Characterization of the \u3ci\u3ebrown midrib4\u3c/i\u3e gene of maize (\u3ci\u3eZea mays L.\u3c/i\u3e): a step towards enhancing the carbon sequestration capacity of stover

A variety of agricultural solutions are being tested to address the recent concern of rising rates of CO2 emissions, one of which is to engineer crops to increase their ability to store atmospheric carbon in soil. By targeting cell wall constituents of crop tissues with longer half-lives, such as lignin, the rate at which fixed CO2 in soil organic matter returns to the atmosphere becomes slowed. Maize is an attractive model organism for this approach, as it is grown worldwide, and has one of the most extensively catalogued plant genomes to date. The objective of this thesis is to provide a better understanding of the regulation of lignin composition and content i.e., genetic components that affect carbon storage in this model organism. This was approached by attempting to clone one of the brown midrib mutants of the phenylpropanoid pathway in maize, bm4. The objective was addressed by a fine-mapping approach, which helped to narrow the region of interest to a smaller interval suitable for cloning attempt. Identification and analysis of recombinants from 2 mapping populations segregating for brown midrib4 and wild-type alleles revealed an interval of 126,786 bp, encompassing 8 candidate genes. mRNA Seq transcriptome analyses of wild-type and mutant midrib tissues revealed transcript accumulation of \u3e 40 reads for 4/8 genes within the interval. Further analysis revealed three of these 4 genes exhibit significant differential transcript accumulation between wild-type and mutant samples, with the greatest fold changes (1.92x) reported for a gene encoding the enzyme Folylpolyglutamate Synthetase (GRMZM2G393334). Transposon tagging was used to identify additional bm4 mutants. Cytological sections of midribs were stained and compared to explore subtle differences in mutants of different pedigrees. The continued characterization of bm4 in combination with other efforts to clone the genes underlying the brown midrib mutants will facilitate the understanding of their roles and functions in cell-wall composition, the biosynthesis of lignin, and potential for use in enhancing the carbon storage capabilities of maize tissues

Family Members\u27 Support Approaches Toward Veterans Exhibiting Symptoms of PTSD: A First Step Toward Validating The Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory Scale

This study was an initial step toward validating a new quantitative measure, the Inconsistent Nurturing as Control Theory (INCT) Scale, designed to quantitatively operationalize the INCT and assess whether functional family members take a controlling, nurturing, or inconsistent support approach to deal with their veteran’s PTSD behavior. Functional family members (88%) indicated that their veteran relative exhibited signs indicative of PTSD, using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-M). The INCT Scale was then used to determine which support approach family members used to deal with their veteran’s behavior. Results indicated that question items on nurturing and controlling yielded .70 or above internal reliability scores, thus supporting both hypotheses. The analysis regarding the validity of the INCT Scale was inconclusive due to the small sample size. Problems with the PCL-M instrument were also discussed. Initial findings, therefore, suggest that the INCT Scale is a promising instrument to reliably identify support approaches

Auslan and Matukar Panau: A modality-agnostic look at quotatives

Investigations of quotatives are essential for understanding how humans talk about talking. However, comparison of quotatives and other communicative phenomena have been hampered by theoretical paradigms that privilege Western, spoken, conventionalised forms of communication while marginalising others, including signed languages, visible bodily actions, vocal depiction, and non-Western communication practices more generally. Here we demonstrate how corpus typology methods can redress some of these biases and provide insights on how languages work and why they differ. We investigate the quotatives used by five pairs of Auslan signers and five groups of Matukar Panau speakers undertaking a narrative problem-solving picture task. We find that the signers and speakers in our study used almost unilaterally direct forms of quotatives. However, both groups preferred direct quotation of different narrative elements, with Matukar Panau speakers preferring to quote dialogue and thought, while Auslan signers preferred to quote action and dialogue. We employ a novel “expressivity index” to reveal a range of user variability within each language group. This study demonstrates how a modality-agnostic framework of comparative semiotics is useful for advancing our understanding of inter- and intra-language variability, while enriching our understanding of direct quotation in both signed and spoken language interactions.National Foreign Language Resource Cente

Research Issues in Genetic Testing of Adolescents for Obesity

Obesity is often established in adolescence, and advances are being made in identifying its genetic underpinnings. We examine issues related to the eventual likelihood of genetic tests for obesity targeted to adolescents: family involvement; comprehension of the test’s meaning; how knowledge of genetic status may affect psychological adaptation; minors’ ability to control events; parental/child autonomy; ability to make informed medical decisions; self-esteem; unclear distinctions between early/late onset for this condition; and social stigmatization. The public health arena will be important in educating families about possible future genetic tests for obesity

Foundational Curriculum for the African American Student Network: Synthesis of Discussion Topics and Themes

The African American Student Network (AFAM) is a therapeutic counterspace associated with positive educational and social outcomes for Black undergraduates at a predominantly White institution in the Midwest. We adapted consensual qualitative research methods to explore discussion topics and synthesize themes across hundreds of AFAM meetings spanning more than a decade. Including many of the traditional psychosocial tasks associated with emerging adulthood along with developmental milestones for racially diverse emerging adults, we found that AFAM students talked most about navigating college life followed by understanding racism, exploring identity, standing up for justice, and finding love, respectively. The results of this case study can provide a foundational curriculum for others interested in developing therapeutic counterspaces like AFAM

Proximal Strength and Functional Testing Applicable to Patellofemoral Instability: A Preliminary Study

Background: Much of the current literature around risk factors for patellar instability directs attention to anatomical/structural features such as femoral antero-version, patellar alignment, Q-angle, and MPFL disruption. There is limited research indicating clinically relevant tests to identify functional and strength-associated risk factors for patients with patellar instability. Purpose: To determine reliability and validity of lower extremity functional tests applicable to patients with patellofemoral instability in a healthy control group. Methods: Twenty-four healthy subjects underwent hip strength, endurance, and lower extremity functional tests on their dominant and non-dominant lower extremities. Hip abduction, extension, and external rotation strength were assessed with hand-held dynamometry utilizing reinforcing straps. Functional endurance tests were assessed bilaterally. Functional assessments were videotaped and assessed at a later date. Each subject completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) to determine his or her weekly activity levels. Independent t-tests were used to assess differences between subjects who tested positive versus negative on the functional tests. Inter-rater reliability for functional tests was assessed using kappa and Pearson correlations were used to assess relationships among the strength, endurance, and functional tests. Results: Inter-rater reliability for the single leg squat and step down test was determined to have fair-moderate agreement among 5 raters. The side plank endurance test was significantly lower for subjects who were positive for knee medial to toe on the single leg squat test. Low correlations were found between hip strength and functional endurance testing. Scores on the IPAQ had moderate correlation with the side plank. Conclusions: Single leg squat showed adequate reliability and demonstrated good construct validity with the lateral plank endurance test. The low correlation between hip strength and functional endurance suggests that these measurements identify different aspects of muscle function in healthy controls. Given these findings, it is recommended that clinicians utilize both strength measurements and endurance tests along with lower extremity functional testing in the assessment of individuals with lower extremity dysfunction. Further testing is needed in a patient population with patellofemoral instability

The Health and Well-Being of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth in New Mexico

Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for youth is critical for them to thrive, both academically and physically. However, a safe and healthy environment is not always available to many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students. In order to better understand and address the health inequities that LGBTQ students face, this report describes health status data from the New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS) by sexual orientation