Toe Pad Morphology And Adhesion In The Miniaturized Gecko, Chatogekko Amazonicus (Gekkota: Sphaerodactylidae), Aaron H. Griffing, Juan D. Daza, Stuart V. Nielsen, Fernanda P. Werneck, Patrik F. Viana, Tony Gamble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Chatogekko amazonicus is a miniaturized gecko from northern South America and is among the smallest of toe pad bearing lizards. The toe pads of C. amazonicus are miniscule, between 18% and 27% of the plantar surface area. We aimed to investigate the relationship between adhesive toe pad morphology, body size, and adhesive capabilities. Using scanning electron microscopy, we determine that the adhesive pads of C. amazonicus exhibit branched setae similar to those of other geckos, but that are generally much smaller. When compared with other gecko taxa, we show that C. amazonicus setae occupy a similar range of seta length: …

Role Of Male Gonad-Enriched Micrornas In Sperm Production In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Lu Lu, Allison L. Abbott

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Germ cell development and gamete production in animals require small RNA pathways. While studies indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs) are necessary for normal sperm production and function, the specific roles for individual miRNAs are largely unknown. Here, we use small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of dissected gonads and functional analysis of new loss-of-function alleles to identify functions for miRNAs in the control of fecundity and sperm production in Caenorhabditis elegans males and hermaphrodites. We describe a set of 29 male gonad-enriched miRNAs and identify a set of individual miRNAs (mir-58.1 and mir-235) and a miRNA cluster (mir-4807-4810.1) that …

Seagrass Classification Using Unsupervised Curriculum Learning (Ucl), Nosheen Abid, Md Kislu Noman, György Kovács, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam, Tosin Adewumi, Paul Lavery, Faisal Shafait, Marcus Liwicki

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass ecosystems are pivotal in marine environments, serving as crucial habitats for diverse marine species and contributing significantly to carbon sequestration. Accurate classification of seagrass species from underwater images is imperative for monitoring and preserving these ecosystems. This paper introduces Unsupervised Curriculum Learning (UCL) to seagrass classification using the DeepSeagrass dataset. UCL progressively learns from simpler to more complex examples, enhancing the model's ability to discern seagrass features in a curriculum-driven manner. Experiments employing state-of-the-art deep learning architectures, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), show that UCL achieved overall 90.12 % precision and 89 % recall, which significantly improves classification accuracy and …

Impact Analysis Of Ethylene Antagonists, Storage Environments And Storage Periods On Postharvest Physiology Of ‘Cripps Pink’ Apple Fruit, Vijay Yadav Tokala, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Zora Singh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Ethylene management and manipulating storage conditions are crucial elements that impact the postharvest quality of apple fruit. This study demonstrated the optimal approach for preserving the quality of ‘Cripps Pink’ apple fruit during storage by minimizing ethylene production and action, respiration rate, physiological loss of weight (PLW), and textural changes. Ethylene antagonist treatment had the greatest impact on suppressing ethylene and respiration peaks, while storage duration notably influenced fruit firmness and PLW. Fumigation treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), 1H-cyclopropabenzene (BC), and 1H-cyclopropa[b]naphthalene (NC) effectively reduced ethylene and respiration peaks. Storage conditions (cold, controlled atmosphere, and photocatalytic oxidation) affected ethylene production and …

Pollination By Birds, Non-Flying Mammals, And European Honeybees In A Heathland Shrub, Banksia Catoglypta (Proteaceae), Stanislaw K. Wawrzyczek, Robert A. Davis, Siegfried L. Krauss, Susan E. Hoebee, Louis M. Ashton, Ryan D. Phillips

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Vertebrate pollination has evolved in many plant lineages, with pollination by birds the most prevalent strategy. However, in Banksia (Proteaceae) many species are visited by a combination of nectarivorous birds, non-flying mammals (NFMs), and insects, though the relative importance of these pollen vectors for reproduction remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate the contribution to fruit set of birds, NFMs, and insects in Banksia catoglypta—a heathland shrub from south-west Australia. This species flowers in winter and produces large, golden-yellow inflorescences that are typically presented near the ground and consist of rigid, strongly scented flowers with a long stigma-nectary distance—suggesting pollination by …

Developing A Sustainable Nature-Based Agricultural Vertical System In Cadmium Polluted Urban Environments, Fatemeh Kazemi, Mansoure Jozay

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sustainable urban development faces challenges in efficiently using spaces, reducing pollutants, and greening cities. We examined how cadmium accumulation in soils from polluted irrigation water affects marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) safe and healthy products and how plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) can remediate cadmium on marigold for multifunctional urban vertical system development. The study was a factorial arrangement with a randomized complete block design. The first factor was cadmium (0, 1, 2 and, 3 mg/kg soil through irrigation with Cadmium-polluted water), and the second factor was PGPR treatments (P.flu, P.putida, T.SP, Mix1 (P.flu + A.lipo), Mix2 (T.SP+ A.choro), Mix 3 (P.flu …

Mineral Profiling Of Diverse Genotypes Of Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus Lam.) Grown In Australia, Jashanpreet Kaur, Zora Singh, Muhammad Sohail Mazhar, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Kamaljit Kaur Sangha, Andrew Woodward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The aim of this investigation was to examine levels of minerals in fruit pulp of 12 jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) genotypes. In total, 25 mineral elements including quantity (7), essential-trace (12) and unclassified mineral elements (6) have been detected using ion chromatography, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. Overall, ‘Seedling 1 (yellow-fleshed)’ was shown to be comparatively rich in essential-trace elements (molybdenum, chromium, copper, and iron). In contrast, ‘Accession 284 (yellow-fleshed)’ and ‘Rajang (orange-fleshed)’ shared similarities in their mineral profile and were rich in quantity elements (potassium, sulphur, calcium, and magnesium). ‘Seedling 6 (yellow-fleshed)’ was near …

Addressing Knowledge Gaps In Disease Epidemiology And Detection Of Fungicide Resistance In Cercospora Leaf Blight Of Soybean, Stephanie Karen Ramos

LSU Master's Theses

Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) has been the primary foliar disease impacting the soybean crop in the mid-South for over a decade. A poor understanding of disease epidemiology and the prevalence of fungicide resistance have added complexity to management efforts. Recent findings suggest that airborne conidia play a significant role in the outbreak of CLB. We investigated the relationship between weather variables and conidial release using multi-site, multi-year spore trapping data. The findings confirm that C. cf. flagellaris is the dominant CLB pathogen, contributing significantly more conidia than C. cf. sigesbeckiae and C. kikuchii in soybean fields across Arkansas, Mississippi, …

Digital Agriculture Approaches: Uav-Based N Monitoring And Machine Learning For Maize Yield Prediction, And N Response Assessment Across Rice Varieties, Rejina Adhikari

LSU Master's Theses

Sustainable agriculture is essential for addressing global challenges such as food security, environmental degradation, and climate change while ensuring high productivity and resource conservation. Precision agriculture technologies, like UAV-based remote sensing and advanced sensors, offer tools to monitor real-time crop health, soil conditions, and nutrient levels, aiding in informed decision-making and resource optimization. In this research, field trials were conducted in maize and rice to assess the effectiveness of NDRE (Normalized Difference Red Edge) obtained from UAV-based remote sensing for nitrogen management. For maize, the study demonstrated that NDRE accurately assessed nitrogen levels during critical growth stages, with yields ranging …

Electron-Beam-Killed Staphylococcus Vaccine Reduced Lameness In Broiler Chickens, Anna L.F.V. Assumpcao, Komala Arsi, Andi Asnayanti, Khawla Alharbi, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Quentin D. Read, Ruvindu Perera, Abdulkarim Shwani, Amer Abdullah Hasan, Suresh D. Pillai, Robin C. Anderson, Annie M. Donoghue, Douglas D. Rhoads, Palmy R.R. Jesudhasan, Adnan A. Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Broiler chicken lameness caused by bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is presently amongst the most important economic and animal welfare issues faced by the poultry industry, and the estimated economic loss is around USD 150 million. BCO lameness is associated with multiple opportunistic bacterial pathogens inhabiting the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In cases of immune deficiency resulting from stress, injury, or inflammation of the tissue, opportunistic pathogens, mainly Staphylococcus spp., can infiltrate the respiratory or gastrointestinal mucosa and migrate through the bloodstream to eventually colonize the growth plates of long bones, causing necrosis that leads to lameness. This is the …

A Comparison Of Inversion Test Holding Methods For Broilers, A. Perretti, S. Weimer

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Objective, robust, and repeatable assessments of fear responses of poultry can lead to improvements in research techniques, the validity of test results, and ultimately bird welfare. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of 2 different holding methods on broiler fear responses during the inversion test, a standardized method of assessing fear in poultry. On D15 and D34 mixed-sex broilers (N = 80) were inverted and held either by their shanks (N = 40) or feet (N = 40) at arm's length away from the experimenter for 30 s. The frequency of wing flapping, head movement, attempts …

Bells Of Ireland Cut Flower Production In Utah, Ali Harrison, Melanie Stock, Lorin Harrison, Amanda Pratt, Claudia Nischwitz, Nick Volesky

All Current Publications

Bells of Ireland, also known as shellflower, is an annual cut flower often used as greenery or as a filler. Its characteristic apple-green, bell-shaped blooms lend themselves well to both classic and modern floral designs. Considered a staple in a cut flower garden, fast-growing bells of Ireland are popular and profitable. This cut flower is also an excellent crop for early high tunnel production. Harvest can be staggered by pairing high tunnels with an unprotected summer field crop.

Assessment Of Psycho-Emotional Symptoms In Cancer Patients In An Oncology-Palliative Care Department From Romania, Roxana Andreea Rahnea-Nita, Laura-Florentina Rebegea, Elena Gabriela Valcu, Mihaela Dumitru, Radu Valeriu Toma, Mihai Georgescu, Georgia Luiza Serbanescu, Maria Alexandra Barbu, Georgiana Bianca Constantin, Gabriela Rahnea-Nita

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Introduction. Anxiety and depression have an increased prevalence in cancer patients, especially in those in an advanced stage of the disease. These disorders have a major impact on the social life, existential concerns and quality of life of cancer patients. Materials and Methods. A number of 114 consecutive patients were included in the study (in a period of 2 weeks) who were screened for anxiety, depression and for other common symptoms, using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Results. Regarding the age - the abnormal level of anxiety and depression: the percentage of patients …

The Impact Of Cervid Herbivory On Industrial Fiber Hemp In East Central Illinois, Nicholas C. Cheney, Isaac Slaven, Barbara S. Carlsward

Journal of Agricultural Hemp Research

The last several years have seen large increases in white-tailed deer populations across the United States. Many studies have analyzed the effects that white-tailed deer have on different ecosystems. However, little to no studies have analyzed the effects of white-tailed deer on the production of industrial hemp fiber. In this study, we examined two different varieties of hemp fiber crops, and the impact white-tailed deer may have on their production. Our study was conducted in a flat test plot with surrounding woods and known white-tailed deer traffic in central Illinois, using two (6 × 6 m) plots that were adjacent …

Micro Life, David Burton

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Painting is what I do to slow my brain and relax my body after a busy day at the hospital. Nothing puts me directly into a flow state like slowly moving acrylic paint across a canvas. This piece titled “Micro Life” depicts the diversity of life constantly surrounding us at the microbiological level everywhere we go. As a strong believer in nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, I know how important our microbiome is to healthy digestion and a properly functioning immune system. On the other side, I have witnessed the devastating effects dangerous microorganisms can have on our already compromised …

The Santa Clara, 2024-10-31, Santa Clara University

The Santa Clara

No abstract provided.

Can We Use Judgement Bias To Assess The Welfare Of Fish In Aquariums And Zoos?, Culum Brown

Animal Sentience

This commentary examines the potential of tests of judgment bias to assess fish welfare in aquariums and zoos. Judgment bias offers a non-invasive approach to interpreting affective states in animals, using cognitive responses to ambiguous stimuli as indicators of mental wellbeing. Despite the constraints of captive environments—such as limited handling and species diversity in exhibits—recent adaptations of judgment-bias protocols make them suitable across taxa, including fishes. Collaborations with progressive zoos and aquariums could facilitate this research, based on the shared goal of enhancing animal welfare and promoting public education.

Significance Of Color Dimorphism In Female Florida Scrub Lizards, Dylan F. Styers, Lance D. Mcbrayer

Honors College Theses

Color dimorphism refers to the variation in color, color frequency, and physical traits between male and female individuals of the same species. It manifests in most dioecious species, presenting as differences in size, color, marking, and behavioral sexual characteristics. Sceloporus woodi, the Florida scrub lizard, is a species endemic to Florida that exhibits color dimorphism, particularity in size, and coloration of secondary sex characteristics. Despite the significance of color dimorphism in the social structure and sexual selection in these lizards, little is known about the factors that are correlated to sexual secondary characteristics present in females. This study explored the …

Energy Performance Efficiency And Cost Analysis By Bim-Based Model Simulation For Residential Buildings In Egypt, Bishoy Magdy Tawfeeq Sidhom

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Technology plays an important role in meeting the needs of users, as it is considered one of the important tools in the BIM construction and industry, which many engineering sectors in projects have taken an interest in using by creating a social and healthy environment. Therefore, Egypt was interested in resorting to the establishment of stations to take advantage of renewable energy sources to produce energy and reduce the consumption of non-renewable energy sources, including reducing the consumption of cooling devices in the summer to save energy and costs. BIM helps designers design buildings quickly, the ability to analyze information, …

Smokejumper Obituary: Bassette, Gene L. “Geno” (Missoula 1980), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Economic Considerations Of In-Season Potassium Applications To Soybean Using Payoff Matrices, Carrie Ortel, T. L. Roberts, M. Popp, W. J. Ross, N. A. Slaton, M. R. Parvej

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Faculty Publications and Presentations

Potassium (K) deficiency is a common yield-limiting factor in Arkansas soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production that can be addressed with innovative supplemental fertilizer application. An established leaf sampling protocol and dynamic critical concentration allow accurate diagnosis of K deficiency with corresponding recommendations for corrective, in-season K fertilizer applications at site-specific rates and times to reach anticipated yield goals. However, the profitability of in-season K fertilizer applications to irrigated soybean remains unclear. Research was conducted in Arkansas from 2021 to 2023 to evaluate multiple rates of in-season applications of muriate of potash to soybean at 15 and 30 days …

Optimal Infused Cd34+ Cell Dose In Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Upfront Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Oren Pasvolsky, Curtis Marcoux, Denái R Milton, Babar Pal, Mark R Tanner, Samer Srour, Neeraj Saini, Paul Lin, Jeremy Ramdial, Yago Nieto, Guilin Tang, Yosra Aljawai, Partow Kebriaei, Melody R Becnel, Hans C Lee, Krina K Patel, Sheeba K Thomas, Robert Z Orlowski, Elizabeth J Shpall, Richard E Champlin, Muzaffar H Qazilbash

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Autologous transplantation remains the standard of care for eligible multiple myeloma (MM) patients, yet optimal CD34+ cell dose remains unclear. We conducted a retrospective study on MM patients undergoing upfront transplant between 2005 and 2021 and divided them into low (≤2.5 × 106 cells/kg) and high (>2.5 × 106 cells/kg) CD34+ dose groups. We included 2479 patients, 95 in the low CD34+ group and 2384 in the high CD34+ group. Patients in the low CD34+ group were older (63.2 vs 61.1 years, p = 0.013), more often had R-ISS III (19% vs 9%, p = 0.014), received plerixafor (60% …

Evaluation Of Nematicides For Management Of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes In Sugarcane, Iris M. Aguilar

LSU Master's Theses

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) are an understudied threat in sugarcane production. Previous survey work showed that Tylenchorhynchus (stunt nematode), Pratylenchus (lesion nematode), Mesocriconema (ring nematode), and Helicotylenchus (spiral nematode) are the primary PPN genera found in sugarcane fields in Louisiana. This study evaluated the impact of nematodes on sugarcane growth and the effect of nematicides on nematode population densities. Greenhouse studies were conducted using soil collected from multiple sugarcane fields with moderate PPN infestation levels to determine the nematode impact on sugarcane growth and nematicide efficacy. Field soil collected from each site was subjected to four treatments: an untreated and sterilized …

Effects Of Retinal Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone On Reproductive Behavior And Retinal Activity In The Cichlid Fish, Astatotilapia Burtoni, Chase Anselmo

LSU Master's Theses

Many animals use visual signals to evade predators, forage for food, and communicate with conspecifics. Some animals that shift into and out of breeding stages, such as fish, can modulate their visual sensitivity to better adapt to changing internal and external conditions. Previous work in our lab demonstrated that females of the cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni have improved visual sensitivity when they enter reproductive readiness. However, little is known about how fish and vertebrates more broadly modulate visual sensitivity across their reproductive cycle. We hypothesized that the hormone and neuromodulator gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) could modulate visual sensitivity because GnRH is …

Improving Rice Yield Using Sensor Based Nitrogen Application And Best Management Practices (Bmps) In Rice-Soybean And Rice-Crawfish Rotational Systems, Charles Darnall

LSU Master's Theses

Sustainable rice farming requires effective nutrient management and conservation practices to maintain high yields and minimize environmental impact. Implementing best management practices (BMPs) promotes lower fertilizer application rates, increased N use efficiency, improves soil health, and water quality. Demonstration fields established in two different rotational cropping systems (rice-soybean and rice-crawfish) in Kaplan, LA in 2023. In each rotation system, the benefits of BMPs (sensor based mid-season N management and cover cropping) compared to farmer’s practice (FP) were evaluated using yield, yield components, soil and water quality as metrics. The rice-soybean fields in 2023 and 2024 were both planted with PVL03 …

Socio-Demographic Disparities In Diet Quality Among Utah Residents, Palak Gupta, Lendel K. Narine

Transforming Communities

Diet quality significantly influences health outcomes, with socio-demographic factors playing a crucial role in shaping dietary behaviors. This study aims to investigate the dietary behaviors and socio-demographic characteristics of Utah residents, highlighting disparities in diet quality and the underlying factors contributing to these differences. Using a sample of 1,522 adults, data on socio-demographic characteristics, diet quality, and food expenditure were collected via an online survey in April and May 2023. The modified Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Shortened Version (REAP-S) was used to assess diet quality. Results indicate that respondents spent about 30% of their monthly income on food, reflecting a …

The Relationship Of Dietary Pattern And Physical Activity On Cholesterol Level In Young Adults, Wahyuni Sammeng

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

High blood cholesterol levels are a serious problem because they are one of the risk factors for degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular. Research data shows that in Ambon City, 32.49% of the population has the habit of consuming fatty/cholesterol/fried foods ≥1 time per day. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between dietary habit and physical activity with blood cholesterol levels. The type of research used was quantitative, sampling technique used was convenience sampling for 30 people. The independent variables in this study were dietary intake (amount, frequency, and type) measured using a semi-quantitative FFQ and physical …

Different Food Coping Strategies In Urban And Semi-Urban Areas During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) Pandemic, Sandra Fikawati, Ahmad Syafiq, Rizna Notarianti, Syilga Cahya Gemily

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Consumption-related behavior implemented as an effort to maintain household food security is referred to as a food coping strategy (FCS). This study aims to describe the selection of FCS by families in urban and semi-urban areas in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is a cross-sectional study with a total sample of 517 people who live in urban (Jakarta) and semi-urban (Depok) areas. The research data was taken from primary research data that had been collected online and purposively through Posyandu cadres who had access to family/community in October-December 2020. Data analysis used the chi-square test and multiple logistic …

The Effect Of Giving Calliandra Honey Water On Increasing Vo2max In Soccer Athletes, Masako Christina, Diah Mulyawati Utari

Indonesian Journal of Public Health Nutrition (IJPHN)

Soccer athletes need to have good cardiorespiratory endurance because they are required to move from one place to another in order to keep up with opponents who move with or without the ball. However, in 2020, the majority (47%) of teenage athletes in game sports had VO2max score in the lower category. VO2max is used as the gold standard in determining a person's cardiorespiratory endurance. The higher the VO2max value, the better a person's cardiorespiratory endurance. This study aims to determine the relationship of consumption of calliandra honey water and VO2max value in soccer athletes in PPOP DKI Jakarta Province …

Trucks, Trains, And Barges: For Brazilian Soybeans, It’S Not Your Grandpa’S Infrastructure Anymore, Fabio Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

In the popular movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”, the tagline said, “Steve Martin had no reason to panic… until John Candy came along”. In the soybean market, we could say, “We had no reason to panic… until Brazil came along”. Brazil has been rapidly growing its soybean production for the last 30 years and has recently become the largest exporter in the world. In 2024/25, USDA estimates that Brazil will account for 58% of soybean exports worldwide, followed by the United States with 28%. These are roughly the numbers for 2023/24 and 2022/23 as well.

Still, despite the massive growth …