Investigating the Transcriptional Regulation of Secondary Cell Wall Synthesis and Thigmomorphogenesis in the Model Grass \u3cem\u3eBrachypodium distachyon\u3c/em\u3e

A key aspect of plant growth is the synthesis and deposition of cell walls. In specific tissues and cell types including xylem and fiber, a thick secondary wall composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin is deposited. Secondary cell walls provide a physical barrier that protects plants from pathogens, promotes tolerance to abiotic stresses, and fortifies cells to withstand the forces associated with water transport and the physical weight of plant structures. Grasses have numerous cell wall features that are distinct from eudicots and other plants. Study of the model species Brachypodium distachyon has helped us begin to understand the internal and external cues that regulate the synthesis of grass secondary cell walls. In this dissertation, I investigate the function of two transcription factors in regulating cell wall biosynthesis, SWIZ and KNOB7. SWIZ controls wall synthesis and plant growth in response to external mechanical force. In response to touch, SWIZ protein moves into the nucleus, a translocation that is modulated by the level of bioactive gibberellic acid in the cell. Positive and negative perturbation of SWIZ results in shorter plants with thicker fiber cell walls, phenotypes that are enhanced in plants treated with regular mechanical stimulus during growth. KNOB7 is orthologous to the characterized cell wall regulator AtKNAT7 in Arabidopsis thaliana. KNOB7 negatively regulates fiber wall thickness and lignification, as is observed in AtKNAT7, but KNOB7 shows unique control of lignin composition, hydroxycinnamic acid content, and cell wall polysaccharide content. These observations may reflect control of grass specific cell wall characteristics not present in eudicots, such as high levels of wall bound hydroxycinnamic acids and the prevalence of heteroxylan polysaccharides. Together, these insights from SWIZ and KNOB7 function further our understanding of how grasses regulate their growth and secondary cell wall synthesis

Does the Service Matter? Comparative Benefits of Direct and Indirect Service Learning Experiences

This pilot study compared students\u27 perceptions of their experiences in direct versus indirect service-learning. Middle through high school students in a suburban school district in the Northeast were surveyed about their direct and indirect service-learning experiences along personal, social, and academic dimensions. In this study, direct service experiences had a stronger positive impact on students\u27 perceptions of their social growth than indirect service experiences. Female students rated personal and social outcomes higher than their male counterparts. Female students rated personal and social outcomes higher than their male counterparts

Internet-based medical education: a realist review of what works, for whom and in what circumstances

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Service Etiquette (Love Stories)

This text is a collection of essays based on personal experience and interviews conducted with 30+ military partners. The goal of this text is to update the record on the experiences of military partners, particularly modern military partners, defined as partners of post-9/11 active-duty service members or Veterans. The names of all interview participants have been changed to protect privacy, except for one subject who requested her name to be shared. The essays within this collection were workshopped by a group of peer writers at Old Dominion University

Values in the workplace: A theoretical and empirical investigation

Much of the research on organizational behavior and human resource management consists of some interaction of the individual\u27s values with the work place. The central problem of this thesis is a specification of the nature of these values in a manner which will be both theoretically rich and empirically useful. An extensive reading of the literature on the subject (within the scope of the relevant intellectual disciplines) showed a remarkably wide variety of definitions of values as used for expositional and investigative purposes. In order to both consolidate this diversity as well as achieve an operationally useful concept, we arrive at the following definition of values: values are the transformation function (numerical weight) between actual or perceived quantities of outcomes (rewards, losses, working conditions, job characteristics, etc.) and affective states (emotions, satisfaction, dissatisfaction, pleasure, etc.) of the individual which inter alia lead to action (behavior, performance and so on). Further investigation into the antecedents of values indicated that values are a consequence of one or more of the following: childhood environment, occupation and education, personal goals and ambitions, demands for outcomes, lifecycle stages, perceived equity, organizational climate, outcomes, and values themselves. That is, values are more a system of values than independent. Further, they are thought to be affected by the current state of the individual in terms of the quantities of outcomes received. Combining these findings with the definition given above, an extensive set of alternative specifications were investigated empirically with two broad goals: the identification of a feasible approach for estimating human resource variables (such as satisfaction) which are affected by values, and the estimation of the distribution of values in the sample given that values were not observed in the data nor, according to the theory, might they ever be directly measured. Both of these goals were achieved though substantive interpretation of all the results must await a more appropriate set of data. In short, this thesis brings some order to the literature on values, specifies a theoretically defensible definition of the term, outlines the processes by which values are acquired and changed, and demonstrates the empirical validity of both the definition and the value acquisition process

Grass secondary cell walls, Brachypodium distachyon as a model for discovery

International audienceA key aspect of plant growth is the synthesis and deposition of cell walls. In specific tissues and cell types including xylem and fibre, a thick secondary wall comprised of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin is deposited. Secondary cell walls provide a physical barrier that protects plants from pathogens, promotes tolerance to abiotic stresses and fortifies cells to withstand the forces associated with water transport and the physical weight of plant structures. Grasses have numerous cell wall features that are distinct from eudicots and other plants. Study of the model species Brachypodium distachyon as well as other grasses has revealed numerous features of the grass cell wall. These include the characterisation of xylosyl and arabinosyltransferases, a mixed-linkage glucan synthase and hydroxycinnamate acyltransferases. Perhaps the most fertile area for discovery has been the formation of lignins, including the identification of novel substrates and enzyme activities towards the synthesis of monolignols. Other enzymes function as polymerising agents or transferases that modify lignins and facilitate interactions with polysaccharides. The regulatory aspects of cell wall biosynthesis are largely overlapping with those of eudicots, but salient differences among species have been resolved that begin to identify the determinants that define grass cell walls

Global journalism collaborations:worldwide storytelling projects in higher education

Most universities worldwide have embraced the goal of internationalizing their curriculum to foster the development of global citizens. In this pursuit, global virtual collaborations have emerged as a promising approach.“Global Journalism Collaborations: worldwide storytelling projects in higher education” is a ground-breaking book set to be published by Routledge in late 2023. It serves as a handbook to implementing global virtual collaborations in the fields of communications, media and journalism within higher education and is adaptable to all disciplines.This presentation will showcase the case studies of several worldwide projects providing valuable insights into the development, execution and outcomes of such collaborations, while serving as a powerful teaching tool to inspire student engagement with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, all working together virtually.We will discuss the evolving technological landscape and the transformative experiences students gain through their participation as well as providing a wealth of ideas and inspiration for educators across all disciplines.Drawing from extensive interviews with students, graduates, university instructors and professionals at universities around the world, “Global Journalism Collaborations” presents a wide variety of perspectives on the workings of virtual collaborations. We’ll highlight the unique position of universities in fostering collaborative environments, where students have the opportunity to engage in equal-footed partnerships with peers from different cultures, devoid of the influence of a single media corporation or dominant culture.By embracing virtual collaborations, universities empower students to collaborate and learn from one another in a globally interconnected world, all while learning their course material. This presentation will explore the principles and practices presented in the book and emphasize the potential of virtual collaborations in higher education. Our goal is to inspire educators to integrate global virtual collaborations into their curricula and help their students to become active participants in an interconnected and diverse world.<br/

MFA Showcase, 45th Annual ODU Literary Festival

The MFA Program began in 1994 with twelve students and three creative writing instructors. It continues to grow with vigor: today, a range of 25-35 students work with the program\u27s talented 7-member creative writing faculty in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction