Digital Commons Network^™

Intervention Strategies To Overcome Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic Immigrants In The Usa: A Video-Based Ap-Proach, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data come from a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics testing a video intervention to help Hispanic Immigrants overcome barriers to HPV vaccination.

Restoring Exotic Cool-Season Grass Dominated Landscapes With Clethodim And Glyphosate, Eleanor J. Muzzy, Joshua D. Wiese, Abraham J. Kanz

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

A major threat to grasslands around the world is the spread of exotic cool-season grasses (ECSG). ECSG dominate vegetative communities and degrade critical habitats. One of the most common methods to treat ECSG is herbicide. To compare how the widely-used, non-specific herbicide glyphosate compared to the grass-specific herbicide clethodim, we conducted a fall spray in November 2023 at two different sites located in the Central Platte River Valley of Nebraska. The following June, we used a modified Daubenmire frame sampling method to gather data on relative cover, species richness, and community composition. After analysis, glyphosate appeared to be more effective …

Using Mathematical Modeling To Study The Dynamics Of Legionnaires’ Disease And Consider Management Options, Mark Z. Wang, Christina J. Edholm, Lihong Zhao

Faculty Articles

Legionnaires' disease (LD) is a largely understudied and underreported pneumonic environmentally transmitted disease caused by the bacteria \textit{Legionella}. It primarily occurs in places with poorly maintained artificial sources of water. There is currently a lack of mathematical models on the dynamics of LD. In this paper, we formulate a novel ordinary differential equation-based susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered (SEIR) model for LD. One issue with LD is the difficulty in its detection, as the majority of countries around the world lack the proper surveillance and diagnosis methods. Thus, there is not much publicly available data or literature on LD. We use parameter estimation for …

Associations Between Linguistic Factors And Vaccine Attitudes In A Hispanic Immigrant Population In The United States, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

Data are results of a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics to Hispanic Immigrants concerning HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy factors.

Rnase1-Driven Alk-Activation Is An Oncogenic Driver And Therapeutic Target In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Zhengyu Zha, Chunxiao Liu, Meisi Yan, Cong Chen, Cheng Yu, Yaohui Chen, Chenhao Zhou, Lu Li, Yi-Chuan Li, Hiro Yamaguchi, Leiguang Ye, Tong Liu, Ying-Nai Wang, Heng-Huan Lee, Wen-Hao Yang, Li-Chuan Chan, Baozhen Ke, Jennifer L Hsu, Lieming Ding, Dong Ji, Peng Pan, Yiran Meng, Yue Pu, Lunxu Liu, Mien-Chie Hung

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Targeted therapy has achieved significant success in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in patients harboring common oncogenic driver mutations such as EGFR, KRAS, and ALK rearrangement. However, ~35-50% of NSCLC patients without tyrosine kinase mutation or rearrangement (non-mutated) cannot benefit from these targeted treatments, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for this patient population. In this study, we report a non-canonical role of human secretory ribonuclease 1 (RNase1), which binds to and activates wild-type ALK in lung cancer cells, thereby triggering its downstream signaling pathway. RNase1-driven ALK-activation (RDAA) cells exhibit enhanced cell proliferation, migration, …

Association Between B-Cell Marker Expression And Runx1 Lesions In Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Beyond Runx1::Runx1t1 Fusion: Diagnostic Pitfalls With Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemia—B/Myeloid, Giby V George, Malgorzata Kajstura, Audrey N Jajosky, Hong Fang, Fatima Zahra Jelloul, Andrew G Evans, W Richard Burack, John M Bennett, L Jeffrey Medeiros, Wei Wang, Siba El Hussein

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RUNX1::RUNX1T1 fusion is well known to often demonstrate aberrant upregulation of CD19 expression. We studied the clinicopathologic and genetic features of 16 cases of AML with various RUNX1 lesions, including mutations, copy number gains, and translocations other than fusions with RUNX1T1. Most of these cases were classified as AML-myelodysplasia-related or AML-post-cytotoxic therapy based on the cytogenetic and molecular work-up. These neoplasms showed partial expression of one or more B-cell antigens by flow cytometry and/or immunohistochemistry, fulfilling the criteria for mixed-phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL)-B/myeloid (i.e., ≥20% blasts expressing B and myeloid lineage antigens) …

Progesterone Signaling In Oviductal Epithelial Cells Modulates The Immune Response To Support Preimplantation Embryonic Development, Emily A Mcglade, Jiude Mao, Kalli K Stephens, Ryan M Marquardt, Feyza Nur Arguc, Peter F Lais, San-Pin Wu, Sarayut Winuthayanon, Haval Shirwan, Esma S Yolcu, Mark I Hunter, James K Pru, John P Lydon, Francesco J Demayo, Wipawee Winuthayanon

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

More than 60% of pregnancy losses occur during the first trimester, highlighting the need to understand the role of the oviduct in early pregnancy. In this study, we conditionally ablated the classical progesterone receptor (Pgr) in oviductal epithelial cells, called the Pgrd/d mouse model. We found that 40% of embryos collected from Pgrd/d females were nonviable or developmentally delayed, indicating that epithelial PGR expression is crucial for embryonic development. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed up-regulation of proinflammatory genes, including interleukin-22 (IL-22), in the epithelial cells of Pgrd/d females. Pharmacological inhibition of inflammation using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs …

An Injury Healing On The Carapace Of Hottentotta Saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Fatih Yeşilyurt, Ersen A. Yağmur

Euscorpius

A new case of injury healing on the carapace is reported in a female Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880). An asymmetrical indentation was observed on the anterior part of the carapace, resulting from the healing of an old injury. The indentation is relatively deep, with muscle tissue visible inside it. Scar tissue is present at the end of indentation and healing tissue is present along its margins.

Antibiotic Resistance Testing And Enumeration Of E. Coli, Coliforms, And Salmonella In Canada Geese Feces Based On Natural Water Sources And Retention Ponds, Ceejay Ritzke

Research Days

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are migrating birds. They can transmit antibiotic resistant bacteria when they are traveling. They do this by ingesting antibiotic resistant bacteria that is on the food they eat in one area, and then excrete some of it at the next place they travel to. Retention ponds have increased amounts of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that Canada geese can pick up if they stop there while migrating. Canada geese that land at a retention pond should have an increased amount of antibiotic resistance compared to landing at a natural water source. Their feces were tested in eight different areas …

Robust Sex Determination In The Caenorhabditis Nigoni Germ Line, Jonathan P Harbin, Yongquan Shen, Shin-Yi Lin, Kevin Kemper, Eric S Haag, Erich M Schwarz, Ronald E Ellis

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Sexual characteristics and reproductive systems are dynamic traits in many taxa, but the developmental modifications that allow change and innovation are largely unknown. A leading model for this process is the evolution of self-fertile hermaphrodites from male/female ancestors. However, these studies require direct analysis of sex-determination in male/female species, as well as in the hermaphroditic species that are related to them. In Caenorhabditis nematodes this has only become possible recently, with the discovery of new species. Here, we use gene editing to characterize major sex-determination genes in C. nigoni, a sister to the widely studied hermaphroditic species C. briggsae. These …

We Are Our Brains: Disembodied Brain Films In 1950s Cold War America, David P. Pierson

Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Books

Personified Body Parts in Cinema, Literature, and Visual Culture investigates the power of personifying body parts in cinema, television, visual culture, literature, erotica, folklore, and mystique.

Culturally, socially, and poetically exposing hidden aspects and subtleties of human existentialism, this book vigorously questions and problematizes numerous artistic, aesthetic, technological, naïve, and macabre manipulations of body parts for various purposes. A diverse team of authors explore how scribing human traits to limbs, eyes, brains, genitalia, hearts, and other inner organs is grotesque and aesthetic, repealing and appealing, intimidating and intimate, rude and enjoyable, material and spiritual, surprising and mundane. Personified organs are …

Characterizing The Host-Microbe Interactions Of Citrullus Colocynthis, Miranda Procter

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Desert ecosystems impose substantial plant growth and survival limitations, including high radiation, temperatures, and drought. To endure these extreme conditions, plants have developed a range of physiological and biochemical adaptations and established symbiotic partnerships with microbes that significantly enhance their resilience. Citrullus colocynthis, the wild relative of domesticated watermelon, has multiple applications in pharmacology and the biomedical field. Although many studies have examined this plant, few have investigated its microbiome, and those that did often focused on limited aspects. Understanding the microbes associated with this plant and their contributions to its survival can yield important insights into developing C. colocynthis …

Field Calibration Of A Time Domain Reflectometry Sensor For Water Content Measurement In Soils With Low Content Of Coarse Fragments, Rehnuma Maisha, Dean Steele, Aaron L. M. Daigh, Derek M. Heeren, Trenton E. Franz

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Comparison of soil water sensors for irrigation scheduling requires an accurate reference measurement. An Acclima TDR-310H soil water content sensor was calibrated and validated for sand, loamy sand, clay loam, sandy clay loam, and sandy loam soils. In 2021, sensor readings and soil samples were collected in the same sensor volume at depths of 15 and 46 cm at three irrigated field sites with five stations each. Gravimetric water content, bulk density, and volumetric water content (θv) were determined in the lab. The root mean square error was 0.032 cm³ cm⁻³, which was within acceptable limits. The …

The Roles Of Cup1, Ssu1, And Mitochondrial Dna In Copper Tolerance In Wild Yeasts, Madeleine Panek

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Understanding the genetic basis of complex traits remains a central challenge in biology. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, copper resistance is a multifactorial trait shaped by both genetic and environmental influences, yet its underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The genes CUP1 and SSU1 are known to influence copper resistance, though how these genes interact with each other and with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in wild yeast populations is unknown. I hypothesized that the genes CUP1 and SSU1 and variation in mtDNAs contribute to copper resistance in wild yeasts independently and through genetic interactions. To test this, I measured copper resistance …

Humanized Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Provides A Facile And Effective Tool To Identify Damaging Human Variants That Cause Exosomopathies, Khondakar Sayef Ahammed, Milo B Fasken, Anita H Corbett, Ambro Van Hoof

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The RNA exosome is an evolutionarily conserved, multiprotein complex that is the major RNase in 3' processing and degradation of a wide range of RNAs in eukaryotes. Single amino acid changes in RNA exosome subunits cause rare genetic diseases collectively called exosomopathies. However, distinguishing disease-causing variants from nonpathogenic ones remains challenging, and the mechanism by which these variants cause disease is largely unknown. Previous studies have employed a budding yeast model of RNA exosome-linked diseases that relies on mutating the orthologous yeast genes. Here, we develop a humanized yeast model of exosomopathies that allows us to unambiguously assess damaging effects …

Designing An Optimal Thermal Preference Arena For Southern Cricket Frog (Acris Gryllus) Juveniles, Eleanor E. Briggs, David M. Phillips Jr.

Honors Theses

Climate change has been altering ecosystems across the world at a substantial rate, disrupting the delicate ecophysiological relationships between ecosystems and the organisms that live in them. Ectotherms, such as amphibians, rely on external temperatures to behaviorally thermoregulate, making it especially imperative to study their thermal biology. Thermal preference, which assesses the environmental temperature an organism would seek out in the absence of external stimuli, provides valuable information about an amphibian’s thermal biology and can be used to predict the effects of climate change on a species or population. A commonly used method to measure thermal preference is an arena …

Multimeric Transcription Factor Bcl11a Utilizes Two Zinc-Finger Tandem Arrays To Bind Clustered Short Sequence Motifs, John R Horton, Meigen Yu, Jujun Zhou, Melody Tran, Rithvi R Anakal, Yue Lu, Robert M Blumenthal, Xiaotian Zhang, Yun Huang, Xing Zhang, Xiaodong Cheng

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BCL11A, a transcription factor, is vital for hematopoiesis, including B and T cell maturation and the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch. Mutations in BCL11A are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. BCL11A contains two DNA-binding zinc-finger arrays, low-affinity ZF2-3 and high-affinity ZF4-6, separated by a 300-amino-acid linker. ZF2-3 and ZF4-5 share 73% identity, including five out of six DNA base-interacting residues. These arrays bind similar short sequence motifs in clusters, with the linker enabling a broader binding span. Crystallographic structures of ZF4-6, in complex with oligonucleotides from the β-globin locus region, reveal DNA sequence recognition by residues Asn756 (ZF4), Lys784 and Arg787 (ZF5). A …

Novel Therapeutics For Myeloid Malignancies, Tim Kong

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Myeloid malignancies are a group of heterogenous and clonal disorders that include myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These blood cancers are driven by characteristic oncogenes and propagated by pro-inflammatory niches; MPNs demonstrate hyperactive JAK-STAT signaling and upregulate cytokines including TNF, IL-6, and IL-8. Current therapeutics such as ruxolitinib targeting JAK2 providing symptomatic benefit to MPN patients but are not curative and do not prevent disease transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As such, greater understanding of the underlying disease biology is still required with means of uncover cancer dependencies. Here, we utilize a series of multi-omic approaches …

Senescent Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Mediate Immunosuppression And Promote Breast Cancer Progression, Jiayu Ye

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, and aging is the largest risk factor for breast cancer development. The process of aging is typically accompanied by a progressive accumulation of senescent cells, which are characterized by a series of markers such as p16INKA4 (p16) positivity and a distinctive profile of secretory factors including mitogens, cytokines, and extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins that are collectively recognized as senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Numerous data so far have shown that senescent stromal cells play critical roles in modulating tumor microenvironment and progression. For example, senescent fibroblasts induced in vitro could …

The Effects Of Stress On Injury And Sickness Rates Of Middle-Distance And Distance D3 Athletes, Hailey D. Smith Ms.

Student Scholar Showcase

A runner intentionally stresses their body to experience an adaptation, however, issues occur when the body does not have time to recover. Male athletes (n = 14) on the University of Lynchburg’s distance and middle-distance team participated in this study. For 6 weeks, heart rate variability (HRV4training app), resting heart rate, perceived stress, and cortisol levels were assessed as indicators of recovery and stress. It was anticipated that indicators of physical stress such as higher resting heart rates and higher cortisol levels, would correspond with greater perceived stress and higher occurrence of injury and sickness. Cortisol (n = 2, p …

Early Detection Of Colon Cancer Through Colonoscopy: Analysis Of Tumor Size And Resection Length, Alyssa Haddock

Honors Theses

Colon cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with early detection critical for improved outcomes. Colonoscopy is a primary screening tool that can reduce incidence rates through the identification and removal of precancerous polyps. This study examines how undergoing a colonoscopy prior to diagnosis impacts two key surgical outcomes: tumor size and colon resection length. Data were collected from 70 de-identified patients who underwent colon resection for colon cancer between 2019 and 2024 at two regional hospitals in East Texas: Hunt Regional Medical Center and Mother Christus Frances Hospital. Using pathology reports, tumor size and …

Perfectionism, Anxiety, And Depression: A Comparison Of Student Mental Health At East Texas A&M University: Honors Vs Non-Honors, Connor Hall

Honors Theses

Honors students at East Texas A&M University (ETAMU) may have higher expectations to succeed due to greater course load and pressure versus students who are not in the honors program. These expectations can lead to stress that may cause perfectionism, anxiety, or depression (Rice, 2006; Wan, 2022; Van Praag, 2004). This study sought to determine if higher expectations and course load could lead to differences in mental health in honors versus non-honors students at East Texas A&M University. In order to determine these mental health characteristics, data was gathered using responses to a Qualtrics survey sent to 7527 ETAMU undergraduate …

The Implications Of The Scientific Developments Behind Oxidative Stress, Heat-Shock Proteins, And Antioxidants On Neurodegenerative Pathology, Nolan Wilbourn

Honors Theses

Homeostasis is essential for the health and development of all organisms, serving as a universal defense mechanism that ensures the stability of physiological processes faced with external and internal stimuli in the form of health challenges (Archana et al., 2017). Maintaining homeostasis is crucial for our health, as it helps keep the body's internal balance. However, this delicate equilibrium is challenged by various environmental factors, such as diet, exposure to chemicals, and fluctuations in temperature (Collier et al., 2017). These disruptions can lead to dysfunction in cellular processes, particularly affecting the production and regulation of proteins vital for biological functions. …

Drinking Behavior And Performance In Neonatal Swine, Yasmine Taylor

Honors Theses

This behavioral study analyzes the relationship between water intake and growth performance in pre-weaned piglets. Growth is paramount in pork production, and maximizing growth in weaned piglets has been thoroughly researched. However, one crucial aspect of growth is often overlooked: water, especially in neonatal piglets. Therefore, this study aimed to determine if there is a positive relationship between water intake and performance in pre-weaned piglets by observing different behaviors. Weights were recorded at birth, after 7-10 days, and at weaning. Piglets were observed three times a day, in the morning, afternoon, and evening, for 21 days via scan sampling. Observation …

The Effects Of Diverse Bitter Gourds On Newly Formed Mcf-7/G1p3 And Mcf-7/Vector Cancer Cells, Eder Colmenero

Honors Theses

Breast cancer has become one of the deadliest cancers to affect women worldwide. Although treatments have been developed, no cure has been found for this disease. An emerging field with cancer treatments shows how isoflavones can be critical to limiting hormone-related cancers. In this study, the effects of Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) extracts will be investigated in two separate cell lines. These cell lines include MCF-7 and G1P3 with the G1P3 cell line being the more aggressive cancer. Bitter gourd, which is mainly harvested in Asia, has been shown to display apoptotic features when contracting cancer. Although it is unknown …

The Effects Of Maclura Pomifera On Mcf-7/Vector And Mcf-7/G1p3 Breast Cancer Cells, Khushi Bhatt

Honors Theses

Breast cancer is considered one of the most common types of cancer, mainly affecting women worldwide. The most aggressive type is Triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 10-15% of the total amount of breast cancer cases. The majority of breast cancer cases are regarded as estrogen receptor-positive, accounting for 70% of the total number. Current treatment options consist of immunotherapy, surgery, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy. Research in breast cancer treatment has been a topic of interest in recent years, as the rate of individuals becoming diagnosed is increasing. The Osage orange, or Maclura pomifera, is a fruit native to …

First Record Of Corella Japonica In California, Lauren M. Stefaniak, Marie L. Nydam, Susanna López-Legentil

Marine Science

Many ascidian (sea squirt) species are common members of fouling communities, particularly on floating substrates such as docks and pilings and through maritime transport, have been introduced worldwide. For the past 30 years, marinas in Southern California have been regularly monitored for introduced species due to their proximity to the international shipping terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Here, we report on the first record in the eastern Pacific of an ascidian in the family Corellidae (O. Phlebobranchia), Corella japonica, found at the Newmarks Yacht Centre in Los Angeles Harbor. This study further highlights the importance of continuously …

How Childhood Maltreatment Shapes Brain Regions: Considerations For Speech-Language Pathology, Alexa G. Sees

Honors Thesis

Childhood maltreatment is a pervasive issue that affects millions of children worldwide, leading to alterations in key structures such as the limbic system, basal ganglia, corpus callosum, visual cortex, and language areas. These changes result in significant cognitive, emotional, and neurological consequences, such as learning deficits, emotional regulation issues, memory problems, reduced vocabulary size, speech errors, etc. This thesis explores the neurological effects of childhood maltreatment and their implications for speech-language pathology, highlighting how maltreatment-induced brain changes affect areas within the scope of speech-language pathology, such as social communication, language development, and behavior management. These results underscore the importance of …

Avian Detection Data And Environmental Covariates For Utah, Usa Over The Years 2017-2021, Amanda L. Hayes-Puttfarcken

Browse all Datasets

Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) detection data for the state of Utah, USA, and LANDFIRE uncharacteristic exotic Departure Score data over Utah during our study period, as well as additional environmental covariates used to make the model more ecologically accurate. Environmental covariates include average May precipitation, average June temperature, distance to the nearest road, percent canopy cover, and the percent of three habitat types as defined by LANDFIRE; open tree canopy, herbaceous, and shrubland.

How Aza Zoos And Aquariums Are Helping To Fill The Gap, Erika Bauer, Grace Fuller, Candice Dorsey

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano (2024) identify significant gaps in scientific knowledge about certain animal taxa, such as reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and fish. Despite some efforts, published literature remains limited, forcing decision-makers to rely more on experiential knowledge than scientific evidence. AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums are uniquely positioned to bridge these gaps and advance animal welfare science by fostering collaboration, building partnerships, and promoting multi-disciplinary approaches to welfare assessments.