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Mechanical Loading Regulates Soft Tissue ECM Gene Expression in Fibroblast-Seeded Collagen Scaffolds
No full textMechanical stimuli are crucial for the remodeling and healing soft tissues like ligaments and tendons. Previous research has examined this mechanobiological response in-vitro by applying stress- or strain-based stimulation on cell-seeded scaffolds. However, the precise physical mechanisms that control fibroblast-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling in response to different loading configurations remain unclear. This lack of understanding limits the establishment of optimal treatment strategies for soft tissue damage, which affects about 12 million U.S. citizens annually. This research aims to bridge this gap by investigating the effects of different loading configurations on the expression of ECM genes in fibroblast-seeded collagen scaffolds. We hypothesize that fibroblast-seeded collagen scaffolds subjected to combined tension-compression loading will improve collagen synthesis and remodeling-associated genes like transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), elastin (E1), Collagen type I α1 (Col1a1), Collagen type II α1 (Col2a1), and Collagen type III α1 (Col3a1). This research will enable the development of fundamental theories for the mechanobiology of tendon and ligament healing, which will help medical professionals develop more effective treatments for soft tissue injuries
Zoo Boise Skull Identification: Building Bridges - Connecting Scientific Analysis to Public Education Through Mammalian Skulls
Get PDFAnimal skulls tell us a lot about an animal’s lifestyle and are commonly used for educational displays to inspire public interest. In mammals, features such as teeth, jaws, and cranial morphology provide markers for feeding habits and ecological roles. In this project, mammalogy students partnered with Boise Zoo to identify unknown skulls using dichotomous keys to research unique skull features and functions. The goal of skull identification is to inform and educate the Zoo Boise visitors on the traits found in particular skulls and how researchers can make deductions about the animal’s lifestyle. The product of this work will follow interpretive education best practices and be used in interpretive interactions at the zoo. We present our knowledge and findings using an interpretive display to help the zoo and its visitors gain insight into the organisms that they may encounter during their visit. The results will give us a better understanding of how the skull’s physical traits connect to their families and provide interesting information that will help visitors learn about the diversity of animal families in a more hands-on way
Ground Coverage of Sagebrush Steppe Effect on Piute Ground Squirrel (\u3cem\u3eUrocitellus mollis\u3c/em\u3e) Emergence
Get PDFFine-scale environmental features display variation between close proximity habitats. These differences can impact the behavior of species in these environments. One local example is the Piute Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus mollis). They live in sagebrush steppe environments that vary in amount of ground cover. The ground squirrel population has endured a steady decline in recent years and, to understand why they may not be recovering from this decline, we evaluated ground squirrel phenology in open and closed habitats by observing ground squirrel activity. We aim to determine if habitat type impacts emergence date and specifically, if open habitats will cause ground squirrels to emerge earlier in the year. We predict that ground squirrels will emerge sooner in open habitats compared to closed habitats, and have different breeding season windows. We analyzed camera trap footage collected from late January to late March, to quantify ground squirrel activity and emergence dates in the dominant brush cover types present in the study area. Microhabitats should impact the emergence time and breeding seasons of ground squirrels. Knowing when ground squirrels emerge and begin activity at each site helps to advise future projects by knowing the optimal times throughout the year to monitor these species and if site location matters, minimizing the potential for skew. This, in turn, helps to validate the findings of other projects, ensuring conservation efforts are assisted by well-supported evidence
By Hand / With Time
No full texthttps://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/mfa_images_2025/1024/thumbnail.jp
The N-Pact Factor, Replication and Power Associated with Quantitative Research in Physical Activity and Health
Get PDFPhysical Activity (PA) and health science researchers often face challenges related to sample size, which can impact the reliability and generalizability of study findings. The purpose of the current paper is to address these issues by discussing key statistical concepts: effect size and Type I and Type II errors, with a specific focus on examining statistical power and sample size using studies from the Disability and Health Journal (DHJ). We examined research articles published in DHJ over a 15-year period (2008–2022), covering 62 issues and analyzing a total of 1,177 articles. Our analysis revealed that the median sample sizes for various research types were as follows: correlational studies (NF = 197), quasi-experimental studies (NF = 140), and experimental studies (NF = 100). These findings highlight the differences in sample sizes across research designs, underscoring the need for careful consideration of sample size. Additionally, we examined three distinct five-year blocks within this period (2008–2012, 2013–2017, and 2018–2022) to identify trends over time, finding that the largest sample sizes for correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental studies were observed in the first five-year block (2008–2012). This trend analysis provides valuable insights into sample size considerations and highlights the importance of planning for adequate power in PA and health research
Place-Based Perspectives Enrich Understanding of Multifunctional Landscapes
No full textThis dissertation examines the intersection of local values, social-ecological change, and land management within rural multifunctional landscapes. It does so through two case studies in Idaho using a place-based approach that considers landscapes and communities as multifaceted spaces—biophysical, ecological, cultural, and symbolic—where material and social practices and processes are embedded. The first study investigates public values and attitudes toward sagebrush steppe and its governance, using a mixed-methods approach that includes semi-structured interviews, Q-methodology, and a statewide survey. It highlights the diverse values people hold for the landscape and the challenges of implementing management strategies in a context of regional variation in attitudes. Key findings include the importance of institutional fit, the influence of socio-political and geographic factors on environmental opinions, and shared values and desire to protect sagebrush steppe across ideological divides.
The second study explores how socioeconomic changes impact rural communities, focusing on the role of place meanings in shaping local responses to these shifts. Using interviews, participatory mapping, and content analysis of county plans across three counties, it finds that multiple place meanings—such as those tied to agriculture, recreation, and aesthetics—are central to community identity but are perceived as being under threat from pressures such as development and recreation. Despite these challenges, most participants envision a more multifunctional future that balances a multitude of production, consumption, and protection-oriented place meanings in their counties. Thus, this case study underscores the need for land-use decisions that consider not only what place meanings community members hold, but also where those meanings are tied to the landscape.
Through this dissertation, the theory and practice of people-place relationships are advanced in three ways: (1) by extending the concepts of landscape values and regional place meanings to new contexts, specifically the multifunctional sagebrush steppe ecosystem and rural Western communities, (2) by offering new insights into values elicitation methods and spatially explicit approaches for capturing people\u27s relationships to landscapes, land management preferences, and place meanings, and (3) by highlighting the importance of incorporating local values and place meanings in decision-making processes, and revealing opportunities for improved communication and collaboration in addressing complex community and landscape challenges. Ultimately, this research demonstrates the value of participatory, place-based approaches for understanding of how human-place relationships influence land-use decisions and offers insights that can inform policymakers and land managers navigating the complex challenge of balancing ecological, social, and economic priorities
Dataset for Temperature and Cholesterol Regulate the Association of Native Bovine Lens Alpha-Crystallin with in vitro Reconstituted Membranes Made of Synthetically Prepared Lipids and Cholesterol
No full textα-Crystallin (αABc) association with the lens membrane is accelerated in cataracts, and cholesterol (Chol) in lens membranes is accelerated in healthy aging and decreases with cataracts. This study investigates how temperature and Chol affect the membrane interactions of αABc. We applied the electron spin resonance method to analyze the membrane association of αABc incubated with (Chol)/model of bovine lens-lipid (MBLL) membranes at temperatures of 30, 37, 45, and 52 °C with Chol/MBLL mixing ratios of 0.0, 0.3, and 1.5. The highest percent of membrane exterior surface occupied (HMEO) by αABc to Chol/MBLL membranes at mixing ratios of 0.0 and 0.3 resulted in the tendency: (37 °C) HMEO \u3e (45 °C) HMEO ≈ (52 °C) HMEO \u3e (30 °C) HMEO. Additionally, the binding affinity (Ka) of αABc to Chol/MBLL membranes at mixing ratios of 0 and 0.3 resulted in the trends (37 °C) Ka \u3e (30 °C) Ka \u3e (45 °C) Ka ≈ (52°C) Ka. This data indicates that incubation temperature regulates the total amount bound and the affinity of αABc to Chol/MBLL membranes. However, with all investigated temperatures, the HMEO and Ka of αABc to Chol/MBLL membrane were zero at a Chol/MBLL ratio of 1.5, implying that high Chol and cholesterol bilayer domains (CBDs) formation totally inhibits αABc membrane association independent of temperature. Furthermore, our data show that temperatures regulate the hydrophobicity and mobility near the surface of Chol/MBLL membranes at a mixing ratio of 0.0 and 0.3 with αABc association. In contrast, at a mixing ratio of 1.5, no significant changes in hydrophobicity and mobility were observed. This study showed that the HMEO by αABc and Ka of αABc to membranes are differentially modulated by temperature, altering hydrophobicity and mobility near the membrane surface. However, Chol and CBDs reduce the membrane association of αABc irrespective of temperature, ultimately helping to maintain the lens function, transparency, homeostasis, and preventing cataract development
Infrasound from Palouse Falls, WA, USA
No full textThis is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall\u27s infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall\u27s surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal
Infrasound from Lady Face Falls, Custer County, ID, USA
No full textThis is one of the datasets referred to in a paper on waterfall infrasound by Anderson, Ortiz, and Barber, that relates a waterfall\u27s infrasound to its physical characteristics (height, discharge, and power), maps infrasound power over the waterfall\u27s surroundings, and models audibility distance for pigeons as an example of a well-studied infrasound-sensitive animal