Digital Commons Network^™

Menstrual Cycle Phase Effects On Alcohol-Impaired Driving Performance And Risk Awareness, Annie K. Griffith

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Growing evidence indicates that risky behavior among women is elevated during the late follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, likely due to increased estradiol levels. Furthermore, alcohol-induced impairment of women’s inhibitory control is significantly greater during the late versus early follicular phase. Consequently, cycle phase may influence outcomes of poor inhibitory control while intoxicated, such as alcohol-impaired driving. Alcohol-impaired driving risk manifests in two ways: risk-taking while driving, and risk awareness regarding the decision to drive. This dissertation tested the hypothesis that alcohol-induced increases in driver risk-taking and decreases in risk awareness would be exacerbated during the late versus early …

Biphasic Calcium Disturbance In Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report Of Recovery Phase Severe Hypercalcemia, Maham Shahid, Jean C. Ramos-Cardona, Maria Toustsoglou, Gunjan Y. Gandhi

South Atlantic Division GME Research Days 2026

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Hyperthyroidism On Mouse Corneal Innervation: Implications For Human Cornea Re-Innervation, Anjali Malali

Research Honors

To test the effects of elevated TH during cornea development, our lab has collaborated with Dr. Juan Davila (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) to develop an embryonic mouse model of hyperthyroidism. Embryos were exposed to high levels of TH in utero by adding TH to the pregnant mother’s drinking water. Upon collection of the embryos, elevated blood thyroid levels in the pregnant mother were analyzed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and eye tissues were collected and preserved for analysis of corneal nerve innervation patterns. By utilizing immunohistochemistry in order to visualize corneal innervation in mouse embryos, this project studied whether …

First Report Of A Trematode Infection In An Invasive Population Of Pomacea Maculata: Evidence Of A Phaneropsolid (Trematoda: Microphalloidea) And Recommended Methods For Surveillance, Jonah A. Nguyen, Lori Tolley-Jordan, Annie P. Slayton, Bradley M. Richardson, Thomas G. Rosser

Research, Publications & Creative Work

Giant apple snails, Pomacea maculata (Caenogastropoda: Ampullariidae), are native to South America but are now invasively established in subtropical freshwater habitats worldwide. In May 2017, P. maculata from an urban pond in Mobile, Alabama, USA were found infected with a larval trematode, prompting further collections to determine prevalence and investigate effects of infection by snail sex and size. In total, 284 snails (n = 184 female, n = 100 male) were collected in May, August, and October of 2017 and 2018. Of these, 60 females and 23 males were infected with prevalence per sampling event ranging from 4 to …

Colorimetric Measurement Of Ammonium (Nh4+): A Comparison Of Hanna And Lamotte Meters, Abby Laughlin, Dalton Palmer, Bruce Bugbee

Techniques and Instruments

Both meters were similarly accurate. The LaMotte meter is about 25% lower initial cost than the HANNA meter, but the HANNA meter has other advantages: lower cost and more available test kits, greater range, and ease of use.

Brief Therapy Dog Interactions May Increase Self-Efficacy And Lower Perceived Stress And Cortisol In High School Students: A Preliminary Study, Dawn Melzer, Deirdre Yeater, Madison Derubis, Christiana Rose Kohlroser, Barbara J. Pierce

Psychology Faculty Publications

The present study examined changes in high schoolers’ perceived stress, general self-efficacy and cortisol levels after a brief interaction with a certified therapy dog. High school students completed self-report measures of perceived stress and general self-efficacy and provided salivary cortisol samples both before and after a 10-min interaction with a certified therapy dog. Following the interaction, students reported reductions in perceived stress scores, exhibited lower salivary cortisol concentrations and demonstrated increases in self-efficacy scores compared to before the interaction. Although higher self-efficacy scores were observed, general self-efficacy is generally regarded as a stable construct; therefore, these findings may reflect a …

Organized Sports-Based Interventions And Motor Outcomes In Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review, Kailash Ram, Maeren Hill, Caitlyn Stewart, Kaitlin P. Hardy Md, Sonia Khurana

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of organized sports-based interventions on motor outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method

Four databases were searched from inception to November 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs) reporting motor outcomes of organized sports-based interventions in children with ASD. Risk of bias was evaluated using ROB-2 (Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool, Version Two) for RCTs and ROBINS-I (Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies - of Interventions) for NRCTs.

Results

Eleven studies (six RCTs, five NRCTs) were included and categorized as martial arts (n = 5), aquatic training (n = …

Factors Influencing Tree Vigor And Structural Failure Along Powerline Corridors In Northern California: A Multi-Species Analysis, David Justin Dorval

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Tree failures (e.g., stem breakage, uprooting, or branch drop) can pose significant risks to public safety, particularly along powerline corridors for the risk of power outages and wildfire ignitions. In California, tree-related powerline failures have led to severe ecological and human costs in recent years. Despite extensive research on tree failure in urban environments and post-disturbance contexts, comparatively little empirical work has examined where powerlines intersect largely unmanaged stands. This study evaluates tree failure trends across multiple forest types in Northern California by examining how tree-level characteristics influence recent growth and failure occurrence in regionally dominant tree species. Specifically, the …

Baker Cypress (Hesperocyparis Bakeri) In A Changing Fire Landscape: Characterizing Fire Refugia And Guiding Post-Fire Reforestation, Olivia Lorraine Moskowitz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Increasing wildfire frequency threatens serotinous, fire-obligate species that depend on sufficient fire-free intervals to develop seed banks for reproduction. These species require fire intense enough to trigger seed release and create favorable substrate and light levels for regeneration, yet consecutive fires that reburn populations before they reach maturity can cause local population contraction or extirpation. Understanding the environmental drivers of natural regeneration and mature tree survival, as well as when and how active reforestation should supplement natural recovery, is critical for managing fire-adapted species under altered fire regimes.

This thesis uses Baker cypress (Hesperocyparis bakeri [Jeps.] Bartel), a rare …

Aquatic Habitat Use By Western Toads And American Bullfrogs In California’S Central Valley: Effects Of Local Habitat Characteristics And Landscape Composition, Kaitlyn Breana Hernandez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Drastic losses of historic wetland habitat in the California Central Valley have caused widespread population declines and extirpations of aquatic breeding amphibians. Efforts to restore wetland habitat have included private land, which represents 70% of land tenure in the Central Valley. Management of these restored wetlands is focused on waterfowl with the assumption that they will provide habitat for native herpetofauna. This study used combined surveys to test the assumption that restored wetlands on private land provide habitat for native amphibians with the western toad (Anaxyrus boreas) as a case study. The objectives were to use environmental DNA …

Relational Approaches To Fire Resilience: Designing A Living Shaded Fuel Break With Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Natalee Nicole Lopes

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Escalating wildfire severity across California reflects not only changing climatic conditions but also the cumulative impacts of colonial land management systems that have disrupted Indigenous fire stewardship and altered forest structure and function. This project examines how wildfire mitigation infrastructure, specifically linear fuel treatments, such as fuel breaks, can be reimagined through Indigenous relational frameworks of care-based land stewardship. Grounded in Happy Camp (Athithúfvuunupma), California, within the ancestral homelands of the Karuk Tribe along the mid-Klamath River, this research is carried out in collaboration with Karuk knowledge holders, centering Indigenous knowledge systems and priorities.

Using a mixed-methods approach that integrates …

From Theory To Ecosystems: Exploring Biodiversity And Ecosystem-Function In Pitcher Plant (Darlingtonia Californica) Microbial Communities, Gavin Sutter

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem-function (BEF) has been a central focus of ecological research for the last three decades, yet the role of space in shaping BEF relationships remains relatively unknown. Research has shown that community diversity and composition can strongly influence productivity, nutrient cycling, and decomposition, but much of this work treats communities as spatially isolated, leaving open how dispersal and other spatial processes shape BEF at broader scales. To begin addressing this gap, I used microbial communities inhabiting Darlingtonia californica pitcher plant leaves to evaluate how spatial organization and successional change shape biodiversity and ecosystem-functioning. I quantified …

Effects Of Coaching Interventions On Burnout And Mental Health Outcomes Among Collegiate Athletes: A Meta-Analysis, Natalie Mitchell

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This meta-analysis examined the effects of coaching interventions on burnout and mental health outcomes among collegiate athletes. Following PRISMA guidelines, literature published from 1980 onward was searched across SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and ProQuest Theses & Dissertations. Studies were included if they assessed burnout, psychological well-being, or related mental health outcomes in collegiate athletes and investigated a coaching intervention. Twelve interventional studies met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, coaching interventions varied in structure, duration, sport context, and cultural setting, with most emphasizing intrapersonal strategies and emotional or mental health outcomes. Meta-analytic results indicated small, non-significant effects favoring …

Assessing The Effects Of Theta Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation During Working Memory Performance On Theta-Gamma Phase Amplitude Coupling In Healthy Adults, Samantha M. Zimmer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is an emerging form of noninvasive brain stimulation with substantial effects on behavior and brain function due to its ability to entrain endogenous neural oscillations. Working memory is a cognitive process that involves holding onto information that is no longer present in the environment and manipulating or reorganizing information for immediate use. Theta oscillations are critical for the functionality of the frontoparietal network and are involved in strengthening communication and coordination between frontal and parietal brain regions, especially during working memory processing. TACS applied at the theta frequency, targets theta oscillations, strengthens network communications, and …

Real-Time Immersive Wildfire Simulation: A Game Engine Approach, Jake Bova

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Wildfires are growing in frequency, size, and severity, placing escalating demands on firefighting resources and putting lives, property, and ecosystems at risk. Accurate prediction of fire behavior is critical to suppression planning, evacuation decisions, and firefighter training, yet the operational models that fire managers rely upon face a persistent tradeoff. High-fidelity physics-based models capture fire–atmosphere interactions faithfully but are computationally expensive, often running far slower than real time on CPU hardware, while faster empirical models sacrifice the dynamic coupling between a fire and the wind field it generates. Furthermore, most existing tools produce abstract, two-dimensional outputs that offer limited visual …

Reinterpreting Stochastic Optimal Control Under Ecological Uncertainty: Inferring Decision Urgency From Vegetation Biomass Dynamics, Komi Mensah Agboka, Tobias Landmann, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Stochastic optimal control provides a rigorous framework for systems subject to uncertainty, yet its operational use in ecological crisis contexts remains limited by interpretability. We reinterpreted a stochastic control formulation in which selected parameters emerged as indicators of decision urgency rather than normative preferences. Vegetation biomass was modeled as a stochastic stock subject to nonlinear loss driven by feeding pressure (e.g., desert locust activity) and multiplicative noise, with uncertainty represented by a time-varying volatility term that integrated extreme rainfall anomalies and conflict-related disruption. Rather than prescribing an optimal policy, we inverted the closed-form solution of the control problem to infer …

Fumigant Toxicity Of Essential Oils From Chemotypes Of Curry Tree (Murraya Koenigii) Against Adult African Malaria Mosquito (Anopheles Gambiae Sensu Stricto), Clarence M. Mang’Era, Fathiya M. Khamis, Ahmed Hassanali, Paul O. Mireji

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The toxicity of fumigant formulations of essential oils (EOs) from curry tree (Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng (Rutaceae)) against African malaria adult mosquito (Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto (Giles, 1902) (Diptera: Culicidae: Culicini)) was evaluated to identify most effective chemotype of the curry tree against the mosquitoes. Ninety-two compounds (91.78%–96.47% coverage) in the EO profiles were identified, among which EO isolated from curry tree chemotype from Kibwezi was most toxic. This chemotype had a median lethal dose (LD50) of 3.6 × 10⁻³ mg/cm³ (95% CI: 2.70–4.58) and a lethal time (Ti50) of 1.91 ± 0.086 h (p < 0.001). The equivalent LD50 of EOs of chemotypes from Mombasa, Makindu, and Malindi in Kenya was 4.9 × 10⁻³, 6.6 …

Transcriptomic And Epigenetic Analysis Of Dormant Grape Buds During Chilling Fulfillment, Imasha Thilakarathna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Conservation Value Of Silvicultural Systems For Breeding And Post-Fledging Bird Communities In Northeastern North America, Christopher Andrew Liazos

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Forest bird community decline in the eastern United States is partly due to the lack of early-and-late-successional forests stemming from historic land use. Silviculture can create underrepresented forest age classes and structures to support avian communities during the breeding and post-fledging periods. In southwestern New Hampshire, we conducted a case study evaluating avian conservation value indices across silvicultural systems. Our goal was to observe how avian conservation value indexes and abundance differed between recently managed and unmanaged stands. We surveyed 215 breeding and 118 post-fledging points across 22 sites using point counts and vegetation surveys. Conservation values in the breeding …

Recirculated Submarine Groundwater Discharge Dominates Nutrient Inputs And Enhances Eutrophication Risk In A Coastal Lagoon, Júlia Rodriguez-Puig, Clara Ruiz-González, Marc Diego-Feliu, Irene Alorda-Montiel, Aaron Alorda-Kleinglass, Daniel Romano-Gude, Andrea G. Bravo, Júlia Dordal-Soriano, Javier Gilabert, Sophia Bergeler, Celine Lavergne, Gemma Casas, Marisol Manzano, Jordi Garcia-Orellana, Valentí Rodellas

OES Faculty Publications

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is a widely recognized pathway for nutrient transport to coastal systems. Prior studies overlook the unique biogeochemical signatures of different SGD pathways, neglecting their differences in biogeochemical transformations and spatiotemporal factors. Here, we present an integrated assessment of nutrient delivery through three SGD pathways (fresh SGD, long‐scale recirculated SGD, and short‐scale porewater exchange), alongside surface water inputs, to evaluate their seasonality and impact on nutrient dynamics in a coastal lagoon. We conducted five field surveys in March, July, and November 2021, July 2024, and March 2025 in the Mar Menor lagoon, an ecosystem facing severe ecological …

Bridging The Gap Between Function-Based And Iddsi Standards In Dysphagia Care, Chien-Hui Cheng

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

No abstract provided.

The Disruption Of Gastrointestinal Hormonal Control Of Digestion In Nile Tilapia By Omeprazole, Rema Abutaha

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Stomach acidity is a critical feature of the digestive system, facilitating the breakdown of protein through the activation of the protease pepsin. Gastric acid is secreted by H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, the gastric proton pump. A previous study on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) showed that inhibiting the production of stomach acid using the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (omz), reduced growth that correlated with an acceleration of the rate of gastric emptying. This contrasts with omz exposure studies in mammals in which there is a delay in gastric emptying and no impact on growth. To understand the mechanism …

Eeg Correlates Of Tactile Synchrony, Devon K. R. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

New research on the tactile system has suggested that cortical representations of body parts are not fixed, as previously thought, and are instead dynamically maintained through constant sensorimotor information and feedback. Within the somatosensory cortex (S1), the capacity for both permanent and temporary changes have been the topic of ongoing research. The current study aimed to corroborate whether 24 hours of a finger adhesion manipulation is sufficient to elicit behavioural and electrophysiological correlates from cortical reorganization of digit representations in S1, using a behavioural paradigm outlined by Kolasinski et al. (2016). Through electroencephalography (EEG) recording during a tactile discrimination task, …

Methylseleninic Acid Transformations In Nutrient Rich Water Containing Algae Exposed To Simulated Sunlight, Mikayla Cormier

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Methylseleninic acid (MSA(IV)) is an organic form of selenium that has been suggested to be one of the most bioaccumulative forms of selenium in aquatic ecosystems. However, there have been no lab studies that confirm this, which is the reason this study was conducted. Once MSA(IV) and other bioavailable forms of selenium enter aquatic ecosystems, organisms such as algae take up these compounds which then bioaccumulate through the food chain. S. obliquus was exposed to 10 ppb MSA(IV) in 10% Bold’s basal medium (BBM) in a growth chamber to mimic environmental conditions over a 7-day period. Carbon traps and filters …

Identifying The Physical Activity Promotion Practices Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists: Patients With Endometriosis And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Allison P. Herman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Despite efforts to promote physical activity, many females in Canada do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. For individuals with gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), physical activity may aid in symptom management and improve daily functioning. Healthcare settings, including obstetrics and gynecology, represent an area of opportunity to promote physical activity among this population. This thesis aims to understand the physical activity promotion practices of Ontario-based Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OBGYNs) to patients with endometriosis and/or PCOS. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore OBGYNs promotional practices and perceived factors influencing their engagement in physical …

Acute Fatty Liver Of Pregnancy And Fetal Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders: A Systematic Review, Dante Varotsis, Sarah Araji, Rebecca Horgan, Jennifer E. Powel, Rodney Mclaren Jr., Brian Kirmse, Mona Makhamreh, Huda B. Al-Kouatly

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the association between maternal acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) and fetal fatty acid oxidation (FAO) disorders and to define the clinical and genetic characteristics of mothers with AFLP and their fetuses affected by FAO disorders, we performed a systematic literature review of all reported cases of AFLP that underwent genetic testing for FAO disorders.

DATA SOURCES:

We searched PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (EBSCO), Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov. Terms included were related to AFLP and FAO testing.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION:

We conducted a systematic literature review from inception through May 18, 2025, to evaluate the …

Considerations For The Analysis Of Urinary Environmental Chemical Concentrations During Pregnancy, Danielle R. Stevens, Kaleigh Hinton, Katie M. O'Brien, Jessie P. Buckley, Barrett M. Welch, Jason A. Watts, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne C. Botelho, Elena Sinkovskaya, Ann Przybylska, George Saade, Alfred Abuhamad, Kelly K. Ferguson

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background:

Pregnancy physiology may impact indicators of hydration, affecting exposure assessment in gestational studies with urinary chemical biomarkers.

Methods:

We aimed to characterize hydration and demonstrate the impact of different methods for standardizing urinary chemical biomarker concentrations on exposure descriptives in the Human Placenta and Phthalates Study (n = 303, 2017-2020), a prospective pregnancy cohort with eight study visits between 12 and 38 weeks of gestation. We assessed trajectories and predictors of hydration using urine flow rate (UFR) and specific gravity (SG). Likewise, we examined trajectories and predictors of mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), for which concentrations were unstandardized or standardized via …

Evaluating The Mediating Role Of Gestational Phthalate And Replacement Biomarkers In The Associations Between Race/Ethnicity And Birthweight, Amir J. Lueth, Danielle R. Stevens, Sarahna A. Moyd, Elena Sinkovskaya, Ann Przybylska, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne C. Botelho, George Saade, Alfred Abuhamad, Kelly K. Ferguson

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background

Gestational exposure to phthalates is higher among non-Hispanic black (NHB) women than non-Hispanic white (NHW) women and may contribute to racial/ethnic differences in birthweight z-scores.

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether gestational phthalate and replacement biomarkers mediate the association between race/ethnicity and birthweight z-scores.

Methods

We analyzed data from 271 pregnancies in the Human Placenta and Phthalates study, a prospective cohort recruited from 2017 to 2020. Urinary phthalate metabolite concentrations were measured at up to eight time points during pregnancy and averaged to represent gestational exposure. Metabolites were grouped by parent compound. Linear regression models estimated associations in phthalate …

Applications And Challenges Of Utilizing Digital Pathology And Ai-Enabled Workflows In Clinical Trials, Manu Sebastian, Harsh Batra, Monika Lamba Saini, Staci Kearney, Lorcan Sherry, Serge Alexanian, Michael Cohen, William Weber, Joe Lennerz, Anil V Parwani

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

This is a comprehensive review on current utilization and challenges of digital pathology adoption in clinical trials and aims to provide a broad view on its impact on pathology review processes in clinical trials. It provides an overview of current pathology review practices in clinical trials and unique advantages digital pathology adoption can offer. The key areas including existing workflows, use case scenarios in different disease areas in clinical trials, including but not limited to patient identification and pre-screening, and regulatory aspects have been described with relevance. In addition, the review delves into the integration of genomics, AI, image analysis, …

Ultra-Processed Foods And The Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Continuum: Integrating Epidemiological, Multi-Omics, And Translational Evidence, Saiful Singar, Amirhossein Ataei Kachouei, Leandro Lantigua-Somoano, David Manley, Anthony Cardinale, Muhammad Zulfiqah Sadikan, Saurabh Kadyan, Donya Shahamati, Lorena Dias, Amber Wood, Cinthia Chavarria, Sara K. Rosenkranz, Neda S. Akhavan

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome integrates excess adiposity, metabolic dysfunction, kidney impairment, subclinical cardiovascular diseases, and clinical events along a staged continuum that invites unified prevention and treatment. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are a complex, high-prevalence exposure that may influence risk across CKM stages through nutrient profiles, additives, processing-induced compounds, and packaging-related contaminants. This review synthesizes epidemiologic, mechanistic, and translational evidence with attention to exposure definition and analytic rigor. We summarize NOVA-based UPF operationalization across dietary assessment tools, highlighting misclassification of mixed dishes, brand heterogeneity, and energy under-reporting, and we propose further examination of energy-adjusted models, calibration, and harmonized metrics. Observational studies consistently …