Life Sciences Commons^™

Disruptive Technologies In Smart Farming: An Expanded View With Sentiment Analysis, Sargam Yadav, Abhishek Kaushik, Mahak Sharma, Shubham Sharma

Articles

Smart Farming (SF) is an emerging technology in the current agricultural landscape. The aim of Smart Farming is to provide tools for various agricultural and farming operations to improve yield by reducing cost, waste, and required manpower. SF is a data-driven approach that can mitigate losses that occur due to extreme weather conditions and calamities. The influx of data from various sensors, and the introduction of information communication technologies (ICTs) in the field of farming has accelerated the implementation of disruptive technologies (DTs) such as machine learning and big data. Application of these predictive and innovative tools in agriculture is …

The Short- And Long-Term Effects On The Microbiome Of Infants Who Are Exposed To Opioids In Utero, Dawson Brown-Ezell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: The gut microbiome is believed to have a significant impact on health throughout the lifespan, and the influence of infant nutrition and other environmental factors are of particular interest in its development. The aim of this research project was to learn more about the microbiome and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) composition of toddlers of differing weights, considering birth history, environment, and diet. In East Tennessee, opioid misuse is a growing issue, and a number of participants in this study were exposed in utero. We also hoped to identify related effects on infant’s SCFA composition. Finally, it is known …

An Assessment Of Geographic And Taxonomic Biases In Research On Climate Change-Related Range Shifts, Evan J. Parker

Library Map Prize

Geographic and taxonomic biases in ecological literature inhibit the ability of research to be generalized or translated to other systems. This is particularly true with research on climate change-related range shifts, where a diverse and representative set of observations is needed to understand the significant heterogeneity of range shifts and improve models. A literature review was conducted and biases were assessed by examining the geographic location of study areas, the taxonomic makeup of study species, and the location of study areas within species ranges. A substantial geographic skew towards terrestrial, mid-latitude North America and Europe was observed. However, taxonomic coverage …

Nutrition Education And The Effects On Athletic Performance In Collegiate Athletes With Low Energy Availability, Karleigh Sudenga

Health and Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students Plan B Capstone Projects

Current research suggests that collegiate athletes lack nutritional knowledge needed for optimal athletic performance. The absence of basic nutritional knowledge in college athletes puts them at an increased risk for RED-S and its sports performance consequences. The objective of this narrative review is to evaluate the literature on low energy availability in collegiate athletes and determine if nutrition education can improve athletic performance. Multiple studies concluded that nutrition education may improve dietary intake in collegiate athletes, while there was one contradicting study that found that athletes improved nutritional knowledge but did not improve dietary intake. 3 studies found that low …

Narrative Review Of The Relationship Between Depression And Low Blood Folate And Vitamin B12 Levels, Jennifer Sip

Health and Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students Plan B Capstone Projects

Depression is a common psychological mood disorder that impacts more than 16 million adults in the United States. It can impact several areas of a person’s life including physical activity, diet and daily activities. The role of nutrition in depression therapy has been researched for several years, with folate and vitamin B12 being the main highlights. Folate and vitamin B12 play a vital role in the development of the central nervous system and conversion of homocysteine to methionine. Past research has found inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between folate, vitamin B12 and their role in depression. This article dives into …

An Investigation Of Hhv6'S Impact On The Cognitive Progression And Microglial Changes In An Alzheimer's Disease Cohort, Charles E. Seaks

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

The role of herpesviruses and, more specifically, HHV6 in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and associated cognitive decline is still being investigated. High ubiquity and prevalence in the population have led to a high degree of skepticism about HHV6 as a potential contributor to cognitive decline and dementias. However, recent evidence related to another herpesvirus, herpes simplex virus 1, suggests that reactivation, not carriage, of the virus may be the key factor to explain the dissonance between the virus’ ubiquity and contributions to dementias. With that in mind, we set out to assess cases from the Sanders-Brown Center on …

Journal Of The Arkansas Academy Of Science - Volume 76, 2022, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Distal Urogenital Anatomy In The Male Wood Frog, Lithobates Sylvaticus (Anura: Ranidae), Stanley E. Trauth

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

I investigated the microanatomy of the distal urogenital system of the male Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) from a small sample (n = 6) collected in northern Arkansas in February 2020. Specifically, my primary objectives were as follows: 1) to focus on the histology of the paired Wolffian (urogenital) ducts caudally from the kidneys to their merging with the urodeum of the cloaca, 2) to reveal the structure of the paired seminal vesicles (sperm storage structures), and 3) to compare epithelial morphologies between the distal urogenital tract and its neighboring distal alimentary tract. This information will promote a clearer …

A Study Of Dental Pathology In River Otters (Lontra Canadensis) In Arkansas, C. Renn Tumlison, Jimmie Harper, Karson Grant

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

River otters (Lontra canadensis) consume a variety of foods, including mussels, fishes, and crayfishes. These foods have hard body parts that cause wear of the teeth as the predator ages and incurs more damaging feeding experiences. This can lead to exposure of the pulp cavity and possible abscess and resorption of bone around the alveolus. Further, strong bites against harder parts of prey sometimes results in mechanical breakage, which can lead to pulpitis and severe pathology leading to tooth loss. We investigated the frequency of different forms of dental issues in a sample of 178 skulls of river …

Energy Content Of Seeds Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) In The Diet Of Mourning Doves (Zenaida Macroura) In Southeastern New Mexico, John L. Hunt, Matthew E. Grilliot, Troy L. Best, Faith A. Johnson, Tyneshia L. Kilgore, Cade M. Wilkerson

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a common forage plant that grows over much of the United States. It has drawn interest as a possible feedstock for biofuels, is used as forage for livestock, is planted for soil conservation, and is a component of the diet of some species of wildlife. We analyzed the energy content of seeds of switchgrass obtained from the crops of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) collected from plains-mesa sand-scrub in Lea and Eddy counties, New Mexico. Seeds were removed from crops and dried for 48 hours at 60°C to remove moisture and standardize masses. …

Yellow-Rumped Warblers (Setophaga Coronata) Sipping Sap From Sapsucker Wells, Ragupathy Kannan, Renn Tumlison

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is one of the most ecologically generalized of the warblers. It feeds primarily on invertebrates, but often switches to fruit during winter, utilizing a wide array of foraging maneuvers. It also uses a variety of foraging substrates. Reports of these warblers taking sap from sapsucker wells are rare. Here we report 3 instances of sapsucking Yellow-rumped Warblers from Arkansas. All three observations were immediately preceded by extreme cold weather with snow or ice precipitation. We hypothesize that opportunistic sapsucking from sapsucker holes may be another strategy employed by the species to meet its …

Business Meeting Report (Secretary's And Treasurer's Report), Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Instructions To Authors, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Borrowed Capital And Factors Affecting Its Utilization Among Rice Farmers In The Province Of Albay, Philippines, Elmer A. Lorenzana

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

Agricultural credit programs provide opportunities for farmers to acquire the necessary farm inputs and apply appropriate technologies. However, it remains a challenge for farmers to use the credit for what it was intended for. This study aimed to measure the factors affecting the utilization of borrowed capital of 233 randomly selected rice farmers from the province of Albay using binary logit as its analytical procedure. The factors influencing the utilization of borrowed capital are the type of the optimization behavior of the farmers, sex, family size, and farm size. The output maximizers and the male farmers have a higher probability …

A Comparison Of Chimpanzee Wound Rates Before And During Covid-19 Zoo Closures, Robin Elana Salak

All Master's Theses

Visitor effect studies have had inconsistent impacts on animals, due in part to the inability to control for all confounding variables such as time of day, seasonal weather patterns, and so forth. This study represents the first instance where chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) wounding frequencies were investigated across extensive time periods in the presence and complete absence of visitors, thus eliminating many visitor-related variables. Additional variables were eliminated through the zoo selection process, based on institutional responses to a 29-question survey, providing a novel approach to the question of visitor effects. The aim of this study was to determine …

Associations Between Atherogenic Markers And Hearing Loss: National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey: 2011-2012, 2015-2016, Anna Anya Rombakh

All Master's Theses

Importance Hearing loss (HL) is a major public health problem that has been previously found to be associated with abnormal atherogenic markers.

Objective To investigate the associations between such atherogenic markers and the degree of HL using continuous NHANES data from cycle years 2011-2012 and 2015-2016.

Design, Study, and Participants This observational study used data from two National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycle years 2011-2012 and 2015-2016. NHANES continuously conducts data collection via home interviews and physical exams completed in their Mobile Examination Centers. NHANES participants ages 20-69 who partook in audiometry, anthropometric and laboratory testing were included. …

Longitudinal Patterns Of Microplastic Abundance And Potential For Food Web Uptake In The Yakima River, Janell Shah

All Master's Theses

Microplastic (MP) pollutes environments worldwide, but the ecological consequences remain largely unknown. While MP research has historically focused on marine environments, recent work has increasingly investigated rivers as transporters of MP from terrestrial sources to the ocean. Some studies have documented instances of MP consumption in a river food web, but few have investigated multiple consumers at different points along a river continuum. This study enumerated the MP abundance in the water column, biofilm, and four macroinvertebrate families from different functional feeding groups across nine sites spanning 344 kilometers from the headwaters to the mouth of the Yakima River in …

Factors Influencing Intestinal Parasite In Black-And-White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia Variegata), Eliette Noromalala

All Master's Theses

Ecological factors, such as feeding behavior and climatic seasonality, might influence intestinal parasite infection and patterns in non-human primates. Here, we examined if frugivory levels and climate (i.e., temperature and rainfall) were associated with parasite patterns in black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata). Feeding data using 5-min focal sampling, climate data, and fecal samples from V. variegata (n = 23) at the “Mangevo” site were collected from February through May 2019. Microscopic examinations of fecal flotation and sedimentation were done to identify and count parasites. Nematoda (Callistoura vauceli, and Strongyloides sp.) Ciliophora (Balantidium sp.), Coccidia ( …

Determining The Effects Of Chemical Exposure On Hepatocyte Mitochondrial Networks And Cell Viability, Bethany Eaton

All Master's Theses

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that are becoming more recently studied. One of their main functions is the production of energy through cellular respiration, which is crucial to cell life. However, they are also associated with numerous disease states. It is hypothesized that reactive oxygen species (ROS), largely produced in mitochondria, induce oxidative stress and affect mitochondrial morphology along with cell viability. This study compares chemical exposure of menadione, an ROS producer, and phthalates (plasticizers) on two mouse hepatocyte cell lines to determine the effects they have on mitochondrial morphology and cell viability. Three experiments were performed to analyze the effects …

Wilderness And The Geotag: Exploring The Claim That "Geotagging Ruins Nature" In The Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Wa, Mara Gans

All Master's Theses

This research explores the claim that “geotagging ruins nature” by quantifying and qualifying patterns in geotag use and visitors’ experiences in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, in Washington, United States. Many have raised concerns that geotags increase recreational visitation to public lands, which subsequently contributes to negative resource impacts. Others, however, claim that geotagging has made the outdoors more accessible to less privileged communities and raise concerns that condemning geotags will perpetuate the exclusion of certain groups from outdoor recreation. This debate is studied within federally designated Wilderness, which is legally defined as “untrammeled by man,” a definition rooted in problematic …

Characterizing And Predicting Beaver Pond Habitat In Kittitas County, Washington, Kylie Vroman

All Master's Theses

North American Beavers (Castor canadensis) are important ecosystem engineers in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), as they provide ecosystem services and create habitats that benefit aquatic species, watersheds, and riparian vegetation. Even though the species has been coined a “nuisance” in some settings, it is common for environmental agencies to capture beavers and relocate them to areas where it is less likely for them to cause damage. This study geospatially modeled the Kittitas County landscape to identify areas of suitable habitat. Nine existing beaver ponds in Kittitas County were investigated; three of which were prior relocation sites that had failed, three …

Effects Of Unpaved Roads On Relative Abundance And Epigenetics Of Early Successional Lizards, David Tevs

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Unpaved roads may provide uniform microhabitat characteristics and impart edge effects in the adjacent landscape that mediate environmental pressures acting on small vertebrates. These features may allow species that are associated with recent disturbance to persist in aging forest patches. Further, epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation may provide these species the phenotypic plasticity necessary to occupy multiple habitats with different environmental conditions. To understand how small vertebrates use unpaved roads, the relative abundance and occurrence of Florida scrub lizards (Sceloporus woodi) and six-lined racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) were quantified using visual encounter surveys along unpaved roads …

Gabra5 Plays A Sexually Dimorphic Role In Pomc Neuron Activity And Glucose Balance, Zhou Pei, Yang He, Jonathan C Bean, Yongjie Yang, Hailan Liu, Meng Yu, Kaifan Yu, Ilirjana Hyseni, Xing Cai, Hesong Liu, Na Qu, Longlong Tu, Kristine M Conde, Mengjie Wang, Yongxiang Li, Na Yin, Nan Zhang, Junying Han, Camille Hs Potts, Nikolas A Scarcelli, Zili Yan, Pingwen Xu, Qi Wu, Yanlin He, Yong Xu, Chunmei Wang

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are important for the regulation of body weight and glucose balance. The inhibitory tone to POMC neurons is mediated primarily by the GABA receptors. However, the detailed mechanisms and functions of GABA receptors are not well understood. The α5 subunit of GABAA receptor, Gabra5, is reported to regulate feeding, and we found that Gabra5 is highly expressed in POMC neurons. To explore the function of Gabra5 in POMC neurons, we knocked down Gabra5 specifically from mature hypothalamic POMC neurons using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 strategy. This POMC-specific knock-down of Gabra5 did not affect …

Tissue-Specific Mechanisms Of Bile Acid Homeostasis And Activation Of Fxr-Fgf19 Signaling In Preterm And Term Neonatal Pigs, Caitlin Vonderohe, Greg Guthrie, Barbara Stoll, Shaji Chacko, Harry Dawson, Douglas G Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The tissue-specific molecular mechanisms involved in perinatal liver and intestinal farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) signaling are poorly defined. Our aim was to establish how gestational age and feeding status affect bile acid synthesis pathway, bile acid pool size, ileal response to bile acid stimulation, genes involved in bile acid-FXR-FGF19 signaling and plasma FGF19 in neonatal pigs. Term (n = 23) and preterm (n = 33) pigs were born via cesarean section at 100% and 90% gestation, respectively. Plasma FGF19, hepatic bile acid and oxysterol profiles, and FXR target gene expression were assessed in pigs …

Maternal Feeding Styles And Child Appetitive Traits: Direction Of Effects In Hispanic Families With Low Incomes, Maria A Papaioannou, Nilda Micheli, Thomas G Power, Teresia M O'Connor, Jennifer Orlet Fisher, Sheryl O Hughes

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Feeding styles of parents have been associated with dietary quality/intake and weight outcomes; however, much of the research to date has been cross sectional and the direction of influence unclear. This prospective longitudinal study evaluated the direction of effects between feeding styles and child appetitive traits over time in a sample of 129 Hispanic parent/child dyads that participated in a larger study. Data analyzed for the current study were collected when the children were 4-5 years old and again at ages 7-9 years. Parents (all mothers) reported on their feeding styles and children's appetitive traits using well-established questionnaires. Cross-lagged panel …

Validation Of The Family Health Behavior Scale For The Brazilian Population, Luiza Tweedie Preto, Camila H Scarpatto, Laura Lessa Gaudie Ley, Carolina Silveira, Margareth Rodrigues Salerno, Jennette Palcic Moreno, Stela Maris De Jezus Castro, Linda Booij, Rita Mattiello

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: To validate the Family Health Behavior Scale (FHBS) for Brazilian families.

Methods: The sample included 272 children aged 5 to 12 years old. Caregivers and their healthy answered the FHBS and questions about physical activity. In addition, anthropometric measurements of the children's weight and height were performed, as well as the bioimpedance exam. The scale was translated and the following validities were assessed: content (qualitative analysis and content validity index), construct (factor analysis) and concurrent validity (difference between domains and the total score with the categories of BMI, fat percentage and physical activity). Reliability (Cronbach's alpha, ceiling-floor effect, two-half …

Seasonality Of Children's Height And Weight And Their Contribution To Accelerated Summer Weight Gain, Jennette P Moreno, Salma Musaad, Hafza Dadabhoy, Tom Baranowski, Stephanie J Crowley, Debbe Thompson, Tzuan A Chen, Craig A Johnston

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Associations Of Prenatal Phthalate Exposure With Neurobehavioral Outcomes In 45- And 75-Month-Old Infants, Jenna L N Sprowles, Kelsey L C Dzwilewski, Francheska M Merced-Nieves, Salma M A Musaad, Susan L Schantz, Sarah D Geiger

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Phthalates are ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and research indicates that prenatal exposure to some phthalates may affect neurodevelopment. In a prospective birth cohort study, five first-morning urine samples collected across pregnancy were pooled and the following phthalate biomarkers assessed: sum of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites (ΣDEHP), sum of diisononyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDINP), sum of dibutyl phthalate metabolites (ΣDBP), sum of anti-androgenic metabolites (ΣAA), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), and sum of all phthalate metabolites (ΣAll). The Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ), a standardized parent-reported, age-adapted screening tool, measured communication, personal-social, problem solving, and motor domains in infants at 4.5 and 7.5 months (n = …

Depletion And Enrichment Of Phytosterols In Soybean Oil Lipid Emulsions Directly Associate With Serum Markers Of Cholestasis In Preterm Parenteral Nutrition-Fed Pigs, Greg Guthrie, Barbara Stoll, Shaji Chacko, Mahmoud Mohammad, Candace Style, Mariatu Verla, Oluyinka Olutoye, Deborah Schady, Charlotte Lauridsen, Nick Tataryn, Douglas Burrin

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Background: Clinical reports show a positive correlation between phytosterol concentrations and severity of cholestatic liver disease markers in infants during long-term administration of parenteral lipid emulsions. Establishing a causal link between phytosterols and cholestasis has been complicated by confounding factors of lipid emulsion load, fatty acid composition, and vitamin E in many of these studies. The goal of this study is to determine whether altering the phytosterol concentration within a common soybean oil-based emulsion will alter the onset and severity of cholestasis in parenterally fed preterm piglets.

Methods: Preterm piglets were administered, for 21 days, either enteral nutrition (ENT) or …

How Do Low-Income Single-Mothers Get By When Unemployment Strikes: Patterns Of Multiple Program Participation After Transition From Employment To Unemployment, Chi-Fang Wu, Yu-Ling Chang, Soohyun Yoon, Salma Musaad

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Little is known about longitudinal patterns of welfare program participation among single mothers after they transition from employment to unemployment. To better understand how utilization patterns of these welfare programs may change during the 12 months after a job loss, we used the 2008 Survey of Income and Program Participation to examine the patterns of participation in Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and unemployment insurance among 342 single mothers who transitioned from employment to unemployment during the Great Recession. Using sequence analysis and cluster analysis, this paper identified four distinct patterns of program participation: …