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Fisheries Management Paper No. 313: Western Australian Statewide Small Pelagic Scalefish Resource Harvest Strategy, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Management Papers

Harvest strategies for Western Australia’s (WA) aquatic resources are formal documents developed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD, the Department) to support decision-making processes that ensure the outcomes are consistent with the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD; Fletcher 2002a) and Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management (EBFM; Fletcher et al. 2012).

Harvest strategies are a key component of all contemporary fishery management systems and a requirement for certification under the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC; Marine Stewardship Council 2018). The objectives of ESD are reflected in the objects of the Fish Resources Management Act 1994 (FRMA).

This Statewide …

The Undergraduate Education And Scientific Literacy: Exploring How College Influences Student Perception Of Covid-19 Events, Peyton Brooking

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Current undergraduate students received much of their education following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these students experienced pandemic events before receiving any or most of their science-based higher education. Exploring their progress through higher education, and how it retroactively influenced their perception of pandemic events, serves as an informative research area. This study explores how undergraduate education in the sciences influences student engagement with complex recent events in science. In addition, this study asked how higher education builds confidence in interpreting this information. Additionally, students were surveyed to understand their scientific literacy baseline at the beginning of …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Astaxanthin On Human Colorectal Cancer Cells, Kara A. Walters

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Astaxanthin (AXT) is an antioxidant carotenoid that is produced by the microalgae Haemococcus pluvialis. This supplement is best known for its potential health benefits including anti-inflammatory, antitumor, immunomodulatory, anticancer and antidiabetic activities. Astaxanthin is marketed as an oral dietary supplement and is widely used in the nutraceutical industry as well as a coloring agent in the food industry. Since Astaxanthin has been increasingly popular as a dietary supplement, cytotoxicity is relevant to consumer exposure. Obtaining the IC50, the concentration that inhibits 50% of cell growth, is important to find how Astaxanthin may interact with cancer, and this can be found …

Acute Effects Of The Psychoactive Pollutant Fluoxetine On The Antipredator Behavior Of The Gulf Killifish (Fundulus Grandis), Semyra Reus

Honors Theses

Pharmaceutical contaminants are increasingly prevalent in aquatic environments, yet their sublethal effects on ecologically relevant behaviors remain poorly understood, particularly in estuarine systems. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, are of particular concern due to the conserved role of serotonin in regulating behavior across vertebrates. Here, we investigated how acute exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine influences anti-predator behavior in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), a key estuarine fish commonly found in saltmarsh habitats. Killifish were exposed to control (0 ng/L), low (17.8 ng/L), and high (596 ng/L) fluoxetine concentrations and subsequently tested in the presence …

Novel Biomarker Discovery In Multiple Sclerosis, Manisha Gangasani

Honors Theses

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder affecting the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. Patients experience cognitive, motor, autonomic, and emotional symptoms that often overlap with other neurological conditions, making early diagnosis challenging. Current diagnostic criteria require evidence of lesions with dissemination in time and space. Racial disparities in MS outcomes are well documented, with Black individuals often exhibiting greater disease severity, higher relapse rates, and increased disability compared to White individuals. These differences likely reflect a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and healthcare access factors, underscoring the need to improve early diagnosis and reduce inequities in care. …

Understanding Tlr3 Immune Response Activation In Cryptosporidium Parvum And Cryspovirus Pathogenesis, Surayya Hudayberganova

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Cryptosporidiosis is a serious gastrointestinal illness caused by a protozoan parasite known as Cryptosporidium. It is particularly dangerous for malnourished children and those with compromised immune systems. My research focuses on the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) response to the Cryptosporidium parvum infection, specifically in the presence of the parasite’s viral mutualist named cryspovirus (CSpV1). Results using research methodologies like ELISA and RT-qPCR have indicated that TLR3 expression increases during the infection process of Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Furthermore, one intriguing observation concluded during this study suggests that administering the TLR3-specific inhibitor CU-CPT4a to infected cells drastically decreased this activation. This …

Revised - The Role Of Gad67/65 In The Therapeutic Effects Of Ketamine And Fluoxetine In Fear-Conditioned Mice, Alex G. Ottimer

All NMU Master's Theses

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder and the most common disorder following exposure to a traumatic event. The most commonly used drugs in PTSD treatment are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), though only about 50% of patients respond to this treatment. Previous work in our lab demonstrated the combination of chronic fluoxetine (FLX) and acute ketamine treatment decreased fear response in a contextual fear paradigm in male C57/BL mice. In rodents, fear conditioning (FC) is commonly used in the literature to induce behaviors related to PTSD. The mammalian central fear memory circuit involves a dynamic interplay between …

Recruitment Of Chrysaora Chesapeakei On Floating Docks Versus Bulkhead Surfaces: Which Axis Is Foulset?, Alyssa Lamberto

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Blooms of Chrysaora chesapeakei (bay nettles) have increased sharply in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, reducing both ecological integrity and economic value. Because population expansion is driven primarily by the benthic polyp stage, where individuals attach to hard substrates and reproduce asexually, effective management must target the surfaces where polyps settle and clone themselves. The rapid growth of artificial infrastructure, particularly vinyl docks and bulkheads, has expanded available habitat for polyp recruitment. Scrubbing these structures has been shown to reduce ephyrae production, but it remains unclear whether both docks and bulkheads warrant equal management attention. This study compared recruitment on horizontal …

Individual Recognition: Do Horned Passalus, Odontotaenius Disjunctus, Display Individual Discrimination Of Familiar And Unfamiliar Conspecifics Through Changes In Their Behavior?, Sabrina Galloza

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The horned passalus, Odontotaenius disjunctus, are subsocial beetles that inhabit and defend decaying wood where they create galleries to live, mate, breed and provide brood care. The species is well known for their stridulations, making up to 14 different sounds, having one of the greatest repertoire of sounds for any known arthropod. Typically living in family units, it has been found that several families can inhabit the same log, therefore, the horned passalus can come into contact with both kin and non-kin. It is currently unknown whether the horned passalus can distinguish between nestmates and non-nestmates. Additionally, it is unknown …

Adventitial Macrophage Accumulation Impairs Perivascular Nerve Function In Mesenteric Arteries With Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Elizabeth A. Grunz, Benjamin W. Jones, Olubodun Michael Lateef, Sidharth Sen, Katie Wilkinson, Trupti Joshi, Erika M. Boerman

Biomedical Sciences

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease involves aberrant immune responses and is associated with both cardiovascular disease risk and altered intestinal blood flow. However, little is known about how inflammatory bowel disease affects regulation of perivascular nerves that mediate blood flow. Previous work found perivascular nerve function is impaired in mesenteric arteries with Inflammatory bowel disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of impaired perivascular nerve function.

Methods: RNA sequencing was performed on mesenteric arteries from IL10−/− mice treated with H. hepaticus to induce disease (inflammatory bowel disease) or left non-gavaged (Control). For all other studies, Control and …

Fingernail Enhancement Microbiomes Study, Kendall E. Bare

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Policies in healthcare regarding fingernail enhancements have not been supported by current science. This study examined bacterial colony growth on gel nail enhancements, regular nail polish, and bare natural nails to evaluate which condition harbors the least bacterial microbiota. The hypothesis proposed that gel enhancements would demonstrate the lowest bacterial counts compared to regular polish and unpolished nails. This investigation was conducted in the context of a local healthcare system dress code policy permitting only regular nail polish in clinical settings. Six participants volunteered and underwent nail swabbing in a microbiology laboratory using sterile cotton applicators and a neutral solution. …

Preliminary Vascular Plant Checklist Of The City Of Chattanooga, Matthew J. Scott

Honors Theses

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee was designated as a National Park City in April 2025 by the National Park City Foundation. Yet, there has not been a comprehensive vascular flora compiled for the city, though there have been extensive collections and observations made of the plant biodiversity in the area from the late 1800s onward. The goal of this project was to examine both the existing herbarium collections and public observation records from iNaturalist to compile a preliminary vascular plant checklist for Chattanooga, and to include conservation and ecological data for the species currently documented to provide a holistic review …

Contrasting Roles Of Downed Wood And Leaf Litter In Structuring Aphaenogaster Ants And Other Forest-Floor Arthropod Communities, Danielle E. Dolan

Great Lakes Center Masters Theses

Forest floors are dynamic and spatially heterogenous landscapes characterized by differing amounts of light, temperature, and moisture. Bounded substrates, like downed wood and leaf litter, add further complexity to this landscape. Specifically, downed wood is noted for its ability to retain a higher moisture level than the surrounding environment, and as such can serve as an ideal microhabitat for desiccation intolerant organisms (e.g., salamanders and eusocial insects). Here, I attempt to disentangle the relationship between forest floor arthropods and microhabitat selection (i.e., downed wood vs leaf litter) on a northeastern forest floor. The ant, Aphaenogaster picea, was chosen as my …

Differential Salinity Tolerance And Compositional Shift In Zooplankton Communities From Coastal And Inland Wetlands, Marisa Contreras

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Anthropogenic salinization from road salt application has degraded freshwater ecosystems across the United States, yet the tolerance of freshwater communities to elevated salinity may depend on their historical exposure. Coastal systems experience natural salt intrusion through tides and storm events, potentially fostering greater salinity tolerance amongst resident organisms, while inland systems lack this exposure history. To investigate, I studied the abiotic and biotic responses of zooplankton communities from four wetlands across a salinity gradient to assess tolerance to experimental salt exposure. Two inland freshwater wetlands are subject to anthropogenic salinization from road salt runoff, while two coastal wetlands experience natural …

Carcass Mass And Cooling Dynamics As Determinants Of Beef Color, Tenderness, And Dark-Cutting Risk, Grace C. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Discoloration in beef has important implications to the beef industry. Dark-cutting (DC) beef remains one of the most economically significant color defects; however, industry prevalence has only marginally declined (≈ 0.1%) despite mitigation efforts. This lack of improvement largely stems from research focused on pre-harvest stress and glycogen depletion leading to dark, firm, and dry (DFD) beef. However, not all darkcutting beef originates from DFD phenotypes. Atypical dark-cutting (ATDC) phenotypes have recently been observed and do not exhibit the classic metabolic indicators of DFD. This trend coincides with steadily increasing carcass weights in the beef industry and raises the possibility …

Genetic Screen For Regulators Of Pol4, A Dna Repair Polymerase In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Pasang Dolma Sherpa

Theses and Dissertations

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DNA polymerase 4 (POL4) is the beta repair polymerase, the product of the POL4 gene, and is involved in base excision repair (BER) and microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ). Despite its involvement in these repair pathways and its conservation across eukaryotes, deletion of POL4 shows no detectable phenotype under standard laboratory conditions. I hypothesized that unknown genes act as backup systems, providing redundant activities that allow pol4Δ cells to survive. To test this, a genetic screen for mutants showing synthetic lethality with pol4Δ was implemented. I constructed a strain lacking the POL4 gene and carrying …

Effects Of Vitamin E Deficiency On Anxiety-Like Behavior In Zebrafish With Distinct Stress Coping Styles, Areem Zahid

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Stress and anxiety disorders affect millions worldwide and represent a significant public health burden. Individual differences in stress coping style and antioxidant regulation contribute to variability in stress responsiveness and anxiety-related behaviors. Oxidative imbalance has been implicated in the neurobiology of anxiety, but its interaction with inherent stress coping phenotypes remains unclear. This study examined whether long-term dietary vitamin E deficiency alters anxiety-like behaviors in zebrafish selectively bred for proactive and reactive stress coping styles. Adult zebrafish were maintained on either a vitamin E–sufficient or vitamin E–deficient diet for five months, followed by behavioral assessment using the novel tank diving …

Unveiling The Biochemical Pathway Responsible For Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tie) By Tracking Enzymatic Activity Of Apoptosis Pathways, Becca Ringstad

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie) is a condition that is caused by failed cellular degeneration leading to a short lingual frenulum. This short lingual frenulum tethers the tongue to the bottom palate of the mouth and leads to problems, including breastfeeding for infants, depriving them of important proteins that build the gut microbiome, strengthen the immune system, and fight off antigens. If left untreated, it leads to problems with speech articulation, airway development, and obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment involves a frenectomy, which is the release of the short lingual frenulum using surgical scissors or a laser. Ankyloglossia can occur with conditions such as …

Cancer Gets Extreme: How Extremophiles Can Improve Research And Therapy, Jason Malmgren

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Extremophiles are organisms that can survive in extreme environmental conditions, and their unique biological adaptations have gained attention for potential applications in cancer research. This paper explores how the molecular characteristics of extremophiles, such as enhanced DNA repair, resistance to oxidative stress, and structural stability, may be useful in improving cancer treatment strategies. A range of studies were examined to understand both direct and indirect roles of extremophile-derived compounds in oncology. Some research shows that compounds from organisms like Deinococcus radiodurans and extremophilic Streptomyces species can inhibit cancer cell growth, increase reactive oxygen species, and trigger apoptosis. Other studies highlight …

Integrating Growth Performance And Pathogen Detection To Investigate Disease Resilience In Commercial Swine, Emmalise Hope Marie Meyer

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Disease resilience is an important trait in commercial swine production, influencing both animal health and growth performance under natural disease challenge. The primary objective of this study was to integrate growth performance data with longitudinal pathogen detection to better understand factors contributing to disease resilience in commercial pigs. A population of 1,014 pigs across four batches was monitored from weaning through the grow-finish phase, with body weights collected to calculate average daily gain (ADG). Genome-wide association analyses were conducted using BayesC and BayesIM approaches to identify genomic regions associated with growth performance. Longitudinal pathogen surveillance was performed using pen-level oral …

Application Of High-Pressure Processing To Improve The Color Of Dark Beef, Kara Ann Reynolds

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Deviation of beef from the bright cherry-red color preferred by consumers is often discounted or discarded at retail, resulting in substantial annual economic loss to the beef industry. One such deviation is dark cutting beef, which is characterized by a darker lean appearance that is undesirable to consumers and often rejected. Similarly, beef from mature cattle tends to exhibit a darker surface color, which can also reduce consumer acceptability. High-Pressure processing (HPP) has been investigated as a strategy to improve the color of dark cutting beef. Previous studies have focused on identifying pressure levels and holding times that optimize color …

Preclinical Animal Modeling To Investigate Redox-Mediated Molecular Dysfunction In Traumatic Brain Injury, Brandon Z. Mcdonald

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Impacts associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) induce a multitude of neurological morbidities mediated by a spread of biochemical dysfunction. Redox stress is a significant contributor to TBI pathophysiology and several redox stress markers have substantial evidence to support their role in diagnosing preclinical and clinical TBI. However, there is a critical need to verify their translational utility through correlations with behavioral, imaging, and molecular modalities. In chapter two, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of an antioxidant treatment (NPC3) using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model of TBI. NPC3 alleviated glial expression and reactivity while influencing the expression of …

Cytoplasmic Shift Of Interferon Regulatory Factors Co‐Evolved With Jawed Vertebrate Innate Immunity, Vanessa M. Hubing

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The emergence of jaws in early vertebrates introduced a novel feeding apparatus and powerful oral defenses, but it also increased the risk of physical injury and pathogen exposure. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play critical roles in orches-trating innate immunity and inflammation in response to invading microbes and tissue damage, with their subcellular local-ization being essential to some IRFs' function. Our results indicate that IRF members underwent independent expansion and diversification in two distinct vertebrate lineages: jawed and jawless vertebrates. The jawed vertebrate-specific factor, IRF5, has maintained conserved nuclear export sequences throughout evolution, while newly diversified IRF members in jawed verte-brates …

Forage Responses To Biological Inoculant And Seed Rates In The Intermountain West, Roy Reid

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Improving the efficiency of fertilizer and seed use is increasingly important for forage producers in the Intermountain West, where alfalfa and silage corn form the foundation of dairy and livestock feed. This thesis evaluates two strategies designed to boost crop productivity: microbial fertilizer coatings and variable-rate seeding.

The first study examined whether Powercoat®, a fertilizer-applied microbial inoculant, could enhance yield, forage quality, or soil phosphorus availability in alfalfa grown on four commercial fields in northern Utah. Across all locations, fertilizer increased yield at only two sites, and Powercoat did not provide additional improvements in yield, forage quality, or soil nutrient …

Alfalfa Yield, Quality, And Nutrient Use Response To Pivot Sprinkler Technology, Deficit Irrigation, And Genetics, Dakota Boren

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In water limited environments, alfalfa is often criticized for its high water use, prompting implementation of new irrigation technologies, deficit irrigation, and adapted crop genetics. Cumulative potential benefits from combining, or stacking, these water-optimizing practices have not been identified. The objective of this on-farm research study was to determine how irrigation technologies, deficit irrigation, genetics, and combinations of these practices impact alfalfa yield and forage quality. Trials were conducted at three sites in Utah from 2020 to 2022 on young alfalfa stands (establishment and first one to three production years). Treatments included five irrigation technologies, four irrigation rates, and two …

Exploring The Correlation Between Malnutrition And Food And Nutrition Insecurity In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Heather Burr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) may increase the risk of malnutrition because of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and restrictive eating. In addition, patients with IBD may experience food and nutrition insecurity. Therefore, we conducted an online survey to assess risk of malnutrition and food and nutrition insecurity among adult patients with IBD in outpatient and community settings. Patients were recruited between July and December 2025, aiming to reach adults in the Rocky Mountain Region diagnosed with IBD. Data collected included demographics, health-related factors, risk of nutrition insecurity, risk of food insecurity, and barriers and facilitators to dietary management of IBD.

Fifty-seven patients …

Developing Training And Streamlining Training Management Process For Smithfield Fire Department Employees In Aha, Naemt, And Aap Certifications, Michael Christopher Popa Ii

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The rapid operational expansion of the Smithfield Fire Department and EMS (SFD)—marked by a 300% increase in call volume and a transition to a fully professional, independent paramedic service—exposed critical systemic inefficiencies in clinical preparedness and personnel credentialing. This project addresses the "HALO Paradox," wherein high-acuity, low-occurrence emergencies require expert-level proficiency that cannot be maintained through call volume alone. Historically, the agency relied on fragmented, external continuing education (CE) that incurred high financial costs, lacked equipment standardization, and created administrative bottlenecks during biannual recertification cycles. The central objective of this capstone was to engineer a sustainable, in-house training infrastructure that …

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Host: Fleas And The History Of Pikas In North America, Josh Pletcher

All NMU Master's Theses

Parasite phylogenetics can offer windows into the cryptic evolutionary history of hosts, often highlighting events that are not recorded by the phylogenetics of the host. Pikas (small lagomorphs) host a diverse parasite community comprising endoparasites (e.g., coccidians, nematodes, and cestodes) and ectoparasites (e.g., fleas and mites). Phylogenetic analysis of pika endoparasites has revealed pikas evolved in Asia and colonized North America in two waves, and that contact between these two pika lineages allowed parasites to be transferred from one lineage to another and to survive the extinction of their original host. To uncover these cryptic histories, understanding the biogeography of …

Long-Term Stimulant Use Is Associated With Normalized White Matter Integrity In The Vta-Nacc Pathway In Adolescents, Isaac T. Arsenault

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Medical practitioners are diagnosing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at a high and ever-increasing rate. The use of stimulant medication to treat ADHD is also increasing and is associated with changes in the brain. Past research found that children with ADHD have lower volume in reward neurocircuitry, such as the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Research has also found that stimulant usage in those with ADHD might “normalize” the reward circuits. However, few longitudinal studies have directly tested the long-term effects of stimulant medication on brain development. Here we tested whether long-term stimulant use is associated with changes …

Dfend: A Nutrition Education Intervention To Improve Food Budgeting, Shopping, And Meal Preparation Skills Among Adults In Arkansas, Samantha K. Edwards

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Preventive strategies targeting modifiable lifestyle factors related to food, nutrition, and health are needed as chronic health conditions continue to rise. Nutrition literacy refers to having the knowledge and skills needed to obtain, understand, and apply nutrition information to make informed dietary decisions. Without adequate nutrition education and food security, vulnerable populations are at risk of malnutrition and poor dietary behaviors. Educational interventions that increase food literacy can help improve dietary choices and food selection skills.

The purpose of this creative project was to develop a nutrition education toolkit for Extension agents to implement among rural populations with low health …