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Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpureum) Meal Modulates Growth Efficiency, Gut Morphology, And Systemic Health In Broiler Chickens, Eric Lim Teik Chung, Yee Lyn Ong, Nazri Nayan, Muhamad Faris Ab Aziz, Faez Firdaus Abdullah Jesse, Faizal Andri, Arissara Sopawong

The Thai Journal of Veterinary Medicine

Grass and leaf meals, which include vital phytocompounds, have the potential to be a natural and safe alternative to antibiotics in the poultry industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess Pennisetum purpureum leaf meal and its phytocompounds on the health performances of colored-broilers. A total of 216 unsexed Sasso chicks were assigned to six diet groups. The negative control (T1) received a commercial basal diet without antibiotics, while the positive control (T2) received the same diet with oxytetracycline (100 mg/kg). Groups T3 to T6 received no antibiotics and included P. purpureum meal at 1.25, 2.50, 3.75, or 5.00 grams per …

The Evolutionary Response Of HawaiʻI ʻAmakihi (Chlorodrepanis Virens) To The Introduction Of Avian Malaria (Plasmodium Relictum), Gabrielle Atkinson

Doctoral Dissertations

The emergence of novel pathogens can impose intense selective pressures on natural populations, driving rapid evolutionary change or precipitating population collapse. In Hawaiʻi, the introduction of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and its mosquito vector (Culex quinquefasciatus) have caused severe declines and extinctions among native forest birds. Yet some populations of Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens) persist across a broad elevational and disease gradient, providing a powerful natural system for examining the genomic basis of rapid adaptation, the role of gene flow in adaptive response, and the potential for parallel evolutionary responses. This dissertation integrates genomic, population genetic, and transcriptomic approaches to …

Diversity, Systematics, And Phylogenomics Of The Neotropical Glass And Longtail Knifefishes (Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae), Kevin Thomas Torgersen

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation provides a comprehensive systematic and phylogenetic study of the electric knifefish family Sternopygidae, integrating morphological, molecular, osteological, and phylogenomic data to clarify species diversity, evolutionary relationships, and biogeographic patterns in this Neotropical group. Across six studies, the work reveals that Sternopygidae diversity has been significantly underestimated due to morphological conservatism that obscures species boundaries. Chapter 1 revises the genus Sternopygus in the Guiana Shield, identifying nine species (five new) using osteology, morphometrics, and µCT imaging. Distinct anatomical traits and distribution patterns show strong regional structuring, highlighting the Guiana Shield as a diversification center. Chapter 2 describes a new …

Effects Of L-Baiba Supplementation With And Without Grains Of Paradise On Changes In Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition, And Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Leah E. Allen, Paige J. Sutton, Alex Schrautemeier, Kevin Holley, Connor J. Gaige, Joesi M. Krieger, Anthony M. Hagele, Karenina Antequera Gutierrez, Petey Mumford, Chad Kerksick

Faculty Symposium

To evaluate the impact of 56 days of supplementing with L-BAIBA or L-BAIBA + GOP (BGOP) on resting metabolic rate, body composition, perceptual indicators of mood and affect, and cardiometabolic markers in overweight and obese men and women.

METHODS: Healthy men and women (43.2±11.4 years, 169.4±7.6 cm, 90.3±15.6 kg, 31.4±4.4 kg∙m-2) completed a weekly exercise program and followed a calorierestrictive diet and were randomly assigned in a double-blind and blocked manner according to sex and DXA lean mass to consume daily either a placebo (PLA) (n=12 [11F, 1M]), 500 mg L-BAIBA (L-BAIBA: MitoBurn™, NNB Nutrition) (n=13 [9F, 4M]), or …

First Course Portfolio For Plpt 803 Fundamentals Of Scientific Discovery, Hernan Garcia-Ruiz

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

PLPT 803 Fundamentals of Scientific discovery is a new curse in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I designed and developed this course from the ground up. Initially, it was offered as a special topic (PLPT 892-014) for four years. PLPT 803 was approved by the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources curriculum committee in September of 2025. PLPT 803 is unique within the University of Nebraska system and will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2027. The course is designed for students to learn fundamental scientific skills such as scrutinize, …

Nmda Receptor Subunit Nmr-2 Regulates Pathogen-Induced Immune Responses Via The Nervous System In C. Elegans, Benson Otarigho, Jonathan Lalsiamthara, Alejandro Aballay

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Neural control of innate immunity must balance restraint of basal immune activity with rapid activation upon pathogen encounter. Glutamate, the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, has been implicated in several neurological disorders associated with inflammation, suggesting a potential link to immune regulation. However, how glutamatergic signaling contributes to immune balance remains unknown. Here, we demonstrated that the NMDA-type ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit NMR-2, a component of the NMDA receptor complex, acts in the

Diabetes Mellitus Exacerbates Covid-19 Severity And Prolongs Recovery: A Clinical Study From Southern Iraq, Hussein Ali Hussein Al-Hchaimi, Mohammad Ali Hassan Jassim, Mustafa Abbass, Shahab Abdulla, Ralela Makline

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Diabetes mellitus (DM) constitutes one of the most consequential comorbidities shaping the clinical trajectory of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), operating through intersecting mechanisms of chronic inflammation, endothelial injury, and immunosuppression that collectively amplify viral pathogenicity. This study investigated the impact of diabetes type on COVID-19 symptom severity, hospitalization duration, and recovery time among patients in Nasiriyah City, southern Iraq — a region substantially underrepresented in the global DM–COVID-19 literature. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted across healthcare facilities in Nasiriyah City from 2023 to 2024. A total of 150 hospitalized adult patients carrying confirmed diagnoses of both COVID-19 and type …

[2026 Winner] Seed Sovereignty Through The Lens Of Decolonization, Lily A. Marx

Ethnic Studies Research Paper Award

This paper explores the movement of seed sovereignty, a contemporary movement stemming from the history of theft, appropriation, and forced assimilation endured by indigenous peoples. This movement recognizes that consumers alone cannot mend the damage being done to our food systems, but instead encourages communities to take political action by saving seeds and rebuilding connections with the land.

Synergies Of Microecology And Macroecology Elicit Insights For Creation Care, David Warners, John T. Wertz

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This article reports on a collection of microecological and macroecological insights that emerged from extended conversations between Calvin University professors David Warners, a botanist concentrating in restoration ecology, and John Wertz, a micro-biologist specializing in microbial ecology. Classic descriptions of ecology identify biological interactions as happening at the ecosystem, community, or population level. And yet, ecological interactions are very much occurring at the microbial level as well. Furthermore, microbial-level interactions frequently influence the quality and character of macroecological relationships and vice versa. Allowing ecological principles to be applied across all life forms broadens our comprehension of interactions that are happening …

City Farm Slo: A Case Study Of Nonprofit Regenerative Agriculture, Carver Tunnell

Master's Theses

The focus of this thesis is to create a case study on City Farm SLO, a nonprofit based in San Luis Obispo, California, that has engaged in education and regenerative agriculture on City owned land since 2013. This case study is intended for use in undergraduate agribusiness and natural resource management courses, to encourage thoughtful discussion surrounding nonprofit and regenerative agricultural systems. The case presents the nonprofit at a time of relative success, having recently secured a lease renewal, extending stewardship 40 years into the future. However, the reliance on grants and donations threatens the security of the operation going …

The Mayfly Newsletter, Donna Giberson

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Exploring Regenerative Vegetable Systems On The Central Coast Of California, Una S. O'Connell

Master's Theses

As climate change and current agricultural practices place pressure on the long term sustainability and resilience of food production systems, there is growing interest in whether existing agricultural systems can adapt to maintain productivity while improving environmental outcomes.

This study evaluated the effects of regenerative versus standard organic vegetable production systems on yield, insect communities, and weed suppression across three field trials conducted on California's Central Coast. In addition, I collected baseline soil health data for all trials. Trials 1 and 2 were carried out at the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Organic Farm using cabbage and broccoli as cash …

Sustainable Management Of Soilborne Pathogens In Strawberry Production Through Host Resistance And Sanitation Practices, Maria G. Alvarez Arredondo

Master's Theses

Strawberry production in California is significantly impacted by soilborne pathogens that reduce plant productivity and increase management costs. This research addressed management of these pathogens through two independent approaches: evaluation of host resistance in strawberry cultivars and assessment of sanitation practices for reducing pathogen movement between fields.

Macrophomina root rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, was evaluated over two growing seasons (2024–2025 and 2025–2026) using field trials at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. In Year 1, disease incidence varied widely among genotypes, with mortality ranging from 1.3% to 88.8% and an average mortality of 26.4%. Area under the …

Recreational Fishing Identification Guide, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Please note: this updated version (9th edition) published in June 2026 replaces the version published in 2023.

This guide has been developed to help you identify the more common species in Western Australia that you may encounter. The purpose of this guide is to enhance consistent and accurate species identification.

If you are unsure about a particular species (or if it is not in this guide), please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. You can access additional information from dpird.wa.gov.au

Throughout this guide you will see all or some of …

Recreational Fishing Location Guide, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Please note: this version (6th edition) published in 2026 replaces the version published in 2023.

This guide has been developed to help you identify the fishing locations that you may visit. The purpose of this guide is to enhance consistent and accurate identification of fishing locations and block numbers within each Bioregion. If you are unsure about a particular location, please discuss it with a representative of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia.

Protein Glycosylation In Natural And Synthetic Minimal Genome Mycoplasmas, John Sanford

ETDs from 2020-2029

Mycoplasmas are cell wall-less bacterial symbionts with remarkably streamlined genomes. Mycoplasmas offer two intriguing model organisms for studying concepts of minimal life. Mycoplasma genitalium has streamlined its genome to 580-kbp while maintaining virulence to suit its niche of parasitizing the human urogenital tract. The J. Craig Venter Institute has synthesized and transplanted a 543-kbp genome into a recipient cell, resulting in a non-pathogenic organism termed JCVI-syn3A. The conservation of a biological process in M. genitalium and JCVI-syn3A strongly implies an essential function in mycoplasmas, and potentially all life. Despite common thought of mycoplasmas being the simplest cells, much of their …

Updates To The Caniform Fauna (Carnivora, Caniformia) Of The John Day Formation, Oregon, Usa, John D. Orcutt, Kevin C. Talbott, Michael J. Monroe, Nicholas A. Famoso

Biology Faculty Scholarship

The John Day Formation of central Oregon preserves a diversity of Oligo-Miocene caniform carnivorans, many of which were first described from the formation. However, many historically important specimens lack detailed locality or stratigraphic information, complicating any analysis of faunal change through time. Here, we describe 16 new specimens of caniforms from the John Day Formation, most with precise stratigraphic information. We report multiple specimens of the amphicyonids Daphoenus Leidy, 1853, Paradaphoenus cuspigerus (Cope, 1878), and Temnocyon altigenis (Cope, 1878), all previously known from the formation. We also report the first definitive occurrence of the hesperocyonine canid Osbornodon Wang, 1994 from …

Off-Label Neuroimaging, Jane C. Moriarty

Law Faculty Publications

The growth of neuroimaging evidence in the courtroom is consistent with the increased reliance on technical and machine-based specialties at trial. Litigants routinely seek to introduce neuroimaging evidence in both civil and criminal trials to supplement traditional medical, psychiatric, and psychological opinion testimony. A substantial portion of neuroimaging evidence is still in the developmental stage—what I term “off-label neuroimaging.” Unsurprisingly, evaluating the reliability of developing neuroimaging poses challenging questions for gatekeeping courts. Among the complex evidentiary issues neuroimaging presents for courts and litigants, this Article considers one foundational question: How should courts determine whether neuroimaging evidence is sufficiently reliable for …

Identifying Textual Predictors Of Early Termination In Clinical Trials In Medicine: An Explainable Machine-Learning Study, Rohan Ramnarain

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

About one in five clinical trials in medicine ends early, wasting valuable resources and reducing the evidence available for developing life-saving medical treatments. This project uses a method called Trial2Vec, which is a self-supervised machine-learning method that converts clinical trial documents into dense numerical representations that capture their key design and clinical characteristics, to turn each proposed clinical trial’s written protocol into a compact numerical profile (a process referred to as embedding). These profiles are then paired with a predictive machine learning models to identify the words and phrases in the trial documents that can signal a higher risk of …

Toward A Synthetic Theory Of Tolerance For Carnivores: Learning From A Half-Century Of Research On Attitudes Toward Wolves, Jeremy T. Bruskotter, John A. Vucetich, Lisa Naughton-Treves, José Vicente López-Bao, Benjamin Ghasemi, Nicole D. Sintov, Tara L. Teel, Neil H. Carter, L. Mark Elbroch, Adrian Treves

Michigan Tech Publications

Human intolerance is a critical factor limiting both the distributions and populations of large carnivores. Using gray wolves as a case study, we synthesize a half-century of scholarship with the aims of clarifying the conceptual foundations of “tolerance” and integrating insights from across the social sciences. Specifically, we review longitudinal studies of attitudes toward wolves and show how trends vary across the populations examined. We then identify and discuss three complementary theories that help explain variation in tolerance across individuals, social groups, and societies: (1) Risk–benefit theories illuminate how perceptions of risks, benefits, and controllability shape individuals’ tolerance of carnivores; …

Aged 539 Internship Report: Cal Poly Rodeo Media And Marketing, Anna Grace Durham

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship report examines the role of media and marketing within the Cal Poly Rodeo Program and highlights the integration of leadership, athlete development, and strategic communications in a collegiate athletics setting. Serving as the Media Manager for Cal Poly Rodeo, the internship focused on strengthening the program's digital presence, enhancing brand identity, and increasing community engagement, particularly surrounding the 2026 Poly Royal Rodeo. Through collaboration with University Administrators, the Officer Team, sponsors, and external media partners, comprehensive marketing campaigns were developed and implemented, resulting in significant increases in social media reach, audience engagement, and ticket sales. The project included …

Fire–Climate–Vegetation Linkages In A Quaking Aspen Forest During The Late Holocene, R. Justin Derose, Jesse L. Morris

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Fire plays an important role in shaping forested ecosystems around the globe. Unlike many other fire-driven forest types, our understanding of pre-settlement fire behavior in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) systems is limited. To better understand the frequency and severity of fires in a putatively stable quaking aspen forest, a small, key watershed was selected for sediment coring to reconstruct fire history, vegetation change, and climatic variability. The study aim was to explore the fire–climate–vegetation linkages in an aspen-dominated catchment. For the past ~4000 years this basin has been dominated by quaking aspen but also subalpine fir (Abies …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Division Of Biomechanics And Research Development Annual Report 2023-2025, Uno Biomechanics

Biomechanics Annual Report

This report contains:

A letter from the Director: Dr. Nick Stergiou

Highlights articles

Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB) articles

The Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR) articles

People of UNO Biomechanics

Student Centered articles

Education Initiative articles

Roots And Greens: Discovering The Power Of Indigenous Produce, Abiodun T. Atoloye, Sherif O. Olasoji, Ebunoluwa G. Ibidapo

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Courseware

The curriculum was designed in alignment with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), Empowerment Theory (ET), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) frameworks. These frameworks were used to determine the selection and sequencing of learning activities. As reflected in CTML principles, the use of texts, images, infographics, and videos enhances knowledge retention and information comprehension and helps prevent cognitive overload. Through activities, homework, and family engagement, the principles of ET were incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate participants’ perceived control over food-related decisions. Additionally, by applying the principles of SCT, the curriculum incorporates scenario-based questions, opportunities to engage with peers, …

Title Page And Abstract: Diet Quality And Sustainability Based On Nut Intake Among Free-Living Adults, Raquel Aurora Martínez

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: There is increasing interest in dietary patterns that support both human and planetary health. Plant-forward dietary patterns commonly promoted within sustainability frameworks frequently include nuts. Despite concerns regarding resource use, particularly water demands, nuts may contribute to improved diet quality and sustainable dietary behaviors.

Objectives: To examine whether diets characterized by higher nut intake are associated with dietary quality, adherence to sustainable dietary patterns, and food-related sustainability behaviors among free-living adults.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using data from an online validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire integrated with sustainability-related survey items. Energy-adjusted nut intake was categorized …

Reducing The Complexity Of The Experimental Design Attenuates Trait-Level Effects In Threat Safety Discrimination Learning, Justin M. Lazzarino

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Trait measures of negative emotionality have sometimes been shown to play a role in shaping threat learning, but findings are mixed. For example, Johnson et al (2023) showed that the inhibitory and prospective subscales of the Intolerance for Uncertainty Scale (IUS) were associated with diminished and enhanced threat-safety discrimination, respectively, during the acquisition phase of a Pavlovian fear conditioning task. This finding was subsequently replicated in an independent sample (Kinney-Petrucha, 2024, unpublished). However, these findings and other trait-level fear acquisition effects have not been consistently observed in the broader fear learning literature. Variation in the complexity of or uncertainty inherent …

Shallow-Marine Crinoid Genera May Have Been More Resilient Across Permian Extinction Events In Terms Of Richness Than Deep-Marine Crinoid Genera, Amelia C. Kolstad

University Honors Theses

Throughout the Phanerozoic, one of the most successful phyla of marine invertebrates has been Echinodermata. Echinodermata was particularly successful throughout the Paleozoic, with class Crinoidea making up a majority of occurrences. The proportion of echinoderm occurrences that are crinoids declined massively at the end of the Permian and continued to decrease into modern day, never fully recovering. One of the factors thought to have been so important for crinoid success in the Paleozoic and their decreasing success throughout geologic time has been their propensity for success in shallow-marine environments, though crinoids also exist within deep-marine environments. This study seeks to …

Geographic Range And Body Size Influence Abundance Patterns In Reef Fishes, M. F. Maxwell, D. R. Barneche, R. Divieso, S. R. Floeter, O. J. Luiz, A. L. Luza, M. R. Pie, A. C. Siqueira, M. G. Bender

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Understanding how body size and geographic range size influence species abundance is central to macroecology. Here, we characterized these relationships for reef fishes, the world's most diverse vertebrate group, across global and regional scales. Location: Global tropical and subtropical reefs. Time Period: Current. Major Taxa Studied: Reef-associated fishes. Methods: We compiled a comprehensive dataset on abundance, body size and geographic range size for 828 reef fish species. Abundance was measured as density (ind/m²) using transect-based observational data. To analyse global-scale patterns, we applied Bayesian quantile regressions and Bayesian phylogenetic regressions to account for phylogenetic relatedness. We also …

Microbial Literacy, Equity, And Sustainability At Cal Poly: A Policy Framework With University Housing As A Pilot Case, Joseph B. Fewel

Biological Sciences

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in human health, environmental systems, and the functioning of built environments, yet they remain largely absent from sustainability and public policy discussions. This project proposes a framework for integrating microbial literacy, equity, and health into institutional decision-making, using California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) as a case study and university housing as a pilot site for implementation. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature in microbiology, public health, environmental justice, and sustainability, as well as policy analysis and stakeholder interviews, this project examines how campus systems, including housing, ventilation, sanitation, food systems, and waste management, shape microbial exposure …

Exercise Therapy For Mood Disorders In Retiring/Former Athletes, Christian Antos

Dissertations

This dissertation examined the potential integration of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as a treatment approach for mood-related difficulties experienced by former elite athletes during the transition out of competitive sport. Retirement from athletics is often associated with significant biopsychosocial challenges, including disruptions in identity, healthy routines, social support, and emotional well-being. Existing literature suggests that exercise may serve as an effective adjunctive intervention for improving mood and overall psychological functioning, though limited research has explored its application among retiring athletes within psychotherapeutic contexts. This literature review synthesized current research related to athletic retirement, neurobiological mechanisms associated with physical activity, and …