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Novel Biomarker Discovery In Multiple Sclerosis, Manisha Gangasani May 2026

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. …

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Developing A Protocol For Non-Cellular Transplantation Of Donor Mitochondria Into Recipient Cells, Andrew Parton May 2026

Developing A Protocol For Non-Cellular Transplantation Of Donor Mitochondria Into Recipient Cells, Andrew Parton

Honors Theses

Tumor innervation has emerged as a critical feature of cancer progression, with increased nerve density correlating with enhanced aggressiveness, metastatic dissemination, and poor clinical outcome. However, the functional contribution of neurons to tumor biology remains incompletely defined. We recently identified the intercellular transfer of mitochondria from neurons to cancer cells as a mechanism that promotes tumor progression. We therefore hypothesized that disruption of this transfer could attenuate tumor aggressivity. To directly investigate this process, we developed an approach to isolate mitochondria from donor cells and transplant them into recipient cancer cells independently of canonical cell-cell interactions. Transferred mitochondria were tracked …

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Fingernail Enhancement Microbiomes Study, Kendall E. Bare May 2026

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. …

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Understanding Tlr3 Immune Response Activation In Cryptosporidium Parvum And Cryspovirus Pathogenesis, Surayya Hudayberganova May 2026

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 …

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Revised - The Role Of Gad67/65 In The Therapeutic Effects Of Ketamine And Fluoxetine In Fear-Conditioned Mice, Alex G. Ottimer May 2026

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 …

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Recruitment Of Chrysaora Chesapeakei On Floating Docks Versus Bulkhead Surfaces: Which Axis Is Foulset?, Alyssa Lamberto May 2026

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 …

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Precursor Rna Properties Driving Cryptic 3’ Splice Site Selection In Sf3b1 Mutant Malignancies, Austin A. Herbert May 2026

Precursor Rna Properties Driving Cryptic 3’ Splice Site Selection In Sf3b1 Mutant Malignancies, Austin A. Herbert

All Dissertations

SF3B1 is a core component of the spliceosome involved in branch point recognition and 3’ splice site selection. SF3B1 is commonly mutated in myelodysplastic syndromes and other blood cancers with the K700E mutation being the most frequent. This mutation of SF3B1 induces cryptic 3’ splice site activation in hundreds of genes. Introduction of such cryptic 3’ splice sites can shift the reading frame of protein coding transcripts, causing the transcript to be tagged for nonsense-mediated decay or resulting in the production of a truncated protein. Both these scenarios can lead to down-regulated protein expression. Sequence and structural properties of precursor …

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Individual Recognition: Do Horned Passalus, Odontotaenius Disjunctus, Display Individual Discrimination Of Familiar And Unfamiliar Conspecifics Through Changes In Their Behavior?, Sabrina Galloza May 2026

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 …

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Antimicrobial Activity Of Sulbactam-Durlobactam Against Acinetobacter Baumannii-Calcoaceticus Complex Strains Causing Non-Respiratory And Non-Bloodstream Infections From The United States (2023–2025), Erik Munson May 2026

Antimicrobial Activity Of Sulbactam-Durlobactam Against Acinetobacter Baumannii-Calcoaceticus Complex Strains Causing Non-Respiratory And Non-Bloodstream Infections From The United States (2023–2025), Erik Munson

Clinical Lab Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Acinetobacter baumannii most often causes pneumonia in critically ill patients. However, A. baumannii is also an important cause of a broader range of infections, including skin/wound and urinary tract infections. This study aims to evaluate the in vitro activity of sulbactam-durlobactam and comparator antibiotics, including meropenem and cefiderocol against A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates from non-respiratory and non-bloodstream sources. Samples included 285 A. baumannii-calcoaceticus complex isolates enriched for carbapenem resistance collected across 17 states in the United States (January 2023–May 2025). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted by manual broth microdilution and interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and …

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College Of Natural Sciences Spring Newsletter, College Of Natural Sciences May 2026

College Of Natural Sciences Spring Newsletter, College Of Natural Sciences

College of Natural Sciences Newsletters and Reports

[Page 1] Dean's Message
[Page] 2 Awards & Recognitions // Student Spotlights
[Page] 3 Zhang Named to Landsat Science Team // The Power of Teaching
[Page] 4 “Science as Art” Competition Welcomes High School Artists
[Page] 5 Testing for “Forever Chemicals” in Surface Water // New Faculty Spotlight
[Page] 6 Ambassador Initiated Outreach
[Page] 7 57th Annual Geography Convention
[Page] 8 Twice the Impact on On Call with the Prairie Doc
[Page] 9 Making Staple Foods Healthier // Halaweish & Cole-Dai Retire
[Page] 10 Drone Day 2026
[Page] 11 Student Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Day (SRSCAD)
[Page] 12 Ceremony …

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Morphological Variation Of Lingual Glands In Wild American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) Populations, Benjamin Angalet May 2026

Morphological Variation Of Lingual Glands In Wild American Alligator (Alligator Mississippiensis) Populations, Benjamin Angalet

Master's Theses

American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabit diverse aquatic ecosystems including freshwater wetlands, swamps, and estuarine rivers. As apex predators, their physiological resilience has implications for ecosystem stability and long-term conservation. With projected sea-level rise and increasing saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwater habitats, understanding the osmoregulatory capacity of alligators is increasingly important. Unlike marine-tolerant crocodilians such as the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus), which possess specialized salt-secreting lingual glands in addition to renal and cloacal mechanisms, the morphology and physiological significance of lingual glands in wild American alligators remain poorly understood. This study examined lingual gland morphology and plasma …

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Discerning Patterns Of Floral Sugar-Feeding: Dynamics Of The Mosquito Culex Antillummagnorum In Puerto Rico, Ella J. Branham May 2026

Discerning Patterns Of Floral Sugar-Feeding: Dynamics Of The Mosquito Culex Antillummagnorum In Puerto Rico, Ella J. Branham

Master's Theses

Mosquitoes rely on sugar feeding for survival, primarily from flowering plants, yet mosquito–plant interactions remain understudied. I examined plant-feeding associations of the mosquito Culex antillummagnorum in the Luquillo Experimental Forest of Puerto Rico, which may clarify patterns of habitat use, disease dynamics, and broader species interactions. First, plant DNA was extracted from field-collected Cx. antillummagnorum to identify potential nectar sources. DNA barcoding produced positive matches to the flowering plant genera Billia, Aesculus, Cladium, Fimbristylis, Xyris, Cakile, and Habenaria. Habenaria was the most compelling result because it belongs to the same subtribe of orchids …

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Redeveloping Mississippi: A Case Study On Brownfields In Central & Southern Mississippi, Sahrah R. Yeroozedek May 2026

Redeveloping Mississippi: A Case Study On Brownfields In Central & Southern Mississippi, Sahrah R. Yeroozedek

Master's Theses

Brownfields, or properties that are or possibly are contaminated with dangerous materials, represent a common obstacle for communities in Mississippi. The real or potential presence of contaminants at these sites often deters investors due to costly cleanup requirements (EPA, n.d. -b). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Brownfield Revitalization Program, implemented guidelines for covering the costs and labor associated with the remediation of these properties. The EPA is not, however, responsible for redevelopment that supports long-term environmental and economic sustainability. Although the EPA maintains inventories of all Brownfields, there is also no comprehensive database of Brownfields and their current …

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Creatures Of Habit? Impact Of Chick Feeder Tray Location On Feed Consumption At 0-7 Days Of Age, Emily Kate Green May 2026

Creatures Of Habit? Impact Of Chick Feeder Tray Location On Feed Consumption At 0-7 Days Of Age, Emily Kate Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Early chick nutrition is critical for establishing target growth performance characteristics in broiler chickens. This study evaluated factors within commercial broiler houses that potentially influence feed consumption during the first 7 days. Three trials were conducted in a 12.2 x 122 m commercial broiler house to assess the effects of house sectioning, spatial barriers, and feedline location. In Trial 1, a one-way experimental design was used in which the house was divided into four equal sections using migration fencing every 30.5 m. House sections served as a fixed factor. Feed was provided using chick trays placed beneath the feed line …

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Exploring The Spectrum Of Anxiety During Concussion Recovery: A Comprehensive Examination Of Symptom-Based Anxiety Disorders, Kori J. Durfee May 2026

Exploring The Spectrum Of Anxiety During Concussion Recovery: A Comprehensive Examination Of Symptom-Based Anxiety Disorders, Kori J. Durfee

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: Anxiety is common following a concussion, arising from both psychosocial and physiological changes, and can manifest in diverse ways. Despite its complexity and association with worse outcomes, post-concussion anxiety is often assessed as a single construct. Characterizing anxiety presentations following injury may improve the identification of clinically meaningful symptoms and help inform future targeted interventions that can improve concussion outcomes. Purpose: The primary purpose was to determine if symptom-based anxiety disorders occur in adults with concussion and identify pre- and post-injury predictors associated with these disorders. Additionally, the clinical utility and predictive abilities of symptom-based anxiety disorders and variability …

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Searching Harder For The Darter: Evaluating Endangered Yellowcheek Darter (Nothonotus Moorei) Status And Drought Responses, Kearstin Findley May 2026

Searching Harder For The Darter: Evaluating Endangered Yellowcheek Darter (Nothonotus Moorei) Status And Drought Responses, Kearstin Findley

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Freshwater ecosystems are one of the most imperiled habitats across the world with biodiversity declining rapidly. There are many stressors contributing to freshwater species declines including habitat loss and degradation, land-use changes, anthropogenic water demands, changes in precipitation and weather extremes, and pollution. Current environmental projections predict that these stressors will continue to impact freshwater ecosystems to greater extents moving forward. Stream drying from drought conditions increasing in intensity and frequency is especially concerning in northern Arkansas where seasonal drought is typical in the summer and fall months. With increased drying conditions, the elimination of shallow-water riffle habitats in streams …

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Mechanisms Of Bacterial Glucokinase Inactivation Through Site-Specific Lysine Modification And Chemical Inhibition, Joseph Robert Will Andrews May 2026

Mechanisms Of Bacterial Glucokinase Inactivation Through Site-Specific Lysine Modification And Chemical Inhibition, Joseph Robert Will Andrews

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Glycolysis and related metabolic pathways are controlled by various post-translational modifications (PTMs) that affect enzyme activity and metabolic flow. In E. coli, glucokinase (GLK) sits at the crossroads of glycolysis and the pentose phosphate pathway and carries out the first committed step of glycolysis: ATP-dependent phosphorylation of glucose. While it's known that glucose binding causes GLK to close its domains, how phosphate binding, lysine modification, and small-molecule inhibitors regulate GLK's shape and function is still not fully understood. Here, I combine structural biochemistry and enzymology to figure out how phosphate binding, specific mutations, and chemical inhibitors affect E. coli GLK. …

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Evaluation Of The Weed Control Efficacy And Potential Economic Returns Of An Autonomous Weeder In Vegetable Production Systems, Claire Plassmeyer May 2026

Evaluation Of The Weed Control Efficacy And Potential Economic Returns Of An Autonomous Weeder In Vegetable Production Systems, Claire Plassmeyer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vegetable production requires intensive weed management. Conventional producers rely on herbicide applications to manage weeds effectively at low costs; however, growers are under pressure to minimize chemical use due to environmental concerns and increased incidences of herbicide resistance. Non-conventional systems, including organic and sustainably focused small-scale production, rely primarily on cultural practices and physical weed control methods, which are labor-intensive and costly due to limited labor availability and rising wages. These concerns have prompted the development of autonomous weeding devices, such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) equipped with navigation sensors and implements to provide repeated, high-precision weed control. Compact devices …

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Sensing Rna’S Conformation With A Solid-State Nanopore Device At Various Ph And Temperature, Haopeng Li May 2026

Sensing Rna’S Conformation With A Solid-State Nanopore Device At Various Ph And Temperature, Haopeng Li

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study uses solid-state nanopore technology to investigate the stability and dynamics of RNA molecules under thermal stress and pH fluctuations. Two distinct mRNA samples were analyzed: (1) heat shock protein (HSP)-encoding mRNA extracted from Sulfolobus solfataricus P2, a thermophilic archaeon inhabiting extreme environments such as geothermal sulfuric hot springs (pH < 4, temperature range: 65–90°C), and (2) total RNA extracted from White Leghorn chickens, which thrive under standard physiological conditions. ΦX174 virion single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) were included as a comparative reference. Nanopores, fabricated in silicon nitride membranes, were used to electrically characterize the structural properties of individual RNA molecules in solution, close to their native environments. The nanopore membrane separates two chambers containing salt buffer solution, where ionic current is the primary measurement parameter. When a voltage bias is applied across the membrane, ion flow and an ionic current can be measured. Charged RNA molecules driven translocation through the nanopore induces pore resistance changes, resulting in detectable current blockade events. Variations in these events provide insights into RNA secondary structure and conformational dynamics. By systematically altering pH and temperature, this study elucidates the effects of environmental stressors on RNA stability and structural integrity. The findings reveal distinct responses between thermophilic HSP-encoding mRNA and mesophilic RNA, underscoring the adaptive mechanisms of thermophilic RNA under extreme conditions. These results contribute to a better understanding of RNA behavior under stress and establish a foundation for future applications in RNA-based diagnostics and biotechnology development.

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Consumer Perceptions Of Fda Front-Of-Package Nutrition Labeling, Madison Price May 2026

Consumer Perceptions Of Fda Front-Of-Package Nutrition Labeling, Madison Price

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a front-of-package nutrition labeling (FOPL) rule in early 2025 to help consumers more quickly and easily compare the nutritional quality of packaged foods (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025). FOPL is gaining attention as a way to encourage healthier eating habits and consumer choices, but there is still debate over which label format works best. The objective of this study was to examine consumer perceptions, understanding, and trust of FDA FOPL, and to determine how these labels impact purchasing behavior and nutritional decision-making. Data were collected via an online Qualtrics survey distributed …

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Dissecting The Complex Genomic Landscape Underlying Oxidative Stress Resistance Using Natural Variation In Yeast, Sonali Lakshika Anne Lenaduwe May 2026

Dissecting The Complex Genomic Landscape Underlying Oxidative Stress Resistance Using Natural Variation In Yeast, Sonali Lakshika Anne Lenaduwe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stress is experienced across the tree of life. Survival in fluctuating environments depends on a robust genetic architecture. This dissertation examines the genetic and metabolic determinants underlying one such adaptive response: cross-protection. Leveraging natural variation in the stress responses of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I examine the genetic variation contributing to ethanol-induced cross-protection against oxidative stress. Acquired stress resistance, in which mild pre-exposure improves survival to subsequent stresses, is prevalent across diverse organisms and can involve both same-stress and cross-protection. Using high-throughput bulk segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and advanced intercross mapping populations derived from natural yeast isolates, I identify quantitative trait …

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Conservation Wins And Woes: A Meta-Synthesis Of Ecotourism Impacts On Primates And Local Communities, Madison Lanie Mckinniss May 2026

Conservation Wins And Woes: A Meta-Synthesis Of Ecotourism Impacts On Primates And Local Communities, Madison Lanie Mckinniss

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Biodiversity assessments identify 612 extant species of primate, but ~50% of these species are at risk of extinction. Threats include agricultural and industrial production, urban development, and poaching. As concerns have grown regarding impacts on the environment, researchers have proposed ecotourism as a tool for conserving ecosystems while improving human welfare. Although conservation initiatives are pursued at these ecotourist sites, the presence of humans can cause additional influences on non-human primates (NHP). Primatologists have posed questions regarding implications of ecotourism on NHP, but research remains scarce. This study will investigate the practices executed at ecotourist sites where endemic NHPs reside. …

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Are Sticky Prices Present In Us Ag Land Lease Rates, John Tyler Blazzard May 2026

Are Sticky Prices Present In Us Ag Land Lease Rates, John Tyler Blazzard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Land is an essential resource in production agriculture. Limited supply and high demand for land have resulted in increasing land values which are a barrier to entry for beginning farmers and ranchers with limited access to capital and credit. One way to overcome the high costs of purchasing land is to lease it. While more affordable than purchasing land, cash rents are also increasing. The objective of this research is to determine whether agricultural cash rents follow farm income symmetrically over time. This is accomplished by implementing Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions with two-way fixed effects which account for rental …

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Applying Motivational Interviewing-Based Health Coaching Within An Existing Exercise Referral Program: A Cost, Implementation, And Effectiveness Analysis, Zachary Joseph Friedman May 2026

Applying Motivational Interviewing-Based Health Coaching Within An Existing Exercise Referral Program: A Cost, Implementation, And Effectiveness Analysis, Zachary Joseph Friedman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Higher levels of physical activity (PA) are known to be associated with lower rates of chronic disease and better quality of living. However, population-wide deficits in PA continue to demand strategies for supporting PA-related behavior change. Health coaching represents a promising intervention strategy for behavior change, but its effectiveness in generally healthy, non-clinical populations is not clear. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and effectiveness of integrating student-delivered, motivational interviewing (MI)-based health coaching into an existing university-based exercise referral program (ERP). Additionally, this study aimed to use students as health coaches, and to document training …

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Validation Of Rice Tissue Sampling For In-Season Nutrient Management Of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium, Tanner Smith May 2026

Validation Of Rice Tissue Sampling For In-Season Nutrient Management Of Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium, Tanner Smith

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the 3 most important nutrients involved in rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and development. Tissue sampling has been proven to be a potential tool to provide inseason information about plant nutrient concentrations at specified timings and growth stages. With increased interest in tissue sampling and improving nutrient management effectiveness, more information is needed to validate plant tissue concentrations at which additional fertilizer inputs may be warranted. Experiments were conducted in 2024 and 2025 at the Rice Research and Extension Center (RREC) near Stuttgart, Ark.; Pine Tree Research Station (PTRS) near Colt, Ark.; …

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Assessing The Potential Of Taming Chicken Gut Commensal Bacteria Using Random Transposon Mutagenesis, Arjun Chapagain May 2026

Assessing The Potential Of Taming Chicken Gut Commensal Bacteria Using Random Transposon Mutagenesis, Arjun Chapagain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The chicken gut microbiome comprises hundreds of bacterial species whose functional roles remain largely unknown, in part because the tools needed to experimentally manipulate these organisms in their native community context have not been systematically developed or validated. This dissertation addresses the gap through three connected research chapters that progressively build a framework for transposon-based genetic delivery in the chicken cecal microbiome, moving from community-wide accessibility mapping to vector optimization to library preparation refinement. In Chapter 2, we established the community-level insertion landscape in chicken cecal metagenome using Himar transposon delivery via RP4 conjugation and aligned Tn-seq reads to a …

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Preliminary Vascular Plant Checklist Of The City Of Chattanooga, Matthew J. Scott May 2026

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 …

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Domain-Specific Concussion Knowledge And Reporting In United States Major League Rugby Players, Julie Stamm, Katherine Hunzinger, Owen Sheehy, Christine Baugh May 2026

Domain-Specific Concussion Knowledge And Reporting In United States Major League Rugby Players, Julie Stamm, Katherine Hunzinger, Owen Sheehy, Christine Baugh

Department of Exercise Science Faculty Papers

Previous research indicates high concussion knowledge is not associated with better concussion reporting, with research examining the relationship between reporting and global concussion knowledge. Concussion knowledge has not yet been investigated in United States Major League Rugby (MLR) players. This study evaluated domain-specific concussion knowledge, concussion history, and reporting behaviors among active MLR players. In a cross-sectional design, 207 MLR athletes (age 26.6 ± 3.4 years) completed a survey assessing concussion history, knowledge, and nondisclosure reasons. While in the MLR, 24% reported an undisclosed concussion, with nondisclosure reasons related to a lack of concussion knowledge, a desire to continue playing, …

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Contrasting Roles Of Downed Wood And Leaf Litter In Structuring Aphaenogaster Ants And Other Forest-Floor Arthropod Communities, Danielle E. Dolan May 2026

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 …

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Differential Salinity Tolerance And Compositional Shift In Zooplankton Communities From Coastal And Inland Wetlands, Marisa Contreras May 2026

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 …

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