SURVEYING FOR RANAVIRUS IN GREEN FROGS (LITHOBATES CLAMITANS) AT FIVE LOCATIONS IN INDIANA

Ranaviruses are an emerging pathogen within the United States that infects amphibians, reptiles, and fish. A Frog Virus 3-like (FV3) ranavirus has been detected at only two locations in Indiana; however, there have been few attempts to broadly sample for ranaviruses to determine their distribution across the state. This knowledge is necessary for the continued management and conservation of native amphibian populations. Our objective was to assess the occurrence of FV3-like ranaviruses in larval Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) populations at five sites located in different regions of Indiana. Tissue samples were collected from 166 individuals and were assayed using both conventional and qPCR methods. We did not detect the presence of any FV3-like ranaviruses at any of the five sites with either PCR method, suggesting the possibility that at these sites, FV3-like ranaviruses may not be present. However, continued sampling should be carried out to monitor the status of the presence of ranaviruses in this portion of the Midwest

Comparison of Two Treatment Conditions for Young Children with Speech Sound Disorders

The purpose of this study was to compare treatment outcomes between stimulus presentation conditions to children with moderate to severe SSD: a traditional paper presentation versus a computer software generated presentation. The participants were four monolingual kindergarten children with moderate to severe SSD. A multiple baseline across behaviors single subject design was employed in the study. Two non-stimulable, non-cognate sounds from two different manner categories were selected as sound targets. One sound error was treated using paper stimuli presented in a traditional paper table-top presentation (TAB condition) while the other sound error was treated using stimuli presented on the computer (CBI condition). Picture stimuli for both conditions were generated by the SCIP (Sound Contrasts in Phonology) software program. Treatment followed the paradigm described by Williams (2003). The number of treatment sessions, final treatment performance, and highest generalization performance are summarized for both treatment conditions in Table 1. Although conditions were counterbalanced, data are arranged by condition for ease of interpretation

What Would the Nautilus Say? Unleashing Creativity in Mathematics!

While the nautilus shell is often represented in popular culture as an example of a golden spiral, according to many mathematicians it is not. In this paper we examine multiple arguments for and against considering the nautilus as a “golden” spiral and offer a semi-structured task that is accessible to middle school students and beyond to begin their own investigation. Our hope is that asking, what would the nautilus say, can serve as a starting point for children and adults alike to push against the walls we so often draw around mathematical questions and begin to see where their creativity takes them as they venture outside of the maths box

Effects of Strip-cropping on Small Mammal Population Dynamics in Soybean Agroecosystems

Author Institution: Department of Zoology, Miami UniversityThe present study examined the effects of strip-cropping and harvesting practices on small mammal population dynamics in soybean agroecosystems. Small mammals were live-trapped in four treatments (three replicates each): soybean monoculture, soybean-clover, soybean-buckwheat, and soybean-corn. Peromyscus maniculatus was found in all four treatment types, whereas Mus musculus resided mainly in the soybean-corn treatment. Peromyscus population densities were significantly greater in the soybean monoculture during the week preceding harvest than in the soybean-clover strip-cropped treatment. Peromyscus population densities immediately increased following harvesting practices, then declined. Short-term changes in density were attributed to seed accessibility; long-term changes appeared to be in response to reduced crop cover resulting in increased predation. Populations of Mus were unaffected by harvest practices. Interestingly, more Peromyscus dispersed from strip-cropped treatments than from the monoculture (control) treatment. Female deer mice were found to have larger mean home ranges in the corn strip-cropped treatment than in the monoculture or buckwheat strip-cropped treatment suggesting an impact of spatial resource patterning on small mammal population dynamics

Stay and Play with Mickey Mouse: Familiar Characters Increase Children’s Exploratory Play

When children are introduced to a novel toy, they explore to discover how the toy works, but do not always discover all of the functions (Bonawitz et al., 2011). Research has shown that children prefer objects with a familiar character on them (Danovitch & Mills, 2014). This study investigates whether the presence of a familiar character’s image on a novel toy encourages exploratory play. Four- and 5-year-olds (n = 40) were presented with a novel toy, containing 5 different functions, that either displayed an image of their favorite familiar character or an image of that character’s color scheme. Children were given up to 5 minutes to play with the toy. Children’s play was coded for the number of functions they discovered and how long they played with the toy. Results showed no significant difference between conditions for number of functions discovered. However, children who were given a toy with their favorite character’s image on it spent significantly more time exploring the toy than children who had a toy with the character’s color scheme on it. These findings suggest that seeing a familiar character on an object promotes children’s exploration of that object.https://ir.library.louisville.edu/uars/1010/thumbnail.jp

Green Inequities: Examining the Dimensions of Socioenvironmental Injustice in Marginalized Communities

In the realm of socioenvironmental justice, much discourse centers on equal access to green areas and on climate injustice in the United States. Marginalized communities, including Indigenous populations, are being excluded from current narratives surrounding the natural spaces that in many cases are historically tied to under-represented groups. This article aims to explore some of the many dimensions of environmental racism, green inequities, climate injustice, and access. The dimensions include but are not limited to racial gatekeeping, nature deprivation in low-income communities, green gentrification, light pollution, and access to clean water. The recommendations section serves as a guide during decisionmaking processes at the local, state, and federal level, as well as moving forward in offering impacted communities protection from environmental racism and socioenvironmental injustice to impacted communities

Environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and p,p\u27-DDE and sperm sex-chromosome disomy

Background: Chromosomal abnormalities contribute substantially to reproductive problems, but the role of environmental risk factors has received little attention. Objectives: We evaluated the association of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p´-DDE) exposures with sperm sex-chromosome disomy. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 192 men from subfertile couples. We used multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 to determine XX, YY, XY, and total sex-chromosome disomy in sperm nuclei. Serum was analyzed for concentrations of 57 PCB congeners and p,p´-DDE. Poisson regression models were used to calculate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for disomy by exposure quartiles, controlling for demographic characteristics and semen parameters. Results: The median percent disomy was 0.3 for XX and YY, 0.9 for XY, and 1.6 for total sex-chromosome disomy. We observed a significant trend of increasing IRRs for increasing quartiles of p,p´-DDE in XX, XY, and total sex-chromosome disomy, and a significant trend of increasing IRRs for increasing quartiles of PCBs for XY and total sex-chromosome disomy; however, there was a significant inverse association for XX disomy. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that exposure to p,p´-DDE may be associated with increased rates of XX, XY, and total sex-chromosome disomy, whereas exposure to PCBs may be associated with increased rates of YY, XY, and total sex-chromosome disomy. In addition, we observed an inverse association between increased exposure to PCBs and XX disomy. Further work is needed to confirm these findings

The Relationship between High Risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and General and Central Obesity: Findings from a Sample of Chilean College Students

This cross-sectional study evaluates the prevalence and extent to which high risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with general obesity and central obesity among college students in Punta Arenas, Chile. Risk for OSA was assessed using the Berlin Questionnaire and trained research nurses measured anthropometric indices. Overweight was defined as body mass index (BMI) of 25–29.9 kg/m2 and general obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. Central obesity was defined as waist circumference ≥90 centimeters (cm) for males and ≥80 cm for females. Multivariate logistic regression models were fit to obtain adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Prevalence of high risk for OSA, general obesity, and central obesity were 7.8%, 12.8%, and 42.7%, respectively. Students at high risk for OSA had greater odds of general obesity (OR 9.96; 95% CI: 4.42–22.45) and central obesity (OR 2.78; 95% CI 1.43–5.40). Findings support a strong positive association of high risk for OSA with obesity

Vestibular, Cognitive, Oculomotor, and Athletic Performance in Eligible Female Collegiate Soccer and Lacrosse Players

Background Due to the nature of their sports, soccer and lacrosse athletes are at risk for repeated head impacts. Repeated head impacts may influence the athletes’ vestibular function, cognitive function, or athletic performance. Purpose Determine if athletes are fully participating in practices and games with vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance abnormalities . Participants 30 student athletes from Concordia University in St. Paul, MN Tests Performed Instrumented Dynamic Visual Acuity (iDVA) Clinical Dynamic Visual Acuity (cDVA) Trail Making Test A & B (TMT A/B) Near Point Convergence (NPC) Performance Tests: T Test Agility Drill, 40 yard dash (with and without head turns) Results 15/30 participants tested abnormally on an administered test. The TMT A/B and T test agility drill showed no significant difference compared to published norms and between groups (athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests) The 40 yard dash results showed no significant differences between athletes with normal vs. abnormal vestibular tests. Conclusion Half of the participants demonstrated abnormal vestibular tests yet are still fully participating in their sport. Despite high numbers of abnormal vestibular tests, the presumed dysfunctions did not impact physical performance as measured in this study. Absence of concussion diagnosis does not discount abnormal vestibular, cognitive, or athletic performance. Clinical Relevance to Physical Therapy Profession and Practice More research is necessary to find a method to properly stress the vestibular system during athletically simulated activities in high level athletes. Our results may influence screening and return to play guidelines. Standardized norms for certain vestibular, oculomotor, and cognitive tests need to be adjusted to reflect the ability of high level athletes

The Effects of Acute Rauwolscine (α-Yohimbine) Ingestion on Repeated Wingate Sprint Performance in Healthy Males

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology Volume 4: Issue 1, Article 1, 2023. Background: Rauwolscine (RW), also known as α-Yohimbine, is an α-2-adrenergic receptor antagonist which possesses sympathomimetic properties. RW is commercially sold in pre-workout and energy supplements. However, the ergogenic potential of RW has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute RW supplementation on repeated sprint performance. Methods: Healthy male participants (n=12) completed 3 × 15-second Wingate anaerobic tests (WAnT) separated by 2 minutes of active recovery. Blood lactate (La) was collected before exercise (Pre) and immediately following exercise (Post). Mean power, peak power, fatigue index, heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were taken immediately after each WAnT. Point of application #1: Acute RW supplementation does not result in the enhancement of repeated anaerobic sprint performance. Point of application #2: HR and RPE are not altered during repeated sprints with RW ingestion. Point of application #3: RW ingestion results in higher La levels post-exercise despite no changes in fatigue index