Unraveling The Behavioral Ecology Of The Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake (Crotalus Atrox) Through The Lenses Of Personality, Predator-Prey Interactions, And Crypsis, Oceane Da Cunha

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

To thrive in an environment, individuals need to be able to forage efficiently and acquire mates. These resources are limited, and their acquisition depends upon the energy and time an individual chooses to allocate to each activity and the environmental conditions, leading to behavioral trade-offs. Different species, or even different individuals within the same population, respond to these trade-offs by employing contrasting strategies, leading to differential life-history outcomes. The overarching goal of this dissertation is to gain a better understanding of the trade-offs cryptic ambush mesopredators are facing using the western diamond-backed rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) as a model species. Each …

Signatures Of Selection, Gene Flow, And Genetic Drift On The Genomes Of A Recent Avian Radiation, Flor Brigitte Hernandez Camacho

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Speciation is not a discrete event but rather a gradual process that occurs along a continuum. Initially, populations remain genetically and reproductively connected, but they become reproductively isolated as the process of speciation progresses. Advances in DNA sequencing technology has helped our understanding of the processes that contribute to changes in the genetic composition of populations over the progression of speciation, also known as drivers of evolution (i.e. genetic drift, mutation, selection, and gene flow). Among them, hybridization, or the interbreeding between distinct lineages, is increasingly recognized as a natural process that can have significant consequences to the speciation process. …

Decision-Making In Rats: Effects Of Drug Abuse, Safa Binte Hossain

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Decision-making is a critical cognitive function, often impaired by substance abuse. Understanding the underlying mechanisms in both human and animal models is essential for developing effective treatments. This thesis aims to study approach-avoid decision-making in rats and focuses on the impacts of oxycodone self-administration and alcohol abuse on approach-avoid decision-making.We hypothesize that oxycodone self-administration will alter decision-making in female rats, revealing sex differences and distinct psychometric functions, alcohol habituation will similarly affect decision-making in male rats. The study involved 23 Long Evans rats (11 males and 12 females) for decision-making behavioral study connecting multiple levels of rewards and costs combinations. …

Establishment Of A Novel Prairie Vole (Microtus Ochrogaster) Sars-Cov-2 Infection And Transmission Model, Stephanie Rebecca Kehl

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Considering that the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases and deaths continues to increase three years after the onset of the pandemic, the need for animal models to study disease pathology and test antiviral effectiveness remains paramount. Prairie voles offer unique advantages as an infection model, such as mirroring human social behavior, including pair bonding and biparental offspring rearing, having inducible estrus and ovulation cycles, and not being overly domesticated. Based on the sequence homology of the vole ACE2 receptor to that of other species that are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, such as the ferret and hamster, we hypothesized that the vole ACE2 …

Exploring Lower Extremity Kinematics In Adolescent Baseball Players: Inside Vs. Outside Pitches From A Tee Stand, Alyssa Gabrielle Moreno

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Additive Effect Of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Resistance Training Induced Adaptations In Glycemic Control, Muscle Mass And Muscular Strength, Gabriel Narvaez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: Most adults do not reach the physical activity guidelines set by ACSM (>75%). Resistance training is well known to improve muscle mass, strength, and glycemic control. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a mode of inducing involuntary muscle contractions. Previously, we have shown neuromuscular electrical stimulation is able to improve glycemic control. However, the effects of superimposing NMES while resistance training on glycemic control, substrate utilization and resting energy expenditure (REE) is unknown. Purpose: To investigate the effects of 8 weeks of superimposed NMES on resistance training compared to resistance training for glycemic control, substrate utilization, REE, muscle mass …

Soil Additives And Alternative Crops For Drought Defense In The Intermountain West, Tina M. Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Western U.S. looks for water optimization and conservation as agriculture is the largest water diverter, and resources are pressured by urban growth, winter snowpack instability, and drought persistence. Agricultural producers have several potential options to optimize water use with different investments associated with them. Options with varying levels of risks and known management practices include alternative crops, soil wetting agents, and crop biologicals.

An alternative crop that grew incredibly fast in popularity was industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) despite limited agronomic knowledge for best management practices. Field trials occurred (2020-2022) near Logan, UT to test a total of …

Shifting Paradigms In Recreation Management: Applying Social-Ecological System Frameworks To Parks And Protected Areas, Noah Creany

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Park and protected area (PPA) recreation management is often characterized by social, ecological, and managerial dimensions. These dimensions have increasingly been conceptualized as social-ecological systems (SESs) to understand the complex interrelationships between them. Contemporary trends of increased visitation on public lands in the United States, including US National Parks, have accentuated the complex interactions between the amount of recreation use, the capacity of the setting, the quality of the visitor experience, and ecological resource conditions. These challenges of managing recreation use and understanding these interactions will be further compounded by climate change and its effects on ecosystem composition and dynamics. …

Impacts Of Anthropogenic Disturbances And Urbanization On The Behavior And Morphology Of Two Free-Living Lizard Species (Uta Stansburiana And Aspidoscelis Neotesselatus), Layne O. Sermersheim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Urbanization can alter wildlife, requiring species to adjust to anthropogenic changes via life history strategies. Reptiles are particularly vulnerable to these changes, as ectotherms directly rely on their environment to maintain their optimal homeostatic state. As urbanization changes the landscape, reptiles will have to adapt to anthropogenic change, but it is unclear what behaviors may be aiding in this adaptation and whether there are morphological tradeoffs existing to support this change. To analyze the impact of urbanization and anthropogenic disturbances on reptile behavior and morphology, I conducted three research studies on two different species – the common side-blotched lizard and …

Early Onset Alzheimer’S Disease Markers In Mouse Hippocampus Unveiled By Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Following Cranial Radiotherapy, Tuba Aksoy

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Cranial radiation therapy plays an integral role in the treatment of brain tumors but can lead to progressive cognitive deficits in survivors by mechanisms that are poorly understood. To develop preventive or mitigative strategies, it is crucial to better understand the underlying pathogenesis of radiation-induced cognitive impairments. The study investigated single-cell transcriptomics and DNA methylation changes as potential drivers of persistent cellular dysfunction after radiation exposure, specifically concentrating on the CA1-3 regions of the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex due to their role in cognitive functions. Thirteen-week-old mice underwent whole-brain radiation at clinically relevant doses. Following whole-brain radiation, an assessment …

Unveiling The Intercompartmental Signaling Axis: Mitochondrial To Er Stress Response (Mersr) And Its Impact On Proteostasis, Jeson Li

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Maintaining protein homeostasis is essential for cellular health. During times of protein stress, cells deploy unique defense mechanisms to achieve resolution. Our previous research uncovered a cross-compartmental Mitochondrial to Cytosolic Stress Response (MCSR), a unique stress response activated by the perturbation of mitochondrial proteostasis, which ultimately results in the improvement of proteostasis in the cytosol. Here, we found that this signaling axis also influences the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPRER), suggesting the presence of a Mitochondria to ER Stress Response (MERSR). During MERSR, the IRE1 branch of UPRER is inhibited, introducing a previously unknown regulatory component of …

Comprehensive Investigation Into The Molecular Mechanisms Driving The Emergence Of Emm4 Group A Streptococcus, Chioma Odo, Samuel A Shelburne, Anthony R. Flores, Steven J Norris, Anna Konovalova, Blake Hanson

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Abstract

Comprehensive Investigation into the Molecular Mechanisms Driving the Emergence of emm4 Group A Streptococcus

Chioma Modeline Odo, M.S.

Advisory Professor: Samuel A. Shelburne, MD, Ph.D.

The major gram-positive bacterium group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a model organism for studying microbial epidemics as it is well known to cause infections that occur in waves. GAS strains are grouped based on the composition of the N-terminal sequence of the M protein which is encoded by the emm gene. With the advent of large-scale whole genome sequencing, GAS clonal emergence events in emm1, emm3, and emm89 types have been identified …

Analysis Of Malarial Impact: Understanding Disease Transmission, Epidemiology, And Effects On Fetal Life, Josey Sumpter

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Malaria is a significant public health problem which mainly affects malaria endemic regions, such as parts of Africa, South America, and Western Asia. However, all hot and humid environments are susceptible to spread leading to a global scale. Malaria affects an estimated 200 million people each year, with about 600,000 cases resulting in death. Malaria is passed through the bites of infected female anopheles mosquitos, with one of the six Plasmodium genus parasites that are malarial causing. Once the parasite enters the blood stream it infects erythrocytes which can then spread throughout the entire body. Disease is often characterized by …

Conventional Vs. Slow-Growing Broilers: Developmental Pathways Associated With Differential Muscle And Adipose Growth., Lindsey Eppinger

Masters Theses

Genetic selection of conventional broiler chickens has created a modern-day broiler that is characterized by rapid growth and high feed efficiency. This rapid growth has allowed chicken to be the most readily available and most consumed meat in the United States. However, the selection for rapid growth has led to an increase in unintended consequences that diminish meat quality and decrease welfare status. The rise of these consequences has put pressure on the broiler industry to create production practices and genetic lines that support slow growth. These slow-growing lines provide the opportunity to study lines that are differentially selected growth …

Assessment Of Enzyme Stability In Subsurface Sediments By Computational Methods, Kambiz Kalhor

Masters Theses

The microorganisms found in marine subseafloor sediment play a vital role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, with an estimated 2.9×10²⁹ cells, accounting for about 0.6% of Earth’s total living biomass. These microbes grow at a very slow rate, with carbon turnover occurring over the course of years to thousands of years, about six orders of magnitude slower than sulfate reducing bacteria in pure culture. These slow metabolic rates suggest that the enzymes they produce must also have extended lifespans in order to be effective over such long periods of time. As a result, these enzymes are likely to …

Assessment Of Genetic Diversity Of The Invasive Callery Pear, Pyrus Calleryana Decne. Using Mitochondrial Microsatellites And Its Molecular Detection Using Lamp, Alina Pokhrel

Masters Theses

Pyrus calleryana Decne. (Callery pear; [PC]) is a popular ornamental tree in the urbanized areas of the United States of America (US), owing to its aesthetical value, with showy white blossoms in early spring and vibrant fall foliage. The tree native to Asia is now becoming one of the most problematic invasive tree species in the eastern US. From its introduction in the early 20^th century, PC has been commercially used as rootstocks for propagating fruiting pears, alongside other closely related pear species. Several states are restricting the sale of rootstocks to limit the ongoing spread of PC. As …

Vesicle-Associated Membrane Proteins In Airway Mucin Secretion, Boxuan Yang

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Mucus plays a vital role in shielding the lungs against harmful substances such as particles, pathogens, and chemicals inhaled from the environment. It captures these harmful elements, and ciliary action helps to expel them from the lungs. Paradoxically, malfunctioning of mucus induces the development of various respiratory illnesses, including asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and interstitial lung diseases. Despite extensive research on controlling mucin production and hydration, the process of secretion is not yet fully comprehended.

Mucin undergoes regulated secretion at two rates: a low baseline rate and a high stimulated rate. Over the past 25 years, …

Advancing Thermal Property Measurements And Water Management For Controlled Environment Agriculture On Earth And Beyond, Chihiro Dixon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Space exploration stands as one of humanity's most profound endeavors, and plant growth in space is essential for sustaining astronauts during long-duration missions. However, operating plant growth systems under reduced gravity conditions presents challenges, particularly in ensuring uniform water distribution in the root zone. Non-uniform water distribution such as excess water and/or insufficient water in the root zone can significantly impact plant yield, necessitating the need to accurately estimate water status in the root zone and understand the dynamics of water flow in plant growth media under reduced gravity conditions. The objectives of this research were to enhance the accuracy …

Socially Valued, Ecologically In Decline: Place Attachment Influences Support For Management Actions In A Quaking Aspen Forest Impacted By Recreation, Soil Contamination, And Ungulates, Georgie Corkery

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) spark strong emotional attachments among many people, yet they are ecologically in decline across North America. Aspen landscapes are also popular outdoor recreation destinations. Site-specific strategies are required for both managing for healthy aspen landscapes and enhancing the outdoor recreation experience. Our study investigated a highly-recreated and ecologically declining aspen forest in Summit County, Utah facing population decline. There were two distinct phases of data collection. First, we evaluated the condition of the aspen and identified potential management actions that could improve the condition of the aspen. Second, we surveyed people who visited the site …

Unraveling Wetland Ecology: The Effect Of Abiotic Heterogeneity And Habitat Size On Wetland Plant Diversity In The Piedmont, Gregory T. Gilmore

All Theses

Ecosystems around the world are seeing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. However, to better prevent this decline we cannot only understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, but also the factors that support diversity. Traditional ecological hypotheses such as the Habitat Heterogeneity Hypothesis (HHH) and the Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) have provided frameworks for understanding biodiversity drivers. However, recent research suggests a more nuanced relationship between heterogeneity, habitat size, and diversity than previously thought. This study looks to bridge existing research gaps by examining the ecologically and conservational important habitat of wetlands. Specifically, the study focuses on the plant diversity …

Factors Influencing Adventitious Root Formation Of Floral Hemp In Propagation, Alexandra Carver

All Theses

Commercial propagators have reported relatively poor propagation success, e.g., <75% rooting, for many hemp (Cannabis sativa) cultivars. These rooting percentages have a significant economic impact due to the wasted labor, space and supplies. Also, the market demands 100% of the propagation cells in a tray to be fully rooted, thus repairing and replacing poorly rooted or unrooted cuttings requires significant labor cost. The goal of this thesis was to evaluate several factors that influence adventitious root formation of hemp stem cuttings.

Chapter 2 describes an experiment conducted to identify rooting hormone treatments that could improve propagation success. Sixteen combinations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 0, …

Effects Of The Sea Level Rise And Hurricanes In The Coastal Forest Of South Carolina, Siddhartha Regmi

All Theses

Accessing the mortality of the trees following any disturbances is of great interest to researchers in forestry science. This thesis project assessed topographic factors to explain the patterns of tree mortality after Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and investigated continuous tree mortality in relationship to important covariates using long-term data. Aerial photographs were taken one year after Hurricane Hugo, and long-term monitoring plots were set up five years after the hurricane to collect multi-year data. Analysis and visualization showed higher mortality in concave areas near the marsh at approximately 1-2m elevation and 120-180m far from streams after Hurricane Hugo. A model …

Influence Of Row Pattern And Prohexadione Calcium On Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Maturity And Profitability, Samantha N. Mehl

All Theses

Many newer peanut cultivars offer yield benefits but have larger canopies and are taking 10 or more days longer to reach desired maturity levels. Prohexadione calcium (PC) and twin row planting pattern have been reported to increase the amount of orange, brown or black pods compared to their respective alternatives. Four cultivars were selected and studied based on frequency of use in South Carolina then paired into an earlier maturing group that reached optimal maturity at 135 to 140 days after planting, and a later maturing group that reached optimal maturity at 150 or more days after planting.

Twin row …

The Influence Of Oxidative Stress On Ion Homeostasis And Glycolysis Activation, With Implications For Neurological Health And Multiple Sclerosis, Xavier Hayes

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues, notably the neural cells, and one of the contributing factors to this is oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is the build-up of reactive oxygen species ROS that causes oxidative damage to the cells. Chronic and environmental stressors are explored as significant factors that exacerbate these conditions by disrupting cellular processes and energy metabolism. The paper reviews current literature on MS, examining the interplay between oxidative stress, environmental factors, and genetic predispositions. Additionally, it discusses how these factors contribute to MS, where the immune system …

Challenges Of The Fentanyl Epidemic: Understanding The Crisis, Analyzing The Analogs, And Investigating The Detection Methods, Sophia Hontzas

Graduate Student Dissertations, Theses, Capstones, and Portfolios

The fentanyl epidemic has become a significant public health concern, identified by a rise in overdose deaths pertaining to the use of illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF). In 2021 alone, there were 70,601 overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl, emphasizing the severity of the crisis. This paper discusses the challenges posed by fentanyl and its analogs, investigating the origins, market dynamics, biological impacts, and the issues with detection and regulation. While fentanyl was initially created as a potent pain reliever, its misuse has grown due to the presence of new analogs. Case studies provide insight into how fentanyl rose in popularity and …

Identifying The Relationships Among Functional Motor Competence, The Army Combat Fitness Test, And Vertical Jump Performance In Rotc Cadets., Madison Mach

Theses and Dissertations

Context: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets are at high risk of injury, which results in high medical costs and affects the longevity of our future soldiers’ careers. Functional motor competence (FMC), defined as the coordination and control required to perform a wide range of motor skills, may be an underappreciated aspect of performance and injury in ROTC cadets because of how FMC is developed. Higher FMC has been speculated to be positively associated with better physical and neuromuscular fitness (power, dynamic balance, etc.), better performance on the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), the Army’s standardized physical test, and protective …

Addressing Lead Exposure Disparities In Milwaukee: A Geographical Analysis Of Interventions And Equitable Strategies, Miracle Mark

Theses and Dissertations

Lead exposure is still a major public health issue, especially for children who are the most vulnerable due to the negative effects on their development. Inner-city neighborhoods are often disproportionately impacted because they tend to have older housing stock, which includes sources of lead such as lead paint and lead service lines. While many studies have examined different types of lead interventions in the U.S., including both primary and secondary interventions, little is known about the lead intervention landscape in the city of Milwaukee. Specifically, it is unclear whether the geography of intervention matches up with the geography of exposure. …

Depth Structure Of The Rocky Nearshore Benthic Community In Lake Michigan, Anna Christine Kryshak

Theses and Dissertations

Invasive dreissenid mussels (the zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, and quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) have altered nutrient cycling, light availability, and trophic dynamics in Lake Michigan since their introduction. Benthic resources have become more important as pelagic nutrients have been consumed due to dreissenid mussel productivity. Light and nutrient availability are two factors that influence benthic algal growth and are known to vary spatially, particularly with depth. Variation in benthic algal quantity and nutritional quality with depth has implications for the entire benthic community, and a better understanding of the effects of depth on the nutritional quality of benthic algae …

The Role Of Above- And Belowground Interactions For Plant Allocation, Sophia Carmel Turner

Doctoral Dissertations

My dissertation builds upon decades of research on plant resource allocation, by incorporating multispecies interactions, above- and belowground, with the overarching goal of uncovering the role of a whole community in shaping plant resource allocation and change to subsequent interactions. I accomplished this goal by establishing two controlled common garden experiments where I manipulated the biotic community that a focal plant is exposed to. Using these experiments, 1) I tested whether plant neighbors alter a focal plant’s resource allocation through changes to above- or belowground processes, and if these allocation changes resulted in any indirect effects on the focal plant’s …

Emotional Eating In Adolescents With Obesity: Case Series, Paula Dayan

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Childhood obesity remains a significant public health concern, with substantial implications for physical and mental well-being. This thesis aims to explore the intricate relationship between emotional eating and obesity among adolescents, with a focus on identifying emotional triggers and assessing their psychological impact. Utilizing a cross-sectional study design at a university in southern California, data were collected from two adolescents aged 13-18 years. Through surveys and body composition measurements, participants' emotional barriers to weight loss and readiness for change were assessed. The findings underscore the presence of varying degrees of emotional hurdles among adolescents with obesity, including depression, frustration, and …