Digital Commons Network^™

Describing Soil Water Dynamics In A Kenyan Essential Oil Tree Orchard: Analyzing A Year Of Data To Diagnose Water Management Difficulties, Sarah C. Campbell, Katherine A. Anselmi, Bryan G. Hopkins, Jacob Katuva, Neil C. Hansen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

In recent years, the demand for essential oils has increased as many people have begun to prefer more natural and organic remedies. Essential oil production provides unique potential income opportunities for small-holder farmers in the developing world. One type of oil is a tree crop called Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) where oil is extracted from flowers harvested from trees daily. A Ylang-ylang orchard in Kenya has been experiencing water management challenges during both rainy and dry seasons.

Derivation And Validation Of Age-Associated Prognostic Gene Signatures Across Breast Cancer Subtypes, John Speers, Adrienne Parsons, Elizabeth Feliciano, Sandra Mcallister, Lindsey Hale

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Relatively little research has been done investigating the effects of linear age on breast-cancer specific mortality . The development of age-associated gene signatures may reveal interesting gene-set patterns with therapeautic potential. We hypothesize that the separation of patients into age categories will yield more predictive gene-signatures than an age-agnostic approach.

Colorful Proteins: Engineering A Palette Of Novel Chromoprotein Variants, Blake Olson, Anna Bowman, Kyler Fullmer, Joel Griffitts

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

2nd Place - Poster Design

• Chromoproteins (CP) are naturally occurring proteins originating from corals or other marine invertebrates that exhibit colors determined by their chromophore region.1
• CPs have applications as biosensors, teaching tools, and agar art; therefore, there is a need for a wide variety of CPs.2
• Hypothesis: Editing amino acid residues around the chromophore will change the chromophore’s conformation, leading to a change in color.

Collegiate Basketball Athletes' Achilles Tendon Echogenicity Decreases Over A Season With No Difference In Size, Colton Glissmeyer, Malorie Wilwand, Camille Nguyen, Michael Davie, A. Wayne Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

3rd Place - Open House Presentation

• The Achilles tendon (AT) enables movements essential to athletes.
• Early AT injury indicators include increased cross-sectional area (CSA), thickening, and decreased echogenicity.
• This study investigated the change in AT CSA, thickness, and echogenicity in collegiate basketball athletes across one season.

Cholesterol‑Containing Membranes Decrease The Helicity Of The Snare Protein Snap‑25, Christopher E. Hunt Jr., Jason T. Carlson, Michael B. Connell, Fatima D. Dagohoy, Mike Sumison, Jonathan Madsen, Chase M. Tingen, Azer E. White, Tanner M. Blocker, Dixon J. Woodbury

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Neurotransmitter release in neurons requires membrane fusion between synaptic vesicles and the presynaptic membrane. Lipids in both membranes merge through the action of SNARE proteins including SNAP-25. Changes in SNAP-25 structure or lipid composition likely modify this process. SNAP-25 has two isoforms, SNAP-25A (25A) and SNAP-25B (25B), the expression patterns of these isoforms vary throughout different brain regions and neuronal developmental stages. In vivo SNAP-25 anchors to the presynaptic membrane via attachment of palmitic acid to at least one of the four cysteines. Here we show mixing SNAP-25 (not palmitoylated) with liposomes alters both protein structure and lipid properties. Using …

C-Fms Expresses In Early Progenitor Cells & Myeloid-Lineage Leukocytes Based On Analyzing Lineage Markers And Mapping On Ly6c X Cd31 Plots In Bone Marrow, Jane Lundgren, Kelly Amsden, Evan Boesl, Victoria Hall, Emily Shakespear, Pam Van Ry, Sandra Hope

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

The Mafia mouse model expresses the green fluorescent protein (GFP) in cells that utilize the macrophage-specific c-fms promoter. The c-fms promoter controls expression of receptor for Colony Stimulating Factor 1. We hypothesize that this promotor may be utilized in bone marrow progenitor cells in addition to the mature cell expression already known in macrophage lineage cells. For this study, bone marrow cells were analyzed by flow cytometry for the expression of c-fms, early progenitor markers, and lineage-specific markers. Expression was also mapped on a Ly6CxCD31 plot, which has been used to distinguish cells based on developmental stage and lineage. This …

Cd6-Knockout Car-T Cells Display Enhanced Cytotoxicity Against Lymphoma Cell Line, Annie Larson, Alka Gaur, Nate Neyman, Collin Mickelson, K. Scott Weber

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are genetically engineered T cells that target surface antigens on cancer cells, showing remarkable effectiveness in treating blood cancers [1]. However, CAR-T cells are currently not effective in treating solid tumors, as the tumor microenvironment poses physical and metabolic barriers to effective CAR-T cell function. A notable strategy for increasing CAR-T cell cytotoxicity in a tumor microenvironment is knocking out or overexpressing some genes of the T cell.

Reducing The Cost Of Muscle Volume Research, Jacob Green, Josh Vandenakker, Malorie Wilwand, Micahel Davie, Steven D. Arnold, A. Wayne Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Honorable Mention - Open House Presentation

PROBLEM: Current MRI segmentation options consist of manual segmentation, requiring up to 6 hours per subject, or using segmentation companies that charge about 400$ per MRI.

Role Of Wadsley Defects And Cation Disorder To Enhance Monb12O33 Diffusion, Cj Sturgill, Manish Kumar, Nima Karimitari, Iva Millisavljevic, Coby S. Collins, Aaron Hegler, Hsin-Yun Joy Chao, Santosh Kiran Balijepalli, Scott T. Misture, Christopher Sutton, Morgan Stefik

Faculty Publications

Wadsley-Roth (WR) niobates have emerged as high-rate anode materials that can combine rapid ionic diffusion with good electronic conductivity. WR compounds have been defect-enhanced by limited annealing, however, such materials often contain multiple types of defects. In particular, both Wadsley defects (variable block size) and transition metal disorder have the potential to modify transport rates, however the corresponding effects are not well understood mechanistically. Here, MoNb12O33 (MNO) was calcined at two different temperatures to compare a defect-rich condition (MNO-800) with a proximal order-rich condition (MNO-900) as assessed through XRD, XANES, EXAFS, and STEM characterizations. Galvanostatically cycled lithium half cells of …

Genome Wide Association Study (Gwas) On Different Economic Traits And Epigenetic Stability Of Sweetpotato In Louisiana, Ajay Dhungana

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] is a globally important food, feed, and industrial crop, yet its improvement is constrained by a complex hexaploid genome, clonal propagation, and susceptibility to multiple diseases. In Louisiana, production is threatened primarily by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. batatas (Fusarium wilt) and Ceratocystis fimbriata (Black rot). Furthermore, the in vitro propagation methods essential for disease-free planting material and germplasm conservation can introduce epigenetic instability that undermines clonal fidelity. This dissertation integrates genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genotype by environment interaction (GEI) and DNA methylation profiling to dissect resistance mechanisms and assess epigenetic stability in Louisiana sweetpotato …

Effects Of Forest Management And Land Use Change On Soil Carbon In The Us Gulf Coastal Plain, Lucas E. Nave, Kendall Delyser, Grant M. Domke, Scott M. Holub, Adrienne B. Keller, Darren Miller, Kevin A. Solarik, Erik Schilling, Jason Vogel, Christopher W. Swanston

Michigan Tech Publications

The US Gulf Coastal Plain is a region of diverse forests and management systems and dynamic land use changes. These drivers affect carbon (C) stocks at ecosystem to regional scales, in turn affecting processes such as forest regeneration, hydrologic and biogeochemical cycling, and social and economic systems. We quantified land use change and forest management effects on C stocks in the Gulf Coastal Plain, focusing on soils, using two complementary approaches: meta-analysis of published literature and analysis of forest inventory data. Land use change had larger effects than forest management on soil C stocks at all scales. The direction and …

Monitoring Relapse In Post-Transplant Acute Myeloid Leukemia Requires Integrated Assessment, With Flow Cytometry Showing The Highest Efficacy, Wei J Wang, Sa A Wang, Hong Fang, Qing Wei, Shimin Hu, Sanam Loghavi, Gheath Al-Atrash, Chenxuan Zang, Peng Wei, Jeffrey L Medeiros, Wei Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Creative Ways To Store Seeds, Aurora Hughes Villa, Kaitlin U. Campbell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Seed saving, the practice of collecting and preserving seeds from plants (e.g., vegetables, herbs, and flowers), allows them to be planted in future seasons. It’s commonly used by home gardeners, farmers, and seed stewards. This fact sheet provides information on seed storage, cultural and historical connections, seed rematriation, creative ways to store seeds, and creative uses for seeds. Many resources are included.

Curriculum For A Two Semester Calculus Course Specializing In Life Science And Data Science, Patrick Mcclain

LSU Master's Theses

Traditionally, introductory calculus has been designed for engineering and physics students, often leaving students majoring in data science or life sciences with a curriculum that lacks professional relevance and is overly reliant on problems that focus on computational fluency. This thesis proposes a two-semester sequence, called MATH 153X and MATH 154X, specifically tailored for the Louisiana State University (LSU) Dual Enrollment program and university-level data science and life sciences majors. By integrating modern computational tools—such as symbolic calculators and artificial intelligence (AI) tools—the proposed curriculum shifts the pedagogical focus from procedural symbolic manipulation toward conceptual literacy.

Through a series …

Comparison Of Sampling Methods For Estimation Of Aquatic Insect Diversity And Abundance Across Seasonal Gradients In A Southern U.S. River System, Albert Henry Gasperecz

LSU Master's Theses

Determination of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage composition plays a vital role in assessment and management of lotic systems throughout the U.S. However, the validity of biomonitoring programs depends on accurate and precise measures of macroinvertebrate abundance, which in turn are dependent on sampling gears and protocols. The goal of this project was to assess how gear selection influences estimates of aquatic insect abundance and diversity, and how this selection can affect biological monitoring practices. I used 4 different gears in 3 southern Mississippi streams to aquatically and terrestrially collect aquatic insects seasonally throughout 2024. I identified and recorded all genera present …

Utah Altitude Adjustments For Home Canning, Margie Memmott, Ariel Petersen, Callahan Adams, Andrea Schmutz

All Current Publications

Knowing your altitude is critical for canning. Safe home food preservation depends on adjusting processing times and pressures for altitude. This fact sheet provides a county-by-county and town-by-town listing of elevations across Utah, paired with the boiling-water and pressure canner adjustments recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Center for Home Food Preservation. By referencing this resource, Extension educators, food preservation instructors, and home canners can quickly identify the correct processing adjustment for their location.

Sprinkler Package Runoff Risk Tool For Center Pivot Irrigation Systems, Will Bowers

Spring Runoff Conference

Center pivots in Utah 

• 403,524 acres = 67% of sprinkler irrigated fields in the open in Utah 
• Considered one of the most effective sprinkler systems available with technological advancements over the years

Evaluating Alternative Water Conservation Scenarios For Alfalfa In The Great Salt Lake Basin Using Integrated Climate Model Projections, Saddy Pineda-Castellanos, Masoumeh Hashemi

Spring Runoff Conference

Elevation of Great Salt Lake North and South Arms (1903-2026)

An Estimation Of Crop Evapotranspiration Using Soil Water Balance In Vineyards, Tarique Aziz, Burdette Barker, Michael Caron, Michael Pace

Spring Runoff Conference

Breakout Session presentation given at the 2026 Spring Runoff Conference

Immersive Modeling To Generate Holistic Strategies To Get More Water To Great Salt Lake, Hadia Akbar

Spring Runoff Conference

How to get more water to GSL?

Must Address

• Complex water rights
• Competing water needs
• Historical legacies
• Variable and arid hydrology
• Infrastructure limitations and opportunities
• Lack of trust

What Makes Smart Irrigation Work? Lessons From Producers In The Upper Colorado River Basin, Tejinder Singh, Matt Yost, Elisa Flint, Burdette Barker, Jessica Ulrich-Schad, Silas Ekadu

Spring Runoff Conference

Colorado River Basin Water Crisis

• Water allocations in the Colorado River Basin were set during wetter periods and now exceed current river flows, creating a gap between water supply (12.5 maf yr^-1) and demand (15 maf yr^-1).
• River flow has declined 19% since 2000.

Making Water Visible: Neutral, Verification-First Infrastructure For Basin-Scale Water Accountability, Eric Mcculley

Spring Runoff Conference

Every Tool Tells You What the Lake Level WAS.

None Tell You What It WILL BE.

• Current monitoring is retrospective — USGS gauges and DWR reports show only historical data
• Decision lag: By the time you see the problem, it’s too late to adjust
• 2024–2025 season: GSL dropped to record lows before upstream conservation kicked in
• Agricultural users, municipalities, and GSL all compete for limited supply with imperfect information

Leasing Water For Great Salt Lake: Water Savings And Producer Impacts, Conner Harwood

Spring Runoff Conference

Great Salt Lake Water Leasing

• Utah is working to increase inflows to GSL through voluntary water leasing from agriculture
• But key information is missing:
• How much water can leases save at the field level?
• At what price should farmers be compensated?
• This project:

1. Estimates field-level consumptive water use
2. Estimates the value of water in agricultural production
3. Evaluates water savings and producer impacts across leasing strategies

Meteorological Monitoring With Real-Time Data Processing Using Uas, Htoo Poe Sar, Cal Coopmans, Sierra Young

Spring Runoff Conference

Background and Motivation 

• Agricultural water management requires information about crop water use and water consumption 
• Remote sensing methods are used to model and estimate environmental processes – but they require weather data 

Utah Prototype For Visualizing Vulnerabilities Downstream Of Dams, Courtney Flint, Michael Englert, Nicolas Holden

Spring Runoff Conference

The climate question 

• Overtopping = 1/3^rd of all dam failures (ASDSO) 
• Drought concerns and supply uncertainty motivate keeping reservoirs full 
• Overtopping likelier if extreme storm when reservoir full 
• Over much of the country the probability of the annual daily maximum rainfall > 100-year event and the preceding 30-day rainfall >10-year event are going up (Hwang & Lall 2024) 

The Reform Of Prior Appropriation And The Fate Of Great Salt Lake, Christopher L. Lant, Rocky Seeley, Beth Parker, Andrew Follett

Spring Runoff Conference

Legal Issues Raised by the Decline of Great Salt Lake

• Violations of Clean Air Act from dust threaten federal intervention
• Petition to list Wilson’s Phalarope as an endangered species

Predator-Prey Responses Of The Clamworm Alitta Succinea To Direct Interaction With Crabs And Chemical Cues, Shyann Mcclain, Gloria M. Massamba N'Siala

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Predator–prey interactions in marine benthic systems can have important indirect effects mediated through environmental signaling. Predators can reveal their presence through the release of chemical cues, influencing the activity and feeding rates of other potential prey through non-consumptive effects, which may ultimately shape energy allocation and survival in targeted populations. Along the Atlantic coast of the United States, predatory crabs overlap spatially with polychaete prey such as the clamworm Alitta succinea, creating consistent predation pressure. This study will set up the experimental system needed to examine the physiological responses of clamworms to both direct and indirect predation cues under controlled …

Seasonal Activity Pattern Of Ambrosia Beetles In Southeast Virginia, Umme H. Akter, Sajrim Chowdhury, Deborah A. Waller

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are wood-boring insects that influence forest ecosystems through fungal symbioses, rapid host colonization, and invasive species dynamics. Despite their ecological importance, seasonal activity patterns remain poorly characterized in southeastern Virginia. This study integrates field trapping and statistical modeling to examine species-specific seasonal activity across two forested sites in Norfolk, Virginia. Beetles were monitored using ethanol and essential oil-baited bottle traps alongside ethanol-soaked bolt traps. Overall abundance peaked in April, indicating strong early-season emergence. Ethanol-baited traps captured 3-7 times more beetles than essential oil traps, and negative binomial generalized linear models confirmed bait type as a significant …

Protocol For Egg Mass Preservation And Its Efficacy In The Marine Annelids Ophryotrocha Labronica, Brennan Sinclair, Gloria Massamba-N'Siala

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Accurate measurement of egg size is essential for understanding reproductive investment and developmental patterns in Ophryotrocha labronica, but standard protocols require imaging fresh eggs, limiting sample throughput. This study tested whether short‑term preservation in 4% formalin alters egg size and developed a workflow to support more efficient developmental observations. Egg masses were divided into subsamples and measured after 0, 2, and 7 days of preservation. Using a linear mixed‑effects model, we analyzed 224 eggs from 25 masses to evaluate the effect of preservation time while accounting for variation among clutches. Preservation time had no significant effect on egg size, …

Methods Of Inducing Cellular Senescence In Lung Fibroblasts, Sara Palega, Jennifer Q. Zhou, Shan Zhu, Yan Y. Sanders

Knowledge and Creativity Expo

Methods of Inducing Cellular Senescence in Lung Fibroblasts

Sara Palega¹, Jennifer Q Zhou², Shan Zhu², Yan Y Sanders²

¹VHS Biomedical Sciences PhD program, ²Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences, Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University (ODU)

Introduction: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is the most prevalent and severe of interstitial lung diseases. This chronic and progressive condition lacks treatment options and is ultimately fatal without a lung transplant. IPF arises from aberrant wound healing that leads to excessive collagen deposition, inflammation, and cystic alveolar growths which makes …