Impact of Rye Cover Crop on Pigweed Seed Viability

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) are the two pigweed species most prevalent in Kansas. They are difficult to manage because they are resistant to herbicide applications. Cereal rye (Secale cereale) is a grass notable for its ability to hold soil in place against erosion. This study was conducted to test a cereal rye cover crop’s ability to deplete the presence of Palmer amaranth and waterhemp in the seedbank when buried compared to those with no cover crops present. Fifty seeds in wire mesh packets were buried in soybean fields at seven different sites in the states of Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Packets were removed at three intervals and seed viability was determined by cleaning the wire mesh packets with a water and bleach solution followed by germination in petri dishes. If samples showed zero germination for three days, seeds were then squished and observed under a microscope. This determined whether seeds were dormant or nonviable. Seed viability data will be discussed and results will provide insight into whether cereal rye cover crop may have an impact on depletion of pigweed seeds in the north central region of the United States.

Modifying Camelina Seed Oil Production Using CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing

Camelina sativa, a member of the mustard family, is an increasingly studied oil seed crop with valuable agronomic traits that make it a potential source of biofuels in the future. Seed oil is composed mostly of triacylglycerol (TAG) which is synthesized by two major enzymes: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) and phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT1). Acetyl-triacylglycerols (acetyl-TAG), an alternate triacylglycerol produced by Camelina, has desirable biofuel properties including reduced-viscosity and a low freezing point. Production of acetyl-TAG is competed by production of TAG by DGAT1 and PDAT1. The objective of this project is to induce mutations using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) into the genes encoding for DGAT1 and PDAT1, inhibiting enzyme function to increase yield of acetyl-TAG within viable seeds that maintain these mutations in their germline. Camelina sativa has a hexaploid genome with three homeologs for each gene. Induced mutations could occur on some, none, or all three gene loci. This study uses gel electrophoresis to identify deletions within CsDGAT1 and CsPDAT1 gene loci and observe continuation of mutations between first- and second-generation plants. Ninety-nine second-generation (T2) Camelina plants were grown including wild- type and DGAT1-CRISPR mutant lines. Only one line with a deletion mutation was identified. However, this plant possessed a diseased phenotype, having stunted growth with sickly, wrinkled and spotted leaves. One possibility is that off-target effects of Cas9 that caused unwanted mutations leading to the defective phenotype. Future work should aim to screen for deletions in additional Camelina plants and in plants of diploid genomes like Pennycress.

Development of Kirkwood-Buff derived force field for phospholipids

Master of ScienceDepartment of ChemistryP. E. SmithRecently, we have developed an improved force field for the simulation of peptides and proteins. To develop accurate models for lipids, we present force field parameters for the study of 8 glycerophospho lipids in water. The force field parameters for the polar groups of lipids (head groups, glycerol, ester functionalities) were developed to reproduce the experimental Kirkwood-Buff (KB) integrals for small molecule analogs and their mixtures with water. This is not possible for the hydrocarbon tails or the lipids. Consequently, a more traditional approach was used to ensure that a variety of common properties of lipid membranes were reasonably reproduced. The electron density profiles, the area and volume per lipid, the lipid lateral diffusion rates, and the hydrocarbon chain order parameters, were investigated and compared with experimental data where available

Iron Dynamics Shape Host-Pathogen Interactions

Hosts and their pathogens often compete for trace metal elements that are essential to each of their survival. Iron is one of these trace metal elements and consequently, iron dynamics are central in host-pathogen interactions. Here we review how competition for iron during infection influences host-pathogen interactions and shapes disease outcomes. Hosts have developed diverse mechanisms to limit nutrient availability to the pathogen, also known as nutritional immunity. In response to infection, vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant hosts generate a hypoferremic environment using a variety of iron-binding proteins and chelators, alongside iron transporters, to limit pathogen replication. To counter nutritional immunity responses, pathogens use TonB-dependent (e.g., siderophores) and TonB-independent mechanisms to scavenge ferric and ferrous iron. Pathogens also compete with the host-associated microbiota to access iron. Competition between microbes for iron can either hinder or facilitate pathogen establishment and proliferation within hosts. Iron dynamics are an exciting new avenue for therapeutic interventions that may be employed against a broad range of pathogens

Variant call format (VCF) file corresponding to called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a set of 454 clone-corrected isolates of Fusarium graminearum (Dhakal et al., submitted)

VCF file (fileformat=VCFv4.2, readable without specialized software) with genotyping-by-sequencing SNPs from set of 454 clone-corrected isolates of Fusarium graminearum, from the US and Uruguay. Produced by GATK software v. 4.1.8.1, only biallelic SNPs retained. SNPs from this file segregated in a larger sample of over 500 isolates (some from closely related species), and what remains in this file were selected after variant quality score recalibration (vqsr)

Arte de España y México

Throughout the Spring 2023 semester, I took Dr. Bender’s graduate-level course “SPAN 779: Art of Spain & Mexico in the L2 Classroom.” By taking this course I gained a better understanding of using Content Based Instruction and of utilizing authentic artwork from Spain and Mexico within the classroom. I implemented this knowledge in the classroom, through student teaching, and reflected on its value for future teaching. This project consists of three sections. The first section is a thematic, virtual gallery-map of relevant artwork which will serve as a resource for my current and future practice. The next is the creation a thematic lesson planning unit which centers around the art within the gallery-map. Finally, is the implementation ofthis unit within my student teaching placement and the evaluation of the efficacy of the strategies utilized. The goal of this project is to investigate and implement strategies which will inform my future teaching

Blank Slate: Tactical Placemaking Strategies as a Tool for Neighborhood-Led Activation of Vacant Lots

Master of Landscape ArchitectureDepartment of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community PlanningSara HadaviA common challenge in disinvested urban areas is a high frequency of vacant land, which directly affects the lives of residents in high-vacancy neighborhoods. The increase of crime, induced fear of crime, and creation of visual blight are potential impacts from urban vacancy (Branas et al. 2018; Hadavi et al. 2021). Reactivating vacant land is an important measure in mitigating the negative consequences of urban vacancy and increasing social cohesion of urban neighborhoods. Tactical placemaking offers interim, programmatic solutions that present lowcost, high-impact approaches to instigating neighborhood change through addressing issues related to safety, equity, and disinvestment (Lak & Kheibari 2020, Finn 2014). Maximum effect of tactical placemaking strategies emanates from an understanding of resident preferences and their capacities towards implementation and maintenance. This study examines tactical placemaking strategies as a neighborhood-led approach to activating vacant lots. Eight highvacancy neighborhoods in Eastside Kansas City, Missouri were selected as a case to examine residents’ preferences for tactical placemaking strategies and their interest and ability in implementation and maintenance. First, three vacant lot typologies were identified across the study area: enclosed, post-commercial, and wild. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-seven residents focusing on the type of vacant lot they were most familiar with. The interviews used a participant-generated photo selection activity to understand preferences towards spaces and activities that could be a strategy to reactivate vacant lots. This activity combined with additional questions captured resident preferences towards the potential reactivation strategies, as well as resident willingness and ability to participate in both creating such spaces and maintaining them. Results of the interviews guided a framework of design recommendations specific to each of the three vacant lot typologies. The recommendations include the necessary resources for project construction within four major criteria including time, money, labor, and expertise, while acknowledging how the strategy is expected to activate the space within three areas of opportunity: skill-building, recreation, and gathering. Each recommendation includes a community development rating to further assist community members with decision-making. While providing residents with the foundation for reactivating and reclaiming underutilized land, this study contributes to the literature regarding tactical placemaking and vacancy typologies. The broader implication of this study is that it offers a practical photo-selection method to learn about people’s preferences for outdoor spaces and activities that could be used in community engagement activities

X-ray Inspection Model Validation with Physical Dosimetry

A non-functional printed circuit board assembly was developed using ULTIboard and a simple computational transport model was created for use with the Monte Carlo software MCNP. EBT3 film radiography was used to compare with Monte Carlo simulation to validate the board representation. The computational transport model was then revised to include connection pins, solder balls, highly attenuating internal structures, and copper trace distribution. Results from the revised model were compared to the EBT3 films to observe improvements to dose profiles. It was found that this method was useful in verifying the placement of components, as the dose profiles were observed to follow the same trends. The experiment was then repeated using XRQA2 films to achieve the same level of contrast with 1% the dose of EBT3 films. It was found that high contrast may be achieved using these films to identify major issues with the model geometry, at a cost of dose profile accuracy. A second validation method was applied to the model using 37 CaF2 thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). TLD measurements were compared with the simplified and complex transport models to identify the features that have the greatest impact on simulation accuracy. The TLD calibration to CaF2 was found to be accurate within 5.6%, while calibration to dose in Si was found to be accurate within 4.7%. It was observed that the accurate representation of solder balls and proper modeling of highly attenuating internal structures had the greatest impact on simulation accuracy

Diagnostic Testing for Kansas Wheat Viruses

The wheat streak mosaic virus complex consists of three viruses that are visually indistinguishable and often present together. These viruses are Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV), Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV), and High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV). Together, these viruses cause millions of bushels of yield loss to farmers every year and are of great interest to plant breeders. To determine which pathogens are present in infected plant tissue, samples were taken and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This research will investigate regional virus makeup and compare results of RT-PCR and ELISA based diagnostics. Sixty-three samples were collected from various cultivars and multiple locations in Kansas and tested with ELISA. Eighteen samples tested positive for WSMV, two samples tested positive for TriMV, and one sample tested positive for HPWMoV. To compare the results to a more sensitive diagnostic assay, RT-PCR was performed and compared to ELISA results. Of the positive ELISA samples, four samples were false positives, and two samples were false negatives. This shows that ELISA has an 80.6% accuracy rate at correctly identifying wheat viruses compared to RT-PCR. Additionally, increases in TriMV infection were detected in Joe, Hamilton, and Dallas; wheat varieties with resistance to WSMV.

Bloom Nutrition Influencer Marketing Analysis

This project is a marketing analysis of Bloom Nutrition's use of influencers to sell products to Gen Z consumers interested in wellness. Bloom’s marketing team works with a diverse group of influencers to reach potential customers. Upon initial review, each influencer seems to have a vastly different approach to creating content and engaging audiences around Bloom products. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify which influencers and their associated strategies work best for this brand and within the industry. Within this study I will analyze Bloom’s influencer marketing strategy through a content analysis on TikTok that includes identifying influencer tactics of four key influencers that the brand has used. Information gathered about these influencers will be their audience, follower counts, credibility, and the type of content that they share. I will also look at the consumer responses to influencer content to identify the interaction and engagement that each post received and how well the content performed through sentiment analysis. At the conclusion of this study, I will ultimately produce an ideal influencer profile for the fitness/wellness industry and for the brand Bloom