Phylogenetic and phylogenomic studies of wild onions (Allium, Amaryllidaceae) at three taxonomic scales

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on June 5, 2012).The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file.Dissertation advisor: J. Chris PiresVita.Ph. D. University of Missouri-Columbia 2011."December 2011"I used standard molecular phylogenetic and emerging phylogenomic methods to address questions about the evolutionary relationships among populations, species and subgeneric clades of the genus Allium. To test the hypothesis that morphological alliances reflect shared evolutionary history among species, I examined the phylogenetic relationships among 74/81 Amerallium species in North America. Morphological alliances are largely congruent with the clades recovered in the molecular phylogenetic analysis, although strict monophyly was observed in only three of eight alliances. To test the hypothesis that pseudovivipary, a rare form of asexual reproduction, has evolved multiple times in the species A. canadense, I reconstructed the phylogeny of 119 populations of A. canadense including multiple representatives from all five sexual varieties and the asexual variety A. c. canadense. Pseudovivipary has evolved at least six times in this species and is associated with polyploidy. Finally, I conducted a chloroplast phylogenomic study across the genus Allium (18 species representing eleven subgenera) using genome survey sequencing (GSS) methods to test the efficacy of these new methods in plant genera with large nuclear genomes and to generate genomic resources for future studies. GSS methods recovered sufficient plastid sequences to assemble complete plastid genomes in all samples. Relationships among subgenera are largely congruent with previously published studies, with a couple of exceptions that may be the result of differences in taxon sampling density. The data generated during this study can be used in future phylogenetic and molecular evolution studies within the genus Allium.Includes bibliographical reference

An Electromyography (EMG) Study of Two Dynamic Surfaces: Hippotherapy and Swiss Ball

The use of horseback riding as a therapeutic intervention has been used since the fifth century, B.C.1 It has been proposed that the physical benefits of horseback riding include: improved posture, balance, muscle strength, decreased spasticity, improved gait patterns, and coordination. Unfortunately, at the current time, hippotherapy, the use of horses in physical therapy intervention, has been poorly documented due to little objective research. The purpose of this study was to provide an objective measure of children\u27s postural muscle activity through the use of electromyography (EMG) and electrogoniometry on two dynamic surfaces. Data was analyzed for differences in postural muscle activity and range of motion (ROM) when using a horse as a dynamic therapeutic surface as compared to a therapeutic ball as a dynamic surface. Goniometric data was collected in the frontal and sagittal planes for pelvic and trunk ROM. Thirteen, typically developing children between the ages of 3 and 12, and two \u27 children with developmental disabilities between the ages of 6 and 11, completed the research protocol including walking 20 feet, one trial of each of the following: static sitting for 10 seconds, static standing for 10 seconds, riding a horse for 30 seconds, and sitting on a dynamic therapeutic ball for 30 seconds. Muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), external obliques (EO), and lumbar erector spinae (LES) muscles, was recorded through surface electrodes, muscle activity in each trial was compared with the muscle activity during the walking as the reference baseline. Results of this study provided objective data on the effects of two dynamic surfaces, a horse and therapeutic ball, on postural muscle activity in typically developing children. Compared to the therapeutic ball, when the subjects were on the horse they had significantly (p\u3c0.05) more muscle activity in the RA and EO muscles. Goniometric results showed that overall the subjects had more ROM in the frontal plane during the therapeutic ball activity (2.8 to 9.4 degrees) as compared to walking (1.6 to 6.9 degrees) and horse activity (2.1 to 9.9 degrees). Subjects also had more ROM in the sagittal plane during therapeutic ball activity (1.9 to 17.8 degrees) as compared to walking (2.5 to 15.0 degrees) and horse activity (0.4 to 20.9 degrees). This study provided an objective measure of postural muscle activity and pelvic and trunk ROM present in subjects during activities on two dynamic surfaces, the horse and therapeutic ball, compared to walking. It was found that there was more postural muscle activity present in subjects while on the horse versus on the therapeutic ball. Overall, subjects had more ROM in the frontal and sagittal planes during the therapeutic ball activity as compared to the walking and the horse activity, however, ROM for walking and horse activity was similar. Further research is needed in the field of hippotherapy to provide more objective and quantifiable data in order to fully determine the effects of hippotherapy, especially the long-term effects on function

Regulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 by Iron, EPO, and HIF

Purpose of review: Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is the key hormone produced in bone critical for phosphate homeostasis. Elevated serum phosphorus and 1,25dihydroxyvitaminD stimulates FGF23 production to promote renal phosphate excretion and decrease 1,25dihydroxyvitaminD synthesis. Thus completing the feedback loop and suppressing FGF23. Unexpectedly, studies of common and rare heritable disorders of phosphate handling identified links between iron and FGF23 demonstrating novel regulation outside the phosphate pathway. Recent Findings: Iron deficiency combined with an FGF23 cleavage mutation was found to induce the autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets phenotype. Physiological responses to iron deficiency, such as erythropoietin production as well as hypoxia inducible factor activation, have been indicated in regulating FGF23. Additionally, specific iron formulations, used to treat iron deficiency, alter post-translational processing thereby shifting FGF23 protein secretion. Summary: Molecular and clinical studies revealed that iron deficiency, through several mechanisms, alters FGF23 at the transcriptional and post-translational level. This review will focus upon the novel discoveries elucidated between iron, its regulators, and their influence on FGF23 bioactivity

Resolution of phylogenetic patterns within the angiosperm order Asparagales [abstract]

Abstract only availableThe angiosperm order Asparagales, is an economically important monocot order that includes onions (Allium), asparagus (Asparagus), and agaves (Agave). The core Asparagales includes ten families that form a monophyletic group (Agapanthaceae, Agavaceae, Alliacae, Amaryllidaceae, Aphyllantaceae, Asparagaceae, Hyacinthaceae, Laxmaniaceae, Ruscaceae, and Themidaceae). Phylogenetic studies based on four chloroplast gene regions leave numerous relationships among these families unresolved or inadequately supported. In addition, questions remain about the origin, patterns of morphological divergence, geographic diversification, and ecological radiation of this group. Our primary goal is to resolve indistinct relationships among Asparagales families by adding data based on DNA sequence variation of an additional chloroplast region. To date, we have screened six chloroplast gene regions across fifteen taxa representing seven core Asparagales families and outgroups, Iridaceae and Xanthorrhoeaceae to identify informative phylogenetic variation. A one kilobase region of the large ribosomal subunit protein (rpL14-rpL 36) shows variation between closely related families and we are now expanding our taxonomic sampling within each family. We will conduct independent phylogenetic analyses of this region and combine our new data with existing data from previous studies and from a low-copy nuclear gene (PHYC). This combined phylogeny will potentially provide the additional data needed to resolve the evolutionary relationships among families and help interpret patterns of morphological diversification among Asparagales lineages.NSF Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biolog

Study of access and outcomes from advanced computer science coursework in the Chicago Public Schools\u27\u27 poster in Structured Poster Session CS for All: An intersectional approach to unpacking equity in computer science education

The Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has taken a unique approach to broadening participation of low-income students, students of color, and girls by establishing Computer Science (CS) as a high school graduation requirement. This policy ensures that all CPS high school students will take a CS course, starting with the class of 2020. However, equity is more than just access. We define equity as equivalence in both the quality and outcomes of CS experiences. Exploring Computer Science (ECS) is the foundational course that fulfills the CPS requirement. Through ECS professional development, the number of qualified ECS teachers has grown. Two years into policy implementation, three-fourths of the schools offered ECS. Our prior research has shown that ECS participation rates by race, gender, and income closely reflect representation of the corresponding populations in CPS. In addition, student performance on the ECS end-of-course assessment was equivalent by race, gender, and income level. This evidence suggests that the CPS graduation policy is contributing towards equitable access to introductory CS with equitable course outcomes. Another outcome of interest is the equitable pursuit of advanced CS. Our primary research question for this poster is the extent to which there is equitable representation and outcomes of students who pursue advanced CS coursework in CPS. In particular, we focused on enrollment in the AP Computer Science A (CSA) and AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) courses from the 2014--15 to the 2017--18 school year. The 2014--15 school year was the first year that the CSP course was pilot tested in CPS, and the 2016--17 school year was the first year that the CSP exam was available. For every student enrolled in either AP CS course, the dataset included race, gender, special education status, English language learner status, free and reduced lunch status, overall GPA, AP course grade, and AP exam score. During the target period, enrollment in CSA declined from a high of 220 to a low of 136 students, while CSP enrollment increased from a pilot of 29 students to 693 students. The combined representation of students by race and gender in both courses was not reflective of the district\u27s student demographics. However, student representation by race and gender was closer to the district representation for CSP than for CSA. We conducted a multiple regression of the factors that correlated with the AP exam performance. The students\u27 overall GPA and the grade in the course were significantly correlated with exam scores. Girls scored statistically lower than boys and Latinx students scored statistically lower than Caucasian, Asian, and African-American students. Students who took ECS prior to CSP scored statistically higher on the CSP exam. These results show promise that using ECS as a foundation course is helpful for students who go on to pursue AP CSP. However, more work needs to be done to capitalize on the success of ECS to encourage CPS schools to offer AP CS courses and to encourage girls and students from underrepresented minority groups to pursue advanced CS coursework

Transforming and Scaling Up Health Professional Education

The Human Resources for Health (HRH) agenda transcends national borders. In particular, education and training for health professionals around the globe is faced with new epidemiological and demographic challenges, as well as the impact of climate change. Looking beyond the existing models and systems for health professional education, the World Health Organization is leading an effort aimed at increasing the quantity but also the quality, relevance, and sustainability of the health workforce. Evidenced-based policy guidelines, along with political commitment to the goal of universal health coverage, bring countries closer towards sustainable and equitable access to health services.It is imperative that the new generation of health professionals must be capable of participating in and implementing reforms of health professional education within the broader global HRH strategy and post-2015 development agenda.

An examination of the factors correlating with course failure in a high school computer science course

Across the United States, enrollment in high school computer science (CS) courses is increasing. These increases, however, are not spread evenly across race and gender. CS remains largely an elective class, and fewer than three-fourths of the states allow it to count towards graduation. The Chicago Public Schools has sought to ensure access for all students by recently enacting computer science as a high school graduation requirement. The primary class that fulfills the graduation requirement is Exploring Computer Science (ECS), a high school introductory course and professional development program designed to foster deep engagement through equitable inquiry around CS concepts. The number of students taking CS in the district increased significantly and these increases are distributed equitably across demographic characteristics. With ECS serving as a core class, it becomes critical to ensure success for all students independent of demographic characteristics, as success in the course directly affects a student\u27s ability to graduate from high school. In this paper, we examine the factors that correlate with student failure in the course. At the student level, attendance and prior general academic performance correlate with passing the class. After controlling for student characteristics, whether or not teachers participated in the professional development program associated with ECS correlates with student success in passing the course. These results provide evidence for the importance of engaging teachers in professional development, in conjunction with requiring a course specifically designed to provide an equitable computer science experience, in order to broaden participation in computing

Does a Computer Science Graduation Requirement Contribute to Increased Enrollment in Advanced Computer Science Coursework?

Prior research has shown that students pursuing Exploring Computer Science (ECS) as their first elective course were more likely to pursue another computer science course in high school, as compared to students who took a traditional course as the first course. This study investigated whether the results are consistent when students are pursuing ECS to fulfill the Chicago Public Schools\u27 graduation requirement. ECS is designed to foster deep engagement through equitable inquiry around computer science concepts. It is hypothesized that students who are fulfilling a graduation requirement will pursue additional computer science coursework at rates similar to students who were pursuing ECS as an elective course

Gene drives for schistosomiasis transmission control.

Schistosomiasis is one of the most important and widespread neglected tropical diseases (NTD), with over 200 million people infected in more than 70 countries; the disease has nearly 800 million people at risk in endemic areas. Although mass drug administration is a cost-effective approach to reduce occurrence, extent, and severity of the disease, it does not provide protection to subsequent reinfection. Interventions that target the parasites' intermediate snail hosts are a crucial part of the integrated strategy required to move toward disease elimination. The recent revolution in gene drive technology naturally leads to questions about whether gene drives could be used to efficiently spread schistosome resistance traits in a population of snails and whether gene drives have the potential to contribute to reduced disease transmission in the long run. Responsible implementation of gene drives will require solutions to complex challenges spanning multiple disciplines, from biology to policy. This Review Article presents collected perspectives from practitioners of global health, genome engineering, epidemiology, and snail/schistosome biology and outlines strategies for responsible gene drive technology development, impact measurements of gene drives for schistosomiasis control, and gene drive governance. Success in this arena is a function of many factors, including gene-editing specificity and efficiency, the level of resistance conferred by the gene drive, how fast gene drives may spread in a metapopulation over a complex landscape, ecological sustainability, social equity, and, ultimately, the reduction of infection prevalence in humans. With combined efforts from across the broad global health community, gene drives for schistosomiasis control could fortify our defenses against this devastating disease in the future