Life Sciences Commons^™

Sierra Nevada Mixed-Conifer Regeneration Response To Repeated Burning Varies By Species, Carolina J. May

Biology ETDs

Fire-exclusion has acted as a major perturbation on dry conifer forests, increasing tree density and, in mixed-conifer forests, the dominance of shade-tolerant species. Restoration efforts aim to reverse these effects by reducing stand density, restoring relative proportions of tree species, and reintroducing recurrent fire, but the long-term effects of repeated burning on tree regeneration have not been quantified. We analyzed two decades of seedling and overstory data from the Teakettle Experimental Forest in the southern Sierra Nevada to determine how thinning and repeated burning affect seedling establishment and overstory recruitment. Across treatments, pine seedling densities remained much lower than shade-tolerant …

Herbicide Tolerance Options For Weed Control In Lanza® Tedera, Daniel Real, Harmohinder S. Dhammu, John H. Moore, David Clegg, Andrew Van Burgel

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Tedera is a drought-tolerant perennial forage legume introduced in Australia in 2006. In October 2018, T15-1218 Lanza®, the world’s first tedera variety, was released by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Meat & Livestock Australia for commercial use. A key agronomic practise for the successful establishment and adoption of tedera is to have a robust herbicide package to control a range of grass and broadleaf weeds well tolerated by tedera. A total of 9 pre-emergent and 44 post-emergent herbicide treatments were evaluated in eight experiments from 2017 to 2021. To control grasses such as annual ryegrass ( …

The Effects Of Compression Garments And Extrinsic Visual Feedback On Single-Leg Balance Control, You-Jou Hung

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 3: Issue 1, Article 4, 2022. Single-leg balance control is very important in injury prevention (such as reducing the chance of falls and ankle sprains) and sport performance. Although compression garments (CGs) have been used for various purposes, it is unclear if wearing CGs can improve single-leg balance in healthy individuals. The purpose of the study was to examine if wearing CGs (pants) could enhance single-leg balance, and to compare the impact of wearing CGs on single-leg balance between conditions with and without extrinsic visual feedback. Twenty-five healthy individuals (aged 20-30 years) participated …

A Test Of Food Partitioning Between The Aquatic Larvae Of Two Parapatric Species Of Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea Bislineata Species Complex) In A Zone Of Sympatric Contact, Carlos D. Camp, S. Michael Owensby, Emily Benfield, Jessica A. Wooten

Georgia Journal of Science

Phylogenetically related species with similar ecologies often partition resources when in sympatry. Food is an important factor in the co-occurrence of sympatric salamanders, and food partitioning occurs in a variety of sympatric, similar species. Several members of the Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineata) species complex are largely parapatric but co-exist within a narrow zone of sympatric contact. Because larvae of these salamanders frequently occur in very high densities, we tested the hypothesis that larvae of the Blue Ridge Salamander (E. wilderae) and the Southern Two-lined Salamander (E. cirrigera) partition food in sympatry in northeastern Georgia. …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Simulating Photo-Disintegration Of 137cs Radioactive Waste Using Various Energies Of Gamma Photons, Hassanain H. Alkazzaz, Asia H. Al-Mashhadani, Kamal H. Lateef

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

In this study, the possibility of using gamma-ray in photo-disintegration method was examined so that it can be used in the remediation of 137Cs radionuclides waste materials by nuclear transmutation to convert long-lived nuclides to other isotopes nuclides, which are shorter half-life (or stable), by different photo-nuclear reaction channels (γ,n), (γ,2n), (γ,p), (γ, a), (γ,d). A simulation code has been written using MATLAB for conducting calculations of reduction and residual. The results showed that gamma-ray fluxes below 1017 [cm-2 s-1] are not adequate to perform effective incinera-tion of 137Cs, and as for gamma flux of 1018 [cm-2 s-1] it showed …

Engineering Of A Multi-Epitope Subunit Vaccine Against Sasrs-Cov-2 Through The Viroinformatic Approach, Aamir Shehzada, Christijogo Sumartono, Jusak Nugraha, Helen Susilowatid, Andi Yasmin Wijayab, Hafiz Ishfaq Ahmad, Wiwiek Tyasningsih, Fedik Abdul Rantam

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

The COVID-19 outbreak has infected millions of people worldwide, but no vaccine has been discovered to combat it efficiently. This research aims to design a multi-epitope vaccine using highly efficient B- and T-cell epitopes from the SARS-CoV-2 Surabaya isolate through a viroinformatic approach. First, the putative epitopes were linked together to develop tertiary structures and then docked with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) that demonstrated a robust interaction with a low eigenvalue of 4.816138 e-06. Furthermore, the structure's high immunogenic response was observed and successfully cloned into the expression vector pET28a (+). This implies that the designed vaccine can prove effective …

Cellular Automata: The Mathematical Theory Behind The Spread Of Covid-19 And Prediction Of Future Spread, Alison Drumheller

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

This thesis seeks to analyze the spread of the original COVID-19 strain and develop a mathematical model to predict the chances of being infected by this disease using a number of variables. This model is based on the mathematical theory of cellular automata, otherwise known as the theory of spread. The research uses real world data of COVID-19 which includes infection rate, death rate, vaccination rate, use of masks, and transmission rates. By using cellular automata, we predict that the more preventative measures an individual puts in place for themselves, the less likely they are to be infected by the …

The Effects Of Carbonyl Iron Vs Ferrous Sulfate On Blood Iron Markers In Male Division Iii Cross-Country Athletes, Sam Gunter

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Competitive distance runners are often predisposed to developing iron deficiency. This study aimed to determine if carbonyl iron was more effective at maintaining blood iron markers and minimizing overall fatigue and GI stress than ferrous sulfate. In this randomized, independent groups study, 7 male, division III cross-country athletes were supplemented with either carbonyl iron or ferrous sulfate for 6 weeks. Blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, subjective GI distress, subjective fatigue, and relative exertion of recent training were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 weeks. Results were analyzed via one -way and repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) to determine significant differences in …

The Effects Of Wearing A Sports Mask Compared To A Standard Surgical Face Mask During The Forestry 5 Minute Submaximal Step Test, Christian Kumar

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

The existence of the COVID-19 global pandemic has forced the introduction of wearing face masks when in public spaces or in near proximity to others. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the physiological effects and perceptions of wearing a sports mask compared to a standard surgical face mask during exercise. Nineteen subjects, 10 male and 9 female subjects ranging between 19-25 years of age completed the 5-minute Forestry Step Test randomized to wear either an Under Armour sports mask, a standard surgical mask, or wearing no mask. Resting and post-exercise heart rate, RPE, and metabolic data was …

An Investigation Of The Natural History And Coloniality Of Mecynogea Lemniscata, Kassidy Mccall

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Understanding social and colonial spider species in the neotropics has aided in creating hypotheses for the evolution of sociality. Mecynogea lemniscata, the Basilica Orbweaver, is a species of spider that is identifiable by its distinct dome-shaped web. Mecynogea lemniscata has not been previously described as a social species, but this research indicates that the species does form social aggregations, or colonies, and should be classified as a colonial species. Unlike most described social spider species, M. lemniscata has a range that extends to temperate zones. Individual female spiders lived within communities containing a shared structural network and each individual female …

Comparison Of Training Load Between Ncaa Diii Tennis Resistance Training, Practices, And Matches, Lauren Pascadlo

Undergraduate Theses and Capstone Projects

Background: There are 7553 NCAA Division III tennis players, who play with less training coordination than elite players. Most training load research for tennis focuses on elite players, while Division III tennis load research is highly underdeveloped. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to describe the training load in Division III tennis players during resistance training, practices, and matches. The hypothesis is that Division III tennis match external and internal loads will be higher than external and internal loads required during practices. Methods: 6 male and female NCAA Division III tennis players participated in the study. Participants attended 2 …

Nsaid Use And Clinical Outcomes In Covid-19 Patients: A 38-Center Retrospective Cohort Study., Justin T Reese, Ben D Coleman, Lauren Chan, Hannah Blau, Tiffany J Callahan, Luca Cappelletti, Tommaso Fontana, Katie R Bradwell, Nomi L Harris, Elena Casiraghi, Giorgio Valentini, Guy Karlebach, Rachel Deer, Julie A Mcmurry, Melissa A Haendel, Christopher G Chute, Emily Pfaff, Richard Moffitt, Heidi Spratt, Jasvinder A Singh, Christopher J Mungall, Andrew E Williams, Peter N Robinson

Faculty Research 2022

BACKGROUND: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation but have been associated with complications in community-acquired pneumonia. Observations shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 suggested that ibuprofen was associated with an increased risk of adverse events in COVID-19 patients, but subsequent observational studies failed to demonstrate increased risk and in one case showed reduced risk associated with NSAID use.

METHODS: A 38-center retrospective cohort study was performed that leveraged the harmonized, high-granularity electronic health record data of the National COVID Cohort Collaborative. A propensity-matched cohort of 19,746 COVID-19 inpatients was …

Investigation Of The Direct Effect Of A Precision Ascophyllum Nodosum Biostimulant On Nitrogen Use Efficiency In Wheat Seedlings, Łukasz Łangowski, Oscar Goñi, Elomofe Ikuyinminu, Ewan Feeney, Shane O'Connell

Publications

Reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nitrogen (N) pollution of ground water by improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops has become an intensively investigated research topic in pursuit of a more sustainable future. Although, distinct solutions have been proposed there are only a few reports documenting the detailed interplay between observed plant growth dynamics and changes in plant N related transcriptional and biochemical changes. It was previously demonstrated that the application of a formulated biostimulant (PSI-362) derived from Ascophyllum nodosum (ANE) improves N uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana and in barley. In this study, the effect of PSI-362 …

Paternal Obesity And Effect Of Fish Oil Supplementation On Offspring Metabolic Health, Akriti Shrestha

Theses - ALL

Obesity and overweight arise due to an abnormal fat accumulation in the body that presents a risk to health. Individuals with body mass index (BMI) of greater than 30 kg/m2 are considered obese. CDC data show that 43% of the adults in the US are obese. The prevalence of obesity as well as its strong association with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are the serious concerns of public health which calls for the need of appropriate diet/nutrition that can minimize the negative effect of obesity. Literature suggests that 50% of the contribution to obesity can be attributed to genetics. However, studies …

Intrauterine Growth Restriction And Dietary Behaviors, Victoria-Marie Berlandi-Short

Theses - ALL

The long-term implications of maternal health behaviors on offspring are not well understood. Adverse events during the fetal developmental period have many implications on gestational and intergenerational health. In the case of severe maternal food restriction or famine, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) may occur. IUGR leads to health risks in the post-natal period, in childhood development, and may contribute to chronic disease onset later in adulthood. To understand the influence of suspected IUGR on offspring, this study assessed adult dietary behaviors across a spectrum of birth weight, controlling for gestational age. 102 healthy young adults completed at least two 24-hour …

Quantifying Population-Level Effects Of Warm-Water Catch-And-Release Mortality On Muskellunge (Esox Masquinongy) In The James River, Virginia, Cory J. Bauerlien

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Catch-and-release (C&R) has become a popular practice in many fisheries, both as a management strategy and as an angler ethic. The practice has been used to both increase the abundance and size structure of fish populations but relies heavily on the assumption that released fish survive the encounter. The Muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is a large-bodied, coolwater predatory game fish that is highly prized by many anglers. Many Muskellunge fisheries have transitioned to almost exclusively C&R angling. Muskellunge fisheries have increased in both number and popularity, particularly in southern and mid-Atlantic rivers. However, there is little information on population characteristics for …

Winter Use Of Winyah Bay, Sc By The Spiny Dogfish (Squalus Acanthias), And Their Movements South Of Cape Hatteras, Nc, Meredith L. Langford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

South of Cape Hatteras, NC, little is known about the coastal distribution and movement of the Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias. Between January 2018 and March 2020 this study conducted winter demersal longline sampling in Winyah Bay, SC to investigate habitat use by Spiny Dogfish. In addition to monitoring Winyah Bay use through catch-and-release, 13 individuals were outfitted with implanted Vemco™ acoustic transmitters to monitor large scale movements along the U.S. East Coast. Across three sampling seasons 84 female Spiny Dogfish were captured within lower Winyah Bay. No males were observed over the course of the study. The mean fork length …

Spanning The Auditory System: Subcortical And Cortical Auditory Processing Of Speech Sounds In Autistic And Typically Developing Children, Erin Stephanie Misato Matsuba

Theses - ALL

Autistic individuals often report atypical sensory processing, particularly in the auditory domain. However, the neural mechanisms that produce such symptoms are poorly understood. The Speech Auditory Brainstem Response (speech-ABR) and the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) are neurophysiological measures that capture different levels of auditory processing, such that the speech-ABR reflects processing at the subcortical level and the MMN measures cortical processing. The present study integrated both techniques in a multimethod approach, which spans both subcortical and cortical processing of speech sounds in a group of autistic children (n = 11) matched on chronological age and non-verbal IQ to their typically developing …

Loggerhead Shrike Detectability And Occurrence In Coastal South Carolina Urban Areas, Michelle Krauser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Grassland birds, such as the loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), are threatened by extensive land-use change, including urbanization. Loggerhead shrikes have been declining since the early 1900s and are rare or extirpated in portions of their former range. Obtaining reliable population estimates of loggerhead shrikes is important to identify demographic trends and ensure conservation decisions are based on an accurate assessment of their current status. Imperfect detection, or the inability to detect every shrike during a survey, can result in biased population estimates. Estimating detection probability is labor-intensive and requires assumptions that are difficult to satisfy in most field studies. Understanding …

Enzootic Trends Of Crassostrea Virginica And Perkinsus Marinus In North Inlet Estuary, South Carolina, Nico Martin D'Amico

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) co-occurs with the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus (the causative agent for "Dermo") in US Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico estuaries. Oyster host functions as an ecological engineer and agent for benthic-pelagic coupling are compromised when P. marinus infections are common in populations (prevalence) and high in individuals (intensity). P. marinus infections in oysters from North Inlet estuary, South Carolina were quantified in relation to shell height (60-76 mm, ≥76 mm), sex (functional female, male, indeterminate), water temperature, and salinity. Three fringing reefs on a longitudinal transect from the inlet mouth into the watershed were sampled …

The Nature Of Phenotypes: Provoking And Measuring The Dynamic Processes Of Swarm Expansion, Predation, And Antibiotic Resistance In Myxococcus Xanthus, Linnea Judith Ritchie

Dissertations - ALL

The question of how genotype affects phenotype has fascinated and puzzled scientists for generations. Regardless of organism, the correlation between observation and underlying condition is necessary for scientists to understand the world around us. Myxococcus xanthus, a fascinating organism with a large genome (7,314 genes), is known for complex social behaviors and is an excellent model system for the study of this relationship. Upon starvation, M. xanthus cells condense into large multicellular aggregates to await renewed nutrient availability. M. xanthus cells swarm together on surfaces as a predatory biofilm, lysing and killing prey as a singular unit. During predation, swarms …

Understanding How Whole Genome Duplication In Plants Impacts Herbivore-Plant Interactions, Anne Curé

Dissertations - ALL

Herbivory by insect herbivores is a strong selective force in many communities. Although herbivore-plant interactions have been a focus of interest for decades, we are still exploring how large-scale genetic changes in the host plant alters their interactions with insect herbivores. One such prevalent change in plants is whole-genome duplication (WGD), or polyploidy, but we are still learning how WGD affects ecological interactions. In particular, studies of herbivory on polyploids have primarily focused on established polyploid plant populations. Although this approach has yielded exciting results that suggest WGD affects insect herbivores feeding on polyploids, this approach also confounds the effects …

Sex Differences In Cancer Metabolism Contribute To Sex-Specific Treatment Responses, Jasmin Inge Sponagel

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Many human diseases show sex differences in incidence, age of onset, and outcome, including autoimmune diseases, neurological diseases, psychiatric disorders, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, and cancer. For most cancers, incidence and mortality rates are higher in males. Lung and brain cancers are no exception. Overall, lung cancer is more common in males. Furthermore, mortality rates of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common subtype of lung cancer, are significantly higher in males. The underlying reasons for sex differences in NSCLC mortality rates are largely unknown. Most brain cancers are also more common in males. The male prevalence …

Assembly And Repair Of Photosystem Ii, Virginia M. Johnson

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Photosystem II is a light-driven water-plastoquinone oxidoreductase present in cyanobacteria, plants, and algae. It is the photosynthetic membrane protein complex responsible for oxidizing water into molecular oxygen, which is necessary for life as we know it. As a multi-subunit membrane-protein-pigment complex, Photosystem II undergoes a complex cycle of assembly, damage, and repair called the Photosystem II lifecycle. This cycle must consistently occur to maintain a high level of photosynthetic activity at the cellular level. Cyanobacteria, oxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, are frequently used as model organisms to study oxygenic photosynthetic processes due to their ease of growth and genetic manipulation. Cyanobacterial PSII …

Tertiary Lymphoid Tissue In The Urinary Bladder Of Aging Mice And Women, Marianne Morris Ligon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infection of women, affecting roughly half of all women during their lifetime. UTIs frequently recur within 6 months to 1 year of the initial infection to cause recurrent UTIs (rUTIs). Repeated treatment of rUTIs with antibiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance, disruption of the microbiota, and adverse effects of the drugs. To avoid excess antibiotic use, there is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms of host defense against infection to identify new targets for UTI treatment and prophylaxis in women with rUTIs. Postmenopausal and older women have the highest risk of …

Overcoming Genetic Heterogeneity In Glioblastoma By Targeting Transcriptional Dependencies, Tatenda Mahlokozera

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common intrinsic central nervous system malignancy in adults, accounting for approximately 45% of such cancers. Despite advances in chemo- and radiotherapeutic approaches for various malignancies over the past decade, GBM remains an incurable disease with a dismal prognosis. Even after treatment with the current standard of care, which consists of maximal safe surgical resection, radiotherapy, and both concomitant and adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide, median survival is only approximately 17 months. Both treatment failure and difficulties in developing novel targeted therapies for GBM have partly been attributed to the molecular and cellular inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity …

Fibroblast Growth Factor 15/19 Expression, Regulation, And Function: An Overview, Greg Guthrie, Caitlin Vonderohe, Douglas Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Since the discovery of fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-19 over 20 years ago, our understanding of the peptide and its role in human biology has moved forward significantly. A member of a superfamily of paracrine growth factors regulating embryonic development, FGF19 is unique in that it is a dietary-responsive endocrine hormone linked with bile acid homeostasis, glucose and lipid metabolism, energy expenditure, and protein synthesis during the fed to fasted state. FGF19 achieves this through targeting multiple tissues and signaling pathways within those tissues. The diverse functional capabilities of FGF19 is due to the unique structural characteristics of the protein and …

Understanding The Role Of Involucrin In Skin Inflammation, Alina Schmidt

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Terminally differentiated keratinocytes are essential for skin barrier function and are surrounded by an involucrin (IVL)-rich cornified envelope. Increased IVL expression in the epidermis is associated with recent positive selection in European populations, yet the functional significance of this finding is unclear. An upstream enhancer of IVL, the 923 enhancer, regulates IVL expression, and the impact of IVL enhancer variants on involucrin expression in modifying the penetrance of filaggrin (FLG) loss-of-function variants associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) has not been explored. I hypothesize involucrin to modulate the environmentally sensitive Vitamin D receptor (Vdr) activity in the epidermis and involucrin enhancer …

Antioxidant Synergy Of The Glutathione Pathway And Incidence Of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review, Chelsea Clareann Yager

Theses - ALL

Background: The etiopathogenesis dopaminergic neuron dysfunction of Parkinson's Disease (PD) has not been clearly established. Oxidative stress is a commonly proposed causative mechanism for this dysfunction as variations in antioxidant intake have been observed between older adults with and without PD. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the synergistic relationship between antioxidant micronutrients of the glutathione pathway and the incidence of PD in older adults. Methods: This systematic review evaluated the relationship between the intake of vitamins C, D, and E, and selenium, riboflavin and niacin and incidence of PD according to PRISMA guidelines. Four electronic databases …