Life Sciences Commons^™

Environmental Factors Associated With Triploid Aspen Occurrence In Intermountain West Landscapes, James A. Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Polyploidy is common among plants and can contribute to physiological and morphological differences, altering how plants respond to environmental changes, promoting genetic diversification and even species radiation. Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a keystone species associated with high plant and animal diversity is frequently found in mixed diploid/triploid populations in the Intermountain West. Triploid aspen carries an extra chromosomal copy, whereas the diploid type contains two chromosomal copies. High mortality rates and widespread population declines in aspen are of increasing concern in the Intermountain West, and often ascribed to changing climates and drought stress events. The goal of this …

Causes And Consequences Of Space-Use Behavior Under Predation Risk In A Free-Living System, Brian J. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Predators can have important ecological effects through killing and eating their prey, the so-called consumptive effect, but predators can also have a nonconsumptive effect (NCE) on their prey – this happens when the risk of predation itself causes prey to alter their behaviors or other traits and these alterations ultimately reduce prey survival, reproduction, or population size. While scientists understand the consumptive effects of predators well, we are still unsure whether NCEs are important in free-living systems. In this dissertation, I sought to better understand the potential NCEs of predators (wolves and cougars) on elk in northern Yellowstone National Park …

Survival And Cause-Specific Mortality Of Mule Deer In The Eastern Sierra Nevada, California, Usa, Glenden Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Survival of adult females is a key driver of population dynamics for ungulate species such as mule deer. Accurate survival estimates are therefore critical knowledge for managers trying to maintain ungulate populations. Additionally, understanding causes of mortality and their effects on populations is vitally important to enacting meaningful and appropriate management decisions. For this project, we estimated annual survival rates of six mule deer herds in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California, USA, and calculated rates of mortality for different causes to better understand factors affecting survival of mule deer in this region.

We estimated baseline annual survival using Cox proportional …

Movement Behavior And Habitat Selection Of Juvenile Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) During Three Behavioral States Of Dispersal, John F. Randolph

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Juvenile dispersal, the act of moving from their natal range to the place where they eventually reproduce and establish an adult home range is hazardous. Juveniles must travel and find food across unfamiliar landscapes, where they must also cross roads, avoid harvest, and navigate developed landscapes. Despite the inherent dangers of dispersal, this demographic process is important for finding suitable mates and reducing inbreeding depression. Wildlife conservation concerns arise when individuals are unable to disperse due to a loss of connectivity, as this can negatively impact population demographics and genetic diversity. We explored the effects of hunting and human-developed landscapes …

Processes For Improved Variable Rate Irrigation And Nitrogen Within Potato-Wheat-Wheat Cropping Systems, Elisa A. Flint

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Proper irrigation and nutrient management are vital for optimal crop production within agricultural fields. Improving irrigation and nutrient application through precision agriculture is necessary to conserve the limited resources available, while improving yield and quality of crops produced through such a system. Variable rate irrigation (VRI) and variable rate nitrogen are systems used to apply water and nitrogen more precisely to agricultural fields to reduce runoff, deep percolation, leaching, and other negative impacts of over application, while providing the optimal rates to produce maximum yields. However, the processes to utilize these systems have proven to be more difficult than expected, …

The Effects Of Ammonia On The Functionality Of Bovine Granulosa Cells, Micah Henrie

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

It is common practice in the livestock animal production industries to feed high levels of protein to maximize the yield of each animal in production. However, diets high in protein can cause decreased reproductive success within these animals. The causes behind this decrease are not fully understood. Increased dietary protein leads to increased levels of both ammonia and urea in the blood of the animal. These increased metabolite levels may be a possible explanation for the decline in reproductive success. The goal of this study is to identify how various levels of ammonia affect the function of bovine granulosa cells …

Contrasting Nitrogen Sources Impact Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Soil Health Under Silage Corn Production In A Semi-Arid Environment, Phearen Kit Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Silage corn production challenges sustainable intensification and soil health in semi-arid environments because the entire aboveground biomass is harvested and removed from the field. An irrigated silage corn field study was conducted over a decade comparing nitrogen fertility sources using a complete randomized block design with four treatments: control with no nitrogen fertilizer (control), low ammonium sulfate at 112 kg N ha⁻¹ (AS100), high ammonium sulfate at 224 kg N ha⁻¹ (AS200), and steer manure compost at 224 kg total N ha⁻¹ (compost). Research focused on the impact of these contrasting nitrogen sources on silage corn production, …

Revegetation Strategies For Native Wetland Plant Restoration In The Face Of Phragmites Australis Reinvasion And Hydrologic Extremes, Maddie Houde

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Reestablishing native plant communities in degraded habitats through seeding or planting ("revegetation") is a necessary step to restore ecosystems and their functions (e.g., supporting biodiversity, nutrient cycling, etc.). Globally, wetlands have suffered high rates of degradation and also experience numerous invasions. Invasive species are those that cause environmental, economic, or societal harm. Phragmites australis is a widespread invasive species that outcompetes native plants and reduces habitat diversity. Reestablishing native plant communities can limit P. australis invasion, yet effective methods to do so remain somewhat untested in wetlands. Additionally, stressful environmental conditions can increase plant mortality in revegetation efforts. In semi-arid …

Evaluating Aspen Seedling Outplanting Success Following High Severity Wildfire In The Southwest, Sarah M. Kapel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is an ecologically important forest species in the western U.S. Aspen forests host a variety of understory species, are critical wildlife habitat, and are considered a "natural fuel break" since they are less likely to support crown fires than conifers. Because of climate change and altered disturbance regimes, populations are declining, and innovative strategies are needed to restore aspen. Planting aspen seedlings is a solution, though not a common practice in the West and has been met with high mortality in past experiments. For aspen planting to be more broadly implemented, managers need guidance …

Determining The Sap Yield Of Three Maple Species And The Viability Of A Maple Syrup Industry In Northern Utah, Jesse Mathews

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Maple syrup is an agricultural product produced from the sap exuded by maple trees. All maples can produce sap, and in Utah, the maples include the two native species bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum) and boxelder (Acer negundo), and the introduced species Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Little is known about the sap production of these species, and this research aims to examine the volume of sap yield and sugar content of these maples, evaluate the performance of bucket and tubing collection systems, and explore the potential economics of a maple industry in the state. Research …

Virus Del Marchitamiento Manchado Del Tomate En Tomates Y Pimientos, Claudia Nischwitz, Mariah Noorlander, Mary Ann Hubbell, Celina Wille

All Current Publications

En Utah, el virus del marchitamiento manchado del tomate (TSWV, por sus siglas en inglés) comúnmente afecta a tomates, pimientos y tomatillos.

Affective Temperaments And Personality Traits In Couple Well-Being, Carmela Mento, Chiara La Barbiera, Maria Catena Silvestri, Maria Rosaria Anna Muscatello, Clemente Cedro, Antonio Bruno, Gianluca Pandolfo, Fiammetta Iannuzzo, Clara Lombardo

Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences

Background. The objective of this study is to establish the link between affective temperament traits and maladaptive personality traits, to verify whether the potential presence of elements related to emotional, affective and dysfunctional relational functioning can affect the couple satisfaction, modifying the well-being or discomfort condition. Materials and Methods. A data collection questionnaire was developed to investigate the factors associated with dysfunctional emotional, affective, and relational modes of functioning. The sample consisted of 473 subjects. Data were collected including the TEMPS-A questionnaire, The Dirty Dozen Italian Assessment and the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Results. The findings of this study showed …

A Continuous Local Ancestry Measure For Efficient Local-Ancestry-Aware Association Tests, Hanxiao Sun

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Genetic association tests have enabled people to identify susceptible loci and broadened our understanding of complex diseases. However, the GWAS (Genome-wide Association Studies) results are probably confounded by population stratification thus leading to potential false-positive findings. This problem is pronounced particularly in admixed populations, a group of populations with multiple ancestries whose local genetic ancestry may drastically vary at local genomic positions (local ancestry) compared to the overall genetic ancestral composition (global ancestry). It is insufficient to only account for global population structure in admixed populations. Methods have been developed to account for local population stratification but followed by subsequent …

A Comparative Analysis Of Field Electron Emission From Carbon Black Embedded Within Insulated Copper Hollowed Wires And Glass Tubes, Hatem A. Al-Braikat, Ahmad M D Jaber, Adel M. Abuamr, Mazen A. Madanat, Aseel A. Al-Jbarart, M-Ali H. Al-Akhras, Marwan S. Mousa

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this study, two different methods are used to investigate carbon black as a cold field electron emitter. The first method is to incorporate carbon black into a specially designed insulated copper hollowed wire. The wire has a cup-shaped structure created by electrochemical etching. The second method involves the incorporation of carbon black into narrow glass tubes. A Comparative analyses is carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of each method. To evaluate the performance of the samples, the current-voltage characteristics will be examined using field electron microscopes. This analysis will provide an understanding of the emission of the carbon black …

Exploring The Intersection Between West Virginia Farmland Protection Boards, Landowners, And The West Virginia Agrarian Commons, Samuel W. Bayne, Joshua Lohnes

Undergraduate Scholarship

New Roots Community Farm (NRCF) came to life through the purchase of a piece of land by the Fayette County Farmland Protection Board in a buy-protect-sell model. NRCF then partnered with The Agrarian Land Trust, a New England based organization experimenting with land commons models across the United States, to purchase the property and create the West Virginia Agrarian Commons (WVAC), an entity that could advance land access for the next generation farmers in WV. The experience of NRCF and the WVAC and the vision for its operation and extension of the buy-protect-sell model in partnership with county farmland protection …

Philosophy In Science: Can Philosophers Of Science Permeate Through Science And Produce Scientific Knowledge?, Thomas Pradeu, Maël Lemoine, Mahdi Khelfaoui, Yves Gingras

Presidential Fellows Articles and Research

Most philosophers of science do philosophy ‘on’ science. By contrast, others do philosophy ‘in’ science (PinS), that is, they use philosophical tools to address scientific problems and to provide scientifically useful proposals. Here, we consider the evidence in favour of a trend of this nature. We proceed in two stages. First, we identify relevant authors and articles empirically with bibliometric tools, given that PinS would be likely to infiltrate science and thus to be published in scientific journals (‘intervention’), cited in scientific journals (‘visibility’), and sometimes recognized as a scientific result by scientists (‘contribution’). We show that many central figures …

A Combination Of Generated Hydrogen Sulfide And Nitric Oxide Activity Has A Potentiated Protectant Effect Against Cisplatin Induced Nephrotoxicity, Faria Khurshid, Javeid Iqbal, Fiaz Ud Din Ahmad, Arslan Hussain Lodhi, Abdul Malik, Suhail Akhtar, Azmat Ali Khan, Marvi Imam Bux, Mohammed Younis

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Aim: Hydrogen sulfide and nitricoxide possess cytoprotective activity and in vivo, they are generated from exogenous sodium hydrosulfide and L-arginine respectively. Cisplatin is a major chemotherapeutic agent used to treat cancer and has a high incidence of nephrotoxicity as a side effect. The study aim was to explore the effects of NaHS and L-arginine or their combination on cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Methods: Wistar Kyoto rats were given a single intraperitoneal dose of cisplatin (5 mg/kg) followed either by NaHS (56 μmol/kg, i. p.), L-arginine (1.25 g/L in drinking water) or their combination daily for 28-days. Post-mortem plasma, urine …

Plastid Translation As A Developmental Checkpoint? Plastid Ribosomal Protein Emb27 Is Required For Maize Embroyogenesis, Janlo M. Robil

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

​Behavioral, Physiological, And Circadian Effects Of Constant Light On Bling C3h/Hen And C3h/Hej, Samantha G. Burke

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Circadian disruptions are quite detrimental to one’s health- leading to many different diseases. The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) (center of regulation of the circadian clock) can perceive light from the retina, allowing the SCN to register cues such as light to aid in regulating the biological clock. Due to this connection constant light is a common disruption, which can cause increased hyperactivity, anxiety, and altered circadian rhythm in mice. This study’s purpose is to determine how two rhodopsin lacking blind sub-strains of C3H mice respond to constant light regarding their behavior, physiology, and their circadian clock, as well as investigating any …

Examining Eastern Food Hub's Food Access Programs: A Research Study Sustainable Development Internship (Sdi) Spring 2024, Devin Anthony Barkefelt, Fritz Boettner

Undergraduate Scholarship

In 2020, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Farmers to Families Food Box (FFFB) program. Its objectives were threefold: (1) deliver food to those in need, (2) support small and mid-sized producers, and (3) bolster food distribution companies through the pandemic. While the program ended in 2021, the USDA has continued to fund other programs, such as the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) and the Local Food For Schools Cooperative Agreement Program (LFS). The WVU Center for Resilient Communities (CRC) is researched how previous, current, and future programs can be implemented to best support producers, …

Genistein Adsorption Performance And Mechanism By Metal-Organic Frameworks Based On Triangular Aromatic Ligands, Yang Xiangyi, Cheng Yunhui, Yao Li, Xu Zhou, Xing Keyu

Food and Machinery

Objective： To improve the adsorption of genistein by zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks （MOFs） with triangle aromatic ligands. Methods： Two MOFs （MOF-808 and PCN-777） containing different sizes of triangle aromatic ligands were synthesized by hydrothermal method for adsorption of genistein. The synthesis of MOFs was determined by a series of characterization methods, and the adsorption performance was compared with that of a linear binary carboxylic acid ligand-constructed MOF （UiO-66）, to evaluate the effects of pore characteristics, hydrophobicity changes, and other factors on the adsorption performance, and to explore the adsorption mechanism by XPS analysis. Results： Compared with linear ligand-constructed UiO-66, the pore …

Research Progress On The Effects Of Processing Methods On Gluten Protein Structure And Properties, Cui Guoting, Wang Duan, Guo Jinying, Ren Guoyan

Food and Machinery

Steamed bread, noodles, deep-fried dough sticks and other noodle foods are an important part of our diet, and gluten protein is an important component of noodle foods. Common food processing techniques used to prepare noodles, including heating, freezing, mechanical processing, fermentation, and electric field treatment, alter the hydrophobic disulfide bond of the protein, denature and aggregate the protein, and cause other intricate physical and chemical changes, all of which have an impact on the texture and flavor of the finished noodle product. This paper mainly introduces the current research status of the influence of processing methods such as heating, freezing, …

Research Progress On Extraction, Physiological Function And Application Of Pectin, Fei Congxuan, Fu Meiling, Zhang Di, Li Dandan, Xiu Jianhua

Food and Machinery

Pectin is a kind of natural polysaccharide polymer, which is an important part of the cell wall of higher plants. It has physiological functions such as cholesterol-lowering, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation and hypoglycemic, and beneficial to intestinal health. In this review, pectin extraction methods and their advantages and disadvantages in recent years were summarized, and the yield, galacturonic acid content and esterification degree of pectin extracted from different sources and methods were compared and analyzed. The physiological function of pectin and its application in various aspects were also introduced, and the future development direction was prospected.

Mapping Quaking Aspen Using Seasonal Sentinel-1 And Sentinel-2 Composite Imagery Across The Southern Rockies, Usa, Maxwell Cook, Teresa Chapman, Sarah Hart, Asha Paudel, Jennifer Balch

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen is an important deciduous tree species across interior western U.S. forests. Existing maps of aspen distribution are based on Landsat imagery and often miss small stands ( < 0.09 ha or 30 m²), which rapidly regrow when managed or following disturbance. In this study, we present methods for deriving a new regional map of aspen forests using one year of Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) imagery in Google Earth Engine. Using observed annual phenology of aspen across the Southern Rockies and leveraging the frequent temporal resolution of S1 and S2, ecologically relevant seasonal imagery composites were developed. We derived spectral indices and …

Effects Of Limited Enzymolysis And Glycosylation On Emulsifying Properties Of Soybean Protein Isolates, Li Lin, Sun Yixi, Qin Wen, Zhang Qing

Food and Machinery

Objective: This study aimed to develop novel soybean protein isolate （SPI）-based emulsifiers. Methods: The structure of SPI was modified by limited enzymolysis combined with glycosylation and the effects of this synergistic modification on the emulsification characteristics of SPI was studied. Results: Among the different components obtained from the SPI hydrolysate （SPIH）, the high molecular mass component （F30） exhibited the best emulsifying property. The emulsifying stability of F30-dextran conjugates obtained for 4 h was the best. Compared with SPI, SPIH and F30, the F30-dextran conjugates stabilized emulsions showed the lowest initial average particle size and the best storage stability. When the …

Study On The Degradation Of T-2 Toxin In Beer By Glow Discharge Plasma, Wang Xiaobo, Liu Jiannan, Zheng Lin, Chen Bingbing, Feng Zejun, Deng Qi

Food and Machinery

Objective: Exploring the optimal process for the degradation of T-2 toxin in beer by glow discharge plasma（GDP） and its impact on the physicochemical indicators of beer. Methods: Based on single-factor experiments, a response surface optimization experiment with four factors and three levels was conducted using the Box Behnken method to determine the optimal degradation conditions for T-2 toxin in beer. Results: When the discharge voltage was 570 V, the action time was 18 minutes, the discharge current was 99 mA, and initial concentration of T-2 toxin was 8.5 μg/mL. Under the control of these conditions, the degradation efficiency of the …

Screening And Enzymatic Characterization Study Of High-Yield Pprotease-Producing Bacterial Strains Derived From Shiping Stinky Tofu, Liu Chao, Zhao Liangzhong, Wang Yaoqiong, Li Ming, Feng Xuzhong

Food and Machinery

Objective: Obtaining hhigh-yield pprotease-pproducing bacterial resources through fermentation of advantageous protease-producing strains derived from Shiping stinky tofu. Methods: Single-factor and response surface experiments were used to optimize the culture medium and fermentation conditions. Using casein as the substrate, the effects of temperature, pH, metal ions and organic reagent on the protease activity and stability of strain JX-11 were investigated using enzymology techniques. Results: One strain of high-producing proteinase-secreting bacteria, JX-11, was isolated from Shiping stinky tofu, identified as Chryseobacterium pennipullorum. The optimal conditions for protease production by JX-11 strain were found to be temperature at 23.0 ℃, glucose content …

Potential Molecular Mechanism Of Celery Seed In Gout Treatment Of Network Pharmacology With Molecular Docking, Li Meijuan, Zhang Jun, Zhang Yunshu, Li Qianwei, Zhang Na, Liu Mengjiao, Zhang Renping

Food and Machinery

Objective: To study the molecular mechanism of celery seed inhibiting or treating gout by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: TCMSP database and the network maps were constructed with Cytoscape3.9.0 software. Gout-related targets were collected in GeneCard database and OMIM database, crossed with the main component targets of celery seed and imported into STRING database for protein-protein interaction （protein-protein interaction, PPI） analysis, core targets were obtained, core targets were introduced into DAVID, and GO function enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment were performed in the database. Finally, AutoDock software was used to verify the key components with key targets. Results: …

Detection And Enrichment Characteristics Analysis Of Common Heavy Metal Content In Different Organs Of Hunan Lotus Seed, Dai Hui, Zhao Wenyu, Wang Jianhui, He Xiangyi, Long Xiao

Food and Machinery

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the heavy metal content in sediment and various organs of Hunan lotus seed in a planting area, as well as to explore the characteristics of heavy metal accumulation and transfer in Hunan lotus seed. Methods: A typical planting area in Hunan Province was selected for this research. The contents of Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn were measured using an inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. The bioconcentration factor （BCF） and transfer factor （TF） were used to evaluate the heavy metal accumulation and transfer ability of Hunan lotus seed. Results: …

Detection Of Aminoglycoside Antibiotic Residues In Pork By Quechers Method Combined With Sers Technique, Yang Haifan, Ding Li, Xu Miaowen, Shen Kang, Wang Xubo

Food and Machinery

Objective: To achieve rapid, quantitative and high-throughput detection of aminoglycoside antibiotic residues in pork. Methods: Square-array aligned SERS substrates based on Au nanoflowers （AuNFs） were prepared using PP synthetic paper as a substrate. Pork samples were pre-treated by QuEChERs method and subjected to SRES. Results: Using 4-mercaptobenzoic acid as the SERS probe molecule, the substrate exhibited good homogeneity, SERS enhancement effect, reproducibility and stability. the SERS signal intensities at the characteristic peaks at 475, 619 cm^-1 showed good linear relationships with the logarithms of the concentrations of gentamicin sulphate and neomycin sulphate, respectively （R² of 0.991 6 …