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Effects Of Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi On Phosphorus Availability, Retention, And Soil Chemical Properties In Shallot Cultivated On Andisols Of North Sumatra, Agustina Erlinda Marpaung, Tengku Sabrina, Abdul Rauf, Dwi Ningsih Susilowati

Jurnal Kultivasi

The availability of phosphorus (P) is one of the main limiting factors for plant productivity in Andisol soils due to the strong fixation of P by allophane clay minerals, aluminum and iron oxides. Giving the phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) is an alternative to increase available P which plants can use to increase the yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphate-solubilizing fungi (PSF) in improving P availability on Andisol. The experiment used a block randomized design (BRD) with three replications. The first factor is Andisol soil origin (Soil 1 and Soil 2) and the second is isolate of …

Estimating Leaf Area In Velvetleaf (Limnocharis Flava) And Kangkong (Ipomea Aquatica): A Precise And Non-Destructive Approach For Wetland Vegetables, Anggrika Riyanti, Benyamin Lakitan, Momon Sodik Imanudin, Muhammad Yazid

Jurnal Kultivasi

Developing a leaf-area estimation model for vegetable cultivars in wetlands is essential to optimizing agricultural cultivation practices. This study aims to develop a non-destructive model for leaf area estimation in wetland vegetable cultivars (velvetleaf (Limnocharis flava) and kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica)) using regression-based models. The plants were cultivated in a wetland system. Measurements of leaf length and width were taken on all leaves of each plant, using the product of length and width (L×W) as predictor. The regression models for estimating leaf area were adjusted from linear, zero-intercept linear, quadratic, and power. The optimal model was evaluated using the determination coefficient …

Volume 12 Full Text, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Exploring Gender As An Analytical Framework In The 2018-2019 Revolution And Ongoing Civil War: The Role Of Gendered Violence And Sudanese Women's Resistance, Ami John

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

This paper will interrogate the intersection of gender, war, and political upheaval within Sudan while focusing on the role of women in both the 2019 resistance and the ongoing conflict and revolution. By the end of 2018, mass protests had called for the ousting of Omar al-Bashir, the long-standing Sudanese president. This event set off a chain reaction which led to events that fueled the long-standing rivalry between the two militant groups that were active in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The tension caused by this rivalry created unforeseen circumstances for the local …

Front Matter And Table Of Contents, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Bioactive Constituents And Pharmacological Activities Of Curcuma Zedoaria: A Mini-Review, Abdulmutalib Allaq, Muneer M. Saleh Mohammed Saleh Alsayadi, Mustapha Salihu, Hasan M. Agha, Amena Hassan Hassan Gheeth, Fatimah Salim, Norrizah Jaafar Jaafar Sidik

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Curcuma zedoaria Rosc. (white turmeric) is a rhizomatous medicinal plant in the Zingiberaceae family, widely used in traditional Asian medicine. In recent years, increasing scientific attention has focused on its diverse pharmacological properties and bioactive constituents. This mini review summarises current knowledge of the phytochemical composition and biological activities of C. zedoaria, with particular emphasis on its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Phytochemical investigations using analytical techniques such as GC–MS and HPLC have revealed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds, including sesquiterpenes (example, germacrone, curzerenone, and curdione) and curcuminoids, which contribute to its therapeutic potential. Experimental studies demonstrate …

Evaluation Of Circulating Hpg80, Ca15-3, Estrogen And Progesterone As Biomarkers In Breast Cancer Patients, Safa Khaldoon, Emad Yousif, Khawla A. Kasar, Muna Bufaroosha, Rahimi Yusop

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

It is very important to find reliable biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of treatment response because breast cancer is still one of the most common cancers in women around the world. The goal of this study was to find out how clinically important different biochemical markers are in Iraqi women with breast cancer. Some of these signs are progesterone (PG), oestrogen (E2), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA15-3), and circulating progastrin (hPG80). There were 100 women in this study, and they were all between the ages of 20 and 70. There were three groups of people who took part: a healthy …

Synergistic Endocytic Receptor Ligand Receptor Protein 2 In T2dm, Wafaa Raji Alfatlawi

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Purpose: The glycoprotein molecule known as megalin is present on the proximal renal tubular epithelial cells. With an emphasis on megalin and cubilin levels in T2DM and IR patients, an area that obviously needs more research, this study attempts to give an outline of current knowledge of megalin function in relation to vitamin D and its metabolite (vitamin D receptor and vitamin D binding protein). Materials and Methods: This was a case control comparative study conducted at a endocrine and diabetes center in AL-Imamain Kadumain teaching hospital in Baghdad-Iraq. Study subjects were divided into three groups: 25 with T2DM with …

Beyond Beneficial Margins: Four Mechanisms Linking Border Vegetation To Pest Dynamics, Jorge F. M. Cardoso, Fabiane M. Mundim

Biology Student Research

Vegetated field borders are widely promoted as tools to enhance biodiversity and strengthen biological control in agroecosystems. However, their role in pest dynamics remains conceptually fragmented and empirically inconsistent. Here, we develop a unified framework explaining how crop border vegetation influences pest populations through four interlinked ecological mechanisms. First, borders act as host reservoirs and selective filters, providing alternative hosts and overwintering habitat that enhance pest persistence across crop cycles. Second, borders modify pest colonization dynamics by shaping movement, aggregation, and host-location behavior at crop edges. Third, borders restructure multitrophic networks, simultaneously supporting natural enemies, alternative prey, vectors, and pathogens, …

Global Research On Palm Oil Diseases And Infections: A Bibliometric Analysis, Fahmi Achmad Saputra, Indria Puti Mustika, Anna Safarida, Catur Sriherwanto, Nicky Rahmana Putra

Makara Journal of Technology

The sustainability of global palm oil production faces significant threats from a range of diseases and infections affecting palm oil crops. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to map the scientific landscape and evolution of research related to palm oil diseases over the past decade. Using data from the Scopus database, 366 relevant documents were analyzed using R and VOSviewer to uncover trends in publication volume, citation impact, prolific authors, country contributions, and keyword co-occurrence networks. The findings reveal a strong research concentration on G. boninense, highlighting its critical role as a persistent pathogen in oil palm plantations. Emerging …

Veratridine Suppresses Rictor-Mtorc2 Signaling Pathway In Colon Cancer Patient-Derived Xenograft Cells, Morgan Daniel Montgomery

Honors Thesis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second deadliest and fourth most common cancer in the world. The metastatic form of CRC is especially devastating due to a lack of effective and safer therapeutic options. Another challenge includes an increasing number of younger patients. Among critical signaling pathways overactivated in CRC, mTORC2 plays a key role in the progression of metastatic CRC, yet there is no selective mTORC2 inhibitor in the clinic. Interestingly, a natural plant alkaloid from the Veratrum genus, Veratridine (VTD), shows promise as VTD can upregulate UBXN2A, a colon-specific tumor suppressor protein. UBXN2A works with E3 ligases to ubiquitinate …

Breeding For Diverse Color And Protein Quality In Popcorn And Sweet Corn, Jonathan Niyorukundo

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

Sweet corn and popcorn are important crops consumed globally as vegetable and snack, respectively. They are deemed healthy foods due to high fiber and carotenoid contents, especially in yellow varieties. Commercial varieties are optimized for high-yielding agronomics, and previous efforts were made to improve specific macro- and micronutrient contents. Both sweet corn and popcorn have poor protein quality due to the inadequate essential amino acids such as lysine and tryptophan. Moreover, commercial varieties are predominantly yellow, thereby offering no diversity of other maize colors, which are potentially healthier and more appealing to the consumer. In this project, we sought to …

Analysis Of Bacterial Virulence And Resistance In A Model Of Recurrent Uti, Rachel L. Proper

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a major women’s health issue, affecting approximately 40% of women during their lifetime. Formation of a biofilm by UTI-causing bacteria poses a major challenge in treatment, as the protection provided by the biofilm hinders both host defenses and antibiotic treatment. Failure to eradicate these infections causes them to become recurrent (rUTI). Previous research indicates that rUTI may be comorbid with a mutation in the SERPINE1 gene, which causes fibrin to accumulate within the body. Literature also indicates that fibrin provides a better scaffold for bacterial attachment and, subsequently, biofilm formation. In this work it was …

Evaluating Inner-Tainment With A Ghetto Perspective For Positive Thought Adjustment In Ghetto Communities, Shontae L. Graham

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Environmental challenges and disadvantages impact cognitive scripts and develop persistent frustration. Frustration is both mental and physical and can be negative or positive. It evokes emotion, which is prompted by memory and its associated level of importance. The integration of emotion, memory, and imagination can set the stage and create an act to transition negative frustration and align past experiences with new perspectives. This study used a qualitative Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis approach to investigate the use of self-scripted enactment as a self-help technique for positive thought adjustment. The technique is called Inner-tainment and was used to determine if there were …

Acute Effects Of Olympic Lifting Post-Activation Potentiation On Baseball Pitching Velocity And Ball Flight: A Crossover Study, Brent Hauser Pourciau

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study evaluated the acute effect of an Olympic lifting-based post-activation potentiation (PAP) warm-up on fastball performance in collegiate baseball pitchers. Using a randomized, counterbalanced within-subjects crossover design (N = 13), each participant completed two warm-up conditions in a single indoor session: (a) a standard dynamic baseball warm-up and (b) the same standard warm-up followed by a brief Olympic-lifting PAP sequence (1 x 3 clean pulls at 80% predicted one-repetition maximum [1RM], 1 x 3 power cleans at 80% predicted 1RM, and 1 x 3 power jerks at 60% predicted 1RM, with 2-minute rests between sets) and a 3-minute …

Health Behaviors Of First-Generation College Students Affected By Acculturation, Angel Camacho Castro

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative narrative ethnographic study was to understand how acculturation affects health behaviors and wellness of first-generation college students at a state university on the West Coast of the United States. The theory guiding this study was social constructivism theory, proposed by Lev Vygotsky, who claimed behaviors are constructed by social interactions around social settings. This research focused on how students navigated the changes in inherited cultural values of health behaviors and wellness practices affected by mainstream and college cultures. The dissertation investigated challenges first-generation college students faced in an environment that often conflicted with family values …

Soft Systems For Community-Based Hcv Management In Indonesian Oil Palm Plantations, Neny Indriyana, Suyud Warno Utomo, Tri Edhi Budhi Soesilo, Linda Darmajanti

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Certification mandates under the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) have made measurable strides in promoting sustainability standards, yet governance challenges in High Conservation Value (HCV) 4, 5, and 6 management remain insufficiently addressed within Indonesian plantation contexts.  Drawing on adaptive governance theory and the social-ecological systems framework, this study argues that such gaps are structurally linked to the marginalisation of community agency within corporate-dominated decision-making. This study proposes and empirically evaluates an integrated governance framework that positions community engagement as a functional contributor to conservation outcomes within plantation landscapes of West Kalimantan, under …

Neurological Phenotypes Of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 In Drosophila Melanogaster, Carleigh M. Wood

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This research investigated Drosophila melanogaster’s ability to serve as a model organism for the neurological phenotypes of Myotonic Dystrophy Type I (DM1). DM1 is caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene. DM1 leads to symptoms of muscle weakness and wasting, as well as decreased cerebral volume. This study aimed to determine whether DM1-affected Drosophila exhibit neurological changes, as has been observed in humans. Healthy control (CUG20) and DM1-affected Drosophila (CUG250) were generated using classical genetics. Both groups were aged three weeks prior to dissection and imaged through fluorescent microscopy. It was predicted that Drosophila melanogaster affected by …

Covid Minds: A Thematic Review Of The Pandemic On Neural Mechanisms And Political Polarization, Madison Jeffries

Honors Projects

This paper analyzes how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced political polarization in the United States by examining the interactions between social system disruption, psychological stress, and underlying neurological behaviors. While previous research has extensively discussed pandemic's influence on public health and societal breakdowns, studies fail to examine how these disruptions shaped political divisions. This study synthesizes interdisciplinary literature on pandemic-induced stressors and analyzes factors, including institutional mistrust and social isolation, and how these experiences shape political behavior and perspectives. Applying research from psychology and neuroscience, the paper argues that prolonged exposure to pandemic-related stressors changed neurological and behavioral patterns in response …

A Functional Nutrition Literature Review For Brain Fog And Adhd-Like Symptoms In Adults, Natalie Elisani Aldahondo-Matos

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD-like symptoms, such as difficulty concentrating, mental fatigue, and problems with executive functioning, are increasingly recognized in adults. Although medication is commonly used to manage ADHD, there is growing interest in whether nutrition may also play a role in supporting brain function and attention. Several nutrients involved in brain health including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, magnesium, iron, and choline  have been suggested as potential contributors to cognitive performance and attention. However, the research examining the connection between diet and ADHD symptoms is still limited and sometimes shows mixed results.

The purpose of this project was …

A Case For Mtor Pathway Screening In Early Epilepsy Diagnosis, David Seamons

Student Works

Mutations in the mTOR pathway can give rise to epileptic seizures in patients. While a variety of antiepileptic drugs are available to treat epilepsy, a large proportion of patients will experience refractory seizures (Chen et al., 2018). Additionally, patients with mTOR-related epilepsy may experience reduced efficacy in traditional therapeutic options to treat seizures (French et al., 2016; Hadzsiev et al., 2023; Kato et al., 2022; Moloney et al., 2023). Mutations resulting in mTOR-related epilepsy are genetically inherited; however, some variability in family histories of epilepsy may be due to second-hit somatic mutations in focal areas of the brain (Dawson et …

Histological Analysis Of Six Atlantic Scleractinian Coral Species Exposed To Three Hydrocarbons, 1-Methylnapthalene, Phenanthrene, And Toluene, Jalyn R. Lee

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Coral reefs are biologically diverse marine ecosystems that provide numerous goods and ecosystem services. These sessile organisms are vulnerable to anthropogenic impacts, habitat degradation, climate change, and pollution, particularly Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination. Previous research has characterized coral species' sensitivity to hydrocarbons, using a continuous passive dosing system, but the specific histological impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons remain underexplored. This study investigates the histological effects of three petroleum hydrocarbons, 1-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, and toluene, on six Atlantic scleractinian coral species: Acropora cervicornis, Porites astreoides, Porites divaricata, Solenastrea bournoni, Stephanocoenia intersepta, and Siderastrea siderea. Coral fragments were exposed to species-specific hydrocarbon concentrations, and …

Microarray Analysis Of Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With Emphasis On Cardiovascular Genes Revealed Differentially Expressed Genes, Song Lu, Li Ping Li, John V. White, Xiaoying Zhang, Ifeyinwa Nwaneshiudu, Adaobi Nwaneshiudu, Nectaria Ntaoula, John Gaughan, Dimitri S. Monos, Wan-Lu Lin, Charalambos C. Solomides, Emilia L. Oleszak, Chris D. Platsoucas

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND/AIM: We examined gene expression profiles in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) lesions vs. normal aortas by cDNA microarray and real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Phosphorus (³²P)-labeled cDNA from AAA specimens (mean AAA size 6.65 cm) and normal aortas were hybridized with a 588-gene microarray primarily of the cardiovascular system. The results were validated by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS: A total of 35 out of the 588 genes were differentially expressed, with either log₂ ratio of AAAs/controls ≥1 (upregulated; 20 genes) or ≤-1 (downregulated; 15 genes) in AAA lesions vs. normal aorta, and …

Training Turfgrass For Drought Resilience, Kelly Kopp, Jerry L. Goodspeed

All Current Publications

Utah’s semi-arid climate always makes efficient irrigation essential, but never more so than during a drought. In many communities, outdoor landscape irrigation represents the largest share of residential water use during the summer months. At the same time, research and Utah State University (USU) Extension observations have consistently shown that lawns across the state are often overwatered, leading to shallow root systems and increased vulnerability to heat and drought stress. Adjusting irrigation practices during drought not only conserves water but also improves the long-term health and resilience of turfgrass systems.

Isolation, Identification And Antibiotic-Resistance Profiling Of Bacteria Isolated From Mobile Phone Surfaces In Karbala., Kawkab Abdullah Alsaadi, Zahraa Raheem Murshidy, Dhuha Ali Hussein, Sura Abd Ali Kadhim, Kawakib Aboudi Hanoon

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Due to the diverse environments that mobile phones are exposed to via human handling they become reservoirs of microorganisms. The objective of the current study was to determine the level and character of bacterial contamination on mobile phones by identifying bacterial strains, and the degree of antimicrobial susceptibility. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2025 where phones belonging to 115 individuals were randomly chosen from various departments and units at Kerbala University and swabbed. The VITEK 2 automated system was used to identify bacterial taxa and test for antimicrobial susceptibility, and 50 of the swabs exhibited bacterial …

Garlic Breath And Beads Of Sweat: The Effects Of Garlic And Chili Peppers On The Growth And Ph Of Streptococcus Mutans., Lena Pitzer

Honors Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide a quantifiable and repeatable measurement of how the presence of garlic and chili pepper during the growth of a carious dentine strain of Streptococcus mutans affects the growth of the strain and surrounding pH level.This research project examines two possible alternative agents, garlic and chili peppers, due to the known antimicrobial effects of their active components, allicin and capsaicin. Prepared garlic and chili extracts were used during disk diffusion to assess and measure the zones of inhibition. The anticipated results are that there will be inhibition present with both the garlic and …

Environmental Counseling As A Proposed Discipline And Its Associated Implications And Uses, Alexandria Rion

Honors Projects

Individuals interact with their environment daily, and whether they realize it or not, these interactions can impact their health. Understanding the health impacts associated with the environment is important to human health at both an individual and population level. I am proposing a new field of environmental counseling that would incorporate principles from a variety of practices into one comprehensive discipline that can be used to promote public health. By studying populations that have had negative environmental exposures and looking at their outcomes, I was able to apply principles of environmental counseling to help determine if it would in fact …

Autoantibody Reactivity In Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Characterizing Keratinocyte And Apocrine Gland Targets Across Disease Progression And Anti-Tnf-Α Treatment, Talla Hamouche

Student Theses and Dissertations

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory skin disease associated with impaired quality of life, representing one of the highest burdens among dermatological conditions. This debilitating disorder primarily affects apocrine-gland-bearing and flexural skin areas, most commonly the axillae, breast, buttocks, and groin. As lesions recur and new sites emerge, surgical excision does not guarantee prevention of disease reestablishment. Despite its substantial burden, HS remains among the least understood and most treatment-resistant inflammatory diseases. The mechanisms underlying this chronicity and the frequent failure of conventional anti-inflammatory therapies remain unresolved. An underappreciated autoimmune dimension may contribute to HS pathogenesis: the clonal …

Highly Oxidation-Resistant Imidazolium-Modified Catechol For Stable Wet Adhesion Under Alkaline Conditions, Kan Wang, Yue Xu, Fatemeh Razaviamri, Chunling Zhang, Zhihui Zhang, Bo Liu, Bruce P Lee

Michigan Tech Publications

Premature oxidation of catechol drastically reduces its adhesion strength and utility. This study chemically linked catechol to an imidazolium group, which functioned as an intrinsic protecting group that retarded catechol oxidation and enabled stable wet adhesion under basic conditions. Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) contact mechanical testing was performed to determine the work of adhesion (Wadh) of imidazolium-modified catechol (VIMCAT), which remained unchanged for up to 48 hours when incubated at pH 7.4. Contrastingly, Wadh values of unprotected catechol were quickly reduced by over 25% within 30 minutes. VIMCAT still retained its initial adhesion strength even after incubation at pH …

Evaluation Of Sirna-Mediated Knockdown Of Heat Shock Protein 16.2 In Adult Acropora Cervicornis, Edward P. Gniffke, Benjamin D. Young, Keir J. Macartney, Michael S. Studivan, Ian C. Enochs, Erin E. Easton

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Acropora cervicornis is a critically endangered Caribbean coral species facing a precipitous decline due to disease and thermal bleaching. To combat the loss of ecologically important reef-building corals, novel molecular approaches can be used to understand mechanisms of resilience and ultimately provide a means to modulate coral performance. In this study, we tested a recently developed method for gene knockdown in adult corals that utilizes short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and the RNA interference pathway. The Heat Shock Protein 16.2 (HSP16.2) gene in fragments of adult A. cervicornis was targeted for knockdown using a single siRNA construct. RT-qPCR analysis of HSP16.2 …