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Ecology And Management Of Forest Grouse: Breeding Acoustic Monitoring, Spatial Behavior, And Harvest, Logan Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Forest grouse are difficult to study and manage in the Intermountain West because they live in remote, rugged areas and do not gather at predictable display sites like other grouse species. From 2023 to 2025, I studied two species, dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), to test new survey tools, track their seasonal movements, and evaluate hunting impacts.

First, I tested whether small audio recording devices placed in the forest could minimize labor needed for spring breeding surveys. To do this, I conducted traditional surveys with human observers at the same time and …

Temperature Effects On Fruit Doubling And Bloom Prediction In Tart Cherry, Josette M. Moon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) is a key horticultural crop in Utah. Extreme summer heat and cold weather in late spring are challenges to tart cherry production causing economic losses. These problematic weather conditions are influenced by the local landscape and are exacerbated by changing climate. This research explores (1) the impact of summer heat stress on fruit deformities, and (2) the accuracy of temperature-based predictions of spring bud development. High temperatures and water stress after harvest are known to cause a deformity known as twin or double fruits, resulting in unmarketable fruit. This disorder has been studied in …

Understanding Hydroclimate In The Contiguous United States: Roles Of Temperature Vs Precipitation And Subtropical Pacific Warming, Grace Esenam Affram

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study investigates the physical drivers and mechanisms of hydroclimate variability across the Contiguous United States (U.S.), using a combination of observable data, reanalysis data, land modeling, and coupled climate model experiments. One of the major findings is that the historic 2021 drought event across the Western U.S. was primarily driven by a severe lack of precipitation rather than increased temperatures. The study further finds that anthropogenic forcing has substantially increased the risk of this extreme drought by approximately 26 times relative to a world without the influence.

Additionally, the study reveals that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) characterized by …

The Effect Of An Acute Bout Of Rock Climbing On Cognitive Functioning And Cortisol Levels, Vanessa Steigauf

All NMU Master's Theses

Rock climbing is an understudied physical activity (PA) that demands active decision-making, integration of sensory and visual input, and continuous regulation of nervous system activity to produce complex motor outputs. The unique psychological demands of climbing warrant studying its effect on cognition and brain health. I recruited 26 generally healthy adults for a randomized-controlled study. Climbing experience, PA and perceived stress were self-reported. Each participant was randomly assigned to a climbing (10x2 minutes climb, moderate intensity) or control group (seated, watching climbing-related video). The primary outcomes, cognitive performance and salivary cortisol levels were assessed by the Stroop test. A linear …

Role Of Cellular Proteins In The Regulation Of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Gene Expression And Dna Replication, Joseph R. Heath

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous human pathogen that infects the majority of the human population. To facilitate infection, this virus relies on a combination of host and viral factors. Previous studies have revealed a number of host proteins that associate with the HSV-1 genome throughout infection but their putative role(s) in this process remain undefined. This study aims to examine two such proteins to determine their contributions to HSV-1 gene expression and DNA replication. The first of these factors is Ints3, a subunit of the Integrator complex. This protein complex functions in transcription regulation, and Ints3 …

Arginine Vasotocin And Corticosterone In Nesting And Non-Nesting Loggerhead Sea Turtles In X’Cacel-X’Cacelito Sanctuary, Krista Blair Reed

Theses and Dissertations

Sea turtles exhibit distinct behaviors before and after egg laying, however, not all individuals successfully oviposit. Some females display disruptions in their typical nesting behavior, returning to the water without laying eggs, which is referred to as a non-nesting emergence (NNE). NNEs can be due to external disturbances on the beach, but why they occur is often unclear. Arginine vasotocin (AVT) is a neuropeptide involved in various physiological processes, including stimulating smooth muscle contraction of the oviduct to facilitate egg deposition in nesting sea turtles. On the other hand, corticosterone is the primary stress hormone in sea turtles and is …

2024 Soybean Insect Losses In The United States, Fred R. Musser, Sebe A. Brown, Tim Bryant, Whitney D. Crow, Jeffrey A. Davis, Christina Difonzo, Chase Floyd, Scott H. Graham, Jeremy K. Greene, Kelly A. Hamby, David Kerns, Janet Knodel, David Owens, Dominic D. Reisig, Phillip M. Roberts, Nicholas J. Seiter, Adam J. Sisson, Benjamin C. Thrash, Kelley J. Tilmon, Raul T. Villanueva

Midsouth Entomologist

Estimated management costs and losses due to insects and other invertebrates in soybean during the 2024 growing season were collected and compiled from 19 states to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. These annual estimates provide a historical record of pest pressure and insect management and have been compiled in some states since 2004. Participating states represented 63% of soybean acreage grown in the United States, with near 100% participation in southern states. Overall, the stink bug complex was the costliest insect pest in soybean followed by corn earworm and soybean looper. Total insect …

Using The Dash Diet To Create Hypertensive-Friendly Dishes For People Of Chinese Heritage, Kady Li

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, associated with high sodium intake being a primary contributor to elevated blood pressure. The US Dietary Guidelines for sodium intake is 2,300 mg per day; however, studies indicate that the average daily sodium consumption among Chinese adults is 5,013 mg. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is often recommended to those diagnosed with hypertension. This project aims to develop a cookbook featuring lower-sodium Chinese recipes following the DASH diet guidelines. Twenty-five traditional Chinese recipes were modified to align with DASH diet guidelines (25% reduction in sodium content). Nutrient analysis …

Life Cycle Assessment Of The Cultivation Of Lettuce In A Hydroponic System Using The Nutrient Film Technique, Raquel Jordan

All Theses

Hydroponic systems are an emerging method of soilless crop cultivation typically done inside a greenhouse where nutrients are delivered dissolved in water rather than being supplied from the soil. Potential benefits of hydroponic systems include reduced irrigation requirements, higher crop yield per area, and the ability to grow crops year-round in nontraditional areas such as urban settings, cold climates, and sites with contaminated soil. However, hydroponic systems tend to have high energy requirements for lighting and climate control, which can yield significant environmental impacts. To explore the environmental impacts of cultivating lettuce in a nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic system, …

Association Between Gene Family Expansion And The Rapid Diversification Of Pleurocarpous Mosses, Meredith A. Cobb

All Theses

Mosses are the second most species-rich group of land plants. They represent a critical group for understanding the evolution and diversity of land plants. Mosses comprise two major groups, acrocarps and pleurocarps. Despite having a more recent evolutionary origin than acrocarps, pleurocarps are exceptionally diverse. The difference in species richness reflects a rapid species diversification, roughly coincident with the origin and diversification of flowering plants. The speciation events giving rise to pleurocarp diversity happened so rapidly, making it historically difficult to produce strongly supported phylogenies with which to test evolutionary hypotheses. One such hypothesis is whether large-scale changes at the …

Using Livestreaming Technology To Answer Novel Questions About The Behavior And Physiological Ecology Of The Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus Viridis), Max C. Roberts

Master's Theses

Recent advances in remote monitoring technology are opening up new opportunities for developing innovative natural history and biological research methodologies. In particular, the emergence of livestreaming camera technology has made recording remote video of wild and secretive animals much easier and made it possible to collect data at extremely fine temporal resolutions. In 2024, Project RattleCam launched a livestreaming camera at a Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) den in Colorado. The goal of this work was to study Prairie Rattlesnake behavior 24-7 throughout the species’ active season with minimal human disturbance. Additionally, I used this system to study the …

Investigating Rattlesnake Social Networks And Improving Their Public Image Through Unobtrusive Technologies And Community Science, Owen M. Bachhuber

Master's Theses

While technology is often blamed for humans’ increasing disconnect with nature, it can also serve as a tool to facilitate empathy and conservation action for wildlife. Snakes are among the most feared animals on the planet, though their understudied social interactions provide opportunities to make scientific discoveries and change public perceptions. Project RattleCam was founded as a camera trap project in 2021 and launched the first off-grid livestream on a den of wild Prairie Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) in 2024. Both camera types captured hundreds of Prairie Rattlesnakes gathering in the summer as they prepared to give birth to pups before …

Cg18562578 Methylquant Assay For The Discrimination Of Monozygotic Twins, Amber P. Chauca

Student Theses

Monozygotic (MZ) twins have identical DNA, making traditional profiling methods insufficient in their discrimination. However, MZ twins can be differentiated by their levels of DNA methylation. Our research group previously developed a methodology to detect cg18562578 DNA methylation levels in MZ twins based on a two- step PCR approach and a cg18562578 MethylQuant Assay. That study generated data for only 64% of the samples it investigated, and showed a discrimination power of 77% to discriminate between MZ twins. Here, we used the same methodology but a different approach to determine DNA methylation in 73 previously unsuccessful twin pairs. We diluted …

Computational Frameworks To Unravel The Immune Landscape, Shan He

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Recent advances in immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy, face challenges such as resistance and immune-related adverse events, partly due to our limited understanding of the immune signaling pathways. While high- throughput genomic data provide unprecedented resolution into these immune pathways, their full potential is limited by the lack of well-annotated, context-specific immune gene sets. To address this need, I developed a workflow to construct immune gene sets by integrating RNA- seq datasets and performing decomposition. Using this approach, I constructed 28 immune- specific gene sets from 83 bulk RNA-seq datasets and 12 Natural Killer (NK) …

Use Of The Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification For Food Safety And Drug Discovery, Maria R. Benavente Garcia-Huidobro

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders caused by the misfolding of the normal prion protein (PrP^C) into its infectious form (PrP^Sc). While the zoonotic potential of chronic wasting disease (CWD) remains uncertain, the presence of prions in food products raises public health concerns. Additionally, therapeutic strategies for prion diseases remain limited. This thesis presents a methodological exploration of the Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) technique to address these challenges in two key areas: (1) detecting CWD prions in processed meats subjected to common cooking procedures, and (2) identifying potential anti-prion compounds through a high-throughput PMCA adaptation. …

Predicting Genetic Interactions Using Functional Interaction Networks, Iulia Veronica Gheorghe

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Mapping genetic interactions is central to understanding cellular systems and identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities, particularly in the context of cancer. Among these interactions, synthetic lethality, where simultaneous loss of two genes is lethal but loss of either alone is tolerated, offers a powerful framework for selectively targeting tumor-specific dependencies. In model organisms like S. cerevisiae, comprehensive double-knockout screens have revealed detailed genetic interaction maps, enabling systems-level insights into pathway structure, gene function, and cellular organization. Replicating this achievement in human cells, however, is complicated by the scale and complexity of the human genome. Recent advances in genome-wide CRISPR knockout screening have …

Structural Functional Investigation Of Hap40, Amanda M. Solbach

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL INVESTIGATION OF HAP40

Amanda Marie Solbach

Dissertation Advisor: Sheng Zhang, Ph.D.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene, resulting in a mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein with an elongated polyglutamine tract. While the genetic basis of HD is well established, the mechanisms underlying mHTT toxicity and its impact on cellular function remain incompletely understood. Recent discoveries implicate Huntingtin-associated protein 40 (HAP40) as a critical regulator of HTT stability and intracellular function. However, the physiological and pathological significance of this interaction has not been fully explored.

This …

Investigating The Role Of The Lysine-Specific Demethylase 4c In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Mennatallah Shaheen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Deregulation of proteins involved in chromatin regulation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C) is one of the chromatin modifying proteins frequently overexpressed across multiple solid cancers and is linked to chromatin instability, increased cell proliferation, and enhanced stem cell-like behavior. We observed upregulation of KDM4C protein in a panel of human PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared to non-neoplastic controls. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of KDM4C in human and murine PDAC cells reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased survival of orthotopically implanted murine PDAC allografts. Transcriptomic and proteomics analyses revealed that loss of KDM4C in both human …

Studies Of The Mechanisms Of Reverse Signaling By Cd40l, Barbara M. Nassif Rausseo

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a transmembrane protein expressed on activated CD4 T cells, traditionally known for its role in forward signaling by engaging CD40 on antigen- presenting cells to promote immune activation. While this pathway is well characterized, there is evidence that CD40L also mediates reverse signaling, acting as a signaling receptor on T cells which enhances T cell function. However, the extent, consequences, and mechanism of CD40L-mediated reverse signaling in CD4 T cells remain poorly defined. This dissertation investigates the mechanisms and effects of CD40L reverse signaling on T cell function using both primary human T cells and the …

Microbial Metabolite Regulation Of Microglial Ahr Signaling In Alzheimer’S Disease, Ghalya E. Alrousan

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-β plaque accumulation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Recent evidence suggests that systemic factors, particularly the gut microbiota and its metabolites, play a significant role in shaping brain immune responses, including microglial activation. However, the mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to microglial dysfunction in AD are poorly understood. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor responsive to tryptophan metabolites, has recently gained attention as a key regulator of neuroinflammation and microglial function. I hypothesize that the loss of beneficial microbial AHR ligands, specifically indole derivatives, during aging and AD …

Ecomorphological Diversification Of Tooth Complexity In The Oral Jaws Of Marine Teleostean Fishes, Keiffer L. Williams

All Dissertations

Teeth are essential biological tools that function as a direct interface between predator and prey, thus providing essential insights into the evolutionary history and ecological diversity of vertebrates. Historically, studies on vertebrate dentitions have been qualitative and focused on mammals. More recently, quantitative methods have been developed that can reliably measure tooth surface complexity. These methods have been applied across both mammals and saurian reptiles to test for correlations with diet, leading to the conclusion that herbivorous species generally possess higher overall tooth complexity than any other dietary group. Surprisingly, the relationship between tooth complexity and diet in the most …

From Cities To Ranches: Assessing Public Support For Jaguar (Panthera Onca) Conservation And Livestock Predation In Colombia, Luz Angelica Solano

All Dissertations

Jaguars are among the most emblematic large carnivores worldwide. Nonetheless, the species has declined by 25% in less than 25 years and their range has been reduced by 55%, approximately, primarily due to habitat loss from increasing agricultural development, retaliatory killings from human-jaguar conflict, and overhunting of their natural prey. Given the anthropogenic nature of these threats, developing effective coexistence strategies and public support for jaguar conservation are increasingly urgent for the continued persistence of this species. I conducted a scoping review to assess trends and gaps in the existing peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, and news articles related to human-jaguar …

Yizhi Sun: Profile Of The Newest Chbc Faculty Member., Danna Jaimes-Fajardo, Jeremy J. Smith, Lutishoor Salisbury

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

Presents the research profile of Yizhi Sun, Assistant Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry department. It highlights his research interests, education, and impact of his research.

Improving Glycemic Control Mechanisms By Electrical Muscle Stimulation, Jehu Narh Apaflo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has emerged as a promising intervention for improving metabolic health in sedentary individuals with overweight or obesity. Its capacity to induce muscle contraction without voluntary movement presents a viable alternative to traditional exercise, especially in mobility-limited populations. NMES may serve as a non-invasive alternative to traditional exercise, especially in high-risk populations who face elevated type 2 diabetes incidence linked to hyperglycemia, obesity, and inactivity. This study investigated the impact of NMES on glycemic control and metabolic health in a sedentary, predominantly Hispanic, overweight or obese population. Methods: This study examined the acute and long-term effects …

Characterization Of Glyt1 Expression And Glycinergic Circuits, Laura Patricia Montes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Glycine is one of the main inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Glycine is regulated by the glycine transporters 1 and 2 (GlyT1 and GlyT2, respectively) in the synaptic cleft. Both transporters participate in glycinergic inhibitory neurotransmission. Moreover, GlyT1 also participates in glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission. GlyT2 is devoted to caudal regions of the brain and is used as a marker for glycinergic neurons. In contrast, GlyT1 is expressed across the brain in the rostrocaudal axis and is highly associated with GlyT1-positive glial cells. Data from our laboratory has identified GlyT1-positive neurons in the rodent brain. Therefore, we hypothesize that …

Temporal Partitioning And Coexistence Among Four Sympatric Felid Species In The Northern Jaguar Reserve, Kylie Marie Rezendes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Coexistence among sympatric carnivores is shaped by behavioral strategies that mediate competition and mortality risk in heterogeneous landscapes. Understanding how sympatric carnivores, such as felids, use space and time in relation to one another requires models that account for both spatial and temporal overlap across landscapes. Models incorporating time-to-event probabilities provide a powerful framework for detecting behavioral dynamics across shared landscapes. This study evaluated the spatiotemporal responses of two apex predators â?? the jaguar (Panthera onca) and mountain lion (Puma concolor) - and two mesopredators - bobcat (Lynx rufus) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) - across five years of camera trap …

An Evaluation Of Key Components Of Natural Resource Camps, Undergraduate Persistence And Success In Natural Resources, Brandy Bishop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the key components that connect natural resource camps, undergraduate persistence, and overall success through gainful employment within the natural resource industry. The aim of this study was to assess early interest and attitudes towards natural resource career pathways and how education interventions shape students’ career outcomes thus leading to overall success. A longitudinal mixed method design was used combining Conservation Careers Camp survey data (n = 39) with institutional records for Forestry majors (n =655) in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus. Quantitative data was analyzed through …

The Effect Of Diet Formulations Containing Different Protein Sources On Energy And Nitrogen Utilization In Lactating Jersey Cows, Kortney Ann Harpestad

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

It is well understood that lactating dairy cows require metabolizable protein (MP) for milk yield and milk protein synthesis. Diets with conventional feed sources like corn and soybean meal (SBM) may not sufficiently meet all MP and amino acid (AA) requirements so supplementation with more rumen undegradable protein (RUP) rich feeds or rumen-protected AA can be fed to support animal performance. The growth trajectory of biofuels has resulted in dramatic increases in the production of feeds like heat treated soybean meal (HTSBM). While the chemical composition of this product is understood, there is a need to better understand how HTSBM …

Authentication And Message Integrity Verification For Emerging Wireless Networks, Ebuka Philip Oguchi

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation presents a comprehensive body of research on authentication and message integrity verification for emerging wireless networks, focusing on secret-free and physical layer security techniques across diverse, challenging, and unconventional environments.

It comprises four first-author contributions that span underground wireless systems, over-the-air (OTA) channels, vehicular communications, and nanoscale molecular networks.

The first contribution, Soil-Assisted Trust Establishment for Underground Wireless Networks (STUN), introduces a physical-layer trust bootstrapping protocol that achieves authentication and message integrity without pre-shared secrets. Leveraging underground-to-air propagation laws and trusted relay nodes, STUN resists active signal injection attacks and demonstrates security comparable to the unbalanced oil and …

Application Of Artificial Neural Network Algorithms For Irrigation Scheduling, Lisa Umutoni

All Dissertations

Neural networks have been extensively used in predicting soil water tension for improved irrigation scheduling and management. However, their lack of interpretability constrains their efficacy in grasping the nuanced patterns prevalent in soil water tension time series data. The first goal of this research was to develop interpretable deep neural network models for soil water tension prediction across multiple soil depths (0.15m, 0.3m, 0.46m and 0.6m) and prediction horizons (1h, 6h, and 12h). The Neural Hierarchical Interpolation for Time Series (N-HiTS) and Neural Basis Expansion Analysis Time Series (N-BEATS) models were used in this research. Historical soil water tension data …