Conservation Genomics: Utilizing Genetic and Transcriptomic Sequencing for Effective Conservation Management of Astragalus osterhoutii

Astragalus osterhoutii M.E. Jones (Fabaceae) is a federally listed, rare, endemic species restricted to seleniferous soils in Grand County, CO (Anderson, 1989). This research utilized both RADseq and RNAseq to generate neutral and adaptive genomic datasets. Neutral data analysis aimed to determine i) the genetic diversity of A. osterhoutii and each of its populations level, ii) how genetic structure is partitioned across the species range, and iii) the closest relative to A. osterhoutii. Analysis of adaptive, RNAseq data aimed to identify i) differentially expressed genes, ii) if patterns of expression are similar to neutral data, and iii) differences in Se hyperaccumulation genes among populations. Neutral data found a relatively low level of species genetic diversity, with similar levels seen between populations. Neutral data supported A. grayi and A. nelsonianus as closest relatives. Both datasets supported a geographic division of genomic makeup between eastern and western populations, with a finer split into three groups following the three main drainages, Muddy Creek, Troublesome Creek, and Rock Creek except for the FO population, which was distinct from other Muddy Creek populations. RNAseq data found Se genes to be generally downregulated in the western populations compared to eastern populations and suggests adaptive divergence between drainages. Four distinct conservation management units are recommended from combined results, i) Western ii) Field Office, iii) Troublesome Creek, and iv) Eastern. Establishing monitoring plots for at least one population within each of the management units is also recommended. A. osterhoutii should remained listed as a federally protected, endangered species

Assessment of Human Anthropometry With a Markerless Motion Capture System

In this methodological study, we evaluate the accuracy and repeatability of the Theia markerless motion capture system for determining accurate anthropometric measurements. We will assess the correlation between linear measurements from a sample of human subjects (limb, torso, shoulder, limb segment lengths, bi-illiac breadth, body height, etc) as measured by the markerless system to those same measurements as assessed by hand. We will also calculate the intra-observer error of the markerless system’s measurements by repeating measurement sessions for each subject multiple times over several days. We hypothesize that the markerless system will demonstrate low intra-observer error and a high correlation with hand-measured anthropometric measurements. If our results support this hypothesis, the markerless system will be used for our project investigating the relationship between anthropometry and the biomechanics of ascending steep inclines. Being able to use the markerless system in our slope-walking project would not only allow for more consistent data collection, it would remove the risk of introducing inter-observer by having multiple individuals collect anthropometric measurements by hand. In assessing the accuracy and repeatability of the Theia markerless system for anthropometric measurements, we can determine if it is a useful method of data collection for our lab’s larger biomechanics project

A Musical Approach to the Teaching and Performance of Percussion

It is the purpose of this study (1) to aid the teacher of instrumental music in developing a musical approach to the teaching of snare drum using a recommended “like-grip” for holding all sticks and mallets (2) to provide the teacher of instrumental music with selected published methods and materials for developing musicianship; (3) to provide the instrumental music teacher with teaching techniques covering selected and most commonly use percussion instruments

Need for Cognition and Message Complexity in Motivating Fruit and Vegetable Intake Among Callers to the Cancer Information Service

This field experiment examined the impact of an individual\u27s need for cognition (NFC; the tendency to enjoy thinking deeply about issues), complex versus simple messages, and the interaction of NFC and message type on encouraging fruit and vegetable consumption. Callers to the Cancer Information Service of the National Cancer Institute (N = 517) were asked to participate in the experiment at the end of their call. Individual NFC was assessed, and participants were assigned randomly to receive a telephone message promoting fruit and vegetable consumption that was either complex and multifaceted or simple and straightforward. Similarly constructed brochures were mailed immediately following the call, and additional brochures were mailed 2 and 3 months later. Although NFC did not predict intake, complex messages were more effective than simple messages in motivating fruit and vegetable consumption 1 and 4 months later

Administrative difficulties encountered in swimming

This study aims to identify the administrative difficulties facing swimming sport in the Syrian Arab Republic The descriptive approach was used by designing a questionnaire consisting of (35) paragraphs of the administrative difficulties distributed over (4) axes (the axis of objectives, the axis of work and achievement, the axis of the work mechanism of the Union, the financial axis). The sample of the study consisted of (60) 40 members of the Federation representing the members of the Board of Directors of the Union, the Higher Technical Committees and the technical subcommittees and 20 trainers holding a first-class training certificate based on the head The most important results indicate that the most administrative obstacles that faced the achievement in the sport of swimming is the lack of planning and lack of clarity of the objectives and lack of adequate budget to achieve the goals. الصعوبات الإدارية التي واجهت الإنجاز برياضة السباحة تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على الصعوبات الإدارية التي تواجه الانجاز  في رياضة السباحة في الجمهورية العربية السورية . وقد تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي وذلك بتصميم استبيان يتكون من ( 35 ) عبارة للصعوبات الإدارية موزعة على ( 4 ) محاور وهي ( محور الأهداف , محور العمل و الانجاز , محور آلية عمل  الاتحاد , المحور المالي ) وتكونت عينة الدراسة من ( 60 )  فرد موزعين على 40 عضو اتحاد  يمثلون أعضاء مجلس إدارة الاتحاد واللجان الفنية العليا واللجان الفنية الفرعية و20 مدرب يحملون شهادة تدريب من الدرجة الأولى القائمين على رئس العمل وقد توصلت نتائج الدراسة إلى أن أكثر المعوقات الإدارية التي واجهت الانجاز في رياضة السباحة  هي غياب التخطيط وعدم وضوح الأهداف ونقص الميزانية الكافية لتحقيق الأهداف

Tailoring Messages to Individual Differences in Monitoring- Blunting Styles to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake

Objective To examine whether messages matched to individuals\u27 monitoring-blunting coping styles (MBCS) are more effective in increasing fruit and vegetable intake than mismatched messages. MBCS refers to the tendency to either attend to and amplify, or distract oneself from and minimize threatening information. Design/Setting Randomly assigned messages were tailored to resonate with either monitors or blunters and delivered at baseline, 1 week, 2 months, and 3 months later. Surveys were conducted at baseline and 2 and 4 months later. Participants 531 callers to a cancer information hotline who did not meet the 5 A Day guideline. Intervention A brief telephone-delivered message and 3 mailings of booklets and promotional items encouraging fruit and vegetable intake, tailored for either monitors or blunters. Main Outcome Measure Fruit and vegetable intake 2 and 4 months post-baseline. Analysis Hierarchical regression modeling. Results Messages matched to MBCS were more effective than mismatched messages, particularly for the monitor message, in increasing intake at 2 months but not at 4 months. Conclusions and Implications These minimal interventions influenced fruit and vegetable intake. MBCS may be a promising target for developing tailored messages aimed at increasing intake, although additional research is needed to verify the robustness of these findings

Casting Health Messages in Terms of Responsibility for Dietary Change: Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Objective To compare the effectiveness of messages emphasizing the importance of either personal or social responsibility for dietary behavior change in increasing fruit and vegetable intake. Design/Setting Randomly assigned individually or socially oriented messages were delivered at baseline, 1 week, and 2 and 3 months later. Telephone surveys were conducted at baseline and 1 and 4 months later. Participants 528 callers to a cancer information hotline who were not meeting the “5 A Day” dietary recommendation. Interventions A brief telephone-delivered message and 3 mailings of pamphlets and promotional items encouraging fruit and vegetable intake that emphasized either personal or social responsibility. Main Outcome Measures Fruit and vegetable intake 1 and 4 months postbaseline. Analysis Chi-square, t tests, and analyses of variance and covariance. Results Both types of messages increased intake substantially (P = .01). To some extent, the social responsibility message continued to motivate increased intake over time compared with the personal responsibility message. Conclusions and Implications These minimal interventions had a substantial impact on fruit and vegetable intake. Health messages might be more effective over the longer term if they are designed to emphasize the importance of social responsibility, although further study is needed to confirm the robustness of these findings

Silica fume and crumb rubber as partial replacement of cement and fine aggregate concrete

This study investigated nine mixes containing 0 or 15% silica fume as the cement replacement and 0 or 10% treated and untreated crumb rubber as the fine aggregate replacement. The fresh and mechanical properties of these concrete mixes were correlated with non-destructive test results including rebound hammer and Ultrasonic Pulse velocity (UPV). One curing scheme was adopted here in this study which was normal curing. Microstructure characterization was carried out using X-ray diffraction Analysis (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The XRD showed that the crumb rubber must be washed in clean water after pretreatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to avoid ettringite formation in the concrete pores. The results showed that combining the silica fume and crumb rubber enhanced the compressive strength of the rubberized concrete. The rebound hammer numbers were closely correlated linearly with the compressive strength of the test mixes