Digital Commons Network^™

Climate And Crop Modeling For New England Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation, Madeline K. Wolfe

Geography Undergraduate Senior Theses

As climate change brings increased temperatures and precipitation variability to New England, it is imperative to understand the ways that farmers make decisions about agricultural climate change adaptation for their corn farms. Dairy farming is the largest agricultural industry in New England, with corn being a primary crop to feed these cattle. This project seeks to understand how climate modeling and crop modeling are and are not useful for these corn farm decisions, and contributes research about what types of information are useful and available to farmers making adaptation decisions. Crop modeling over New England reveals that corn farming in …

Dental Disparities: An Analysis Of Dental Caries Risk Factors Promoting Disparities Between Rural And Urban Communities In Nebraska, Nick Lounsbery

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The prevalence of dental caries in the United States remains a public health concern, as it is one of the most common chronic conditions across people of all ages. Research shows that preventative measures including brushing, fluoridated water, and regular checkups are effective strategies to mitigate tooth decay. However, there appears to be a divide between rural and urban populations, as the presence of dental cavities is significantly greater in remote areas in the State of Nebraska. Research methods used in this analysis included analyzing accredited academic literature to illustrate how cavities form from a biochemical perspective. Research methods also …

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter (No. 74) = 彩園通訊 (第74期), Lingnan Gardeners, Centre For Cultural Research And Development, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter 嶺南彩園通訊

No abstract provided.

Conservación Biológica Harakbut: Estudio De Caso Ori’Numba, Anya Held

Peru: Indigenous Peoples and Globalization

Through interviews, observations, and bibliographic research, this project investigates the Indigenous-based conservation project of Ori’Numba Garden. In 2018, the Tayori family moved to Ori’Numba and began transforming it from a former livestock farm into a holistic conservation project. The paper details the history of Ori’Numba and the process of its creation, the modern and traditional agricultural techniques used in the garden, a register of the pineapple and native bee species, and some of the relevant Harakbut mythology. Ori’Numba clearly demonstrates that there is Indigenous conservation biology, not just “indigenized” Western conservation biology.

Automated Plant Morphological Assessment And Microbial Community Monitoring In Simulated Lunar Regolith, Collin R. Topolski

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Upcoming lunar bases will need to leverage in-situ resources to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce mission costs. One key challenge is food production, which could be addressed by growing crops in lunar regolith-based substrates. However, lunar regolith lacks essential nutrients, requiring organic amendments to support continuous plant cultivation. This study examined the impact of manure-amended lunar regolith simulant on Mizuna mustard growth while assessing microbial community diversity and functionality. To support this effort, a custom software pipeline utilizing an open-source library, PlantCV, was developed to automatically track plant leaf area and height via image analysis. Results indicated that amended rhizosphere …

Neutrophil Inflammatory Death Regulation By Bacterial Type Iii Secreted Effectors, Arianna D. Reuven

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Yersinia and Pseudomonas use a T3SS to secrete effectors into host cells that inhibit phagocytosis and modulate immune responses, such as inflammasome activation. Inflammasomes promote the activation of the proinflammatory protease caspase-1. The activation of an inflammasome sensor in response to a signal or ligand initiates the assembly of the inflammasome leading to activation of caspase-1 which cleaves GSDMD and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 into their mature forms. As neutrophils are recruited in large quantities to sites of infection, they are excellent candidates to drive inflammasome dependent responses. Neutrophils have been shown to produce multiple inflammasomes, like pyrin and …

Investigation Of The Effects Of The Peptidylarginine Deiminase Inhibitor Cl-Amidine On Apoptosis And Gene Expression In Ovarian Cancer, Victoria Walden

Longwood Senior Thesis Proposal

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of enzymatic proteins responsible for the conversion of arginine and methylarginine residues to citrulline. This conversion is important for several key cellular processes including transcriptional gene regulation. Recently, a link has been established between overexpression of a particular PAD, PAD4, and the accelerated progression of both autoimmune diseases and cancers. Ovarian cancer exhibits heightened levels of PAD4 in affected cells. High levels of PAD4 are associated with the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that promote cancer metastasis, and downregulation of the p53 apoptotic pathway. Thus, it is important to explore inhibitors of PAD4. …

Eating The Fat Of The Land: The Work Of Coxiella Burnetii To Traverse Intracellular Lipid Landscapes, Charlie Porto

Theses & Dissertations

Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular pathogen and the causative agent of Q fever in humans. With primary hosts in livestock ruminants, C. burnetii is endemic globally, presenting significant health risks to agricultural workers and herd health at large. Numerous wild animal reservoirs exist, increasingly threatened by expanding livestock ranges. Furthermore, with a low infectious dose through aerosol transmission, the CDC considers C. burnetii a potential bioweapon, though in humans a large amount of infections persist subclinically, occasionally progressing to pneumonia and hepatitis with chronic infections leading to endocarditis.

The parasitic life cycle of C. burnetii is biphasic, a small …

College Of Natural Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2025, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

Page 1 Dean's Message from Dr. Sen Subramanian
Page 2 Student Spotlights
Page 3 Kaushik honored, Three-Minute Thesis, & Ice Cores revealed
Page 4 Alumni Spotlight
Page 5 Day of Scholars
Page 6 Cyanide research, Record Research Expenditures, Adhikari awarded Miller Research Award
Page 8 Hanson Receives NSF Grant
Page 9 Snow Lab Research Team
Page 10 Faculty Awards
Page 11 Drone Day
Page 13 Khalaf Awarded Presidential Award

Obstacles And Opportunities In Marine Mammals Care And Welfare: Insights From Trainers, Alicia Virthe, Heather Manitzas Hill, Sabrina Brando

Posters - 2025

This poster was created for the 5th annual Research Showcase. From the poster:

The aims of the study included:

Identifying obstacles faced by caregivers

Exploring beliefs hindering the promotion of animal care and welfare

Highlighting the opportunities that caregivers perceive to maintain and enhance animal welfare and care

Understanding How Chaperones Influence Protein Aggregation, Hannah Buchholz

Dissertations (1934 -)

Cells depend on properly folded proteins to function and remain healthy. If proteins adopt a nonnative conformation, they may have an increased propensity to clump together or aggregate, which can compromise cell viability. Unwanted aggregates are linked to a class of diseases called proteinopathies, which include fatal disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fortunately, cellular factors, known as molecular chaperones, help maintain protein homeostasis by limiting and disassembling protein aggregates. However, the mechanisms that underlie how chaperones modify protein aggregation are poorly understood. The goal of this dissertation is to explore the molecular mechanisms used by …

Novel Approaches To Analyze Consumer Behavior And Policies To Promote Sustainable Consumption, Bhagyashree Katare, Xuejian Wang, Shuoli Zhao, Jacqueline Yenerall

Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

Technological advancements, such as online grocery shopping, have significantly transformed consumer retail environments and experiences. Effectively studying consumer behavior in these new environments requires the use of novel methodological approaches, which will also aid in developing interventions to encourage sustainable consumption. This paper begins by providing an overview of the current literature on novel approaches to analyzing consumer behavior, then provides an empirical application by examining consumer decision-making pathways within an online grocery shopping platform. Specifically, the paper focuses on exploring the consumers’ digital footprints, such as page visits, product additions and removals, and interactions with information labels to identify …

The Effects Of Acute Nutrient Intake On Raw Segmental Bioelectrical Impedance Values And Fluid Shifts In Premenopausal Women, Callie Unrein

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Raw bioimpedance measures—impedance (Z), resistance (R), reactance (Xc), and phase angle (PhA)—are emerging tools to assess hydration, cellular integrity, and muscle quality. While multifrequency bioimpedance analysis (MF-BIA) can detect acute physiological shifts, its sensitivity to nutrient intake, especially across hormonal phases in women, remains underexplored. Purpose: This study investigated how essential amino acids (EAA), carbohydrates (CHO), and water (CON) influence postprandial segmental bioimpedance and fluid distribution in healthy women, and whether these responses vary by menstrual hormone phase. Methods: Twenty-two recreationally active women (18–40 years) underwent serial MF-BIA (InBody 970) assessments during high- and low-hormone phases, randomized to one …

An Exploratory Study Of Disclosure Of X-Linked Conditions Between Mothers And Daughters, Madge Isabella Stuhlreyer

Theses and Dissertations

Carriers of X-linked conditions, both asymptomatic and symptomatic, face unique challenges regarding their experiences navigating the healthcare system and understanding implications of their carrier status. Studies show that mothers are known to be the main communicators of genetic information within their families, but in families affected with X-linked conditions, communication between mothers and daughters are hindered by factors such as lack of knowledge about the condition and reproductive implications, lack of emotional support, anxiety, and uncertainty about how to initiate these conversations. The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations behind mothers' decisions to initiate conversations with their …

Barriers In Receiving A Diagnosis Of Sanfilippo Syndrome: Perceptions From Healthcare Providers And Caregivers, Cassidy Lena

Theses and Dissertations

Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III) is a rare, degenerative condition characterized by symptoms impacting neurological functioning, behavior, and quality of life. Diagnosis is often not made until three to six years of age, but comprehensive and effective symptom management have been reported to optimize patient longevity. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to diagnosis and the corresponding impact on patients. This study surveyed healthcare providers and caregivers of individuals with Sanfilippo syndrome. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess provider knowledge and comfortability in managing Sanfilippo syndrome. Additionally, it explored caregiver perspectives on healthcare system navigation, …

The Association Between Parent’S Mobile Device Use And Physical Activity, Sydney Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The rapid increase in mobile technology has allowed smartphones to be used almost anywhere, but a potential disadvantage of these mobile devices is the displacement of physical activity. Parents of young children are already struggling to reach higher intensities of physical activity and mobile devices might make this worse. However, most existing research on similar topics look at adults without children or uses subjective measures only. Therefore, this study aims to (1) quantify objective mobile device use from a sample of parents with preschool age children; (2) describe the duration and intensity of parents’ physical activity and inactive behavior; …

Adipocyte-Derived Cchamide-1, Eiger, Growth-Blocking Peptide 3, And Unpaired 2 Regulate Drosophila Melanogaster Oogenesis, Chad Simmons, Isaiah H. Williams, Tancia W. Bradshaw, Alissa R. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

In addition to energy storage, adipose tissue communication to other organs plays a key role in regulating organismal physiology. While the link between adipose tissue dysfunction and pathophysiology, including diabetes, chronic inflammation, and infertility, is clear, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these associations have not been fully described. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model to better understand how adipose tissue communicates to the ovary. In this study, we utilized D. melanogaster’s robust genetic toolkit to examine the role of five adipokines known to control larval growth during development, CCHamide-1, CCHamide-2, eiger, Growth-blocking peptide 3, and unpaired 2 in regulating …

Differential Impacts On Proteoglycan Expression In The Response To Lens Wounding In Reparative And Pro-Fibrotic Microenvironments, Janice L Walker, A. Sue Menko

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Ex vivo lens epithelial explant cultures created through a technique that mimics cataract surgery provided an ideal model with which to compare the impacts on proteoglycan expression in the response to wounding in both reparative promoting and pro-fibrotic microenvironments. On their native basement membrane capsule the injured lens epithelium undergoes regenerative repair, with the wound closing within a few days. Their migration across the wound area is led by a population of activated lens resident immune cells. The same leader cell population also directs the wounded epithelium to migrate off the outside edges of the lens explant across the surrounding …

Diverse Microbial Prey In The Guts Of Gelatinous Grazers Revealed By Microscopy, Terra C. Hiebert, Anne W. Thompson, Kelly R. Sutherland

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mucous mesh grazers including pelagic tunicates and thecosome pteropods play a key role in oceanic food webs. They are taxonomically and morphologically diverse and can be highly abundant. Using their fine mucous meshes, these pelagic grazers ingest a wide range of plankton prey and link pelagic and benthic marine ecosystems. Characterizing the diet of this group is central to fully understanding marine food webs and developing accurate food web models. However, gelatinous grazers are challenging to study owing to their physically delicate composition so studying their feeding ecology requires numerous complementary techniques. Microscopy has largely been supplanted by other methods, …

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2025), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

[Page] 2 Keeping South Dakota's food supply safe
[Page] 6 Controlling environmental listeria
[Page] 8 Inaugural 2+2 vet program class graduates
[Page] 10 Faculty honored for excellence
[Page] 12 New leader for agronomy, horticulture, plant science
[Page] 14 Students spend spring break in South Africa
[Page] 16 Hadacek offers advice to fellow graduates
[Page] 17 Park Interpretation and Management Club starts
[Page] 18 On the front lines with invasive species
[Page] 22 Director Karla Trautman retires
[Page] 24 Helping navigate precision ag
[Page] 26 Growing bigger, better beef
[Page] 28 Jackrabbits Then and Now

Ccr7 Regulated Mechanisms That Limit The Adaptive Immune Response, Jaisel Amilcar Cervantes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

C-C chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) is critical in guiding T cell migration within the thymus and peripheral lymphoid tissues, shaping the adaptive immune response by promoting central tolerance and regulating immune homeostasis. Although its role in lymphocyte trafficking is well established, the molecular mechanisms by which CCR7 influences thymocyte development and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire formation remain less understood. This study examines how CCR7 deficiency impacts thymic selection, TCR diversity, and the signaling events that shape repertoire restriction. Using a homozygously deleted CCR7 murine model, we found that the absence of CCR7 results in a less restricted TCR repertoire …

Improving Biocompatibility And Structural Integrity Of Decellularized Biomaterials, Elaine Vanterpool, Jayden Vanterpool, Ayanna Liburd, Andrew Mcintosh, Cayden Pyform, Cameron Scott, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

Venous grafting using synthetic and biomaterials has been one of the forefront issues of the scientific community. For years, in vitro experimentation of both bio and synthetic materials has been carried out with the hope of treating issues like chronic venous insufficiency, heart attacks, artery blockage, etc. Within these issues, there has been much success. Numerous cases have made it to clinical trials with grafts lasting as long as two years within the patient. Nonetheless, some common and persistent issues occur within all the cases observed. Despite extensive experimentation and development of the most prestigious technology, thrombosis, negative immune response, …

Using Secreted Biomarkers In The Development Of The Detection Of Advanced Cancer Screening System, Elaine Vanterpool, Jaydan Vanterpool, Jordon Vanterpool, Robert Lister, Shania Swain, Enock Ngoga, Jovaughn Redley, Imani Shields, Dalen Jones, Santiago Moreno, Ronnie Nichalson, Jea Joseph Msie

Student Posters

As of 2020, there were an estimated 19.3 million new cancer cases and almost 10 million cancer deaths. Among the different types of cancers in the world, the most prevalent cancer, lung cancer, accounted for 23% of all cancer deaths (CDC) and has been relatively steady since 1999. However, by using Detection of Advanced Cancer Screening (D.A.C.S), many patients with cancer cases would receive efficient, reliable treatment in a timely manner. According to Cancer.gov, multiple participants reported being screened for cancer, “After they had ‘aged out of the recommended range for routine cancer screening”. (Dr. Moss) “We found that over …

Immunotherapy Targeting A Leader Sequence Cathepsin G-Derived Peptide, Chunhua Shi, Ze Tian, Jun Yan, Mao Zhang, Pariya Sukhumalchandra, Edward Chang, Guojun Yang, Junping You, Meng Cui, Qing Shi, Celine Kerros, Anne Philips, Na Qiao, Hiroki Torikai, Sathvik Patchametla, Anna Sergeeva, Lisa St John, Helen He, Dmitri Wiederschain, Benjamin H Lee, Geraldine L C Paulus, Dongxing Zha, Jeffrey Molldrem, Gheath Alatrash

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myeloid azurophil granules provide a rich source of intracellular leukemia antigens. Cathepsin G (CG) is a serine protease that has higher expression in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) blasts in comparison to normal myeloid progenitors. Based on the unique biology of HLA-A*0201 (HLA-A2), in which presentation of leader sequence (LS)-derived peptides is favored, we focused on the LS-CG-derived peptide CG1 (FLLPTGAEA). We previously detected CG1/HLA-A2 complexes on the surface of primary HLA-A2+ AML blasts and cell lines, and immunity targeting CG1/HLA-A2 in leukemia patients. T cell receptor (TCR)-mimic (m) antibodies are immunotherapeutic antibodies that target peptide-HLA (pHLA) complexes. Here we report …

Perceptions Of Internship Experiences For Environmental Science Undergraduates, Sydney Brock

Senior Theses

Internships are widely recognized as valuable components of undergraduate education, yet their accessibility, impact, and role in shaping student development vary significantly across disciplines and individual experiences. This thesis investigates the undergraduate internship experience within the School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment (SEOE) at the University of South Carolina, drawing on survey data and reflective responses from students who participated in internships between 2022 and 2024. The study explores the professional, academic, and personal benefits of internships, with particular attention to how these experiences influence students' career direction, confidence, and skill development. Findings indicate that regardless of format, duration, …

Examining The Mechanism Of Spore Sacs Undergoing Sk-3-Based Spore Killing After Deletion Of Neurospora Crassa Dna Intervals I382 And I400, Makenna Klann

Senior Theses – Biological Sciences

Neurospora crassa is a well-known model organism for studying eukaryotic genetics, particularly non-Mendelian inheritance mechanisms such as meiotic drive. In N. crassa, meiotic drive can be observed in fungal spore killing, where Spore killer-3 (Sk-3) is a selfish genetic element transmitted to offspring through spore killing. Sk-3 is thought to contain two principal components: a killer (poison) gene and a resistance (antidote) gene. While the resistance gene (rsk) has been identified, the killer gene remains unknown. Building on previous research that identified a 1.3 kb DNA interval (i350) essential for Sk-3-based spore killing, I …

Expanding The Lexa Bacterial Two-Hybrid System For Human Protein-Protein Interaction Screening: Application To Tumor Suppressor Par-4, Rebecca M. Richardson

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Protein-protein interactions (PPI) are fundamental to cellular function, influencing processes such as signaling, structural organization, and disease progression. Disruptions in PPIs are implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting their importance as therapeutic targets. However, traditional methods for studying human PPIs, such as yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation mass spectrometry, are costly and technically demanding. This dissertation explores the LexA-based bacterial two-hybrid (LexA-B2H) system as a cost effective and accessible alternative for investigating human PPIs.

This study focuses on the interaction between glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and cleaved prostate apoptosis response-4 (cl-Par-4), a tumor suppressor protein involved in apoptosis and neurodegenerative …

Circulating Short-Chain And Branched Short-Chain Fatty Acids And The Risk Of Incident Type 2 Diabetes: Findings From The 4c Study, Shuangyuan Wang, Hong Lin, Xiaojing Jia, Yiting Lin, Chunyan Hu, Mian Li, Yu Xu, Min Xu, Jie Zheng, Xinjie Zhao, Yanli Li, Lulu Chen, Tianshu Zeng, Ruying Hu, Zhen Ye, Lixin Shi, Qing Su, Yuhong Chen, Xuefeng Yu, Li Yan, Tiange Wang, Zhiyun Zhao, Guijun Qin, Qin Wan, Gang Chen, Meng Dai, Di Zhang, Bihan Qiu, Xiaoyan Zhu, Ruixin Liu, Xiao Wang, Xulei Tang, Zhengnan Gao, Feixia Shen, Xuejiang Gu, Zuojie Luo, Yingfen Qin, Li Chen, Xinguo Hou, Yanan Huo, Qiang Li, Guixia Wang, Yinfei Zhang, Chao Liu, Youmin Wang, Shengli Wu, Tao Yang, Huacong Deng, Jiajun Zhao, Yiming Mu, Guowang Xu, Shenghan Lai, Donghui Li, Guang Ning, Weiqing Wang, Yufang Bi, Jieli Lu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Previous studies suggested that fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and branched short-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) are associated with glucose regulation. However, the potential relationship between circulating SCFAs and BCFAs with incident diabetes risk in both men and women remains unidentified in prospective cohort studies. In this study, we examined a panel of nine serum SCFAs and BCFAs in 3414 subjects with incident diabetes, and matched normoglycemic controls from the China Cardiometabolic Disease and Cancer Cohort study. In fully adjusted conditional logistic regression models, total SCFAs, total BCFAs, and isovaleric acid were significantly associated with incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) …

Defining A 'Cells To Society' Research Framework For Appendiceal Tumours, Andreana N Holowatyj, Michael J Overman, Konstantinos I Votanopoulos, Andrew M Lowy, Patrick Wagner, Mary K Washington, Cathy Eng, Wai Chin Foo, Richard M Goldberg, Mojgan Hosseini, Kamran Idrees, Douglas B Johnson, Ardaman Shergill, Erin Ward, Nicholas C Zachos, Deborah Shelton

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Tumours of the appendix — a vestigial digestive organ attached to the colon — are rare. Although we estimate that around 3,000 new appendiceal cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the USA, the challenges of accurately diagnosing and identifying this tumour type suggest that this number may underestimate true population incidence. In the current absence of disease-specific screening and diagnostic imaging modalities, or well-established risk factors, the incidental discovery of appendix tumours is often prompted by acute presentations mimicking appendicitis or when the tumour has already spread into the abdominal cavity — wherein the potential misclassification of appendiceal tumours as …

Next-Generation Biomedical Implants And Stimuli Responsive Soft Optical Arrays Via Surface Functionalized Elastomeric Materials, John M. Kapitan

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

The demands of emerging technologies, such as soft robotics, stretchable electronics, and next generation biomedical implants, has led to the development of diverse polymeric and hybrid organic/inorganic materials specifically tuned to meet these challenges. These materials typically have low Young’s moduli and are inert with high chemical stability. However, this has led to materials that are static in nature, lacking any meaningful way of responding to changes in their environment and adapting to these changes. This has driven a shift towards the design, manufacturing, and characterization of various stimuli responsive surfaces, relying on precise control of surface chemical coatings and …