Life Sciences Commons^™

Abiotic Stress Effect On Growth And Photosynthetic Characteristics In Emirati Date Palm Varieties, Nasser Abdullah Ghdayer Al Kaabi

Theses

Plants are naturally exposed to various environmental stresses that affect their growth and development. As a desert plant, date palm has developed strategies to protect itself from most abiotic stresses. However, projected climate changes and the interaction between the various abiotic stressors will have profound effects on date palm adaptation and production. In the present study, five date palm cultivars, namely Chichi, Kalas, Nabt Saif, Sultana and Zamli, were initially evaluated for salinity tolerance by measuring the growth parameters such as plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of shoots and roots. Based on the obtained results, Sultana and Zamli …

Role Of Autophagy In Acridocarpus Orientalis-Induced Anti-Breast Cancer Activity, Suhib Hisham Ahmed Saeed Altabbal

Theses

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), which lacks the expression of the hormonal Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR), and the amplification of Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), is not responsive to the hormonal therapy. Therefore, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which cause severe side effects, are the current available choices to treat TNBC. Hence, there is an urgent need to find new therapeutic choices for TNBC. It is estimated that 50% of all drugs in clinical use during the 21^st century are natural products and plants derived. …

Livestock Ticks In The Uae: Prevalence, Distribution, Population Dynamics, And Associated Microorganisms, Nighat Perveen

Dissertations

Ticks are important vectors of an array of viral, bacterial, and protozoan pathogens resulting in a wide range of animal and human diseases in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In this study, ticks were collected from camels, cows, sheep, and goats in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The objectives of the study were to (1) identify tick species of livestock through taxonomic keys and using molecular markers, and determine their prevalence and distribution in the UAE, (2) assess Hyalomma dromedarii seasonal population fluctuation over a year under common camel breeding and management …

Molecular Mechanism Of Action Of The Natural Polyphenolic Compound And The P300 Inhibitor “Carnosol” Against The Triple Negative Breast Cance, Halima Ali Mohammed Salem Alsamri

Dissertations

Carnosol, a naturally occurring Phyto polyphenol found in sage, oregano, and rosemary, has been extensively studied by our laboratory for its anticancer effects in various types of cancer. In human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), carnosol was shown to inhibit cellular viability, colony growth, induced cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis. Nonetheless, very little is known about the molecular mechanism of action. In the current study, the ability of carnosol to inhibit metastasis and tumour growth was examined. Wound healing and invasion assays revealed that carnosol inhibited migration and invasion at non-cytotoxic concentrations of MDA-MB-231 cells. Also, carnosol was found to …

Impact Of Date-Pit Activated Carbon In Different Applications: Biomedical And Environment, Betty Titus Mathew

Dissertations

Activated carbon (AC) or activated charcoal are black carbonaceous porous solid material with prominent physico-chemical properties such as low volume pore size distribution, high specific surface area, and high-degree of surface reactivity for adsorption and other chemicals reactions. AC as strong and reliable adsorbent have been reported to be employed in diverse applications stretching from water/air purification, medical, sewage treatment, energy storage devices, catalyst, supercapacitor electrodes fabrication, and as biosensors component. In this current work, AC was produced from date pits, which is a common biological waste product in UAE, and used for biomedical and environmental applications instead of using …

Reduced Toxicity Of Centruroides Vittatus (Say, 1821) May Result From Lowered Sodium Β Toxin Gene Expression And Toxin Protein Production, Aimee Bowman, Chloe Fitzgerald, Jeff Pummill, Douglas D. Rhoads, Tsunemi Yamashita

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Body tissue and venom glands from an eastern population of the scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821) were homogenized and molecular constituents removed to characterize putative sodium beta toxin gene diversity, RT-qPCR, transcriptomic, and proteomic variation. We cloned sodium beta toxins from genomic DNA, conducted RT-qPCR experiments with seven sodium beta toxin variants, performed venom gland tissue RNA-seq, and isolated venom proteins for mass spectrophotometry. We identified >70 putative novel sodium beta toxin genes, 111 toxin gene transcripts, 24 different toxin proteins, and quantified sodium beta toxin gene expression variation among individuals and between sexes. Our analyses contribute to the growing …

Propagation Of A De Novo Gene Under Natural Selection: Antifreeze Glycoprotein Genes And Their Evolutionary History In Codfishes, Xuan Zhuang, C.-H. Christina Cheng

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

The de novo birth of functional genes from non-coding DNA as an important contributor to new gene formation is increasingly supported by evidence from diverse eukaryotic lineages. However, many uncertainties remain, including how the incipient de novo genes would continue to evolve and the molecular mechanisms underlying their evolutionary trajectory. Here we address these questions by investigating evolutionary history of the de novo antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP) gene and gene family in gadid (codfish) lineages. We examined AFGP phenotype on a phylogenetic framework encompassing a broad sampling of gadids from freezing and non-freezing habitats. In three select species representing different AFGP-bearing …

Planning For Future Fire: Scenario Analysis Of An Accelerated Fuel Reduction Plan For The Western United States, Alan A. Ager, Cody Evers, Michelle A. Day, Fermin J. Alcasena, Rachel Houtman

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

Recent fire seasons brought a new fire reality to the western US, and motivated federal agencies to explore scenarios for augmenting current fuel management and forest restoration in areas where fires might threaten critical resources and developed areas. To support this effort, we modeled the scheduling of an accelerated forest and fuel management scenario on 76 western US national forests. Specifically, we modeled a 10-year ramp up of current forest and fuel management that targeted the source of wildfire exposure to developed areas and simulated treatment in areas that accounted for 77% of the predicted exposure. We used a sample …

Social Selectivity And Social Motivation In Voles, Annaliese K. Beery, Sarah A. Lopez, Katrina L. Blandino, Nicole S. Lee, Natalie S. Bourdon

Neuroscience: Faculty Publications

Selective relationships are fundamental to humans and many other animals, but relationships between mates, family members, or peers may be mediated differently. We examined connections between social reward and social selectivity, aggression, and oxytocin receptor signaling pathways in rodents that naturally form enduring, selective relationships with mates and peers (monogamous prairie voles) or peers (group-living meadow voles). Female prairie and meadow voles worked harder to access familiar versus unfamiliar individuals, regardless of sex, and huddled extensively with familiar subjects. Male prairie voles displayed strongly selective huddling preferences for familiar animals, but only worked harder to repeatedly access females versus males, …

Using Exercise As A Stress Management Technique During The Covid-19 Pandemic: The Differences Between Men And Women In College, Lucas D. Elliott, Oliver W. A. Wilson, Kelsey Holland, Melissa Bopp

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(5): 1234-1246, 2021. Psychological stress is a major concern in college students and can lead to negative mental and physical health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased psychological stress. Using exercise as a stress management technique has been shown to have a large effect in preventing and treating psychological stress. This study attempts to understand the gender differences between how using exercise as a stress management technique predicts perceived stress levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students completed an online survey to self-report their stress management techniques, perceived stress (PSS-10), grade point average (GPA) and demographics …

Different Barbell Height Positions Affect Maximal Isometric Deadlift Force And Subsequent Squat Jump Performance In Recreationally-Trained Men, Jonathan Montano, Elizabeth Torossian, Vincent G.F. Martinez, Leran Lhanie, Shahan Awakimian, Charles Ricardo Lopes, Priscyla N. Marchetti, Paulo Henrique Marchetti

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 1247-1255, 2021. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the effect of two different deadlift barbell height positions on maximal isometric force and subsequent maximal squat jump performance in recreationally-trained men. Fifteen young, healthy, recreationally-trained men (age: 24.7 ± 3.5years, height: 177.1 ± 7.9cm, and total body mass: 81.2 ± 9.8kg) volunteered to participate. All participants performed maximal squat jumps (MSJ) at 90º of knee flexion before (pre-test) and after 4-min (post-test) performing the deadlift exercise using maximal isometric force (MIF) and MIF normalized by body mass (ratio_MIF) in two …

The Effects Aerobic Fitness Has On Heart Rate Responses For A Custody Assistant Recruit Class Performing A Formation Run, Karly Rodas, Matthew Moreno, Ashley Bloodgood, J. Jay Dawes, Joseph Dulla, Robin Marc Orr, Robert G. Lockie

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(4): 1219-1233, 2021. This study measured the heart rate (HR) responses to a formation run (group run completed along a set route) performed by higher fitness (HF), moderate fitness (MF), or lower fitness (LF) custody assistant (CA) recruits. Retrospective data from 26 recruits (12 males, 14 females) were analyzed. Prior to academy training, a YMCA step test was administered. Recruits were divided into three groups based on recovery HR: top 25% were HF; bottom 25% were LF; the rest were MF. Recruit HR was measured during a formation run completed at an ~11-minute mile· pace …

Prediction Of Dry Matter Intake Based On Ruminal Degradation From Milking Cows Grazing Coast-Cross Grass, T. T. Berchielli, J. P. G. Soares, L. J. M. Aroeira, C. L. Furlan, A. K. D. Salman, R. N. Da Silveira, E. B. Malheiros

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dry matter intake (DMI) of coast-cross grazing by crossbred Holstein-Zebu and Zebu lactating cows was calculated using in vitro dry matter digestibility from extrusa (four esophageal fistulated cows) and fecal output estimate with mordent chromium. Pasture was rotationally grazed with three days grazing period and 27 days resting period, adopting a stocking rate of 1.6 and 3.2 cows/ha, during the dry and rainy season respectively. Voluntary DMI was estimated from degradation characteristics using different equations. Predicted coast-cross DMI varied with models. The prediction of tropical forages dry matter intake from equations based in ruminal degradation parameters needs further investigation before …

Forage Quality, Yield And Palatability Of Quackgrass (Elytrigia Repens (L.) Nevski), T. Yagi, R. Meguro, E. Fukuda

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Quackgrass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski) is a competitive perennial invader of pastures and hay meadows which is frequently harvested as forage in mixtures with desired forage species. Field experiments were conducted to compare quackgrass with cool-season perennial grasses grown under the same soil and climatic conditions, in terms of forage quality, productivity, and palatability. The forage quality of the hays was influenced by the grass species. Quackgrass showed forage crude protein (CP) concentration that was equal to those of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and …

In Vitro Gas Production Technique To Predict Dmd Of Ensiled Forage Ruminant Based Diets, M. Wawrzkiewicz, J. L. Danelón, G. Jaurena

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The in vitro gas production technique was used as a tool to develop an improved prediction model of dry matter digestibility of ensiled forage based diets. Eleven diets were tested through conventional experiments of in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD). The same diets were evaluated by the in vitro gas production technique using a gas pressure transducer . The parameters of the model y = A - B Q^t Z^√t were calculated with data from the accumulated gas curves, i.e. y=cumulative gas production (ml), Q=e^-b, Z=e^-c, B=e^bT+c√T , being …

Amaranth Productivity And Nutrient Composition In Central Georgia, W. F. Whitehead, Thomas H. Terrill, B. P. Singh, S. Gelaye

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) may have potential as a forage for summer grazing in the southeastern United States (US). Six accessions of amaranth were harvested at bud stage in two successive growing seasons to evaluate growth characteristics, yield, and forage quality parameters. The accessions, three genotypes of A. tricolor (Hinchoy VL, RRC-701, RRC-1186) and one each of A. hybridus (RRC-843), A. cruentus (RRC-1034), and A. dubius (RRC-1186) were evaluated in 1994 and 1995 on a Dothan sandy loam (fine loamy, siliceous, thermic, Plinthic Paleudult) soil at the Fort Valley State University Research Station, Fort Valley, Georgia. The plots were planted …

Supplementation With Brosimum Alicastrum Swartz To Pelibuey Sheep Fed Low Quality Rations, Luis Ramírez-Avilés, V. Valdivia-Salgado, Juan C. Ku-Vera

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of the present study was to assess the influence of supplementing increasing levels of ramón (Brosimum alicastrum) foliage to Pelibuey sheep fed guinea grass (Panicum maximum) hay. Rate and extent of rumen degradation of organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) of ramón foliage were high. Dry matter (DM) intake of the diet was increased by the inclusion of ramón foliage. However, rate and extent of digestion of guinea grass was not affected by the ramón foliage. Rate of passage of solid was linearly increased as a result of the inclusion of ramón foliage …

Cryo-Em Structure Of Mechanosensitive Channel Ynai Using Sma2000: Challenges And Opportunities, Claudio Catalano, Danya Ben-Hail, Weihua Qiu, Paul Blount, Amedee Des Georges, Youzhong Guo

Publications and Research

Mechanosensitive channels respond to mechanical forces exerted on the cell membrane and play vital roles in regulating the chemical equilibrium within cells and their environment. Highresolution structural information is required to understand the gating mechanisms of mechanosensitive channels. Protein-lipid interactions are essential for the structural and functional integrity of mechanosensitive channels, but detergents cannot maintain the crucial native lipid environment for purified mechanosensitive channels. Recently, detergent-free systems have emerged as alternatives for membrane protein structural biology. This report shows that while membrane-active polymer, SMA2000, could retain some native cell membrane lipids on the transmembrane domain of the mechanosensitive-like YnaI channel, …

Zebrafish Paralogs Brd2a And Brd2b Are Needed For Proper Circulatory, Excretory And Central Nervous System Formation And Act As Genetic Antagonists During Development, Gregory L Branigan, Kelly S Olsen, Isabella Burda, Matthew W Haemmerle, Jason Ho, Alexandra Venuto, Nicholas D D'Antonio, Ian E Briggs, Angela J Dibenedetto

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Brd2 belongs to the BET family of epigenetic transcriptional co-regulators that act as adaptor-scaffolds for the assembly of chromatin-modifying complexes and other factors at target gene promoters. Brd2 is a protooncogene and candidate gene for juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in humans, a homeobox gene regulator in Drosophila, and a maternal-zygotic factor and cell death modulator that is necessary for normal development of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). As two copies of Brd2 exist in zebrafish, we use antisense morpholino knockdown to probe the role of paralog Brd2b, as a comparative study to Brd2a, the ortholog of human Brd2. A deficiency …

Smokejumper Obituary: Schmidt, Gerald Evert (Missoula 1954), National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper Obituaries

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Brief Dry Cupping On Muscle Soreness In The Gastrocnemius Muscle And Flexibility Of The Ankle, John Smith, Amy Morrison, Myra Villarreal

Kinesiology Faculty Publications (Archived)

OBJECTIVES

METHODS

Aqueous Formulations Of 1h-Cyclopropabenzene Modulate Ethylene Production And Fruit Quality In Japanese Plums, Poe N. Kyaw, Zora Singh, Vijay Y. Tokala

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The efficacy of aqueous formulations of 1H-cyclopropabenzene (BC) containing different adjuvants to retard ethylene production and maintain fruit quality of Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl. cvs. ‘Angeleno’, ‘Fortune’ and ‘Tegan Blue’) following 25 d and 40 d cold storage (1 °C) was evaluated. Plum fruit were sprayed with different solutions of 2 μM BC (i.e., aqueous solutions containing distilled water only or 5 % ethanol or 0.02 % Tween® 20 or 5 % β-cyclodextrin) or fumigated with 1 μM BC at ambient temperature. Plum fruit without any treatment were regarded as control. Regardless of the cultivars tested, all formulations of …

Historical Dna Solves An Evolutionary Mystery And Explains The Origin Of A Novel Phenotype In The New World Quails, Jessie Frances Salter

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Observations of phenotypic diversity among closely-related organisms, especially those preserved as museum specimens, have driven the fields of systematics, taxonomy, and evolutionary biology for hundreds of years. In this dissertation, I used genomic data from modern and historical specimens to investigate the evolutionary processes that have generated phenotypic and genetic diversity in a highly polytypic group of birds, the New World quails (Odontophoridae), with a focus on the most phenotypically diverse member of this family: Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). To facilitate this work, I began by generating a highly contiguous reference genome assembly for Northern Bobwhites, which is …

Investigating Plant Tolerance For The Management Of Insect Pests In Rice, James Michael Villegas

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most destructive and widespread insect pest of rice (Oryza sativa L., Poaceae) in the USA. This insect poses a global threat to rice production, having invaded rice-producing regions of Asia and Europe. Moreover, lepidopteran stemborers, particularly the invasive Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), are increasingly becoming problematic in Louisiana rice. Although insecticidal seed treatments have been widely used against weevils and stemborers, alternative management strategies are needed. Plants possess defense-related traits that both reduce injury from herbivores (resistance) and the amount of yield loss per …

The Mentored Mentoring Approach To Lecturer- And Peer-Led Inter-Institutional Instruction Among Undergraduate Biomedical Science Students: A Case Study, Brigid Lucey, Róisín Spriggs, Katie O'Brien, Craig P. Murphy, Angela Wright

Department of Biological Sciences Publications

Biomedical science undergraduate students of accredited biomedical science programmes in Ireland are training to become professional medical scientists who diagnose disease. Hence, there is a strong emphasis at undergraduate level on practical laboratory skills, scientific writing and continuing professional development. In October 2020, a student-led webinar was held whereby one fourth-year and one third-year undergraduate student, having engaged their lecturer-mentor, conducted a webinar for first- and second-year undergraduate students with the intention of demystifying the art of writing a high quality laboratory report. The webinar consisted of four elements, namely a presentation by each of the three organisers; the fourth …

International Conference Agriculture Food Science And Technology, University For Business And Technology (Ubt) In Kosovo

UBT International Conference

UBT Annual International Conference is the 9th international interdisciplinary peer reviewed conference which publishes works of the scientists as well as practitioners in the area where UBT is active in Education, Research and Development. The UBT aims to implement an integrated strategy to establish itself as an internationally competitive, research-intensive university, committed to the transfer of knowledge and the provision of a world-class education to the most talented students from all background. The main perspective of the conference is to connect the scientists and practitioners from different disciplines in the same place and make them be aware of the recent …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding The Use Of Antibiotics: A Cross-Sectional Study From A Rural Area Of Lebanon, Carine Mounzer, Safaa Baydoun, Ranya Amer, Jamilah Borjac

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Despite the presence of a national policy restricting the easy access to antibiotics, irrational use of antibiotics continues to be widespread both in human use and livestock production in Lebanon. This study targets the general population in the rural region of Bekaa to assess their knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards antibiotic use. A cross sectional questionnaire was completed by 1151 participants, through face-to-face interviews. Study population was randomly selected. Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were applied in data analysis. 69.2% of participants had a very poor knowledge about antibiotics. More than 70% believed that viral infections may be treated …

The Impact Of Emerging Technology On Nurses Caring Behavior During Blood Pressure Monitoring For Adult Patients At General Hospitals, Kuwait., Eman Al Awade, Hanan Alnuqaidan, Marthal Johnson, Hoda Diab

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Introduction: The nursing profession has advanced immensely from the onset. Remarkable changes in medical technology facilitated patients’ survival and treatments which were unimaginable during the period of Florence Nightingale. Although, technology empowered the nurses to provide quality care to patients, some of these technologies can break the bond of therapeutic nurse - patient relationship and make it mechanical, instead. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate nurses caring behavior during blood pressure monitoring with manual and electronic devices. Objective: Compare the nurses caring behavior while monitoring blood pressure by electronic and manual devices. Methods: a descriptive comparative design …

Prevalence Of Esbl-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Among Lebanese Patients With Urinary Tract Infections, Rasha Abdallah, Bassel Abdallah

BAU Journal - Health and Wellbeing

Being the most common infections worldwide, Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) represent a major public health problem. Gram negative bacteria are the main pathogens causing UTIs where Extended spectrum β–lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Enterobacteriaceae, mainly the multi-drug resistant species, such as E. coli sequence type 131 and klebsiella.pneumoniae, account for serious health problems and high economic burden. In Lebanon, data about prevalence of antibiotic resistant pathogens during UTIs are still scarce. In this study we examined the prevalence of ESBL-producing pathogens among Lebanese patients mainly located at Bekaa governorate. This retrospective study included 7241 urine tests that were collected from all the …

Effect Of Water-Soluble Browning Products In Heated Herbages On Rumen Microorganisms, E. Touno, A. Takenaka, T. Kondo, O. Tanaka, M. Murai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

When feed is heated, browning can occur. This browning is detrimental to both the value of feed and physiological functioning of the animal. Browning occurs when polymeric substances are produced during the Maillard reaction. Indigestible soluble Maillard reaction products could affect nitrogen utilization by ruminants. A method has been established for isolation of water-soluble browning products using a reversed phase column. In the present work, the effect of water-soluble browning products isolated from heated herbage on rumen microorganisms was investigated. A solution of browning products was added to the medium 10 to obtain final concentration of 0, 0.5 and 2.0 …