Digital Commons Network^™

Do Cover Crops Influence Beneficial And Herbivorous Arthropod Communities Across Growing Seasons?, Adegboyega Fajemisin, Satinderpal Kaur, Alejandro Vasquez, Alexis Racelis, Rupesh R. Kariyat

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Cover crops provide multiple ecosystem services in agriculture, yet their influence on arthropod communities remains poorly understood, especially in commercial farming. Despite their potential benefits, it remains unexplored how cover crops affect arthropod community dynamics across multiple growing seasons. We conducted a two-year study across three commercial farms in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, to examine how cover crops influence arthropod community composition and abundance, whether beneficial arthropods (natural enemies and pollinators) persist into cash-crop phases, and how cover crops affect natural enemy–herbivore relationships. We compared arthropod communities between cover-crop treatments and control plots and tracked responses through subsequent …

Barn To Brain: Relationship Between Farm Animal Interaction And Well-Being In Rural Adults, Tiffany N. Hendershot

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between naturally occurring farm animal interactions and overall well-being among rural adults living in the central Appalachian region, specifically western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to compare adults with at least five hours of naturally occurring farm animal contact per week to those with less than one hour of contact per week. Overall well-being was measured with the PERMA-Profiler, and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using wearable devices as a physiological indicator of autonomic health. Grounded in polyvagal theory, the biophilia hypothesis, and …

The Association Between Diet Quality, Nutritional Knowledge, Low Energy Availability, And Eating Disorder Risk In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Laurel Koontz Awald

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study aimed to investigate the association between diet quality, nutritional knowledge, low energy availability, and eating disorder risk in a sample of collegiate student-athletes across several sporting disciplines. The quantitative cross-sectional survey was developed using validated questionnaires to investigate diet quality (The Athlete Diet Index), nutritional knowledge (The Platform for Evaluating Athlete Knowledge in Sports – Nutrition Questionnaire), low energy availability (The Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and Low Energy Availability in Males Questionnaire), and eating disorder risk (DESA – 6). College athletes were recruited from Division I and III universities: (N = 31) from the track and …

Crystal Structure Of Mouse Dxo In Complex With The Udp-N-Acetylglucosamine Cap And Molecular Mechanism For The Decapping Reactions, Najeeb Ullah, Selom K. Doamekpor, Liang Tong

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Noncanonical metabolite 5' caps have recently been identified on RNAs, and the DXO/Rai1 family of enzymes can remove these caps in eukaryotes. While the binding modes of NAD, FAD and dephospho-CoA (dpCoA) caps in the active site of mouse DXO have been determined, how DXO recognizes the UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc) caps is not known. In addition, the molecular mechanism by which DXO catalyzes the decapping reactions is still poorly understood, especially the location of the water/hydroxide that attacks the scissile phosphate to initiate the decapping. Here we report the crystal structure of mouse DXO in complex with UDP-GlcNAc …

Heat Shock Factor 1 Signaling: A Novel Pathway Implicated In Rett Syndrome Pathophysiology, Sonia Gonzalez

Dissertations

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that is associated with loss-of-function mutations in the methyl-CPG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. There are limited therapeutic options to address the wide range of social, cognitive, motor, and respiratory symptoms that patients experience throughout their lifetime. To identify novel therapeutic targets, we leveraged a rare form of RTT known as MeCP2-mutation-negative or atypical RTT. Traditionally, RTT is first diagnosed clinically and then confirmed through the identification of mutations in the MECP2 gene. However, ~5% of RTT patients are found to be MeCP2-mutation-negative (atypical), despite sharing overlapping symptomology with typical RTT. We …

Silent Invaders: Stopping The Spread Of The Spotted Lanternfly, Sloane Z. Hall

Masters Theses

The Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive insect originating from China, has rapidly spread across the United States, harming agriculture, forestry, and surrounding ecosystems. It’s destructive feeding behavior severely impacts grapevines, fruit trees, and hardwoods, which directly affects wine production, farm communities, and local environments. The aim of this research was to investigate the biological, ecological, and economic stakes of the infestation, as well as the methods currently used to monitor and control its spread. Specifically, it examines how communication frameworks, design practices, and extension approaches influence producers’ adoption of recommended Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols. Through the research, a literature review, …

Beyond Stabilization: Biological Healing, Structural Exclusion, And The Recovery Gap After Border-Fall Trauma At The U.S.-Mexico Border, Julia Robinson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis examines the biochemical, ethical, and public health consequences of insufficient post-operative follow-up care for undocumented immigrants injured in border falls. Discussing pathways of inflammation resolution, wound healing, and bone remodeling, this thesis argues that recovery depends on tightly regulated molecular and cellular processes that are highly vulnerable to disruption without continued monitoring and rehabilitation (Loi et al., 2016; Maruyama et al., 2020). When follow-up care is absent, these processes can be predicted to derail, leading to infection, impaired healing, and permanent disability (Chung & Sohn, 2025; Howard et al., 2020; Kruidenier et al., 2018). Framed through principles …

Chronotropic Response To Intratracheal Versus Intravenous Atropine In Anesthetized Adult Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Ammar H. Mahdi, Majid Alhamaidah, Myasar J. Mohammed, Hussein Ali Hussein, Hussein Alkhfaji

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

Atropine is a commonly used anticholinergic agent in anesthetic practice, administered primarily to counteract bradycardia. Rapid treatment of intraoperative bradycardia is clinically critical, as delays may lead to hemodynamic compromise. This study aimed to compare the onset, magnitude, and duration of the chronotropic response to atropine administered via the intravenous (IV) versus intratracheal (IT) route in anesthetized adult patients. A prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled study was conducted on 60 adult patients classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-II, scheduled for elective peripheral surgery under general anesthesia. Patients were randomly allocated into three equal groups (n = 20 …

Enhanced No₂ Gas Sensing Using Silver-Doped Cadmium Telluride Nanocrystalline Thin Films, Tunis Balasim Hassan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is a toxic pollutant that necessitates sensitive and reliable monitoring systems. Conventional gas sensors often lack adequate responsiveness and fast recovery under changing conditions and therefore create a need for semiconductors with enhanced performance, especially at high industrial temperatures (around 250 °C). The study therefore aims to synthesis and evaluate silver-doped cadmium telluride (Ag:CdTe) thin films as NO₂ gas sensors. Pure CdTe and Ag:CdTe with silver concentrations of 5, 10, and 15 wt% were prepared by a co-precipitation process. XRD verified cubic symmetry with a progressive fall in crystallite size (6.67 nm to 5.46 nm at 15 …

Towards A Methodology For Form Creativity Of Building Envelope To Enhance Thermal Performance (Biomimicry As A Tool For Form Creativity), Amal Ebrahim Ahmed Hassanin, Marwa Atef Abd-Elhady

Mansoura Engineering Journal

It has become necessary to achieve thermal comfort for users in buildings, which enhances human ability to work, create, or rest and enjoy. Since the building envelope serves as the link between the inside and outside of the building, forming the building envelope creatively improves and enhances thermal performance of buildings, thus achieving thermal comfort for users. Nature is the primary teacher and source of creativity for humans. Therefore, Biomimicry was chosen as a tool for creative formation, and the descriptive analytical approach was used by analyzing an example where nature was simulated in the formation of the external envelope …

Capturing System Complexity In Maritime Decarbonization: A Multilayer Modeling Perspective, Maksym Chepeliev, Rene Banares-Alcantara, Lorenza Campagnolo, Ronald Apriliyanto Halim, Jim Hall, Gianandrea Mannarini, Hesam Naghash, Carlo Palazzi, Ramiro Parrado, Paola Rocchi, Alessandro Taberna, Soheil Shayegh

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Managing Maternal Anemia In Pregnancy: The Role Of Iron-Rich Foods And Supplementation, Carli Dibler

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Anemia during pregnancy is a large public health concern, which often leads to independent risk factors for fetal and maternal outcomes including postpartum hemorrhaging, cesarean sections, blood transfusions during and after the labor process, hysterectomies, preterm birth, and infectious diseases. Six level I-III studies were analyzed using the John Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice model. Findings showed that by using a combined approach of dietary intake and supplementation overall leads to better fetal and maternal outcomes compared to supplementation alone.

Difference Between Postural Sway, Functional Fitness, And Behavioral Measures In Older Adult Fallers & Non-Fallers, Olivia Maus, Rebecca Brandhorst, Andrea Geisenhof, Kyle Reason

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

BACKGROUND: Falls are among the leading causes of injury, hospitalization, and loss of independence among older adults. There is not enough research to determine how body composition, fitness, and postural sway affect balance.

METHODS: Participants completed surveys measuring behaviors around fall risk, assessment of body composition, postural sway, and functional fitness.

RESULTS: There was a significant difference between OF and ONF on the FES-I (p=0.05; d=-0.41) and the ABC-6 (p=0.008; d=0.57). There was significance on condition three of the mCTSIB (p=0.007; d=-.58), and composite score (p=0.04; d=-0.43).Significance between groups was approached on condition one of the mCTSIB (p=0.06; d=-0.39).

CONCLUSIONS: …

Living With Confidence: The Importance Of Hip Health, Ellisa Louisy, Shannon M. Meyer, Kyle W. Reason

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

The hip joint is essential for weight-bearing movement, providing both mobility and stability as a ball-and-socket joint. Surrounding muscles generate movement and maintain stability during daily activities like walking, standing, and rising from a chair. As the link between the trunk and lower limbs, reduced hip strength or mobility can impair balance and movement efficiency. In women, hormonal changes, especially after menopause, contribute to decreased bone density and muscle mass, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures and underscoring the importance of hip health.

Caffeine Perceptions And Reality In High School Gymnasts, Gabrielle Steinkopf

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

From years of observation as a high school gymnast, there is a noted “caffeine culture” among gymnasts at my high school. Since gymnastics is a precision sport with not inconsiderable danger, I wondered what impact caffeine ingestion had on athletes. Athletes were asked to give up caffeine during a series of regular season meets, with reflection questions immediately after each meet to assess the impact caffeine might have had on performance vs the gymnasts’ perception of the effects

When Faced With Persistent Crying, Will Adults Follow The Advice To Take A Break?, Lauren J. Duplessis, Remington K. Asta, Benjamin N. Witts

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Inconsolable crying in early infancy can have detrimental effects on caregiver mental health, the caregiver-infant relationship, and infant safety. Professionals often advise caregivers to walk away and take a break. This study used n-of-1 methodology to examine how frequently undergraduate students will follow this advice when tasked with calming a simulated inconsolable infant. Results are mixed, but suggest active training prior to the baby’s arrival might yield promising outcomes

Hip Stretching Protocol's Impact On Female Ice Hockey Players, Cienna Clark

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Women’s ice hockey participation continues to grow as do injury rates among these players. However, female ice hockey players often show different injuries than male players. This is largely due to the lack of checking in women’s hockey, which means the injuries that tend to be seen are more about overuse injuries and less catastrophic injuries. Female injuries also tend to be more in their hips, which begs the question: what would happen if hips were stretched on a regular basis? Would these injuries subside, or at least improve?

Empowering Women: Understanding Neurological Changes In The Aging Brain, Joy Mckenzie

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Women tend to have more neurological changes than men as they age starting in their mid-30s (Mosconi, 2024). While aging is a natural process, the neurological changes can impact a woman’s personal and professional quality of life (Faubion et al., 2023; Gravini, 2023). For years, women’s neurological symptoms have been ignored by being told that their experiences are normal and just a part of life (Haver, 2025). That narrative is starting to shift with the increased awareness of changes specific to women. There are resources to assess cognitive changes such as memory, processing speed, and word finding and strategies to …

Unearthing Misconceptions And Opinions In An Established Pollinator Project, Stella Holstrom

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

The Sartell High School has 13 acres of pollinator fields that were cultivated within the last 3 years. While the main part of the garden has signage, it is far from the more visible parts of the gardens. Over the last three years, there has been some negative feedback about the gardens, much of which seems to come from a place of ignorance by the public. A literature review about pollinator project and their benefits establishes that most research has surround bees or plants, but not usually both or the public reaction to pollinator gardens. My hypothesis was that most …

Perceptual And Marketing Study Of Personal Water Conservation In A Health-Conscious Environment, Alan D. Smith

Atlantic Marketing Association Proceedings

No abstract provided.

Patterns And Drivers Of Cladocera Community Structure In The Black Sea, Elena Bisinicu, Luminita Lazar

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cladoceran community dynamics were examined in the Romanian sector of the Black Sea during the warm seasons of 2013– 2020, using Marine Reporting  Units (MRUs) to evaluate spatial heterogeneity across transitional, coastal, and  marine waters. Analyses of density, biomass, mean individual biomass (MIB), and  species composition revealed interannual fluctuations superimposed on strong  nearshore–offshore gradients, with higher values in transitional and coastal MRUs.  The assemblage was consistently dominated by Pleopis polyphemoides and Penilia  avirostris, which together accounted for most of the total abundance and biomass.  Multivariate analysis identified significant differences in taxonomic composition  across MRUs and years, while correlation analyses highlighted …

Endemism Patterns Of Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) In Türkiye, İsmai̇l Şen, Ali̇ Gök

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In this study, the distribution of endemic leaf beetles in Türkiye was analyzed  holistically at the provincial scale using species richness (ENR), corrected weighted  endemism (CWE), and range-restricted endemism (RRE) indices. A total of 95  endemic taxa were found in Türkiye and these taxa exhibited significant spatial  heterogeneity in terms of richness and extent of distribution. The Western and  Central Taurus Mountains and the Eastern Black Sea Region were found to be the  main centers of endemism, with high densities of narrowly distributed and  geographically restricted species. These patterns clearly demonstrate that key  biogeographic factors, such as steep elevation gradients, …

Dynamics Of Ant Activity Under Extreme Climatic Changes In 2024: Effects Of Temperature  And Humidity On Formica Rufa And Lasius Fuliginosus Behavior, Stanislav Stukalyuk, Mykola Kozyr, Vira Balabukh

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Global warming and extreme heatwaves, which can alter species distribution and ecosystem dynamics, have profound effects on forest ants. T‍his study investigated the impact of summer and autumn 2024 heatwaves on the activity, prey transport, and nest-building of Formica rufa Linnaeus, 1761 and Lasius fuliginosus (Latreille, 1798) in deciduous forests of Kyiv, Ukraine. Fieldwork was conducted from June to September 2024 in Holosiyivo Forest and the Feofaniya tract. Ant colonies were assigned to experimental plots, where logs were placed along foraging trails, or to control plots with unmanipulated ground-floor trails. The study included 10 F. rufa anthills for activity monitoring …

The Effect Of Spatial Scale Of Habitat On Abundance Of Roe Deer (Capreolus Pygargus) And Water Deer (Hydropotes Inermis Argyropus) During Summer In South Korea, Naeyoung Kim, Hyejin Kim, Hyoun-Gi Cha, Hyun-Su Hwang

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Understanding species-specific habitat preferences provides essential ecological  information about interactions among habitat components. In South Korea, roe deer  (Capreolus pygargus) and water deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus) are the  dominant large herbivorous mammals of the family Cervidae. The increasing populations of these species have led to ecological and economic  challenges. Therefore, we investigated the effects of spatial scale characteristics on  the habitat preferences of roe deer and water deer. From June to August each year  between 2021 and 2023, we calculated the relative abundance index (RAI) using  camera-trap data and analyzed patch characteristics in the study area using remote  sensing techniques, …

The Impact Of Tgfβ Conditioning And Socs3 Expression On Cytokine Signal Transduction And Inflammatory Gene Expression In Fibroblasts, Morgan Anderson-Crannage

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Inflammation is a major driver in many aspects of recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) pathology, including impaired wound healing, fibrosis, and potentially cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma development. Fibroblasts, as key stromal cells in the dermis, are responsible for orchestrating inflammatory responses through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines upon stimulation with IL-1α or IL-6. Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 (SOCS3) functions as a negative feedback regulator of cytokine signaling and has emerged as a key modulator of inflammatory responses in immune cells and fibroblasts. Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFβ), a known driver of fibrosis in RDEB, has been implicated in …

The Ecotoxicological Impact Of Polystyrene On Lissachatina Fulica: A Study Of Growth,  Pedal Mucus Histological Changes, And Protein Mucus Analysis, Atin Supiyani, Wasmen Manalu, Lina Noviyanti Sutardi, Mawar Subangkit, Andriyanto Andriyanto

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Lissachatina fulica mucin can be used as a nutraceutical agent depending on the  quality of their feed. Polystyrene (PS) waste harms soil and plants consumed by  snails, potentially affecting the quality of mucin production. This study investigated  the impact of PS on growth and mucus-producing cell characteristics as well as the  network pharmacology of mucin protein components. Fifty 5–6 cm L. fulica snails  (20–24 g) were fed organic waste (OW) and organic waste with PS (OWPS). After 28  days of ad libitum access to food, the snails’ mucus, meat, and shells were  collected and weighed. Tissue samples from the anterior …

Global Health Financing Of Diagonal Interventions: Building Resilient And Sustainable Health Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa, Lucy Kim

Master in Public Policy Theses

Background: Global health financing has historically prioritized disease-specific “vertical” programs over broader “horizontal” strengthening of general health systems. Vertical programs in HIV have led to unprecedented reductions in mortality worldwide, but HIV remains a significant public health threat in sub-Saharan Africa, where vertical strategies have long been criticized for creating fragmented health systems. In response, global health strategies have shifted towards combining vertical investments with broader horizontal activities, commonly referred to as “diagonal” programming. While evidence suggests that diagonal programming has the potential to create more resilient and sustainable health systems, evaluating its value for money is challenging due to …

Preserving The Harvest: How To Preserve Chokecherries, Callahan K. Adams, Andrea Schmutz

All Current Publications

A treasured wild fruit in Utah and across the Intermountain West, chokecherries offer both cultural heritage and culinary versatility. With proper handling and research-tested preservation methods, you can safely transform them into delicious jellies, syrups, and more. Whether using a steam juicer or stovetop method, following tested recipes and adjusting for elevation ensures both safety and quality. This fact sheet provides information and recipes to safely preserve chokecherries.

Assessment Of The Bioremediation Potentials Of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacterial Strains Recovered From Spent Engine Oil-Contaminated Environments In Southwest Nigeria, Nafisa Mohammed Babayola, Nasiru Bright Lecky, Chinweizu Obioma Onumaegbu, Olufunmiso Olusola Olajuyigbe, Martins Ajibade Adefisoye

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Environmental pollution from hydrocarbons and their derivatives is predominantly of anthropogenic origin, occurring mainly during mining, transportation, and storage. This often in an annual release of substantial amounts of pollutants into the environment. The effective restoration of petroleum-contaminated environments requires a series of interventions to remediate soil to its natural state. This study aimed to isolate and characterize biosurfactant-producing bacterial strains with potential bioremediation capabilities to assess the potential application for remediating soils polluted with spent engine oil in the Remo district, Ogun State. Bacterial isolates were recovered from soil samples collected from spent engine oil contaminated sites, using standard …

Cyanogenesis Variation In White Clover Is Decoupled From Regional Climate And Human Footprint Across A Longitudinal Gradient, Philips O. Akinwole, Yangjie Tan, Victor L. Alfonso

Biology Faculty publications

Latitudinal clines in adaptive traits are well documented, yet how such patterns translate across longitudinal gradients, where climatic variation is reduced, remains poorly understood. We investigated spatial variation in hydrogen cyanide (HCN) - a well-characterized anti-herbivore defense polymorphism governed by two independently segregating loci (Ac and Li), in white clover (Trifolium repens) across nine Midwestern U.S. cities. A total of 269 populations (4,035 individuals) were sampled along urban-rural transects, and cyanotype (cyanogenesis phenotypes) frequencies were quantified alongside regional and site-level environmental variables, including vegetation cover (NDVI), land surface temperature (LST), snow cover, impervious surface intensity, aridity, …