Digital Commons Network^™

Mammalian Biodiversity Of The Easley Conservation Stewardship Area, Grayson C. Belt

Honors College Theses

Monitoring wildlife is an important part of conservation and is particularly vital for newly acquired conservation areas to provide a baseline of what is present. In 2025, the 22 ha Murray State University Easley Conservation Stewardship Area (MSU ECSA) was established following a donation to the university by Melissa Easley. I conducted a survey using trail cameras at the ECSA in fall 2025 and winter 2025/26 to record mammalian diversity. The survey consisted of two subprojects: a mesomammal subproject of 18 knee height trail cams and a small mammal subproject using 15 custom small mammal bucket cameras. I uploaded all …

The Effects Of Avian Influenza On Consumer Egg Prices In The United States, Jacob B. Franklin

Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Undergraduate Honors Theses

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) create major challenges to poultry supply chains due to the high mortality rates in flocks, leading to disruptions in production and higher costs for producers. Using quantitative data from Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, USDA, and National Agricultural Statistics Service, this research analyzes changes in egg production, retail prices, and regional variations throughout the United States for the 2022-2025 HPAI event. A time-series regression model was used to control for production costs, seasonal patterns, and regional differences. All of these measures come together to quantify the impact of HPAI outbreaks on consumer …

Denisovan Introgression And Selection At Cntnap2 In Ancient And Modern American Populations, Matthew Barker

All Theses

The peopling of the Americas created new opportunities for genetic adaptation as ancient populations encountered novel environments across North and South America. Previous research has shown that segments of Indigenous American ancestry contain elevated proportions of Denisovan alleles. The gene CNTNAP2, which is involved in brain development and neuronal function, contains a Denisovan-derived haplotype that represents a candidate locus for adaptive introgression in admixed American populations. A Denisovan-derived core haplotype approximately 55 kb in length was identified within intron 13 of CNTNAP2. This haplotype is primarily found in admixed American populations and occurs rarely outside the Americas, and …

Understanding Variability In Geographic Isolate Of Rotylenchulus Reniformis Across The Us Cotton Belt, Sagar Gc

All Dissertations

Management of the reniform nematode (Rotylenchulus reniformis Linford and Oliveira) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a challenge since the resistant cultivars lack uniformity in nematode suppression when tested across multiple geographical regions. The central hypothesis of this study was that regional variability in performance of resistant cotton cultivars is associated with unique reproduction biology (reproduction and virulence) of R. reniformis from distinct geographic origins. Greenhouse studies were conducted to assess differential reproduction biology among nine geographic population of R. reniformis originated from South Carolina (SC), Alabama (AL), Florida (FL), Arkansas (AR), Georgia (GA), Louisiana (LA), Texas (TX), …

Effect Of 1,25(Oh)₂D₃ Glycoside Supplementation Duration On Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis (Bco) Lameness In Broilers, Zoe R. Zeman

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is a significant cause of lameness in commercial broilers, resulting in substantial animal welfare concerns and economic losses. This study evaluated the effect of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ glycoside supplementation duration on the incidence of BCO-related lameness in broilers. Cobb surplus male broiler chicks were assigned to four treatment groups: a wire-flooring positive control, a litter-flooring negative control, and two treatment groups on litter flooring receiving 1 μg 1,25(OH)₂D₃ as glycosides supplementation per kg diet for either 14 or 28 days. Lameness incidence was recorded from day 22 through day 56, and all lame birds were evaluated for …

Effect Of A Probiotic Microbial Gel Jointly With Two Versions Of Supplemental Direct-Fed Microbials In Receiving Cattle Diets On Growth Performance And Health, John Mitchell

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The objective was to assess the effect of a probiotic microbial gel (BIOFRESH® Microbial Gel, Agrarian Solutions) administered on arrival in combination with feeding one of two different direct-fed microbials (DFM 365a or DFM 365b, Agrarian Solutions) on the health and growth performance of stocker calves at high risk for bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Beef heifer calves (n = 292, BW = 476 ± 5 lb) arriving on 3 separate receiving dates were used in the 42-day receiving study. On arrival (d -1), heifers were processed, stratified by d -1 body weight, and then assigned randomly to 9 pens (10 …

Structure Of The Spoiie Protein In Clostridioides Difficile, Robert B. Bauer

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Clostridioides difficile is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for severe gastrointestinal infection. C. difficile-related infection is extremely prevalent in healthcare facilities, causing roughly 30,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. Its main mechanism of virulence is sporulation, which is directed by the SpoIIE protein. This makes SpoIIE an attractive target for the remedy and prevention of infections. The objective of this study was to analyze its structure using both lab techniques and artificial intelligence modeling. A truncated version of this protein, SpoII∆TM, was expressed and analyzed using optimal conditions previously determined in the lab. SDS-PAGE results and analyses confirmed …

From Chaos To Clockwork: Investigating The Role Of Circadian Genes In Metabolic Development Of 2nd And 3rd Instar Drosophila Larvae, Elliott R. Ruegsegger, Stephanie Hood, Amy Poe

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Circadian clocks regulate daily physiological and metabolic rhythms across many organisms. In Drosophila melanogaster, the molecular clock involving period (per) and timeless regulates gene expression across 24-hour cycles. Circadian rhythms are well characterized in adult, mature organisms, but their emergence during early developmental stages remain poorly understood. In D. melanogaster, the circadian regulation of sleep and feeding rhythms emerges during the 3rd instar larval stage. This suggests that the circadian regulation of metabolism may also arise during this stage. Further, the metabolic consequences of circadian clock disruptions during this developmentally rich period remain unclear. This research aimed to …

Decomposition In Urban Forest Patches Across A New York-New Jersey Urbanization Gradient, Cailee Sprouse

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

"Urbanization causes habitat fragmentation, pollution, homogenization of soil profiles, and replacement of native flora and fauna, which can alter vital ecological processes like decomposition. It is essential to investigate the impacts urbanization may have on ecosystem functioning to better inform urban land management. Studies have shown conflicting results on the impacts of urbanization on soil decomposition rates, with some showing higher, lower, or similar decomposition rates in urban soils compared to rural soils. This study aims to investigate the effects of urbanization and soil characteristics on decomposition rates in three urban forest patches in New Jersey and New York using …

How Does Five Days Of Tapering Effect Rates Of Fatigue And Recovery In Collegiate Male Swimmers?, Riley Yerks

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

This study was conducted on the members of the 2025-26 St. John's "Johnnies" swim and dive team. This study used both subjective surveys and objective HRV readings that the swimmers took before and after practice. The first day of testing occurred on the last day of the regular training season, and the second day of testing occurred on the last day of tapered training. Results of the surveys and HRV readings were compared between pre and post-practice, and pre and post-taper. The subjective surveys showed how the swimmers themselves felt in terms of physical and mental energy and fatigue, and …

Effects Of Dietary Nitrate And Caffeine On End Power And Work Above End Power During A 3 Min All-Out Test In Trained Male Cyclists, Anthony M. Hagele, Kyle Sunderland, Petey W. Mumford, Chad Kerksick

Faculty Scholarship

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute dietary nitrate (NO3−) and caffeine (CAF) supplementation on end power (EP) and work performed above EP (WEP) in trained male cyclists during a 3 min all-out test (3MT) on a cycle ergometer.

Methods: Fifteen healthy, trained male cyclists (28.5 ± 5.3 years, 79.2 ± 9.1 kg, VO2peak 55.2 ± 5.6 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed four exercise trials in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study design separated by 3–7 days. The four experimental conditions were placebo beverage (nitrate-depleted) + placebo capsule, nitrate-rich beetroot juice + placebo capsule (BR), …

Belowground Consequences Of Herbivory In Tomatoes And Cucumbers And Its Lasting Effects, Anthony Ignacio Barrera

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Plants recruit soil microorganisms to help mediate biotic stressors such as herbivory, forming dynamic communities in the rhizosphere known as the root microbiome. This study investigated whether artificial herbivory could induce shifts in the root microbiome of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and whether those shifts could be transferred to subsequent plants as a soil legacy effect. Plants were grown in sterilized or non-sterilized soil with or without simulated herbivory across two experimental phases, with Phase 2 plants receiving inoculum conditioned by Phase 1 plants. Bacterial community composition was assessed via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and analyzed using …

Stromal Interaction Molecule (Stim) Proteins In Microglia And The Impact On Store-Operated Calcium Entry (Soce) And Spinal Cord Injury Recovery, Norah G. Hill

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

In spinal cord injury (SCI), worsening functional outcomes are largely because of secondary injury processes and prolonged chronic inflammation. A major contributor of secondary injury is overload of intracellular calcium, causing neuronal overexcitation and persistent inflammatory responses. One of the primary mediators of calcium entry into the cell is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). In SOCE, sensors detecting calcium depletion from the endoplasmic reticulum stores are called STIM proteins (1-2). When calcium is low in the cell, STIM proteins will activate Orai channels to open, allowing for the influx of calcium into the cell. The purpose of this study was to …

Efficacy Of Tick Sampling Methods In Urban Parks., Emma Staples

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Amblyomma americanum (Lone star ticks) are parasites and vectors of diseases, including Ehrlichiosis. Questions remain about how an urban environment affects the host-seeking behavior of A. americanum across different life stages and thus the efficacy of different sampling methods. We sought to compare the efficacy of different sampling methods on A. americanum ticks in urban parks during the fall season and explore how the urban heat island (UHI) effect may impact each method’s efficacy. We hypothesized that, where the UHI effect is weaker near the city’s periphery, the CO₂ trapping method would collect more A. americanum adults and nymphs …

The Influence Of Valence On Action Control: A Comparison Of Simon Effects In The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (East) And The Spatial Simon Task, Yaara Aleissa

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

People adjust their thoughts and actions in response to a changing environment every day and emotions may influence these actions. Understanding how emotion impacts action control in situations where emotion is central to the action (task-relevant) compared to when it is present in the environment as distracting information (task-irrelevant) is essential. Currently it is unclear when emotion most significantly modulates action control. This study seeks to compare how valence (positive versus negative emotion) impacts action control performance when valence is task-relevant and task-irrelevant by using two modified versions of the Simon conflict task.

The Simon task is a paradigm to …

Polydactyl Precursors: Insights Into Early Tetrapod Locomotion From Polydactyl American Alligators, Trevor P. Brewington

All Theses

Several of the earliest tetrapod lineages exhibited polydactyl limbs, with seven or eight digits per limb rather than the typical five or fewer seen in extant lineages. How these digit configurations might have been used during terrestrial locomotion is unclear, given the lack of living models in which their performance can be studied and limited evidence from fossil trackways. However, polydactyly occasionally appears in natural populations of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis), animals with body plans that broadly resemble those of early tetrapods. To test how polydactyl limbs similar to those of early tetrapods might have functioned on land, …

Ai×Life 2026: Advances In Computational Biology Across Scales For Life & Health Sciences, Suma Mohan S., Devika N. T., Pranavathiyani G.

Conference Proceedings

Book of Abstracts of the International Conference, AIxLife 2026: Advances in Computational Biology Across Scales for Life & Health Sciences, held on 17–18 April 2026, SASTRA Deemed to be University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, INDIA 

About the Conference

Conventional computational biology laid the foundation for biological data analysis through statistical models, algorithms, and curated databases, enabling insights into genes, proteins, and pathways. Today, the integration of artificial intelligence, spanning machine learning, deep learning, and large language models (LLMs) is driving a transformative shift across biological scales, from atomic and molecular interactions to pathways, cellular systems, organisms, and populations.

AI-powered approaches …

Linking Urban Forest Ecosystem Services With The Sustainable Development Goals: A Bibliometric And Thematic Synthesis (2008–2022), Whisnu Febry Afrianto, Muhammad Ilham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Despite growing recognition of urban forests as vital providers of ecosystem services (ES) that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), existing scientific literature remains fragmented and lacks a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses that gap through a systematic bibliometric analysis of global research on urban forestry ecosystem services published between 2008 and 2022, encompassing 229 articles. The analysis examined the three main classifications of ecosystem services and all 17 SDGs. Publications on urban forestry ecosystem services have shown a steady increase since 2008, peaking between 2018 and 2022, while citation counts reached their highest point in 2012 and gradually declined …

Species Distribution Modeling Of Parasitic Corpse Flower Rafflesia Arnoldii Var. Arnoldii R. Br Related To Host’S Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation In Tanggamus, Sumatra, Indonesia, Andriwibowo Andriwibowo, Suyud Utomo

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Corpse flower, or scientifically known as Rafflesia arnoldii var. arnoldii R.Br, is one of the species that is endemic to Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java Island. As a parasitic plant, this species depends on its tree host species. While the host species depends on environmental variables include Fractional Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR), forest covers, and elevation for its growth. Then those variables were important to develop the Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) of R. arnoldii using the MaxEnt technique. One of the important regions for R. arnoldii in Sumatra is Tanggamus in Lampung, and currently, information about suitable habitats for R. arnoldii …

The Status Of The Endangered Rafflesia And Conservation Efforts In Java Island, Indonesia, Bahana Aditya Adnan, Purnomo Purnomo, Suwarno Hadisusanto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Rafflesia species (Rafflesiaceae) is a small endo-holoparasitic South-East Asian plant genus known for its exceptionally large flowers, rare species, and high island endemism. Three species of Rafflesia, i.e. R. patma, R. rochussenii, and R. zollingeriana, are known from Java, Indonesia. All three species are threatened with extinction due to human activities that cause habitat loss and fragmentation. Our literature review revealed that currently, factors influencing the existence of this genus, including its life cycle and environmental factors that support its life, are still not well understood. In particular, studies of the distribution and population of Rafflesia on the …

Influence Of Pruning And Organic Fertiliser On 9-Month-Old Ginger Productivity In An Acacia Auriculiformis Agroforestry, Yuda Vatra Erlangga, Arom Figyantika, Cintya Nurul Apsari, Rizki Bagus Indratmoko, Muhammad Syahru Ramadhan, Anastasya Clara Srinila Tampubolon, Fanny Elisabeth Panjaitan

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Acacia auriculiformis (formis) offers various advantages that can be integrated with agricultural crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale var. amarum) through agroforestry systems. Pruning and fertilisation are potential strategies to optimise this approach. However, existing research remains limited. Further quantification and analysis are required to elucidate the effects of pruning on the growth of 7-year-old formis trees 11 months after treatment. In addition, more comprehensive studies are needed to examine the combined effects of pruning and organic fertiliser on the growth, productivity, and gingerol content of 9-month-old ginger plants. This research employed a Split-Plot Randomised Complete Block Design, examining the …

Species Diversity And Estimation Of Aboveground Carbon Stocks In Sugar Palm Forest And Lowland Forest In Negeri Hatusua, Maluku, Irwanto Irwanto, Andjela Sahupala, Febian Tetelay, Yulianus Komul

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Tropical forests are essential for climate change mitigation, but limited data on species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in Indonesia constrain evidence-based forest management. This study aims to assess species diversity and aboveground carbon stocks in sugar palm forests and lowland forests in Negeri Hatusua, Maluku Province, Indonesia. Vegetation analysis was employed to determine species structure and diversity, while carbon stock measurement and calculation followed the Indonesian National Standard (SNI 7724:2019) for land-based carbon assessment, with certain modifications. The results indicated that the species diversity index in the sugar palm forest was 2.21 for trees, 1.95 for poles, 2.26 for …

Sustainability Of Peatland Area Management With Peat Drainability Assessment At Various Depths, Aulia Bahadhori Mukti, Heru Bagus Pulunggono, Yuli Suharnoto

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

This study aims to analyze the distribution of drainability assessment components, including Peat Basal Contact (PBC) and Natural Drainage Limit (NDL) elevations, Drainage Limit Time (DLT), and volume loss, as well as their relationship with peat thickness, subsidence, and groundwater level (GWL) in peatlands. The assessment is conducted to estimate the potential productive lifespan of oil palm plantations by determining the natural drainage limit (NDL) and predicting the time required to reach the drainage threshold, considering subsidence rates across different peat thickness classes. The analysis and calculations were performed using the drainage assessment formulas and procedures outlined by the Roundtable …

Site Characterization And Integrated Irrigation-Forestry Solutions For Mangrove Restoration In The Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, Manh Quy Do, Huy Quoc Nguyen, Minh Duc Nguyen, My Tra Ha, Tuan Anh Le, Luan Thanh Nguyen, Tu Ngoc Pham

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

The research was conducted in 2023 in a degraded mangrove forest area in Giao Hoa commune, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. This area is part of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve (RRDBR), which was recognised by UNESCO in 2004. The study employed methods such as surveying topographical features, assessing soil and water characteristics, and evaluating the status of the mangrove forest. It also used GIS and The Analytic Hierarchy Process method to analyse and evaluate the current condition of the forest and its site characteristics. The research results show that, regarding the topographical features of the degraded mangrove area, it …

Urban Bird Community Interaction With Ficus And Non-Ficus Tree, Eka Alifikri, Yeni Aryati Mulyani, Ani Mardiastuti

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Ficus trees are recognised as keystone species in forest ecosystems and are crucial for urban wildlife, especially birds. IPB Darmaga Campus, a biodiversity-rich urban area, hosts a variety of plant species, including Ficus and non-Ficus tree species, along with diverse bird species. This study aimed to compare the utilisation of Ficus and non-Ficus plants by birds in the area. Observations were conducted on 5 Ficus benjamina, 5 Ficus microcarpa, and 10 non-Ficus tree individuals. Ficus trees were used by 15 bird species from 12 families, with 1700 recorded interactions. In contrast, non-Ficus trees were …

Group B Streptococcus In Pregnant Women: Universal Guidelines And Protocols, Dania Presteguin

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of maternal sepsis and neonatal mortality globally. Variability in screening and treatment guidelines influences global disease burden.

Objective: This study uses a cross-national analysis to compare screening and treatment guidelines and their impact on prevalence, screening, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP), and maternal-neonatal clinical manifestations Methodology: A systematic review of secondary literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL (2010-2025). Inclusion criteria include maternal GBS colonization and one or more measures of interventions and neonatal infection rates. No geographic or demographic restrictions were applied. A total of 67 studies were screened, and …

Cyanine Dyes As Next-Generation Fluorophores: Applications In Cell Sorting And Fingerprinting Technologies, Super-Multiplexed Spectroscopy, Biomedical Imaging, And Beyond, Lucas Allen Davis

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

As biochemical, pharmaceutical, and medical sciences advance, the demand for technologies capable of probing multiple cellular targets simultaneously continues to increase. Super-multiplexed spectroscopic techniques offer a pathway toward comprehensive cellular fingerprinting by overcoming the spectral limitations of conventional fluorescence labeling. By circumventing the traditional “color barrier,” cyanine-based Raman tags enable the simultaneous discrimination of numerous cellular morphologies, allowing spectroscopy and imaging to be integrated for high-dimensional cellular analysis. Technologies developed in Goda Lab—including high-throughput flow cytometry, virtual freezing fluorescence imaging (VIFFI), Fourier-transform coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (FT-CARS), and MERdot nanoparticles—address longstanding trade-offs between throughput, resolution, sensitivity, and multiplexing capacity. Central …

Shark Immunology And Its Biomedical Potential: Evolution, Innovation, And The Imperative Of Conservation, Reesha Bhagat

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

This review aims to shed light on a significant ecological deficit and its implications for the future of science and medicine. Sharks possess a uniquely adaptive, cancer-resistant, and evolutionarily refined immune system with transformative biomedical potential, making their conservation a scientific and medical imperative. We are losing something medically irreplaceable, and we don’t even fully understand it yet. Shark conservation is a pressing scientific imperative because sharks are ecologically essential and represent an irreplaceable biomedical resource.

Assessing The Conservation Needs Of Native Texas Crayfish Species Through Distribution Analysis And Species Distribution Modeling, Elizabeth J. Croft

Biology Theses

Crayfish have essential roles in ecosystems because they are ecosystem engineers and keystone species. However, crayfish species are threatened by degradation and loss of habitats, introduction of invasive species, and high levels of endemism. Texas provides no legal protections for crayfish, despite its large number of species and endemics in the state. The overall goal of this study is to clarify the distributions of native Texas crayfish species using literature records, citizens science, and field sampling data, and highlight species in need of more conservation research. Occurrence records from all collected data were combined to visualize the distributions of species …

Impact Of Salt Block Utilization During Dry-Aging On Pork Loin Microbial And Meat Quality, Cason H. Frisby

Food Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of dry-aging and salt block utilization during dry aging on pork loin quality attributes. Pork loins were collected at 7 days postmortem, cut into three equal sections, and randomly assigned to wet aging (WA), traditional dry-aging (DA), and salt block dry-aging (SDA) groups to be aged for 28 days. During the dry-aging period, SDA cabinet exhibited lower humidity fluctuation (Avg. 71.52, St. Dev. 4.7) compared to DA cabinet (Avg 70.76, St. Dev. 7.9). Following the aging period, no differences were found in pH or Warner Bratzler shear force values between treatments (P>0.05). …