Life Sciences Commons^™

Synthesis, Evaluation, And Characterization Of An Ergotamine Imprinted Styrene-Based Polymer For Potential Use As An Ergot Alkaloid Selective Adsorbent, Manoj B. Kudupoje, Eric S. Vanzant, Kyle R. Mcleod, Alexandros Yiannikouris

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Alkaloid toxicities negatively impact livestock health and production. To assess alkaloid occurrences, adsorbent technologies may offer effective means to their extraction and isolation from a complex feed matrix. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their specificity of binding to various ergot alkaloids. Co-polymers of styrene and hydroxyethyl methacrylate were synthesized in the absence or presence of an ergotamine (ETA) template, yielding non-imprinted polymer (NIP) and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), respectively. The influence of parameters such as pH, temperature, and initial concentration on the adsorption of ergot alkaloids was evaluated along with their application as …

Machine Learning For Species Habitat Analysis, Abigail Lavallin

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Management and conservation initiatives will always be controlled by finite resources, whether financialor temporal. Understanding a species’ spatial ecology, and how its requirements vary across habitats and locations is key to a successful species management plan. During recent decades, it has been noted how many species populations have declined, despite conservation practices working to increase their numbers. The most prevalent impacts affecting fauna populations have come from anthropogenic change in the form of habitat loss and destruction, along with fragmentation, and global climate change. There is a clear need for management practices to now operate on an entire landscape instead …

Insights Into Abscisic Acid And Phosphatidic Acid Signal Transduction Dynamics In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Ruth Wanjiru Ndathe

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that triggers a signaling transduction in response to drought, salinity, and cold. The core components in the ABA signaling pathway that lead to downstream ABA responses have been identified.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a membrane phospholipid that is involved in the signaling pathway for ABA-induced stomatal closure. We tested whether PA is involved in the signaling pathway for ABA-induced gene expression as well, using model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We selected the RD29A gene which is a canonical drought gene that is induced by ABA. We found that PA is not involved in …

Differences By School Location In Summer And School Monthly Weight Change: Findings From A Nationally Representative Sample, Ethan T. Hunt, Bridget Armstrong Ph.D., Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Michael Beets Med, Mph, Phd, Robert Weaver Med, Phd

Faculty Publications

Objectives: To examine changes in accelerations of Body Mass Index (BMI), age-and-sex specific body mass index (zBMI), and 95th percentile of BMI (%BMIp95) during the summer months and school year by school location designation (i.e., urban, suburban, exurban). This study utilized the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study Kindergarten Class of 2010-2011.

Methods: Of the 18,174 children in the ECLS-K:2011 dataset, I restricted participants to those with at least two consecutive measures that occurred August/September or April/May. Mixed-effect regression analyses estimated differences in monthly change in BMI, zBMI, and %BMIp95 between the summer and school year while accounting for the ECLS-K complex …

Genetic Structuring And Community Assembly In Neotropical Birds, Oscar Johnson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The factors that influence how species form is of fundamental interest to biology. Under the framework of the speciation cycle, the process begins by population subdivision creating structured populations that then diverge until two new species form. Following speciation, however, continued divergence is necessary for these new species to be able to coexist without adverse interactions, known as the transition to secondary sympatry. At this point the speciation cycle is complete and the process can begin anew. Many of the factors influencing these processes remain poorly understood. Here, I explore the factors that influence speciation and community assembly in Neotropical …

Using Uav Technology Paired With Multispectral Cameras To Assess Crown Rust Epidemics In Oats, Turner A. Graham

LSU Master's Theses

Crown rust, caused by Puccinia cornonata f. sp. avenae, is a common disease of oats (Avena sativa) found virtually everywhere oats are cultivated. This disease has caused yield losses of 10 to 40% worldwide. Early detection is important for effective management. A more recently utilized technology in agriculture is unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). UAVs, or drones, equipped with cameras are now being used as a resource to take images of fields to identify pests and other issues that may be occurring. Normalized differentiated vegetative index (NDVI) is a numerical indicator used to determine the vegetative health of …

Evaluating Substrate Stratification Practices For Enhanced Water Resource Management In Nursery Production, Kristopher S. Criscione

LSU Master's Theses

The nursery and greenhouse industries have continued to increase in production and sales over the past two decades. This increase in horticultural production necessitates a greater demand for finite natural resources, specifically water. Sustainable water resource management will be critical to the success and continual growth of the nursery industry. Strategic irrigation scheduling and innovative substrate management practices can improve nursery resource efficiency. Soilless substrates were originally utilized by the industry to increase substrate air-filled porosity, to ensure adequately drained container systems. Thus, the implementation of these soilless substrates can lead to an inefficient use of water and fertilizer. Substrate …

Effective Growing Degree Days As A Critical Factor For Yield And Qualitative Values Of Timothy In Subarctic Growing Conditions, Oiva Nissinen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The yield and forage quality of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) leys at different stages of development were studied in 1991-1999 at the Lapland Research Station of the Agricultural Research Centre of Finland in Rovaniemi (66^o35´N). The aim of the study was to determine the optimal time for the first cut with respect to yield and qualitative values. In timothy the first heads were visible on 25 June on average and full heading was seen on 5 July, i.e. some ten days later. During this period the dry matter yield increased from 2769 to 4945 kg/ha, crude protein …

Duration Of Regrowth Of Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne) Swards: Effects On Rumen Fermentation Of Lactating Dairy Cows, P. Chilibroste, S. Tamminga, H. Boer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relative importance of duration of sward regrowth and rumen fill and fermentation on the control of grazing time and intake rate during the first grazing session of the day were studied. Four lactating dairy cows were allowed to graze ryegrass (Lolium perenne) swards, with five different regrowth periods after mowing (6, 9, 16, 22 and 30 d). The cows were allowed to graze until they stopped voluntarily. Samples of rumen liquid were taken at approximately 0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after the grazing session was finished. Concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) followed a significant …

Establishment Of Tanzania Grass Pasture Using Millet As A Companion Crop, José C. Pinto, M. C. Maia, I. F. De Andrade, I. P. A. Dos Santos, E. R. P. Bomfim, K. R. Soares

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage yield and quality of millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] and tanzania grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania I) were evaluated when grown in mixture. The treatments evaluated were four seed mixture combinations, based on a standard sowing density of 8 kg.ha^-1, of tanzania grass/millet (08/00; 05/03; 04/04 and 03/05 kg.ha^-1) and three cutting frequencies (1 cutting – 100th day after sowing; 2 cuttings – 50th and 100th days after sowing and 3 cuttings – 40th, 70th and 100th days after sowing), in a randomized complete block design, with four replications, in a …

Estimation Of The Conifer-Broadleaf Ratio In Mixed Forests Based On Time-Series Data, Ranran Yang, Lei Wang, Qingjiu Tian, Nianxu Xu, Yanjun Yang

Plant and Soil Sciences Graduate Research

Most natural forests are mixed forests, a mixed broadleaf-conifer forest is essentially a heterogeneously mixed pixel in remote sensing images. Satellite missions rely on modeling to acquire regional or global vegetation parameter products. However, these retrieval models often assume homogeneous conditions at the pixel level, resulting in a decrease in the inversion accuracy, which is an issue for heterogeneous forests. Therefore, information on the canopy composition of a mixed forest is the basis for accurately retrieving vegetation parameters using remote sensing. Medium and high spatial resolution multispectral time-series data are important sources for canopy conifer-broadleaf ratio estimation because these data …

Baseline Mmp Expression In Periapical Granuloma And Its Relationship With Periapical Wound Healing After Surgical Endodontic Treatment, Muhammad Adeel Ahmed, Muhammad Faraz Anwar, Khalid Ahmed, Marziya Aftab, Fizza Nazim, Muhammad Furqan Bari, Mohammed Mustafa, Fahim Vohra, Ali Alrahlah, Muhammad Nouman Mughal, Syed Hani Abidi

Department of Biological & Biomedical Sciences

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) catalyzes the degradation of the extracellular matrix components and have a major role in many physiological processes including wound healing. In the current study, we examined the correlation of baseline MMPs 1, 2, 7, and 9 expressions with periapical wound healing after surgical endodontic treatment.
Methods: 27 patients aged between 15 and 57 years presenting with chronic apical periodontitis or chronic apical abscess of an anterior tooth with previously attempted or failed root canal treatment were included in this study. During surgical endodontic treatment, tissue from the periapical lesion sample was collected and used for gross …

The Ethically Conscious Flower Consumer: Understanding Fair Trade Cut Flower Purchase Behavior In Germany, Meike Rombach, David L. Dean, Nicole Olynk Widmar, Vera Bitsch

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Fair trade flowers are an important niche product relevant to ethically conscious consumers. The study proposes a model that investigates key factors affecting the behavior of these cut flower consumers in Germany. The study serves to complement the existing studies dedicated to preferences for flower attributes and products, as well as consumers’ willingness to pay. It builds on an online survey with a representative sample of 772 German cut-flower consumers. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that concern for the treatment of workers from countries with poor environmental and labor reputations, the breadth of fair trade cut flower information …

Evolutionary Mechanisms For Host Resistance To Tumor Growth And Subsequent Cancer Cell Counter-Adaptations, Arig Ibrahim Hashim

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer is well-recognized as an evolutionary system, as first proposed by Cairns and Nowell more than 60 years ago. In an evolutionary context, cancers growing in vivo typically consist of heterogeneous subpopulations of cells that interact with each other and with host cells through selection forces operating at many temporal and spatial scales. Moreover, the tumor environment comprises more than just cancer cells; it includes a rich cancer stroma and cancer-driving molecules such as cytokines and metabolites. The tumor’s environment comprises intratumoral heterogeneity that often leads to therapy resistance attributed to the essential roles of many genetic and nongenetic mechanisms. …

Casting A Critical Lens On Global Development: A Multimethod Investigation Of The Masculine Hegemonic Forces That Marginalize Women In Agriculture, Morgan Alyse Richardson Gilley

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A critical link between gender equality and agricultural development has been established in the literature. However, disparities between genders have persisted in many areas of the developing world. One strategy that has been used to reduce gender inequalities has been educational outreach opportunities through agricultural extension, which has provided women a critical pathway to empowerment. Despite this, a lack of knowledge on the experiences of women in agriculture throughout Southeast Asia has served as a barrier to the advancement of such work. This investigation sought to better understand the issues facing this region’s fight to attain gender equality. To achieve …

Challenges Of Making Financial Decisions And Avoiding Fraudulent Schemes, Fabio Mattos

Cornhusker Economics

Last month there was an article in the local newspaper about a man accused of defrauding commodity investors for several years in Nebraska. This person is a commodity pool operator (CPO), who is an individual or organization that operates a commodity pool and solicits funds for that pool. A commodity pool is an enterprise in which funds contributed by a number of clients are combined for the purpose of trading futures contracts, options contracts, among other types of financial products. Generally speaking, a CPO manages an investment fund focused on commodity products.

Covid-19 Lockdowns: Exacerbating The Silent Pandemic, David Gomez, Eric V. Neufeld, James W. Hicks, Brett A. Dolezal

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 1256-1260, 2021. The global medical community has exalted the vaccine as the champion solution to end the violent toll inflicted by COVID-19. While the role of vaccines cannot be undervalued in wide-scale intervention, presenting them as the sole solution exonerates individuals of the importance of taking ownership over their lifestyle choices. This editorial focuses on the importance of physical activity as a crucial component of COVID-19 prevention programs and a long-term investment against chronic diseases.

Evaluation And Utilization Of A Tall Fescue Germplasm Collection At Pergamino Inta, Argentina, B. S. Rosso, E. M. Pagano, P. Rimieri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One hundred and fifty four accessions of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) representing different types grown around the world were evaluated at Pergamino Inta Experimental Station. A multivariate analysis was carried out to evaluate individual and group variations. Three principal components (PCs) explained 70 % of the variation. Cluster analysis (Ward method) allowed the identification of 7 groups of populations. Plants from the most promising populations were selected in order to form a new breeding gene pool. The main objective of this study is to develop a new cultivar with improved winter herbage yield. Selected genotypes were mostly of …

Effects Of Selection On Morphological Characteristics In Setaria Sphacelata (Schumach.) Moss, Liana Jank, Kenneth H. Quesenberry, P. Mislevy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cattle production in Florida is limited by the lack of available warm-season forages adapted to the cool winters of the region. Setaria (S. sphacelata) has demonstrated green growth during cool conditions in subtropical climates around the world, and has the potential to fill this niche in cattle production in Florida. Four populations were selected in Gainesville and Ona, Florida: two cycles of selection for increased head number, one cycle for increased leaf width and one cycle for grazing tolerance. The objectives of this research were to compare these populations morphologically to determine changes due to selection. Selection for …

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A 165 Rescues Steroids, Inflammation And Follicle Arrest In High Androstenedione Cows, Mohamed A. Abedal-Majed, Shelby A. Springman, Courtney M. Sutton, Alexandria P. Snider, Brooke E. Bell, Mariah Hart, Scott G. Kurz, Jeffrey Bergman, Adam F. Summers, Renee M. Mcfee, John S. Davis, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

A population of cows with excess androstenedione (A4; High A4) in follicular fluid, with follicular arrest, granulosa cell dysfunction, and a 17% reduction in calving rate was previously identified. We hypothesized that excess A4 in the ovarian microenvironment caused the follicular arrest in High A4 cows and that vascular endothelial growth factor A would rescue the High A4 phenotype. In trial 1, prior to culture, High A4 ovarian cortex (n=9) had greater numbers of early stage follicles (primordial) and fewer later-stage follicles compared to controls (n=11). Culture for 7 days did not relieve this follicular arrest; …

High Rates Of Polygyny In Tropical Mexico Within The Native Range Of Vespula Squamosa., Alex K. Snyder, Kevin J. Loope

Honors College Theses

Polygyny, or the formation of colonies with multiple cooperating queens, has been observed in a variety of social Hymenoptera and likely exists as a convergent evolutionary strategy. Polygyne cooperation has been observed in several Vespula sp. and is correlated with a perennial social strategy. This perennial-polygyne behavior has been observed most commonly within the tropical and subtropical regions of the invasive Vespula pensylvanica and V. germanica, and rarely within their native temperate ranges. This phenomenon has been relatively undocumented within the tropical portions the V. squamosa native range, despite it being observed in their temperate ranges several times. We observed …

Consumers' Perception Of Food Containing Insect Protein Affected By Serving Condition And Questionnaire Protocol, Yupeng Gao

LSU Master's Theses

Edible insects are a new sustainable protein source compared to meat. Western consumers show aversion to the prospect of insects as food due to unfamiliarity, food neophobia, and negative emotions. This dissertation research explored consumers’ emotional perception of insect-based food products presented under different testing conditions and examined the influence of other people’s emotional expressions towards consumers’ purchase decisions. To identify and rate emotion intensities, tests were conducted using three presenting formats including text, image, and an actual product; all of which were applied for both cookies containing insects and without insects. In addition to these presenting formats, news of …

Prevalence Of Trypanosome Species In Cattle Near Ruma National Park, Lambwe Valley, Kenya: An Update From The Historical Focus For African Trypanosomosis, Shewit Kalayou, Michael Nyang Anga Okal, Peter Otieno Odhiambo, Kawira Mathenge, Daniel Ochieng Gamba, Edward Kariuki, Francis Mcodimba, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The effective control of diseases in areas shared with wildlife depends on the validity of the epidemiologic parameters that guide interventions. Epidemiologic data on animal trypanosomosis in Lambwe valley are decades old, and the recent suspected outbreaks of the disease in the valley necessitate the urgent bridging of this data gap. This cross-sectional study estimated the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis, identified risk factors, and investigated the occurrence of species with zoonotic potential in Lambwe valley. The area is ~324 km2, of which 120 km2 is the Ruma National Park. Blood was sampled from the jugular and marginal ear veins of …

Monoclonal Antibodies Protect Aged Rhesus Macaques From Sars-Cov-2-Induced Immune Activation And Neuroinflammation, Anil Verma, Chase E. Hawes, Yashavanth Shaan Lakshmanappa, Jamin W. Roh, Brian A. Schmidt, Joseph Dutra, William Louie, Hongwei Liu, Zhong Min Ma, Jennifer K. Watanabe, Jodie L. Usachenko, Ramya Immareddy, Rebecca L. Sammak, Rachel Pollard, J. Rachel Reader, Katherine J. Olstad, Lark L. Coffey, Pamela A. Kozlowski, Dennis J. Hartigan-O'Connor, Michel Nussenzweig

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Anti-viral monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatments may provide immediate but short-term immunity from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in high-risk populations, such as people with diabetes and the elderly; however, data on their efficacy in these populations are limited. We demonstrate that prophylactic mAb treatment blocks viral replication in both the upper and lower respiratory tracts in aged, type 2 diabetic rhesus macaques. mAb infusion dramatically curtails severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-mediated stimulation of interferon-induced chemokines and T cell activation, significantly reducing development of interstitial pneumonia. Furthermore, mAb infusion significantly dampens the greater than 3-fold increase in SARS-CoV-2-induced effector CD4 …

Investigation Of Immobilized Enzymes In Confined Environment Of Mesoporous Host Matrices, Xiaoliang Wang

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Enzyme immobilization in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a promising strategy, is attracting the interest of scientists from different disciplines with the expansion of MOF’s development. Different from other traditional host materials, their unique strengths of high surface areas, large yet adjustable pore sizes, functionalizable pore walls, and diverse architectures make MOFs an ideal platform to investigate hosted enzymes, which is critical to the industrial and commercial process. In addition to the protective function of MOFs, the extensive roles of MOFs in the enzyme immobilization are being well-explored by making full use of their remarkable properties like well-defined structure, high porosity, …

Smokejumper Obituary: Rea, Charles Dale (Missoula 1967), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Morphological Characterization Of Trichomes Shows Enormous Variation In Shape, Density And Dimensions Across The Leaves Of 14 Solanum Species, Sakshi Watts, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Trichomes are the epidermal appendages commonly observed on plant surfaces including leaves, stem and fruits. Plant trichomes have been well studied as a structural plant defence designed to protect plants against abiotic and biotic stressors such as UV rays, temperature extremities and herbivores. Trichomes are primarily classified into glandular and non-glandular trichomes, based on the presence or absence of a glandular head. The plant genus Solanum is the largest genus of family Solanaceae that houses ~3500 species of ecological and economic importance have a diverse set of trichomes that vary in density and morphology. However, due to the incomplete and …

Evaluation Of Cold-Hardy Grapes On The Wasatch Front, Michael Caron, Taun Beddes, Michael Pace, Brent Black

All Current Publications

Grapes can be an excellent addition to home gardens and a revenue opportunity for small-acreage farms. Utah’s Wasatch Front region, along with portions of Cache Valley, are well suited to grow grapes, particularly the more cold-hardy cultivars. Many new cold-hardy cultivars have been introduced over the last few decades, including both wine and table types. However, many of these newer cultivars have not been adequately tested in Utah’s unique climate. Utah State University Extension conducted a grape cultivar comparison planting in Lehi, Utah. This fact sheet reviews the outcomes of the study and offers information on tested varieties that have …

The Puzzling Presence Of Lestes Australis (Odonata: Lestidae) In Wisconsin - Does This Species Migrate?, Robert B. Dubois, Kenneth J. Tennessen

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Lestes disjunctus australis Walker, 1952 was named as a subspecies of Lestes disjunctus Selys, 1862. In recent decades it has been considered deserving of full species status by most specialists. The core of its eastern North American range is south of Wisconsin, but during April through June of some years, mature individuals, and occasionally reproductive behavior, are observed at shallow ponds and wetlands mostly in the southern half of the state. Since first recorded in Wisconsin in 2002, it has been detected in 13 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. However, there has been no unequivocal documentation of successful reproduction in the …

New Record Of Idana Marginata (Say) (Diptera: Tephritoidea: Ulidiidae) From Wisconsin, Daniel K. Young

The Great Lakes Entomologist

Idana marginata (Say) was previously known from northeastern North America: Canada and the United States, west to northeastern Illinois and south to North Carolina. Herein, collection events are reported from Richland County in southwestern Wisconsin. This new state record significantly increases the known geographical distribution of the species to the west. The specimens were recovered from an unbaited Lindgren funnel trap during two intervals between 26 June and 28 July 2019.