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Characterization of neural mechanisms dictating individual motor asymmetry in larval zebrafish
No full textInter-individual variation in behavior has been characterized in various animals, manifesting across diverse environmental contexts. This inherent behavioral diversity adds complexity to behaviors observed within populations and has been shown to enhance overall fitness. The most prevalent examples of individuality are lateralized behaviors where individuals show a limb or directional preference, such as human handedness. While lateralized behaviors are widespread occurrence in animals, the neural mechanisms that dictate these motor asymmetries remain poorly understood. In this dissertation, I utilize a larval zebrafish asymmetric turn behavior as a model to investigate the neural regulators of individuality. Building upon previous research, I characterize how a specific subset of thalamic neurons functionally encodes behavioral asymmetry in the larval zebrafish brain. Additionally, I establish a novel critical period to explore how asymmetric visual experience during development shapes behavior and neural activity. Leveraging this critical period, I examine the role of GABAergic signaling, an essential component of established mammalian critical period circuits, in the induction of behavioral asymmetry. Furthermore, I investigate the evolutionary conservation of larval zebrafish asymmetric turn behavior within teleost, leading to the discovery and characterization of an additional, vision-independent pathway that regulates behavioral asymmetry. Together, this work studying larval zebrafish motor asymmetry provides insight into the neural mechanisms that underly the development and maintenance of individuality in behavior
Steam and Feed Additive Effects on Feed Manufacture and Broiler Nutrition
No full textIn Chapter 2, the thermal dynamics of feed manufacturing, particularly during steam conditioning and pellet die extrusion, can significantly influence moisture incorporation and the stability of exogenous feed enzymes. The study investigates how ambient temperature interacts with conditioning temperature to affect moisture addition, pellet production efficiency, and enzyme activity. A split-plot design was used, with two ambient temperature settings (−1°C and 16°C) and three conditioning temperatures (66°C, 74°C, and 82°C). Increased conditioning temperatures raised both conditioned mash and hot pellet moisture levels (P \u3c 0.05) regardless of ambient temperature. A significant interaction between ambient and conditioning temperature affected production rate (P = 0.0357), with production improving at 16°C ambient conditions but not at −1°C. Pellet mill motor load decreased with higher conditioning temperatures (P = 0.0002) and tended to decrease under warmer ambient conditions (P = 0.0647). While phytase activity remained stable across the board, carbohydrase activity declined with increasing conditioning temperature and higher ambient temperature (P \u3c 0.05). This was potentially due to increased heat transfer and the Leidenfrost effect during warmer conditions. Findings suggest ambient temperature plays a role in modifying steam dynamics, enzyme viability, and pelleting performance, with implications for nutrient availability and process optimization in commercial feed manufacturing.
In Chapter 3, Sodium bisulfate (SB), a hygroscopic acidifier commonly used in poultry litter treatments, has potential benefits as a feed additive for improving both feed manufacturing and broiler performance. This study evaluated the effects of two inclusion levels of SB (2.7 and 3.6 kg/ton) in phytase-supplemented, calcium- and phosphorus-deficient broiler diets across starter, grower, and finisher phases. Five dietary treatments were formulated: a positive control (PC), a negative control (NC) with reduced calcium and phosphorus, NC + phytase, and NC + phytase with either 2.7 or 3.6 kg/ton SB. All diets were evaluated for feed pH, pellet quality, feed mill energy usage, broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and excreta pH. SB inclusion reduced feed pH (P \u3c 0.05) and improved feed manufacture by decreasing pellet mill motor load and hot pellet temperature while increasing pellet durability in a phase-specific manner (P \u3c 0.05). Broilers fed SB at 2.7 kg/ton alongside phytase showed improved Day 18 live weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to NC-fed birds (P \u3c 0.05). Tibia ash content was greater in phytase-containing diets, with intermediate values compared to PC and NC groups (P \u3c 0.05). SB also lowered excreta pH on Days 7 and 14 (P \u3c 0.05), suggesting improved gut acidification and nutrient utilization. These findings indicate that SB, particularly at 2.7 kg/ton, can enhance feed manufacturing efficiency and early broiler performance through its acidifying and moisture-retaining properties
Quantifying Subsurface Pavement Temperatures Subject to Future Climates and Implications for Pavement Resilience
No full textAssessment of anthropogenic climate change impacts in pavement design and analysis remains limited within engineering practice, despite growing recognition of the need for climate-resilient roadway infrastructure. Research efforts have increasingly focused on integrating future climate projections into mechanistic-empirical pavement design, which represents the leading edge of the state of practice. However, a lack of consensus persists regarding the optimal methods for incorporating climate projections, particularly in the selection of downscaling techniques and global climate models (GCMs) to ensure accuracy and applicability for pavement performance analysis. This research investigates the impact of statistical downscaling methodologies and GCM selection routines on subsurface temperature projections derived from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 climate dataset. Average ensemble-based approaches are compared to individual GCM selection to assess potential biases introduced by model averaging in temperature predictive capacity. Results indicate biases in temperature prediction introduced in average ensemble approaches and significant differences resulting from choices of downscaling methods, demonstrating the sensitivity of subsurface temperature profiles to methodological choices. Commensurate recommendations are provided based on those results. Based on the scope of working toward climate-resilient roadway infrastructure, this research extends beyond pavement infrastructure-focused analyses to introduce broader roadway resilience frameworks for improved top-down decision-making using an environmental justice lens. A multi-criteria decision analysis and community-driven asset management frameworks are proposed to systematically evaluate asset vulnerability, criticality, and community resilience, integrating community resilience metrics to inform transportation adaptation strategies. This work contributes to a more comprehensive methodology for climate-adaptive roadway engineering, providing critical insights for practitioners and policymakers seeking to enhance the resilience of roadway infrastructure under future climate conditions
Molecular Insights into the Impact of Bone Marrow Stroma, CB-6644 Inhibition of the RUVBL1/2 Complex, and CEBPβ on Regulating Drug Sensitivity in Multiple Myeloma
No full textMultiple myeloma (MM), is a hematological cancer originating in plasma cells. Currently multiple myeloma represents a significant clinical challenge due its incurable nature mainly due to inevitable drug resistance. MM is characterized by abnormal plasma cell proliferation within the bone marrow and production of abnormal immunoglobulin resulting in a plethora of physiological abnormalities. Although a rare malignancy, MM accounts for 1% of all cancers and currently has five-year survival rate of around 50%. Utilizing a combination of laboratory experiments and bioinformatics techniques, this dissertation examines multiple layers of MM physiology in the context of regulating drug resistance or sensitivity. First, we examine the influence of bone marrow stromal cells on MM transcriptome related to stromal cells induced drug resistance. Secondly, we assess novel anti-MM therapeutics candidate like CB-6644, and lastly investigates the transcription factor CEBPβ\u27s role in modulating dexamethasone sensitivity
Therapeutic Roles for Alkaline Phosphatases to Target Intestinal Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Experimental Sepsis and Ischemic Stroke
No full textAbstract
Therapeutic Roles for Alkaline Phosphatases to Target Intestinal Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Experimental Sepsis and Ischemic Stroke
Rhiannon V. Macom
Stroke is a disease that primarily affects the brain; however, ongoing research continues to show that stroke has far reaching systemic effects that can affect both short- and long-term recovery. The gastrointestinal tract has been shown to be affected post-stroke, and these effects are likely due to the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain via the gut-brain-axis. Alkaline phosphatases (APs) are common membrane bound enzymes that are known to have a role in mitigating inflammation. The objective of this dissertation was to examine the potential impacts of utilizing a recombinant alkaline phosphate drug known as recAP in sepsis and stroke outcomes. Our central hypothesis was that treatment with recAP would lead to improved outcomes within the brain and the gut. We first optimized a model of recAP administration in sepsis and showed that recAP did affect gastrointestinal outcomes and led to improved post-sepsis outcomes. Since intestinal alkaline phosphatase, encoded by the Akp3 gene, is localized in the intestine, we then interrogated the role of this AP in the gut-brain axis during ischemic stroke. We assessed a novel protective role for recAP in a photothrombotic stroke model by utilizing Akp3-/- and Akp3+/+ mice. This study demonstrated that at 72 hours post-stroke, recAP treatment in the Akp3+/+ mice led to a decrease in infarct size and neurological scoring, alteration of bacterial burden and short chain fatty acid composition, and improved crypt: villi ratios in the ileum. We also found that, when compared to Akp3+/+ mice, Akp3-/- mice had smaller infarcts, a longer crypt: villi ratio in the ileum, alterations in the brain immune cell populations, altered fecal short chain fatty acid composition, and increased small intestinal adhesion molecule expression. Results from this study highlighted the potential for recAP treatment post-stroke as well as the need to further investigate the role of intestinal alkaline phosphatase’s mechanisms post-stroke. In our final study, we assessed the effects of recAP on the gut-brain axis in C57Bl/6J mice following a seven-day ischemic stroke. Although we did not observe any neurological deficits, we did identify important shifts in the microbiome as well as in the gene expression of the small intestine, these findings provide further support that recAP may have an important role in modulating the gastrointestinal response post-stroke. In summary, this body of work demonstrates that: 1) Loss of intestinal alkaline phosphatase leads to beneficial post-stroke outcomes in acute stroke and 2) Treatment with recAP post-stroke is likely beneficial; however, the benefits are likely dependent on the mouse strain as well as time post-stroke. We conclude recAP administration and/or modulation of intestinal alkaline phosphatase may be a promising stroke therapeutic to ameliorate the systemic effects of stroke on in conjunction with other FDA-approved therapeutics to improve overall stroke outcomes and quality of life in stroke survivors
Microbial community composition of water and sediment in chlorinated drinking water distribution system storage tanks
No full textProperly operated and maintained drinking water distribution system (DWDS) storage tanks play a crucial role in allocating safe drinking water to customers and upholding public health standards. However, varying operational processes and infrequent tank maintenance can result in water quality degradation through the loss of disinfectant residual, bacterial growth, and potential contamination. Low water turnover and stagnation within tanks contributes to elevated water age and disinfectant residual decay potentially altering microbial community composition in DWDSs. Storage tanks have been documented as survival areas for bacterial pathogens as well as hot spots for the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in DWDSs. Sediments accumulate in low flow areas, like storage tanks, and have important implications for the presence of pathogens including Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, posing potential public health risks. However, the chemical composition and microbial community associated with DWDS tank sediments remains poorly understood, largely due to difficulty accessing these samples. The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the relationship between DWDS storage tank physical, chemical, and hydraulic characteristics with microbial community composition in water and sediment in representative storage tanks within a chlorinated DWDS, 2) investigate the variation in water quality within individual tanks in relation to different collection depths, and 3) identify infrastructure and management characteristics that influence microorganisms and DBPs in drinking water tanks. Bulk water and sediment samples were collected through local utility collaboration from seven different storage tanks in a chlorinated DWDS. Bulk water samples were collected from each tank from varying depths (top, middle, and bottom) as well as DWDS locations prior to tank storage and after tank storage. Sediment samples were also collected from the bottom of each tank. Amplicon sequencing targeting the V4-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene was conducted to characterize the microbial community. Alphaproteobacteria dominated DWDS water samples, whereas Gammaproteobacteria dominated sediment. Microbial community composition predominately varied based on tank site, aligning with previous studies highlighting spatial variability as a driver of microbial diversity in DWDSs. Distribution system characteristics and water quality parameters, particularly pipe miles from the treatment plant and total chlorine, also significantly influenced community structure at each tank site, reinforcing the role spatial differences have in shaping microbial communities in DWDS tanks. Genera containing pathogenic species including Stenotrophomonas and Pseudomonas were detected at least once at every site with detection of Acinetobacter at most sites. This study establishes a greater understanding of the microbial community within DWDS storage tanks and the impact that tank conditions and characteristics can have on distribution system water quality
Genomic Differences and Parentage in West Virginia\u27s Reintroduced Elk (Cervus canadensis)
No full textElk (Cervus canadensis) reintroductions have been common in the 20th and 21st centuries, yet 40% have failed to establish self-sustaining elk populations due to a lack of post-reintroduction demographic monitoring. Elk were reintroduced to West Virginia in 2016 following more than a century of absence after the species was extirpated in 1875. Elk were translocated to West Virginia from Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) in eastern Kentucky and from Arizona. The two groups of elk differ in their subspecies, physiology, reintroduction history, connectivity, and habitat. Reintroductions create genetic risks such as the founder effect and genetic drift that can lower a population’s genetic diversity, possibly resulting in inbreeding, reduced immunocompetence, and reduced adaptive potential. The most significant cause of mortality in West Virginia’s elk population is Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, commonly known as meningeal worm or brain worm, a parasitic nematode affecting the central nervous system. Risks are amplified when two dissimilar sources are used, as within-cluster breeding bias can lead to isolation between them. To evaluate genetic risks in West Virginia elk, genomic differences between elk sourced from LBL and elk sourced from AZ were evaluated and parentage was assigned for elk born in West Virginia since the onset of the reintroduction. Double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) was used to identify sets of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to address questions of diversity, neutral and adaptive differences, and parentage in a sample of 156 elk. AZ elk had higher heterozygosity (p = 0.007), a greater effective population size (Ne), and higher genetic risk scores for susceptibility to meningeal worm-related mortality (p = 0.0006). LBL and AZ differed moderately in a set of neutral SNPs (FST = 0.11) and differed greatly at 80 putatively adaptive SNPs (FST = 0.76). Thirty-two genes were linked to proteins that may play a role in the genetic susceptibility of elk to meningeal worm. Parent pairs were identified for 43 of 59 elk born in West Virginia at 95% confidence. Of the total offspring pool, 51% were assigned one parent from each source population, indicating the absence of within-cluster breeding bias. Thirteen males sired these 43 offspring, 10 of which were sourced from LBL. There is a 1:1.69 ratio of mating males to mating females. Seventy-nine percent of offspring were sired by males between three and six years old, and the mean age of parents has increased since the initial translocation. Six females in this population mated as yearlings. The marked differences between LBL and AZ elk, especially LBL’s reduced genetic diversity and AZ’s increased susceptibility to meningeal worm, pose a threat to the population’s sustainability. The admixture between the groups mitigates this threat and potentially retains genetic diversity in the population’s future
Reconnection-Driven Electron Acceleration
No full textMagnetic reconnection converts the magnetic energy available in a plasma to the kinetic energy of its constituent particles. In the simplest case, it occurs between anti-parallel magnetic field lines meeting in a plane. Another variant known as ‘component reconnection’ involves field lines reconnecting at an angle, giving a non-zero magnetic field component perpendicular to the plane of reconnection. This component is known as the ‘guide field’ and it is normalized to the reconnecting field in the literature. The guide field controls the particle-scale dynamics of reconnection and influences the ensuing particle acceleration.
Component reconnection occurs in the Earth’s magnetosphere, along with a variant known as ‘electron-only’ reconnection which precludes ion dynamics. West Virginia University’s PHAse Space MApping (PHASMA) experiment can generate electron-only reconnection with a variable guide field. We have used this platform to study electron acceleration along the local magnetic field as a function of the guide field and found that electron acceleration is enhanced as the guide field is decreased. This occurs with the formation of non-thermal electron energy distribution functions (EEDFs) whose peak energies increase as the guide field decreases. A cross-over occurs at a guide field of 10, when the spatio-temporal production of energetic electrons in PHASMA increases dramatically. Measurements for this case reveal the production of a non-thermal, multi-component EEDF in conjunction with bulk electron heating along the local magnetic field
Juegos Panamericanos y Parapanamericanos 2023. Estudios sobre el Impacto Social, Turismo, Voluntariado, y Equilibrio de Género
Get PDFDuring the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games, held between October and November of 2023 in Santiago, Chile, six researchers from universities in the United States, Spain and Chile, conducted data collection for four research studies. These studies focused on: (1) the Games’ social impact on residents; (2) tourist profiles and their evaluations of the event; (3) volunteer motivations, empowerment, satisfaction, and future intentions; and (4) progress toward gender equity in Pan American sport organizations. Over 13,000 responses were collected. Findings on social impact showed improved public perception, enhanced infrastructure, a better city image, and a stronger sense of belonging among residents. These effects persisted after the Games ended. The tourism study revealed that the event attracted both domestic and international visitors. While the overall organization and emotional experience were rated positively, concerns were raised about safety in some cities. The volunteer study showed high motivation and satisfaction, with participants feeling valued and committed. The gender equity study found steps toward inclusivity but noted persistent structural barriers preventing women from accessing leadership roles. These studies offer valuable insights into the broader social, organizational, and equity impacts of major sporting events
From Novice to Navigator: Research Discipline Skeletons for Liaison Librarians
Get PDFThese slides are from a presentation to the Academic Librarians\u27 Caucus of the Medical Library Association covering the Research Discipline Skeletons, a multidisciplinary tool developed by the author during their MLIS practicum. The presentation discussed the need for the Skeletons as a tool, the history behind it\u27s creation, an example Skeleton in the field of Athletic Training, how to build a Skeleton, and other considerations.
For a blank Research Discipline Skeleton template you may use as well as another example, please see this citation:
Monnin, Jenn, Research Discipline Skeletons: the Librarian’s Bridge to Subject Knowledge (2020). Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 2939.https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/293