Mine reclamation using biofuel crops: Insights into the microbial ecology of the switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) microbiome

Bioenergy crop production has steadily increased due to growing political support for renewable energy, thus initiating a demand to find alternative agricultural land. An innovative option is the use of marginal soils, such as reclaimed mine lands, to produce bioenergy crops. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a promising bioenergy crop that can be grown on marginal lands due to its robust growth in various soil types and climates. However, little is known regarding plant-microbe interactions among switchgrass systems within reclaimed mine lands. A study conducted in 2008 grew switchgrass on high- and low- quality reclaimed mine sites (Hampshire and Hobet, respectively) in West Virginia to examine the resilience of switchgrass as a reclamation-friendly bioenergy crop. Switchgrass yields at Hampshire were nearly an order of magnitude higher than Hobet (8.4 Mg ha−1 vs 1.0 Mg ha−1). Within Hampshire, the Cave-in-Rock cultivar yield was approximately 2-fold greater than that of Shawnee (12.9 Mg ha-1 vs. 7.6 Mg ha-1). Here, I sought to illuminate plant-microbial interactions that may account for this drastic shift in cultivar yield by assessing the soil microbial community’s function and composition. I tested two hypotheses: i) that the microbial community’s ability to acquire C, N, and P will be greatest in Hampshire soils compared to that of Hobet and ii) that there will be a cultivar-specific root-associated microbiome that may drive previously observed greater, but differential yields across switchgrass cultivars at Hampshire. I found that reclamation strategy substantially impacts the switchgrass microbiome’s composition as well as its ability to acquire critical nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. I also found that a functionally, but not necessarily compositionally, unique microbiome exists in the root-associated soils compared to that of the bulk soil. Additionally, there were indicators that organic amendments to the topsoil may induce cultivar-specific soil microbiomes that mediate or facilitate differential yields within Hampshire. Taken together, I suggest that organic amendments to the topsoil during reclamation selects for a cultivar-specific microbiome more adept to acquiring critical nutrients and thus, increases aboveground productivity

Coming to Voice: Exploring the Experiences of Teacher Education and Special Education Professors of African Descent in Institutions of Higher Education

The purpose of the present study was to explore the perceptions of employment experiences and the pursuit of promotion and tenure by teacher education and special education professors of African descent. This study investigated the perceptions held by teacher education and special education professors of African descent in the areas of recruitment, retention and the tenure and promotion process. Lastly, the present study engaged in an inquiry with these professors regarding their perceptions of critical areas of research needed to improve educational equity and achievement for African American students. This population was encouraged to reflect on these areas in terms of their situated experiences such as: employees of traditionally white and historically black institutions of higher education, members of teacher education and special education teacher preparation programs, and members of over and under represented groups throughout the educational continuum. Specifically, this study collected data that allowed teacher education and special education professors of African descent to use their voice to contextualize experiences in the education professorate. The present study sought to impact the field of education in several ways. It provided information on the recruitment and retention of professors of African descent in teacher education and special education programs. It also identified how culturally diverse perspectives on research needs may impact general education and special education practices to improve education equity for African American students

Separation Options for Phosphorylated Osteopontin from Transgenic Microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Correct folding and post-translational modifications are vital for therapeutic proteins to elicit their biological functions. Osteopontin (OPN), a bone regenerative protein present in a range of mammalian cells, is an acidic phosphoprotein with multiple potential phosphorylation sites. In this study, the ability of unicellular microalgae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, to produce phosphorylated recombinant OPN in its chloroplast is investigated. This study further explores the impact of phosphorylation and expression from a "plant-like" algae on separation of OPN. Chromatography resins ceramic hydroxyapatite (CHT) and Gallium-immobilized metal affinity chromatography (Ga-IMAC) were assessed for their binding specificity to phosphoproteins. Non-phosphorylated recombinant OPN expressed in E. coli was used to compare the specificity of interaction of the resins to phosphorylated OPN. We observed that CHT binds OPN by multimodal interactions and was better able to distinguish phosphorylated proteins in the presence of 250 mM NaCl. Ga-IMAC interaction with OPN was not selective to phosphorylation, irrespective of salt, as the resin bound OPN from both algal and bacterial sources. Anion exchange chromatography proved an efficient capture method to partially separate major phosphorylated host cell protein impurities such as Rubisco from OPN

Attendance at Religious Meetings and Community Involvement

Data collected in a general population survey from a random sample of individuals in two rural communities in Texas were used to examine the association between religious involvement and civic participation empirically. Support was found for the hypothesis that attendance at religious meetings is positively associated with community involvement. Results of the analysis of covariance also suggest that certain sociodemographic factors are significant predictors of community involvement. Possible implications of these findings for community developers, public leaders, Cooperative Extension Service personnel, and other practitioners are addressed. Recommendations for involving religious institutions in community development initiatives are also advanced

The potential for using acoustic tracking to monitor the movement of the West Coast rock lobster Jasus lalandii

Although acoustic tracking has been used to study the movement of several species of clawed and spiny lobsters, only recent technological advances have provided sufficiently small transmitters to examine the utility of using acoustic tracking as a means to analyse the movement of relatively small spiny lobsters, such as Jasus lalandii. The effect of the transmitter on the mobility of J. lalandii was tested in aquarium experiments and was shown to have no influence on movement in three separate experiments. Thereafter, adult male rock lobsters (86–98mm carapace length) were tracked in field trials for up to 32 days at Betty's Bay (n = 4) and Hermanus (n = 5) off the Western Cape, South Africa. Tracking J. lalandii in the field using acoustic tags was successful, even in areas with dense kelp beds and rocky outcrops. The signal from the transmitters was readily detectable from the surface and subsequent use of underwater tracking equipment enabled visual confirmation of the position of the rock lobsters. Lobsters moved significantly longer distances (>45m day−1) in the first two days following tagging than during any subsequent time period (<10m day−1). This suggests that transmitter attachment and/or handling altered the movement pattern for the first 72 hours after tagging. During the period of observation, J. lalandii displayed classical nomadic behaviour

Effects of series elastic compliance on muscle force summation and the rate of force rise

Compliant tendons permit mechanically unfavourable fascicle dynamics during fixed-end contractions. The purpose of this study was to reduce the effective compliance of tendon and investigate how small reductions in active shortening affect twitch kinetics and contractile performance in response to a second stimulus. The series elastic element (SEE) of the human triceps surae (N=15) was effectively stiffened by applying a 55 ms rotation to the ankle, through a range of 5°, at the onset of twitch and doublet [interstimulus interval (ISI) of 80 ms] stimulation. Ultrasonography was employed to quantify lateral gastrocnemius and soleus fascicle lengths. Rotation increased twitch torque (40-75%), rate of torque development (RTD, 124-154%) and torque-time integral (TTI, 70-110%) relative to constant-length contractions at the initial and final joint positions, yet caused only modest reductions in shortening amplitude and velocity. The torque contribution of the second pulse increased when stimulation was preceded by rotation, a finding unable to be explained on the basis of fascicle length or SEE stiffness during contraction post-rotation. A further increase in torque contribution was not demonstrated, nor an increase in doublet TTI, when the second pulse was delivered during rotation and shortly after the initial pulse (ISI of 10 ms). The depressant effect of active shortening on subsequent torque generation suggests that compliant tendons, by affording large length changes, may limit torque summation. Our findings indicate that changes in tendon compliance shown to occur in response to resistance training or unloading are likely sufficient to considerably alter contractile performance, particularly maximal RTD

Preharvest aflatoxin in maize genotypes under inoculation with Aspergillus flavus

Pre-harvest aflatoxin contamination is a major limitation to maize production in Texas and the southern United States, causing major economic loss and severe health problems worldwide. Screening for resistance to aflatoxin accumulation is commonly conducted through inoculation with a highly concentrated solution of Aspergillus flavus FR: Link spores, a naturally occurring fungus which infects maize and produces a toxic metabolite (aflatoxin) to humans and animals consuming the grain. No commercial hybrids exist with full resistance to aflatoxin accumulation; however, sources exist to reduce susceptibility. These sources commonly lack good agronomic characteristics for use in commercial hybrids. Exotic germplasm with favorable traits for reduced aflatoxin accumulations are introgressed with temperate and locally adapted lines. This program utilizes only one isolate of A. flavus even though many isolates exist in the environment. The objectives of this thesis are i) to evaluate the progress of the Maize Breeding and Genetics Program’s accomplishments of breeding maize for the reduction in susceptibility of aflatoxin accumulation in yellow inbreds through analysis of hybrid and inbred per se trials and ii) to determine whether interaction exists between geneticallydifferent isolates of A. flavus and several genotypes of maize. Response to aflatoxin accumulation for hybrids and inbreds was measured at up to three environments across Texas. Significant differences were detected for most years and environments. Maize lines CML285, CML288, CML323, CML325, CML326, CML338, Tx601y and lines derived from Population 69 and from Tx772 crosses in hybrid combinations tended to accumulate less aflatoxin than commercial hybrid checks. Significant differences were detected at each environment aflatoxin accumulation was measured for inbred lines per se. Inbreds Tx772, Tx601y, CML289, CML294, CML323 and derived lines from Population 69 show reduced aflatoxin accumulations. Interaction between genetically different isolates of A. flavus and several genotypes of maize were not detected in hybrid or inbred trials at two or three environments, across locations and across years. Introgression of exotic germplasm into locally adapted germplasm has improved agronomic characteristics for use in the Southern U.S. and brought sources for decreased aflatoxin accumulation

Performance of AAOmega: the AAT multi-purpose fibre-fed spectrograph

AAOmega is the new spectrograph for the 2dF fibre-positioning system on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. It is a bench-mounted, double-beamed design, using volume phase holographic (VPH) gratings and articulating cameras. It is fed by 392 fibres from either of the two 2dF field plates, or by the 512 fibre SPIRAL integral field unit (IFU) at Cassegrain focus. Wavelength coverage is 370 to 950nm and spectral resolution 1,000-8,000 in multi-Object mode, or 1,500-10,000 in IFU mode. Multi-object mode was commissioned in January 2006 and the IFU system will be commissioned in June 2006. The spectrograph is located off the telescope in a thermally isolated room and the 2dF fibres have been replaced by new 38m broadband fibres. Despite the increased fibre length, we have achieved a large increase in throughput by use of VPH gratings, more efficient coatings and new detectors - amounting to a factor of at least 2 in the red. The number of spectral resolution elements and the maximum resolution are both more than doubled, and the stability is an order of magnitude better. The spectrograph comprises: an f/3.15 Schmidt collimator, incorporating a dichroic beam-splitter; interchangeable VPH gratings; and articulating red and blue f/1.3 Schmidt cameras. Pupil size is 190mm, determined by the competing demands of cost, obstruction losses, and maximum resolution. A full suite of VPH gratings has been provided to cover resolutions 1,000 to 7,500, and up to 10,000 at particular wavelengths.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures; presented at SPIE, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 24 - 31 May 2006, Orlando, Florida US

Pediatric Dental Health Care: Recommended Practices for Helping Children and Parents

This brief contains recommendations focused on early childhood education practices that can strengthen pediatric dental care. It included recommendations for educating both parents and children in dental practices.HHS Child Care Bureau and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundatio