Life Sciences Commons^™

Widespread Variation In Salt Tolerance Within Freshwater Zooplankton Species Reduces The Predictability Of Community-Level Salt Tolerance, Matthew Schuler

Department of Biology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The salinization of freshwaters is a global threat to aquatic biodiversity. We quantified variation in chloride (Cl⁻) tolerance of 19 freshwater zooplankton species in four countries to answer three questions: (1) How much variation in Cl⁻ tolerance is present among populations? (2) What factors predict intraspecific variation in Cl⁻ tolerance? (3) Must we account for intraspecific variation to accurately predict community Cl⁻ tolerance? We conducted field mesocosm experiments at 16 sites and compiled acute LC50s from published laboratory studies. We found high variation in LC50s for Cl⁻ tolerance in multiple species, which, in the …

Tris(1,3-Dichloro-2-Propyl) Phosphate Is A Metabolism-Disrupting Chemical In Male Mice, Sara Y. Ngo Tenlep, Megan L. Weaver, Jianzhong Chen, Olga A. Vsevolozhskaya, Andrew J. Morris, Cetewayo S. Rashid

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP) is an organophosphate flame retardant. The primary TDCPP metabolite, bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP), is detectable in the urine of over 90 % of Americans. Epidemiological studies show sex-specific associations between urinary BDCPP levels and metabolic syndrome, which is an established risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. We used a mouse model to determine whether TDCPP exposure disrupts glucose homeostasis. Six-week old male and female C57BL/6J mice were given ad libitum access to diets containing vehicle (0.1 % DMSO) and TDCPP resulting in the following treatment groups: 0 mg/kg/day, 0.02 mg/kg/day, 1 mg/kg/day, or 100 …

The Facet Of Human Impact: Solenopsis Invicta Buren, 1972 Spreading Around The Atlantic Forest, Manuela O. Ramalho, Victor H. Nagatani, Juliana M. C. Alves, Otavio G. M. Silva, Eduardo G. P. Fox, Rodrigo F. Souza, Debora Y. Kayano, Ricardo Harakava, Alexandre W. S. Hilsdorf, Maria S. C. Morini

Biology Faculty Publications

The present investigation deals with some aspects of the diversity of fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in their native range. The Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta is native to the tropical and subtropical inland territories of South America. In Brazil, it mainly occurs around the Pantanal region and across the Paraguay river, a region composed of grasslands which are seasonally flooded. Recent studies have evidenced this fire ant species is gradually spreading to other regions of Brazil. In the present investigation, we surveyed the molecular diversity of S. invicta populations across fragments of Atlantic Forest in Sao Paulo, Brazil, using …

Long‑Term Adaptation To Galactose As A Sole Carbon Source Selects For Mutations Outside The Canonical Gal Pathway, Artemiza A. Martínez, Andrew Conboy, Sean Buskirk, Daniel A. Marad, Gregory I. Lang

Biology Faculty Publications

Galactose is a secondary fermentable sugar that requires specific regulatory and structural genes for its assimilation, which are under catabolite repression by glucose. When glucose is absent, the catabolic repression is attenuated, and the structural GAL genes are fully activated. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the GAL pathway is under selection in environments where galactose is present. However, it is unclear the adaptive strategies in response to long-term propagation in galactose as a sole carbon source in laboratory evolution experiments. Here, we performed a 4,000-generation evolution experiment using 48 diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations to study adaptation in galactose. We show that fitness …

Multiple Behaviors For Turning Performance Of Pacific Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus Orientalis), Abigail M. Downs, Allison Kolpas, Barbara A. Block, Frank E. Fish

Biology Faculty Publications

Tuna are known for exceptional swimming speeds, which are possible because of their thunniform lift-based propulsion, large muscle mass and rigid fusiform body. A rigid body should restrict maneuverability with regard to turn radius and turn rate. To test if turning maneuvers by the Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) are constrained by rigidity, captive animals were videorecorded overhead as the animals routinely swam around a large circular tank or during feeding bouts. Turning performance was classified into three different types: (1) glide turns, where the tuna uses the caudal fin as a rudder; (2) powered turns, where the animal uses …

The Role Of Salinity In Recovery Of White Sturgeon (Acipenser Transmontanus) From Stimulated Angling Stress, Ryan B. Shartau, Jacelyn Shu, Daniel W. Baker

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the Lower Fraser River are the focus of a catch-and-release angling fishery in British Columbia, Canada. However, the lower region of the catch area includes areas where tidal waters invade, and the consequence of salinity levels on recovery from an angling challenge are not characterized in sturgeon, despite theoretical implications of its import. We acclimated white sturgeon to various salinities (0, 10 and 20 (parts per thousand)) to investigate the effects of acclimation on recovery from stimulated angling stress that was induced through manual chasing. This challenge elicited the traditional physiological responses such as ion …

Gasdermin D Deficiency In Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Ameliorates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Through Reducing Putrescine Synthesis, Jianing Gao, Yanghui Chen, Huiqing Wang, Xin Li, Ke Li, Yangkai Xu, Xianwei Xie, Yansong Guo, Nana Yang, Xinhua Zhang, Dong Ma, Hong S. Lu, Ying H. Shen, Yong Liu, Jifeng Zhang, Y. Eugene Chen, Alan Daugherty, Dao Wen Wang, Lemin Zheng

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common vascular disease associated with significant phenotypic alterations in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Gasdermin D (GSDMD) is a pore-forming effector of pyroptosis. In this study, the role of VSMC-specific GSDMD in the phenotypic alteration of VSMCs and AAA formation is determined. Single-cell transcriptome analyses reveal Gsdmd upregulation in aortic VSMCs in angiotensin (Ang) II-induced AAA. VSMC-specific Gsdmd deletion ameliorates Ang II-induced AAA in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)−/− mice. Using untargeted metabolomic analysis, it is found that putrescine is significantly reduced in the plasma and aortic tissues of VSMC-specific GSDMD deficient mice. High putrescine levels …

De Novo Transcriptome Assembly From The Nodal Root Growth Zone Of Hydrated And Water-Deficit Stressed Maize Inbred Line Fr697, Sidharth Sen, Shannon K. King, Tyler Mccubbin, Laura A. Greeley, Rachel A. Mertz, Cheyenne Becker, Nicole Niehues, Shuai Zeng, Jonathan T. Stemmle, Scott C. Peck, Melvin J. Oliver, Felix B. Fritschi, David M. Braun, Robert E. Sharp, Trupti Joshi

Biomedical Sciences

Certain cultivars of maize show increased tolerance to water deficit conditions by maintenance of root growth. To better understand the molecular mechanisms related to this adaptation, nodal root growth zone samples were collected from the reference inbred line B73 and inbred line FR697, which exhibits a relatively greater ability to maintain root elongation under water deficits. Plants were grown under various water stress levels in both field and controlled environment settings. FR697‑specific RNA‑Seq datasets were generated and used for a de novo transcriptome assembly to characterize any genotype‑specific genetic features. The assembly was aided by an Iso‑Seq library of transcripts …

Editorial: Green Chemistry Biocatalysis, Barry J. Ryan, Gary T. Henehan, Bekir E. Eser, Ning Li, Zheng Guo, Gemma K. Kinsella

Articles

Editorial on the Research Topic: Green chemistry biocatalysis

Diabetes Of Unclear Type In An Adolescent Boy With Multiple Islet-Cell Autoantibody Positivity Successfully Managed With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Alone: A Case Report, Olivia Z B Ginnard, Maria J Redondo, Sarah K Lyons

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Diabetes classification has traditionally considered type 1 and type 2 diabetes as 2 separate entities with different pathogenic mechanisms. However, clinicians and researchers see increasingly more exceptions to this conventional paradigm, leading to a concept of mixed phenotypes in diabetes classification. Herein we report the case of an adolescent with unclear diabetes type due to the presence of obesity, robust endogenous insulin production, multiple islet autoantibody positivity and severe hyperglycemia at diabetes diagnosis that has been successfully treated with liraglutide therapy alone. Our case report highlights the difficulty of diabetes classification and subsequent need for personalized medicine with regard to …

How Much Did It Cost To Develop And Implement An Ehealth Intervention For A Minority Children Population That Overlapped With The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Alexandra Monashefsky, Dar Alon, Tom Baranowski, Tiago V Barreira, Kelly A Chiu, Amy Fleischman, Melanie C Green, Shirley Huang, Ronald C Samuels, Caio Victor Sousa, Debbe Thompson, Amy S Lu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: eHealth interventions using active video games (AVGs) offer an alternative method to help children exercise, especially during a pandemic where options are limited. There is limited data on costs associated with developing and implementing such interventions.

Objectives: We quantified the costs of delivering an eHealth RCT intervention among minority children during COVID-19.

Methods: We categorized the total trial cost into five subcategories: intervention material development, advertising and recruitment, intervention delivery, personnel salaries, and COVID-19-related equipment costs.

Results: The total RCT cost was $1,927,807 (Direct: $1,227,903; Indirect: $699,904) with three visits required for each participant. The average cost per participant …

How Much Did It Cost To Develop And Implement An Ehealth Intervention For A Minority Children Population That Overlapped With The Covid-19 Pandemic?, Alexandra Monashefsky, Dar Alon, Tom Baranowski, Tiago V Barreira, Kelly A Chiu, Amy Fleischman, Melanie C Green, Shirley Huang, Ronald C Samuels, Caio Victor Sousa, Debbe Thompson, Amy S Lu

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: eHealth interventions using active video games (AVGs) offer an alternative method to help children exercise, especially during a pandemic where options are limited. There is limited data on costs associated with developing and implementing such interventions.

Objectives: We quantified the costs of delivering an eHealth RCT intervention among minority children during COVID-19.

Methods: We categorized the total trial cost into five subcategories: intervention material development, advertising and recruitment, intervention delivery, personnel salaries, and COVID-19-related equipment costs.

Results: The total RCT cost was $1,927,807 (Direct: $1,227,903; Indirect: $699,904) with three visits required for each participant. The average cost per participant …

Population Structure And Hybridisation In A Population Of Hawaiian Feral Chickens, Maria Luisa Martin Cerezo, Saioa Lopez, Lucy Van Dorp, Garrett Hellenthal, Martin Johnsson, Eben Gering, Rie Henriksen, Dominic Wright

Biology Faculty Articles

Chickens are believed to have inhabited the Hawaiian island of Kauai since the first human migrations around 1200AD, but numbers have peaked since the tropical storms Iniki and Iwa in the 1980s and 1990s that destroyed almost all the chicken coops on the island and released large numbers of domestic chickens into the wild. Previous studies have shown these now feral chickens are an admixed population between Red Junglefowl (RJF) and domestic chickens. Here, using genetic haplotypic data, we estimate the time of the admixture event between the feral population on the island and the RJF to 1981 (1976–1995), coinciding …

The Synapse Issue 35

The Synapse: Intercollegiate science magazine

No abstract provided.

What Factors Make Consumers In The Usa Buy Hemp Products? Evidence From Nielsen Consumer Panel Data, Gwanseon Kim, Mark Tyler

Faculty Publications

This study aims to identify critical consumer-demographic characteristics associated with the consumption of products containing hemp and investigate their effect on total expenditure in the USA. To estimate the likelihood of market participation and consumption level, the Heckman selection model is employed utilizing Nielsen consumer panel data from 2008 to 2015. Using a Heckman selection model, this study finds that socio-demographic characteristics, especially income, age, and education, play an important role in explaining purchases of and demand for different categories of hemp products. Noteworthy is the finding that the role of the age of the household head is mixed with …

Refining The Moose Serum Progesterone Threshold To Diagnose Pregnancy, Madeline Struck, William J. Severud, Yvette M. Chenaux-Ibrahim, Edmund J. Isaac, Janine L. Brown, Seth A. Moore, Tiffany M. Wolf

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

Pregnancy determination is necessary for sound wildlife management and understanding population dynamics. Pregnancy rates are sensitive to environmental and physiological factors and may indicate the overall trajectory of a population. Pregnancy can be assessed through direct methods (rectal palpation, sonography) or indicated using hormonal assays (serum progesterone or pregnancy-specific protein B, fecal progestogen metabolites). A commonly used threshold of 2 ng/ml of progesterone in serum has been used by moose biologists to indicate pregnancy but has not been rigorously investigated. To refine this threshold, we examined the relationship between progesterone concentrations in serum samples and pregnancy in 87 moose ( …

Trophically Integrated Ecometric Models As Tools For Demonstrating Spatial And Temporal Functional Changes In Mammal Communities, Rachel A. Short, Jenny L. Mcguire, P. David Polly, A. Michelle Lawing

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

We are in a modern biodiversity crisis that will restructure community compositions and ecological functions globally. Large mammals, important contributors to ecosystem function, have been affected directly by purposeful extermination and indirectly by climate and land-use changes, yet functional turnover is rarely assessed on a global scale using metrics based on functional traits. Using ecometrics, the study of functional trait distributions and functional turnover, we examine the relationship between vegetation cover and locomotor traits for artiodactyl and carnivoran communities. We show that the ability to detect a functional relationship is strengthened when locomotor traits of both primary consumers (artiodactyls, n …

Effects Of Continuous Exercise On Physiological Indexes Among Middle-Aged And Elderly Chronic Patients In Northwest China, Niu Jianzhuang, Niu Zhen, Ren Xiangyu, Yu Xuemei, Gao Nina, Shao Nina, Zhang Chengyi

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

With the increase of aging population, accompanied by a series of aging problems, the study showed that the probability of chronic disease in the elderly population is 92.1%, and further research shows that the probability of having two or more chronic diseases is 70.0%. Therefore, understanding of the distribution and spatial-temporal variation trend of risk factors related to chronic diseases can provide scientific basis for the formulation of policies and intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. It is of urgent practical significance to improve the quality of life of the elderly and reduce the social medical …

The Mood And Physical Activity Of The Tibetan And Han University Students During The Covid-19, Liqiang Zhang, Gao Huina

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This study aimed at exploring a relation between the mood state and physical activity (PA) among the Zang and Han university students during the COVID-19. 2382 university students in Shaanxi, Tibet, Hubei and Guizhou were recruited using a convenient sampling method to participate in this study. Independent samples t-test and ANOVA were used to compare the differences of the mood state of the college students by gender, grade, and ethnicity respectively. Pearson correlation and stepwise linear regression were conducted to examine the indicators’ relations. The results indicated that there was statistical significance in the mood state among the ethnicity, gender, …

Theoretical Analysis On The Optimization And Integration Of College Pe Curriculum Education And Teaching System, Nie Dong Feng, Chu Hangyu, Ji Chenyu

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this study was to promote the development of PE curriculum theory and practice. Literature review method and logical analysis were used in this study. The results showed that physical education curriculum and teaching related ideas are based on optimizing the teaching theory system of integrated physical education. At the macro theoretical guidance level, moral education is the theoretical basis for the construction of sports related curriculum education and teaching ideology. In terms of setting and construction, lifelong physical education is the theoretical basis of school physical education curriculum education and teaching system construction. In the overall construction, …

Effects Of Exercise On Cardiopulmonary Function In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jiale Peng, Hong Ren

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by repeated episodes of apnea and hypopnea during sleep. Snoring and daytime sleepiness are the most common manifestations of OSA. Patients with OSA are considered to have poor cardiopulmonary function. Exercise has been proposed as a treatment for OSA that could lower apnea hypopnea indices (AHI) and improve sleep quality. Study shows that constantly aerobic exercise improved cardiopulmonary function in patients with chronic heart failure. However, whether exercise training will benefit cardiopulmonary functioning in patients with OSA is still in doubt. The purpose of this review is to investigate the …

A Comparison Of Fundamental Movement Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Typically Developing Children, Liangshan Dong, Bo Shen, Jin Bo, Yanli Pang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is urodevelopmental disorder characterized by social and communication impairments as well as a wide range of behavior deficits. For years, motor disturbance reported in ASD has not been treated as a major core deficit because of the overwhelming problems in sociability and communication. Recent studies, however, reveal that motor deficits are associated with the core symptoms of ASD. Because limited studies have addressed motor behavior of children with ASD, especially in China, the purpose of this study is to explore the development of fundamental movement skills in children with ASD and compare it to that of …

Independent And Combined Associations Between Physical Activity And Sedentary Time On Sleep Quality Among Chinese Pe And Non-Pe College Students, Dan Li, Xianxiong Li

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

To investigate the independent and combined associations of physical activity and sedentary time on sleep quality among Chinese PE-majored and non-PE-majored college students. Participants were Chinese college students (N = 2347, M_age = 20 years, 24.6% students majoring in PE). All participants completed three questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Questionnaire on Adolescent Sedentary Behavior. Questionnaires were evaluated to ascertain the subjects’ sleep quality, physical activity level, and sedentary time. Analyses were conducted with a multivariate logistic regression model. Out of the total participants, 48.6% had poor sleep quality (PSQ) and …

Experimental Study On Effects Of Physical Exercise Function Training On Physical Health Of Primary School Students, Mingzhuo Yan, Zhihua Yin

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Recently, the physical health problems of children in China have attracted extensive attention. The education department has issued a notice on further strengthening the physical health management of primary and secondary schools. Many studies have shown that physical exercise function training has unique advantages in promoting the healthy development of students' physique and is unaffected by venues or weather. This study aims to explore and verify the intervention effect of physical exercise function training on students’ physical health indicators, including physical shape, function, and quality. It also intends to practically explore the improvement of students' physical health status and expand …

Quality Of Community Sports Service Distribution And Behavior Intention Of The Elderly, Yani Cui, Hongying Wang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of community sports distribution service through the evaluation and satisfaction of the elderly in Yangpu District of Shanghai on the quality of community sports service and explore the relationship between the quality of community sports distribution service, satisfaction, and behavioral intention. Data were collected by using surveys and analyzed using mathematical statistics. The survey refers to SERVPERF model to design a six-dimension, intermediary variable satisfaction and behavioral intention five-point scale for the service quality of community sports distribution. The sample size was 261. SPSS25.0 was used to conduct data analysis. …

Influence Of Physical Activity On Heart Rate Variability In Physically Inactive Adults: A Meta-Analysis, Lingsong Kong, Qin Yang

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

This meta-analysis aimed to examine the influences of physical activity (PA) interventions on heart rate variability (HRV) among healthy but physically inactive adults aged 18 to 65 years old. PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science online databases were searched in September 2021. The eligibility criteria were: (1) peer-reviewed articles in English; (2) randomized controlled trials; (3) healthy but physically inactive adults aged 18 to 65 years; (4) at least two-week PA intervention; (5) available frequency domain result. The data were extracted to a pre-designed form. The primary outcome of this study was the frequency domain of HRV, which included natural …

Developing Sustainable Snow Sports Education Programs For Adolescent Participation, Zhaofei Chen, Wei Zuo, Hongwei Guan

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Following Beijing’s winning bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, winter sports have ushered in a great development opportunity for adolescents in China. Beijing initiated the Ice and Snow Sports on Campus Program in 2016, however, one of the challenges is that the lack of quality snow sports instructors and access to ski resorts is limiting sustainable programs. Greek Peak Ski Resort, located in upstate NY, has a successful history of running snow sport educational programs that Beijing may be able to learn from. The purpose of this study was to assess and compare the Ice and Snow Sports …

The Relationship Between Fundamental Motor Skills And Physical Fitness In Children Aged 7-12 Years, Caifang Wu, Xiaozan Wang, Qinping Xu, Lingsong Kong

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between fundamental motor skills (FMS) and physical fitness (PF) in children aged 7-12 years. The participants were 217 children (50.7% female) from a primary school in Shanghai. The FMS was assessed using Chinese version Test of Gross Motor Development–3 edition (CTGMD-3), which includes 6 locomotor skills and 7 ball skills. PF was measured following China’s national physical health standards for students, which includes BMI, vital capacity, sit and reach, 50m sprint, one-minute rope jumping, one-minute sit-ups and 50m * 8 shuttle run. The weighted score of the 7 tests was …

Wayne E. Sabbe Arkansas Soil Fertility Studies 2022, Nathan A. Slaton, Mike Daniels

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Rapid technological changes in crop management and production require that the research efforts be presented in an expeditious manner. The contributions of soil fertility and fertilizers are major production factors in all Arkansas crops. The studies described within will allow producers to compare their practices with the university’s research efforts. Additionally, soil-test data and fertilizer sales are presented to allow comparisons among years, crops, and other areas within Arkansas.

Metagenomic Analysis Of The Outdoor Dust Microbiomes: A Case Study From Abu Dhabi, Uae, Lina Maloukh, Yousef Nazzal, Alagappan Kumarappan, Fares Howari, Lakshmi Kesari Ambika, Rihab Yahmadi, Manish Sharma, Jibran Iqbal, Ahmed A. Al-Taani, Imen Ben Salem, Cijo M. Xavier, Muhamad Naseem

All Works

Outdoor dust covers a shattered range of microbial agents from land over transportation, human microbial flora, which includes pathogen and commensals, and airborne from the environment. Dust aerosols are rich in bacterial communities that have a major impact on human health and living environments. In this study, outdoor samples from roadside barricades, safety walls, and fences (18 samples) were collected from Abu Dhabi, UAE and bacterial diversity was assessed through a 16S rRNA amplicon next generation sequencing approach. Clean data from HiSeq produced 1,099,892 total reads pairs for 18 samples. For all samples, taxonomic classifications were assigned to the OTUs …