Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
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Relationship of forage intake, residual feed intake, and greenhouse gas emissions between lactation and gestation in beef cows
No full textThe objective of this research was to evaluate dry matter intake (DMI), residual feed intake (RFI), and greenhouse gas emissions among lactation and gestation in mature beef cows fed an unprocessed grass hay diet. A two-year experiment was conducted using 67 mature Angus and Angus-cross cows (n = 41, Year 1; n = 26, Year 2) which included a minimum 85-d early-mid lactation trial (LACT) followed by a minimum 85-d early-mid gestation trial (GEST) in both years. Cows were housed in drylot pens at the Oklahoma State University Range Cow Research Center. Each pen was equipped with individual intake monitoring systems (SmartFeed, C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) with a stocking density of 2.7 cows per feeder in Year 1, and 2.9 cows per feeder in Year 2. Cows were offered ad libitum access to long-stem, unprocessed bermudagrass hay (12.6% CP and 57% TDN, Year 1 LACT; 13.3% CP and 60% TDN, Year 2 LACT; 12.4% CP and 54% TDN, Year 1 GEST; 12.6% CP and 62% TDN, Year 2 GEST) and a mineral supplement. An open-circuit, portable gas quantification system (GreenFeed, C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD) was placed in pens to measure CO2, CH4, and O2 flux. Cows were classified by K-means clustering into three categories of feed efficiency based on RFI of efficient (n = 23, LACT; n = 23, GEST), moderate (n = 27, LACT; n = 25, GEST), and inefficient (n =17, LACT; n = 16, GEST). Efficient, moderate, and inefficient LACT DMI means were 13.9, 15.1, and 16.8 kg/d, and GEST DMI means for the 3 groups were 11.5, 12.6, and 15.2 kg/d respectively (P 0.18). There were strong (P < 0.001) positive phenotypic correlations for DMI (r = 0.79) and RFI (r = 0.68) between the two physiological stages. There were positive phenotypic correlations (P < 0.001) between DMI and CO2, CH2, or heat production (HP) during LACT (r = 0.70 CO2; r = 0.61 CH4; r = 0.65 HP) and GEST (r = 0.58 CO2; r = 0.52 CH4; r = 0.58 HP). The results from this study suggest that selection for RFI results in mature cows with lower DMI, and that RFI remains constant across physiological stages
DNA methylation dependent GLS gene regulation in experimental colitis
No full textInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by abnormal immune responses, disrupted epithelial integrity, and metabolic dysregulation within the intestinal microenvironment. Glutaminase 1 (GLS1), a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glutamine to glutamate, plays a central role in immunometabolism. This dissertation investigates the regulation and functional significance of GLS1 during acute colon inflammation, with a focus on epigenetic mechanisms that drive its expression.
Using a TNBS-induced model of colitis, GLS1 was found to be significantly upregulated in inflamed colonic tissue. Pharmacological inhibition of GLS1 with the glutamine analog DON mitigated inflammation and preserved myenteric neuronal structure, implicating glutaminolysis as a mediator of inflammatory neurotoxicity. Unexpectedly, the Gls gene promoter was hypermethylated in this context, suggesting a noncanonical mechanism of transcriptional activation. Methylation-specific PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation identified recruitment of MeCP2, a methyl-CpG-binding protein traditionally associated with gene silencing, to the hypermethylated Gls promoter.
Treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor Azacitidine reduced both MeCP2 binding and GLS1 expression, attenuating inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that MeCP2 may function as a transcriptional activator under inflammatory conditions, depending on the promoter context. Further proteomic interrogation using RIME identified phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) as a key MeCP2-interacting partner. Co-immunoprecipitation and ChIP assays confirmed co-occupancy of MeCP2 and pSTAT3 at the hypermethylated Gls gene promoter, supporting a cooperative role in Gls transcriptional activation during inflammation.
Collectively, these data establish GLS1 as a metabolic driver of acute colon inflammation and reveal a novel regulatory paradigm in which DNA hypermethylation, MeCP2, and pSTAT3 converge to promote proinflammatory gene expression. This work expands the functional scope of DNA methylation and MeCP2 beyond classical repression and identifies the MeCP2–pSTAT3–Gls axis as a potential therapeutic target in early-stage IBD
Damage detection and localization in steel structural components using strain-based deep learning networks
No full textStructural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems have been utilized in recent years for both damage detection and, more recently, for damage localization. Many proposed approaches integrate SHM systems with deep learning techniques. However, most of these approaches, specifically for damage localization, rely on supervised learning algorithms that require datasets of damaged state of the structure to train the deep learning model. Since collecting such data is impractical for real-world civil structures, using supervised learning techniques is unfeasible. While significant progress has been made in using vibration-based methods for detecting global damage in structures, these methods face challenges in accurately localizing the source of damage. This is due to the inherent nature of vibration-based methods, which are effective at identifying global structural characteristics but struggle with pinpointing the location of damage. In this thesis, we present the Zone Discriminator Network (Z-DNet), a new damage detection and localization approach inspired by Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), particularly PatchGAN. The network consists of multiple discriminators, each associated with a specific zone within the structure (i.e., support zones, connection zones, high-stress zones, and locations of stress concentration). The approach works by penalizing the structure at the predefined zones and classifying whether the strain data at each zone corresponds to a real (undamaged) or fake (damaged) state. Z-DNet is trained in an unsupervised learning environment using strain-based deep learning. Unlike traditional methods, the approach does not require prior knowledge of damage states of the structure for damage detection and localization in steel structural components. This data-driven approach uses raw strain data from the SHM system as inputs in the deep learning network. A baseline deep learning model is trained using only healthy (undamaged) state datasets of the structure. Damage is detected by comparing the results of the unknown state dataset to the baseline model thresholds. The proposed approach is validated through large-scale experimental testing on a steel beam at Bert Cooper Civil Engineering Laboratory at Oklahoma State University (OSU), using three distinct validation datasets
Integration of the AES cryptography extension into a RISC-V architecture
No full textThe purpose of this project is to implement the ratified cryptographic extension in the pre-existing RISC-V processor design, CORE-V Wally. One of the most common and robust forms of cryptography is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This algorithm contains many rounds of substitution and permutations using a key to ensure secure encryption/decryption. In most modern CPUs, such as AMD and Intel, their Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) supports a form of cryptography, usually AES, to provide security for private and sensitive data. Incorporating a hardware AES module into a processor also serves to increase its efficiency and security.
Software-based approaches to installing cryptographic algorithms on a computer are significantly slower because many hardware-based designs include specialized instruction sets for AES and the ability to run on machine-level language. Using hardware-based AES adds another layer of protection by removing the risk of side-channel attacks that could affect software on a machine.
For the RISC-V process, the integration of ISA-supporting cryptography would serve the same purpose, where the AES algorithm will perform more efficiently and securely due to the specialized and ratified instruction set detailed by the RISC-V organization. This implementation can pass the regression tests to completely verify that CORE-V Wally will have cryptographic capabilities. Unlike the specifications detailed by the RISC-V organization, this implementation combines certain instructions into a unified module to reduce the total area required for the AES cryptography extension
Tend, befriend, or level the field: How women navigate competition in friendships
No full textWomen’s friendships are deeply personal, serving as emotional anchors and vital sources of support for them. This makes their loss particularly painful (Benenson & Christakos, 2003; Eisenberger et al., 2003). These bonds buffer against stress and enhance well-being but can also be challenged by competition (Benenson et al., 2008; Gottman, 1986). This research examines how women navigate competition within friendships through two complementary studies, replicating and extending Benenson & Schinazi (2004) by incorporating physiological stress responses and behavioral strategies to assess relational impacts. Study 1 examined physiological and emotional responses to competition, while Study 2 explored behavioral strategies, testing predictions from the tend-and-befriend model and relational aggression theory. Findings indicate that women felt most at ease when outcomes were equal between themselves and their friends, expecting positive reactions in equal conditions but negative responses when outperforming their friends. Friendship competition was linked to increased physiological stress, with lower RSA indicating heightened stress responses. Birth control use moderated stress, with naturally cycling women exhibiting lower RSA, suggesting heightened physiological stress and reduced autonomic regulation compared to birth control users. In Study 2, women overwhelmingly favored tend-and-befriend behaviors over aggression, prioritizing relationship maintenance in competitive scenarios. These findings highlight the central role of friendships in women’s well-being and suggest that social harmony remains a priority in female competition, even at the cost of personal success
Moving towards coordinated reforestation: Reflections from the 2025 Reforestation Summit
No full textOn January 15, 2025, American Forests and Planscape convened the 2025 Reforestation Summit at the Google.org offices in San Francisco, California, U.S. This collaborative event combined American Forests’ decades-long experience in post-fire reforestation planning and implementation with Planscape’s innovative, community-driven forest restoration planning platform. The objective of the summit was to initiate the development of an integrated reforestation tool(s) to support an end-to-end pipeline approach to post-fire reforestation. The summit brought together more than ninety leading scientists—both in-person and virtually—from across the United States to advance the state of reforestation science and practice (Figure 1). We first provide a brief summary of the 2025 Reforestation Summit, then describe the decision support tools (DSTs) that were discussed at the summit, and lastly discuss the next steps and challenges for building out an integrated reforestation tool(s).Natural Resource Ecology and Managemen
Exploring the role of objective and subjective social status on post-secondary students' perceptions and outcomes in online learning
No full textMuch research has consistently shown that students from low-SES backgrounds tend to have a variety of lower academic outcomes in university courses than their higher-SES peers, particularly within online courses. Yet, the literature has almost exclusively examined the impacts of objective measures of SES on student outcomes, often ignoring the subjective facets of social status. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of both objective and subjective facets of social status on college students’ academic performance in online learning, while also examining the potential mediating effects of academic self-efficacy, university sense of belonging, and perceptions of connectedness and learning between social status and academic performance. A sample of 419 college students across the United States collected via survey research determined that neither objective or subjective social status predicted academic performance, although academic self-efficacy did mediate the relationship between subjective social status and academic performance in online courses. Qualitative data also provided unique insights into the factors college students often consider when determining their subjective social status. A unique outlier in the data prompted consideration of student identity in the examined relationships between variables. Interpretations of findings, implications on theory and practice, study limitations, and implications for future research are discussed
Analysis of the interdependent relationship between water availability and beef cattle production
No full textAs groundwater levels in the High Plains Aquifer continue to decline due to expanding agriculture, small-scale ranchers in the Oklahoma Panhandle face significant challenges to their livelihoods and face an uncertain future. The High Plains Aquifer is the only reliable source of freshwater for farmers and ranchers in this area as there are no major surface water sources. The Panhandle is accustomed to cyclical droughts, however, current climate patterns of infrequent rain events and shifting seasonal temperatures are a departure from the historic norm. Poor regulation and subsequent overconsumption has led to consistent water level decline across most of the aquifer. Since water is a necessary resource for every step of cattle management and beef production, these declines cast uncertainty on the future of ranchers in the Panhandle. This study aims to understand the relationship between water resources and cattle management and beef production, and how small-scale ranchers in the Panhandle are impacted in the future. Three research questions are used to explore these dynamics and farmers’ perceptions: 1) How does the recorded decline in water table levels compare to the first-hand experiences of ranchers? 2) How are the stages of cattle management and beef production in the Oklahoma Panhandle affected by declines in water availability? And 3) What are the economic implications for small-scale ranchers in the Panhandle if water availability continues to decline? Interviews with cattle ranchers in the Panhandle were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of cattle ranching processes specialized to the region, and how state water data compare to the lived experiences of ranchers. Qualitative data were collected and analyzed in a narrative and content analysis to cross compare with previous literature and water level records. The results suggest that ranchers' experiences align with historical water level trends, reinforcing the necessity of adaptive strategies
How does parent asthma management self-efficacy relate to quality of life among parents of children with asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic?
No full textObjectives: Asthma is the most common chronic medical condition among children in the US. Parents are fundamental providers for both effective health management and optimum health outcomes among children with asthma. The goal of the study was to understand how parental self-efficacy for managing their child’s asthma related to the QoL among parents of children with asthma during COVID-19, and how this relationship varied by parents' gender.
Method: Parents of children with asthma were recruited via Prolific in summer 2020 (Total N=118; men = 48, women = 70) and completed the Parent Asthma Self-Efficacy Scale, the Pediatric Asthma Caregiver’s QoL Questionnaire, and a demographics questionnaire. A moderation using PROCESS was conducted, and parental educational attainment was included as a control variable.
Results: The overall model examined the main effects of parent asthma self-efficacy and gender on parental QoL and the interaction of parent self-efficacy and gender on parent QoL. Results found the interaction between parent asthma self-efficacy and parental gender was significant, such that greater parent self-efficacy was related to greater QoL among male parents, but not female parents.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated gender differences, or differences in contextual factors related to gender, that may contribute to parental psychosocial functioning during COVID-19. Greater parental self-efficacy for managing their child’s asthma during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a better QoL among male parents, but not male parents. The sample had greater representation of male parents compared to prior studies, which contributes to the parenting literature in the context of COVID-19. Future research should include parents of all gender identities (e.g., nonbinary and transgender individuals)
Microglial Junb deletion exacerbate amyloid plaque load in Alzheimer’s disease mice model
No full textAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a late-onset, neurodegenerative disease. Two hallmark findings of AD include the presence of extracellular deposition of Amyloid Beta (Aβ)/senile plaques and intracellular accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the neuronal cells. Aberrant deposition of amyloid beta (Aß) contributes to neuroinflammation and AD progression. Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, detect Aß and initiate the process of Aß phagocytosis and clearance inhibiting plaque accumulation. During aging, these microglia become dysfunctional leading to the irreversible loss of neurons in the hippocampus and cognitive deficits. Therefore, identifying signaling molecules regulating microglial functions aimed at Aβ clearance offers a potential target in developing new treatments for AD. By conducting Single Cell RNA sequencing on microglia derived from the AD mice model, we identified a subset of microglia, DAM-1, which was highly effective in removing plaques. These DAM-1, were characterized by elevated levels of AP-1 transcriptional factor machinery including Junb and Fos. In the present study, we hypothesize that Junb plays a major role in regulating microglial phagocytic function. Using primary microglia culture derived from WT and microglial-specific Junb deficient mice, we demonstrated that Junb regulates microglia-mediated clearance of Aβ (1-42) by modulating phagocytic activity. Our preliminary results indicate that pretreatment with pharmacological inhibitors of Junb (T-5224) significantly reduced the uptake of pH Rodo E. coli bioparticles as well as HiLyte™ Fluor labeled β-Amyloid (1-42) in microglia. To validate the function of Junb in the invivo Alzheimer’s disease mice model (5xFAD), we developed a transgenic mouse model in which, post tamoxifen injection, we can selectively delete Junb expression in the microglia. Post deletion confirmation, Junb fl/fl were crossed with 5xFAD mice to induce amyloid pathology. Two months post injection, we compared plaque load in AD mice with and without Junb deletion with WT 5xFAD mice. We observed a significant increase in plaque load in Junb deficient 5xFAD mice, suggesting a critical role of Junb in regulating Aβ phagocytosis. Currently, our research focuses on identifying downstream signaling pathways/genes regulated by AP-1 transcriptional machinery, which might serve as a novel strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease