Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Assessing heat vulnerability in Philadelphia using geographically weighted principal component analysis (GWPCA): A big data-driven approach
No full textThe impact of climate change, specifically more intense heat waves, has increased concerns about heat vulnerability, particularly among high-risk populations. This research utilizes multi-source geospatial big data and employs Geographically Weighted Principal Component Analysis (GWPCA) as well as Global Principal Component Analysis (GPCA) to analyze heat vulnerability in Philadelphia. Using GPCA, four key components are identified Sensitivity, Adaptive Capacity, proxy for Sensitivity, and Exposure, respectively. The subsequent GWPCA analysis reveals localized vulnerability differences, showing distinct patterns across the city. Notably, Sensitivity factors are prominent in the western and southwestern regions, whereas Exposure is dominant in the central and southern parts. This study underscores the significance of considering spatial heterogeneity when assessing heat vulnerability. It also highlights the potential of GWPCA to capture subtle disparities within specific areas and proposes targeted strategies to reduce heat vulnerability in affected communities. Therefore, the incorporation of an advanced spatial analysis model enables a comprehensive understanding of heat vulnerability in complex urban environments. This progress is crucial in enhancing resilience and adaptation to evolving climate conditions.Geograph
Biofilm formation and virulence factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa are impacted by the Nitro-PTS, nutritional cues, and a putative lipase enzyme.
No full textThe opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings due to its multidrug resistance and virulence, especially in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we investigate the nitrogen-related phosphotransferase system (Nitro-PTS) in PA, focusing on its impact on biofilm formation and the type III secretion system (T3SS), which are critical for its pathogenicity. Despite its importance, the regulatory mechanisms of the Nitro-PTS remain poorly understood. Our research also reveals the complex phosphorylation dynamics of the Nitro-PTS in PA. Our findings show that knockout of PtsO does not entirely abolish PtsN phosphorylation, indicating potential crosstalk from other PTS systems, notably FruB, highlighting the complexity of the regulatory networks in PA. Furthermore, our study uncovers the suppressive effect of unphosphorylated PtsN on biofilm formation, elucidating its role as a negative regulator, while identifying the 04030 gene to be important in PtsN-mediated biofilm suppression. Lipidomics analysis suggests a putative lipase function for 04030, potentially representing a novel biofilm signaling element in PA and expanding our understanding of its intricate pathogenic mechanisms. Additionally, our research highlights the influence of carbon sources, particularly glycerol, on biofilm formation, with glycerol kinase and Edd emerging as key players in glycerol utilization and biofilm phenotypes, offering potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Our research uncovered an unexpected relationship between the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and lethality in both acute and chronic infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This suggests a complex interplay between glycerol metabolism and pathogenicity. RNA sequencing revealed that type III secretion system (T3SS) genes are upregulated in the absence of PtsN, suggesting its role in modulating PA virulence. Our data provide evidence that PtsN functions as a negative regulator of the T3SS. Currently, we are conducting Co-IP assays to investigate the protein-protein interactions between PtsN and known T3SS regulators. Our study reveals the intricate regulatory network involving PtsN in PA, uncovering another potential target of PtsN that may affect virulence through modulation of T3SS expression
Identifying the technical skills needed to effectively teach agricultural education: A two-phase instrument validation
No full textA commonality among interview questions revolves around strengths and skills that could potentially benefit an organization. As technology within the workplace changes at an alarming rate, coupled with an aging workforce in vocational and agricultural sectors, the skills gap between those entering the workforce and those retiring has widened, causing issues to organizations bottom line. Just as there is a shortage of technically skilled workers in various vocational industries, school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers are no stranger to having a deficit in technical skills related to teaching agriculture and agriculturally related content. After conducting a national survey and validating a 169-item instrument through a principal component analysis, 142 technical skills from seven agriculturally related career and content focused components were identified as necessary for beginning SBAE teachers entering the profession. Comparisons across personal and professional characteristics of SBAE teachers nationwide resulted in significant difference across four distinct areas of teacher certification type, gender, number of teachers within programs, and years of experience. Assessment of current SBAE teacher needs regarding technical skill development should be conducted at the state level to identify purposeful professional development opportunities within each state
Influence of parental expectancy-value-cost beliefs and parent engagement on online K-12 student outcomes
No full textParents are increasingly choosing to enroll their students in online schools rather than traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Despite the growth of online schooling, however, there is extremely limited research on such schooling and the role parents play in the educational outcomes of students enrolled in online schools. The current quantitative, survey-based study, guided by an expectancy-value-cost theoretical framework, attempts to determine factors relating to parental motivation in helping their online students, and how parental motivation impacts student learning. Participants were drawn from a snowball sample of parents on social media, as well as compensated participants drawn from Mechanical Turk, whose children were enrolled in online schools any time from fall 2019 through spring 2022. Path analysis revealed that parents’ online self-efficacy predicted lower parent perceived cost and higher expectancy for success in helping with children’s online elementary school education. Lower cost and higher expectancy for success in turn predicted higher parental perceptions of their student’s learning. Teacher support did not predict parent motivation, but the framing of survey questions involving teacher support likely did not fully capture the impact of teacher support on parent motivation. Implications for practice include bolstering parents online self-efficacy in order to reduce perceived costs and improve expectancy for success
Landscape associations and population genetics of American black bear in the Oklahoma Panhandle
No full textLittle is known about American black bears (Ursus americanus) in the semi-arid Oklahoma Panhandle. Black bears are a highly mobile species with an omnivorous diet exhibiting sex-biased dispersal, which results in males traveling far outside of their natal ranges. Recently, black bear sightings have increased in Cimarron County, prompting an assessment of bear space use and population genetics in the area. We used camera traps and a single-season occupancy modeling framework to identify factors influencing black bear detection and space-use patterns. We also used noninvasive genetic techniques to evaluate genetic diversity, population structure, and bear abundance in the region. During the summers of 2022 and 2023, we deployed 160 cameras across Cimarron County. We detected ≥1 bear at 20 sites. The most-supported model from our single-season single-species analysis indicated that black bear detection was positively associated with temperature and precipitation, negatively associated with day of year, and differed between years. The most-supported model indicated that black bear space use was negatively associated with elevation (β = -0.013, 85% CI = -0.025, 0.000), and positively associated with slope (β = 0.645, 85% CI = 0.305, 0.984) and coarse woody debris (CWD) counts (β = 1.539, 85% CI = 0.314, 2.765). We deployed 41 hair snares resulting in the collection of 181 hair samples, and opportunistically collected 33 scat samples. We also received 69 tissue samples from black bears harvested in northeastern New Mexico. Using 11 microsatellite markers, we identified 21 (12M:9F) black bears in western Oklahoma, and 69 (40M:29F) individuals in New Mexico. We found evidence that black bears occurring in Oklahoma were an extension of a previously documented population residing in northcentral New Mexico and southeastern Colorado. We detected significant population-level heterozygote deficiency (P = 0.013) compared to what would be expected under Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Using capture with replacement models, we estimated 26 (95% CI = 19–43) black bears in Cimarron County during 2022–2023. Our results provide baseline data on spatial distribution and expansion of black bears in the region and identify factors that may drive human-bear conflicts as the black bear population increases in western Oklahoma
Understanding wet meadow condition in South Central Nebraska
No full textRivers across the world have been severely impacted by anthropogenic construction of such as dams and river diversion projects leading to reduced river flows, modified hydroperiods, and loss of habitat. As a result of these modifications, river associated habitats have experienced severe declines. The Platte River is an exemplar of these changes where a 70% reduction in channel widths and peak flows has transformed the once die, braided river channel into a narrow, multi-channeled river dominated by trees. These changes have in turn resulted in the loss of over 75% of the wet meadows along the Platte River. To combat loss of wet meadow habitat, conservation efforts in the CPRV have been conducted for the last 40 years and were bolstered in 2007 with the creation of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP). The PRRIP is a cooperative agreement among the U.S. Department of the Interior, state governments (Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado), Platte River stakeholders, and environmental organizations, that has intensified conservation efforts with a focus on protecting and restoring wet meadows and other Platte River habitats while increasing annual flows in the river. This dissertation examines the impacts of recent Platte River Flows on native wet meadow sites, examines the conditions of restored wet meadows, and attempts to validate a method for assessment of wet meadow condition. In chapter 1 I examine 54 native wet meadows and found that periodic high flows can revive wet meadow ecosystems to some degree after years of decline. While it is difficult to disentangle other factors that may have impacted wet meadow invertebrates, my results suggest that increases in inundation periods and high flow events in the last 20 years have contributed to greater total invertebrate biomass while retaining community richness. Chapter 2 examines restored wet meadows and compares their conditions to native sites. In this study, I found that current practices have aligned some features of restored and native sites while also leaving some significant differences in biotic and abiotic features. One key difference between native and restored wet meadow sites is the reduced hydrologic connectivity observed in restored sites. It is critical that we address these hydrologic differences to facilitate the development biotic and abiotic features at restored sites that are similar to native features. Finally, Chapter 3 attempted to validate the Nebraska Wetland Rapid Assessment Method (NeWRAM) for use in wet meadow sites. My study demonstrates poor performance of the NeWRAM in wet meadow ecosystems and a need for modification if this RAM is to be used in for this purpose in the future. Specifically, modification of hydrologic assessment and improvements to the analysis landscape-level effects are needed for improved assessment of wet meadow sites. Together, these chapters provide an overview of current wet meadow condition in South Central Nebraska and suggestions for improved management and assessment of this endangered ecosystem
Wild whiches of Oklahoma: The use of connective which in Oklahoma English
No full textHistorically, which is a relative pronoun; it not only connects two clauses, but also creates a gap that refers back to something in the main clause. However, speakers of British, Australian, and northeastern American English can use which forms that are only connective– they have no gap (Burke, 2015; Loock, 2007a; Loss & Wicklund, 2022; Loss, n.d.). For example, in the sentence from Loock’s (2007a: 75) work, “And she decided to move out which I think she’s crazy,” which has neither an antecedent nor a gap. Broader claims about the use of which in American English require data from other dialect regions. Oklahoma is a perfect candidate because it contains both Midland and Southern dialects. My research explores the use of which in Oklahoma English and compares it to Loss’s work on northeastern American English. To capture conversational Oklahoma English, I created an automated transcription of The Oklahoma Today Podcast and categorized each use of which as a relative pronoun or connective which. The corpus contains 85,431 words, and 156 instances of which. Of these, 15 (10%) are connective. This is comparable to Loss’s corpus in which 53 (15%) which are connective X2 (2, N = 474) = 2.7217, p = 0.098. The subdivision of the types of connective which in each corpus are also strikingly comparable, X2 (2, N = 67) = 1.6314, p = 0.44. This study suggest that Oklahoma podcast use of connective which is similar to NE American English podcast use of connective which and therefore could be a feature of general American English. We must study this construction in other American dialects
Ecology, host use, and life cycle studies of turtle acanthocephalans
No full textAcanthocephalans are an understudied group of parasites for which little is known about their life cycles, diversity, and host use. Among the 10 recognized species of turtle acanthocephalans, only the partial life cycle of one species has been elucidated. Furthermore, there are many basic questions that have remained unanswered in terms of turtle acanthocephalan biology. For example: Do different turtle acanthocephalan species use similar life cycles? How do acanthocephalans survive, develop, and use resources in their hosts? Are these parasites common in turtles throughout Oklahoma and North America? How many turtle species serve as hosts for acanthocephalans? Do they cause pathology to turtles? Throughout this dissertation, I explore these questions, among others, with field observations, laboratory experiments, and a meta-analysis of the literature. Chapter II mapped out how the life cycles of four turtle acanthocephalan species (Neoechinorhynchus chrysemydis, Neoechinorhynchus emydis, Neoechinorhynchus emyditoides, and Neoechinorhynchus pseudemydis) work in nature and established a novel PCR protocol that can be used for identification of turtle acanthocephalans. Experimental data from Chapter III suggest that Physocypria sp. ostracods serve as intermediate hosts for the four acanthocephalan species, but only N. emydis can survive and establish in snails, supporting field observations from Chapter II. The review and meta-analysis in Chapter IV revealed that acanthocephalans are generalists and common freshwater turtle parasites, infecting a quarter of all North American turtle species. Chapter V found that Oklahoma turtles, mainly red-eared sliders, contain highly-structured acanthocephalan communities that are high in co-infections. Additionally, Chapter V revealed that turtles infected with acanthocephalans contain mechanical damage to the intestinal wall of infected turtles, suggesting signs of mucoid enteritis disease. Lastly, Chapter VI presented four unusual cases of turtle acanthocephalans interacting with the turtle hosts and other turtle parasites, highlighting some rare observations that can teach us more about their cryptic biology. These findings challenge the traditional view of parasite life cycles and set the stage for a new era of turtle acanthocephalan research
Ground source heating of soccer fields: systems and market potential in cold climates
No full textIn Scandinavia, there are more than 3,000 soccer fields with artificial turf. About 300 of these have subsurface hydronic heating systems. The heated turfs make it possible for training and games throughout most of the year. Furthermore, a pitch that is kept frost-free prevents injuries caused by slippery turf and frozen ground conditions. Practically all heated soccer fields in Scandinavia use district heating as a heat source. Only a few fields are using ground source heat pump systems (GSHP). However, the potential for a more extensive use of GSHP systems seems promising due to the considerably lower energy cost. In this paper, the use of GSHPs for subsurface heating of soccer fields with artificial turf is analyzed in terms of design, functional characteristics, and energy cost saving. Finally, aspects of market conditions for broader use of GSHP systems for these applications are given, focused on the Scandinavian countries
Marijuana use among college students: Personality traits, motives, and consequences
No full textOklahoma has recently seen an increase in marijuana legalization which likely has influenced the increase in use (NIDA, 2023). The prevalence of marijuana use among college students in the state has raised significant concerns, especially given the state's ranking as 10th nationally for past-year marijuana use among adults 18 and older (SAMHSA, 2023). This study aimed to investigate the relationships among personality traits, motives for use, and adverse consequences associated with marijuana use among college students at Oklahoma State University (OSU). 116 participants were recruited through a SONA system which granted them course credit upon completion. They completed an online survey assessing various factors, including frequency of marijuana use, possession of a medical marijuana card, motives for use, personality traits (i.e. Big-5, Sensation Seeking), and adverse consequences using validated questionnaires. Results revealed a high prevalence of marijuana use among the sample, with over half reporting use multiple times per week. Notably, 62.9% of participants met criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) based on CAGE-AID scores, indicating a substantial risk among college students. Motives for use, such as managing effects and facilitating activity, were significantly correlated with adverse consequences and CUD risk. Personality traits, particularly sensation-seeking and neuroticism, were also associated with increased CUD risk and adverse consequences. These findings highlight the complex relationship between personality traits, motives for use, and adverse consequences of marijuana use among college students