Article integrating ecophysiological information with the development of new high-resolution climatic layers for Antarctica, to better understand how the distribution of P. steinenii may respond to change over the next century under different IPCC climate change scenarios. The authors conclude that the species has the potential to expand its distribution to include parts of the west and east coasts of the Antarctic Peninsula and even coastal ice-free areas in parts of continental Antarctica. The authors also propose P. steinenii as an effective native sentinel and indicator species of climate change in the Antarctic.

This article tests if lignin content can be further reduced by combining genetic mutations in C1 metabolism and the lignin biosynthetic pathway by generating and functionally characterizing fpgs1ccoaomt1 double mutants. The observations demonstrate that additional reduction in lignin content and improved sugar release can be achieved by simultaneous downregulation of a gene in the C1 (FPGS1) and lignin biosynthetic (CCOAOMT) pathways.

Article describes study in which fpgs1ccoaomt1 double mutants were generated and functionally characterized in order to test if lignin content can be further reduced by combining genetic mutations in C1 metabolism and the lignin biosynthetic pathway.

Poster presentation for the 2008 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on long hours for medical students during residencies.

Article on the draft genome sequence of Cupriavidus sp. strain SK-3, a 4-chlorobiphenyl- and 4-clorobenzoic acid-degrading bacterium.

This article reports the first draft genome of Pseudomonas monteilii BCN3, a cyanotroph isolated from sewage sludge.

Authors of the article state that the aim of this study was to understand the encroachment order, spatial patterns, interspecific associations, and species diversity of a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation and to provide context for how to improve the spatial structure of C. lanceolata plantations. Their results show that the encroachment of broad-leaf trees into the C. lanceolata plantation followed a clear successional sequence of tree community assembly: intolerant tree species encroachment first, such as Alniphyllum fortunei and Liquidambar formosana, encroached; neutral tree species then encroachment, such as Daphniphyllum oldhamii and Schima superba, and shade-tolerant tree species encroachment last, such as Castanopsis eyrei and Castanopsis tibetana.

Article on environmental and genetic preconditioning for long-term anoxia responses requires AMPK in Caenorhabditis elegans.

This article defines character states and describes variation of these putative lymphatic skeletal muscles: the M. cutaneus pectoris, M. cutaneus dorsi, M. piriformis, M. sphincter ani cloacalis, and the complex of the M. gracilis minor/M. abdominal crenator.

Poster presentation for the 2008 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on the feasibility of solar powered water treatment.

This article develops a method, using a single DNA construct that uses CRISPR–Cas9 gene editing to knock-out expression of an endogenous gene of lignin monomer biosynthesis while at the same time expressing a modified version of the gene’s open reading frame that escapes cutting by the Cas9 system and complements the introduced mutation in a tissue-specific manner. This method is applicable to any plant species in which transformation and gene editing are feasible and validated vessel-specific promoters are available.

Article describes how within the genome of a pathogen is the information regarding factors responsible for its pathogenicity. the authors of the article developed a novel pipeline that uses standard protocol in combination with gene co-expression network of a pathogen constructed using publicly available RNA-Seq data sets.

Article analyzing the lipids in transgenic zebrafish. Separating RFP+ and GFP+ thrombocytes from the GloFli fish developed here led to the analysis of their lipid composition.DiI-labeled liposomes with similar PE and PC concentrations found in RFP+ thrombocytes explained DiI labeling of thrombocytes.

This article utilizes a recursive segmentation and cluster procedure presented as a genome-mining tool, GEMINI, to decipher genomic islands and understand their contributions to the evolution of virulence and antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This article presents research where various kudzu accessions were analyzed through barcoding and comparative transcriptomics, generating tools for identification and molecular pathway analysis.

This article presents a study that was done over a period of 3 years to explicate the instructional processes involved in teaching an undergraduate course-based research experience (CRE). The study presented here delineated a set of specific instructional practices used by active CRE instructors and modeled the relations between the use of these practices and specified outcomes. The resultant educational models should provide clarification of the ways in which the aims of CRE can be effectively achieved by instructors.

Article on interpreting genomic data via entropic dissection.

This article uses a large-scale mutant screening to identify a dominant activation-tagging mutant, fiberless-d (fls-d), showing defective SCW development in stem fibers, similar to that of the nac secondary wall thickening promoting factor1-1 (nst1-1)nst3-3 double mutant. The results demonstrate auxin is upstream of LBD29 in repressing NAC master regulators, and therefore sheds new light on the regulation of SCW biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Presentation for the 2008 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on links between mercury and liver damage in wild fish populations.

This article studies the marketing practices of predatory journals through the analysis of a a subset of the 1,816 e-mails received by a single university biology faculty member during a 24-month period.

Article presents a method that provides a novel way to synthesize NPs and expose biological organisms for various toxicological analysis.

Patent relating to methods for extending the freshness of cut flowers, ornamental trees, and plant cuttings.

Authors of the article state that various growth systems are available for studying plant root growth and plant–microbe interactions including hydroponics and aeroponics. The aim of their study is to present step-by-step instructions for fabricating an aeroponic system, also called a “caisson,” that has been in use in several legume research labs studying the development of symbiotic nitrogen fixing nodules, but for which detailed directions are not currently available.

Poster presentation for the 2008 University Scholars Day at the University of North Texas discussing research on neuronal primary cilia and the role they play in neuro-degeneration.