Digital Commons Network^™

Flexible Concurrent Training In Remote Settings, Christopher Bonilla

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a trainee-driven flexible concurrent training program to a traditional fixed concurrent training program over 16 weeks of remote training in recreationally trained individuals. Participants were randomized into a flexible group that selected workouts based on daily perceived readiness or a control group that followed a fixed training schedule. The primary outcome was a total fitness score derived from a three-repetition maximum deadlift, a two-minute push-up test, and a two-mile run, assessed every four weeks. A secondary analysis used multilevel modeling to examine whether self-reported sleep duration predicted perceived readiness …

The Effects Of Anti-Gdnf On The Sensory And Autonomic Nervous System In The Heart, Tryphosa Konadu

Honors Theses

Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death; about 1 in every five deaths is due to heart disease. “Heart disease” is a catch-all phrase that encompasses a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Many of these symptoms can be attributed to dysfunction within the parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory nervous systems. Neurotrophic factors like GDNF (Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor), BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor), and NGF (Nerve growth factor) promotes neuronal survival, and regeneration of the nerve fibers of the heart, especially sensory and autonomic nerve fibers. Studies have suggested that increased expression of …

Lameness In Dairy Cattle: A Practical Overview, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides an overview of lameness in dairy cattle, including what it is, why it matters, and how to recognize and manage it. Information is geared toward producers, consultants, and educators.

Catalogue Of The Water Striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) Of Mississippi, Chase G. Fry, Patricia L.S. Wooden

Midsouth Entomologist

Water striders (Hemiptera: Gerridae) are skating aquatic insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts that opportunistically feed on prey trapped by surface tension. The presence or absence of water striders and other aquatic Hemiptera in water systems may be important indicators of water quality. Despite their importance, the last aquatic Hemiptera checklist for the state was published in 1988. Since this publication, humans have altered waterways to meet their needs, and Gerridae taxonomy has continued to evolve. This study aims to create a current checklist of Gerridae, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the species found in Mississippi before aquatic habitats are …

New Paradigm Of Forestry And Grassland Research Driven By Artificial Intelligence, Zhang Huaiqing, Jiaojun Zhu, Yang Liu, Tingdong Yang, Tian Gao, Jing Zhang, Xueyan Zhu, Yan Chen, Xian Jiang, Zeyu Cui, Jingwei Tan, Kexin Lei

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Addressing the current limitations in forestry and grassland research, particularly in cross-scale system cognition, complex process mechanism representation, and multi-scenario simulation, this study proposes an artificial intelligence-driven paradigm reconstruction framework, to shift the research model from experience-oriented approaches toward data- and intelligence-driven integration. On this basis, the study systematically establishes a multidimensional mapping between artificial intelligence and forestry and grassland research across research objects, processes, and objectives, and clarifies their intrinsic coupling mechanisms and technical pathways. Furthermore, it develops a foundational capability system to support the new paradigm from four key dimensions: data, computing power, models, and applications. By examining …

Progress And Prospective Of New Pollutants Study, Ruan Ting, Chunyang Liao, Yawei Wang, Maoyong Song, Yaqi Cai, Guibin Jiang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The governance of new pollutants has been becoming a critical strategic demand for the high-quality development of China. The policy will be further advanced during the coming National 15th Five-Year Plan period. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in aspects such as list of controlled chemicals, standard development, measurement methods, alternative approaches, and remediation techniques. Existing experience in addressing traditional pollutants remains insufficient to adequately address the concealed and complex ecological and/or health risks associated with new pollutants. Thus, a strengthening of basic research is the optimal approach to tackling these challenges and avoiding detours. To better identify the critical scientific challenges …

Black Soil Organic Carbon Plays A Critical Role In Ensuring Food Security, Zhang Xingyi, Qingsong Shen, Mingming Guo, Na Li, Qiang Chen, Wei Hu, Jianye Li, Yimin Chen, Yansheng Li, Xiaobin Liu

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Carbon-rich Black Soils are an important natural resource ensuring China’s food security, and their soil carbon stocks are closely related to grain production capacity. Based on nearly two decades of regional survey data and long-term field experiments, this study systematically investigated the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM), its response relationship with crop productivity, and strategies for soil fertility improvement. The results showed that soil carbon stocks in the topsoil (0–20 cm) of the Black Soil region in Northeast China have declined by approximately 60%. In 2019, the regional average SOM content was approximately 36 g/kg and was decreasing at …

Plant Diversity In Laos, And Its Strategic Significance For Building China-Laos Community With A Shared Future For Biodiversity, Meng Honghu, Bo Li, Wenbin Yu, Yaowu Xing

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Laos is the first country to sign the bilateral cooperation document for construction of the community with a shared future with China. Over the years, Laos and China have established clear directions for cooperation in politics, economy, security, culture, and ecology, opening a new chapter in the development of China-Laos relations. At present, global environmental governance is facing severe challenges, and the biodiversity loss has become a major international issue of growing concern. Nevertheless, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development remain relatively limited. Laos shares a boarder with China and is characterized by complex natural environments with rich plant resource. Yet, …

2025 Soybean Invertebrate Losses In The United States, Fred R. Musser, Sebe A. Brown, Tim Bryant, Whitney D. Crow, Jeffrey A. Davis, Christina Difonzo, Ashleigh M. Faris, Chase Floyd, Scott H. Graham, Jeremy K. Greene, Kelly A. Hamby, David Kerns, Janet Knodel, David Owens, Dominic D. Reisig, Phillip M. Roberts, Nicholas J. Seiter, Adam J. Sisson, Benjamin C. Thrash, Kelley J. Tilmon, Adam J. Varenhorst

Midsouth Entomologist

Estimated management costs and losses due to insects and other invertebrates in soybeans during the 2025 growing season were collected and compiled from 20 states to provide a record of insect pressure and management practices for the year. These annual estimates provide a historical record of pest pressure and insect management and have been compiled in some states since 2004. Participating states accounted for 68% of soybean acreage in the United States, with near 100% participation in the southern states. As has been true in previous years, the stink bug complex was the costliest insect pest in soybean followed by …

Multi-Sensor Tracking Reveals The Extent Of Nocturnal Migration In Landbirds, Paul Dufour, Raphaël Nussbaumer, Paul Doniol-Valcroze, Yann Rime, Peter Adamík, Susanne Åkesson, Raphaël Arlettaz, Arnaud G. Barras, Nyambayar Batbayar, Andrea Contina

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Most bird species are diurnal but drastically change their diel cycle of activity to migrate at night. Nocturnal migration has been documented using different methods (e.g., experiments, radar and radio tracking, and acoustic monitoring), but accurately quantifying the proportion of nocturnal versus diurnal flight at the individual and species levels, and understanding how this behavior evolved across the avian tree, has remained methodologically challenging.1,2,3 Such uncertainty is not only of theoretical importance but also limits our ability to mitigate conservation threats, particularly from light pollution and building collisions.4,5,6 With multi-sensor …

Towards 2035: Future Forms And Strategic Path Of Chinese Agriculture, Liu Tao, Zeyu Yang, Zhaohui Dong

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Agricultural modernization is an integral component of the national modernization. Toward 2035, China’s agricultural system confronts multiple challenges, including increasing resource and environmental pressures, rapid upgrading of residents’ consumption structure, and in-depth adjustments in the international supply chain pattern. Meanwhile, it also embraces a series of opportunities brought by transformations in agricultural production technologies and models driven by artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and engineering technology. Based on the perspective of national medium and long-term development strategy, this study sorts out the internal constraints, external opportunities, and development drivers faced by China’s agriculture. It explores six major strategic trends—ecological, intelligent, customized, facility-based, …

Three Common Hoof Problems In Dairy Cows: What To Look For And How To Prevent Them, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet covers the three most common hoof lesions in dairy cows and explains why they matter and how to prevent them on your farm.

Digital Dermatitis, Sole Ulcers, And White Line Disease In Dairy Cattle: Pathogens, Diagnosis, And Treatment, Drew Swartz, Kalen Taylor, Jacob Hadfield, Justin Wyatt Clawson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet focuses on three common hoof lesions in dairy cattle: digital dermatitis, sole ulcers, and white line disease, and describes how differences in pathogenesis and risk factors influence diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

Reel Into Fishing!: Providing A Recreational Fishing Education Program For Youth, Amelia Valente, Douglas R. Zemeckis, Lisa Morse, Gene Nigro

Journal of Extension

New Jersey is known as the Garden State, but with over 130 miles of Atlantic coastline, it also has very productive marine ecosystems that offer numerous opportunities for recreational marine fishing. The International Game Fish Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the conservation of game fish and the promotion of responsible, ethical angling practices, collaborated with Rutgers Cooperative Extension to host a youth educational program entitled Reel Into Fishing! The objective is to educate participants through hands-on engagement on ethical fishing practices and marine science to help develop the next generation of responsible anglers.

Summer Research Internships In Agricultural Biotechnology For Off-Campus Undergraduate Students, Aaron J. Thomas

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Look Out For Our Kind, Christof Koch

Animal Sentience

Strongly supportive overall of Birch’s broad tent Sentience Project, I offer an alternative dyadic, single-class, two-stage process based on estimating the probability for sentience, and the associated confidence, for any individual or taxonomic group. I criticize Birch’s narrow computational framework when addressing the question of algorithmic sentience; there are alternative approaches.

Ai Is Not The Kind Of Thing That Can Ever Be Sentient, Lori Marino

Animal Sentience

Sentience evolved to allow organisms to move through their environment avoiding harms and achieving benefits. Sentience did not evolve from computation. It evolved from valenced feelings. AI (even robots) are not embodied and are not the kind of thing that needs to be sentient. There is no way to get from computations to feelings. They are qualitatively different things. We should avoid being lulled into thinking that an inanimate object designed to engage our propensity for anthropomorphism, like AI, is actually a mind.

Spatial Identity In Transition: Revitalizing Surakarta’S Heritage Markets Through Community-Based Placemaking, Eko Nursanty, Sri Mulyani, I Wayan Andhika Widiantara, Arturo Galay Cauba

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Traditional markets are essential socio-cultural infrastructures in heritage cities, shaping everyday interactions, economic life, and collective memory. In Surakarta, four historic markets—Pasar Gede, Pasar Klewer, Pasar Legi, and Pasar Triwindu—sustain the city’s urban identity. However, rapid modernization, commercial restructuring, and shifting consumer behavior have disrupted their spatial and symbolic continuity, raising concerns about the erosion of cultural meaning. Previous studies examined traditional markets mainly from economic or architectural perspectives, rarely exploring how their multidimensional identity evolves under urban transformation. This study investigates how spatial, social, symbolic, and environmental dimensions collectively shape market-based authenticity and the urban identity of Surakarta. A …

Comparison Of Methods For Defatted Human Milk And Nutrient Composition: An Experimental Study, Kristin Cheng, Gina O'Toole, Stephanie Chang, Richard Chang, John Miklavcic

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

Background

Human milk is considered the gold standard for infant nutrition; however, it is often discontinued in chylothorax and severe very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. As an alternative to complete human milk restriction, defatted human milk may be fed, though it may not fully support optimal infant growth and development. This study aimed to assess the micronutrient profile of defatted human milk.

Methods

Human milk was obtained from UCSD Human Milk Research Biorepository (San Diego, CA). Thirty samples representing 10 independent expressions in the morning, afternoon, and evening were pooled for analysis. Fat removal was performed by centrifugation at …

Bull’S-Eye On Borrelia: A Commensal And Consequential Pathogen, Alan L. Gillen

Faculty Publications and Presentations

If Lyme disease causes such urgent and chronic disease issues, where do Borrelia bacteria and ticks fit into a very good creation (Genesis 1)? How did bacteria and ticks change to rely on different hosts and blood for survival? And how are these adaptations informing today’s research in bacteriology, immunology, entomology, and disease ecology? The purposeful placement of Borrelia (Fig. 1) is most likely in the gut of wild mice (Fig. 2), not domesticated mice nor man. The bacteria are communalistic in wild mice, where they may be probiotic for mutual good (Fig. 2)—the Creator made it for good at …

Kinds Of Evidence Cited By Councilors In Municipal Council Sessions: The Case Of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines, Junald D. Ango

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

This paper explores the practice of evidence-based policymaking (EBPM) in the municipal council of Santa Fe, Cebu, Philippines. Data for this study is based on a content analysis of the minutes of council sessions and committee meetings from July 2022 to August 2024. The use of evidence in policymaking has caught on among policymakers in the Philippines, at both the national and local levels. However, few studies have examined policymakers' use of evidence in municipal governments, especially those in smaller, less urbanized towns. In the case of the Municipality of Santa Fe, at least 13 kinds of evidence were cited …

Mechanistic Determination Of Host Environmental Impacts On Shigella Virulence, Nicholas E. Dickenson

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Transcriptomic And Genomic Insights Into Nutrient Stress Responses And Subgenome Evolution In Chenopodium, Ashley Kathleen Marcheschi

Theses and Dissertations

Chenopodium is a diverse genus of nutritionally and ecologically important species in the Amaranthaceae family. This thesis investigates two outstanding questions in the genus: how Chenopodium quinoa responds transcriptionally to nutrient deficiency and how Australian Chenopodium species are related through their subgenomic ancestry and evolutionary history. First, we characterized transcriptomic responses of C. quinoa to deficiencies of twelve essential macro- and micronutrients across leaf and root tissues using RNA sequencing. Leaves showed the strongest responses under nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and zinc deficiency, while roots responded more evenly across conditions. Recurring responses included suppression of photosynthesis, remodeling of translational machinery, reactive …

Nitrogen Management Strategies For Specialty Tea Production In Louisiana: Rate, Source Type, And Nutrient Dynamics, Autumn D. Hilderbrand

LSU Master's Theses

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is an emerging specialty crop in Louisiana and the southeastern United States; however, region-specific nitrogen (N) management recommendations remain limited. This research evaluated N fertilizer source, application rate, and nutrient leaching to identify management strategies that improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and environmental sustainability during tea establishment.

Three complementary studies evaluated N source replacement, application rate, and fertilizer source effects on nutrient retention and movement. The first study evaluated the replacement of urea ammonium sulfate (UAS) with blood meal (BM) while maintaining a constant annual N application rate. Fertilizer replacement did not significantly affect leaf …

Pharky, Phedro, Phractured, And Stagephright: Complete Genome Sequences Of Four Ek2 Cluster Microbacterium Phages, Susan M. R. Gurney, Medha Gupta, Deeksha Reddy, Gloria Zacharias, Aleda S. Jomy, Carly J. Smith, Matthew T. Mcdonald, Brett M. Condon

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

We report the complete genome sequence of four Microbacterium phages, Pharky, Phedro, Phractured, and StagePhright, isolated using the bacterial host Microbacterium foliorum from soil samples collected in Philadelphia. All four phages are genetically very similar and contain a gene of unknown function, which is uncommon in the EK2 cluster.

Movement And Distribution Dynamics Of Predatory Fishes In The St. Lucie Estuary, Sarah Fae Leonowicz Torre

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Estuaries are productive but highly variable ecosystems that support recreationally and commercially valuable fisheries, as well as species of conservation concern. However, coastal development, habitat loss, altered freshwater inflow, and declining water quality can modify the environmental gradients that structure fish distributions. In the St. Lucie River and southern Indian River Lagoon, located in southeast Florida, managed freshwater discharges, watershed runoff, shoreline modification, and degradation of essential fish habitats (e.g., seagrass, oyster, and mangrove forests) have altered estuarine conditions.

This dissertation evaluates how four estuarine fish species with contrasting life histories respond to environmental variability, hydrologic disturbance, and habitat structure …

Deciphering The Potential Of Monopterus Albus Protein Hydrolysate As A Therapeutic Candidate Against Cervical Cancer By Integrating Content Analysis, Network Pharmacology, And Molecular Docking, Okid Parama Astirin, Widya Mega Rahmawati, Elisa Herawati, Tetri Widiyani, Lili Pandan Sari, Sherly Octaviana

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cervical cancer has a high incidence rate in women, making the development of cancer drugs increasingly urgent. Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate shows great promise as an anticancer candidate. This study aimed to reveal the potential of Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate as an anticancer candidate in the cervix. Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate was produced by hydrolyzing flesh with the enzyme alcalase. Compounds and peptides were identified using LC-HRMS. These compounds and peptides were analyzed using network pharmacology, gene ontology, and molecular docking. The results identified 153 endogenous compounds, including fatty acids and peptides. The key proteins targeted by …

A Comparative Expression Analysis Of Selected Genes Involved In Secondary Metabolites Biosynthesis Among Three Alfalfa Cultivars Grown In Iraq, Izdehar Yahia Obaid, Bushra M. J. Alwash

Al-Bahir

Because of its abundance in proteins, vital amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that promote balanced nutrition, Medicago sativa L., also known as alfalfa, is regarded as a nutritionally excellent forage crop. In addition to its nutritional value, alfalfa produces a range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids, further supporting its use in medicinal and nutritional applications. Three alfalfa cultivars grown in Iraq were examined for gene expression levels of the primary genes involved in secondary metabolite biosynthesis (PAL, COMT, CHS, and OMT). Among these cultivars are Victoria (VC), Green Gold (GC), and a local cultivar (LC). …

Nonmarine Ostracods Of Northern Cyprus: Diversity, Ecology, And Global Island Comparisons, Ahmet Özdi̇lek, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

There is a notable paucity of detailed information regarding the distribution and ecological characteristics of nonmarine Ostracoda in Northern Cyprus. Furthermore, a comprehensive assessment of their distribution across islands in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is incomplete. To advance our understanding of ostracod diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences, a total of 79 aquatic sites in Northern Cyprus were randomly sampled between 18 May and 12 August 2022. A total of 64 ostracod taxa were identified, comprising 28 living species and 36 subfossils, with 18 species representing new records for the island. Additionally, five ostracod species were reported for the first …

Dietary Stability Of The Eurasian Beaver Revealed By Hair Stable Isotopes, Linas Balčiauskas, Rasa Vaitkevičiūtė Koklevičienė, Andrius Garbaras, Inga Garbarienė, Laima Balčiauskienė

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) is a keystone ecosystem engineer whose expanding populations increasingly occupy agricultural landscapes. Hair stable  isotope analysis was applied to reconstruct assimilated diet in 56 legally  hunted beavers in Lithuania in 2024–2025. Stable carbon isotope values were tightly  clustered (–25.53 ± 0.10‰ SE), while those for nitrogen showed greater variability (5.38 ± 0.20‰ SE), indicating limited interindividual dietary differentiation.  Generalized linear models revealed no significant effects of sex, year, or month, and  age-related differences were limited to the youngest individuals. Comparison with  published Polish data showed no significant differences in mean isotope values.  Overall, the results …