<ahref=#>rotavirus</a><br><details><summary>Abstract</summary><p>Enteric disease is the predominant cause of morbidity and mortality in young
mammals including pigs. Viral species involved in porcine enteric disease
complex (PEDC) include rotaviruses, coronaviruses, picornaviruses, astroviruses
and pestiviruses among others. The virome of three groups of swine samples
submitted to the Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for
routine testing were assessed, namely, a Rotavirus A positive (RVA) group, a
Rotavirus co-infection (RV) group and a Rotavirus Negative (RV Neg) group. All
groups were designated by qRT-PCR results testing for Porcine Rotavirus A, B, C
and H such that samples positive for RVA only went in the RVA group, samples
positive for >1 rotavirus went in the RV group and samples negative for all were
grouped in the RVNeg group. All of the animals had clinical enteric disease
resulting in scours and swollen joints/lameness, enlarged heart and/or a cough.
All samples were metagenomic sequenced and analyzed for viral species
composition that identified 14 viral species and eight bacterial viruses/phages.
Sapovirus and Escherichia coli phages were found at a high prevalence in RVA and
RV samples but were found at low or no prevalence in the RV Neg samples.
Picobirnavirus was identified at a high proportion and prevalence in RV Neg and
RV samples but at a low prevalence in the RVA group. A sequence analysis of the
possible host of Picobirnaviruses revealed fungi as the most likely host.
Non-rotaviral diversity was highest in RVA samples followed by RV then RV Neg
samples. Various sequences were extracted from the sample reads and a
phylogenetic update was provided showing a high prevalence of G9 and P[23] RVA
genotypes. These data are important for pathogen surveillance and control
measures</p></details></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-graduation-cap"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Thesis></i></h3><aclass="btn btn-secondary dogear"href=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/polyoxometalate-incorporation-effects-on-proton/docview/2502214356/se-2data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle="Full text"><iclass="fad fa-file-alt"></i></a></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/thesis/>Polyoxometalate Incorporation and Effects on Proton Transport in Hydrogel Polymers</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong><br>University of Idaho:
Moscow, Idaho
(07 Aug 2020)<br>Keywords:
<ahref=#>bioremediation</a>
<ahref=#>polyoxometalate</a>
<ahref=#>hydrogel polymers</a>
<ahref=#>proton transport</a>
<ahref=#>chemical engineering</a><br><details><summary>Abstract</summary><p>Polyoxometalate clusters embedded into hydrogel biobeads may be able to solve
the challenges posed by free proton generation during remediation of
trichloroethylene by acting as buffers and reducing protons to hydrogen gas. In
this thesis, the challenges posed by systems that contain both diffusion and
reaction processes for protons are considered mathematically, and a computer
simulation to was developed to prove the relationship between diaphragm cell lag
period and reactive capabilities of membranes. Two polyoxometalate compounds,
sodium decavanadate and alumina sulfate, were successfully incorporated into a
poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel membrane, and the diffusivity changes associated
with each compound was determined. It was found that the diffusivity of protons
through an unmodified 10% w/v poly(vinyl alcohol) membrane was 1.76 ×
10<sup>-5</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
, the diffusivity through a
10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium decavanadate membrane was 3.10 ×
10<sup>-6</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
, and the diffusivity through a
10%/2% w/w/v poly(vinyl alcohol)/alumina sulfate membrane was 3.32 ×
10<sup>-7</sup>
cm<sup>2</sup>
s<sup>-1</sup>
. Through analysis of the
diaphragm cell lag period, it was found the incorporation of sodium decavanadate
did not increase the reactivity of a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel, and
incorporation of alumina sulfate lowered the reactivity. These results indicate
that polyoxometalate integration into hydrogel membranes is feasible, but does
not provide any advantage to a bioremediation scenario.</p></details></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-presentation"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Poster></i></h3><aclass="btn btn-secondary dogear"href=/academia/metagenomics/metagenomics_analysis_of_rumen_populations.pdfdata-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle="Full text"><iclass="fad fa-file-alt"></i></a></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/metagenomics/>Metagenomic analysis of rumen populations in week-old calves as altered by maternal late gestational nutrition and mode of delivery</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong>,
Kathy J. Austin,
Kristi M. Cammack,
Hannah C. Cunningham-Hollinger<br>Westion Section American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting:
Boise, Idaho
(12 Jun 2019)<br>Keywords:
<ahref=#>gestation</a>
<ahref=#>metagenomics</a>
<ahref=#>microbiome</a>
<ahref=#>rumen</a><br><details><summary>Abstract</summary><p>Early colonization of the rumen microbiome is critical to host health and long
term performance. Factors that influence early colonization include maternal
factors such as gestational nutrition and mode of delivery. Therefore, we
hypothesized that late gestational nutrition and mode of delivery would
influence the calf rumen microbiome. Our objectives were to determine if
nutrient restriction during late gestation alters the calf rumen microbiome and
determine if ruminal microbiome composition differs in calves born vaginally
versus caesarean. Late gestating Angus cows were randomly allocated to one of
three treatment groups: control (<strong>CON</strong>; n = 6), caesarean section (<strong>CS</strong>; n =
4), and nutrient restricted (<strong>NR</strong>; n = 5), where CON were fed DDGS and hay to
meet NRC requirements and calved naturally; CS were fed similarly to CON and
calves were born via caesarean section; and NR were fed at a level to reduce BCS
by 1.5-2.0 points over the last trimester compared to CON and calved naturally.
Rumen fluid was collected via oral lavage prior to partition from cows and at d
7 from calves. Microbial DNA was isolated from the rumen fluid and metagenomic
shotgun sequencing was performed using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform.
Sequence data were analyzed using Metaxa2 for taxonomic assignment followed by
QIIME1 and QIIME2 to determine differential abundance and alpha- and
beta-diversity differences. There were no significant differences in
alpha-diversity as measured by shannon index across treatment groups for cows
(<em>P</em> = 0.239), but there were significant differences for calves (<em>P</em> = 0.015).
Similarly, there were no significant differences in beta-diversity as measured
by the bray-curtis dissimilarity matrix for cows (<em>P</em> = 0.059), but there were
significant differences for calves (<em>P</em> = 0.007). Alpha-diversity differed (<em>P</em>
< 0.001) between cows and calves, with cows having increased species richness
compared to calves. Beta-diversity also differed (<em>P</em> = 0.001) between cows and
calves. At total of 410 taxa were differentially abundant (<em>P</em>< 0.01) between
cows and calves. These results suggest that the mature rumen microbiome of cows
is able to withstand changes in feed intake, however the calf microbiome is
susceptible to alteration by maternal factors. These data also suggest that
there may be opportunities to develop management strategies during late
gestation that influence calf health and performance long-term.</p></details></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-graduation-cap"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Thesis></i></h3><aclass="btn btn-secondary dogear"href=/academia/cheme-car/cud_cheme_car_web.pdfdata-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle="Full text"><iclass="fad fa-file-alt"></i></a></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/cheme-car/>The ChemE Car that Cud: AIChE ChemE Car Engineering Design Proposal</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong><br>University of Wyoming Honors Program:
Laramie, Wyoming
(14 May 2019)<br>Keywords:
<ahref=#>chemical engineering</a>
<ahref=#>AIChE</a>
<ahref=#>radiation</a>
<ahref=#>rumen</a>
<ahref=#>microbial electrolysis cells</a><br><details><summary>Abstract</summary><p>The ChemE Car That Cud showcases Wyoming’s dominant industries of agriculture
and mining by utilizing rumen fluid from a cannulated beef cow to generate
hydrogen to be used in a hydrogen fuel cell and radioactive cesium, a byproduct
of uranium that is often obtained from Wyoming’s mines, to time the car’s stop.
The concentration of cesium-137 source is measured using the radioactive decay
of cesium shielded by aluminum. The painted aluminum chassis was obtained from a
previous team at UW, and modified using plastic k’nex toys to adapt to the
current power source and stopping mechanism.</p></details></div></div><hr><h2>Other Presentations</h2><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-book"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Paper></i></h3><aclass="btn btn-secondary dogear"href=https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.2c00107data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle="Full text"><iclass="fad fa-file-alt"></i></a></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/hydronium-pva/>Investigation of Hydronium Diffusion in Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels: A Critical First Step to Describe Acid Transport for Encapsulated Bioremediation</a></h3>Carson J. Silsby,
Jonathan R. Counts,
<strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong>,
Mark F. Roll,
Kristopher V. Waynant,
James G. Moberly<br>ACS ES&T Engineering:
(02 Sep 2022)<br>Keywords:
<ahref=#>diffusion</a>
<ahref=#>hydrogels</a>
<ahref=#>ionic strength</a>
<ahref=#>polymers</a>
<ahref=#>transport properties</a><br></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-presentation"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Poster></i></h3><aclass="btn btn-secondary dogear"href=/academia/pva-aiche/measuring_diffusion_of_trichloroethylene.pdfdata-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle="Full text"><iclass="fad fa-file-alt"></i></a></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/pva-aiche/>Measuring Diffusion of Trichlorethylene Breakdown Products in Polyvinylalginate</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong>,
Samuel R. Wolfe,
Jonathan Counts,
Mark F. Roll,
Kristopher V. Waynant,
James G. Moberly<br>AIChE Annual Meeting:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(29 Oct 2018)<br>Keywords:
<ahref=#>bioremediation</a>
<ahref=#>polyoxometalate</a>
<ahref=#>hydrogel polymers</a>
<ahref=#>proton transport</a>
<ahref=#>chemical engineering</a><br></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-podium"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Presentation></i></h3></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/how-to-build-a-cow-cud-fuel-cell/>How to Build a Cow-Cud Fuel Cell</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong><br>Idaho INBRE Summer Research Conference:
Moscow, Idaho
(01 Aug 2018)<br></div></div><divclass="d-flex py-2"><divclass=px-2><h3><iclass="fad fa-fw fa-presentation"data-bs-toggle=tooltiptitle=Poster></i></h3></div><divclass="flex-grow-1 px-2"><h3><ahref=https://millironx.com/academia/pva-inbre/>Measuring diffusion of protons in polyvinyalginate</a></h3><strong>Thomas A. Christensen II</strong>,
Jonathan Counts,
James G. Moberly<br>Idaho INBRE Summer Research Conference:
