Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Balancing Root-Zone Oxygenation And Rhizosphere Stability: The Impact Of Aeration And Hypoxia On Hydroponic Plant Growth, Christian D. Baker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As the global population and food demand continue to increase, growers must look to innovative and sustainable methods for plant cultivation. Hydroponics is a popular method of sustainable plant cultivation where plant roots are suspended over a liquid nutrient solution. Hydroponics uses less water compared to traditional agriculture because there is no evaporation or solution runoff. It also maximizes land use, requires fewer pesticides and herbicides, and enables year-round cultivation in controlled environments. However, indoor hydroponic systems rely on artificial lighting, which has higher energy costs than traditional farming methods. Optimizing growing conditions is therefore critical to ensure long-term economic …

Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (Vnls) Inside Hospitals And Its Psychological Impact, Asmaa Alaa Hasanein Hasanein, Alaa Shams Al-Din Al-Aishi, Marwa Atef Abd Elhady

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study examines the correlation between daylighting environments in hospitals, users evaluations, and ways of bringing virtual natural light into inner spaces, highlighting the importance of good daylighting design for physical and psychological well-being. Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (VNLS) mimic the balanced spectrum of natural light, bridging the gap between natural and artificial light, and are crucial for tasks, circadian rhythm, and mood in healthcare settings. The research addresses the variability and limitations of natural light, proposing VNLS for healthcare lighting design, especially in hospitals lacking daylight. The study aims to develop a methodology for using VNLS in healthcare environments …

Comparative Analysis Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) Implications For Active Learning And Assessment At Various Curricular Levels Of Stem And Health Sciences In Developed Versus Underprivileged Countries, Vinay Munlapudi, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

Today’s all-pervasive emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of its role in education, especially for occupational disciplines in health sciences and STEM. AI has reshaped student learning and instructors’ navigation of the evolving, post coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) global academic landscape. This study aimed at encapsulating evidence-based AI implications for student-centered, active learning and assessment at various curricular levels of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and health sciences education in developed versus underprivileged or less developed countries. An extensive, scoping review of 65 recent, scholarly publications was conducted over six months through diverse search engines (PubMed, Google …

Bridging Animal Production And Human Nutrition: How Production Ecology Shapes The Nutritional Quality Of Terrestrial Animal Foods And Human Omega-3 Status, Joseph Vinod Varre

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The question at the center of this dissertation is simple: does the way food is produced change the quality of the food itself in ways that matter for human health? Across a series of studies on bison meat, eggs, and human dietary intervention, the answer was yes. This work began with a broad look at the modern food system and the nutritional consequences of industrialized diets. In particular, it focused on the growing imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the Western diet. This balance matters because omega-3 fats support heart, brain, and immune health, and diets high in …

The Hope College Department Of Biology: The First 50+ Years, Christopher C. Barney

Faculty Publications

The Hope College Department of Biology was founded in 1899 with the appointment of the first Professor of Biology at Hope, Samuel Mast. During the first 50+ years of the Biology Department, there were eight total faculty members in the department, including Frances Koeman, the first female faculty member in the natural sciences. Four faculty members, Mast, Frank Patterson, Oscar Thompson, and Teunis Vergeer were primarily responsible for developing the department’s curriculum and programs, with Mast and Vergeer also carrying out published research. The department was housed primarily in Van Raalte Hall and the Science Building (now Lubbers Hall) for …

Evaluating Variety- And Market-Class-Specific Effects Of Dietary Pulses On Human Health, Jiayu Tang

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

While pulses are globally recognized for their high levels of dietary fibers, protein, and polyphenols, research often focuses on characterizing the physiological effects of a single variety. This approach overlooks the substantial genetic and compositional diversity that exists across pulse varieties and individual market classes, which can differ extensively in nutrient content and structure. These compositional differences have the potential to produce distinct physiological and microbial responses in humans, yet variety- and market-class-specific effects remain poorly characterized.

This thesis uses two complementary research methodologies to investigate the health-relevant effects of different pulse varieties and market classes, providing foundational knowledge to …

Keynote Address And Meeting Program, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Ameliorating Chromium-Induced Stress In Maize Through Phosphorus And Melatonin Application, Zunaira Zafar, Shoaib Ahmad, Muhammad Akhtar, Shafaqat Ali, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Muhammad Ali Alshehri

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Chromium (Cr+6)  toxicity is a significant environmental stress factor that severely hampers plant growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate whether the combined application of phosphorus fertilizer and melatonin could alleviate chromium induced stress in maize  (Zea mays L.).  A foliar spray of melatonin (50 µM) was applied alongside two phosphorus sources—phosphoric acid (PA) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), each at 60% of the recommended rate. Two maize cultivars (FH-1046 and YH-1898) were grown under chromium stress (0, 15, and 30 mg kg–1) to assess treatment effects. The results demonstrated that FH-1046 plants treated with PA + melatonin under noncontaminated …

Zinc Biofortification Technologies , Edible Safety , And Physiological Function Regulation In Edible Mushrooms, Wu Bingbing, Shi Nengpai, Su Jianwei, Hou Xuemei, Lin Xiangyang

Food and Machinery

Zinc (Zn) is an essential trace element for humans, and dietary zinc deficiency is an important global public health issue. Edible mushrooms have become highly promising carriers for zinc biofortification due to their natural mineral accumulation ability and the capacity to convert inorganic zinc into organically bound states with higher bioavailability. The enrichment and absorption of zinc, intracellular homeostasis regulation, and subcellular distribution patterns during the cultivation process of edible mushrooms were summarized, and the key factors influencing the efficiency of zinc biofortification, including fungal species, zinc sources (inorganic, organic, or nano forms ),application methods,and cultivation conditions, were evaluated. In …

A Computational Micropatterning Approach To Study Caveolae And Protein Localization In Vascular Biology, Andrew B. Grespin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Caveolae are specialized, flask-shaped membrane invaginations highly expressed in endothelium and dysregulated in atherosclerosis. Caveolae play a central role in buffering membrane tension, yet the principles governing their spatial organization remain elusive. Thus, we sought to generate the most comprehensive and systematic analysis of blood vessel caveolar spatial organization. However, cell culturing, the backbone of human-focused biological research, does not standardly do well to model physiologically relevant cell behaviors such as migration or polarity-based tissue formation, particularly for punctate proteins and structures like caveolae. Micropatterns are cell-adhesive shapes that biophysically confine cell(s) to a user defined geometry which stereotype organelle …

Slouching Towards Inefficiency? The Cardiometabolic And Cognitive Costs Of Poor Posture, Ava Mae Fitzenrider

Honors Projects

Posture affects all of our lives. It is both static and dynamic, adapting continuously to environmental demands. One postural alteration frequently observed in occupational settings is hyperkyphosis, which can be induced by sitting position. During computer use, individuals commonly adopt a slouched posture, which can exacerbate hyperkyphosis, and contribute to dis-ease within the body. Previous research has demonstrated that such postural deviations can negatively affect pulmonary function, as well as other bodily functions. Despite these findings, the effects of acute hyperkyphosis (“slouching”) on cardiometabolic function and cognition remain largely unexplored. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the …

The Effect Of Acute Hypoxia Exposure, With Exercise, On Bone Metabolic Biomarkers, Alyssa Bailly

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Hypoxic environments, resulting from decreased atmospheric partial pressure of oxygen, reduce oxygen availability in the blood and tissues, leading to a mismatch between supply and demand. This elicits several physiological adaptations and may influence bone metabolism. Although evidence suggests that hypoxia can modulate bone remodeling through hypoxia-inducible pathways, findings remain mixed, with most data derived from chronic hypoxic exposures in animal and cell culture models. Exercise, an essential stimulus for bone health, may exacerbate hypoxic stress; however, the skeletal response to acute hypoxic exposure combined with exercise remains unclear. We propose that intermittent exercise in hypoxia may increase negative markers …

Microtubules In Breast Cancer: Exploring The Α/Β-Tubulin Toggle Switch And Its Implications In Human Breast Cancer, Annemarie Ianos

Student Theses and Dissertations

Microtubules, composed of a/b-tubulin heterodimers, play a central role in breast cancer tumor growth by polymerizing, leading to metastasis and depolymerizing, contributing to proliferation. Human enzymes protein kinase Ca (PKC-a) and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk-1) mediate phosphorylation at sites a:Ser165 and b:Ser172, respectively, influencing the growth of microtubules. It is possible that alternating phosphorylation at these sites contribute to an a/b-tubulin “toggle switch” that mediates microtubule instability and tumor growth.

The project investigates the influence of the toggle switch model on microtubule stability by determining the impact of mutants (a:S165D, a:S165N, a:S165S_P, b:S172S_P and a:S165S_P/b:S172S …

A Review Of Video Game Effects And Uses, David Corso

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Video games are versatile in their form and function. Whether they’re training doctors or offsetting Alzheimer’s disease, video games can exercise both mental and physical features, train specific skills for a number of jobs, educate players about events and phenomenon in our world, research and understand natural human processes, and they can be designed for a number of other purposes. Multiple studies have demonstrated the effects of video games on physiological and cognitive levels—positive, negative, and everything in between. This paper identifies various physical and psychological effects that video games produce, and it suggests ways in which video games can …

2026 Workshop On Bridging The Gaps: Tackling Microplastics And Nanoplastics Challenges In Coastal Ecosystems, Shenghua Wu, Kaushik Venkiteshwaran, Melike Dizbay-Onat, Alexandra Stenson, Jinhui Wang, Tina Miller-Way, Ebenezer Nyadjro, Bhuvnesh Bharti, John Weinstein, Yi Bao, Shihui Shen, Valerie Longa, Shenghua Zha, John Cleary, Marty Lind

Workshops

This report presents the findings from the 2026 Workshop on Tackling Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPs) in Coastal Ecosystems, which took place in Mobile, Alabama. More than 140 experts from universities, government, industry, and community organizations gathered to address the increasing issue of MNPs in coastal regions.

The Impact Of Glucose Exposure On Organic Cation Transporters (Oct) Function In A Corneal Epithelial Cell Line, David A. Garza

Theses & Dissertations

Organic cation transporters (OCT) facilitate the movement of neurochemicals and medications, contribute to the removal of cellular waste, and facilitate neuronal communication. Three subtypes of these high-capacity, low-affinity transporters (OCT1, OCT2, and OCT3) are differently expressed in peripheral tissues such as the liver, kidneys, as well as the central nervous system. OCTs are also expressed in ocular tissues. Chronic hyperglycemia is a complication commonly associated with diabetes that can lead to ocular diseases such as diabetic keratopathy, which affects the cornea. In this project, we expose immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-S) to various glucose concentrations to study their impact …

Effects Of Tourist Feeding On The Gut Microbiome And Ecophysiology Of Endangered Northern Bahamian Rock Iguana (Cyclura Cychlura), Erin Lucy Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The lifespan and reproduction of an animal depends on maintaining a healthy physiology. The proportion of individuals that survive to an age at which procreation can occur is important to long-term stability of populations and contributes to species survival. Health in an animal is measured in a variety of ways, including through monitoring of the body’s physiological systems, as well as its ability to respond to invading pathogens, and through the different types of bacteria present in the gut. Relationships among those different health metrics have been discovered in recent years and have been found to play important roles in …

Dietary Manipulations Of The Undernourished Infant Microbiome, Cyrus Zhou

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Today, undernutrition affects approximately 150 million children worldwide. During the first two years of life, the healthy gut microbial community undergoes a series of predictable developmental transitions. These transitions are delayed in undernourished children resulting in microbiota “immaturity.” In a foundational study, immature gut microbial communities from undernourished children and normally developing communities from chronologically age-matched healthy children living in the same area were transplanted into groups of germ-free mice consuming the same diet – one representative of what consumed by the study population. Compared mice with a mature gut microbiome, mice with an immature gut microbiome had impaired weight …

Biol 210: Nutrition (Syllabus), Sam Newberry Ph.D.

School of Arts & Sciences

This syllabus was developed by SUNY Geneseo Professor Sam Newberry during the spring 2026 semester.

Course Learning Objectives:

Students who are active participants and complete course requirements will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate familiarity with nutrients, their food sources, their functions, and signs and symptoms of deficiency or excess.
2. Demonstrate familiarity with biological, psychological, social and cultural factors that influence human diet and nutrition.
3. Describe and explain in class discussion and on exams the relationship between diet and health, particularly for selected public health issues.
4. Demonstrate familiarity with nutritional guidelines used in the United States, and the challenges of establishing such …

The Sentience Of The Horse And The Philosophy Of Natural Horsemanship: Implications For Hrd Leadership, Rob E. Carpenter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper advances a biologically grounded philosophy of leadership through the lens of Natural Horsemanship. It reframes leadership as an embodied, sentient process rather than a purely cognitive or behavioral construct. Drawing from neuroscience, affective biology, sociology, and human resource development (HRD), it proposes that the horse–human relationship provides a living model for relational intelligence. The horse’s exquisite attunement to human emotion—mediated through limbic regulation and bio-behavioral synchrony—reveals that influence arises not from authority but from coherence. Leadership, like horsemanship, is a reciprocal act of co-regulation in which trust, safety, and communication are revealed through physiology before language. By examining …

Physiological And Neurological Impact Of Biophilic Design In Architectural Design Studios: A Case Study Of King Salman International University, Islam Ashraf Mohamed, Alaa El-Eishy, Marwa A. Soliman

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Biophilic design integrates nature into architecture to enrich sensory and cognitive experiences, enhance psychological well-being, and improve performance. This study explores its physiological and neural effects in design studios at King Salman International University through an experimental methodology combining theoretical review and lab-based investigation. Tools included electrocardiography (ECG) for heart rate variability (HRV), eye-tracking for visual attention, and the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) for emotional evaluation. Nine participants viewed five digital architectural scenes with varying biophilic integration. Direct nature connections elicited greater visual attention, pleasure, and perceived control, indicating higher engagement and relaxation.  A scene lacking biophilic elements led to reduced …

Biol 225 - Laboratory Manual For Human Physiology, Corey Sullivan, Kristin Thurlby, Gwen Wright

Human Physiology

This laboratory manual for Human Physiology represents the Creative Commons licensed (CC-BY-NC 4.0) material created as an Open Educational Resource.

Excess Nitric Oxide Alters Cellular Ph To Restrict Salicylic Acid Movement And Systemic Immunity, Fan Xia, Huazhen Liu, Keshun Yu, Xinyu Yuan, Aardra Kachroo, Pradeep Kachroo

Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Plants carrying a mutation in S-nitrosoglutathione reductase 1 (GSNOR1) accumulate high nitric oxide (NO) and exhibit impaired immunity characterized by reduced pathogen-responsive salicylic acid (SA) accumulation and failure to activate normal SA signaling. We show that this reduced SA responsiveness in gsnor1 plants arises from impaired vascular-associated movement of SA, thereby compromising systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Elevated NO perturbs cellular pH homeostasis, acidifying the apoplast and alkalinizing the cytosol, which likely interferes with phloem-associated SA movement and renders gsnor1 plants unresponsive to foliar SA. In contrast, SA supplied via root drench restores SA signaling and SAR in gsnor1, …

Ultrasound-Derived Liver Composition And Metabolic Flexibility Under Exercise Stress, Rhodes Van Houten

All Master's Theses

Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is characterized by abnormal liver fat accumulation in conjunction with metabolic syndromes. MAFLD affects 33% of individuals worldwide, though little is known about how increased liver fat impacts physiological responses to exercise. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between liver composition and metabolic flexibility during a graded exercise test.  Body composition was analyzed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Liver ultrasound was evaluated for echogenicity, where elevated mean gray volume (MGV) indicates abnormal liver tissue. Rates of fat (FATox) and carbohydrate (CHOox) oxidation (g/min), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and blood lactate concentrations ([LA^-], …

How Effective Is Online Teaching Of Physiology Modules? Perception Of Rwandan Health Sciences Students, Abdullateef Isiaka Alagbonsi, Mojeed Akorede Gbadamosi, Mathieu Nemerimana, Makinde V. Olubiyi, Olufunke Onaadepo, Akaninyene Ubong Ime, Abdul-Rahuf Aderemi Feyitimi, Ruth Wanjiru Mungai, Florent Rutagarama, Simiat Elias

Biomedical Sciences, East Africa

Background: While blended teaching is approved in Rwandan medical education, the perceived effectiveness of online-only delivery for physiology modules remains unclear. This uncertainty limits its continued use. The present study assessed Rwandan health sciences students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of online teaching for physiology modules.

Methods: A total of 528 students from medicine and surgery (n = 300), pharmacy (n = 99), dentistry (n = 89), and clinical psychology (n = 40) programs at the University of Rwanda completed an online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression and non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis) with corresponding effect …

24-H Circadian Rest-Activity Rhythms And Physical Frailty In Older Adults: A Biopsychosocial Perspective On Sex Differences And Social Capital, Jisu Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Physical frailty is a prevalent geriatric syndrome characterized by age-related decline across multiple physiological systems. Physical frailty is associated with an elevated risk of adverse health outcomes, including chronic disease progression and all-cause mortality, representing a significant and growing public health concern. Disrupted circadian rest-activity rhythms (RARs) are increasingly recognized as clinically meaningful markers of physical frailty in older adults. However, the extent to which biological sex and social determinants of health (SDoH), particularly social capital, contribute to or modify the associations between RARs and physical frailty remains underexplored.

Therefore, this dissertation summarizes the existing literature on age-related changes in …

Daily Rhythms In Psychosocial Stress, Sleep, And Mood: A Multimethod Approach To Transdiagnostic Psychopathology Risk And Intervention, Gabriel Gilmore

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Rhythms are central to nearly every core physiological and psychological process and have profound influences on overall health and well-being, particularly in the context of mood disorders. This dissertation emphasizes a rhythm-centered framework for understanding transdiagnostic psychopathology, proposing that the temporal organization of psychosocial stress, sleep, and mood provides crucial information for the development and treatment of mood disorder symptomology. Current literature relies primarily on mean symptom levels, overlooking day-to-day patterns in psychosocial experiences. To address this key methodological gap, three studies are examined. Study 1 develops and validates the Psychosocial Stress Regularity Measure (PSRM), a brief single-item measure of …

Investigating The Effects Of Nucleopore Defects On The Cellular Response To Stress In Als/Ftd Ipsc-Derived Neurons, Alicia Christine Collins

Open Access Dissertations

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease spectrum characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and death within a few years of clinical onset. Hallmark features of ALS/FTD include defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) and abnormal cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of the RNA-binding protein TDP-43, both of which have been shown to be exasperated by oxidative stress (OS). It remains unclear how these processes are connected and how they collectively contribute to neurodegeneration. To fill this gap of knowledge, we used human embryonic kidney cells, neuroblastoma cells, and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons harboring the ALS/FTD C9ORF72 …

Peptidomic Profiling Of In Vitro Digesta From Diverse Microalgae Species, Sara Hamzelou, Damien Belobrajdic, Henri Brook, Wei Chen, Fletcher Hiten, Kim Lee Chang, Diane Purcell, Utpal Bose, Simone Osborne, Cassandra Pegg, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Microalgae are a sustainable protein source, yet few species are used for human nutrition. This study evaluated eight species for protein quality, digestibility, and peptide profiles after simulated gastrointestinal digestion using INFOGEST. Amino acid content, and intestinal-phase peptide mixtures were analysed by mass spectrometry. The methanol precipitation method was used to separate digested (supernatant) and undigested (pellet) peptides following in vitro INFOGEST digestion. The pellet was further separated by molecular weight into 3–10 kDa and >10 kDa fractions to isolate the lower molecular weight peptides from the higher ones. This separation method enabled the identification of potential digested peptides within …