Digital Commons Network^™

Community-Based Water Management Through Cultural Ecosystem Services: Traditional Wisdom And Modern Adaptation In Senjoyo Spring, Indonesia, Puji Winarti, Sri Haryani, Sri Wardani, Langlang Handayani

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Small-scale freshwater ecosystems play vital ecological and cultural roles. However, community-based water management (CBWM) often lacks a clear analytical approach to integrating cultural ecosystem services (CES) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), limiting the practical understanding of culturally grounded governance. To address this gap, this qualitative study explores the interactions between CES and TEK, analyzes their roles within CBWM, and identifies their implications for sustainable water governance. The integration between cultural value and local ecological knowledge makes Senjoyo Spring an appropriate location for this study. Data were collected through interviews with 20 key informants, field observations, forum group discussions (FGDs), and …

Community-Based Well Testing And Outreach To Mitigate Human Health Risk From Unsafe Drinking Water, W. Adam Sigler, Katharine Sutphen, Margaret J Eggers, Kaleena Miller, Michelle Grocke-Dewey

Journal of Extension

Twenty-two percent of groundwater wells tested nationwide have one or more contaminants above a health threshold, yet many private well owners are unaware of these risks because they have not tested their water. Researchers piloted a community well testing clinic for education/outreach and surveyed participants about outcomes. Two months later, 75% of participants with high or intermediate health risk water quality results had taken action or intended to, indicating that community private well testing clinics can be effective in mitigating human health risks from contaminated drinking water.

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Gardening Indoors, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Extending your growing season is a great way to produce more food earlier in spring, later in fall, or even during winter. One of the best ways to do this is to use indoor gardening and greenhouse systems, which let you grow plants beyond what is possible outdoors or alongside outdoor growing. This guide focuses on soil-based indoor gardening.

Pi3kδ Inhibition Alters Cd8 T Cell Differentiation And Reprograms The Tumor Microenvironment Following Adoptive Immunotherapy, Alexandrea Joy Turnquist

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

T cell exhaustion remains a significant barrier to effective adoptive cell therapy in solid tumors. Here, we demonstrate that in vitro treatment with the PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101 generates T cells with enhanced stemness and metabolic fitness, though the stemness of these cells is not dependent on HIF-1α -dependent mechanisms. These cells show increased mitochondrial dependence and spare respiratory capacity while maintaining normal basal metabolism. Under chronic antigen stimulation, CAL-101-treated T cells, including human T cells, resist terminal exhaustion and maintain stem-like properties. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics of B16 melanoma tumors, we found that CAL-101-treated T cells preferentially …

Marine Spatial Planning In The Asean Countries: Lesson Learned For Future Ocean Governance In Malaysia, Husni Alhan Md Salimun, Mohd Fadzil Akhir, Nazli Aziz, Che Din Mohd Safuan, Wan Izatul Asma Wan Talaat

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) has emerged as an important governance instrument for balancing ecological protection, economic development, and social inclusion amid the rapidly intensifying blue economy in Southeast Asia. Although several ASEAN Member States (AMS) have initiated MSP processes, the existing literature on MSP governance in this region  remains fragmented and largely descriptive, limiting systematic cross-country comparison and evidence-based lessons. This study addresses this gap by assessing MSP governance performance across ASEAN countries and againts internationally recognized MSP governance benchmarks. A structured narrative review was conducted using selected PRISMA-informed procedures for literature identification and screening. Academic publications from 2003 to …

Changing Ocean Chemistry: Impacts Of Ocean Deoxygenation And Acidification From Benthic Iron Fluxes To Fisheries, De'marcus Robinson

DoMES Seminar Series

Ocean deoxygenation and acidification are impacting marine ecosystems, contributing to changes in ocean biogeochemical cycling and fisheries across the U.S. West Coast and northern Gulf of America/Mexico. Using spatially and temporally resolved observations, numerical modeling, and biogeochemical analyses, this seminar examines how changing ocean conditions influence processes from water-column oxygen dynamics to marine organisms. In the Santa Barbara Basin, observations of dissolved O₂ reveal persistent decadal hypoxic and anoxic conditions and changes in deep-water ventilation associated with high benthic iron fluxes (0.23–4.9 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹). Combining benthic iron flux measurements with numerical simulations demonstrates how iron availability can enhance surface …

Decentralized Renewable Energy And Sustainability By Integrating Solar Ovens Into Urban Living, Nuno Soares Domingues

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Urban households account for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, with domestic cooking representing an often-overlooked component of residential energy demand. Low-cost solar cooking technologies offer a promising pathway towards urban decarbonization by harnessing renewable solar energy while reducing dependence on grid electricity and promoting circular resource use. This study evaluates the contribution of two experimentally developed low-cost solar box ovens to urban sustainability under Mediterranean climatic conditions in Lisbon, Portugal. A recycled cardboard prototype and a timber-based prototype were assessed through controlled outdoor experiments involving thermal performance, cooking capability, energy savings, and environmental evaluation. …

Good Governance In The Concept Of Climate Justice: Decarbonisation Policies In Economic Considerations Of Losses And Sacrifices, Daryanti Daryanti, Albertus Sentot Sudarwanto, Erna Dyah Kusumawati, Rosita Candrakirana

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Projections of losses resulting from the impacts of climate change in Indonesia are estimated to reach USD 30.5 million, affecting four key sectors: agriculture, water supply, health, and the maritime sector. This study shows that good governance based on climate justice in the implementation of decarbonization policies is the most important factor in avoiding long-term economic losses caused by the adverse impacts of climate change or investing in climate resilience. This study employed a normative methodology using a statutory approach to examine efforts related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The findings of this research indicate that regulations in Indonesia, …

Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (Vnls) Inside Hospitals And Its Psychological Impact, Asmaa Alaa Hasanein Hasanein, Alaa Shams Al-Din Al-Aishi, Marwa Atef Abd Elhady

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study examines the correlation between daylighting environments in hospitals, users evaluations, and ways of bringing virtual natural light into inner spaces, highlighting the importance of good daylighting design for physical and psychological well-being. Virtual Natural Lighting Solutions (VNLS) mimic the balanced spectrum of natural light, bridging the gap between natural and artificial light, and are crucial for tasks, circadian rhythm, and mood in healthcare settings. The research addresses the variability and limitations of natural light, proposing VNLS for healthcare lighting design, especially in hospitals lacking daylight. The study aims to develop a methodology for using VNLS in healthcare environments …

Horticultural Diplomacy: A Framework For Growing Culturally Aware Gardeners, Stephen Stresow-Cortez, Stephen Reiners, Ashley Miller Helmholdt

Journal of Extension

Derived from person-to-person diplomacy models, a ``horticultural diplomacy'' framework was implemented in a statewide vegetable variety trial program for two seasons to introduce Master Gardeners to diverse crops and cultures. Scaffolding learning with relevant recipes, bed groupings, community tasting events, and collecting community (citizen) science data helped participants build garden skills, gain a greater appreciation for other cultures, and inform new educational materials. Horticultural diplomacy is part of a deliberate effort aimed at growing food and building understanding among (primarily White) volunteers. The techniques that helped make this program successful, adaptable to other garden programs, and aspects that require improvements …

Equine Body Condition Scoring Flow Chart: A Field Guide, Robyn Stewart, Carissa Wickens, Brooklyne Wassel

Journal of Extension

The Equine Body Condition Scoring Flow Chart is a visual decision-making tool designed to guide users through the process of evaluating a horse's body condition score (BCS) using the Henneke scale. Accurately assessing BCS is critical for making informed management decisions relating to equine nutrition, health, and training. This tool simplifies the scoring process by breaking it down into step-by-step questions based on clear scoring criteria, anatomical landmarks, and both visual and tactile assessment. This tool can be used regardless of geographic location and benefits a diverse audience of Extension educators, horse owners, 4-H'ers, and equine business owners.

Applications Of Nanotechnology In Building Envelopes: An Analytical Study Of Environmental Performance And Architectural Form, Essam Salah Said Abdelmagid

Mansoura Engineering Journal

Contemporary architecture has witnessed a rapid evolution in the integration of nanotechnology within the design of building envelopes, due to its significant capability to enhance the physical and environmental properties of materials and to redefine the relationship between functional performance and architectural form. The building envelope is considered one of the most influential components affecting energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality,  and visual identity, which has made it a primary field for the application of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies.

This research aims to investigate and analyze the impact of nanotechnology applications in building envelopes on both environmental performance and architectural form through …

Artificial Sentience: From Computational Functionalism To Behaviourism?, Wanja Wiese

Animal Sentience

I critically examine Jonathan Birch’s account of how brain emulations might create artificial sentience candidates, arguing that his account risks collapsing into a behaviourist account, unless the specific computational processes realised by such emulations are carefully considered. Drawing on examples from computational neuroscience, I show that similar behaviours can arise from vastly different computational processes, thereby undermining the suggestion to focus on behaviourial profiles to determine whether a brain emulation of a sentience candidate is itself a sentience candidate.

Radiological And Chemical Safety Assessment Of Drinking Water From Treatment Plants And Rivers In Kut City, Iraq, Ahmed A. Alswaty, Hadi D. Alattabi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Climate change and increasing anthropogenic activities, particularly wastewater discharge into rivers, have raised pollution levels in the water sources of Kut City, necessitating an assessment of the radiological and chemical safety of drinking water at the city's treatment plants. Thirteen water samples were collected, comprising ten treated and three raw water samples from the source rivers. An HPGe detector was used to measure the radionuclides ²¹⁴Bi, ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹²Bi, ²¹²Pb, ⁴⁰K, and ¹³⁷Cs. All measured radionuclides were below the minimum detectable activity (MDA). ICP-OES analysis supported these findings, as U concentrations in most samples were …

The Relationship Between Light Intensity And Tall Goldenrod Productivity Across Greencastle Fields, Erniya Jean Jacques '29, Rose Keith

Annual Student Research Poster Session

This study investigates the effects of environmental conditions, specifically light availability and climate variation, on the growth and productivity of Solidago altissima (tall goldenrod) across four field sites in Greencastle, Indiana (including sites associated with DePauw University, such as Prindle, Ullem, QA, and NP). By sampling 160 specimens across contrasting light environments (sunny vs. shaded plots) and comparing data between 2024 and 2026, the project evaluates key physical traits including plant height, biomass, and light intensity (μmol). Findings indicate a trade-off in energy allocation: plants in shaded conditions invest more energy into height growth to capture limited sunlight, whereas individuals …

Fisheries Science Update - Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource - October 2026, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Science Updates

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) monitors the status of Western Australia’s demersal scalefish resources by undertaking periodic stock assessments on key indicator species.

This summary provides key outcomes of the 2026 Pilbara red emperor stock assessment (Resource Assessment Report No. 12).

Resource Assessment Report No. 12: North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource: Pilbara Red Emperor 2026 Assessment, Fabian I. Trinnie, Rubie Evans-Powell, Brett Crisafulli, S. A. Hesp, Ainslie Denham, Dion Boddington, Craig L. Skepper

Resource Assessment Reports

Executive Summary

The North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (NCDSR) comprises ecological suites of tropical demersal fish species that occur predominantly in inshore (20–250 m deep) and offshore (> 250 m deep) waters of the North Coast Bioregion (NCB). More than 60 demersal species are landed by fisheries operating in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of the NCB each year, including higher-valued species, such as red emperor (Lutjanus sebae), goldband snapper (Pristipomoides multidens), rankin cod (Epinephelus rankini), and ruby snapper (Etelis boweni), and lower-valued species, such as bluespotted emperor (Lethrinus punctulatus).

The Pilbara Demersal Scalefish Resource (PDSR) is harvested by the …

First Evaluation Of Contrast-Enhanced Micro-Xct As A Tool For Organismal And Reproductive Trait Observations In Corals Based On Scans Of Thesea Nivea Deichmann, 1936, Erin E. Easton

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Micro-X-ray computed tomography (micro-XCT) with contrast enhancement is considered a non-destructive tool that is increasingly being applied to explore the internal and external structures of vertebrates and invertebrates. Although micro-XCT has been applied to corals to study skeletal features, contrast enhancement has not been applied to evaluate the utility for visualization of soft tissue structures in corals. This study is the first to evaluate the utility of contrast enhancement to visualize internal and external features, including soft tissue features, of octocorals. Contrast staining of a Thesea nivea specimen with 2.5% Lugol's iodine permitted visualization of soft tissues with sufficient density …

Blue Carbon Ecosystems As Climate Solutions: Sequestration Across Coastal And Marine Environments, Allison K. White, Richard J. Kline, Md. Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses, sequester significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. These ecosystems capture and store carbon in biomass and sediments over long periods. Other marine ecosystems, including the open ocean, kelp forests, bivalve reefs, and coral reefs, have been excluded from the BCEs, but they have the potential to serve as crucial blue carbon sinks or to support adjacent BCEs. Climate change, however, poses severe threats to these ecosystems. Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and ocean acidification can lead to habitat loss, reduced biodiversity, and impaired carbon sequestration capacity. Consequently, anthropogenic …

Silverleaf Nightshade (Solanum Elaeagnifolium) Undergoes Guild-Specific Transcriptomic Reprogramming Against Chewing Versus Piercing Sucking Herbivory, Arunsaikumar Karrem, Matthew Terry, Jagdish Jaba, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade, SLN) is a globally invasive perennial weed with reproductive plasticity and complex defence systems that significantly impact crop yields by invading fields of staple, commercial and ornamental crops. Despite being a host to multiple insect herbivores, the molecular programming enabling its rapid adaptation to defend against diverse feeding guilds remains poorly resolved. Here, we report a comprehensive de novo transcriptomic assembly and comparative analysis of S. elaeagnifolium challenged by two distinct herbivores: the piercing-sucking generalist cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora and the chewing specialist tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Differential gene expression analysis revealed a massive difference …

Exploring The Significance Of Kenya's Indigenous And Emerging Blue Foods For Sustainable Aquaculture Development. A Review, Jonathan Munguti, Mavindu Muthoka, Domitila Kyule, Esther Magondu, Kevin Obiero, Jimmy Mboya, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Tanga M. Chrysantus, Gerald Kwikiriza, Francis K. Njonge

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kenya's aquaculture sector is at a pivotal stage, transitioning from a historical reliance on Nile tilapia and African catfish toward a more diversified production portfolio that integrates indigenous and emerging freshwater and marine species. This shift is increasingly recognized as essential to enhance climate resilience, food security, and ecosystem health. This systematic review synthesizes more than two decades (2000 to 31st January, 2026) of peer-reviewed literature to evaluate the biological suitability, culture performance, and socio-ecological roles of underutilized native taxa, including Ningu (Labeo victorianus), Jipe tilapia (Oreochromis jipe), freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium spp.), rabbitfish (Siganus sutor), marine-acclimatized Nile tilapia, mud crab …

Resource Assessment Report No. 10: Southern Nearshore And Estuarine Scalefish Resource: Sandy Sprat (Whitebait) 2026 Assessment, Daniel E. Yeoh, Brett Crisafulli, Rubie Evans-Powell, Sybrand A. Hesp

Resource Assessment Reports

Sandy sprat Hyperlophus vittatus (‘whitebait’) is a small-bodied clupeid which occurs in temperate nearshore marine and estuarine waters throughout southern Australia. In Western Australia, this species is almost exclusively caught by the commercial sector on the lower west coast, between Perth and Geographe Bay, where it is considered to comprise a single biological stock. Since 2010, sandy sprat has primarily been caught by the South West Beach Net Fishery (SWBN) in the Bunbury region. This is a shore-based fishery which utilises beach seine nets to target a variety of finfish species in shallow nearshore waters.

Commercial catch is monitored and …

Risks Of Mercury Release From Disturbance Of Blue Carbon Ecosystems, Fan Zhang, Jingrou Hu, Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández, Christian J. Sanders, Xinxin Li, Ruotong Chen, Kunshan Bao, Bigyan Neupane, Aidah Baloch, Yanhui Zheng, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs) function as dual repositories of organic carbon and legacy contaminants. While BCEs are recognized carbon sinks, their role as mercury (Hg) sinks and the risk of their conversion into sources due to human and climatic disturbances remain unexplored. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the drivers and risks of contaminant remobilization from threatened BCEs, with a primary focus on mercury. We explore how natural and human disturbances influence Hg storage, release, and bioavailability, while evaluating the risks posed to ecosystems and human health. Through a three-level meta-analysis, we show that physical disturbance remobilizes approximately 54% (95% …

Implementation Of The Problem-Based Learning Model On The Topic Of The Immune System To Enhance The Critical Thinking Skills Of Grade Xi B Students At Sman 1 Tojo, Nani Sofyanti, Sutrisnawati Sutrisnawati, Vita Indri Febriani, Mohammad Jamhari, Bustamin Bustamin, Raya Agni

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Critical-thinking skills are essential competencies for students in 21st-century learning. Preliminary classroom observations in Class XI B at SMAN 1 Tojo indicated that instruction remained predominantly teacher-centered and provided limited opportunities for students to engage in activities involving interpretation, analysis, evaluation, and inference. This study aimed to improve students’ critical-thinking skills through the implementation of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) on the immune system topic. The study employed a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design conducted over two cycles, involving 28 students in Class XI B. Data were collected using a teacher activity observation sheet and critical-thinking skills tests assessing four indicators: interpretation, …

Junior High School Students’ Understanding Of Pathogenic Microbes In The School Environment: A Cross-Grade Descriptive Study At Smp Alkhairaat 1 Palu, Feren Febrianti, I Nengah Kundera, Yulia Windarsih, Mohammad Jamhari, Mursito S. Bialangi, Abdul Ashari

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aimed to describe students’ understanding of pathogenic microbes and compare descriptive comprehension profiles across Grades VII, VIII, and IX at SMP Alkhairaat 1 Palu. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed involving 49 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an essay test as the primary instrument, supported by semi-structured interviews and observations of the school environment. The essay test assessed three indicators: conceptual knowledge of pathogenic microbes, understanding of disease transmission mechanisms, and understanding of clean and healthy practices for preventing the transmission of pathogenic microbes. Test data were analyzed descriptively using mean percentage scores, while …

Relationship Between Morphological And Behavioral Laterality In Astyanax Mexicanus, Allison Lendman, Michael Tobler, Erik Johnson

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Populations within the Astyanax genus have experienced extreme differences in environment, leading to distinct morphological adaptations. The cave populations of these fish are eyeless and have acquired fixed, cranial asymmetries. We explored a possible relationship between this physical asymmetry and behavioral laterality. We tested 28 adult fish, 14 male and 14 female, from the Pachón cave in controlled behavioral trials. We found that both sexes demonstrated behavioral laterality, observed as a consistent left-turn bias in these trials. This supports the hypothesis that these populations display behavioral laterality that is correlated to their physical asymmetries. Ongoing research comparing behavioral patterns in …

Enantioselectivity Of The Photochemical Continuous-Flow Isomerization Of Humulones, Gregory M. Giovine, Trevor Smith, Bruce Hamper

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Humulones, the primary natural product present in the historically significant hop flower, represent a largely unexplored candidate for structure-based pharmaceutical design.  Showing promising biological activity as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent, humulones are of interest both for their bioactive properties and for their long-established tolerability and natural abundance.  Humulones undergo a characteristic isomerization reaction, where the six-membered substituted phloroglucinol ring contracts to a five-membered ring isohumulone, under a variety of conditions, including those enabled by brewing conditions (thermal, metal-catalyzed) and by exposure to UV light.  Optimization of the photocatalyzed isomerization of n-humulone to n-isohumulone in flow conditions resulted in a …

Bacterial Biomass As A Versatile Platform For Functional Materials: Structural Insights And Sustainable Applications, Hasan M. Agha

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Bacterial biomass has emerged as a versatile material with strong potential in environmental, material, and biotechnological applications, as well as broader uses such as bioplastics, packaging materials, and agricultural systems, owing to its rapid growth, controllable production, and surface chemistry enriched with carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, phosphate, sulfate, and sulfhydryl groups. These features enable multiple interaction mechanisms, including electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, surface complexation, hydrogen bonding, and π –π interactions, supporting applications in pollutant removal, wastewater treatment, composite development, and bioenergy systems. Bacterial biomass can be sourced from natural environments, industrial fermentation, and waste streams, particularly activated sludge, making it compatible …

Exploratory Concurrent Associations Between K-Kyphometer And Flexicurve-Derived Kyphosis Measures (Kyphosis Index And Kyphosis Angle): Preliminary Study, Pimonpan Taweekarn, Kunavut Vannajak

Journal of Health Research

Background: Quantifying thoracic kyphosis is essential in musculoskeletal and rehabilitation practice. Although radiographic Cobb angle is commonly treated as a reference standard, repeated imaging is limited by cost and radiation exposure. Therefore, clinicians frequently use non-radiographic tools such as inclinometers and flexicurve rulers, which have shown acceptable reliability and variable levels of validity in different populations. The objective of this study was examine Pearson correlations between a patented K-Kyphometer (Utility Patent No. 23366) and two flexicurve-derived measures—Kyphosis Index (KI) and Kyphosis Angle (K angle).

Methods: In this cross-sectional correlation study (N=28), thoracic kyphosis was assessed using the K-Kyphometer and …

Bifurcation Dynamics Of A Harvested Predator-Prey Model, Hala H. Emam, Mohamed F. Abouelenein, Mona Anis, M. Y. Hamada, F. A. Atia, H. El-Metwally

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

In ecosystems, the harvesting effect is essential to preserving the relationships between prey and predator. This work examines a model of predator-prey in discrete time with harvesting. The Jacobian matrix's eigenvalues are calculated for the associated fixed points. We examine the dynamical and qualitative analysis of this model, look into the criteria for stability and bifurcation, and analyze analytical results that show the rich dynamics and complexity of this model. We give sufficient circumstances for the Period-doubling at the interior equilibrium point by employing the harvesting effect. The discrete system's chaos control is carried out, and the outcomes are supported …