Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Metagenomic Profiling Of Cave Biofilms, With A Focus On Chemolithoautotrophy And Pseudonocardiaceae, John A. Fulginiti

Masters Theses

The dark, humid, and nutrient depleted conditions of caves set limitations on habitability and result in microbial diversity and community structures that differ from surface environments. Recent studies investigating cave microbiomes reveal that Pseudonocardiaceae, a family of bacteria belonging to the phylum Actinomycetota, are abundant in cave sediment and on rocks as subaerial biofilms, however little work has been done on attempting to characterize their diversity and metabolism within the environment. This study used shotgun metagenomics to characterize the functional potential of Pseudonocardiaceae, as well as other cave microbes, in cave site KN14 located in Knox County, Tennessee. Functions of …

Modeling Biphasic, Non-Sigmoidal Dose-Response Relationships: Comparison Of Brain- Cousens And Cedergreen Models For A Biochemical Dataset, Venkat D. Abbaraju, Tamaraty L. Robinson, Brian P. Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Biphasic, non-sigmoidal dose-response relationships are frequently observed in biochemistry and pharmacology, but they are not always analyzed with appropriate statistical methods. Here, we examine curve fitting methods for “hormetic” dose-response relationships where low and high doses of an effector produce opposite responses. We provide the full dataset used for modeling, and we provide the code for analyzing the dataset in SAS using two established mathematical models of hormesis, the Brain-Cousens model and the Cedergreen model. We show how to obtain and interpret curve parameters such as the ED50 that arise from modeling, and we discuss how curve parameters might change …

Clickable Lipid Precursors As Chemical Tools For Imaging And Tracking Lipids, Christelle Anne Fernandez Ancajas

Doctoral Dissertations

The regulation of lipid metabolism is crucial for maintaining the human body, as disruptions in lipid homeostasis have drastic implications. While lipids are known for their roles as energy stores as well as for cellular compartmentalization, certain lipid classes can serve as signaling agents that govern cellular behavior and physiology or as biomarkers whose concentration and spatial organization impacts cell fate. Thus, dysregulation in these processes coincide with a variety of diseases and cancers. However, the ability to track lipids has been a long-standing challenge in the area of chemical biology since lipids are chemically diverse and undergo continuous interconversion …

Reduced Order Modeling And Analysis Of Cardiac Chaos, Tuhin Subhra Das

Doctoral Dissertations

Numerous physiological processes are functioning at the level of cells, tissues and organs in the human body, out of which some are oscillatory and some are non-oscillatory. Networks of coupled oscillators are widely studied in the modeling of oscillatory or rhythmical physiological processes. Phase-isostable reduction is an emerging model reduction strategy that can be used to accurately replicate nonlinear behaviors in dynamical systems for which standard phase reduction techniques fail. We apply strategies of phase reduction, or isostable reductions in biologically motivated problems like eliminating cardiac alternans to alleviate arrhythmia by applying energy-optimal, non-feedback type control solutions.

Cardiac fibrillation caused …

New Species Of Dryolestoid From The Late Cretaceous Allen Formation And Implications For South American Faunal Diversity., Brigid Erin Connelly

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dryolestoids are extinct cladotherians mammals from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. I describe a collection of dryolestoid specimens from the Late Cretaceous localities of Cerro Tortuga (Allen Formation), Anfiteatro 1, and Shining (both La Colonia Formation) from Patagonia, Argentina. Using comparative morphology, I identify a new species of meridiolestidan dryolestoid based on eleven specimens across both formations. The new species’ recovery from La Colonia Formation represents the first dryolestoid connection between the two approximately contemporaneous formations. The species’ morphology may represent an ecological shift within Meridiolestida from insectivory to herbivory, showing a transition in characters between the plesiomorphic sharp-toothed meridiolestidans …

Exploring And Testing Wildfire Risk Decision-Making In The Face Of Deep Uncertainty, Bart R. Johnson, Alan A. Ager, Cody Evers, David Hulse, Max Nielsen-Pincus, John P. Bolte

Environmental Science and Management Faculty Publications and Presentations

We integrated a mechanistic wildfire simulation system with an agent-based landscape change model to investigate the feedbacks among climate change, population growth, development, landowner decision-making, vegetative succession, and wildfire. Our goal was to develop an adaptable simulation platform for anticipating risk-mitigation tradeoffs in a fire-prone wildland– urban interface (WUI) facing conditions outside the bounds of experience. We describe how five social and ecological system (SES) submodels interact over time and space to generate highly variable alternative futures even within the same scenario as stochastic elements in simulated wildfire, succession, and landowner decisions create large sets of unique, path-dependent futures for …

Informing Management Strategy For The Relict Leopard Frog (Rana Onca): Insights Into Breeding Biology And An Attempt To Improve Augmentation Success Through Pre-Exposure And Clearance Of An Emerging Amphibian Pathogen, Rebeca Rivera

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The Relict Leopard Frog, Rana onca, is a species of conservation concern that suffered a decline sometime during the 20th century. Even after two decades of intensive management, the species currently only occupies 20 spring sites in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. The causes for the historical decline are mostly speculative, but relate to habitat loss, introduced predators, and emergent disease. Since 2001, R. onca has been under an intensive conservationprogram managed by a multiagency conservation team. There are several objectives specified in the program including the need to investigate the biology of the species and incorporate findings into …

Evaluation Of Biochar Rate And Hemp Cultivar For The Phytoremediation Of Heavy-Metal-Contaminated Soil From The Tar Creek Superfund Site, Dietrich Thurston

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soil contamination by cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) at the Tar Creek Superfund site in Northeast Oklahoma remains a threat to the environment and local ecosystem. Phytoremediation by industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and the use of biochar (BC) have been independently shown to be effective methods to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of industrial hemp cultivar (‘Carmagnola’ and ‘Jinma’), BC rate (0, 2, 5, and 10% by volume), soil contamination level (low, medium, and high), and their interactions on above- and belowground (AG and BG, respectively) plant dry …

Runoff Water Quality And Crop Growth As Affected By Wastewater-Derived Struvite, Machaela Morrison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Mined phosphate rock, used to produce phosphorus (P) fertilizers, is a finite resource. Struvite (MgNH4PO4 • 6H2O) that has been synthetically produced from a stock solution of known P and nitrogen (N) concentrations has been shown to be an effective, alternative fertilizer-P source for various crops. However, little is known about the runoff-water-quality implications from and the crop response to soil application of struvite created from an actual municipal wastewater source. This study consisted of two objectives: i) to evaluate the effects of soil [i.e., Creldon (Oxyaquic Fragiudalf), Dapue (Fluventic Hapludoll), Roxana (Typic Udifluvent), and Calloway (Aquic Fraglossudalf) series], fertilizer-P …

Depression, Anxiety, And Estimated Cardiorespiratory Fitness In College Students, Christian Ison

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Depression and anxiety disorders are two common mental health conditions worldwide. College students are considered a high-risk population for the development of these conditions. Improved cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been shown to decrease depression and anxiety risk, symptoms, and severity but this relationship and the extent to which improved CRF can reduce these risks has yet to be examined in the college student population. Validated and reliable non-exercise estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) algorithms could be used to identify relationships and associations with depression and anxiety severity levels among college students. The purpose of this study was to assess eCRF and …

A Comparison Of Computational Perfusion Imaging Techniques, Shaharina Shoha

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Dynamic contrast agent magnetic resonance perfusion imaging plays a vital role in various medical applications, including tumor grading, distinguishing between tumor types, guiding procedures, and evaluating treatment efficacy. Extracting essential biological parameters, such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and mean transit time (MTT), from acquired imaging data is crucial for making critical treatment decisions. However, the accuracy of these parameters can be compromised by the inherent noise and artifacts present in the source images.

This thesis focuses on addressing the challenges associated with parameter estimation in dynamic contrast agent magnetic resonance perfusion imaging. Specifically, we aim …

Sulfur Cycling Connects Microbiomes And Biogeochemistry In Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Plumes, Zhichao Zhou, Patricia Q. Tran, Alyssa M. Adams, Kristopher Kieft, John A. Breier, Caroline S. Fortunato, Cody S. Sheik, Julie A. Huber, Meng Li, Gregory J. Dick, Karthik Anantharaman

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

In globally distributed deep-sea hydrothermal vent plumes, microbiomes are shaped by the redox energy landscapes created by reduced hydrothermal vent fluids mixing with oxidized seawater. Plumes can disperse over thousands of kilometers and their characteristics are determined by geochemical sources from vents, e.g., hydrothermal inputs, nutrients, and trace metals. However, the impacts of plume biogeochemistry on the oceans are poorly constrained due to a lack of integrated understanding of microbiomes, population genetics, and geochemistry. Here, we use microbial genomes to understand links between biogeography, evolution, and metabolic connectivity, and elucidate their impacts on biogeochemical cycling in the deep sea. Using …

Tidal Flooding In The Mid-Atlantic Region Of The Us: Water Quality Effects In The Lower Chesapeake Bay, Alfonso Macias Tapia

OES Theses and Dissertations

Many coastal areas around the globe suffer from nutrient pollution and its environmental, social, and economic consequences. Nutrient inputs can come from point (e.g., the end of a pipe) and nonpoint sources, from which the former are better constrained as sampling need only be conducted at a discharge point. Given the temporal and spatially extensive nature of tidal flooding events, they can represent another type of nonpoint source of nutrients to adjacent water bodies heretofore, unexamined and quantified. Most studies examining impacts of tidal flooding have focused on threats to resources on land, such as urban infrastructure and human health …

Effects Of Short-Term Exposure To A Pesticide Mixture On Free-Swimming Behavior In Goldfish, Carassius Auratus, Esmirna Cantu, Michelle Rivera, Brittney Lacy, Md Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Highlights

• We observed effects of pesticides exposure on free-swimming behaviors in goldfish.

• Pesticides profoundly impacting natural swimming patterns.

• Behavioral analysis showed a dose- and time-dependent, decrease in distance swam.

• Vertical/horizontal spatial behavioral use both affected under exposure conditions.

Abstract

The prevalence of pesticides in the aquatic environment continues to increase due to anthropogenic activities and poses a threat to aquatic organisms. Notably, the intensive use of pesticides can cause detrimental effects (i.e., chemical stressors) on animal behavior. The aim of this study was to determine the short-term exposure effects (5-day) of an environmentally relevant pesticide mixture (low- and high-dose: metolachlor …

Portuguese Society Of Pastures And Forages, J. Potes, E. V. Lourenço, T. Carita

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Portuguese Society of Pastures and Forages (SPPF) was born from a course on pastures and forages held in the National Plant Breeding Station of Elvas (where the headquarters of SPPF are located) in 1979. It was organised by the head of the Pastures and Forages Department, David Gomes Crespo, who was the first and founder member. According to Abreu et al. (1999), the structure established was that of a Scientific Society and was considered by the Government as a Service of Public Interest. It gathered inspiration from the British Grassland Society, the Association Francaise pour la Production Fourragére, …

The Activities And Aspirations Of The Estonian Grassland Society, A. Selge, R. Viiralt, Tiina Köster

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The aim of the Estonian Grassland Society (EGS) is to develop the flow of grassland-based knowledge between different stakeholders and multidisciplinary research and to create international contacts. The EGS is a non-profit organisation and more than 100 interdisciplinary researchers, plant breeders, advisors and farmers are actively involved in the work of the society. The interdisciplinary activities are becoming more and more attractive and important and bring together different target groups. At present seminars, which are focused on the adaptation producers to the EU rules and support system for farmers are attractive. Nowadays the essential goal for the EGS is to …

The Role Of The New Zealand Grassland Association In Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution, M. W. Calder

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The New Zealand Grassland Association (NZGA) aims for a two-way communication between grassland researchers and pastoral farmers on research findings and farming trends and opportunities. Annual conferences, special symposia, print and electronic publications as well as the web site are used to further these aims. Policy evolution is indirect, using the relationship with agribusiness sponsors and members to promote research objectives.

Slovenian Grassland Society: Science, Profession And Practice, Branko Kramberger, Matej Vidrih, T. Vidrih, J. Čop

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Slovenian Grassland Society (SGS) was established in 1993. It has around 120 members. A half of members are active farmers, around 10% are scientists, the rest are employed in extension services or other agricultural enterprises (seed companies, administration bodies, etc.)

Role Of Hellenic Range And Pasture Society In Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution, T. G. Papachristou, P. D. Platis, V. Papanastasis, A. Ainalis

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Hellenic Range and Pasture Society (HRPS) was founded in 1992 and is a non-profit scientific association. It is composed of 74 members with a common interest in the study, management, and rational use of rangelands and related ecosystems (e.g. pasturelands). The objectives for which the corporation was established are: a) to develop an understanding of rangeland ecosystems and of the principles applicable to the management of rangeland resources (soil, plants, water, and animals), b) to assist all who work with rangelands and pasturelands to keep abreast of new findings and techniques in the science and art of rangeland and …

Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution; Grassland Society Of Southern Australia Inc, L. L. Bennison

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Grassland Society of Southern Australia was formed in 1959 to provide a forum for the transfer of information, ideas and experiences in relation to all aspects of grassland establishment, maintenance, utilisation, persistence and research. The membership of over 2,000 is composed primarily of primary producers (80%) with extension and research scientists comprising 10%, agribusiness 8% and academia 2%. The major interests of members are wool, lamb and beef production, dairying and cropping. The society produces bimonthly newsletters, holds an annual conference with attendances between 400 and 600 annually and has a branch structure that hosts local events. The society …

Role Of The Grassland Society Of Bosnia And Herzegovina In Grassland Agriculture, S. Alibegovic-Gbic, M. Bezdrob

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The biggest part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered with hilly and mountainous terrain, which, from the agricultural perspective, determines the manner of soil usage. Of all agricultural areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 55.49% are covered by grassland with that figure increasing to 79.14% in mountainous regions. Therefore, grassland agriculture and its cousin livestock production are the most significant part of the Bosnian economy. In the current situation natural grasslands are largely neglected and give a low yield of forage of low quality. Many areas are completely abandoned and have been gradually overgrown with weeds and bushes. Yet a special …

Institutions, Structures And Topics Of Grassland Research In Germany - From Science To Practice, Johannes Isselstein, H. Hochberg

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In Germany, grassland covers some 30% of the agriculturally used land. It forms the basis of forage production in dairy and beef cattle husbandry as well as sheep and horse feeding. The intensification of grassland farming during the last fifty years was made possible through extended basic and applied research in all fields of grassland management. This included the improvement of forage species and varieties by plant breeding, the adaptation of botanical knowledge for the control of the botanical composition of permanent grass swards, the application of regular fertilisation, the improvement of the grazing management, the increased frequency of utilisation …

The Spanish Society For The Study Of Pastures: 45 Years Promoting Better Pasture Knowledge And Management, A. San Miguel

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Spanish Society for the Study of Pastures (SEEP) (http://www.seepastos.es) was founded in 1960 through the initiative of Prof. G. González with the intention of combining efforts and initiatives on pasture studies from many points of view. The Society has the objective of promoting the knowledge and improvement of Spanish pastures, regarding every issue related with pastoral science: typology; ecology and functions of pastoral ecosystems; plant production; feeding value; animal production; economics; sociology and agricultural policy, etc. The term 'Pasture' is considered in a broad sense to include every plant part, individual or community capable of being used for livestock …

Activity Of Japanese Society Of Grassland Science, K. Sugawara, S. Saiga, K. Tateno, Y. Cai, N. Yoshida, T. Takamizo, M. Goto

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Japanese Society of Grassland Science (JSGS) was founded in 1954 for the purposes of progressing grassland and forage crop sciences and fostering grassland agriculture and better management of grassland for animal production in Japan. From the first, the members of JSGS have included interdisciplinary scientists from forage crop science, forestry, animal science, agribusiness and many related fields. In the 50 years since its foundation, JSGS has made large contributions to the progress of both science and industry in Japan. The number of JSGS members is now declining slightly, but there are still about 950 including 800 individual members and …

The Tropical Grassland Society Of Australia Incorporated, David M. Orr, M. H. Shelton, C. A. Hall

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Tropical Grassland Society of Australia was formed in 1962 and became incorporated in 1987 and has the following aims:

• To publicise information of interest to primary producers and scientists
• To improve the relevance of research and adoption of technology through the flow of ideas between scientists and producers
• To publicise the findings of Australian pasture research and development to overseas workers, and to draw on their experience for application in Australia

Comments On The Present Activity Of Czech Specialists In Grassland Cultivation, B. Cagaš

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Unlike some other countries, there is no officially established forage crop or grassland society in the Czech Republic. This, however, does not mean that activity in this field is lacking. Several institutions are involved in the development of grassland research. These are predominantly: Grassland Commission of the Section of Plant Production of the Czech Academy of Agricultural Science, Forage Crop Commission of the Bohemian-Moravian Union of Plant Breeders, Bohemian-Moravian Association of Plant Breeding and Seed Production and Association of Grass and Clover Seed Growers. Members of these institutions are researchers and breeders of grasses and legumes, university lecturers from departments …

American Forage And Grassland Council Technology Interaction And Policy Development, E. K. Twidwell, W. A. Tucker

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) is a national organisation which has been in existence since 1968. Membership of AFGC is about 2,500. The membership of AFGC is divided into three main sectors: private, public and industry. The private sector has the largest membership (60%), and private members are usually producers that are engaged in some type of agricultural enterprise involving the use of forages. The public sector members (30%) are educators and other government agency personnel that work with the general public. The industry sector (10%) involves various companies that deal with the forage industry. The AFGC Board …

The Ulster Grassland Society, J. Morrison

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Northern Ireland is a grass-growing region. Grassland accounts for 92% of the area farmed (excluding hill land). So the great majority of farm businesses in the Province are, at least partly, dependent on grass as a source of ruminant feed and grassland farming makes a major impact on the environment and landscape of the Province.

The Ulster Grassland Society was formed in response to a realisation that grass should be treated as a crop in its own right with potential to produce high output in higher rainfall areas which include Northern Ireland. Although there had been informal meetings held since …

The Role Of Grassland Societies In The West Of Scotland, G. E. D. Tiley

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Local grassland societies were first established in the United Kingdom in the 1950s, under the guiding hand of the national, British Grassland Society, itself founded in 1946. In the west of Scotland two local societies were formed: 1) the South West Scotland Grassland Society in 1962, covering the former counties of Ayrshire, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown; and 2) the Central Scotland Grassland Society for Lanark, Stirling, Renfrew, Dumbarton and Clackmannan. The declared aim of these two societies was to promote good grassland farming in all its aspects amongst members and to identify opportunities for improved grassland management, all to the …

The Leucaena Network: A Grazier Advocacy Organisation Ensuring The Future Of A Valuable Forage Resource For Northern Australia, K. Mclaughlin, B. F. Mullen, H. M. Shelton

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Leucaena leucocephala is a productive and sustainable forage tree legume for beef cattle production in northern Australia. Following a protracted period of research and development to overcome agronomic and social constraints, substantial adoption by graziers is now occurring (Mullen, these proceedings). However, a recent challenge has threatened future development, viz. the perception by some environmentalists that leucaena is an environmental weed. In addition, production-oriented support from public research and development organisations has diminished significantly over the past 20 years. The Leucaena Network (TLN) was formed in July 2000, primarily to counter the anti-leucaena movement, but has since developed as an …