Life Sciences Commons^™

Characterisation Of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Mutations And Transmission In Pakistan, Gary Napier, Anwar Sheed Khan, Abdul Jabbar, Muhammad Tahir Khan, Sajid Ali, Muhammad Qasim, Noor Mohammad, Rumina Hasan, Zahra Hasan, Susana Campino

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a high-burden disease in Pakistan, with multi-drug (MDR) and extensive-drug (XDR) resistance, complicating infection control. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of M. tuberculosis is being used to infer lineages (strain-types), drug resistance mutations, and transmission patterns-all informing infection control and clinical decision making. Here we analyse WGS data on 535 M. tuberculosis isolates sourced across Pakistan between years 2003 and 2020, to understand the circulating strain-types and mutations related to 12 anti-TB drugs, as well as identify transmission clusters. Most isolates belonged to lineage 3 (n = 397; 74.2%) strain-types, and were MDR (n = …

Temporal Variation Of Bacterial Community And Nutrients In Tibetan Glacier Snowpack, Yuying Chen, Keshao Liu, Yongqin Liu, Trista J. Vick‐Majors, Feng Wang, Mukan Ji

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The Tibetan Plateau harbors the largest number of glaciers outside the polar regions, which are the source of several major rivers in Asia. These glaciers are also major sources of nutrients for downstream ecosystems, while there is a little amount of data available on the nutrient transformation processes on the glacier surface. Here, we monitored the carbon and nitrogen concentration changes in a snowpit following a snowfall in the Dunde Glacier of the Tibetan Plateau. The association of carbon and nitrogen changes with bacterial community dynamics was investigated in the surface and subsurface snow (depth at 0-15 and 15-30 cm, …

Bismuth Nanoparticle And Polyhydroxybutyrate Coatings Enhance The Radiopacity Of Absorbable Inferior Vena Cava Filters For Fluoroscopy-Guided Placement And Longitudinal Computed Tomography Monitoring In Pigs, Jossana A Damasco, Steven Y Huang, Joy Vanessa D Perez, John Andrew T Manongdo, Katherine A Dixon, Malea L Williams, Megan C Jacobsen, Roland Barbosa, Gino Martin Canlas, Gouthami Chintalapani, Adam D Melancon, Rick R Layman, Natalie W Fowlkes, Elizabeth M Whitley, Marites P Melancon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) constructed with poly-

Ndrg1 In Aggressive Breast Cancer Progression And Brain Metastasis, Emilly S Villodre, Xiaoding Hu, Bedrich L Eckhardt, Richard Larson, Lei Huo, Ester C Yoon, Yun Gong, Juhee Song, Shuying Liu, Naoto T Ueno, Savitri Krishnamurthy, Stefan Pusch, Debu Tripathy, Wendy A Woodward, Bisrat G Debeb

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: N-Myc downstream regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) suppresses metastasis in many human malignancies, including breast cancer, yet has been associated with worse survival in patients with inflammatory breast cancer. The role of NDRG1 in the pathobiology of aggressive breast cancers remains elusive.

METHODS: To study the role of NDRG1 in tumor growth and brain metastasis in vivo, we transplanted cells into cleared mammary fat pads or injected them in tail veins of SCID/Beige mice (n = 7-10 per group). NDRG1 protein expression in patient breast tumors (n = 216) was assessed by immunohistochemical staining. Kaplan-Meier method with 2-sided log-rank test …

Bioactive Volatiles From Push-Pull Companion Crops Repel Fall Armyworm And Attract Its Parasitoids, Islam S. Sobhy, Amanuel Tamiru, Xavier Chiriboga Morales, Dickens Nyagol, Duncan Cheruiyot, Frank Chidawanyika, Sevgan Subramanian, Charles A.O. Midega, Toby J.A. Bruce, Zeyaur R. Khan

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a serious invasive pest in Africa but “Push-Pull” companion cropping can substantially reduce infestation. Here, we elucidate the underpinning chemical ecology mechanisms. We hypothesized that companion crop volatiles repel herbivores (push) while attracting natural enemies (pull). Headspace volatiles collected from companion plants (Desmodium intortum, Desmodium uncinatum, Brachiaria Mulato II) were used in bioassays and electrophysiological recordings with S. frugiperda and parasitoid wasps. Insect populations, plant damage and herbivore parasitism were assessed in field plots. Coupled GC-electroantennogram (GC-EAG) recordings showed robust responses to certain aromatic and terpenoid volatile compounds. In wind tunnel bioassays, maize volatiles mixed …

“Many People Have No Idea”: A Qualitative Analysis Of Healthcare Barriers Among Yazidi Refugees In The Midwestern United States, Falah Rashoka, Megan S. Kelley, Jeong‑Kyun Choi, Marc A. Garcia, Weiwen Chai, Hazim N. Rashawka

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has shed new light on inequities in healthcare access faced by immigrant and refugee communities. To address ongoing disparities, there is an urgent need for ecological approaches to better understand the barriers that hinder and resources that facilitate access to healthcare. This study investigates barriers to healthcare system access faced by Yazidi refugees in the Midwestern United States.

Methods: Informed by the Interpretative Phenomenological Approach, three focus group meetings with a community advisory board were conducted between September 2019 and January 2020. The nine-member focus group included social workers, healthcare providers, and members of …

Temporal Variation Of Bacterial Community And Nutrients In Tibetan Glacier Snowpack, Yuying Chen, Keshao Liu, Yongqin Liu, Trista J. Vick‐Majors, Feng Wang, Mukan Ji

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The Tibetan Plateau harbors the largest number of glaciers outside the polar regions, which are the source of several major rivers in Asia. These glaciers are also major sources of nutrients for downstream ecosystems, while there is a little amount of data available on the nutrient transformation processes on the glacier surface. Here, we monitored the carbon and nitrogen concentration changes in a snowpit following a snowfall in the Dunde Glacier of the Tibetan Plateau. The association of carbon and nitrogen changes with bacterial community dynamics was investigated in the surface and subsurface snow (depth at 0–15 and 15–30 cm, …

Pemilihan Teknik Aplikasi Dan Dosis Pupuk Hayati Pelarut Kalium Untuk Meningkatkan Serapan Kalium Dan Pertumbuhan Tanaman Jagung Pada Tanah Inceptisols, Diyan Herdiyantoro, Tualar Simarmata, Mieke Rochimi Setiawati, Nenny Nurlaeny, Benny Joy, Mahfud Arifin, Jajang Sauman Hamdani, Iin Handayani

Jurnal Kultivasi

Salah satu strategi yang diterapkan pada pupuk hayati untuk menunjukkan efek positif pada tanaman yang diinokulasi adalah pemilihan teknik aplikasi dan dosis yang tepat, baik pada tanah, benih, atau kombinasi keduanya. Tujuan dari percobaan ini adalah mendapatkan teknik aplikasi dan dosis pupuk hayati pelarut K yang memberikan hasil terbaik terhadap penyerapan K dan pertumbuhan tanaman jagung (Zea mays L.) pada Inceptisols Jatinangor. Percobaan dilaksanakan pada November 2018-Januari 2019 di rumah kaca Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Padjadjaran. Percobaan menggunakan rancangan acak kelompok dengan 9 perlakuan dan 3 kali ulangan. Perlakuan terdiri dari tanpa perlakuan (kontrol), aplikasi pada benih 400 g.ha-1 dan 800 …

Pengaruh Cuaca, Musuh Alami, Dan Persentase Kerusakan Buah Terhadap Populasi Serangga Penyerbuk Kelapa Sawit Di Tanah Sulfat Masam, Rio Dwi Pernando, Darwati Susilastuti, Fetty Dwi Rahmayanti, Fizrul Indra Lubis

Jurnal Kultivasi

Produktivitas kelapa sawit tidak terlepas dari peran serangga penyerbuk Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust. Berbagai kondisi lingkungan yang kurang mendukung dan musuh alami dapat menurunkan populasinya. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mempelajari pengaruh cuaca, musuh alami dan persentase kerusakan buah terhadap populasi serangga penyerbuk E. kamerunicus di tanah sulfat masam. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan metode observasi di lapang produksi di Selangkun Estate, Rungun Estate, PT. Sawit Sumbermas Sarana Tbk. dan Kanamit Estate, PT. Menteng Kencana Mas, Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia pada tanaman berumur 6 dan 9 tahun sebanyak 4.144 tanaman atau seluas 30 ha.. Analisis data pada penelitian ini menggunakan ANOVA dan Uji lanjut Tukey …

Analysis Of Invasive Aedes Japonicus Populations And Bloodmeals In Rural, Suburban, And Urban Land-Use Conditions, Matthew Oberholtzer Ms

Student Scholarship

Adult female mosquitoes were collected at six sites with differing land-use and

livestock characteristics to characterize populations and bloodmeal habits of the invasive

vector mosquito species, Aedes japonicus in Southern Maine. Mosquitoes were collected

and DNA was extracted for PCR amplification of cytochrome C oxidase I (COi)

mitochondrial DNA for barcoding analysis of vertebrate bloodmeals. A total of 7460

adult female mosquitoes were collected, with 444 being Ae. japonicus (5.6%). This

indicates an established breeding population of Ae. japonicus in Southern Maine. The

rural site adjacent to livestock had the highest yield of total mosquitoes as well as the

catch …

Potensi Hasil Dan Nutrisi Beberapa Genotipe Tanaman Sorgum Lokal Jawa Timur Sebagai Calon Tetua Persilangan, Maftuchah, Dian Puji Rahayu, Agus Zainudin, Sulistyawati, Hendry Sulistiyanto

Jurnal Kultivasi

Tanaman sorgum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) merupakan tanaman sumber pangan, pakan ternak, dan bahan baku industri yang memiliki potensi untuk dikembangkan di Indonesia. Permasalahan utama dalam komoditas ini adalah masih terbatasnya varietas lokal yang sesuai dengan lingkungan di Indonesia sehingga perlu diupayakan pencarian genotipe lokal sorgum sebagai calon tetua persilangan. Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah untuk mendapatkan informasi potensi daya hasil dan kualitas produk berbagai genotipe sorgum lokal Jawa Timur sebagai calon tetua persilangan untuk menghasilkan varietas unggul. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di lahan percobaan Desa Purutrejo, Kecamatan Purworejo, Kota Pasuruan-Jawa Timur. Bahan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu 9 genotipe tanaman …

Potensi Hasil Dan Uji Keseragaman Famili F7 Padi Gogo Tahan Rebah Hasil Persilangan Padi Lokal Bangka X Varietas Unggul, Eries Dyah Mustikarini, Gigih Ibnu Prayoga, Ratna Santi, Widodo Wisnu Murti

Jurnal Kultivasi

Perakitan tanaman padi gogo yang akan dilepaskan sebagai varietas harus memiliki keseragaman dan kestabilan yang tinggi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keseragaman famili F7 pada tanaman padi gogo tahan rebah dan mendapatkan galur harapan dengan daya hasil tertinggi pada tanaman padi gogo F7. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada bulan Desember 2020 sampai Mei 2021, di Kebun Penelitian dan Percobaan (KP2), Fakultas Pertanian Perikanan dan Biologi, Universitas Bangka Belitung. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimen dengan rancangan percobaan berupa rancangan acak kelompok yang diulang sebanyak 3 kali. Perlakuan terdiri dari 5 galur F7 padi gogo dan 5 varietas pembanding. Analisis data karakter kualitatif …

Tri-Set Training System Induces A High Muscle Swelling With Short Time Commitment In Resistance-Trained Subjects: A Cross-Over Study, Julio Benvenutti Bueno De Camargo, Rafael Sakai Zaroni, Antônio Carlos Tavares Júnior, Thiago Pires De Oliveira, Thiago Barbosa Trindade, Charles Ricardo Lopes, Felipe Brigatto

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 561-569, 2022. The purpose of the present study was to assess performance and morphological acute responses to the tri-set (TRI) resistance-training system. In a random order, 18 subjects (years: 30.0 ± 5.6; weight: 81.8 ± 13.4 kg; height: 173 ± 6.2 cm; RT experience: 4.6 ± 1.7 years) performed 3 exercises targeting the pectoralis major muscle in two different experimental conditions: traditional system (TRAD) and TRI. The TRAD protocol referred to the completion of a single exercise set followed by a rest period. For the TRI protocol, one set of each exercise was performed …

Conference Report: Biocuration 2021 Virtual Conference., Federica Quaglia, Rama Balakrishnan, Susan M. Bello, Nicole Vasilevsky

Faculty Research 2022

The International Society for Biocuration (ISB) aims to promote the field of biocuration and provide a community forum for information exchange and networking. Over the past 14 years, the ISB has hosted annual international conferences, entirely dedicated to the field of biocuration, that rotate between regions across the world. These meetings bring together biocurators from various roles, including database curators, bioinformaticians, ontology developers and students. Due to the ongoing global pandemic, the 14th Annual ISB Biocuration Conference (ISB2021) was held virtually in the form of four sessions and one workshop over the course of the year. Each of the four …

Novel Nano-Sized, Chitosan-Coated, Meta-Vivianite And Its Solubility In An Electrolyte Solution And A Soil Saturated Paste Extract, Li-Ting Yen

Student Research Symposium

Iron (Fe) plays a vital role in plant growth as an essential micronutrient. However, Fe deficiency is common in plants cultivated in calcareous soils due to the formation of insoluble Fe oxides at high pH. Phosphorus deficiency (P) is also common in calcareous soils due to precipitation with calcium and or sorption to mineral surfaces. Metavivianite (metaVT) is a hydrated iron phosphate mineral containing both ferrous and ferric iron (Fe3-x2+Fex3+(PO4)2(OH)x∙(8-x)H2O). Chitosan (CTS), the N-deacetylated derivative of chitin, has antifungal and antibacterial properties in various applications, and it has been reported that chitosan improves plants’ defenses against a wide range of …

Synthetic Hagfish Slime: Mechanical Characterization, Hayden Johns, Spencer Walker

Student Research Symposium

Hagfish are ancient animals that eject a strong slime when attacked by predators. The slime that the hagfish emit is composed of protein strands that cause it to have incredible strength. To defend against foes, the Navy launches plastic ropes into the propellers of enemy warships in order to decrease the thrust of the motors. In a push to find a more biodegradable solution, the utilization of hagfish slime has shown greatpromise in stopping propellers.We hope to understand how this remarkable biomaterial withstands the impact of a sharp and quickly rotating propeller, while simultaneously reducing the thrust of the propeller. …

Utah Tick Surveillance, Keith Wilson

Student Research Symposium

As vectors of numerous dangerous pathogens, ticks are a public health concern around the world. In Utah, investigations are currently underway to determine the abundance of ticks in publicly accessible wilderness, as well as their capacity to be reservoirs for B. burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Current investigations are follow-up to prior surveillance in Utah and will help illuminate changes in tick distributions over time. The findings of these investigations will be of great value not only to researchers but also to the public as they recreate in tick habitat. This project presents one way to condense and …

Effects Of Patch Size And Nest Density On Artificial Nest Survival In Grasslands, Victoria L. Simonsen, Erica F. Stuber, Joseph J. Fontaine

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Habitat patch size is sometimes negatively associated with nest predation rates, but there remains considerable variation in its effect size. The area, shape, amount of edge, and quality of vegetation associated with a patch all correlate with patch size, and each can alter nest predation rates independently; however, the picture is further complicated because the patch itself is part of a larger landscape that may influence processes within the patch. To separate the effect of patch size from other ecological correlates of nest predation, we used artificial nests within a full factorial design where treatments included small and large habitat …

The Affect That Injuries Can Have On Collegiate Athletes Mental Health, Emily Dority

Student Research Symposium

This presentation provides research that answers the question of whether injuries affect collegiate athletes mentally. College athletes have a lot of mental challenges that they deal with behind the scenes. If an injury were to occur, the amount of stress and anxiety that the athlete feels would significantly increase. This research aims to determine if universities and colleges are providing the proper mental health resources to their student-athletes who have been affected by an injury. This research was conducted by reviewing both primary and secondary sources that provided first-hand accounts from collegiate athletes who struggled with their mental health after …

Evaluating Gizzard Shad Dorosoma Cepedianum Populations In Two Kentucky Reservoirs Recently Invaded With Silver Carp Hypopthalmichthys Molitrix, Nathan Klein

Scholars Week

Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum are an ecologically important fish species found in many reservoirs throughout the southeastern United States such as Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. One current challenge that Gizzard Shad may face in these two reservoirs is competition with the invasive Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix. However, quantifying the impacts of this competition may be difficult because of limited baseline population data for Gizzard Shad in these two reservoirs. The objective of this study is to describe size structure, condition, age, growth, mortality, and spawning potential of these two populations. Gizzard Shad were collected by boat electrofishing and …

Independent And Interactive Effects Of Genetic Background And Sex On Tissue Metabolomes Of Adipose, Skeletal Muscle, And Liver In Mice., Ann E Wells, William T Barrington, Stephen Dearth, Nikhil Milind, Gregory W. Carter, David W Threadgill, Shawn R Campagna, Brynn H Voy

Faculty Research 2022

Genetics play an important role in the development of metabolic diseases. However, the relative influence of genetic variation on metabolism is not well defined, particularly in tissues, where metabolic dysfunction that leads to disease occurs. We used inbred strains of laboratory mice to evaluate the impact of genetic variation on the metabolomes of tissues that play central roles in metabolic diseases. We chose a set of four common inbred strains that have different levels of susceptibility to obesity, insulin resistance, and other common metabolic disorders. At the ages used, and under standard husbandry conditions, these lines are not overtly diseased. …

Analysis Of The Relationship Between Oxytocin Receptor Mutations, Oxytocin Receptor Binding And Autism, Ethan Dayley

Student Research Symposium

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a common neurological disorder with a wide range of symptoms, many of them social in nature. Although there is a large body on research regarding ASD, up until now there is no gene-brain-behavior link that has shown the exact cause of ASD. In 2018, Dr. Sara Freeman's research showed differences in oxytocin receptor (OXTR) binding density in two brain regions between typically developing and ASD individuals. Here we show that about 50% of the variation seen in Dr. Freeman's study can be explained by genetic variations (single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs) in the OXTR gene, …

Effects Of Eccentric Overload Training When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training On Muscle Function Measures, Cassidy Weeks

Student Research Symposium

Previous research done at Utah State using a novel training machine, the Eccentron, has shown large improvements in muscular strength compared to traditional resistance training in a time and energy-efficient manner. This type of training could be beneficial for clinicians looking for a modality that can elicit rapid and large strength increases in populations that may not tolerate traditional resistance training. The strength gains made from the Eccentron did not transfer to vertical jump height or sprint speed indicating limited use for training the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). SSC is a critical contributor to functional and sport performance measures and is …

How Fire Severity Influences Black Bear Space Use, Emily Lowrimore

Student Research Symposium

The American black bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species in North America and inhabits forested areas throughout Utah state. Black bears provide a variety of ecosystem services including seed dispersal, opportunity for hunting, and offering a representation of pristine wilderness. Food source availability is believed to be the driving force behind black bear movement, habitat selection, and home range formation. Ensuring that black bears have a variety of vegetation types available to them is crucial to their success. Wildfire is a major disturbance in the forested regions black bears occupy and can cause dramatic habitat changes that …

Could Differences In Aerobic Capacity Between Lower Limbs Negatively Impact Mobility Among Older Adults?, Daxton Kennington, Chayston Brown

Student Research Symposium

Falls are a primary cause of injury and mortality among older adults with 28.7% reporting falling each year. Previous research has found lower limb asymmetries are not strictly due to strength differences or previous injury among young, healthy individuals. Our proposed strategy will assess aerobic capacity between limbs and quantify asymmetries by comparing VO2 peak and power in single limb cycling vs. double limb cycling tests. We hypothesis that individuals with asymmetries (limb differences) will have greater fall risk and worsened mobility than individuals without asymmetries. Our sampling will include individuals 65 years of age and older. Limb dominance will …

Light Requirements For Germination Of Native Intermountain West Wetland Species In Competition With Phragmites Australis, Sage Chatterton

Student Research Symposium

Wetlands are important ecosystems that provide many services including carbon sequestration, flood mitigation, improved water quality, migratory bird habitat, etc. However, many wetlands in the Intermountain West are in a degraded state due to the introduction of invasive species, Phragmites australis, which displaces native communities. Wetland managers can reduce Phragmites invasion and improve restoration efforts by understanding differences in germination requirements among species, as germination greatly affects plant success. This research aims to better understand the effects of light duration and intensity on the germination of native wetland species in comparison to Phragmites.

Responses Of Utah Native Plants To Saline Water Irrigation, Asmita Paudel

Student Research Symposium

Native plants are of great value in urban landscape as they are drought, disease, and pest tolerant. Use of native plants also helps to reduce air pollution and promote biodiversity. However, limited information exists for salinity stress responses of native plants. Four Utah native plants [Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick), Cercocarpus ledifolius (curl-leaf mountain mahogany), Cercocarpus montanus ‘Coy’ (alder-leaf mountain mahogany), and Shepherdia × utahensis ‘Torrey’ (hybrid buffaloberry)] were evaluated for relative salinity tolerance under greenhouse conditions. Plants were irrigated with a nutrient solution at an electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.2 dS·m-1 (control) or saline solutions at ECs of 5.0 or 10.0 …

Evolution Of Floral Microbes And The Resulting Effects On Pollinator Preferences, Hailey Hatch

Student Research Symposium

Floral microbes are an overlooked aspect of the extended floral phenotype. They mediate interactions between flowers, pollinators, and other floral microbes that have significant implications for pollinator and plant health by altering floral nectar chemistry. The interactions between floral microbes and pollinators are critically important to understand as pollinators have a key role in both the crop and natural ecosystem world. Our aim is to explore how floral nectar traits may affect evolution and competition within the floral yeast Metchnikowia reukaufii, the floral bacteria Bacillus subtilis, and other microbes isolated from Brassica rapa nectar. To address this, we are conducting …

Developing A Novel Method For Testing Stopping Ability For Balance Recovery, Charlie Baggett, Chase Mitton

Student Research Symposium

This is a pilot study to determine a new method to assess response inhibition in a reactive balance context. Our aim is to create a method for assessing inhibition of a balance recovery step similar to past cognitive neuroscience research where button press responses in seated participants are used. A total of 17 young adults (18-30 years) were recruited for testing using the ReacStick and lean & release system in which participants were placed in a harness connected by a support cable to the wall behind them and another failsafe cable attached from the ceiling. Participants leaned into the support …

Correction Of F508del And G542x Mutations In Sheep Fibroblasts Of Cystic Fibrosis Models Using Crispr/Cas9 And Piggybac, Kaden Bunch

Student Research Symposium

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a human genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. Among the ~2000 known CF mutations, F508del mutation is found in 84% and G542X in 4.6% of the CF patients in US, respectively. The F508del mutation occurs in the exon 11 and is characterized by the deletion of the ‘CTT’ nucleotides that ultimately deletes the Phenylalanine residue at the position 508 of CFTR. It causes the misfolding of the CFTR protein, which is further degraded by proteases. The G542X is a nonsense mutation found in the exon 12 and associated with …