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Impact Of Climate Change On Agricultural Production In The North China Plain And Adaption Strategies, Yanjun Shen, Ying Guo, Chuanwei Zhang, Yaning Chen

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Over the past century, global warming has posed significant challenges to the North China Plain (NCP), a core region for grain production, where resource-induced water scarcity now coincides with complex meteorological disasters. In recent years, the NCP has exhibited new climatic characteristics, notably the transition from a “warm-dry” to a “warm-wet” pattern accompanied by asymmetric warming, leading to an increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts, abrupt dry-flood alternations, and temperature extremes. These shifts pose a grave threat to regional grain stability. Currently, critical gaps remain in the understanding of the underlying disaster mechanisms, as well as in predictive …

Impacts Of Climate Change On Agricultural Production And Adaptation Strategies In Northeast China, Ming Jiang, Aizhen Liang, Peng Qi

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

As the “stabilizer” of national food security, Northeast China is highly sensitive to climate change. Over the past 60 years, the regional temperature has risen significantly at a rate of 0.034℃/a, which is much higher than the global average of 0.0074℃/a. The improvement of thermal resources has driven a significant northward expansion of high-yield and heat-demanding crops, such as maize and rice. Nevertheless, increased warming has enhanced evapotranspiration demand, which, combined with the expansion of planting scales, has led to a 19.8% increase in agricultural irrigation water consumption over the past 20 years, resulting in a prominent contradiction between supply …

Impact And Countermeasures Of Climate Change On Grain Production In Northwest China, Qin’Ge Dong, Jianqiang He, Yi Li, Ning Yao, Xiang Li, Haolei Zhang, Shengnan Wang, Tengcong Jiang, Baiqing Chen, Chunrui Gao, Chao Liang, Guiyuan Zhang, Lei Gong, Jinxuan Zhao, Qiang Yu, Hao Feng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Global climate change is reshaping the agricultural production patterns of grain crops in Northwest China. As an important reserve region for national grain production, Northwest China faces multiple uncertainties and compound risks in food security. This study analyzes the current status and limiting factors of grain production, along with regional climate change trends, and systematically evaluates the impacts of climate change and its associated disasters on the spatial distribution, cropping systems, and yield formation of major crops such as wheat, maize, and potato. Over the past 60 years, the region has experienced a warming rate of approximately 0.32℃ per decade …

Accelerating Marine Science And Technology Innovation Under Great Power Competition: Challenges And Recommendations, Qingbin Guo, Yongsha Xiong, Shifang Sun

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Against the backdrop of intensifying great-power competition, the core issues of global technological competition and cooperation are increasingly converging on the marine domain. The oceans are progressively becoming a critical strategic sphere for national development and security. At present, China is steadily advancing towards its goal of becoming a maritime power, achieving historic leaps in technological innovation such as shipbuilding and deep-sea exploration. Nevertheless, the path ahead for China’s marine science and technology innovation will inevitably face severe international circumstances and competition from established global maritime powers. Based on a review of global and Chinese progress in marine science and …

Construction Of China’S Marine Protected Area System In 15th Five-Year Plan, Ke Duan, Danhong Chen, Keqiang Li, Limin Han, Zhengyan Liu, Dongliang Lu, Xiulin Wang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The establishment of the marine protected area (MPA) system constitutes a critical component of the national initiative to comprehensively advance the development of a nature reserve system centered on national parks. This study explores on domestic and international development trends from aspects such as conservation strategies, international policies, high seas protection, and development trends. It also sorts out and analyzes the construction status of marine protected area systems in China and the United States. Centering on issues in China related to spatial layout, management systems, policies and laws, scientific research support, high seas governance, and land-sea management, the study puts …

Considerations For Microbial Inoculation Under Dryland Stress Conditions, Benedict Odinaka Okorie

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Microbial inoculants are critical for sustainable crop production in dryland agriculture. However, several limitations (drought, heat, salinity, nutrient deficiency, etc.) of drylands and soil variability limit their consistent performance. Climate, soil properties (pH, texture, etc.), and their interactions are strong filters for microbial communities, functions, and activities across multiple scales, regions, and ecosystems. This review discusses several considerations of the peculiarities of drylands that must be factored into microbial formulations and inoculations decisions. Blanket/universal microbial formulations, inoculation methods, timings, and rates generally approach microbial, plant, and soil functions in isolation. This masks the complex microbial, soil, plant, environmental interactions, and …

Elasmobranchii Oral Microbiome Diversity Within Southeast Florida: Implications Of Shark Zoonotic And Antibiotic Resistant Pathogens Associated With Human Interactions, Amanda Finnefrock

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Sharks are incredibly common in the Atlantic and Gulf waters surrounding Florida. Despite the prevalent nature of these animals, little research exists on the composition of their microbial communities (or “microbiomes”). Here we aim to determine the microbial makeup of the oral environment of sharks so that we can determine if there are any bacteria of clinical significance to humans, such as being antibiotic-resistant or having elevated capability for pathogenicity. A total of 41 samples were collected from the mouths and teeth of bull, Caribbean reef, great hammerhead, lemon, nurse, and sandbar sharks caught in Southeast Florida using sterile swabs …

Geographical And Anatomical Microbiome Variation In Invasive Green Iguanas (Iguana Iguana), Amanda A. Diaz

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

The common green iguana (Iguana iguana) was introduced to South Florida in 1965 and has since been an especially pernicious threat both environmentally and economically. This highly invasive species is also expanding in range and populations at an astonishing rate. Understanding how this reptile is able to adapt and thrive in novel environments is of imperative need in order to begin managing their disruptive populations. Notwithstanding their negative impacts and significance, the microbiome of wild populations has not yet been characterized. Here, using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, this study is the first to characterize the microbiome composition …

The Impact Of State And Federal Policies On Academic Researchers: Findings From A National Survey, Dylan Ruediger, Chelsea Mccracken, Jonathan Barefield

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

Key findings

● State and federal policies targeting divisive concepts or DEI are shaping research agendas at scale and across disciplines. Twenty percent of all respondents, and 29 percent of researchers working in states with divisive concepts or similar laws, reported having avoided certain research topics because of state laws and policies.

● Eight percent of respondents representing a wide range of disciplines reported having had a federal grant cancelled in 2025.

● Eleven percent of respondents reported that federal and state policies restricting research activities are compelling them to seek employment out of state, to leave the academy, or …

Uptake And Fate Of Silver And Zinc Engineered Nanoparticles In Maize Under Single And Binary Dosing Soil Ecosystems, Lei Xu, Qingbo Yang, Xingmao Ma, Honglan Shi, John Yang, Hu Yang, Samira Mahdi, Ying Wang, Young Shin Jun

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recent agricultural applications of engineered metallic nanoparticles (ENPs) have raised concerns about their uptake and fate in plants. To understand this critical issue, this study investigated the fate and uptake of silver (Ag) and zinc oxide (ZnO) ENPs in maize (Zea mays L.) after single or binary ENP exposure in soil. Results indicated that both Zn and Ag elemental concentrations in roots increased with increasing ENP dosage. Ag NPs in the tissues were detected, but not Zn NPs. Ag NP concentration was 3 times higher in the roots than in the shoots at low Ag NP dosing, while Ag NP …

Evaluating The Impact Of Residential Landscape Audits Using 5-Second Water Use Data, Mahmud Aveek, Camilo J. Bastidas Pacheco, David E. Rosenberg, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Kelly Kopp, Belize A. Lane

Civil and Environmental Engineering Student Research

We used 5-s water use data to evaluate the effectiveness of residential landscape water audits in summer 2022. Fifty-nine households in two northern Utah cities were monitored for 2–5 weeks before and 3–10 weeks after an audit. We found that the distribution of weekly irrigation volumes postaudit was statistically less than the distribution preaudit (significant at the 1.9E10-5 level). Collectively, the participants reduced their landscape irrigation water use by approximately 379,000 L per week (100,300 gal per week; 0.3 acre-feet per week). We also analyzed changes in irrigation event volume, duration, frequency, and the number of days between events at …

Hormetic Ethanol Effects On Fitness And Attraction In Irradiated Aedes Aegypti, Kayden Robey, Gabriel Borg, Immo Hansen

The Agora

Sterile insect technique (SIT) is an increasingly important strategy for controlling mosquito populations while reducing reliance on chemical insecticides and genetically modified organisms. A major limitation of SIT is the reduced fitness and competitiveness of irradiated male mosquitoes, which can compromise population suppression efforts. This study investigates whether hormetic ethanol exposure improves post-irradiation fitness in Aedes aegypti males, a primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Adult male mosquitoes were fed either a standard sugar solution or a sugar solution supplemented with 5% ethanol prior to irradiation. Males were sterilized using X-ray irradiation at 50 Gy and assessed for …

Maternal Inflammation Alters Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Methylation Patterns In Neonatal Brain Monocytes, Andrew Ebenezer, Jonathan Hicks, Brooke Hollander, Alexander Hone, Mona Batish, Robert Akins, Adam Marsh, Elizabeth Wright-Jin

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a common birth complication that can cause death or lifelong disabling conditions like cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. It is well established that maternal infection and inflammation are significant risk factors for HIE but reasons for this increase in neurological risk to the offspring remain unknown. Inflammation or infection are associated with epigenetic changes and may contribute to the increased risk of neurodevelopmental disability in exposed offspring. Here, we analyzed and compared DNA methylation patterns in brain monocytes isolated from control, maternal immune activation (MIA), and an inflammation sensitized HIE (IS-HIE) CF-1 mouse model …

The Effects Of Hurricane Helene On Mental Health And Physical Activity, Hunter Smathers, Robyn York, Jarrett Walbolt

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Hurricane Helene brought widespread damage to Southern Appalachia, disrupting utilities, health care, and recreation. While natural disasters are linked to declines in mental and physical health, few studies have examined their effects on distinct types of physical activity (PA).

Purpose: This study evaluated the effects of Hurricane Helene on perceived stress, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology, and intentional (exercise for health benefits) and incidental (physical labor or transportation) PA. Evacuation status influence was also explored.

Methods: Twenty participants completed assessments four weeks before (BASE), immediately after (0POST), and four weeks after landfall (4POST). Measures included the Perceived …

Mental Gymnastics: How Misconceptions Drive Unstable Forms Of Scientific And Religious Reconciliation, Jamie Jensen, Jade Sorensen, Andrea Phillips, Mackay Strong, Isaac A. Woolley, Spencer M. Johanseon, Afton Fillmore, Luke N. Noakes

ScholarsArchive Data

Interview transcripts of introductory biology students attempting to reconcile evolutionary science with religious faith.

Tracing Microplastics From Polymer-Coated Urea: Urban To Agricultural Pathways And Environmental Fate, Caden Joseph Seely

Theses and Dissertations

Polymer-coated urea (PCU) is widely used as a slow-release nitrogen (N) fertilizer because it improves N use efficiency and reduces losses through leaching, denitrification, and volatilization. However, the polymer coating raises concerns about potential microplastic (MP) transport to surface waters following fertilizer application. This thesis evaluates the off-site transport of MPs and associated nutrient and sediment losses from PCU in both urban landscape and agricultural systems. In the urban landscape study, treatments included sod, mulched beds, and water-efficient ground cover receiving uncoated urea, PCU, or liquid slow-release N at 225 kg N ha⁻¹ (with reduced rates for beds and ground …

Effect Of Peppermint Oil Inhalation On Swim Performance In D3 Swimmers, Brynn Conklin, Ashlea Swingewood, Brianna Johnson, Katie Eggleston, Miriam Czaja

25th Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2026)

Peppermint essential oil has long been a topic of research for its effects on exercise performance. Although there are mixed results within the current body of literature, some studies propose that it allows for bronchodilation and increased alertness which lead to performance improvements. The purpose of this research was to determine if peppermint oil inhalation has an effect on time to completion, heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory reserve volume in one second (FEV1) during a 100-yd swim in D3 swimmers. A group of twenty D3 swimmers (M=12, F=8) volunteered to …

Unraveling The Role Of The C-Terminal Intrinsically Disordered Linker In The Bacterial Cell Division Protein Ftsz, Jessica Louise Bullock

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

FtsZ is a highly conserved cytoskeletal protein that is essential for organizing the cell division machinery in bacteria. The first observable step in cytokinesis, FtsZ forms a ring at the future division site. The FtsZ ring serves as a platform for recruitment of other division proteins. FtsZ has three major domains: a tubulin-like GTP binding core domain, an intrinsically disordered C-terminal linker (CTL), and a conserved ~11-residue motif known as the C-terminal peptide (CTP). The core domain is sufficient for head-to tail assembly of FtsZ polymers in vitro. The CTP interacts with modulatory proteins to coordinate division, while the CTL …

An Evaluation Of The Nebraska Ffa Launch! Program, Miranda M. Hornung

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of this program evaluation was to discover the experiences of entrepreneurial education received in the Nebraska FFA Launch! Program in relation to future decisions for high school students about entrepreneurship. The Launch! Program aims to provide an educational experience for youth to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and view entrepreneurship as a possible career pathway. This focus addresses the opportunity to potentially help solve the issue of brain drain in rural Nebraska communities. A program evaluation was conducted by story harvesting from past participants through Zoom interviews to understand personal experiences and takeaways from their time in the Launch! …

Potential Applications Of Thymus Vulgaris In Dental Care: A Review Of Antimicrobial And Oral Health Benefits, Lakenzia Z. Ham

Undergraduate Research Conference

This research proposal focuses on how common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) can be used in dental care. There has been more interest in natural products for dental health because some common dental treatments can have side effects or lead to antibiotic resistance. Thyme contains natural compounds like thymol and carvacrol that help kill bacteria, reduce inflammation, and prevent buildup on teeth.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current scientific literature to see the effectiveness of thyme in preventing common oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Research shows that thyme can fight bacteria …

From Garden To Laboratory: The Scientific Significance Of Zinnia Elegans, Katelyn G. Klark

Undergraduate Research Conference

Zinnia elegans is a flowering species in the Asteraceae family that originated in Mexico and eventually spread to Europe (Burlec et al., 2019). This species' vast array of colors, drought resistance, and other agricultural benefits make this plant highly sought after in gardens worldwide (Burlec et al., 2019). However, following the methodology of a preliminary research literature review, recent scientific research suggests that Z. elegans may possess significance beyond its aesthetic appeal. This literature review aimed to examine recent scientific findings regarding zinnias and their potential agricultural, medicinal, and genetic applications. To explore these possibilities, recent scientific studies were examined …

An Integrative Description Of Euscorpius Diagorasi Sp. N. From Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Konstantinos Kalaentzis, Francesco Frigioni, Eliza Kaitetzidou, Alessio Iannucci, Alexandros Triantafyllidis

Euscorpius

The genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n., a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male …

Late-Season Forb Availability And Bumble Bee Foraging Patterns In Iowa’S Restored Prairies And Suburban Gardens, Isaac De Young, Ellary Carson, Mya Cole, Tucker Draayer, Sharon Huffman, Naomi Johnson, Jasmine Lux, Genesis Maldonado, Caitlin Olson, Maelee Rodenburg, Jordan Shull, Travis Sweeney, Arianna Van Donkelaar, Laurie Furlong, Todd Tracy

Celebration of Research

Pollinators are essential to terrestrial ecosystems, and bumble bees are among the most effective pollinators in the United States (Hatfield et al., 2012). They pollinate forbs (non-grass herbaceous flowering plants), including crops, garden plants, and native prairie species (Dumroese et al., 2016). Their ability to travel long distances, forage in cool temperatures, and buzz-pollinate makes them critical to both wild and agricultural productivity (Mola & Williams et al., 2019). Research shows that bumble bee populations have declined in recent decades due to habitat loss, reduced floral resources, pesticide exposure, and climate change (IPBES, 2016).

Northwest Iowa is dominated by agriculture, …

Geographic Trends In North American Tornado Risk: A 75 Year Analysis, Thomas Tracy, Todd Tracy

Celebration of Research

In recent years, many meteorologists have claimed that ‘tornado alley’ has shifted over the last decades toward the east. We wanted to see if this claim holds true. We searched online for databases containing information on all US and all Canada tornadoes. By visualizing the data, we were able to find some trends in rating and the number of tornadoes over time. Using a program we wrote in R, we calculated the geographical average for tornadoes for each year. We also weighted this average by the rated magnitude of each tornado and by the number of deaths from each tornado. …

Recent Wetland Elevation Dynamics In Coastal Louisiana, Usa, Elizabeth Harris

LSU Master's Theses

Coastal marshes globally are increasingly vulnerable to accelerating relative sea-level rise (RSLR), which threatens their capacity to maintain elevation through feedbacks among sediment supply, vegetation productivity, hydrology, and soil processes. Although many marshes can persist under moderate rates of sea-level rise through vertical accretion and belowground biomass production, this resilience is strongly constrained by sediment availability and subsurface processes such as autocompaction and organic matter decomposition. High accretion is often assumed to confer marsh resilience; however, subsurface processes, particularly autocompaction driven by surface loading, can substantially offset elevation gains. Coastal Louisiana experiences among the highest rates of RSLR worldwide due …

Toward A Local Governance Model For Green Building Regulation: Lessons From A Philippine City, Mikaela Amihan S. Arrosa, Aileen V. Lapitan

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

The study analyzed local governance in implementing green building regulations in a city in Metro Manila, Philippines, through a case study. Compliance rates were calculated by comparing projects with Green Building Compliance Certification to those with Green Building Pre-Compliance Certification issued by the city. The Delphi method explored environmental sustainability implications of compliance, while key informant interviews and policy landscape analysis identified the factors affecting Green Building Code management. Fewer than half of the pre-compliance and construction permit holders also received occupancy certificates. Three rounds of the Delphi method were conducted, resulting in consensus on recommendations to enhance governance mechanisms …

Subjective Feelings And Electrophysiological Responses To Love-Stimuli In Parasocial And Real-Life Romantic Love, Magda Martinez-Mata

Theses

People can have a crush on, fall in love with, or develop a romantic interest in media figures despite having no reciprocal interaction, which is known as parasocial love. The objective of this study was to evaluate subjective feelings for and event-related potential (ERP) responses reflecting attention to the parasocial beloved and to compare them to real-life love. Twenty-six participants who have a parasocial beloved were recruited. Sixteen of those had a real-life beloved as well. The participants answered questions about their love feelings and completed the Infatuation and Attachment Scales and the Parasocial Love Scale for both their parasocial …

Effects Of Gnrh And Hcg Administration On Conception Rate And The Subsequent Estrous Cycle On Day 12 Following Artificial Insemination In Holstein Cows, Mustafa Hi̇lmi̇ Yaranoğlu, Hüseyi̇n Erdem

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present study investigates the effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin administration on the conception rate of cows 12 days after artificial insemination (AI). Included in the study were 150 high milkyielding Holstein cows housed under the same husbandry and feeding conditions. All had calved at least once between the ages of 2.5 and 6 years, and were between 90 and 220 days in milk. In accordance with the farm’s reproductive management approach, a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was inserted into the vagina concurrent with a GnRH injection (day 0), and the device was removed …

Age-Related Estimates Of Genetic Parameters For Growth And Ultrasonic M. Longissimus Thoracis Et Lumborum Muscle Traits In Eşme Lambs, İbrahi̇m Cemal, Orhan Karaca, Onur Yilmaz, Nezi̇h Ata

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The growth performance and ultrasonic M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle traits of 2397 Eşme lambs raised in the Eşme district of Uşak province, an important lamb production area in Western Anatolia, were evaluated at 3 months (n = 1690) and 5 months (n = 707) of age. The average age of the lambs at the time of the first measurement (at weaning) was 100.15 days, and 152.37 days at the second. At 3 months of age, the average live weight (LW) was 29.34 kg and the average daily gain (ADG) was 248.35 g/day. By month 5, the LW …

Effects Of Preslaughter Fasting On Ph And Bacterial Contamination In Akkaraman And Anatolian Merino Sheep, Sai̇m Boztepe, Özcan Şahi̇n, Talha Demi̇rci̇, Gi̇zem Coşkun, İbrahi̇m Ayteki̇n, İsmai̇l Keski̇n

Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences

The present study investigates the effects of the preslaughter fasting on pH and bacterial contamination in Akkaraman and Anatolian Merino sheep. Included in the study were 10 Akkaraman and 10 Anatolian Merino sheep (n = 20) that were fasted for 24 h prior to slaughter, and a further 10 Akkaraman and 10 Anatolian Merino sheep (n = 20) that continued to be fed until slaughter as a control group. The total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB) measured at 0 and 24 h in the fasting Akkaraman and Anatolian Merino sheep were 4.87/4.79 and 4.75/5.57 log CFU/g, respectively, and the corresponding Enterobacteriaceae …