Open Research Oklahoma (Oklahoma State Univ.)
Not a member yet
42035 research outputs found
Sort by
Analyzing the Lake Texoma Watershed: Overview, critical issues, restoration strategies, and implementation
No full textThis study examines the water quality and quantity challenges within the 25.3 million-acre Lake Texoma Watershed. The study region is comprised of two USGS HUC-4 subregions: the Red Headwaters (1112) and the Red-Washita (1113) subregions, and spans across New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. The Chickasaw Nation contracted Oklahoma State University (OSU) to address four key tasks in this study: (1) develop a comprehensive overview of the watershed (2) identify critical watershed needs and issues (3) develop watershed restoration strategies and (4) develop watershed implementation strategies such as best management practices (BMPs) implementation. A specialized geodatabase was developed to support watershed stakeholders. This tool enables users to visualize data layers, analyze spatial relationships, and build on existing watershed data. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and data from federal, state, and tribal sources, this study identified critical areas of concern, including surface water pollutants, water supply issues and land use practices. Ten core BMPs were recommended based on proven 319 funded success stories in similar watersheds and ecoregions. The economic feasibility of implementing these conservation practices within the Lake Texoma Watershed was evaluated using publicly available, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) cost data. Due to significant variability in costs at the state and local levels, federal NRCS-reported funding provided the most reliable estimates for the various conservation practices. The results of this study will collectively inform future watershed management activities within the Lake Texoma Watershed
Equity reporting in HIV PrEP systematic reviews
No full textIntroduction/Objectives: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a cocktail of medications taken orally or injected to prevent Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Given the disproportionate impact of HIV on minority communities, health equity is a topic of concern. In addition, rates of transition and acquisition may also be linked to location, religion, and mental health. As equity reporting can provide culturally informed approaches to medical care and systematic reviews can be used to guide patient management decisions, we aimed to assess equity reporting in systematic reviews or meta-analyses (SRMA) of PrEP utilizing PROGRESS Plus.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, and Cochrane Database for SRMAs of PrEP usage. After screening, we used the PROGRESS Plus framework to extract whether domains of equity -Place of residence, Race/ethnicity/culture/language, Occupation, Gender/sex, Religion, Education, Socioeconomic status, Social capital, age, and disability- were reported.Results: After screening the articles returned from the search, our sample included 36 SRMAs that assessed PrEP usage. Our results showed that among SRMAs of PrEP, Place and Gender/Sex were the most commonly reported elements of the PROGRESS Plus framework with 34 of 36 studies (94.44%) including these criteria. The least commonly reported elements were Religion (0/36, 0.00%), Disabilities (1/36, 2.77%), Social capital (6/36, 16.67%), and Education (8/36, 22.22%). Among these SRMA’s, 19 (of 36; 52.78%) did not conduct any subgroup analyses. Of the studies that did, Gender/Sex and Age were the most commonly assessed.Conclusions: Our study found nearly all SRMAs reported the samples Gender/Sex, and age; however, many other equity criteria that likely affect the usage of PrEP was lacking from a majority of studies. Additionally, very little subanalysis was conducted to investigate the impact of these domains. The limited reporting of PROGRESS Plus items within these SRMAs suggests a need for better inclusion to reduce barriers for PrEP usage and thus improve HIV prevention strategies
Locating and selecting an agricultural enterprise
No full textThe Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311
Unraveling the genetic basis of leaf rust resistance in hard winter wheat
No full textThis study focused on identifying sources of leaf rust (LR) resistance in hard winter wheat (HWW) and developing user-friendly Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) markers for use in marker-assisted selection. A panel of 732 U.S. contemporary HWW accessions was evaluated for leaf rust at the seedling stage and the adult plant stage. The accessions were tested at the seedling stage against five U.S. Puccinia triticina (Pt) races and at the adult-plant stage in leaf rust nurseries in Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with LR response, of which 20 SNPs were associated with LR response at the seedling stage and 42 SNPs were associated with LR response at the adult plant stage. Based on comparative mapping to previous studies, 20 SNPs are likely to be novel and thus could enhance LR resistance. Further, we developed a KASP marker, designated as KASP_S4A_90386472, for the GWAS significant SNP S4A_90386472 located on chromosome 4A and associated with LR response at the adult plant stage. The identification of LR resistance sources and the development of molecular tools to facilitate selection support the development of wheat varieties with durable leaf rust resistance
Determining DNA differences: Using PCR to determine the genetic material in Deltochilum gibbosum fed on either dung or carrion
No full textDung beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae are notable for their coprophagous, or dung eating, behavior. They feed on animal dung as adults, use the resource as a part of reproduction, and when their eggs hatch the larvae feed on that dung as well. However, a species of dung beetle native to Oklahoma is just as comfortable using animal matter, such as fur, feathers, and carrion, as they are using dung. Deltochilum gibbosum, the humpbacked dung beetle, is a large (> 2 cm) dung beetle that displays this feeding behavior. A beetle that can perform the ecosystem service of nutrient recycling using both dung and carrion is not only ecologically important but is also valuable to cattle operations looking to keep their pastures healthy. Since Deltochilum gibbosum can utilize both dung and carrion, they would need to have a gut microbiome suited for both resources. However, the microbiome of these beetles has never been examined. We acquired eight Deltochilum gibbosum, four male and four female, from the Insect Adventure. Two of the males and two of the females were fed on pig dung, while the other beetles were fed using dead laboratory mice. After staying on their target diet for a period of four weeks, the beetles were dissected, and their guts were preserved in a freezer in ethanol. The DNA was extracted using a DNeasy Plant Pro Kit and the associated process. A PCR test will be performed on the extracted DNA. This data will allow us to get an idea of the microbiome of these beetles while also determining if there are any differences between the beetles fed on dung and those fed on carrion. We hypothesize that the microbiome of Deltochilum gibbosum fed on carrion will be different than the microbiome of those fed on dung.Lew Wentz FoundationEntomology and Plant Patholog
Bridging the producer identity gap
No full textThe Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311
Exploring clinical trialists' perspectives on core outcome sets for anxiety trials: A web-based survey study
No full textImportance: Without a consistent set of outcome measures in clinical trials, it is challenging to draw meaningful comparisons and make informed decisions regarding the most effective interventions for anxiety disorders. In an attempt to enhance research quality, a core outcome set (COS) for anxiety disorder was established in 2017 with the goal of improving the quality and comparability of clinical trials focused on anxiety disorders. The COS established a standard set of outcomes expected to be measured by trialists specifically when studying interventions related to anxiety disorders. Our study aimed to investigate the perception, knowledge and utilization of the core outcome sets by lead investigators in clinical trials of anxiety disorders.Design: In this cross-sectional analysis, participants consisted of clinical trialists involved in the design, administration, or analysis of clinical trials studying anxiety disorders. Using the secure web-based data collection tool REDCap, we formulated a comprehensive survey consisting of 20 questions aimed to gather demographic information of participants as well as trialists familiarity with the anxiety COS. Responses will be collected for a total of eight weeks with bi-weekly reminders for surveys not already responded to. For quantitative data we will use both descriptive and inferential statistics to identify relationships between variables and a thematic analysis will be used to identify recurring patterns of open-ended responses.Results: Data is currently being collected and what is currently available is only preliminary data.Conclusion: The variation in outcomes reported across clinical trials poses challenges in synthesizing primary reports by systematic reviews. Implementing core outcome sets in clinical research has the potential to enhance the reliability and comparability of trial outcomes, benefiting evidence-based care for patients with anxiety disorders. However, understanding why trialists are or are not utilizing the core outcome sets is a pivotal first step in standardizing clinical trial outcome reporting
Understanding multimodal porosity, pore distribution and permeability of solid materials
No full textPorosity in materials can span over multiple length scales, requiring the use of multiple characterization methods for pore structure evaluation. This dissertation focuses on the complexity of pore structures in heterogeneous materials from different perspectives. The major aim was to understand the porosity, pore distributions, and permeability within the limitations of conventional characterization methods such as gas adsorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, He-pycnometry, and X-ray micro-CT. The research addressed two key areas: understanding the impact of physical size reduction on pore structure accessibility and studying the pore structures of fragile porous materials without damaging their structure.
The effects of particle size reduction to analyze porosity and the accessibility of pore structures were systematically evaluated. The results from gas adsorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and He-pycnometry revealed that particle size significantly influences pore structure assessment. Depending on pore connectivity, smaller particle sizes led to increased access to isolated pores, affecting porosity, pore volume, and pore size distributions. The study identified critical particle size thresholds for better macropore analysis of low-porosity materials such as shale, with mercury intrusion. A novel approach for identifying isolated pores using residual volume trends from gas adsorption hysteresis was also proposed, which would be useful to identify materials with isolated pores.
The physico-chemical characteristics of fragile scale deposits found in Oklahoma's drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) were analyzed with a focus on pore structure properties for the first time. A multi-characterization approach combining gas adsorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and X-ray micro-CT allowed for a comprehensive pore structure analysis across length scales from nanometers to millimeters. The inherent heterogeneity of the scales was identified, with distinct continuous layers exhibiting varying porosities and elemental composition. X-ray micro-CT revealed diverse pore size distributions and connectivity patterns along their cross-sectional volumes, emphasizing the complex interplay between scale formation and water quality. Scales with relatively high surface areas comprising tortuous networks from small pores were found to correlate with low corrosion within the water pipes. This study serves as a guide for future research, emphasizing the need to consider both composition and pore structures when assessing the impact of scaling towards corrosion mitigation
Normalization of toxicity scale: A measure of toxicity normalization in the online gaming community
No full textToxic behavior in video games is a complex and pervasive problem that affects all aspects of video games, including their development. Its effect on player wellbeing, enjoyment, and retention reverberates throughout the industry. Research has revealed that toxic behavior in games is becoming normalized at an alarming rate. The purpose of this study was to create and validate a scale to measure the perceived normalization of toxic behavior using six constructs taken from three behavioral theories: Past Victimization Experiences and Self-Efficacy from Social Cognitive Theory; Subjective Norms, Attitudes, and Behavioral Control from Theory of Planned Behavior; and Toxic Disinhibition from Online Disinhibition Effect. Based on these constructs, an initial 25-item pool was generated. Four additional scales were added to establish validity, the Toronto Empathy Scale, the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and the Moral Disengagement in Sports Scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used, which required the resulting dataset to be split into two groups for analysis with each group having 229 participants. Exploratory factor analyses (n=229) pared the original 25-item scale to 16 items across 3 distinct factors: 8 items represented Toxicity Normalization, 4 items represented Past Victimization, and 4 items represented Impulsive Toxicity. Confirmatory factor analysis (n=229) was performed utilizing the model obtained from exploratory factor analysis. Results of the analyses indicate acceptable reliability and evidence of validity, but more research is needed for validation. Implications of the current study for researchers and practitioners are presented. Lastly, future research and recommendations for improving the scale’s quality are discussed
Weight loss strategies and experiences in people maintaining or attempting weight loss
No full textAlthough nearly half of US adults attempted weight loss at least once from 2013-2016, not much is known about the experience of weight loss, especially the difference in experiences between those who achieve and maintain weight loss (WLM) and those who attempt and do not lose weight (WLA). Using a quantitative survey and semi-structured interviews, this study aimed to examine these differences. The responses from nineteen individuals were collected, mostly female (n=13). Quantitative results were measured using a Likert scale (1=Not at all,, 5=Completely) and found that there was no statistical difference in several aspects of the weight loss experience, including perceived change to diet (WLM: 3.6 ± 0.8 au; WLA: 3.5 ± 0.7 au; p=0.66) or perceived change in exercise habits (WLM: 3.8 ± 1.0 au; WLA: 3.2 ± 1.1 au; p=0.13). However, there was a significant difference in perceived difficulty of weight loss (WLM: 3.4 ± 0.7 au; WLA: 1.7 ± 1.0 au; p=0.008). The qualitative results found that themes unique to WLA included dichotomous thinking and restrictive strategies. Both negative (ex. Discouragement and frustration) and positive attitudes (Ex. Feeling hopeful) were present in this group. WLM demonstrated themes of flexible thinking, the ability to form habits, and making small, incremental changes. Themes present in both groups included health motivations and the intention to make long-term changes to promote weight loss. This finding is in contrast with current assumptions based on previous studies that study only WLM, the findings of which imply that these themes are associated with only that group. However, this study not only found that these associations may be misleading but emphasizes the importance of examining the experiences of each group alongside the other