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Characterization of a Cutaneous Microbiome of a Community of Lungless Salamanders in Cherokee County, Georgia**
No full textResearch over the last decade has revealed the importance of the cutaneous microbiome for the health and immune function of amphibians. Thousands of Bacteria and Archaeans species living in and on the skin are able to outcompete pathogenic species of fungus or types of viruses. The relationship between microbes and their host is so intimate that the term metaorganism has been used to describe this phenomenon. We are, however, at the early stages of understanding what determines the composition of the cutaneous microbiome and the relative effects of factors like genetics and habitat use. Could it be that there is a species-specific “microbiome fingerprint” that is consistent across different sites? Do species inhabiting similar microhabitats host similar microbes? We have replicated a similar study performed in Sosbee Cove in Union County, with a site in Cherokee County, with multiple species that are comparable across the two sites. We present our project designed to answer these questions and report preliminary results
The effects of testosterone exposure on urogenital tract androgen receptor distribution in immature eastern fence lizards
No full textAndrogens are important to the development and maintenance of reproductive structures and functions; however, less is known about the importance of androgen signaling in females compared to males. The distribution of androgen receptors (ARs) in mammalian urogenital systems has been characterized but relatively little is known about AR expression in non-mammalian vertebrates. In this study, AR was immunolocalized in the urogenital tracts of juvenile eastern fence lizards, Sceloporus undulatus. A subset of lizards received testosterone implants to understand and examine the effects of elevated testosterone (T) on AR expression. Our results showed control males had moderate AR-positive staining within the epididymal epithelium and diffuse staining throughout the testes, with minor staining surrounding the sexual segments of the kidney. Control females revealed a similar intensity of staining within their oviduct and mesonephric ducts. Elevated T in lizards that received implants led to hypertrophied reproductive tracts and increased AR expression throughout most of the urogenital system. As compared to control males, males that received exogenous T revealed darker AR staining in the testis, spermatic ducts, and the sexual segments of the kidney. Androgen receptor staining was more intense and concentrated in the nuclei of the epithelia of the oviducts and ductus deferentia of T-treated females in comparison to controls. Our results demonstrate that the urogenital tracts of both sexes are androgen sensitive, and the tissues that responded the most dramatically to elevated T were the same tissues that had the most intense AR staining. Our results also suggest that exposure to elevated T concentrations leads to upregulation of AR expression and increased nuclear translocation. Although oviducts of T-treated females exhibited hypertrophy relative to untreated females and were AR positive, it is unclear if this was through direct actions of testosterone or the aromatization of androgens to estrogens
REEVALUATING THE IMPACT OF RAILWAYS ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION**
No full textRailroad ecology is an extremely understudied discipline characterized by a general paucity of data. The few available previous studies consider railroads to be threats to conservation because they potentially fragment habitats, act as barriers to movement, and increase mortality. However, because railways and the areas immediately adjacent are rarely altered, they may function as persistent linear corridors of habitat in human-dominated landscapes characterized by frequent modification and development activities. If, in addition to serving as suitable habitat for wildlife, these corridors facilitate movement within and across landscapes, they may have ecological benefits that outweigh their costs. Because many mesocarnivore species are wide ranging, sensitive to landscape changes and anthropogenic activity, and ecologically important, we hypothesize that railroads may benefit this wildlife guild. To better understand the influence of railroads on mesocarnivores in northeastern Georgia, we initiated a camera-trap survey in forested areas associated with railways. Our primary objective was to document the seasonal use of these areas by mesocarnivores, contributing to the dearth of data associated with railways in the southeastern United States. Although preliminary, we have found no evidence that mesocarnivores avoid forests adjacent to railroads, as results thus far indicate that a variety of these species use the sampled areas. These results suggest that forested areas adjacent to railroads benefit local wildlife, and therefore, have conservation value. Data collection is ongoing in an effort to provide more insight into the ways in which the mesocarnivore community in Georgia utilizes the corridors created by railroads
A Test of Predator Avoidance by Larvae of the Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea wilderae) in Appalachian Streams
Get PDFLarval Blue Ridge Two-lined Salamanders (Eurycea wilderae) are significant components of Appalachian streams, reaching densities up to 100/m2. Not surprisingly, these salamanders fall prey to many types of predator. In order to test the hypothesis that larval E. wilderae actively avoid predators, we paired them against a variety of predators of this species. Predators included Banded Sculpins (Cottus carolinae), Chattahoochee Crayfish (Cambarus howardi), and Spring Salamanders (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), both adult and larval. We placed larvae in a 1-m metal trough filled with water with a predator placed in a cage at one end. A control treatment consisted of an empty cage. For each trial, we placed a larval E. wilderae. After the larva stopped in one place for 10 min, we measured the distance between the larva and the cage. We ran 18‒20 replicates for each of the five treatments. A Kruskal-Wallis test showed no significant difference between any of the treatments in mean distance. Disagreement between our results and those of other workers suggests the possibility of interspecific or interpopulation variation in anti-predator behavior. In addition, because of their high densities and wide variety of predators, larval E. wilderae may not suffer sufficient predatory pressure from a particular species of predator to evolve appropriate behavioral responses
ACTIVITY AND STABILITY OF ENGINEERED HEME BIOCATALYSTS IN DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS
No full textDeep Eutectic Solvents (DES) are a new generation of sustainable solvents prepared by mixing two or more individual components. DESs have many desirable physicochemical properties compared to traditional organic co-solvents used in biocatalysis such as negligible vapor pressure, high thermal stability, non-flammability, conductivity, easy recycling, biodegradability, and little to no toxicity. Moreover, these solvents can be easily synthesized from cheap, commercially available, and naturally occurring renewable materials. Biocatalysis (using enzymes and proteins as catalysts) is increasingly used in organic synthesis due to its excellent chemo-, regio- and stereo- selectivity, environmental sustainability, milder reaction conditions, improved productivity, simplified work-streams and greater economical saving potential. Aqueous/organic co-solvent-based biocatalytic reactions suffer from disadvantages such as lack of substrate scope and substrate solubility, catalyst stability, catalyst recycling, decreased reaction kinetics, high toxicity, low sustainability index, etc. One way to overcome these limitations is to perform biocatalytic reactions in an aqueous/DES solvent mix or in a pure DES solvent system. The objectives of this project are to synthesize a set of 10-15 DESs and study the stability of engineered heme biocatalysts (purified enzyme) in these DES using UV-Vis spectroscopy to identify the best catalyst-DES combinations. Subsequently, the activity of the biocatalyst will be evaluated in the above-mentioned DES solvent system to establish the optimal reaction conditions. Our initial results showed that DES solvents outperforming traditional aqueous/organic co-solvents, especially under aerobic reaction condition
ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF GEORGIA COLLEGE\u27S FOOD WASTE COMPOST**
No full textProducing sufficient food for the growing human population is one of the many causes of soil degradation and water pollution. Mitigating the damage requires sustainable approaches and the goal of this study was to assess the quality of compost (GC compost) produced in Georgia College & State University’s (GCSU) rotary digester. The study was first initiated in GCSU’s greenhouse in Milledgeville, GA, in March 2021, using Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (cherry tomato). Garden soils were first amended by adding GC compost obtained from a pile roughly 10 months old and averaging 27°C. The garden soil and compost mix (2:1 ratio) was then used to pot 16 established tomato seedlings. For comparison, 15 seedlings were potted in garden soils amended with a commercial compost (peat and organic matter) in the same ratio. A control group of 15 plants potted in unamended garden soils was also included. This manipulation was replicated in a local garden beginning in May 2021 to see how plants performed under field conditions. Measurements including plant height, leaf size, flowering, fruiting, and fruit weight were recorded weekly. Standard soil analyses of before and after soil samples and X-ray florescence analysis of heavy metals were conducted. Results from one-way ANOVA showed that the GC compost treatment produced significantly larger plants and more fruit than both the commercial amendment and control groups in both replications. The commercial compost group of plants performed the worst in both replicates. Potted soil with GC compost contained significantly higher P, Mn, Na, and CEC. Additionally, soil from GC compost treatments in both replicates had significantly lower pH. Our findings demonstrate the potential for GCSU’s compost to provide a sustainable approach to boosting productivity while reducing the amount of landfill-bound waste. For future studies, we would like to test the performance of GCSU’s compost against artificial fertilizers
Valdosta Smart City Project Outcomes And What Made It A Finalist In 2021 World Smart Cities Award
No full textThis main objectives of this study are as follows: 1. To describe a collaborative study among Valdosta State University (VSU) Engineering programs, the City of Valdosta, Georgia Tech, and two technology development industries (Temple and Applied Information) in a community project that started in mid-2020 to improve all the 128 signalized traffic intersections and the Traffic Management Center (TMC) in the city of Valdosta to improve safety, connectivity, and efficiency for the community including drivers, pedestrians, bikers and all transportation methods. 2. To describe the major accomplishments of the project including the nomination for the 2021 World Smart Cities Award in the Mobility category. The Valdosta Smart City Project funded by Georgia Tech Smart Community Challenge was one of the three projects selected world-wide for the award (with two other projects from Spain and China) in the Smart City Expo World Congress held in the city of Barcelona, Spain in November 17, 2021. This study will focus on the significance of the directed studies projects developed at VSU engineering program related to this project. Two directed studies courses in traffic engineering and management were developed at VSU through which a total of eight VSU engineering students participated in undergraduate research in a collaborative work with the city of Valdosta and its TMC and Georgia Tech. Also, more than 100 VSU engineering students received training related to traffic connected vehicle technology and technical aspects of this community project. We will describe that key points that made this project to be so successful that made it one of the thee finalist for the 2021 World Smart City award. programs, the City of Valdosta, Georgia Tech, and two technology development industries (Temple and Applied Information) in a community project that started in mid-2020 to improve all the 128 signalized traffic intersections and the Traffic Management Center (TMC) in the city of Valdosta to improve safety, connectivity, and efficiency for the community including Drivers, Pedestrians, bikers and all transportation methods. 2. To describe the major accomplishments of the project including the nomination for the 2021 World Smart Cities Award in the Mobility category. The Valdosta Smart City Project funded by Georgia Tech Smart Community Challenge was one of the three projects selected world-wide for the award (with two other projects from Spain and China) in the Smart City Expo World Congress held in the city of Barcelona, Spain in November 17, 2021
RECENT JUPITER IMPACT EVENTS
No full textSince 2009, amateur astronomers may have imaged ten impact events on Jupiter. Nine of these are flashes lasting around one or two seconds. Most of these have been imaged by more than one observer in different parts of the world. These flashes are believed to be caused by boulders (5-30 meters across) exploding in Jupiter’s atmosphere. Nine of these events have been images between June 3, 2010 and Oct. 15, 2021. Sized of the impacting objects are estimating by scaling from the Chelyabinsk event that happened on February 15, 2013. This study will examine the frequency of Jupiter impacts at different heliocentric longitudes. It is concluded that impacts are more frequent when Jupiter is at a heliocentric longitude between 300° and 360° than at other longitudes
Radiation method approach applied to vibrating granular media, extension from microscopic to mesoscopic scales for vibrations mitigation and attenuation.
No full textWe consider a collection of individual vibration sources similar to isolated Helmholtz resonators with characteristics that are function of position of resonator. The collective behavior of these resonators can be described by few local parameters. An equivalent temperature and peak radiation frequency and intensity can be determined. Cutoff frequencies for the lowest and highest mode of collective vibrations allow us to estimate the optimum absorption band of vibration frequencies. The results allow the design of specified mechanical vibration absorbers to mitigate unwanted vibrations transmission through especially needed vibration free structure
Spider Diversity Across an Urban Gradient
No full textThe growing negative effect of urbanization on biodiversity is an important and active field of research. In this study, we were interested in the variation of spider diversity across a city. We conducted our survey in Gainesville to determine the diversity of spiders following a transect from the center of the city to Lake Lanier. Using our observational notes and our collected samples, we noticed a pattern of a greater diversity of spider families at points with a higher percentage of green coverage. We saw nine families of spiders in green points. We saw six spider families in urban points. Our study adds to the growing body of evidence that spider diversity decreases in urbanized areas