Life Sciences Commons^™

Milk-Borne Small Extracellular Vesicles: Kinetics And Mechanisms Of Transport, Distribution, And Elimination, Alice Ngu, Javaria Munir, Janos Zempleni

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) in milk have the qualities desired for delivering therapeutics to diseased tissues. The production of bovine milk sEVs is scalable (10²¹ annually per cow), and they resist degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. Most cells studied to date internalize milk sEVs by a saturable process that follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The bioavailability of oral milk sEVs is approximately 50%. In addition to crossing the intestinal mucosa, milk sEVs also cross barriers such as the placenta and blood-brain barrier, thereby enabling the delivery of therapeutics to hard-to-reach tissues. In time course studies, levels of milk sEVs peaked in …

Complete Loss Of Tp53 And Rb1 Is Associated With Complex Genome And Low Immune Infiltrate In Pleomorphic Rhabdomyosarcoma, Hannah C Beird, Chia-Chin Wu, Michael Nakazawa, Davis Ingram, Joseph R Daniele, Latasha Little, Najat C Daw, Khalida Wani, Wei-Lien Wang, Xingzhi Song, Curtis Gumbs, Jianhua Zhang, Brian Rubin, Anthony Conley, Adrienne M Flanagan, Alexander J Lazar, P Andrew Futreal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for roughly 1% of adult sarcomas, with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma (PRMS) as the most common subtype. Survival outcomes remain poor for patients with PRMS, and little is known about the molecular drivers of this disease. To better characterize PRMS, we performed a broad array of genomic and immunostaining analyses on 25 patient samples. In terms of gene expression and methylation, PRMS clustered more closely with other complex karyotype sarcomas than with pediatric alveolar and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Immune infiltrate levels in PRMS were among the highest observed in multiple sarcoma types and contrasted with low levels in other rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes. …

Unleashing The Potential Of 1,3-Diketone Analogues As Selective Lh2 Inhibitors, Juhoon Lee, Hou-Fu Guo, Shike Wang, Yazdan Maghsoud, Erik Antonio Vázquez-Montelongo, Rae M Sammons, Pengyu Ren, G Andrés Cisneros, Jonathan M Kurie, Kevin N Dalby

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Lysyl hydroxylase 2 (LH2) catalyzes the formation of highly stable hydroxylysine aldehyde-derived collagen cross-links (HLCCs), thus promoting lung cancer metastasis through its capacity to modulate specific types of collagen cross-links within the tumor stroma. Using 1 and 2 from our previous high-throughput screening (HTS) as lead probes, we prepared a series of 1,3-diketone analogues, 1-18, and identified 12 and 13 that inhibit LH2 with IC50's of approximately 300 and 500 nM, respectively. Compounds 12 and 13 demonstrate selectivity for LH2 over LH1 and LH3. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling indicates that the selectivity of 12 and 13 …

Immune-Depleted Tumor Microenvironment Is Associated With Poor Outcomes And Btk Inhibitor Resistance In Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Preetesh Jain, Krystle Nomie, Nikita Kotlov, Vitaiy Segodin, Holly Hill, Ahmed Fetooh, Francisco Vega, Alexander Bagaev, Nathan Fowler, Christopher R Flowers, Michael Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a generally aggressive B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). Outcomes of patients have improved in the era of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi). However, MCL patients can develop resistance to BTKi over time and can progress [1]. Ibrutinib resistance in MCL is correlated with an overexpression of OXPHOS, MYC and PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathways. Somatic mutations in TP53, KMT2D, NSD2, SMARCA4, CCND1, TRAF2, NFKBIE genes are reported with ibrutinib resistance [2]. A few reports have also demonstrated that a decrease in T cell numbers [3, 4] or a downregulation of effector/cytotoxic …

A Natural Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probe For Cancer Cell Imaging, Benilde E. Adriano, Nycol M. Cotto, Neeraj Chauhan, Meena Jaggi, Subhash C. Chauhan, Murali M. Yallapu

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Near-Infrared (NIR) fluorescence-based imaging is a noteworthy and safer strategy for cancer cells/tissues imaging compared to radiological imaging. NIR fluorescence offers deep tissue penetration and have minimal obstruction by autofluorescence and photon scattering [1]. There are several NIR dyes including indocyanine green (ICG) [2] and IR-1061 [3] that allow high-resolution tissue imaging. However, these dyes possess some low-quality characteristics which limit their use, namely photo instability, toxicity, poor water solubility, and short half-lives [4]. Therefore, more efficient and effective alternatives are urgently required to provide the desired clinical outcomes. Chlorophyll (Chl) is a natural dietary NIR fluorescence emitting …

Development Of Targeted Drug Delivery System To Improve Immunotherapy In Pancreatic Cancer, Poornima Devi Shaji, Ana Martinez Bulnes, Nirnoy Dan, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan, Murali M. Yallapu

Research Colloquium

Introduction: About 95% of tumor arises from epithelial cell lining ducts known to be pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, with less than 5-7% survival rate. Unfortunately, little progress has been seen in the outcomes of patients with PDAC as tumor develops high desmoplasia and chemo-resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs, such as gemcitabine (Gem). Immunotherapy has shown promising results in other cancers but limited response in pancreatic cancer due to desmoplasia and fibrotic tumor microenvironment. A recently identified mucin, MUC13 is aberrantly expressed in pancreatic tumors but not in normal pancreas. Due to its high membrane expression, MUC13 may serve as an excellent target …

A Comparison Of Anaerobic Power Tests Using Cycle Ergometry And Non-Motorized Treadmill Ergometry At Optimized Loads, Cherilyn N. Mclester, Rasmus Rooks, John R. Mclester, Emily Bechke, Cassie M. Williamson-Reisdorph, Brian Kliszczewicz

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1293-1305, 2023. The purpose of this study was to compare performance markers derived from a 30-second maximal bout on a cycle ergometer (CE) and non-motorized treadmill (NMT) under optimized loads. Recreationally active participants (n = 40) volunteered for the study. Force-velocity tests on the CE and NMT were used to determine optimal resistance for peak power (PP) production. The remaining visits were randomized and counterbalanced, with a single 30-second maximal test on CE or NMT to assess PP, mean power (MP), fatigue index (FI), over the course of the 30-second test, and maximum heart …

A Vo2max Protocol For Young, Apparently Healthy Adults, Griffin Green, Whitley J. Stone, Danilo Tolusso, Mark A. Schafer, Scott Lyons

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 1257-1268, 2023. The Bruce and Astrand treadmill protocols are commonly utilized when assessing maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max). However, the steep grade implemented in the protocols often leads to localized muscular fatigue, potentially causing participants prematurely to terminate the test prior to reaching their true VO_2max. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a Novel VO_2max protocol that may be better suited for young, apparently healthy populations. The Novel protocol starts at a higher speed and lower initial grade to limit lower extremity fatigue. Fifteen participants performed the Bruce, …

An Analysis Of Confidence Levels In Athletic Training Students During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Celeste De La Cruz, Portia B. Resnick, Karen G. Roos, Mikiko Nakajima

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(3): 1284-1292, 2023. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a challenge to athletic training students, with many classes converted to online education, and many clinical experiences interrupted. These changes may have negatively affected the confidence level of athletic training students in their athletic training skills. Purpose: To determine if athletic training students’ educational experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted their confidence levels in completing athletic training skills. Procedures: A cross-sectional design using an online survey of 56 athletic training students from 33 CAATE accredited athletic training programs was used. The survey consisted of questions about …

Effects Of An Isotonic Medinilla Speciosa During And After Exercise, Nur Azis Rohmansyah, Fafa Nurdyansyah, Ashira Hiruntrakul, Mancharee Phumphitarkpanya

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(2): 1269-1283, 2023. Maintaining an adequate fluid balance is crucial during extended physical activity. It is currently unknown how drinking an isotonic medinilla speciosa beverage affects the autonomic regulation of heart function during and after exercise. The purpose of this study is to examine how drinking isotonic beverages affects heart rate variability (HRV) during and after intense exercise. A maximal exercise test to assess protocol loading, a control group, and an experimental group were all carried out by twenty-one young man (19.3 ± 1.2 years) over the course of three distinct protocols, with a 48-hour …

Hepatoprotective Role Of Cucurbitacin D On Benzo[A]Pyrene Induced Liver Injury, A. Rodriguez, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, M. Vela, Fathi T. Halaweish, Meena Jaggi, Sumeet S. Chauhan

Research Colloquium

Background: Epidemiological findings show the strong correlation of co-morbidity factors including smoking with the development and progression of liver cancer. Moreover, benzo[a]pyrene, a main component of tobacco smoke, is extremely carcinogenic and contributes to liver injury as well. Cucurbitacin, chemically classified as triterpenes, have shown diverse biological activities including potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, their hepatoprotective activities are not completely understood.

Objective: In the present study, we investigated the cytoprotective activity of novel analog of cucurbitacin, cucurbitacin D, against benzo[a]pyrene-induced liver injury in human HepG2 cells.

Method: Proliferation, clonogenicity, migration, invasion, Western blotting and qPCR analysis were conducted …

Pharmacological Restoration Of Pkd1: A Novel Strategy For Prostate Cancer Therapy, Mohammed Sikander, Shabnam Malik, A. Rodriguez, Aditya Ganju, Bilal B. Hafeez, Fathi T. Halaweish, Subhash C. Chauhan, Meena Jaggi

Research Colloquium

Background: Prostate cancer has poor prognosis owing to late diagnosis and ineffective multimodal clinical treatment. Extensive efforts are ongoing to establish methods that can resolve the expression of genes implicated in disease development and treatment. Previously, we reported that Protein Kinase D1 (PKD1), a serine threonine kinase, controls a number of tumor suppressor functions including cell aggregation, cell motility, cell proliferation, and cell invasion. Thus, PKD1 is considered as an emerging therapeutic target for prostate cancer treatment.

Objective: To investigate the restoration of PKD1 by a pharmacological modulator ormeloxifene, which showed well-defined PK/PD and safety profiles in humans.

Methods: Proliferation, …

Mucin 13 Expression Correlates With Tumor Development In Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Shabnam Malik, Mohammed Sikander, Deepshikha Pande Katare, S. Mishra, S. K. Jain, P. Khan, Subhash C. Chauhan, Meena Jaggi

Research Colloquium

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a poor prognosis due to ineffective therapeutic modality and lack of early diagnostic marker. Accumulating studies have shown that elevated expression of mucin 13 as potential oncogene and predictive biomarker for various cancer. However, very little is known about its expression and function for development and progression of HCC Objective: To investigate mucin 13 expression in chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Methodology: Diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) and 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) induced method was employed for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in Male Wistar rats. Serum and tissues were collected at regular interval of time and routinely validated …

A Neural Comparison Between Mus Musculus And Monodelphis Domestica, Cristian M. Botello, John L. Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Colloquium

Mus Musculus is one of the first and widely used animal models in neuroscience. There are many reasons that Mus Musculus is used for research including, short generation length and large litters, but the most important reason is their mammalian brain. Another animal that is gaining interest as an animal model is the Monodelphis Domestica. The Monodelphis Domestica is a marsupial, pups are born underdeveloped and move onto the underbelly of their mothers until they reach a more mature age. One difference is the Monodelphis ventricle size is much larger in the forebrain area. Another difference is the formation of …

Sex Differences In Stress Reactivity And Responses To Novelty In The Gray Short-Tailed Opossum (Monodelphis Domestica), Esperanza I. Alaniz, Nicole Altamirano, Joseph Rafac, Katelynn Renteria, John L. Vandeberg, Mario Gil

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Investigating how exposures to stress and novel environments influence behavior is important for translational research that aims to improve mental health. Previous studies have focused on reactions to novelty and revealed changes in defense reactions and exploratory behavior. (Pisula et al., 2012).

Objective: The focus of the present study is to investigate sex differences in behavioral responses to novel environments and restraint stress in the gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica). Using the Monodelphis is innovative because it is a non-traditional animal model that is ideal for developmental research.

Methods: Using AnyMaze video tracking software, animals’ behaviors (6 males, 6 …

Plasmid Midiprep: A Method To Purify Plasmids For Recombinant Dna Studies, Adithya Anilkumar, Kyle Doxtater, Samantha Lopez, Sudhir Kotnala, Justin Wendel, Manish Tripathi

Research Colloquium

A fundamental aspect of molecular biology involves exploring the properties and functions of specific genes. The rise of recombinant DNA technology has vastly improved and simplified functional studies by allowing scientists to isolate specific genes using restriction enzymes and plasmids providing greater precision. Plasmids take great significance in downstream studies, which is why quantity and quality of the plasmids purified is important. In this study, we isolated and purified recombinant plasmids in microgram quantities to confirm the yield, quantity, and quality using spectral and size fractionation methods. We also assessed the plasmids for application in downstream studies. We found the …

Insights Into The Molecular Roles Of Foxr2 In The Pathology Of Primary Pediatric Brain Tumors, Rajendra Gharbaran

Publications and Research

Forkhead box gene R2 (FOXR2) belongs to the family of FOX genes which codes for highly conserved transcription factors (TFs) with critical roles in biological processes ranging from development to organogenesis to metabolic and immune regulation to cellular homeostasis. A number of FOX genes are associated with cancer development and progression and poor prognosis. A growing body of evidence suggests that FOXR2 is an oncogene. Studies suggested important roles for FOXR2 in cancer cell growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. Recent studies showed that FOXR2 is overexpressed by a subset of newly identified entities of embryonal tumors. This review discusses the …

Insurance, Policy, And Education For Livestock Producers, Milan Chauhan, Bradley D. Lubben

Cornhusker Economics

Federal crop insurance programs have existed since the 1930s, but for livestock producers, federal insurance programs were virtually nonexistent until the past 20 years. Livestock producers may not face exactly the same production risks that crop producers face, but they do face similar production risks related to grazing capacity and forage production and of course face price risks just like crop producers do.

Spatial Ecology Of The Texas Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus Infernalis) In Blanco County, Texas, Corey M. Fielder, Wade A. Ryberg, Danielle K. Walkup, Jared M. Holmes, Toby J. Hibbitts

Western North American Naturalist

Texas Alligator Lizards (Gerrhonotus infernalis) range from Central Texas into adjacent northeastern Mexico, and published ecological studies on their terrestrial and arboreal movement patterns are lacking. We used radiotelemetry to assess movements, annual home range, and arboreal activity of G. infernalis at Bamberger Ranch Preserve, Blanco County, Texas, to provide baseline ecological data for populations occurring in the northernmost extent of the species’ range. Movement patterns were influenced by temporal (e.g., seasonal) and behavioral cues (e.g., breeding period), but generally no differences were observed between sexes. Annual home range varied, but males averaged larger 95% MCP (minimum convex …

Usp1 Promotes Cholangiocarcinoma Progression By Deubiquitinating Parp1 To Prevent Its Proteasomal Degradation, Deng Yong Zhang, Yan Zhu, Qiong Wu, Shuoshuo Ma, Yang Ma, Zhonglin Wang, Yong Chun Zhou, Dongdong Wang, Shuo Zhou, Zhong Liu, Lawrence N Kwong, Zheng Lu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Despite its involvement in various cancers, the function of the deubiquitinase USP1 (ubiquitin-specific protease 1) is unexplored in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). In this study, we provide evidence that USP1 promotes CCA progression through the stabilization of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), consistent with the observation that both USP1 and PARP1 are upregulated in human CCA. Proteomics and ubiquitylome analysis of USP1-overexpressing CCA cells nominated PARP1 as a top USP1 substrate. Indeed, their direct interaction was validated by a series of immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP), and GST pull-down assays, and their interaction regions were identified using deletion mutants. Mechanistically, USP1 removes the ubiquitin …

Deconstructing Social Constructs: Exploring Teachers’ Positionality When Teaching Race And Human Diversity In The Science Classroom, Uchenna Emenaha

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

This article reports on how four urban high school biology teachers’ positionality impacts their experiences when teaching culturally responsive lessons on race and human diversity. Teachers in the study taught a two-week genetics intervention lesson on race and human diversity, then participated in individual and focus group interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results reveal that teachers who were empowered by their racial positionality and had prior professional development in culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) were more likely to believe that science instruction can be used to address unscientific misconceptions amongst high school students. These findings give credence to …

Recent Advances In Crispr/Cas9-Assisted Gene Therapy, Apeksha Srivastava, Shikha Chauhan, Vishal Ahuja

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is an exponentially growing tool with wide-spread applications in therapeutics like gene modifications that focus on altering the hereditary material to repair or eliminate any defective gene-causing diseases like cancer, AIDS (Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), etc. It also includes the identification of the target sequence with the help of sgRNA followed by the substitution of a malfunction-ing gene with a normal version. It offers high efficiency, specificity, and post-gene-editing efficacy, but have also some off-target impressions, and immunogenic effects. The contribution of CRISPR/Cas9 has already been proved primarily in in-vitro studies using animal germ …

Optical, Structural, And Electrochemical Properties Of P3ht:Y6 Photoactive Layer For Organic Photovoltaics, Hassan Tarikhum B., Furqan Almyahi, Basil Ali

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Recently, organic photovoltaics (OPV) have emerged as a promising technology for environmentally friendly energy production. Achieving high performance in OPV requires the discovery of novel compounds. This article aims to study the optical, structural, electrochemical, and electrical properties of a P3HT:Y6 blend. The UV-visible spectra of the blend provided insight into how composition affects the optoelectronic properties of OPV devices. The optimised P3HT:Y6 ratio (0.6:1) resulted in the largest redshift and the highest absorption intensity. Raman and X-ray diffraction tests showed low aggregation and low crystallinity of the polymer P3HT as Y6 content increased. In the OPV devices, the best …

Estimation Of Water Quality Of Dikhu River Of Nagaland Through A Combination Of Water Quality Index And Principal Component Analysis Techniques., Lanuyanger Longchar, Wati Temjen, Khikeya Semy, Wati Lemla

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Monitoring the physico-chemical attributes of water is essential for determining water quality. The present study explores the effect of various anthropogenic factors on the quality of Dikhu River, Nagaland. Water samples from three sampling stations were compared against three standards: Indian Council of Medical Research, Bureau of Indian Standards, and World Health Organization. Although all parameters were within the permissible limits, the Water Quality Index categorized all sites during the rainy season as "poor quality", highlighting anthropogenic impacts. A principal component analysis created a Minimum Data Set (MDS) explaining 100%, 93.27%, and 96.26% of the total variance for the three …

Novel Treatments For Pxe: Targeting The Systemic And Local Drivers Of Ectopic Calcification, Ida Joely Jacobs, Qiaoli Li

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable multisystem ectopic calcification disorder. The gene responsible for PXE, ABCC6, encodes ABCC6, a hepatic efflux transporter regulating extracellular inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a potent endogenous calcification inhibitor. Recent studies demonstrated that in addition to the deficiency of plasma PPi, the activated DDR/PARP signaling in calcified tissues provides an additional possible mechanism of ectopic calcification in PXE. This study examined the effects of etidronate (ETD), a stable PPi analog, and its combination with minocycline (Mino), a potent inhibitor of DDR/PARP, on ectopic calcification in an Abcc6-/- mouse model of PXE. Abcc6-/- mice, at 4 weeks of …

Leveraging The Strengths Of Citizen Science And Structured Surveys To Achieve Scalable Inference On Population Size, Andrew N. Stillman, Paige E. Howell, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, Emily R. Bjerre, Brian A. Millsap, Orin J. Robinson, Daniel Fink, Erica F. Stuber, Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Population size is a key metric for management and policy decisions, yet wildlife monitoring programmes are often limited by the spatial and temporal scope of surveys. In these cases, citizen science data may provide complementary information at higher resolution and greater extent.

2. We present a case study demonstrating how data from the eBird citizen science programme can be combined with regional monitoring efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to produce high-resolution estimates of golden eagle abundance. We developed a model that uses aerial survey data from the western United States to calibrate high-resolution annual estimates of …

Fam210a Is Essential For Cold-Induced Mitochondrial Remodeling In Brown Adipocytes, Jiamin Qiu, Feng Yue, Peipei Zhu, Jingjuan Chen, Fan Xu, Lijia Zhang, Kun Ho Kim, Madigan M. Snyder, Nanjian Luo, Hao-Wei Xu, Fang Huang, W. Andy Tao, Shihuan Kuang

Purdue University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund

Cold stimulation dynamically remodels mitochondria in brown adipose tissue (BAT) to facilitate non-shivering thermogenesis in mammals, but what regulates mitochondrial plasticity is poorly understood. Comparing mitochondrial proteomes in response to cold revealed FAM210A as a cold-inducible mitochondrial inner membrane protein. An adipocyte-specific constitutive knockout of Fam210a (Fam210aAKO) disrupts mitochondrial cristae structure and diminishes the thermogenic activity of BAT, rendering the Fam210aAKO mice vulnerable to lethal hypothermia under acute cold exposure. Induced knockout of Fam210a in adult adipocytes (Fam210aiAKO) does not affect steady-state mitochondrial structure under thermoneutrality, but impairs cold-induced mitochondrial remodeling, leading to progressive loss of cristae and reduction of …

Dbapis: A Database Of Anti-Prokaryotic Immune System Genes, Yuchen Yan, Jinfang Zheng, Xinpeng Zhang, Yanbin Yin

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Anti-prokaryotic immune system (APIS) proteins, typically encoded b y phages, prophages, and plasmids, inhibit prokaryotic immune systems (e.g. restriction modification, to xin-antito xin, CRISPR-Cas). A growing number of APIS genes have been characterized and dispersed in the literature. Here we developed dbAPIS ( https:// bcb.unl.edu/ dbAPIS ), as the first literature curated data repository for experimentally verified APIS genes and their associated protein families. The key features of dbAPIS include: (i) experimentally verified APIS genes with their protein sequences, functional annotation, PDB or AlphaFold predicted structures, genomic context, sequence and structural homologs from different microbiome / virome databases; (ii) classification …

Textbook Tasks For Social Change: Instantiation Of Development Debates And Interposition Of Pedagogical Interventions In Media Literacy Education, John N. Ponsaran

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

As materialization of their discursive stance as instructional communicators and media producers, textbook authors instantiate various development debates as well as interpose a wide range of pedagogical interventions for critical reflection and adoption by learners. This qualitative study sought to situate these development debates and the counterpart pedagogical interventions within the context of textbook task design as an application and embodiment of social justice communication. The development debates serve as the proposed contexts for media text analyses, reflective exercises, case studies, and media production, among others. Correspondingly, the interposition of interventions allows students to make sense of and act upon …

Potentially Adaptive Significance Of Genome Size Diversity Across Ecological Gradients And Seed Size In Ivesia (Rosaceae), Israel T. Borokini, Shaun R. Broderick, Zhi Gao, Joshua M. Hallas, James A. Birchler, Mary M. Peacock

Western North American Naturalist

Variation in genome size across taxa has been explained using neutral and nonadaptive theories; however, genome size variation among taxonomic groups can also be shaped by natural selection if it correlates with functional traits. This study investigated the potential adaptive significance of genome size in Ivesia, a radiating genus distributed in the western North American desert ecosystems. We estimated the genome size of 34 taxa (including 31 Ivesia taxa, 2 Potentilla taxa, and 1 Horkelia taxon) using flow cytometric methods. For each taxon, leaf samples were collected from 6 individuals in 1 location each; intraspecific genome size variation was …