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Integrating Social And Ecological Insights In The Management Plan For An Emerging Conservation Landscape: Kanha-Pench Corridor, Hrishita Negi

All Dissertations

Since its inception in 1973, Project Tiger, which laid the groundwork for India's tiger conservation program, has grown from 9 to 53 intensively monitored and managed tiger reserves. With an increase in tigers' permanent occupancy outside of designated tiger reserves, one of the many challenges confronting India's tiger conservation has been managing its success, with a particular emphasis on this spillover population that ranges extensively in human-dominated, multi-use forest landscapes. This research illustrates the application of a participatory modeling approach to integrate human dimensions with ecological knowledge about tigers in a previously identified forest corridor in Central India. Key dimensions …

Delineating Genetic Influences On Neurodegenerative Disorders And Infectious Diseases Through Advanced Computational Methods, Xiaowei Zhuang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Genetics plays a critical role in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and pathogen evolution in infectious diseases. For example, identifying genetic variants associated with a disease phenotype uncovers functional pathways that could lead to potential drug targets and therapeutic interventions. In addition, tracking the genetic evolution of pathogens enables early detection and warning of infectious disease outbreaks. In both applications, given the large amount of genetic data, advanced computational methods, including longitudinal and multivariate models, could significantly boost the statistical power and capture interrelationships among traits, environmental factors and genetic influences. This dissertation focuses on four applications of …

Survival Of The Smartest? The Evolutionary Ecology Of Cognition In Anolis Lizards, Mahaut V. Sorlin

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and decision-making are integral to an organism’s fitness, allowing to integrate cues from its environment and adjust its behavior accordingly. Historically, cognitive abilities were thought to have evolved according to a Scala Naturae design—an idea that has since been disproven—which suggested that complex cognitive abilities were exclusive to “higher” taxa. This perspective has created significant phylogenetic gaps in our understanding of cognitive evolution. In this dissertation I aimed to address this issue by investigating the evolution of cognition in reptiles, focusing on the green (Anolis carolinensis) and the brown anole (Anolis …

Association Between Chronotype And Chronic Neuropathic Pain Sensitivity: A Pilot Prospective, Observational, Single-Center, Cross-Sectional Study, Michael Kim, Yuri C Martins, Kishan Patel, Chiu-Hsieh Hsu, Mohab Ibrahim, Vasudha Goel, Amol M Patwardhan, Sejal Jain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Chronotype defines an organism's biological preference for timing of activity and sleep. Being a morning chronotype (i.e., tending to wake up early and go to bed earlier at night) is associated with protection against chronic musculoskeletal pain and headaches, but the relationship between chronotype and neuropathic pain sensitivity remains unclear.

Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to explore the relationship among chronotype, neuropathic pain sensitivity, and pain interference in patients with chronic neuropathic pain disorders.

Study design: This was a prospective, observational, single-center, cross-sectional study.

Setting: Patients were recruited from pain management clinics.

Methods: The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire …

Prevalence, Diagnostic Features, And Medical Outcomes Of Females With Turner Syndrome With A Trisomy X Cell Line (45, X/47, Xxx): Results From The Insights Registry, Natalia Klamut, Samantha Bothwell, Alexandra E Carl, Vaneeta Bamba, Jennifer R Law, Wendy J Brickman, Karen O Klein, Roopa Kanakatti Shankar, Catherina T Pinnaro, Patricia Y Fechner, Siddharth K Prakash, Iris Gutmark-Little, Susan Howell, Nicole Tartaglia, Marybel Good, Kelly C Ranallo, Shanlee M Davis

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Turner syndrome (TS) is defined by partial or complete absence of a sex chromosome. Little is known about the phenotype of individuals with TS mosaic with trisomy X (45,X/47,XXX or 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX) (~3% of TS). We compared the diagnostic, perinatal, medical, and neurodevelopmental comorbidities of mosaic 45,X/47,XXX (n = 35, 9.4%) with nonmosaic 45,X (n = 142) and mosaic 45,X/46,XX (n = 66). Females with 45,X/47,XXX had fewer neonatal concerns and lower prevalence of several TS-related diagnoses compared with 45,X; however the prevalence of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses were not different. Compared to females with 45,X/46,XX, the 45,X/47,XXX group was significantly …

The Neural Mechanisms Of Visual Art Expertise During Different Stages Of The Creative Process: An Eeg Study, Kim N. Awa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Generating and drafting ideas are creative processes linked to internal neural mechanisms, such as directed attentional states, reflected in alpha band synchronization patterns. Previous research has demonstrated that these mechanisms vary based on levels of expertise during creative tasks. However, few studies have examined the multifaceted nature of ideation and externalization across multiple stages of the creative process, particularly when accounting for domain-specific expertise in imagery and figural tasks. The present study investigates alpha band synchronicity (lower and upper) across visual art backgrounds, specifically among artists, intermediates, and non-artists, during three distinct stages of the creative process: thinking of ideas, …

Cognitive Bias, Memory, And Fearfulness Of Red Jungle Fowl And Athens Canadian Random Bred Chickens, Victor Juwon Oyeniran

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Our understanding of how poultry perceive and interpret their environment is essential to enhancing their welfare; over the years, animal welfare science has relied on measures of the behavioral and physiological components of affective states (positive and negative) as welfare indicators. There is an increasing interest in the study of chicken’s affective states using the Judgment bias test (JBT) as a tool for assessing welfare through their responses to ambiguous cues. This study investigates the cognitive performance of two chicken breeds with different evolutionary histories: Red Junglefowl (RJF), the primary ancestor of modern chickens, and Athens Canadian Random Bred (ACRB), …

Preparing Educators To Effectively Engage With Postsecondary Stem Students With Autism, Luzconsuelo Gavaldon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifetime mental disability (Boucher, 2009). Because the brains of people with autism work differently than their non-neurodiverse peers (Kuzminskaite et al., 2020), they tend to respond to external stimuli in a hypo- or hyper-sensory fashion. One of the primary considerations that must be accounted for when working with individuals with autism is that the brains of these persons are each neurologically distinct. In other words, there is no "one-size-fits-all" means by which individuals with ASD learn and develop and, consequently, no single way to therefore engage with said individuals (Anderson & Butt, 2017; Kuzminski …

Examination Of The Role Of Ovarian Hormones On Nicotine Withdrawal Severity In Females, Priscilla Giner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Women are more susceptible to the long-term consequences of chronic nicotine exposure, and clinical evidence has shown that abstinence from nicotine exposure produces a withdrawal syndrome that is intensified by estrogen (E2 in rats) and progesterone (PR) in females. The goal of this Masterâ??s thesis was to determine the mechanisms by which E2 and PR promote withdrawal from nicotine vapor inhalation in female rats. Prior work in male rodents has revealed that nicotine withdrawal is modulated in the medial habenula-interpeduncular nucleus (MHb-IPN) pathway. Our hypothesis is that females experience greater inhibition of the IPN via local interneurons that release the …

Neurocognitive Functioning Of Patients With Sinonasal And Nasopharyngeal Cancers Treated With Multimodality Therapy, Dan Yaniv, Lindsay M Niccolai, Jeffrey S Wefel, Catherine M Sullaway, Jack Phan, Clifton David Fuller, Kareem B Haroun, Ehab Y Hanna, Shirley Y Su

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance Few recent studies have examined neurocognitive functioning (NCF) in patients with sinonasal and nasopharyngeal cancers (NPCs) prior to and following multimodality therapy or the potential differences in NCF by disease variables such as disease site.

Objective The objective of this study is to determine rates of NCF impairments prior to and following multimodality therapy, declines in NCF following radiotherapy (RT), and possible differences in NCF by the disease site.

Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted a retrospective chart review of 39 patients with sinonasal and NPCs who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Twenty patients were evaluated prior to RT, of …

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review, Vivian Salama, Brandon Godinich, Yimin Geng, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Laura Maule, Kareem A Wahid, Mohamed A Naser, Renjie He, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Clifton D Fuller, Amy C Moreno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: Pain is a challenging multifaceted symptom reported by most cancer patients. This systematic review aims to explore applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) in predicting pain-related outcomes and pain management in cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases was conducted using terms: "Cancer," "Pain," "Pain Management," "Analgesics," "Artificial Intelligence," "Machine Learning," and "Neural Networks" published up to September 7, 2023. AI/ML models, their validation and performance were summarized. Quality assessment was conducted using PROBAST risk-of-bias andadherence to TRIPOD guidelines.

Results: Forty four studies from 2006 to 2023 were included. Nineteen studies used …

Mortality Risks Associated With Depression In Men With Prostate Cancer, Casey Crump, Pär Stattin, James D Brooks, Jan Sundquist, Weiva Sieh, Kristina Sundquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Men diagnosed with prostate cancer (PC) have an increased risk of depression; however, it is unclear to what extent depression affects long-term survival. A better understanding of such effects is needed to improve long-term care and outcomes for men with PC.

Objective: To determine the associations between major depression and mortality in a national cohort of men with PC.

Design, setting, and participants: A national cohort study was conducted of all 180 189 men diagnosed with PC in Sweden during 1998-2017. Subsequent diagnoses of major depression were ascertained from nationwide outpatient and inpatient records through 2018.

Outcome measurements and …

Sleep Disturbances Based On Patient Reported Outcomes In Patients With Breast Cancer, Saadia A Faiz, Ashley S Knox, Bryan Fellman, Bibi Aneesah Jaumally, G Nancy Pacheco, Aneesa Das, Reeba Mathew, Rashmi Murthy, Jennifer K Litton, Diwakar D Balachandran, Lara Bashoura

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Purpose: Sleep disturbances are common in patients with breast cancer, but comprehensive evaluations with patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and sleep evaluation with polysomnography (PSG) are lacking. This study describes sleep disruption using PROs and PSG to identify underlying sleep disorders.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with breast cancer undergoing formal sleep evaluation from 4/1/2009 to 7/31/2014 was performed. Clinical characteristics, PROs using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and PSG data were reviewed.

Results: 404 patients were identified with 43% early, 30% locally advanced and 17% metastatic disease. PSQI revealed poor sleep in 75%, and ESS …

Accumbal Plasticity And Associated Behavioral Adaptations In The Spared Nerve Injury Model Of Chronic Neuropathic Pain, Yu-Hsuan Chang

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Chronic pain is a debilitating neurological disorder that affects hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide. It is associated with cognitive symptoms such as cognitive inflexibility, which is defined as the inability to adaptively update behavior in response to changing environmental conditions. To date, there are no effective treatments for these symptoms, even though they substantially contribute to the decreased quality of life of chronic pain patients and are associated with reduced efficacy of pain management strategies. Therefore, understanding the neural circuit adaptations that drive cognitive symptoms of chronic pain, like cognitive inflexibility, is essential for improving existing treatments for this …

Heart Failure Beyond The Diagnosis: A Narrative Review Of Patients' Perspectives On Daily Life And Challenges, Michelle Shigi Yang, Mohamed Bilal Abdallah, Zubair Bashir, Wissam Khalife

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome that significantly affects patients' physical, psychological, and socioeconomic well-being. Despite advances in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), such as ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, and SGLT2 inhibitors, HF continues to have a high global burden, with over 64 million affected worldwide and a five-year mortality rate of 50%. HF disrupts various life aspects, especially for younger patients (aged 35-55), who often face career interruptions due to severe symptoms like fatigue and frequent hospitalizations. These patients may struggle to maintain employment, resulting in financial instability compounded by high healthcare costs. Moreover, reduced exercise capacity and sexual dysfunction …

Severity Of Symptoms As An Independent Predictor Of Poor Outcomes In Patients With Advanced Cancer Presenting To The Emergency Department: Secondary Analysis Of A Prospective Randomized Study, Aiham Qdaisat, Elizabeth Stroh, Cielito Reyes-Gibby, Monica K Wattana, Jayne Viets-Upchurch, Ziyi Li, Valda D Page, Huda Fatima, Patrick Chaftari, Ahmed Elsayem

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/Objectives: Patients with advanced cancer often present to the emergency department (ED) with pain and distressing symptoms that are not systematically evaluated. The current study investigated the association of symptom severity with the diagnosis of delirium and short-term survival.

Methods: In this secondary analysis of a prospective randomized study of delirium among advanced cancer patients in the ED, in which symptoms were assessed by the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), we analyzed the distribution of MDASI item scores by 90-day mortality (Kolmogorov-Smirnov), the association of MDASI item scores with short-term mortality (logistic regression models), and the symptoms in …

Influence Of Acute High-Intensity Resistance Exercise On Cognitive Performance And Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation In Recreational Weightlifters, Samuel M. Camacho, Terence Moriarty, Mick G. Mack, Jacob P. Reed, Hyeyoung Cho

Topics in Exercise Science and Kinesiology

Acute exercise has been shown to be effective in improving post-exercise cognitive performance, including executive function. In addition, changes in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation have been linked to any such improvements. Since resistance and higher intensity exercise is much less studied, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of high-intensity resistance exercise on cognitive performance and to determine if PFC activation was related to this cognitive performance in recreationally trained weightlifters. Ten (M = 5, F = 5) college aged (22 ± 2 years) recreationally trained weightlifters completed the Stroop task prior to and 15- and 30-min …

Variation In Diet And Leafy Browse Offerings Amongcolobus Monkeys (Colobus Spp.) And Langurs(Trachypithecus Spp.) In Aza Facilities, Maura R. Plocek, Noah T. Dunham

Student Scholarship

Providing nutritionally balanced diets is a key aspect of successful husbandry and can help support sustainable ex situ populations. This study focuses on the diets of zoo‐housed colobus monkeys (Colobus angolensis and C. guereza) and langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus and T. francoisi) across AZA institutions. We utilized survey responses from 34 institutions to (1)document the extent of dietary variation with regard to food categories and macronutrients offered, (2) assess interspecific variation in diets offered, and (3) identify important aspects of browse provisioning among institutions. A total of 95 different food items and 229 common‐name browse types were …

Student Comprehension Of Biochemistry In A Flipped Classroom Format, Ed Harris, Evan A. Schroder, Teryn J. Berks

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Concept-heavy courses such as Biochemistry in life and physical science curricula are challenging for many college-aged students. It is easy for students to disengage in a lecture and not learn the subject matter while in class. To improve student learning and participation, we employed a flipped format for the first half of the course and compared learning outcomes and attitudes with the traditional lecture in the second half of the course. The experimental course was an upper-level biochemistry course taken primarily by juniors (49%), seniors (40%), and some graduate students (10%) at the college level. Our results indicate that lower-performing …

Covid 19 Is A Hoax, Vidushi Sharma '28

Best First-Year Seminar Writing

When COVID-19 first swept across the globe, it brought more than just a viral contagion—it sparked an epidemic of misinformation. Among the various conspiracy theories, one stands out for its audacity: the claim that COVID-19 does not exist. This theory undermines public health efforts, sows mistrust, and complicates crisis management. But why do people believe it, and what makes such narratives so compelling? More importantly, how can we combat this damaging misinformation? This essay explores the origins of the "COVID-19 doesn't exist" conspiracy, examines its three main iterations—denial of the virus’s existence, claims of government overreach, and accusations of corporate …

Why Is Fish Welfare Still So Neglected?, Caroline M. Maia

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (O&B) address an important problem in the field of fish welfare, one that calls for greater attention from scientists and practitioners. O&B show that fish welfare, particularly at the psychological level, is under-investigated. They focus mainly on zoos and aquaria, but their concerns extend also to other domains, including fish farming. Fish are sentient animals; priority should be given to their welfare in all environments where they are under human care.

Analysing Sound Characteristics Of Cello And Violin Using Fast Fourier Transform, Sinin Hamdan, Khairul Anwar Mohamad Said, Ahmad Faudzi Musib, Marini Sawawi, Aaliyawani Ezzerin Sinin

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The unique sound characteristics of music are based on multiple harmonic frequencies that exist within the sound waves. Through Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) software, the wave can be broken down into frequency and amplitude components. Spectrum analysis can be used quantitatively to describe these sound characteristics. In this paper, the frequency range present in the spectrum and the average intensity of the first 10 high notes in the sound are used to classify the sound characteristics of the cello and violin. This is done by generating a frequency (x-axis) and amplitude (y-axis) graph for the sounds of the cello and …

The Role Of Adhd As A Risk Factor In Alzheimer's Disease, Evelyn Fulmer

The Cardinal Edge

In recent years, the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased significantly. While these disorders initially seem unrelated, ADHD and AD pose similarities that indicate a more involved relationship between them. To understand this relationship, this review delves into the current research proposing ADHD as a potential risk factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease, examining genetic predispositions, shared risk factors, and affected mechanistic pathways that influence the aging process.

Anti-Aging Properties Of Cosmetics, Anna Lipinski

The Cardinal Edge

It is well established that external factors, specifically UV exposure, are among the highest contributors to the biological aging of the skin. Prolonged exposure may disrupt skin cell homeostasis through shifts in proteostasis, accumulation of reactive oxidative species, premature cellular senescence, and inflammatory pathways. Cosmetic companies have responded to this by producing products marketed as "youthful" and "anti-aging" by including specific compounds into formulas to combat skin aging. This review discusses the specific mechanisms of anti-aging formulas, including polyphenols as senotherapeutic agents and L-ascorbic acid as an anti-inflammatory compound, in resisting the biological aging of the skin.

The Effect Of A Virtual Covid-19 Interprofessional Educational Module On Knowledge, Confidence, Attitude, And Practice Among Health And Allied Health Professions Students, Tsu-Yin Wu, Jenni L. Hoffman, Grigoris Argeros, Sarah Lally, Andrea Gossett Zakrajsek, Jillian Graves, Alice Jo Rainville, Olivia Ford, Angela Lukomski, Renuka Roche, John Sonnega, Joan E. Cowdery Phd

Journal of Interprofessional Practice and Collaboration

Purpose: The purpose of this research study was to examine the effect of an innovative, online COVID-19 interprofessional educational module among health and allied health professions students.

Methods: This study utilized a pre- and posttest design with quantitative and qualitative data collected winter 2023 and spring/summer 2023 semesters, and consisted of health and allied health professions students (N=143) from three Midwestern, urban, public universities. Participants completed a pretest, then an IPE module on COVID-19, and a posttest immediately after the educational intervention, and another (the same) posttest one month later. Quantitative and qualitative data were subject to statistical …

Objective Bat Phenomenology, Thomas Nagel

Animal Sentience

Our discussions prompted Donald Griffin to campaign for the recognition of animal consciousness as a subject for scientific investigation. Ristau shows how much has since been discovered about the experiences of bats and other creatures, by Griffin and others, in spite of the limits to full knowledge imposed by our biological differences. But Ristau seriously misrepresents me as holding that we can know nothing about what it is like to be a bat, whereas these results are precisely of the kind I envisioned in proposing an “objective phenomenology.”

The Utilization Of String Pulling To Determine Female Rats' Dual Cognitive Motor Task Performance Following Space Flight Stressor Exposure, Doc-Haden Rodgers, Nicole M. Atttallah, Teresa L. Garcia, Nuhamine A. Moges, N. A. Moges, K. D. Omengan, J. F. Cortez, K. S. Dhede, A. A. Blackwell

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

During deep space exploration, astronauts depend on mission-essential performance in Dual Cognitive Motor Tasks (DCMT), such as receiving information from ground control to assemble and configure wires during a spacewalk. DCMT relies upon processing cognitive and motor information simultaneously. Previous research on rodent models has shown various impairments in cognition and motor function in separate tasks after exposure to deep space radiation and sleep fragmentation (SF). However, an assessment of DCMT performance in rodents has not been established. Rats and humans use similar hand-over-hand movements to pull a string, and task demands may be varied to assess cognition and motor …

Examining Emotion And Ease Of Recall For Life Story Memories In Young Adults, Roxanna E. Chavez, Erin L. Murphy, David E. Copeland

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Life stories are narratives that use autobiographical memories to shape personal identity. This study investigated how emotional valence and ease of recall may change over time. Participants were asked to recall ten life story memories in two interviews held three weeks apart. Participants provided ratings of emotional valence and ease of recall for each memory. A significant difference was found in emotional valence between Session 1 (M = 3.159, SD = .772) and Session 2 (M = 2.905, SD = .788), t(68) = 2.734, p < .01, with Session 1 memories rated as significantly more negative (M = 1.812, SD = 1.427) than those in Session 2 (M = 1.275, SD = 1.316), t(68) = 3.232, p < .01. Furthermore, negative memories were more frequent in the last five Session 1 memories (M = 0.986, SD = 0.866) than in all of Session 2 memories (First Five: M = 0.652, SD = .783; Last Five: M = 0.623, SD = .892), F(3, 204) = 3.663, p < .05. For ease of recall, the first five memories in both sessions (Session 1: M = 5.684, SD = 0.806; Session 2: M = 5.612, SD = 0.963) were significantly easier to recall than the last five in both sessions (Session 1: M = .214, SD = 1.128; Session 2: M = 5.136, SD = 1.080), F(2.498, 169.864) = 7.369, p < .001. Overall, these findings suggest participants recalled more accessible memories first, with negative memories being harder to retrieve as sessions progressed.

Investigating The Impact Of Psychological Interventions On Autoimmune Disease Progression In Women, Nicole Datastanyan

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Autoimmune disease arises when an individual's immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s tissues. Autoimmune disease disproportionately affects women, with eighty percent of diagnosed patients being female. This research proposal aims to explore the relationship between psychological factors (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression) and the progression of autoimmune diseases. This poster will propose a detailed study to assess whether reducing psychological distress through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can slow disease progression. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of talk therapy to relieve symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, stress, or grief. Two hundred female patients diagnosed with …

Inter-Rater Reliablility Of Sharp Wave Ripple Detection In Recently Trained Experts, Orlando Montiel, Gage Pompa, Yader Gomez, Talha Soluoko

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Sharp wave ripples (SWR) are a brain phenomenon that originate in the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory and learning. These events occur during periods of rest or slow-wave sleep and are characterized by fast oscillatory bursts (150-250Hz) and are thought to be important for the brain to consolidate memory. SWR are believed to facilitate the transfer of information from the hippocampus to the cortex, strengthening synaptic connections & enabling long-term memory storage. Accurate detection & assessment of SWRs is essential for advancing how the brain processes and stores information.

This study examines the accuracy/consistency of SWR image selection and …