Digital Commons Network^™

Academic Wellness In Health Professional Students: The Intersection Between Dietary Attitudes And Behaviors, Sleep Quality, And Mental Health, Kenya Shereece Moore

Theses and Dissertations

Academic success is strongly influenced by student well-being, with nutrition, sleep, and mental health emerging as critical and interconnected components. Health profession students often face significant mental and physical demands, as they navigate their educational training, which can challenge their ability to maintain healthy behaviors and access necessary support. Although these students are often trained to recognize, treat, and promote wellness in others, they may struggle to prioritize or seek care for themselves. This work aims to explore the health behaviors and care-seeking patterns of health profession students, with a focus on dietary habits, sleep, and barriers to mental health …

Biocomputing Approach To Modeling And Modulating Calcium Signaling, Sehee Sun

School of Computing: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biocomputing is an emerging field that seeks to perform computational tasks using biological substrates and processes. Unlike conventional computing systems based on silicon hardware, biocomputing leverages the parallelism, energy efficiency, and complex dynamics of living systems. Among various cellular mechanisms, calcium (Ca2+) signaling stands out as a central regulator of diverse biological functions, offering a promising basis for programmable logic and control in living cells.

This thesis introduces a novel framework for modeling and modulating Ca2+ dynamics using biologically inspired Boolean logic circuits. Specifically, we propose the Ca2+ Boolean Logic (CaBL) model, in which Ca2+ fluxes and interactions are abstracted …

Attitudes Towards Insects: An Attempt To Change Negative Attitudes To Neutral Or Positive, Christina Chapman

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Purpose and Summary

The purpose of this project was to examine whether negative attitudes towards insects could be changed in children after learning about them in a safe and enjoyable environment. At the start of this project, I was a science teacher in an urban middle school, where most students were neither fond of nor interested in insects. This experience shaped my project: I wanted to change attitudes from negative to positive, transforming “eww gross, kill it!” into “let it live; it has a job to do.” Through my studies in the entomology program, my belief that insects are highly …

The Loss Of Opa1 Accelerates Intervertebral Disc Degeneration And Osteoarthritis In Aged Mice, Vedavathi Madhu, Miriam Hernandaz-Meadows, Ashley Coleman, Kimheak Sao, Kameron Inguito, Owen Haslam, Paige Boneski, Hiromi Sesaki, Ruteja Barve, John Collins, Makarand Risbud

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

Recent studies have highlighted the importance of mitochondria in NP cells and articular chondrocyte health. Since the understanding of mechanisms governing mitochondrial dynamics in these tissues is lacking, we investigated the role of OPA1, a mitochondrial fusion protein, in their homeostasis. OPA1 knockdown in NP cells altered mitochondrial size and cristae shape and increased the oxygen consumption rate. OPA1 governed the morphology of multiple organelles, including peroxisomes, early endosomes and cis-Golgi and loss resulted in the dysregulation of autophagy. Metabolic profiling and

Native Seed Scoop, 2025 Summer Edition, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

Contents:

--- Upcoming Events
--- TPC at 2025 National Native Seed Conference
--- Regional and National Partnerships
--- 2025 Iowa Native Seed Meeting
--- New Species in Production
--- A Scoop of Science

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

Field Responses Of Glossina Pallidipes And Glossina Fuscipes Fuscipes Tsetse Flies To Novel Repellent Blend And Waterbuck Repellent Compounds In Kenya, Benson M. Wachira, Richard Echodu, Johnson O. Ouma, Imna I. Malele, Daniel Gamba, Michael Okal, Kennedy O. Ogolla, Clement Mangwiro, Robert Opiro, Deusdedit J. Malulu, Bernard Ochieng, Raymond E. Mdachi, Paul O. Mireji

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Control of tsetse flies constitutes a cornerstone of trypanosomiasis control and elimination efforts in Africa. The use of eco-friendly odor-based bait technologies has been identified as a safer method for control of tsetse flies. These technologies are significantly augmented by development of effective repellents that reduce contact between trypanosome-infected tsetse flies and their vertebrate hosts. Waterbuck Repellent Compounds (WRC) and Novel Repellent Blend (NRB) are recently developed tsetse fly repellent formulations. Information on relative efficacy of these formulations against major tsetse fly vectors of trypanosomiasis in Kenya is limited. Such information can inform choices of repellent technology for optimal control …

Focus On Wildlife Swifts & Swallows Of Nh, Haley Andreozzi, Pam Hunt

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Research Report No. 352: Boat-Based Recreational Fishing In Western Australia 2023/24, Karina L. Ryan, Eva K. Lai, Claire B. Smallwood, Alissa Tate

Fisheries Research Reports

The integrated survey of boat-based recreational fishing includes three components: off-site phone surveys (encompassing an initial screening survey, a longitudinal phone-diary survey, and post-enumeration surveys), on-site boat ramp surveys and remote camera surveys. The recent phone-diary survey from September 2023 to August 2024 (inclusive) provides comparisons with previous surveys in 2020/21 (September 2020 to August 2021), 2017/18 (September 2017 to August 2018), 2015/16 (September 2015 to August 2016), 2013/14 (May 2013 to April 2014) and 2011/12 (March 2011 to February 2012).

Hyflex Teaching Application In Beverage Npd, Catherine (Rena) Barry-Ryan

Case studies: Digital Education

The post-graduate module (Level 9) in Beverage Product Development (FOOD8003) is delivered to a wide range of students including mature, international and those working full-time. This hyflex module was delivered in Semester 2 of their year-long courses, where students were well settled in TU Dublin, had gained technological ability and were familiar with the VLE (Brightspace) and its online classroom (Bongo). Each week the module progresses a step in the new product development process and therefore attendance and engagement in weekly activities were essential. The student could choose to attend face-to- face or online each week, while getting the same …

Fisheries Science Update - Pilbara Fishing Competition Science 2020 To 2024 - July 2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Fisheries Science Updates

Key Points:

• Pilbara recreational fishing competitions are helping to track the sustainability of pelagic species like Spanish mackerel.
• Over 500 pelagic fish have been sampled at Pilbara fishing competitions over 5 years.
• This information goes towards DPIRD’s assessment of Spanish mackerel and monitoring the large pelagic resource in the North Coast Bioregion.

Evaluating Target Proteins Of Dock7 Function In Dmd Skeletal Muscle, Maya H. Garner, Katherine G. English, Muthukumar Karupassamy, Matthew S. Alexander

Expo Student Presentations

2025 Summer Expo Poster Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences

Exogenous Ketones Reduce Inflammation And Pathology In The Tgf344-Ad Rat Model, Amaya Rogers, Pheven Yohannes, Juan P. Carcamo, Preetham Gundlapally, Amaya Coker, Macy A. Seijo, Caesar M. Hernandez

Expo Student Presentations

2025 Summer Expo Poster Presentation

• Biological & Life Sciences
• Engineering
• Physical & Applied Sciences

Use Of High-Throughput Phenomics With And Without Fungicide As A Wheat Breeding Tool, Gerardo Ivan Rivera Collazo

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important food staple for many countries around the world and current consumption and production data demonstrate a production deficit. Breeders are challenged to help close this gap in production by selecting better cultivars with improved yields. Several methods aim to accelerate the breeding process to reduce the time required for releasing an elite variety. One of the main breeding bottlenecks is the lack of fast and reliable phenotypic data acquisition that could dissect physiological and morphological plant data. High-throughput remote sensing could have the potential to reduce this bottleneck by streamlining data acquisition, …

Catching A Fever: A Comparison Of Vachellia Xanthophloea Populations In The Limpopo And Luvuvhu River Floodplains Of The Makuleke Contractual Park, Kianie B. David

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study investigates patterns of stand structure regeneration, growth characteristics, and coarse woody debris (CWD) patterns in Vachellia xanthophloea (fever tree) stands within the Makuleke Contractual Park (MCP), a semi-arid savanna system in northern Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa. Fieldwork was conducted across two stand types: a monospecific fever tree stand in Rietbok Vlei and a mixed-species stand in the Western Nhlangaluwe Floodplain where fever tree is established with Faidherbia albida (ana tree). Data were collected from 20 total 1/4-acre (1,011 m²) circular plots between both stands in 2024 and 2025, including seedling root collar diameter (RCD), …

Bioenergy Crop Production: Implications For Grassland Bird Communities In Southwestern Nebraska, Grace E. Schuster

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Biofuel and bioenergy systems are components of most climate stabilization pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming. Currently, corn (Zea mays) is the predominant feedstock used for bioenergy production in the United States. However, widespread production of this monoculture crop has resulted in many negative environmental impacts. The most notorious impact has been the loss of grassland habitat due to agriculture expansion which has had detrimental effects on wildlife that depend on grassland habitat. One such group, grassland birds, has faced steeper, more consistent, and more widespread declines than any other avian guild. Therefore, strategies …

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter (No. 75) = 彩園通訊 (第75期), Lingnan Gardeners, Centre For Cultural Research And Development, Lingnan University

Lingnan Gardeners Newsletter 嶺南彩園通訊

No abstract provided.

Urbanization And Earthquake Resilience In The Kathmandu Valley, Alex Nation

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

The Kathmandu Valley is the fastest growing city in South Asia and is developing in a haphazard manner, subsequently creating an unnecessary earthquake risk. Few papers have been published regarding the development of Kathmandu and its surroundings as a whole and relating it to earthquakes. This study conducted visits to some cities in the valley and analyzed the infrastructure, architecture and engineering, as well as city layout. It was discovered that zoning is completely absent in the region and planning attempts are unable to keep up with the rate of expansion. Further awareness, enforcement of codes, and zoning is needed …

Strategies For Thoughtful Dissemination Of Climate Change Knowledge: A Blueprint For Scientists In The Heart Of The Empire, Christopher Cronk

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

This interdisciplinary research investigates how climate change education, Indigenous knowledge systems, journalism, and anthropology intersect in shaping environmental awareness and action, focusing primarily on Nepal and drawing parallels with Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America). Stationed in Kathmandu, I conducted interviews with climate educators, journalists, anthropologists, and activists to explore how scientific and local knowledge are communicated and acted upon. Findings highlight the strong awareness of climate change in Nepal, the systemic barriers to effective mitigation and adaptation, and the potential of community-led initiatives like the Community Forest Program. Anthropological insights proved crucial in linking human experience to environmental …

A Preliminary Classification And Quantification Of The Microplastics Within Remote Glacial Runoff In The Upper Manang Region Of Nepal, Caden Lipsky

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

Microplastics, defined as particles of plastic waste less than 5mm (US EPA), are becoming steadily more common throughout remote ecosystems and are damaging to human and environmental health. The level of microplastics found in water sources within remote regions has become increasingly concerning following growing influxes of tourists and residents each year. These particulates found in freshwater have historically only been found downstream of populated areas; however, more recent cases have demonstrated their appearance at higher elevations and lower population water sources. This study aims to develop a preliminary understanding of the amount and type of contamination that has occurred …

Flood Risk Reduction: An Analysis Of Policy, Policy Implementation, And The Role Of Non-Governmental Organisations, Elsa Cutler

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

As global temperatures rise, flood frequency and severity increase due to unpredictable rainfall, consequently escalating flood risk for Nepal's population. Therefore, implementing mitigation strategies and disaster risk reduction operations has become of utmost importance to effectively protect the people of Nepal. In 2024, countless lives were lost and a great deal of infrastructure was destroyed in Kathmandu due to the floods that swept through the city. The scale of damage the flood caused could have been minimized if the risk management policies in place were enforced properly. This investigation uses interviews, news reports, policies, policy analyses, and the case study …

Beneath The Crap: Assessing Melt Potential Through Debris Thickness And Sub-Debris Ice Temperature On The Ponkar Glacier, Nepal, Delaney Hartgen

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

Understanding melt potential beneath debris-covered glaciers is critical to predicting future glacial mass loss in the Himalayas. This study investigates the relationship between debris thickness and sub-debris ice temperature on the Ponkar Glacier, Nepal, through a combination of field measurements and remote sensing analysis. In-situ data collected along a 200-meter transect revealed that thicker debris layers consistently corresponded with colder sub-debris ice temperatures, supporting the hypothesis that debris acts as a thermal insulator. Surface ice temperatures remained near 0 °C regardless of debris thickness. Remote sensing products, including NDVI, albedo, and Landsat thermal data, provided additional spatial context, although a …

Dendrochronology: Understanding Hydroclimate In The Eastern Himalaya, Solvej Lee, Alex Witten

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

Considering the challenges of climate change, it is imperative to understand hydroclimate variability in sensitive regions around the world, such as the Himalayas. Proxies such as lake cores, speleothems, dendrochronology, and others help provide high-resolution data on paleoclimatic conditions. Dendrochronology provides an ideal proxy for understanding recent hydroclimatic conditions. The data it provides is exceptional due to the cyclical and highly sensitive nature of tree rings. While the western and central Nepal Himalaya have been analyzed using these methods, sections of the eastern Nepal Himalaya have yet to be observed. In this study, we aim to close this knowledge gap …

Geological And Cultural Investigation Of Clay Used In Newari Pottery, Inés Fabián-Hicks

Nepal: Geoscience in the Himalaya

This research project investigated the geological and cultural aspects of clay used in traditional Newari pottery in Nepal. The study aims to compare the particle-size distribution of raw clay directly sourced from traditional deposits with that of processed clay prepared for pottery production. Methodologically, the project will employ a combination of mechanical sieving and hydrometer analysis to generate detailed grain-size distribution charts for both clay types. In addition to laboratory analysis, the project incorporates a cultural dimension through a field visit to Pottery Square, an interview with a Newari potter, and a field visit to the source of the clay …

Defining Lipedema’S Molecular Hallmarks By Multi-Omics Approach For Disease Prediction In Women, Leon G Straub, Jan-Bernd Funcke, Nolwenn Joffin, Chanmin Joung, Sara Al-Ghadban, Shangang Zhao, Qingzhang Zhu, Ilja L Kruglikov, Yi Zhu, Paul R Langlais, Ruth Gordillo, Karen L Herbst, Philipp E Scherer

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Lipedema is a chronic disease in females characterized by pathologic subcutaneous adipose tissue expansion and hitherto remains without druggable targets. In this observational study, we investigated the molecular hallmarks of lipedema using an unbiased multi-omics approach. We found adipokine dysregulation in lipedema patients participating in a cross-sectional clinical study (ClinicalTrial.gov, NCT02838277), pointing towards the adipocyte as a key player. Analyses of newly generated transcriptomic (SRA, PRJNA940039) and proteomic (ProteomeXchange, PXD058489) datasets of early- and late-stage lipedema samples revealed a local downregulation of factors involved in inflammation. Concomitantly, factors involved in cellular respiration, oxidative phosphorylation, as well as in mitochondrial …

Conservation Management Effects On Soil And Agronomic Properties In A Furrow-Irrigated Corn System In East-Central Arkansas, Jeferson P. Pimentel, Christopher G. Henry, Kris R. Brye, Benjamin R. Runkle, Amanda J. Ashworth, Edgar Mersiovsky, Kevin C. Thompson

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cover crops can improve soil physical properties and help to sustain agricultural crop yields. A 6-year study conducted from 2017 to 2022 examined the effects of conservation soil management practices in a furrow-irrigated continuous corn (Zea mays L.) system on a silt-loam soil (Typic Albaqualf) in the Lower Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas. This study compared the effects of conventional tillage (CT), no-tillage (NT), and no-tillage with cover crops (CC) in selected soil physical and chemical properties (i.e., soil bulk density (D b), porosity (& fnof;t), field capacity (Theta FC), Permanent wilting point (Theta PWP), Plant available water …

Metabolic Clearance Rate Of Insulin Across The Glucose Tolerance Spectrum By Race And Ethnicity In Youth With Obesity, Wonhee Cho, Fida Bacha, Hala Tfayli, Sojung Lee, Sara F Michaliszyn, Joon Young Kim, Silva Arslanian

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

Objective: Despite β-cell failure in youth with dysglycemia (i.e., impaired glucose tolerance [IGT] and type 2 diabetes), fasting insulin (FI) concentrations are elevated. Herein, we examined the following: 1) metabolic clearance rate of insulin (MCRI) in youth with obesity and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) versus those with IGT versus those with type 2 diabetes; 2) racial and ethnic differences in insulin dynamics; and 3) metabolic/adiposity correlates of MCRI.

Methods: A total of 206 youth underwent assessment of fasting glucose, FI, MCRI and peripheral insulin sensitivity (PIS), first-phase insulin secretion, disposition index, body composition, and abdominal adiposity.

Results: In type 2 …

Occupancy Sampling To Examine Spatial Distribution Of Oklahoma Salamanders (Eurycea Tynerensis) Among Headwater Streams In The Ozark Highlands, Sophia Anreder

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Water conditions are changing globally due to climate change (Gleick, 1989). Headwater streams specifically are vulnerable to changes in hydrology, water quality, and physical characteristics from anthropogenic practices due to their small watersheds with shallow soils, yet they are often not a priority in conservation (Campbell et al., 2011; Abell et al., 2017). Within streams, plethodontid (i.e., lungless) salamanders, which are also sensitive to environmental changes, may be restricted in their distribution due to undefined stream characteristics and predation by fish (Welsh and Droege, 2002; Kuhajda et al., 2015). To better understand the pressures that influence stream salamander occupancy, I …

Identification Of Novel Components Of The Retinal Determination Gene Network In Drosophila Cell Lines, Robert Drewell, Jacqueline Dresch

Biology

The retinal determination genetic network controls the development of the visual system in all seeing animals through the molecular regulation of cells to adopt an eye tissue fate. The compound eye of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is an excellent model system to study the complex mechanisms within the network that regulate specification of cellular identity during embryogenesis. In Drosophila, the two Pax6 paralogues, eyeless and twin of eyeless, sit at the very pinnacle of the network and their expression early in development activates critical downstream components of the retinal determination pathway. In this study, we investigate the expression of …

Primary Investigation Of Rice-Fish Co-Culture: Investigating The Feasibility Of Raising Fish In Flooded Rice Paddies In The Southern Usa, Yulin Jia, Aaron K. Jackson, Bartholomew Green, S. Adam Fuller, Heather Box, Laduska Sells, Candis Ray, Paxton Harper, Brennan Smith

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

With limited land and water resources available it has become critical to maximize output for agricultural products while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Ricefish co-culture can be used to maximize limited land and water resources for production of rice and fish concurrently and reduce the need of chemical inputs. While rice-fish co-culture has been practiced in Asia for centuries, very few studies have examined the feasibility and economic impact of rice fish co-culture in the U.S.A. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.A. from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi …