Victory Gardens: Helping On The Home Front, A Curriculum Outreach Project, Kelly Hoomes

Master's Theses

The Victory Garden: Helping on the Homefront traveling trunk outreach project links past, present, and future by introducing students to the historical significance of World War II victory gardens and emphasizing the continued relevance today. Partnering with Kennesaw State University’s Museum of History and Holocaust Education (MHHE), the traveling trunk focuses on a fifth-grade audience, aligning with Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies, Health, and Science. The traveling trunk designed as a “museum-in-a-box" includes primary sources, artifacts, and a practical gardening activity that fosters critical thinking and analysis. By encouraging an understanding of the past and the connections to …

The Relationship Between Chute Behavior And Morbidity In Cattle, Andrea Rankin

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Most cattle see a handling chute at least once in their lives. Handling plays a huge role in cattle management, whether it’s for transportation, auction sales, deworming, medical treatments, or AI purposes. Morbidity related to Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) is one of the biggest causes of economic loss for ranchers and can be related to handling stress. Auction-derived calves (ADC; n=92) were brought to the University of Arkansas Savoy Research Facility for processing and monitoring for behavioral cues and disease. The objective of this study was to find a relationship between the calves’ behavior in the chute and morbidity. The …

The Diverse Effects Of Continual Organic Inputs On Soil Biogeochemical Properties And Microbial Communities In Sandy Ultisols Under Organic Production, Zhine Wang

All Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to understand how continual organic amendment inputs improve Nitrogen (N) cycling, microbial diversity and functional traits. Fully crossed factorial experiments were designed to test four cover crop treatments (cereal rye, hairy vetch, mixture of the rye and vetch, and no cover crop fallow) and two levels of manure compost application (with manure application and blank control) in organic vegetable production from 2020 to 2023. Cover crop biomass, soil chemical and biological properties were analyzed for the distribution and availability of soil labile N (Chapter 2), the abundance of N-cycling genes (Chapter 3), the structure …

Exploring Mechanisms Of Chemical Resistance In Xanthomonas Arboricola Pv. Pruni And Strategies To Mitigate Resistance And Improve Disease Control, Milan Panth

All Dissertations

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (XAP) is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial spot of peach. It causes spotted lesions on leaves and fruit, leading to early defoliation and unmarketable fruit, respectively. The pathogen can overwinter in twig cankers, which serve as the primary initial inoculum source for the next season’s leaf and fruitlet infection. The current disease management practice mainly relies on routine application of chemical bactericides containing copper or oxytetracycline (OTC) in the growing season. However, disease incidence can still be high despite chemical control measures in warm, rainy seasons.

Frequent applications of copper and OTC in United …

Bap1: Genotype-Phenotype Correlation, Variant Classification, And Treatment Efficacy, Elizabeth Hobbs

All Dissertations

BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 3p21.3 and encodes a deubiquitinase enzyme (DUB) involved in DNA repair, cell cycle and metabolism, and apoptosis. BAP1 pathogenic germline variants are primarily associated with a familial cancer syndrome, Tumor Predisposition Syndrome 1 (TPDS1), but new missense variants have been linked to a neurodevelopmental disorder known as Kury-Isidor Syndrome (KURIS). Patients with TPDS1 variants have an increased risk for developing cancers, such as uveal and cutaneous melanomas, mesothelioma, and renal cell carcinoma, at an earlier age with lower thresholds for environmental exposures, mainly UV rays and asbestos, compared …

Characterizing Mechanisms Of Dna Repair And Genome Stability, Joshua Turner

All Dissertations

Every day our cells are bombarded with DNA lesions that threaten the stability of our genome. To help maintain genomic integrity our cells evolved to have a network of enzymes dedicated to repairing DNA lesions. Upon encountering a site of DNA damage, a cell recruits enzymes that remodel the stalled replication fork by reannealing the newly synthesized DNA together known as fork regression. Loss of fork regression activity has been shown to promote replication stress resistance after induced DNA damage. In this thesis, I discuss the role F-Box Helicase 1 (FBH1) plays in fork regression and how FBH1 promotes the …

Leveraging High-Frequency Water Quality Data And Machine Learning For Monitoring Harmful Algal Blooms, Ibrahim Busari

All Dissertations

Freshwater management is one of the most critical resources on the earth due to the plethora of water use and its limited availability. Increased algae proliferation is one of the significant problems of freshwater bodies that is triggered by nutrient enrichment and enabling conditions such as light and warm temperatures. This algal proliferation is toxic to the ecosystem through their biomass and potential toxin production that can cause hypoxic conditions and is often referred to as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Current monitoring approaches include laboratory analysis of water samples to observe algal cells, monitoring of water quality parameters using water …

Advancing Substance Use Disorder Treatment Using Genomics And Metabolomics, Lindsey Contella

All Dissertations

Advancing our understanding of genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors in substance use disorder (SUD) could lead to more effective therapies. In 2022, 16.5% of the U.S. population was diagnosed with SUD, yet current treatments lack efficacy for all patients, making a precision medicine approach crucial. This dissertation explores SUD's relationship with tryptophan (TRP) metabolism through the kynurenine pathway (KP) as a potential therapeutic target. Chapter I reviews current knowledge on SUD and KP. Chapter II identifies how SUD alters KP metabolite concentrations, identifying a reduced concentration of the neuroprotective metabolite, kynurenic acid (KA) and elevated concentrations of the neurotoxic metabolite, …

Behavior In Phelan-Mcdermid Syndrome: Clinical Characteristics, Genetic And Metabolic Contributions, And Evaluation Of Behavioral Assessment Tools, Emily Payne

All Dissertations

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is characterized by genetic and phenotypic variability with varying levels of developmental delay, intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), speech delay, minor dysmorphic features, and behavioral issues. Genetic causes of PMS involve deletions in the 22q13.3 region or pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in SHANK3. Due to the significant heterogeneity and complexities seen in individuals with PMS, there are numerous challenges surrounding research, accurate diagnoses, assessments, and the creation of treatments. Behavioral issues are present in the majority of individuals with PMS, including lower levels of adaptive behavioral skills needed for daily functioning, disruptive behaviors, restricted and …

Drosophila Model Of Cocaine Use Disorder, Jeffrey Hatfield

All Dissertations

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a major public health challenge. While the primary mechanism of action of cocaine has been well characterized, and family studies have identified a strong genetic component, the specific genetic factors that influence susceptibility to development of CUD remain poorly understood. Genetic studies of cocaine use disorder are difficult in humans, but can be readily performed in Drosophila, where environment, genetic background, and cocaine exposure can be controlled. Drosophila exhibit behavioral and transcriptomic responses to cocaine, which binds to the dopamine transporter in fruit flies as it does in humans. Here, we use Drosophila to …

Quantifying Effects Of Partial Genetic Backgrounds To Decode Genetic Drivers Of Clinical Phenotypes, Rini Pauly

All Dissertations

Understanding partial genetic backgrounds illuminates the genetic architecture of complex traits and diseases, revealing how diverse genetic backgrounds contribute to phenotypic diversity. With this approach we could advance personalized medicine by identifying population-specific variants affecting drug metabolism, tailoring medical treatments to individual genetic profiles. Additionally, it offers evolutionary insights into human history, shedding light on past migrations and the spread of genetic traits. This research leverages cutting-edge statistical genetics techniques and novel machine learning approaches to efficiently analyze extensive population genomic datasets, distilling complex admixture signals into meaningful genetic markers.

The study introduces Admix-AI, an innovative convolutional neural network-based tool …

Acupressure For Rescue Treatment For Postoperative Nausea And Vomiting, Kimberly Amerson, Jennifer Smith

Doctoral Projects

This doctoral project investigates acupressure as a non-pharmacological option for PONV management, focusing on the P6 point (Neiguan). The physiological processes involved in regulating nausea are highlighted in the discussion of the mechanisms of action. This research also looks at the valuable uses of acupressure in clinical settings and the education of PACU nurses and anesthesia providers. By utilizing knowledge, including acupressure, PACU nurses and anesthesia providers can improve satisfaction with care, expedite recovery, and boost overall patient well-being. This doctoral project strives to decrease healthcare costs associated with prolonged hospital stays, optimize patient recovery experiences, expand knowledge for PACU …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Donna Giberson

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Investigate The Possibility Of Producing Healthier, Safer Peanuts Through Molecular Breeding And Novel Fungal Pathogen Management Strategies, Tariq Alam

All Dissertations

Peanut allergy, a critical health concern with high morbidity and mortality rates, is a leading cause of fatal anaphylactic reactions in the United States. Managing peanut allergy is challenging due to the prevalence of peanuts in processed foods and the risk of contamination. This dissertation evaluates the U.S. peanut mini-core collection for four major immunogenic proteins, Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, and Ara h6, using gel electrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The study identified 26 genotypes with reduced concentrations of allergenic proteins. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of protein traits revealed 10 significant SNPs and identified …

A Multiplex Metabolomic Approach For Quality Control Of Spirulina Supplement And Its Allied Microalgae (Amphora & Chlorella) Assisted By Chemometrics And Molecular Networking, Nesrine Hegazi, Amira R. Khattab, Hamada H. Saad, Bishoy Abib, Mohamed A. Farag

Faculty Journal Articles

Microalgae species are of economic importance regarded as “green gold” being rich in bioactive compounds. Spirulina and Chlorella are the most popular microalgal species and are marketed as healthy food supplements. At the same time, Amphora holds potential as a source of healthy lipids and essential fatty acids. Yet, there are considerable variations in their reported chemical composition, and less is known about their compositional differences. A multiplexed metabolomic approach was adopted for the quality control (QC) of Spirulina supplements and to compare its constitutive metabolome to Chlorella and Amphora. The adopted protocol comprised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS), ultra-high performance …

Genome-Wide Expression Profiling And Phenotypic Analysis Of Downstream Targets Identify The Fox Transcription Factor Jumeau As A Master Regulator Of Cardiac Progenitor Cell Division, M. Rezaul Hasan

Bakerman Student Research Awards

Forkhead box (Fox) transcription factors (TFs) mediate multiple conserved cardiogenic processes in both mammals and Drosophila. Our prior work identified the roles of two Drosophila Fox genes, jumeau (jumu) and Checkpoint suppressor 1-like (CHES-1-like), in cardiac progenitor cell specification and division, and in the proper positioning of cardiac cell subtypes. Fox TF binding sites are also significantly enriched in the enhancers of genes expressed in the heart, suggesting that these genes may play a core regulatory role in one or more of these cardiogenic processes. We identified downstream targets of Jumu by comparing transcriptional expression profiles of flow cytometry-sorted mesodermal …

Quantifying The Mechanisms Behind Carbon Sequestration And Soil Health Following Compost Application In A Rangeland Chronosequence, Grace Damaschino

Master's Theses

Compost application to rangelands has the potential to sequester carbon (C) and add essential plant nutrients to the soil. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Healthy Soils Project (HSP) provides financial support to farmers and landowners to implement innovative practices that promote soil health. The CDFA is currently recommending compost application rates of 6-10 tons per acre; however, previous research suggests that degraded soils may require a larger dose of compost to overcome limitations, therefore this recommendation might not meet soil health or soil carbon sequestration objectives. This study examines the compost rate effects on soil health, while …

Individual Dynamic Prediction For Cure And Survival Based On Longitudinal Biomarkers, Can Xie, Xuelin Huang, Ruosha Li, Alexander Tsodikov, Kapil Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

To optimize personalized treatment strategies and extend patients' survival times, it is critical to accurately predict patients' prognoses at all stages, from disease diagnosis to follow-up visits. The longitudinal biomarker measurements during visits are essential for this prediction purpose. Patients' ultimate concerns are cure and survival. However, in many situations, there is no clear biomarker indicator for cure. We propose a comprehensive joint model of longitudinal and survival data and a landmark cure model, incorporating proportions of potentially cured patients. The survival distributions in the joint and landmark models are specified through flexible hazard functions with the proportional hazards as …

Use Of A Capsule Suspension Formulation Of S-Metolachlor In Fenclorim-Treated Rice, Jason K. Norsworthy, Samuel C. Noe, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton L. Roberts

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

As herbicide resistance continues to render commonly used rice herbicides ineffective, alternative sites of action are paramount to maintaining yield and producer profitability. Combining a slow-release formulation and a fenclorim seed treatment might allow the safe use of S-metolachlor in rice. Experiments were initiated in 2022 and 2023 near Colt, AR, on a silt loam soil to evaluate crop safety using a capsule suspension (CS) formulation of S-metolachlor and a fenclorim seed treatment in rice. The first experiment assessed the tolerance of two cultivars (‘Diamond’ and ‘DG263L’) to three rates (0.42, 0.84, and 1.68 kg ai ha^{−1 …}

The Bacterial Cell Wall Components Lipopolysaccharide And Peptidoglycan Initiate Divergent Local Tissue And Systemic Inflammatory Response Profiles In The Chicken Model, Kristen A. Byrne, Gisela F. Erf

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The innate immune system plays an important role in the early defense against pathogens. To better understand the chicken’s innate inflammatory responses, we concurrently examined the cellular responses at the injection site and in the blood following intradermal (i.d.) injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PGN) into the pulp of growing feathers (GFs). Both LPS from Gram-negative bacteria and PGN from Gram-positive bacteria are potent stimulators of innate inflammatory responses. The time-course study conducted revealed similarly elevated levels of heterophils and macrophages in injected GF-pulps during the first 24 h for both LPS and PGN. However, PGN also stimulated rapid …

In Ovo Administration Of L. Animalis, B. Licheniformis, , Or Their Combination Influences Ross 708 Broiler Chick Hatch Performance And Immuno-Physiological Parameters, C. N. Beck, K.G.S. Wamsley, C. D. Mcdaniel, A. S. Kiess

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

There is a demand for novel pathogen mitigation strategies in antibiotic-free poultry production, which has triggered the development of various probiotic application methods. One application method is the in ovo (in egg) administration of probiotics on incubation day (d) 18, where the unhatched chick consumes a probiotic before hatch and prior to being exposed to environmental pathogens. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of in ovo L. animalis, B. licheniformis, or L. animalis + B. licheniformis (10⁶ cfu/50 mL L each) administration on hatch performance (N = 21 egg flats/treatment, 30 …

Advancing Molecular Tools For The Study Of Rubus Viruses, Andrea Sierra-Mejia

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since blackberry yellow vein disease (BYVD) was first described, the blackberry virome has expanded significantly. BYVD is a complex disease associated with over ten viruses, yet the role of each virus in its etiology remains understudied. Studying the effect of each virus in disease development requires the identification of single infections; however, this task has been difficult for BYVD, with all field collected material over the past two decades consistently found infected by multiple viruses. Given the diversity of viruses associated with the disease and their different modes of transmission, obtaining pure virus cultures necessitate transmission of individual viruses via …

Effects Of Fast And Slow-Wilting Soybean Genotypes On Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Jessica Ayala

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the most important food crops in the world due to its multiple uses in agriculture sector. A major limiting factor in soybean production system is drought stress, causing up to 80% reduction in yield. Due to climate change and associated rise in ambient temperatures, water scarcity is a major concern in crop production, and consequently researchers are turning to soybean accessions that demonstrate better water use efficiency (WUE) traits. However, field grown soybean is also under severe pressure from insect herbivores, often accounting for a 30% reduction in yield. Among these, …

Acute Alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine Supplementation Enhances Cognitive Performance In Healthy Men, Chad M. Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Choline is an essential nutrient required for proper cell functioning. Due to its status as a precursor to acetylcholine, an important neurotransmitter connected to cognition and neuromuscular function, maintaining or enhancing choline levels is of interest. Supplementation with alpha-glycerylphosphorycholine (A-GPC) can maintain choline levels, but its ability to offer support towards cognition remains an area of ongoing research. Methods: Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover approach, 20 resistance-trained males (31.3 ± 11.0 years, 178.6 ± 7.3 cm, 84.6 ± 11.4 kg, 15.4 ± 5.6% body fat) consumed either a placebo (PL), 630 mg A-GPC (HD), or 315 mg (LD) …

Effects Of Acacia Catechu And Scutellaria Baicalensis Extract On Cognitive Function In A Healthy Adult Population: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Anthony M. Hagele, Petey Mumford, Diego De Gregorio, Connor J. Gaige, Ethan R. Hoffman, Kristen N. Gross, Kevin F. Holley, Leah E. Allen, Chad M. Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Flavonoids, known for their neuroprotective properties, are abundant in Acacia catechu and Scutellaria baicalensis. Yet, human studies on their combined effects are limited.

Objective

This study evaluated the cognitive effects of combined Acacia catechu and Scutellaria baicalensis supplementation in healthy adults.

Methods

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 26 males and 59 females (N = 85; 43 ± 8 yrs) consumed the test product (TP) containing 240 mg stem extract of Scutellaria baicalensis and 51 mg heartwood extract of Acacia catechu (UP326, Unigen, Tacoma, WA USA) or placebo (PLA) for four weeks. Cognitive function and biomarkers were assessed throughout …

International Society Of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Β-Hydroxy-Β-Methylbutyrate (Hmb), John A. Rathmacher, Lisa M. Pitchford, Jeffrey R. Stout, Jeremy R. Townsend, Ralf Jägerg, Richard B. Kreider, Bill I. Campbell, Chad M. Kerksick, Patrick S. Harty, Darren G. Candow, Brandon M. Roberts, Shawn M. Arent, Douglas S. Kalman, Jose Antonio

Faculty Scholarship

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals. Two forms of HMB have been studied: Calcium HMB (HMB-Ca) and a free acid form of HMB (HMB-FA). HMB-FA appears to lead to increased appearance of HMB in the bloodstream when compared to HMB-Ca, though recent results are mixed. 2. …

Dileucine Ingestion, But Not Leucine, Increases Lower Body Strength And Performance Following Resistance Training: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Anthony M. Hagele, Joesi M. Krieger, Connor J. Gaige, Kevin F. Holley, Kristen N. Gross, Joshua M. Ianotti, Leah E. Allen, Paige J. Sutton, Logan S. Orr, Petey W. Mumford, Martin Pupura, Ralf Jager, Chad M. Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background

The essential amino acid leucine (LEU) plays a crucial role in promoting resistance-training adaptations. Dileucine (DILEU), a LEU-LEU dipeptide, increases MPS rates, however its impact on resistance training outcomes remains unexplored. This study assessed the effects of DILEU supplementation on resistance training adaptations.

Methods

Using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled approach, 34 resistance-trained males (age: 28.3 ± 5.9 years) consumed 2 grams of either DILEU monohydrate (RAMPS™, Ingenious Ingredients, L.P.), LEU, or placebo (PLA) while following a 4-day per week resistance training program for 10 weeks. Changes in body composition, 1-repetition maximum (1RM) and repetitions to failure (RTF) for leg …

Part Ii. Common Questions And Misconceptions About Creatine Supplementation: What Does The Scientific Evidence Really Show?, Jose Antonio, Ann F. Brown, Darren G. Candow, Philip D. Chilibeck, Stacey J. Ellery, Scott C. Forbes, Bruno Gualano, Andrew R. Jagim, Chad Kerksick, Richard B. Kreider, Sergej M. Ostojic, Eric S. Rawson, Michael D. Roberts, Hamilton Roschel, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan, Jeffrey R. Stout, Mark A. Tarnopolsky, Trisha A. Vandusseldorp, Darryn S. Willoughby, Tim N. Ziegenfuss

Faculty Scholarship

Creatine monohydrate supplementation (CrM) is a safe and effective intervention for improving certain aspects of sport, exercise performance, and health across the lifespan. Despite its evidence-based pedigree, several questions and misconceptions about CrM remain. To initially address some of these concerns, our group published a narrative review in 2021 discussing the scientific evidence as to whether CrM leads to water retention and fat accumulation, is a steroid, causes hair loss, dehydration or muscle cramping, adversely affects renal and liver function, and if CrM is safe and/or effective for children, adolescents, biological females, and older adults. As a follow-up, the purpose …

Common Questions And Misconceptions About Energy Drinks: What Does The Scientific Evidence Really Show?, Jose Antonio, Brandi Antonio, Shawn M. Arent, Darren G. Candow, Guillermo Escalante, Cassandra Evans, Scott Forbes, David Fukuda, Maureen Gibbons, Patrick Harty, Andrew R. Jagim, Douglas S. Kalman, Chad Kerksick, Jennifer A. Kurtz, Joseph Lillis, Lonnie Lowery, Gianna F. Mastrofini, Scotty Mills, Michael Nelson, Flavia Pereira, Justin Roberts, Michael Sagner, Jeffrey Stout, Jaime Tartar, Adam Wells

Faculty Scholarship

Energy drinks are a commonly consumed beverage, and studies suggest a possible performance-enhancing effect. A Google Scholar search using the keywords “energy drinks” and “exercise” yields numerous results, underscoring the voluminous research on this topic. However, there are questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of energy drinks. These questions include, but are not limited to: (1) What are the main active ingredients in energy drinks? (2) Do energy drinks assist in weight management? (3) Do energy drinks enhance aerobic performance? (4) Do energy drinks enhance athletic speed? (5) Do energy drinks improve reaction time? (6) Do energy drinks enhance lean …

(Featured Artist) The Aromatic Herb Garden, Sophia Samra

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.