Skidmore College

Mycorrhizal fungi are critical plant mutualists that influence nutrient cycling, yet we have an incomplete understanding of factors driving their diversity and function. While it's presumed that diverse host plant communities support diverse mycorrhizal fungal communities, abiotic factors and non-host plants may also be important. We investigated whether ectomycorrhizal fungal (ECMF) communities in soils and roots varied among plots differing in tree and soil properties in three mixed ectomycorrhizal (ECM)-arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) forests in NY, USA. We used mixed-effects models and multivariate tests to investigate ECMF taxonomic and functional responses to (1) ECM tree dominance, (2) taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of ECM and AM trees, and (3) soil properties. ECMF taxonomic diversity was most strongly related to ECM tree dominance and the diversity of AM - but not ECM - trees. ECMF functional diversity was mostly related to soil factors and to a lesser extent tree communities. In most cases, soil nitrogen negatively influenced ECMF diversity. Collectively, our results suggest non-host (i.e., AM) tree diversity is associated with increased ECMF diversity, potentially by modifying soil conditions and resource availability. As such, mixed plots dominated by trees associating with different mycorrhizal types may be hotspots for ECMF diversity, with consequences for ecosystem functioning.

We explore the multifaceted meanings people associate with food in the United States, China, and India to examine how these meanings vary across different environments. Grounded on past literature framework the research examines self-identity, social, and cultural dimensions of food and measures them using the FOODSCAPE scale. An online survey was used to gather data and MANCOVA analysis found that meanings associated with food vary between countries but many patterns emerged. The theoretical implications of this study suggest the persistent shaping of food meanings on a country level despite globalization. For marketers, these insights might help to effectively engage target audiences by aligning campaigns with country resonant messaging. The study also indicates that some meanings of food are strong across countries, even if differences between them exist. These exploratory findings highlight the importance of country specific strategies in global marketing, point to the opportunities for globalization, and underscore that the meaning of food goes beyond sustenance.

Introduction: The novel coronavirus, first discovered in 2019 (COVID-19) in China, set off a global pandemic. COVID-19 has been associated with lasting physiological effects even in young, healthy individuals, such as athletes. Studies focused on elite and professional athletes have shown cardiac abnormalities resulting from COVID-19 infection. Consequently, return-to-play (RTP) protocols were developed, yet there is limited research on examining these RTP protocols in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in cardiovascular parameters, such as heart rate (HR), rate pressure product, SpO(2) (pulse oxygen saturation), and blood pressure, during recovery from COVID-19 in NCAA DIII athletes and whether the response to acute exercise mediated time in protocol. Methods: A preliminary retrospective analysis was conducted on 46 athletes undergoing institutional RTP protocol during 2021. Acute exercise responses and baseline cardiovascular values were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: HR and rate pressure product increased significantly with exercise (P < 0.001), while SpO(2) decreased (P < 0.001). Postexercise HR and baseline SpO(2) were predictive of prolonged RTP duration (HR: beta = -0.060, P = 0.009; SpO(2): beta = -0.949, P = 0.024). Blood pressure classification (normal vs elevated) did not significantly influence RTP time (P = 0.35). Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest that postexercise HR and reduced baseline SpO(2) may identify athletes at risk for delayed convalescence following COVID-19. Cost-effective and noninvasive measurements, like HR and SpO(2), could be useful tools for RTP planning and implementation by athletic trainers and coaches.

This study evaluated a four-week virtual group gratitude intervention for adults ages 59 and older (N = 129). We randomly assigned participants to an intervention (n = 64) or a waitlist condition (n = 65). The virtual intervention was led by a team of 2–3 college students who received training and supervision in delivery of the intervention. Participants completed online surveys at pretest and posttest assessing demographic variables, gratitude (Gratitude Experience, Gratitude Expression, Gratitude Obstacles), and well-being (Sleep Problems, Depression, Loneliness, Positive Affect, Physical Health). Multilevel modeling revealed that intervention participants increased more than waitlist participants on Gratitude Experience and Positive Affect and decreased more on Gratitude Obstacles and Depression. The majority of intervention participants reported they enjoyed the intervention and planned to continue practicing gratitude exercises. These findings suggest that virtual group gratitude interventions for older adults can be beneficial and enjoyable. Study implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Circadian rhythms are physical and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle and are generated by an endogenous circadian biological clock. They prepare organisms for expected changes in the environment by regulating the timing of biological functions such as gene expression, sleep, metabolism, and activity. Chronotypes define individual differences in sleep-wake cycles that reflect the phase of circadian clock timing relative to the photoperiod. Morning types start and end their day early compared to evening types, who go to sleep and wake up later. Misalignment of an individual's chronotype with the natural photoperiod, resulting from social schedules (e.g. work, school), jet lag, or illness is a health risk for cardiovascular, metabolic, oncological, and other disorders. Many studies have described chronotypes in Western and Asian populations, but there are few studies surveying chronotypes in Arab countries, and none from Yemen. Here we present the first data describing chronotypes from Yemen. We assessed chronotypes in a population of young adults using the Morning Evening Questionnaire (MEQ). Our results show a majority of subjects classified as neither morning nor evening type, modestly increasing morning-type tendencies with age, and no significant gender effect. A survey of chronotype studies from Arabic countries was consistent with our results from Yemen. Further studies of populations underrepresented in global surveys of chronotype are important for better understanding the role of geographic, social, and cultural determinants of individual variation in chronotype and circadian entrainment.