Digital Commons Network^™

Stream Fish Assemblage Dynamics And Barriers To Aquatic Connectivity In The Ichawaynochaway Creek Watershed, Georgia, Usa, Jake R. Duhé

LSU Master's Theses

Stream fishes in the southeastern United States are adapted to hydrological disturbances such as droughts. However, this region is projected to experience increasingly frequent and severe disturbances that will elevate water demands given increasing agricultural and urban development. Further, road-stream crossings (RSCs) are abundant features in these streams that can exacerbate drought-mediated stream fragmentation and impede movements by many aquatic organisms, including fishes, when poorly constructed. These compounding effects may adversely affect the diversity and abundances of resident stream fishes, but their interactions remain poorly understood, warranting rigorous testing of how droughts and RSCs influence stream fish dynamics. I assessed …

Irradiation Of Prostate Cancer Alters Circulating Small Extracellular Vesicle Functions, Aejaz Sayeed, Vaughn Garcia, Cecilia E. Verrillo, Rachel M. Derita, Md Niamat Hossain, Shiv R. Krishn, Samuel Sey, Christopher D. Shields, Adrian D. Altieri, Qin Liu, Khalid Sossey-Alaoui, William K. Kelly, Lucia R. Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

It is known that β1 integrins and a downstream signaling molecule c-Src are upregulated in prostate cancer (PrCa) tissues, are co-expressed in circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and contribute to cancer progression. Here, we demonstrate that sEVs from PrCa patients show robust expression of both β1 integrins and c-Src. The impact of irradiation, a widely used therapy for the treatment of PrCa, on circulating sEVs is however not fully understood. We show that sEVs isolated from the plasma of transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice, stimulate migration and anchorage-independent growth of recipient cancer cells, but sEVs are not active …

Pol Θ-Mediated End-Joining Uses Microhomologies Containing Mismatches, Yuzhen Li, Ngoc K Dang, Wei He, Mark Returan, Denisse Carvajal-Maldonado, Adele T Guerin, Han Xu, Bin Liu, Richard D Wood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

DNA polymerase theta (Pol θ) initiates repair of DNA double-strand breaks by pairing single strands at short "microhomologies". It is important to understand microhomology selection, as some cancer cells rely on Pol θ for survival. Here, we investigate end-joining by purified human Pol θ, employing DNA sequencing of products generated from oligonucleotide libraries having diverse 3' ends. Pol θ overwhelmingly selects short internal microhomologies found within 15 nucleotides of the terminus of single-stranded DNAs, restricting deletion size during end-joining. Significantly, we find that the selected microhomologies are usually interrupted by mismatches and that base pairing within 6 nucleotides of the …

تصميم منصة تدريبية وفق النموذج العام وقياس أثرها في تنمية الدافعية لدى العاملين على تلقي البلاغات عبر رقم الطوارئ 911 في مديرية الأمن العام, مصطفى عوض السكر, عبد المهدي علي الجراح

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف البحث الى تصميم منصة تدريبية وفـــق النموذج العام لعقد الدورات التدريبية الخاصة بمرتبات مديرية الامن العام في الاردن ولقياس أثرها في تنمية الدافعية من خلال استخدام المنصة، تم عقد دورة تدريبية خاصة بمهارات التواصل للعاملين على تلقي البلاغات عبر رقم الطوارئ 911 في مديرية الأمن العام، حيث تم استخدام المنهج شبة التجريبي، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من مجموعتين، إحداهما تجريبية وعدد افرادها (20) متدرباً، والاخرى ضابطة وعدد افرادها (20) متدرباً، واستمرت مدة تطبيق التدريب (20) ساعة تدريبية موزعه على (8) لقاءات جميعها حول مهارات التواصل، واجري قياس بعدي وقبلي، وتوصلت نتائج البحث الى فاعلية المنصة التدريبية وكان لها اثر ذو …

Preferred Plants And Nectar Collecting Times For Honey Production, David Macfawn, Jennifer M.K. O'Keefe, Sophie Warny, Carol Wymer, June Rampy Ponder

Clemson Extension Publishing

This book addresses three important questions for South Carolina beekeepers – which plants are bees in South Carolina using for nectar forage, when bees collect nectar from those plants, and how can understanding nectar foraging habits inform beekeepers as they work to gather specific types of premium honey? In 2021, the South Carolina Beekeeper’s Association, led by David MacFawn, designed and implemented a statewide pollen study, the first in any state in over fifty years, to answer these questions. Informed by data gathered from 19 apiaries across the state, this book contains the results of that study, including large-scale melissopalynological …

Creek-Friendly Practices For Hoas, Plaster Creek Stewards

Print Materials

This booklet is intended to be a comprehensive guide to encourage Homeowner Associations (HOAs) in nurturing and safeguarding their local waterways. Within these pages the challenges facing our water ecosystems will be addressed, with particular focus being placed on the Plaster Creek Watershed in West Michigan. This booklet will also emphasize the role HOAs can play in fostering environmental stewardship and healthier, more resilient creek systems. This booklet contains practical strategies, from rain gardens to native plantings, that not only enhance the beauty of your HOA but extends care to downstream neighbors and the creek.

Alpha-Synuclein Null Mutation Exacerbates The Phenotype Of A Model Of Menkes Disease In Female Mice, Meganne Casey, Dan Zou, Renee Reijo Pera Phd, Tiffany Hensley-Mcbain, Deborah E. Cabin

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (Great Falls) Publications and Research

Human SNCA, which encodes a-synuclein protein (SNCA), was the first gene linked to familial Parkinson's disease (PD). Since the discovery of the genetic link of SNCA to Parkinson's nearly three decades ago, many studies have investigated the normal function of SNCA protein. However, understanding of the normal function of SNCA is complicated by the lack of a reliable mammalian model of PD; indeed, mice with homozygous null mutations in the Snca gene live a normal lifespan and have only subtle synaptic deficits. Here, we report the first genetic modifier (a sensitized mutation) of a murine Snca null …

Effect Of Traditional Versus Fenceline Weaning On Lamb Stress, Emma N. Sutton

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Stress is a significant factor affecting the health, behavior, and performance of sheep in production settings. Most lambs go through artificial weaning, and this is a stressful time in a lamb’s life. Stress can negatively affect growth rates, feed efficiency, and susceptibility to illness and parasites. The traditional and most common method of weaning is the abrupt separation of lambs from their dams. An alternative method of weaning, fenceline weaning, has been found to reduce stress in cattle and may also reduce stress in sheep. The objectives of this study were to evaluate body weights, fecal egg counts, and behavior …

Patient- Derived 3d Miniaturized Glioma Organotypic Slices (Migos) As A Model For Investigating Extracellular Matrix And Cellular Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling, Parth Kommidi, Dilani Patel, Melika Hashemi, Reid Hale, Andrea Comba

Expo Student Presentations

2025 Summer Expo Poster Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences

Western Australia’S Agricultural R&D Ecosystem, Ross Kingwell

Farm Systems and Economics published reports

• Decades ago, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in Western Australia (WA) was fairly simple with few funders and some key providers of R&D services such as the Department of Agriculture, CSIRO and the University of Western Australia.
• Since then, the agricultural R&D ecosystem in WA has increased in complexity with more R&D providers and a greater injection of industry and private funding.
• These changes have occurred against a backdrop of the total investment in agricultural R&D declining as a share of agriculture’s gross value of production.
• State and federal governments have reduced their share of the total investment in agricultural R&D. …

Wnt-Directed Cxcl12-Expressing Apical Papilla Progenitor Cells Drive Tooth Root Formation, Mizuki Nagata, Gaurav T Gadhvi, Taishi Komori, Yuki Arai, Hiroaki Manabe, Angel Ka Yan Chu, Ramandeep Kaur, Meer Ali, Yuntao Yang, Chiaki Tsutsumi-Arai, Yuta Nakai, Yuki Matsushita, Nicha Tokavanich, W Jim Zheng, Joshua D Welch, Noriaki Ono, Wanida Ono

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The tooth root is a critical component of the tooth anchored to surrounding alveolar bones. Tooth root formation is driven by cells in the apical papilla (AP) that generate new dentin-forming odontoblasts at the root-forming front. Mesenchymal stem cells have been isolated from AP for regenerative use; however, how AP cells physiologically coordinate tooth root formation remains undefined. We find that CXCL12+ cells emerge in AP under hypoxic environments at the onset of tooth root formation. Using Cxcl12-creER-based cell-lineage analysis, we further find that CXCL12+ AP cells contribute not only to odontoblasts but also to cementum-forming cementoblasts of the elongating …

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 37. What About Wallace On Vaccination . . . ?, Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Best known for his natural history studies on evolution and biogeography, Alfred Russel Wallace (1823−1913) had a significant second career as a social critic. One of his most controversial stances was his position on (smallpox) vaccination. Anti-vaxxers of the present frequently bring up his name as a resource for their side, but the situation is not so easily reducible to that.

Utilizing Pharmacogenomics To Improve Students' Self-Perception On The Interprofessional Competencies Of Roles And Responsibilities, And Teams And Teamwork, Amanda Brown, Moom R. Roosan, Robert Goldsteen, Scott D. Ochs, Reza Taheri

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is an emerging discipline with the potential to revolutionize personalized medicine, but its successful implementation requires interprofessional collaboration. To address this need, a virtual interprofessional education (IPE) session was designed for student pharmacists and medical students to engage in a case-based learning experience.

Objective

The primary objective was to develop and implement an IPE activity focused on a patient case requiring PGx-guided dual antiplatelet therapy and to assess students' perceptions of two Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Version 3 Core Competencies. A secondary objective was to identify key lessons from the session.

Methods

Pharmacist and physician faculty collaboratively …

Scientific Note: Garden Loosestrife (Lysimachia Vulgaris, Primulaceae), An Emerging Invasive Plant Species Of Riparian Corridors In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Christopher T. Martine, Amy L. Jewitt, Claire M. Ciafre, Kaitlin G. Henry, Elizabeth H. Williams, Pj Newhart, Melody P. Sain

Faculty Journal Articles

Lysimachia vulgaris (garden loosestrife, Primulaceae) is an herbaceous perennial native to Europe that has been identified as an aggressive invasive species in parts of North America. The status of the species in the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, however, is poorly determined. Using recent field observations (from iNaturalist, iMapInvasives, and EDDMapS records) we here report localized incursions of L. vulgaris in the Susquehanna River Valley of central Pennsylvania, along with notes on its ecology, threats to native plant communities, and broader distribution in the state.

Un(Der)Explored Links Between Plant Diversity And Particulate And Mineral-Associated Organic Matter In Soil, Šárka Angst, Gerrit Angst, Kevin E. Mueller, Markus Lange, Nico Eisenhauer

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Plant diversity can alter soil carbon stocks, but the effects are difficult to predict due to the multitude of mechanisms involved. We propose that these mechanisms and their outcomes can be better understood by testing how plant diversity affects particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) depending on whether MAOM storage is "saturated" and the total soil organic matter pool is limited by plant inputs. Such context-dependency of plant-diversity effects on POM, MAOM, and total soil organic matter helps explain inconsistencies in plant-diversity-soil-carbon relationships across studies. Further illumination of this context-dependency is required to better predict consequences of …

Full Issue, Volume 13, Number 1, Donna J. Peterson, Scott Cummings, Elizabeth Gregory North

Journal of Human Sciences and Extension

No abstract provided.

Common Sources, Perceived Communication Efficacy And Sufficiency Of Cervical Cancer Information, Education And Communication Materials For Women With Hiv/Aids In Rural Kenya, Scholastic Musakali Adeli, Elkanah Orang'o, Violet Naanyu, Ann Mwangi, Peter Itsura, Barry Rosen, Patrick Loehrer

Obstetrics and Gynaecology, East Africa

Introduction: Cervical cancer is the greatest cause of cancer-related death among women in Sub-Saharan Africa, with particularly high incidence and mortality rates in rural regions. In Kenya, Women with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) are at a greater risk of developing cervical cancer though screening rate remains low. Information, education and communication (IEC) materials play a crucial role in raising awareness, promoting screening, and supporting early detection and treatment; however, little is known about the accessibility, content, and perceived effectiveness of these materials from the perspective of WLHA.

Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the common sources, perceived communication efficacy …

Biocomputing Approach To Modeling And Modulating Calcium Signaling, Sehee Sun

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biocomputing is an emerging field that seeks to perform computational tasks using biological substrates and processes. Unlike conventional computing systems based on silicon hardware, biocomputing leverages the parallelism, energy efficiency, and complex dynamics of living systems. Among various cellular mechanisms, calcium (Ca2+) signaling stands out as a central regulator of diverse biological functions, offering a promising basis for programmable logic and control in living cells.

This thesis introduces a novel framework for modeling and modulating Ca2+ dynamics using biologically inspired Boolean logic circuits. Specifically, we propose the Ca2+ Boolean Logic (CaBL) model, in which Ca2+ fluxes and interactions are abstracted …

The Loss Of Opa1 Accelerates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration And Osteoarthritis In Aged Mice, Vedavathi Madhu, Miriam Hernandaz-Meadows, Ashley Coleman, Kimheak Sao, Kameron Inguito, Owen Haslam, Paige Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja Barve, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mitochondria in NP cells and articular chondrocyte health. Since the understanding of mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics in these tissues is lacking, we investigated the role of OPA1, a mitochondrial fusion protein, in their homeostasis. OPA1 knockdown in NP cells altered mitochondrial size and cristae shape and increased the oxygen consumption rate. OPA1 governed the morphology of multiple organelles, including peroxisomes, early endosomes and cis-Golgi and loss resulted in the dysregulation of autophagy. Metabolic profiling and

Bioenergy Crop Production: Implications For Grassland Bird Communities In Southwestern Nebraska, Grace E. Schuster

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biofuel and bioenergy systems are components of most climate stabilization pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. Currently, corn (Zea mays) is the predominant feedstock used for bioenergy production in the United States. However, widespread production of this monoculture crop has resulted in many negative environmental impacts. The most notorious impact has been the loss of grassland habitat due to agriculture expansion which has had detrimental effects on wildlife that depend on grassland habitat. One such group, grassland birds, has faced steeper, more consistent, and more widespread declines than any other avian guild. Therefore, strategies …

Strategies For Thoughtful Dissemination Of Climate Change Knowledge: A Blueprint For Scientists In The Heart Of The Empire, Christopher Cronk

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

This interdisciplinary research investigates how climate change education, Indigenous knowledge systems, journalism, and anthropology intersect in shaping environmental awareness and action, focusing primarily on Nepal and drawing parallels with Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America). Stationed in Kathmandu, I conducted interviews with climate educators, journalists, anthropologists, and activists to explore how scientific and local knowledge are communicated and acted upon. Findings highlight the strong awareness of climate change in Nepal, the systemic barriers to effective mitigation and adaptation, and the potential of community-led initiatives like the Community Forest Program. Anthropological insights proved crucial in linking human experience to environmental …

Flood Risk Reduction: An Analysis Of Policy, Policy Implementation, And The Role Of Non-Governmental Organisations, Elsa Cutler

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

As global temperatures rise, flood frequency and severity increase due to unpredictable rainfall, consequently escalating flood risk for Nepal's population. Therefore, implementing mitigation strategies and disaster risk reduction operations has become of utmost importance to effectively protect the people of Nepal. In 2024, countless lives were lost and a great deal of infrastructure was destroyed in Kathmandu due to the floods that swept through the city. The scale of damage the flood caused could have been minimized if the risk management policies in place were enforced properly. This investigation uses interviews, news reports, policies, policy analyses, and the case study …

Primary Investigation Of Rice-Fish Co-Culture: Investigating The Feasibility Of Raising Fish In Flooded Rice Paddies In The Southern Usa, Yulin Jia, Aaron K. Jackson, Bartholomew Green, S. Adam Fuller, Heather Box, Laduska Sells, Candis Ray, Paxton Harper, Brennan Smith

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

With limited land and water resources available it has become critical to maximize output for agricultural products while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Ricefish co-culture can be used to maximize limited land and water resources for production of rice and fish concurrently and reduce the need of chemical inputs. While rice-fish co-culture has been practiced in Asia for centuries, very few studies have examined the feasibility and economic impact of rice fish co-culture in the U.S.A. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.A. from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi …

To Pause With A Cliffhanger Or A Temporary Closure? The Differential Impact Of Serial Versus Episodic Narratives On Children's Physical Activity Behaviors, Amy Shirong Lu, Melanie C Green, Caio Victor Sousa, Jungyun Hwang, I-Min Lee, Debbe Thompson, Tom Baranowski

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Research has supported the effectiveness of narratives for promoting health behavior, but different narrative presentation formats (serial vs. episodic) have seldom been compared. Suspense theories suggest that serial narratives, which do not provide a full resolution at the end of an episode, may create higher motivation for continued engagement with a story. Forty-four 8 to 12-year-old children were randomly assigned to watch an animation series designed for an existing active video game in which the plot was delivered either continuously across multiple episodes (serial) or in multiple yet relatively independent self-contained episodes (episodic). Controlling for social desirability, children who watched …

A Brief Guide To Statistical Analysis Of Grouped Data In Preclinical Research, Colby J Vorland, Lilian Golzarri-Arroyo, David B Allison

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Clustering and nesting (C&N) arise in many preclinical studies such as when animals are group-housed, share litters, or in cell culture. Ignoring C&N undermines the validity of analyses. We explain how C&N arise and valid designs and analyses.

Exploring The Composition Of Forest Collaboratives In Northeastern Oregon, Lee K. Cervany, Rebecca J. Mclain, Kristen Wright

National Policy Consensus Center Publications

Community-based collaboration has been touted as an effective model for forest governance because it promotes democratized decision-making and stakeholder engagement to address landscape-scale problems. Forest collaboratives are assumed to be heterogeneous, consisting of stakeholders with a diverse range of interests. Few studies have systematically explored variables associated with collaborative composition. We identify six elements of collaborative composition for investigation: size, stakeholder diversity, balance, locality–diversity, core attendance, and cross-participation. This exploratory study examines five forest collaborative groups in eastern Oregon (USA). We analyzed meeting minutes over an 18-month period to track attendance and evaluate who shows up and at what frequency. …

Investigating The Role Of Msbdnf – Trkb Signaling In The Maintenance Of Mitochondrial Populations Through The Bnip3 Mitophagy Pathway, Jack A. Horton

All NMU Master's Theses

Maintenance of mitochondrial transport and clearance at the pre- and post-synaptic terminal is an essential function of neuromuscular junctions to meet their high energy demands. Damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria can put stress on these synaptic junctions, ultimately leading to the degradation of the synapse and subsequent cell death. Dysfunctional mitochondria are also often present in neuromuscular diseases such as ALS. One possible mechanism by which neurons may eliminate dysfunctional mitochondria is through the muscle-synthesized BDNF (msBDNF) /TrkB-mediated Bcl-2 nineteen-kD interacting protein (BNIP3) mitophagy pathway, although the relationship is not well-defined. BNIP3 localizes to the mitochondria and triggers a loss of …

Elucidating The Role Of Mir-10a/B In The Wound Healing Process In Larval Zebrafish, Jacquelyn E. Jacobs

All NMU Master's Theses

This study explores the regulatory role of microRNA-10 (miR-10) in larval zebrafish caudal fin regeneration, a model with broad implications for the future of regenerative medicine. Building on prior research from the lab, which indicated that miR-10 knockdown impairs regeneration, we verified this finding through rescue experiments, assessed its influence on healing projections, and examined its role in the innate immune response during the wound healing process. To address these questions, we employed a multi-faceted approach, including timed matings, microinjections, immunohistochemistry, fixed sample microscopy, and live imaging. Our results show that the experimental introduction of exogenous miR-10 can rescue the …

Foxo Factors’ Ability In Binding To And Inducing Tcf7 In Glioblastoma Cells, Stephanie Oyervides

Theses and Dissertations

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive astrocytoma tumor type with a poor prognosis and limited immunotherapeutic options for those inflicted. Stem gene expression of this cancer indicates a direct relationship with the transcription factors, Forkhead box subfamily O (FOXO-1, -3 and - 4). These transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved, partially redundant. They are involved in diverse and fundamental biological processes such as cell survival, stem cell homeostasis, cell fate determination, cell cycle maintenance, metabolism, and apoptosis. Increasing evidence suggests interconnectivity between the WNT Pathway and FOXO transcription factors; however, the mechanism and full extent to which these interactions play a …

Nantucket Eelgrass Management Plan, Kimberly Starbuck, Kristin Uiterwyk, Shannon Hogan

Urban Harbors Institute Publications

Eelgrass is a critical component of our coastal ecosystem, supporting marine biodiversity, improving water quality, and helping to stabilize the shoreline. This planning effort aims to support the long-term health and sustainability of eelgrass habitats in our local waters.

Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) is a subtidal seagrass found on both the east and west coasts of North America. Over the last 40 years, eelgrass has declined worldwide as a result of increased turbidity, algal blooms, physical disturbances, disease, and a host of other stressors. Specifically, in Massachusetts, the eelgrass population has declined approximately 50% in the last 30 …