Aquatic Plant Threats To The Columbia River, Jacob Rose, Gabriel Campbell

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

These presentation slides provide an overview of some of the invasive aquatic plants that pose an emerging threat to Oregon waterways. It contains botanical notes and high-quality photographs of approximately nine different plant species. Additional slides emphasize the importance of early detection and rapid response, as well as existing resources for invasive species outreach. This presentation was given orally at the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium to an audience of natural resource practitioners.

Emerging Aquatic Plant Threats To Oregon Waterways, Jacob Rose, Gabriel Campbell

Center for Lakes and Reservoirs Publications and Presentations

This brief presentation provides an overview some of two invasive aquatic plants that pose a threat to the Columbia River, where it borders Oregon and Washington. Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) and fragrant waterlily (Nymphaea odorata) threaten aquatic habitats up and down the Columbia River. Staff from the Center for Lakes & Reservoirs promoted a quick, picture-based key for flowering rush and lookalikes. This presentation was given orally at the Oregon Department of Agriculture's Interagency Noxious Weed Symposium to an audience of natural resource practitioners.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 3Α1'S Role In Promoting Iron Loading, Tumorigenesis, And Metastasis In Colorectal Cancer, Luke B. Villareal

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

The interplay between hypoxia and iron metabolism drives colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. This dissertation investigates hypoxia-inducible factor 3α1 (HIF-3α1), a protein linked to poor CRC outcomes, focusing on its roles in metastasis, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and iron loading via transferrin receptor (TFRC). HIF-3α1 promotes CRC cell migration by upregulating zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) and suppressing N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1), while TFRC-mediated iron accumulation supports tumor growth and survival. Iron chelation reduced EMT markers, migration, and tumor growth, highlighting iron's critical role. Additionally, HIF-3α1-induced TFRC expression altered nucleotide synthesis enzymes carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate transcarbamoylase-dihydroorotase (CAD) and phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate …

Analysis Of Natural Structures And Chemical Mapping Data Reveals Local Stability Compensation In Rna, Robert L. Cornwell-Arquitt, Riley Nigh, Michael T. Hathaway, Joseph D. Yesselman, David A. Hendrix

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

RNA molecules adopt complex structures that perform essential biological functions across all forms of life, making them promising candidates for therapeutic applications. However, our ability to design new RNA structures remains limited by an incomplete understanding of their folding principles. While global metrics such as the minimum free energy are widely used, they are at odds with naturally occurring structures and incompatible with established design rules. Here, we introduce local stability compensation (LSC), a principle that RNA folding is governed by the local balance between destabilizing loops and their stabilizing adjacent stems, challenging the focus on global energetic optimization. Analysis …

Safety, Immunogenicity, And Efficacy Of A Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vectored Vaccine Against Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus And Heartland Bandavirus, Philip Hicks, Tomaz B. Manzoni, Jonna B. Westover, Raegan J. Petch, Brianne Roper, Brian B. Gowen, Paul Bates

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (STSV) is a recently emerged tickborne virus in east Asia with over 18,000 confirmed cases. With a high case fatality ratio, SFTSV has been designated a high priority pathogen by the WHO and the NIAID. Despite this, there are currently no approved therapies or vaccines to treat or prevent SFTS. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents an FDA-approved vaccine platform that has been considered for numerous viruses due to its low sero-prevalence in humans, ease in genetic manipulation, and promiscuity in incorporating foreign glycoproteins into its virions. Methods: In this study, we developed a …

The 2024 Nobel Prize In Physiology Or Medicine: Microrna Takes Center Stage, George A Calin, Florent Hubé, Michael R Ladomery, Nicholas Delihas, Manuela Ferracin, Laura Poliseno, Luca Agnelli, Suresh K Alahari, Ai-Ming Yu, Xiao-Bo Zhong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Non-coding Journal Editorial Board Members would like to congratulate Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, who were jointly awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNAs and the role of microRNAs in post-transcriptional gene regulation, uncovering a previously unknown layer of gene control in eukaryotes [...].

The Effect Of Dha On Myo-Inositol Levels In Lymphoblasts Derived From Patients With Bipolar Disorder, Katherine Pierre

Honors Theses

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by recurring episodes of mania and depression. Bipolar I disorder is accompanied by severe episodes of mania and depression, while bipolar II disorder is characterized by a milder form of mania. It has been hypothesized that currently approved treatments for this disorder, lithium and valproic acid, exert their therapeutic effect by decreasing myo-inositol levels intracellularly. However, these treatments may lead to undesired side effects, creating a need for safer treatments. Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that have been shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of bipolar disorder.

To investigate …

New Species And Records Expand The Checklist Of Cellular Slime Molds (Dictyostelids) In Jilin Province, China, Zhaojuan Zhang, Liang He, Yuqin Sun, Zhuang Li, Yingqun Yang, Chao Zhai, Steven Lee Stephenson, Xiangrui Xie, Yu Li, Pu Liu

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dictyostelids represent a crucial element in the protist community, and their abundant presence in Jilin Province underscores their indispensable role in biodiversity conservation. In the present study, a resource survey of dictyostelids used random sampling to collect 28 soil samples from five localities in Changbai Korean Autonomous County, Jilin Province. In addition, a compilation of dictyostelid species reported from Jilin Province was developed, based on a thorough review of the literature. The survey yielded fifteen isolates of dictyostelids, comprising six species from four genera. Notably, two new species (Dictyostelium longigracilis sp. nov. and Dictyostelium macrosoriobrevipes sp. nov.) were described using …

Preoperative Detection Of Extraprostatic Tumor Extension In Patients With Primary Prostate Cancer Utilizing [68ga]Ga-Psma-11 Pet/Mri, Clemens P Spielvogel, Jing Ning, Kilian Kluge, David Haberl, Gabriel Wasinger, Josef Yu, Holger Einspieler, Laszlo Papp, Bernhard Grubmüller, Shahrokh F Shariat, Pascal A T Baltzer, Paola Clauser, Markus Hartenbach, Lukas Kenner, Marcus Hacker, Alexander R Haug, Sazan Rasul

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a common intervention in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa), with nerve-sparing RP recommended to reduce adverse effects on patient quality of life. Accurate pre-operative detection of extraprostatic extension (EPE) remains challenging, often leading to the application of suboptimal treatment. The aim of this study was to enhance pre-operative EPE detection through multimodal data integration using explainable machine learning (ML).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed PCa who underwent [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/MRI and subsequent RP were recruited retrospectively from two time ranges for training, cross-validation, and independent validation. The presence of EPE was measured from post-surgical histopathology …

Elucidating The Role Of Astrocytes In Norepinephrine Neuromodulation, Katheryn Bry Lefton

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Norepinephrine, a wakefulness-associated neuromodulator, profoundly reshapes neural systems, from synaptic circuits to behavior. Through decades of research, a substantial catalogue on the effects of noradrenergic signaling on behavior and networks has been generated. How norepinephrine remodels synaptic circuitry is widely thought to underlie the larger changes in neural networks and behavior, highlighting the need for a more thorough understanding of the circuit effects of norepinephrine neuromodulation. However, the mechanistic details of the norepinephrine on synapses are still unclear. In recent decades, a large body of work has shown that norepinephrine acts not just on neurons, but on glial cells including …

A Conjugate Of An Egfr-Binding Peptide And Doxorubicin Shows Selective Toxicity To Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Phi-Phung Than, Shih-Jing Yao, Emad Althagafi, Kamaljit Kaur

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Selective targeting of cancer cells via overexpressed cell-surface receptors is a promising strategy to enhance chemotherapy efficacy and minimize off-target side effects. In this study, we designed peptide 31 (YHWYGYTPERVI) to target the overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Peptide 31 is internalized by TNBC cells through EGFR-mediated endocytosis and shares sequence and structural similarities with human EGF (hEGF), a natural EGFR ligand. Unlike hEGF, peptide 31 does not induce cell migration in TNBC cells. A novel conjugate of peptide 31 with doxorubicin (Dox) retains selectivity for TNBC cells and exhibits significant toxicity comparable …

Exfoliated Hydrotalcite-Transition Metal Complex Composite For Eco-Friendly And Efficient Catalytic Degradation Of 4-Nitrophenol, Sidra Khan, Najma Memon, Saima Q. Memon, Yilmaz Yurekli

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Nitrophenols are notorious aquatic organic contaminants found as degradation products of various parent compounds, including pesticides and industrial chemicals that persist in the environment and must be removed. Catalytic degradation is one of the feasible routes to clean the contaminated water systems, however, environmental contamination with catalysts is also widespread. Herein, we report an environmentally friendly catalyst based on composited Fe-Schiff’s base with exfoliated layered double hydroxides (LDH) of aluminum and nickel (hydrotalcite). The composite showed agglomerated pleated LDH structures sheathed with Fe(III)SB. Nitrogen adsorption isotherm data exhibited improved surface area and narrow pores patterns for composite as compared to …

Highly Porous Nanocarriers For Osmolyte Delivery And Drought Mitigation In Wheat And Ryegrass, David Britt

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Study Of The Brain Anatomy Of Three Extinct Marsupials: Thylacinus Cynocephalus, Thylacoleo Carnifex, And Silvabestius Johnnilandi, Francisco Garcia

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

Marsupials are pouched mammals that today are mainly found in Australasia and South America. Marsupials have proven to be quite intriguing to evolutionary biologists who note how some marsupials resemble placentals in anatomy due to convergent evolution, with both marsupials and placentals filling similar niches in their respective environments. As of today, studies interested in marsupial brain evolution have published descriptions of cranial endocasts for several species of marsupials, with the number of descriptions seeing a massive boost over the last 20 years with the arrival of CT imaging technology. However, no comprehensive study of brain evolution in marsupials has …

Assessing Spatial Distribution And Quantification Of Native Trees In Saskatchewan's Prairie Landscape Using Remote Sensing Techniques, Elham Shafeian, Bryan J. Mood, Kenneth W. Belcher, Colin P. Laroque

Aspen Bibliography

The importance of trees in non-forest landscapes has been the focus of only a few studies. However, these trees provide many important ecosystem services. In this study, we mapped and quantified these trees using Sentinel-2 (S2) and very high-resolution (VHR) Google satellite imagery without any field campaigns. We performed a Random Forest (RF) classification to map the spatial distribution of native trees in different scenarios. The optimal model showed an overall accuracy and kappa of 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. We mapped 40,500 km² of tree cover, including native tree cover (approximately 29,565 km²≈10.5%), excluding plantations, regional and …

Comparing Physiological, Psychological, And Performance Changes Between Myo-Reps Vs Traditional Hypertrophy Protocols, Antonella V. Schwarz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In long-term athlete development, it is common to emphasize hypertrophic adaptations during the beginning training phases prior to focusing on strength and power performance. The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological, psychological, and performance differences between myo-reps (MYO) vs. traditional (TRAD) hypertrophy protocols in trained n=8 male subjects over eight weeks. Current literature suggests hypertrophy may be optimized through 3-6 sets of 6-12 repetitions at 60-80% of one-repetition maximum (IRM) with 1-3 minutes of rest per set. However, alternative hypertrophy protocols such as MYO are underexplored. This quantitative experimental study assessed MYO vs TRAD protocols on hypertrophy …

Immediate And Short-Term Effects Of A Single Bout Of Circuit Resistance Training And Tabata-Style Resistance Training On Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption In Resistance-Trained Individuals, Bruce David Bentley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Increased energy expenditure due to post-exercise oxygen consumption may be a valuable tool in maintaining health and preventing obesity. Circuit resistance training and Tabata-style resistance training have potential to increase daily energy expenditure in a time-efficient manner. The purpose of this study was to compare the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption immediately following and 24 hours after a single bout of circuit resistance training and a single bout of Tabata-style resistance training. Nine participants were recruited and randomly assigned a completion order of the control, circuit resistance training, and Tabata-style resistance training conditions. Resting energy expenditure were measured at baseline, immediately …

Ecological Interactions, Host Plant Defenses, And Control Strategies In Managing Soybean Looper, Chrysodeixis Includens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Rahul Debnath, Justin George, Manish Gautum, Insha Shafi, Rupesh Kariyat, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Entomology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Soybean looper (SBL), Chrysodeixis includens (Walker 1858) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the most damaging insect pests of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., in the mid-south region of the United States, and causes significant economic losses to cotton, sunflower, tomato, and tobacco crops in the United States, Brazil, and Argentina. Soybean production in the southern region accounted for 15.5% of the total production in the United States, and yield losses due to invertebrate pests were 5.8%, or 1.09 million metric ton, in 2022. As insecticide resistance of SBL continues to rise, the lack of alternate control strategies is a serious …

Physiological And Biomechanical Perspectives On Elbow Function During Forehand And Backhand Disc Golf Throws: A Novel Investigation, Lauren Rachelle Giles

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Over 81% of players have reported injuries linked to disc golfing, predominantly due to overuse. Since disc golf originated, there is a lack of research on the proper biomechanics of the disc golf throw. This descriptive, quantitative study seeks to be the first. We investigated 6 females and 35 males, aged 21-66, registered to compete in disc golf. The goal was to examine the kinetic parameters of healthy disc golfers to identify biomechanics likely associated with safety. Research questions investigated whether there is a connection between lean body mass and disc distance traveled, elbow torque and disc distance, or grip …

Yield Comparison Of Three Melon (Cucumis Melo L.) Varieties Cultivated With Dutch Bucket And Drip Irrigation Systems, Widiya Puji Kumalasari, Suwarto, Etik Wukir Tini, Endang Warih Minarni

Jurnal Kultivasi

Melon is one of the horticultural commodities with considerable economic potential. Cultivation through hydroponic systems can provide efficiency and increase production if complemented by superior varieties. This study aims to identify the best hydroponic system and melon variety combination with the highest yield. The research was conducted from November 2023 to April 2024 at the screen house in Pasir Kulon Village, Karanglewas District, Banyumas Regency, at 110 m above sea level. The study used a split-plot factorial design with a basic design of a Completely Randomized Block Design. The first factor was the hydroponic system, consisting of S1 = Dutch …

Bioremediation Of Pb And Cd Contaminated Soil By Mycorrhiza And Biochar Treatment And Its Effect On Growth And Yield Of Shallot, Okti Herliana, Wilis Cahyani, Yugi Rahayu Ahadiyat

Jurnal Kultivasi

The contamination of shallots in the food chain by heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) is caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The study aimed to determine the growth and yields of shallot cultivated on soil contaminated with Pb and Cd using mycorrhiza and biochar. The study was conducted in the screen house at Jenderal Soedirman University, Faculty of Agriculture, from April to September 2020, and it was carried out using a factorial Randomized Completely Block Design that involved three replications and two factors. The first factor of mycorrhiza dosage comprised 0, 1, and 2 g/pot, and …

Bioremediation Of Pb And Cd Contaminated Soil By Mycorrhiza And Biochar Treatment And Its Effect On Growth And Yield Of Shallot, Okti Herliana, Wilis Cahyani, Yugi Rahayu Ahadiyat

Jurnal Kultivasi

The contamination of shallots in the food chain by heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) is caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The study aimed to determine the growth and yields of shallot cultivated on soil contaminated with Pb and Cd using mycorrhiza and biochar. The study was conducted in the screen house at Jenderal Soedirman University, Faculty of Agriculture, from April to September 2020, and it was carried out using a factorial Randomized Completely Block Design that involved three replications and two factors. The first factor of mycorrhiza dosage comprised 0, 1, and 2 g/pot, and …

Staphylococcus Epidermidis St2 Strains Associated With Bloodstream Infections Contain A Unique Mobile Genetic Element Encoding A Plasmin Inhibitor, Amy A Gomez, Clara Kjerfve, Minseo Choi, Wen Liu, Kelly Churion, Sheila Thomas, Holger Rohde, Sam Shelburne, Jon T Skare, Magnus Hook, Srishtee Arora

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common commensal bacterium, is a leading cause of nosocomial catheter-associated bloodstream infections. S. epidermidis sequence type 2 (ST2) is specifically recognized globally for causing invasive disease. In this study, we identified a novel putative integrated conjugative element, pICE-Sepi-ST2, unique to the genomes of S. epidermidis ST2. Our investigation identified pICE-Sepi-ST2 in all ST2 isolates from bloodstream infections. Meanwhile, ST2 isolates from other infection sources, such as catheters, prosthetic joints, and fracture fixations, showed variable pICE-Sepi-ST2 prevalence. pICE-Sepi-ST2 encodes two putative cell wall anchored proteins that we have designated SesX and SesY. Biochemical characterization of SesY revealed …

Genome Size Influences Plant Growth And Biodiversity Responses To Nutrient Fertilization In Diverse Grassland Communities, Joseph A. Morton, Carlos Alberto Arnillas, Lori Biedermann, Elizabeth T. Borer, Lars A. Brudvig, Yvonne M. Buckley, Marc W. Cadotte, Kendi Davies, Ian Donohue, Anne Ebeling, Nico Eisenhauer, Catalina Estrada, Sylvia Haider, Yann Hautier, Anke Jentsch, Holly Martinson, Rebecca L. Mcculley, Xavier Raynaud, Christiane Roscher, Eric W. Seabloom, Carly J. Stevens, Katerina Vesela, Alison Wallace, Ilia J. Leitch, Andrew R. Leitch, Erika Hersch-Green

Michigan Tech Publications

AU Experiments: Please confirm that all heading levels are represented correctly comparing diploids with polyploids and in single : grassland sites show that nitrogen and/or phosphorus availability influences plant growth and community composition dependent on genome size; specifically, plants with larger genomes grow faster under nutrient enrichments relative to those with smaller genomes. However, it is unknown if these effects are specific to particular site localities with speciifc plant assemblages, climates, and historical contingencies. To determine the generality of genome size-dependent growth responses to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, we combined genome size and species abundance data from 27 coordinated grassland …

Exploring Family Mealtime Environment, Screens, And Mental Health Among School-Aged Children In Japan, Ami Nishimori Alnouri

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of family mealtimes during breakfast and the mental health of school-aged children (6-18 years) in Japan, comparing those who used and did not use screens during breakfast. This study involved two research questions: How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who used screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? How did parents of Japanese school-aged (6 to 18 years) children who did not use screens (electronic devices) at mealtime experience family mealtime during breakfast? In this study, a qualitative phenomenological approach employed semi-structured interviews with …

Exploring The Utility Of The Septicyte In Clinical Decision-Making In The Emergency Department, Sylvia Lowery-Taylor

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Know thy enemy. A significant obstacle in treating and managing sepsis is the absence of a test or method to diagnose the disease rapidly. Sepsis is defined as a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection (Sinha & Ray, 2018). Despite improvements to sepsis-related care and sepsis outcomes, it remains a worldwide concern and a leading cause of mortality. Early recognition and management of sepsis is critical to provide rapid treatment and to prevent deaths associated with sepsis and septic shock. Since most patients with sepsis receive their initial care in the emergency department, it is …

Physiological Response To Resisted Plyometric Training On Swimmers Sprint Swim Abilities, David Newman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study used a casual comparative/quasi-experimental research design to determine whether resisted plyometric training has a more significant effect than non-resisted plyometric training on competitive teenage swimmers’ power and speed. Twelve swimmers were randomly assigned to a resisted group (n = 6, age: 14.5 ± 0.96 years; G (RES)) and an unresisted group (n = 6, age 14.17 ± 1.77 years; G UNRES). In both RES and UNRES groups the plyometric training consisted of lateral box step-ups and squat jumps before swim training twice per week. Pre and post-tests consisted of a power test (vertical jump via Vertical Jump Challenger) …