Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Temporal integration and binaural processing of acoustic information in Cope’s gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis)
No full textThe processing of acoustic signals enables animals to extract information and generate behavioral responses. Sexual selection exerts different evolutionary pressures on the sexes, shaping their sensory mechanisms to adapt to the appropriate strategy during communication. Cope’s gray treefrogs (Hyla chrysoscelis) are acoustically communicating amphibians in which both sexes perceive the same advertisement calls produced by the males to respond differentially to sex dependent tasks such as male- male aggressive interactions and female mate choice decision making. We explore two major acoustic sensory processing mechanisms, temporal integration and binaural processing, in male and female H. chrysoscelis. In the first chapter, we investigated how males and females use different temporal integration strategies for conspecific recognition. We hypothesized that the males would temporally integrate faster than the females at the expense of accuracy. We used stimuli containing combinations of conspecific and heterospecific call elements and conducted playback experiments to measure aggressive response from the males and phonotaxis decision-making in females. We found that the males are more permissive than the females and needed fewer pulses to reach decision-making thresholds. In the second chapter, we investigated how female frogs are temporally integrating conflicting directional information for sound localization using stimuli with leading and lagging pulses. We found evidence for our hypothesis that the females make decisions by integrating the majority of leading pulses. In the third chapter, we investigated how male and female H. chrysoscelis generate Binaural Interaction Components (BIC) by processing binaural cues such as interaural time (ITD) and level (ILD) differences. We found that ITDs significantly affect BIC latencies and that males exhibit shorter BIC latencies than females. Together, these results demonstrate how different reproductive costs and sexual dimorphism influence the auditory processing and decision-making of male and female H. chrysoscelis
Translational feline models for immunopathogenesis and vaccine efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants
No full textThe COVID-19 pandemic underscored the urgent need to understand viral evolution, host immune responses, and preventive strategies across human and animal systems. Using the domestic cat as a translational model, here we explore how immunodeficiency, variant specific adaptation, and novel vaccines shape SARS-CoV-2 outcomes with direct relevance to human health. Coinfection studies demonstrated that immunodeficiency alters disease course, as untreated FIV-positive cats showed impaired CD4⁺ T-cell responses, distinct pulmonary pathology, and persistent viral RNA with evidence of positive selection. These findings emphasize the importance of antiretroviral therapy in limiting viral persistence and the emergence of adaptive mutations. Comparative investigations of Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (XBB.1.5) revealed divergent strategies of replication and host interaction. Delta exhibited aggressive replication, transmissibility, and lower respiratory tract damage, whereas Omicron favored upper respiratory tract restriction with pronounced immune-mediated responses. Transcriptional profiling highlighted Delta’s broader adaptability and host-specific remodeling, underscoring mechanistic differences between variants. Building on these insights, a SARS-CoV-2 mutant vaccine was shown to elicit rapid recovery, reduced viral loads, minimal pathology, and strong early neutralizing antibody responses against both Delta and Omicron. Collectively, our research positions the cat as a powerful model for studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, coinfections, and vaccine strategies, while advancing one-health approaches to anticipate zoonotic risks and enhance pandemic preparedness
Distributed Bayesian learning via Langevin dynamics
No full textBayesian learning provides an efficient sampling framework with an in-built uncertainty estimation to perform parameter estimation tasks as a robust alternative to traditional optimization techniques. Langevin dynamics-based Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods have received significant attention to perform such Bayesian sampling. Although the framework itself is highly scalable for large datasets, the computational and time requirements pose a bottleneck when it comes to such datasets. This is primarily due to the gradient computation since Langevin dynamics inherently relies on the gradient information. Furthermore, difficulty arises due to the lack of availability of centralized information at a single server due to physical and privacy constraints. Under such circumstances, often the data is distributed among a network of agents who work in tandem to conclude the best possible common parameters without exchanging the data itself. Here, communication among agents is key, but also poses an additional overhead. Inspired by these non-trivial challenges, we tackle the problem of distributed Bayesian learning among agents with various protocols to reduce the strain of heavy gradient calculation and inter-agent communication while guaranteeing convergence of the estimations in a probabilistic sense. We also establish mathematical guaranties for the rate of convergence of our proposed algorithmic protocols using minimal assumptions on the problem gradient and illustrate our findings with some simple yet conclusive empirical experiments
Hierarchy and havoc: The influence of organizational structure on the effectiveness of leadership decapitation
No full textThis paper examines the historical evolution of leadership decapitation and its impact on terrorist organizations, emphasizing the role of organizational structure. Utilizing a dataset on leadership removals from 1970 to 2016, I investigate whether centralized groups suffer greater disruption than decentralized ones following a successful decapitation strike. Though the findings of my broader examination of group centralization appear to indicate that group structure has little impact on mediating the effectiveness of leadership decapitation at reducing the violence committed by terrorist organizations, a more focused examination of individual group structures yields interesting results. The results of my analysis appear to indicate that group structure might have an impact on the effectiveness of leadership decapitation at reducing terrorist group violence. These results contribute to the debate on the efficacy of leadership decapitation as a counterterrorism strategy by highlighting the significance of organizational structure in determining its impact
Assessing virtual fencing for rangeland restoration: Effectiveness, applications, and implications for management
No full textBalancing increasing demands for agricultural production with long-term ecological sustainability on rangelands requires the adoption of innovative management tools. Virtual fencing (VF) – a GPS-based technology that regulates livestock movement without the need for physical barriers – has shown promise in improving grazing management. However, its potential for achieving conservation objectives such as habitat restoration, wildlife protection, and wildfire mitigation remains underexplored. In Chapter 1, we conducted a systematic literature review to assess the current state of empirical & grey research on VF for conservation. We identified three primary conservation applications supported by the literature: wildlife deterrents, targeted livestock grazing, and livestock grazing exclusion. Additionally, we included a fourth category – facilitating wildlife movement – as a proposed future application despite the current lack of empirical studies, to help complete a conceptual framework for conservation applications of VF. In Chapter 2, we examined the ecological impacts of VF through a field experiment across three pastures – two in Stillwater, Oklahoma and one in Fowler, Colorado – by monitoring vegetation responses to VF-managed livestock. We found that strategic exclusion of livestock from riparian areas using VF led to positive vegetation outcomes, including increased vegetation structure and floral resources in some seasons. Chapter 3 presents a case study from Vian, Oklahoma, where we applied VF to exclude livestock from a small-scale restoration site containing palatable native plant species. While the VF system was highly effective at reducing livestock presence – achieving approximately 99% exclusion – we were still unable to prevent herbivory on targeted plants, suggesting challenges in ensuring fine-scale protection of sensitive species. Collectively, this body of work demonstrates the versatility of VF as a management tool and highlights its emerging potential for advancing conservation outcomes on working rangelands
Building professional capital: How collaborative learning environments support teacher motivation and retention through self-determination theory
No full textThis qualitative case study explores how collaborative learning influences teacher motivation and retention at a high-performing Oklahoma secondary school through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. Using interviews with five teachers and four school leaders, observations, and document analysis, the study examines how collaborative environments support teachers' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. The findings reveal that both formal and informal collaborative spaces foster professional growth and connection, with teachers describing how authentic partnerships, peer learning opportunities, and administrative support sustain their commitment to the profession. The research identifies how leadership practices, departmental cultures, and structured collaboration time create conditions where teachers feel valued, empowered, and competent. However, barriers such as scheduling constraints, leadership inconsistencies, and external pressures occasionally undermine these positive effects. The study provides insights for educational leaders seeking to enhance teacher motivation and retention by creating need-supportive collaborative environments that honor teacher voice, build professional capacity, and foster meaningful connections. These findings have implications for school structures, leadership approaches, and professional learning design in addressing the growing challenge of teacher turnover
Hydroclimatic variability and its impacts on vegetation health over the Southern Great Plains
No full textThe Southern Great Plains (SGP) region is a vital agricultural hub in the United States, highly sensitive to shifting hydroclimatic variability. Increasingly frequent wet-dry dipole events, severe water shortages, and late false springs pose significant threats to vegetation health, crop yields, and water availability. Understanding how hydroclimatic variations affect vegetation is crucial for developing effective adaptation strategies. Traditional meteorological drought indices such as the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) solely emphasize atmospheric conditions and overlook the drought’s impacts on plants. Additionally, very few studies consider the collective effects of weather variables on vegetation but instead focus on univariate temperature or precipitation alone. To bridge these gaps, this study investigated vegetation responses to hydroclimatic variability in the SGP from 2009 to 2023 by integrating the Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI) and the Gridded Weather Type Classification (GWTC-2). The VegDRI is a hybrid drought index that uniquely captures large-scale vegetation drought at 1km spatial resolution by integrating satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), climate indices (PDSI, SPI), and biophysical variables. The synoptic-scale GWTC-2 provides a multivariate framework by utilizing six weather variables and classified days into 11 hydroclimatic regimes. These datasets were aggregated into seasonal categories and analyzed using Mann-Kendall trend tests, Theil-Sen slope estimation, and Spearman rank correlation to identify significant temporal and spatial trends and relationships. The results revealed distinct seasonal patterns in vegetation moisture and hydroclimatic conditions. The increasing vegetation moisture trends were prominent in southern Texas, whereas the most significant drying occurred in eastern and central Texas during winter. Among the hydroclimatic trends, the Humid weather types showed the strongest increasing trends for broad SGP areas in summer. During winter, Dry Warm exhibited a widespread and extensive decline, whereas Humid Warm revealed increasing trends, particularly in southern SGP. The correlation analysis demonstrated strong positive associations with Humid and Humid Cool, while Dry, Dry Cool, Dry Warm, and Warm types were negatively correlated with vegetation response. As the climate continues to shift, this study offers actionable insights for climate adaptation, land management, and water resource strategies in this critical transitional and agricultural region
Geophysical characterization of the embankment and seepage monitoring at the Chimney Rock Dam near Salina, Oklahoma
No full textThis work presents a comprehensive geophysical investigation of the embankment conditions and seepage pathways at the Chimney Rock Dam in Salina, Oklahoma. The study adopts a multi-geophysical framework consisting of three integrated projects designed to tackle pressing dam safety concerns stemming from observed seepage at the toe of the dam. The first project outlined areas of high moisture content and possible seepage pathways using integrated electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), self-potential (SP), and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). The second project consisted of six weeks of time-lapse geoelectrical monitoring during which the reservoir levels varied between 836 and 857 feet in elevation, thereby capturing the spatio-temporal evolution and development of seepage pathways. The results showed the incremental development of resistivity and self-potential anomalies linked to changes in water levels, enabling the mapping of major and minor seepage zones and their preferential flow paths within the dam. The third project aimed to advance the interpretation of the SP results to quantitatively interpret the data. The project developed a new gaussian based Bayesian inversion method providing probabilistic solutions for seepage parameter estimation that overcome the inherent non-uniqueness commonly experienced with the traditional deterministic approaches. Testing and validating with results from literature confirmed the reliability of the method in estimating source parameters, including depth, electric dipole moment, polarization angle, horizontal center of anomaly and related uncertainty quantification. Together, these projects form a sound basis for non-invasive dam integrity assessments, offering important insights for maintenance decision-making and contributing to the wider field of geophysical applications in infrastructure safety assessment. The results of this study provide critical information for characterizing embankment dams, seepage zones and seepage pathways. Such information is critical for mitigating seepage-related hazards and ensuring the long-term safety and functionality of the dam
Evaluation and remediation of irrigation water and soil at Scissortail Park
No full textThis project addresses the significant water and soil quality issues at Scissortail Park, a reclaimed brownfield site in Oklahoma City. The park’s current irrigation source, a high-salinity, high-bicarbonate lake, leads to hardened soil with limited permeability, affecting plant health and root growth. Objectives focus on reducing the irrigation water’s pH, salt, and bicarbonate levels, and improving soil texture to enhance water absorption and root penetration.
Primary recommendations involve conducting trials to evaluate potential solutions for both water and soil issues, given the park’s unique circumstances. Water trials aim to assess the viability of three alternative irrigation sources along with a control. These include lake water, lake water with SeacureCal, lake water with sulfuric acid, and Oklahoma City water. Testing included plant growth trials using two plant species that are expected to survive well in the current conditions. The trials will be conducted at the park from March 27, 2025, to April 17, 2025, with visual monitoring of plant health and survival.
For soil remediation, trials tested six treatment combinations, including surface-applied organic matter, subsurface organic matter with tilling, gypsum addition alone, and combinations of these methods. Plots in the park were monitored from February 10, 2025, to April 17, 2025, to evaluate changes in soil structure and texture, with initial and follow-up testing to measure improvements. Baseline water and soil quality data will guide these assessments. From our results, we saw that the best method to lower pH, bicarbonate, and salt was gypsum combined with organic matter and tilled. The second best option was organic matter surface. Because it would be very time consuming and disturbing to the park to till it, add organic matter and gypsum, the simple recommendation was to add organic matter to the surface. For water testing, the best water option was the OKC water. Since it would take an entire change of the park’s water infrastructure, we recommend that they use SeaureCal with the lake water to act as a buffer to the pH and improve the irrigation water quality.
By addressing water and soil issues simultaneously, the project identified scalable, site-specific solutions to improve soil health, enhance water absorption, and support vegetation resilience, ultimately fostering long-term sustainability at Scissortail Park
Description of three novel anaerobic gut fungal genera from tortoise feces
No full textAnaerobic gut fungi (AGF, phylum Neocallimastigomycota) play a critical role in the degradation of biomass within the digestive tracts of herbivores. Despite their ecological importance, the evolutionary history and diversity of Neocallimastigomycota remain poorly understood. Twenty mammalian-affiliated genera (M-AGF) and two tortoise-affiliated genera (T-AGF) have been described so far. Molecular dating showed that the two T-AGF are the evolutionary oldest AGF isolated so-far, indicating that reptiles might have been hosts for AGF before the rise of mammals.
Here, we obtained three additional novel T-AGF isolates from Texas and Sulcata tortoises. Molecular analysis clustered these strains into three distinct, deep-branching clades, closely related to the previously described T-AGF genus Testudinimyces. All isolates displayed filamentous rhizoidal growth patterns and produced monoflagellated zoospores. Unique morphological characteristics included the production of elongated, thick, nucleated structures in GX isolates, the formation of thin hair-like projections on sporangial walls in SR isolates, and irregularly shaped sporangia in TM isolates. LSU phylomarker analysis revealed GX isolates as the first cultured representatives of tortoise-affiliated but previously uncultured lineage NY56, while SR and TM strains have not been encountered in prior culture-independent AGF surveys.
We propose to accommodate these isolates in three new genera and species – Gopheromyces tardescens (GXA2), Gigasporangiomyces pilosus (SR0.6), and Kelyphomyces adhaerens (TM0.3). Further, based on the ecological, physiological, and phylogenetic distinctions between T-AGF and M-AGF, we propose to establish a new family (Testudinimycetaceae) to accommodate the genera Testudinimyces, Gopheromyces, Gigasporangiomyces, and Kelyphomyces, within a new order (Testudinimycetales), and amend the description of Neocallimastigales to circumscribe M-AGF genera only