Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Varying Biochar Concentrations On The Growth Of Lactuca Sativa (Newham Bibb Lettuce), Lauren Holler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this research experiment was to investigate the effectiveness of using biochar in potting soil in terms of plant growth and soil quality. This experiment was carried out using varying amounts (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) of biochar in the soil to see its effect on seed germination, plant growth, and soil quality such as pH, water retention, and soil temperature. The aim of the experiment was to identify whether biochar can be used in soil to promote healthier and stronger plants. There were four treatments which included 0% (Control), 5% (Treatment 1), 10% (Treatment 2), and 20% …

The Role Of The Avian Medial Hippocampal Formation In High-Similarity Spatial Discrimination, Alexandre Lebel

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Similar stimuli can create spatial-perceptual challenges, thus leading to errors in recall. To combat this interference, organisms rely on processes within the hippocampal formation (HF) that support the discrimination of highly similar memories. In mammals, memory interference is thought to be reduced by decreasing the correlation between traces of similar events; a process termed pattern separation, often by the dentate gyrus. The extent to which birds, which have granule cells (GCs) but lack a dentate gyrus, utilize HF-dependent mechanisms to mitigate memory retrieval errors remains unclear. This study investigates the role of the triangular region and area V (proposed homologs …

Robust Statistical Methods For Microbiome Abundance Data, Yiming Shi

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Differential abundance analysis in microbiome studies aims to identify taxa whose abundance differs across biological or clinical conditions. The observed data are typically taxon-specific sequencing read counts, representing reads assigned to different taxa within each sample. These counts are indirect measurements of the underlying microbial abundance profile and are constrained by sample-specific library sizes. Microbiome count data are also typically sparse, overdispersed, and heteroscedastic. Together, these characteristics create substantial challenges for differential abundance analysis and make the results highly sensitive to normalization procedures, model specification, and the statistical methods used for inference.

Normalization defines the scale on which samples are …

Investigating The Ability Of Presequences To Influence Mitochondrial Protein Import, Youmian Yan

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Mitochondria are essential organelles housing over 1000 proteins, 99% of which are nuclear-encoded and synthesized in the cytosol. Most mitochondrial proteins are targeted by a positively charged sequence called the presequence, which lacks a common sequence motif and is poorly conserved across evolution. Accumulating evidence suggests that presequences encode meaningful information that influences mitochondrial protein uptake. For instance, multiple stress response models propose that stress sensing proteins contain “weak” presequences which allows them to monitor mitochondrial health. However, there is a lack of systematic examination about how presequences influence import kinetics and what constitutes presequence strength. These gaps in knowledge …

Sar Ship Detection Based On Shallow Feature Guidance, Chenxu Xia, Peng Chen, Ya Zhang, Ying Li

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Maritime ship detection is of great significance for both military security and civilian applications. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), with its all-weather and all-day imaging capability, plays a vital role in maritime surveillance. Nevertheless, SAR ship targets typically appear small in scale, embedded in complex backgrounds, blurred at boundaries, and easily confused with near-shore features, which pose substantial challenges for accurate detection. To address these issues, we propose a SAR ship detection network that integrates dual enhancements of small-object representation and edge information. The network introduces two key components: the Small Target Refine Pyramid (STRP) to strengthen shallow feature representation for …

Enhancing Shipboard Safety Management Under The Ism Code: An Innovative Risk Assessment Framework With A Stern Tube Case Study, Pi-Yen Lin

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The shipboard safety management system (SMS) is designed to enhance safe operations, risk management, and emergency response to improve overall ship safety and efficiency. This paper demonstrates the use of an engine room simulator (ERS) for collecting failure modes and applies it to a comprehensive failure analysis of the stern tube lubricating oil system. A new risk closeness coefficient method was developed, integrating expert background knowledge and weighted risk assessments. The analysis, based on multiple expert evaluations, covered five subsystems, eight main components, 23 failure modes, and 112 failure causes. This study presents 26 recommendations for maritime practitioners and onboard …

Methods For Tagging Whale Sharks: Insights Into Performance And Best Practices With A Focus On Clamp Attachments, Freya C. Womersley, Sofia Green, Alberto Garcia-Baciero, Ronan Conlon, Amy L. Jeffries, Matt J. Waller, Sara S. Ratão, Nuno Queiroz, Pedro Afonso, Gonzalo Araujo, Adam Barnett, Christine Barry, Michael L. Berumen, Farukhkha Bloch, Ginevra Boldrocchi, Camrin D. Braun, Ryan Caillouet, Constance Chapman, Jesse E.M. Cochran

Faculty Publications

Background: Biologging and telemetry have transformed our understanding of marine megafauna movement ecology. Yet, methodological constraints continue to limit data quality and deployment duration. Devices recording whale shark (Rhincodon typus) behaviours and movements have been used for decades, but they remain challenging to deploy and vary in success. Recently, spring-loaded clamp-based systems have emerged as one of the most widely used approaches to attach electronic tags to the fins of this globally endangered species. Currently, however, no consensus guidelines exist as to how to optimise this approach, potentially leading to continued underperforming deployments limiting analysis potential. Here, we synthesise experiences …

A Global High-Resolution Comprehensive Heat Indices Dataset From 1950 To 2024, Abdul Malik, Sateesh Masabathini, Mohsin Ahmed Shaikh, Qinqin Kong, Muhammad Usman, Dasari Hari Prasad, Ibrahim Hoteit

All Works

Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent as global temperatures rise, affecting vulnerable populations, particularly in low-income communities. Addressing the impacts of heatwaves requires high-resolution data to assess their influence on labour productivity, public health, and climate risk. We introduce the Comprehensive Heat Indices (CHI) dataset, a high-resolution (0.1° × 0.1°) hourly dataset from 1950 to 2024, derived from the ERA5 and ERA5-Land reanalyses. The CHI dataset encompasses thirteen heat stress indices, including wet-bulb temperature, universal thermal climate index, mean radiant temperature, wind chill, and lethal heat stress index (Ls). Thresholds for Ls are empirically linked to mortality, enabling the …

Exploring Competitive Dynamics Between Pseudomonas Baetica And Salmonella In A Polymicrobial System, Braxton E.M. Stout

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The global rise in antimicrobial resistance has catalyzed a greater focus on polymicrobial research aimed at characterizing microbial interactions and uncovering new therapeutic strategies. Though it has long been of interest, environmental soil-derived bacteria remain largely under-represented in research and thus uncharacterized in this field. This project aimed to identify soil microbes that display inhibitory mechanisms to potential nosocomial pathogens. Soil sample S1S3-2 displayed inhibitory phenotypes toward numerous bacteria and was identified as Pseudomonas baetica. In both planktonic and biofilm growth, P. baetica was able to inhibit Salmonella arizonae through a contact-dependent and temperature-dependent manner. Screening of a transposon insertion …

Risk Factors Associated With Hair Loss Severity Among Female University Students: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study, Roaa Mohammed Jabbar, Rusul Mahdi Abid

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Hair loss is a frequent health problem of women and can have an adverse impact on physical appearance, body image and quality of life. Its development has been attributed to a number of demographics, lifestyle and clinical factors, but which factors have the greatest influence on its development is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the demographical, lifestyle and clinical parameters with hair loss severity among female university students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among female university students', and data collected using a structured questionnaire, and statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post …

Community-Based Well Testing And Outreach To Mitigate Human Health Risk From Unsafe Drinking Water, W. Adam Sigler, Katharine Sutphen, Margaret J Eggers, Kaleena Miller, Michelle Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Twenty-two percent of groundwater wells tested nationwide have one or more contaminants above a health threshold, yet many private well owners are unaware of these risks because they have not tested their water. Researchers piloted a community well testing clinic for education/outreach and surveyed participants about outcomes. Two months later, 75% of participants with high or intermediate health risk water quality results had taken action or intended to, indicating that community private well testing clinics can be effective in mitigating human health risks from contaminated drinking water.

Artificial Sentience: From Computational Functionalism To Behaviourism?, Wanja Wiese

Animal Sentience

I critically examine Jonathan Birch’s account of how brain emulations might create artificial sentience candidates, arguing that his account risks collapsing into a behaviourist account, unless the specific computational processes realised by such emulations are carefully considered. Drawing on examples from computational neuroscience, I show that similar behaviours can arise from vastly different computational processes, thereby undermining the suggestion to focus on behaviourial profiles to determine whether a brain emulation of a sentience candidate is itself a sentience candidate.

Radiological And Chemical Safety Assessment Of Drinking Water From Treatment Plants And Rivers In Kut City, Iraq, Ahmed A. Alswaty, Hadi D. Alattabi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, particularly wastewater discharge into rivers, have raised pollution levels in the water sources of Kut City, necessitating an assessment of the radiological and chemical safety of drinking water at the city's treatment plants. Thirteen water samples were collected, comprising ten treated and three raw water samples from the source rivers. An HPGe detector was used to measure the radionuclides ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Bi, ²¹²Pb, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs. All measured radionuclides were below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). ICP-OES analysis supported these findings, as U concentrations in most samples were …

Junior High School Students’ Understanding Of Pathogenic Microbes In The School Environment: A Cross-Grade Descriptive Study At Smp Alkhairaat 1 Palu, Feren Febrianti, I Nengah Kundera, Yulia Windarsih, Mohammad Jamhari, Mursito S. Bialangi, Abdul Ashari

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aimed to describe students’ understanding of pathogenic microbes and compare descriptive comprehension profiles across Grades VII, VIII, and IX at SMP Alkhairaat 1 Palu. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed involving 49 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an essay test as the primary instrument, supported by semi-structured interviews and observations of the school environment. The essay test assessed three indicators: conceptual knowledge of pathogenic microbes, understanding of disease transmission mechanisms, and understanding of clean and healthy practices for preventing the transmission of pathogenic microbes. Test data were analyzed descriptively using mean percentage scores, while …

Tarantulas Can Use Black And White Cues In A Discrimination Learning Task, Jordan Kolinski, Becky Hansis O'Neill, Amiee Dunlap

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Animals use vision to perceive light, shapes, colors, and movement. Many animals that have poor vision are understudied. The purpose of this experiment was to study color vision in tarantulas (Brachypelma hamorii). Researchers have found genes associated with color vision tarantulas, but no behavioral experiments have been done on this topic. Previous research has also shown that tarantulas can see polarized light. In this experiment, we wanted to know if tarantulas could use visual cues to move away from a noxious stimulus - vibration. There were twelve tarantulas being tested in this experiment for between twelve and fifteen …

Under The Surface: Human Disturbance Reduces Species Richness In Glade Microhabitats, Maddie Smith, Becky Hansis-O'Neill, Aimee Dunlap Phd

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Human disturbance can alter microhabitats in ways that affect biodiversity, especially in sensitive ecosystems like glades where many animals rely on rocks for thermoregulation and refuge. This study examined how rock displacement by human activity influences species richness and community composition in glade habitats at Shaw Nature Reserve and Victoria Glades Conservation Area. We hypothesized that disturbed rocks would be less suitable for wildlife and would support fewer species. From September to November 2025, about 30 rocks per site were pseudo-randomly selected and monitored. Each rock was classified as displaced or nondisplaced, and all organisms found beneath them were recorded. …

Sex-Related Differences In Fingerprint Minutiae Counts Among Secondary School Students In Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria, Olukayode Olushola Odubela, Osonuga Ifabunmi Oduyemi, Dr Kazeem Adeyinka Adeboyejo, Opeyemi Abel Bamgbose

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Background: Dermatoglyphic minutiae are permanent epidermal ridge characteristics widely utilized in forensic identification and biometric science. Previous studies have demonstrated sex-related differences in fingerprint ridge morphology and ridge count, with females generally exhibiting higher ridge count than males. However, quantitative minutiae-based studies among Nigerian adolescents remain limited. This study evaluated sex-related and bilateral variations in fingerprint minutiae among secondary school students in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study involved 300 apparently healthy students aged 14–18 years, recruited from an initial pool of 318 students assessed for eligibility across Batoro Community Grammar School, Remo Secondary School, and Remo …

Exploratory Concurrent Associations Between K-Kyphometer And Flexicurve-Derived Kyphosis Measures (Kyphosis Index And Kyphosis Angle): Preliminary Study, Pimonpan Taweekarn, Kunavut Vannajak

Journal of Health Research

Background: Quantifying thoracic kyphosis is essential in musculoskeletal and rehabilitation practice. Although radiographic Cobb angle is commonly treated as a reference standard, repeated imaging is limited by cost and radiation exposure. Therefore, clinicians frequently use non-radiographic tools such as inclinometers and flexicurve rulers, which have shown acceptable reliability and variable levels of validity in different populations. The objective of this study was examine Pearson correlations between a patented K-Kyphometer (Utility Patent No. 23366) and two flexicurve-derived measures—Kyphosis Index (KI) and Kyphosis Angle (K angle).

Methods: In this cross-sectional correlation study (N=28), thoracic kyphosis was assessed using the K-Kyphometer and …

Carbon Sequestration Potential Of Urban Green Spaces In Guinea Savanna Area Of Nigeria, Alexander Terdoo Akighirga, Babatunde Saheed Bada, Abiodun Olusegun Oladoye, Benard Bunde Meer, Dau Henry Japheth

Journal of Bioresource Management

Rapid urbanization and associated emissions have increased the need to quantify the carbon-storage role of urban green spaces. This study assessed the carbon sequestration potential of roadside tree corridors in Makurdi, within Nigeria’s Guinea Savanna Zone. In this study, sequestration potential denotes standing above-ground carbon stock and carbon dioxide-equivalent stock rather than an annual rate. Six 2 km road segments were purposively selected, and all live trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm within a 2 m-wide band on both sides were inventoried, covering 4.8 ha. Stem diameters at the base, middle and upper sections and total height were …

Evaluating Waste Reduction Efficiency Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) On Different Waste Types: A Comparative Study On Kitchen, Fruit, And Vegetable Waste, Hannah Mawutor Attipoe, Yvonne Afua Sika Adjei, Sharon Gyekyewaa Asare, Obadiah Opoku-Bamfoh, Gifty Boakye Appiah, Ndep Ntui Asundep, Sandra Abankwa Kwarteng

Journal of Bioresource Management

In many developing countries, food waste constitutes a significant share of municipal solid waste and is often poorly managed, causing environmental degradation. Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL), Hermetia illucens, have emerged as a promising tool for the bioconversion of organic waste. This study evaluated the waste reduction efficiency of BSFL reared on kitchen, fruit, and vegetable wastes and assessed the effect of larval density. Each waste type was subjected to four larval densities (450, 650, 850, and 1050 larvae), with larvae- free treatments serving as controls. Each feeding consisted of 700 g of waste, supplied every four days over a …

Genetic Improvement Of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) For Enhancing Grain Yield And Adaptability Under Changing Climate, Muhammad Umer Farooq, Fida Hussain, Mehvish Makhdoom, Najaf Batool, Javed Ahmad, Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Minahel Shahzadi

Journal of Bioresource Management

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a fundamental major crop that serves a critical role in ensuring worldwide food availability and sustainability, particularly in developing countries such as Pakistan. Its productivity and yield stability are increasingly threatened by climate change induced stresses such as heat, drought, salinity, evolving pests and disease dynamics. These abiotic and biotic stresses disturb key biological and developmental processes, consequently leading to a decline in grain production and quality. This review synthesizes recent advances in wheat genetic improvement, focusing on breeding strategies and emerging technologies for enhancing grain yield and climate resilience. i.e., how genetic variation, …

Ecological And Public Health Consequences Of Sand Mining In Aquatic Ecosystems: A Systematic Review, Uduak Sylvanus Jacob, Isangedighi Asuquo Isangedighi, Olusola Abayomi Akangbe, Emmanuel Dami Omogbemi

Journal of Bioresource Management

The persistent exploitation of the aquatic ecosystem, driven by increasing demand for aquatic resources, including construction-grade sand, is evidenced by hydrological and geomorphological degradation of the aquatic ecosystem, with severe negative consequences on the fauna and flora communities. The rising global demand for sand and inefficient mining regulations have resulted in indiscriminate and illegal sand mining globally. However, developing an effective policy framework for sustained river sand mining requires local, regional, and global data (both qualitative and quantitative) on the status, drivers and implications of sand mining. This paper uses a systematic literature review approach to compile the ecological and …

Scombrotoxin Poisoning In Marine Fish From Unguja Island, Zanzibar: Risks And Public Health Concerns, Khamis O. Haji, Prosper L. Mfilinge, Mwita J. Chacha

Tanzania Journal of Science

Histamine is the primary cause of Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning (SFP) worldwide and poses health risks to populations dependent on fish and fish products. This study investigated histamine levels, awareness of SFP among health-care personnel and consumers, and fish preservation practices in Zanzibar. Three species, Auxis thazard, Sardinella gibbosa, and Lethrinus mahsena, were sampled on board (at sea during fishing), at landing sites, and in markets in Malindi and Chwaka. Histamine concentrations were measured using an amperometric enzymatic biosensor (BIOFISH-300 HIS, Biolan). Additionally, 270 consumers and 72 health-care personnel were surveyed using structured questionnaires, while post- harvest handling and preservation practices …

The Application Of The Group Investigation (Gi) Model Of Cooperative Learning To Improve Students’ Understanding Of Biodiversity In Year 10 At Sman 2 Mori Atas, Nadia Rosmita Lumako, Mohammad Jamhari, Yulia Windarsih, Lilies Lilies, Rafiqa Rafiqa, Amalia Buntu

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Biology instruction at SMAN 2 Mori Atas was predominantly conducted through conventional teaching practices. Preliminary observations revealed that students had difficulty understanding biodiversity concepts, and several students did not meet the minimum passing criterion of 70. These conditions highlighted the need for learning activities that promote active investigation, discussion, and conceptual connections. This classroom action research examined the use of the Group Investigation (GI) cooperative learning model to improve Grade 10 students’ classroom engagement and conceptual understanding of biodiversity, as assessed through Higher-Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions based on the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy. The study involved …

The Effect Of The Problem-Based Learning Model On Biology Learning Outcomes In The 8th Grade Science Class At Smp Negeri 19 Palu, Delfi Srieviyani, Mursito S. Bialangi, Masrianih Masrianih, Abd Hakim Laenggeng, Vita Indri Febriani, Bustamin Bustamin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Research background: The low student achievement in biology at SMP Negeri 19 Palu specifically regarding the human respiratory system is attributed to the conventional teaching methods still employed by teachers. Purpose and scope of the article: This study examines the effect of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model on students’ learning outcomes in biology, specifically regarding the human respiratory system. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design with a quantitative approach. The research design employed was a nonequivalent control group design using two groups: an experimental group (Class VIII D) consisting of 25 students who received the PBL model, and a …

Evaluation Of The Dhcr7/Nadsyn1 Rs4944946 Variant And Breast Cancer Susceptibility: A Case-Control Study In An Indonesian Cohort, Dian Tri Wahyudi, Rafika Indah Paramita, Sonar Soni Panigoro

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Background: The rs4944946 variant, located in the 5’UTR of the DHCR7 gene and upstream of NADSYN1, is biologically implicated in vitamin D and cholesterol metabolism pathways closely linked to cancer pathogenesis. This study aimed to experimentally validate the association between the rs4944946 polymorphism and breast cancer susceptibility in an independent cohort of Indonesian women. Method: A case-control study was conducted involving 36 breast cancer patients and 39 healthy adult females. Genotyping of the rs4944946 variant was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genetic association was evaluated across codominant, dominant, and recessive models. Luminal B was the …

The Cognitive Construction Of Sustainable Environmental Awareness Through Green Language Pedagogy In Second Language Acquisition, Meral Yavuz Kartal, Osman Yılmaz Kartal

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The escalating global ecological crisis highlights the need for new approaches to sustainability education, while the cognitive role of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) remains underexplored. This study employs a critical literature review with a systematic search and qualitative thematic synthesis to develop a proposed Green Language Pedagogy (GLP) model. The review followed a four-stage screening protocol (identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion) and analyzed 50 theoretical and empirical sources published between 2014 and 2025. This analysis of the selected literature reveals a stark disparity: an estimated 85% of the reviewed environmental education research focuses on factual knowledge transfer, whereas only 15% …

Construction And Use Of Strawberry Planting Tools For Transplanting Bare Root Strawberry Transplants, Justin Ballew, Zachary Snipes, Christiana Paige Huss, Brittney King

Horticulture

Planting strawberries requires a degree of attention and skill to ensure that transplants are set at the correct depth and that their roots are not folded or bunched in the planting holes. This article describes how to construct and use a simple, cost-effective planting tool that makes proper planting easier for workers. Plans for constructing the tools are included, as are links to English and Spanish training videos.

Medicinal Plants: An Introduction, James P. Smith Jr

Botanical Studies

No abstract provided.

Poisonous And Injurious Vascular Plants Of The United States: An Introduction, James P. Smith Jr

Botanical Studies

No abstract provided.