Digital Commons Network^™

The Complexity Of Promoting Physical Activity In English State Primary Schools: An In-Depth Qualitative Analysis Of The Role Of Social Context, Robert Walker, Danielle House, Alice Porter, Ruth Salway, Simona Kent-Saisch, Michael Beets Ph.D., David Revalds Lubans, Frank De Vocht, Russell Jago

Faculty Publications

Background

Primary schools present an opportunity to equitably promote physical activity. To date, school-based interventions have had limited success. Contextual differences between schools could be a key factor that contributes to this lack of impact. However, the elements that constitute a school’s social context (i.e. the organisational, political, cultural, and sociodemographic characteristics) and how they might impact on primary school physical activity are unclear. The aims of this study were to conduct an in-depth qualitative analysis of state primary school social context related to physical activity and, using this analysis, provide recommendations for policy and practice.

Methods

We conducted one-to-one …

08.25.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

• Research Security Required Training
• ORED Research Reception

Identification, Abundance, And Behavior Of North American Bobcat (Lynx Rufus) Along Road Mitigation Structures Designed For Endangered Species In South Texas, Victoria Hanley, Kevin W. Ryer, Md. Saydur Rahman, John H. Young Jr., Richard J. Kline

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Endangered species are increasingly used as the target species in implementing and constructing new wildlife crossing structures (WCS). Highways in South Texas fragment the landscape and result in high road mortality for endangered species such as ocelots (Leopardus pardalis, a medium-sized spotted wild cat). In response, the Texas Department of Transportation constructed nine WCS on Farm-to-Market 106 (FM 106), a road which bisects Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas. With ocelots being rare and elusive, bobcats (Lynx rufus) are often used as a surrogate species to study felid behavior at road mitigation structures …

A Comparison Of Diving Behavior Of Goose-Beaked And Dense-Beaked Whales From Tagging Studies In Multiple Ocean Basins, Jay Barlow, Robin W. Baird, Janelle Badger, Gregory S. Schorr, Erin A. Falcone, Shannon N. Coates, Peter L. Tyack, Andrew J. Read, Leigh S. Hickmott, John W. Durban, Diane Claridge, Natacha Aguilar De Soto, Daniel Miranda Gonzalez, Fleur Visser, Machiel G. Oudejans, Stacy L. De Ruiter, David A. Sweeney, Brenda K. Rone, Stephanie L. Watwood

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Studies of cetacean diving behavior in multiple locations in different ocean basins allow for an assessment of variability within and among populations. We examine foraging dive behaviors of goose-beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) and dense-beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) using data from 132 tagged whales in seven locations in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea. Acoustic recording tags are used to identify foraging dives by the presence of echolocation. For other tag types, foraging dives are identified based on maximum dive depth. Five parameters are used to characterize foraging dives: maximum dive depth, foraging dive duration, dive cycle duration, …

Heterogeneity Of Molecular Subtypes In Multifocal And Multicentric Breast Cancer, Anna M. Schmitz

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Multifocal and multicentric breast cancers (MMBC), commonly referred to as multiple synchronous ipsilateral breast cancers, are heterogeneous diseases. There is a high degree of diversity between and within the tumors of a MMBC-bearing patient. Tumor heterogeneity can describe multiple features, such as morphological and molecular profiles. Knowledge about a patient's tumor heterogeneity can be used to determine a prognosis and treatment plan. However, transferring our growing knowledge of heterogeneity in MMBC into a clinical setting remains a challenge due to the large degree of diversity between tumor microenvironments and the cancer cells that tumors are composed of. This review article …

Crossroads Of Covid-19 And Alzheimer’S: Investigating Sars-Cov-2 Nsp6 And Orf7a In Amyloid-Β42 Toxicity, Jeffrey William Huettemann, Amit Singh

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) resulted in several hundred million contracted cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and a global pandemic. In some of these cases, previous neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), seemed to progress much more rapidly after the COVID-19 infection. Thus, we became interested in studying the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on prior neurological disease progressions.

To modulate this condition, we used Drosophila melanogaster as a genetic model system. We had previously developed the Alzheimer’s Disease Fly Model with expression of human amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) peptide, which is responsible for extracellular Aβ-42 …

A Mini Review On Rodent Models Of Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd), Rachel Zeller

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed at a young age. ASD symptoms include deficits in social behavior, repetitive and restrictive behaviors, anxiety, as well as alterations in sensory gating and sensitivity, learning, memory, and attention performance. Since ASD emerges from a combination of genetic and environmental factors, clinical treatment of these conditions presents with challenges. Being able to model behavioral and neurobiological aspects of this disorder at the preclinical level using rodents allows for further investigation of the pathophysiological basis of this disorder. This mini review will focus on selected genetic and pharmacological rodent models of …

Co-Culture 3d Model For Breast Cancer, Anh Duc Nguyen

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

The ability to replicate the tumor microenvironment using 3D models have allowed researchers to study the tumors in vitro closer to their in vivo counterparts without the drawbacks of those models. The 3D co-culture model is an improved version of the 3D monoculture model, capable of replicating the tumor microenvironment, letting researchers study cancer response mechanism, tumor metastases, drug resistance, simulate cell-cell interactions, etc., in breast cancer. The models can be classified into four classes based on their formation method and content, all of which have different advantages and disadvantages.

Evaluating The Environmental Determinants Of Tadpole Mouthpart Deformities, Nicholas J. Canfield

Research from the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, 2025

Amphibians are among the most threatened group of animals on the planet, with over 40% of living species facing an extinction risk. These organisms are highly sensitive to environmental change due to their highly permeable skin and complex life cycle that exposes them to stressors in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Amphibian populations that are closely monitored can serve as valuable bioindicators of environmental health because they typically respond rapidly to habitat degradation, decreased water quality, and changes in climate. Tadpoles in particular may act as a “canary in a coal mine” for aquatic ecosystems because they easily develop anatomical …

An Investigation Of Hydro-Morphological Changes At The Estuarine Outlet Of Kitchener Drain, Northern Coast Of Egypt, Nada Mansour, Karim Nassar, Mahmoud El-Gamal, Tharwat Sarhan

Mansoura Engineering Journal

In recent years, sedimentation and coastline erosion have occurred in the Kitchener Drain, where its outflow meets the Mediterranean Sea. Several measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of these problems. Excavation continues toward the drain's outlet, and there have been multiple stages of hard protection work, such as groins along the drain's eastern and western banks. What would happen if the working near the drain was kept, where accretion and erosion are most severe. The Coastal Modelling System (CMS) was used to find it out. The two-dimensional hydrodynamic circulation model known as the CMS is outfitted with modules …

Novel Nano-Composite Materials (Nncms) With The Designations J1, J2, And J3 For Removal Several Harmful Ions, Mohammed K. Al-Doseri, Safaa. R. Fouda, Mohamed Mossad, Mahmoud H. Mahmoud

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The most toxic material to the environment is heavy metals. remove heavy metals from wastewater is done by adsorption. Many papers have been done using different materials to take off toxic dangerous ions from wastewater. Noval Nano-composites material (NNCM)as designated as J1, J2, and J3 the most used adsorbents in this study. To conduct the experiments, synthetic wastewater was generated in the lab. Batch experiments were conducted to create the best conditions for removing these ions from the wastewater. The optimum conditions obtained were 90 min optimum contact time, and pH equal seven, optimal NNCM dose was 0.5 g/L achieving …

Performance Analysis Of Computational Methods For Predicting Protein Function In Rare Diseases, Aichetou Mohamed Sidiya, Hanin Alzaher, Razan Almahdi, Tayeb Brahimi

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Protein function prediction is crucial for understanding the underlying mechanisms of rare diseases. With the increasing availability of computational methods including machine learning-based approaches, network-based methods, and sequence-based methods, predicting protein functions has become more accessible. However, it is not clear which of these methods performs better or how they compare to each other in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and scalability. In this study, we evaluate several computational methods for predicting protein functions in rare diseases using key performance indicators (KPIs). We analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each method and provide recommendations for researchers and clinicians interested in using …

The Effects Of Exercise Training In A Novel Full-Body Compression Garment On Anaerobic Performance In Healthy Men, Benjamin W. Cunningham, Mikayla M. Reese, Jesse M. Jansen, Benjamin S. Minier, Curtis A. Cornell, Faith C. Benedict, Joshua T. Mayne, Justin A. O'Dell, Gabriel M. Lysak, James R. Sackett

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 836-851, 2025. Although acutely donning compression garments improves several markers of athletic performance, the effects of training in compression garments remains largely unexplored. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effects of exercise training while donning a novel full-body compression garment on multiple measures of anaerobic performance. Sixteen sedentary males (age: 21±3 y; BMI: 25±3 kg/m²) completed 4 weeks of training with (CG; n=8) or without (CON; n=8) a novel full-body compression garment. Subjects performed a 40m sprint (time and velocity), a 5-repetition maximum barbell back squat (barbell weight and serratus anterior …

Change In Free-Living Daily Steps Does Not Affect Vo2max Adaptation In Response To A Supervised Aerobic Walking Program In Females Ages 18-45, Catherine L. Jarrett, Brandon J. Sawyer, Wesley Tucker, Dharini M. Bhammar, Justin R. Ryder, Siddhartha Angadi, Glenn A. Gaesser

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(5): 852-863, 2025. We hypothesized that an increase in nonexercise physical activity (NEPA), assessed by daily steps outside of steps accrued during supervised exercise training sessions, would be positively correlated with the change in VO_2max. Females ages 18-45 yr (n = 44; 30 ± 7 yr; 67.7 ± 18.3 kg; 24.9 ± 6.4 kg/m²) completed 36 supervised training sessions on a motorized treadmill (3 sessions/week, 30 min/session) over 12 weeks, at 70% VO_2max (80% max heart rate). VO_2max was assessed at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and …

Advancing Rfid Systems: From Head Orientation To Robotic Localization Using Passive Tags, Guilherme Ricardo Mendes Da Silva Barreto De Figueiredo

Doctoral Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Centrosomal And Non-Centrosomal Microtubule Networks Coordinate To Drive Nuclear Dynamics In Developing Epithelium, Rashmi Budhathoki

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The morphogenesis of developing tissues relies on extensive cellular rearrangements in shape, position, and identity. A key process in reshaping tissues is cell intercalation-driven elongation, where epithelial cells align and intercalate along a common axis. Typically, analyses focus on how peripheral cortical forces influence cell shape changes. Less attention is given to how inhomogeneities in internal structures, particularly the nucleus, impact cell shaping. Here, we examine how pulsed contractile and extension dynamics interact with the nucleus in elongating Drosophila embryos. Our data show that tightly packed nuclei in apical layers hinder tissue remodeling/oscillatory behaviors. We identify two mechanisms for resolving …

Role Of Nucleic Acids As Chaperones In Protein Folding, Zijue Huang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Many proteins have slow folding times in vitro that are physiologically untenable. To combat this challenge, ATP-dependent chaperonins are thought to possess the unique ability to catalyze protein folding. Performing quantitative model selection using protein folding and unfolding data, we here show that short nucleic acids containing Gquadruplex (G4) structure can also catalyze protein folding. Performing the experiments as a function of temperature demonstrates that the G4 reshapes the underlying driving forces of protein folding. To understand the structural basis of this catalytic activity, we introduce NMR method to solve the structures, at base-level resolution, of a multiconformer G4 with …

Predicting Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Using Voxel-Wise Resting-State Functional Mri, Hongjie Ke, Bhim M Adhikari, Yezhi Pan, David B Keator, Daniel Amen, Si Gao, Yizhou Ma, Paul M Thompson, Neda Jahanshad, Jessica A Turner, Theo G M Van Erp, Mohammed R Milad, Jair C Soares, Vince D Calhoun, Juergen Dukart, L Elliot Hong, Tianzhou Ma, Peter Kochunov

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) is a putative biomarker for neuropsychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: Here, we show that rCBF can be predicted from resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) at the voxel level while correcting for partial volume averaging (PVA) artifacts. Cortical patterns of MDD-related CBF differences decoded from rsfMRI using a PVA-corrected approach showed excellent agreement with CBF measured using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and arterial spin labeling (ASL). A support vector machine algorithm was trained to decode cortical voxel-wise CBF from temporal and power-spectral features of voxel-level rsfMRI time series while accounting for PVA. …

Blood And Neuronal Extracellular Vesicle Mitochondrial Disruptions In Schizophrenia, A Ankeeta, Ashutosh Tripathi, Bindu Pillai, Yizhou Ma, Joshua J Chiappelli, Jessica N Jernberg, Keiko Kunitoki, Xiaoming Du, Si Gao, Bhim M Adhikari, Consuelo Walss-Bass, Giselli Scaini, Peter Kochunov, Anilkumar Pillai, L Elliot Hong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The high energy demand of the human brain obligates robust mitochondrial energy metabolism, while mitochondrial dysfunctions have been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). However, in vivo assessments that can directly inform brain mitochondrial functioning and its etiopathophysiological path to SSD remain difficult to obtain. We hypothesized that system and brain mitochondrial dysfunctions in SSD may be indexed by elevated cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cf-mtDNA) levels in the blood and in neuronal extracellular vesicles (nEVs). We also explored if these mtDNA marker elevations were associated with brain metabolites as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). We examined blood …

Does Green Stem Photosynthesis Affect Plant Drought Tolerance And Recovery In Avocado?, Nadia A. Valverdi, Paula Guzmán-Delgado, Gregory R. Goldsmith, Eleinis Ávila-Lovera

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Woody plants with green stems may have advantages over non-green-stemmed plants in that extra photosynthetic carbon gain has the potential to improve plant drought tolerance and aid drought recovery. However, most studies relating to green stem photosynthesis and drought tolerance have been conducted on non-horticultural plants under natural growing conditions. We investigated whether avocado green stem photosynthesis enhances drought tolerance and recovery. We applied light exclusion and drought treatments to 3-year-old potted trees of cultivars ‘Hass’ and ‘Fuerte’. Measurements of soil moisture, midday stem water potential, stem photosynthesis, bark chlorophyll concentration, concentration of sugars + starch and stem hydraulic conductivity …

Enhancing Cataract Surgery Outcomes: Optimal Use Of Pre- And Post-Operative Eye Drops, Keith Skolnick M.D., Anu Valiaveedu

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Many preoperative and postoperative cataract patients struggle with comprehending the use of prescription medication as directed. Language barriers and low health literacy levels are major factors contributing to improper use of prescriptions. To increase patients comprehension, the Fort Lauderdale Eye Institute employed an educational intervention consisting of a live presentation and an instructional video. Results found that 44% of patients were hesitant to ask questions to clinical staff, 32% felt overwhelmed, and nearly 70% lacked confidence in using their prescribed eye drops. Following the intervention, 91% of patients reported increased confidence in their medications, and most indicated that the video …

Host, Microbiome, And Parasite: How Apicomplexan Microorganisms Interact With Gut Microbiota, Senia Bu, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The gut microbiome, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms residing in the human gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. It functions in immune system regulation, digestion, and protection against pathogens. Apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium spp., and Cryptosporidium spp., are major pathogens that can significantly disrupt the gut microbiota, leading to alterations in microbial composition and function. This review explores the bidirectional interactions between Apicomplexan parasites and the gut microbiome, focusing on how these parasites influence microbial diversity, immune responses, and host metabolism. It examines the mechanisms by which infection-induced inflammation, altered …

From Infection To Restoration: A Case Study On Dental Extraction In The Maxilla Anterior, Melanie Ramirez

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

A dental implant is a restorative surgical procedure that serves as a solution to replace missing teeth that imitate the function, sensation, and appearance of natural teeth. The objective of this dental case study is to examine the diagnosis, treatment, and post-operation of a patient with a history of tooth loss and infection in the anterior maxilla. This case follows a 55-year-old patient, Jorge Marquez, name changed for confidentiality, who presented a severe tooth abscess on tooth #10 on the anterior maxilla which had previously undergone root canal treatment (Figure 1B). Radiographic evaluations illustrated the severity of the abscess the …

Innovative Approaches To Estimating Sessile Oak Stem Volume: Comparing Additive Models And Ensemble Machine Learning, Maria J. Diamantopoulou, Abbas Şahi̇n, Ramazan Özçeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sessile oak is an important deciduous forest tree species across Türkiye and Europe. Estimating individual tree and stand volumes is essential for growth and yield models, as these predictions play a critical role in assessing forest management, economics, and fire risk. In pursuit of this goal, nonlinear seemingly unrelated regression (NSUR) was used for the simultaneous fitting of stem volume components, and compared to three ensemble machine learning techniques: gradient boosting regression (GBr), XGBoost regression (XGBr), and random forest regression (RFr). NSUR accounts for correlations between error terms across different equations, leading to more efficient parameter estimates than if each …

Effects Of Storage Temperatures On Quality And Phytochemical Properties Of The Hawthorn (Crataegus Azarolus L.) During Storage And Shelf Life, Ahmet Erhan Özdemi̇r, Oğuzhan Çalişkan, Safder Bayazit, Kazi̇m Gündüz, Nurdan Tuna Güneş, Zafer Karaşahi̇n, Derya Kiliç, Ramazan Bestami̇ Karahan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study aimed to investigate the effects of storage temperature on the quality and phytochemical characteristics in Sultan hawthorn cultivar during cold storage and shelf life. Fruits were stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C and 4 ± 0.5 °C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) for 6 months in cold storage and were analyzed every month. In addition, hawthorn fruits were kept at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 75 ± 5% RH for 7 days, and their shelf life was investigated at monthly intervals. Weight loss, appearance, the incidence of physiological disorders and fungal decay, fruit skin color, firmness, …

Monitoring The Developmental Stages Of Calendula Officinalis L. Nutrients Efficacy Under Hot Weather Mitigation Through Nutrients In Haripur, Pakistan, Waseem Ahmed, Rafia Azmat, Shah Masaud Khan, Abdul Qayyum, Waseem Hassan, Adnan Noor Shah, Muhammad Hadi Abbas, Fatima M. Abbas, Tahani A.Y. Asseri, Ahmet Hakan Ürüşan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study examines the effect of different doses of N and P fertilizer on Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) during the hot weather in summer (May–July) in Pakistan. The aim was to determine whether fertilization can help minimize the impacts of climate change. During the summer peak seasons (May, June, and July), the trial was conducted in potted plants with different N and P application levels to monitor the quality and quantity of C. officinalis. The results showed that the interactive effects (N × P) gave higher values for plant height, number of leaves, fresh weight, leaf length, and number of …

Chemical Weed Control Strategies For Sweet Corn In Türkiye’S Diverse Production Areas, Zübeyde Fi̇li̇z Arslan, Ahmet Uludağ, Hüseyi̇n Güngör, Ti̇muçi̇n Taş, Emi̇ne Aydin, Martin M. Williams Ii

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sweet corn production in Türkiye is failing to match growing demand from consumers and the food industry. Weeds severely limit sweet corn production, yet only a single herbicide is registered in Türkiye. Due to labor costs, hand weeding is no longer affordable and growers are demanding cost-effective weed control strategies for sweet corn production. Nine treatments including preemergence (PRE) and/or postemergence (POST) herbicides were tested across the country’s diverse growing environments. Compared to the weedy control, all treatments increased the number of marketable ears. Only two treatments—s-metolachlor plus terbuthylazine followed by isoxaflutole plus cyprosulfamide plus theincarbazone-methyl and dimethenamid followed by …

Design And Structural Optimization Of Acceleration Pipe For Mhd Accelerated Jujube Air-Suction Harvester, Yi Wang, Jing Nie, Jingbin Li, Longpeng Ding, Xuewei Chao, Xianfei Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The combination of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) acceleration technology and the negative pressure suction principle ensures the effective lifting and transport of jujube fruits, addressing the challenges of traditional harvesting methods and providing a new solution for improving jujube harvesting efficiency. This study focuses on the impact of key parameters, including pipe diameter, electrode plate length, and electrode positioning, on the performance of the MHD acceleration pipe through numerical simulations. The structural optimization of the MHD acceleration pipe in the air-suction jujube harvester aims to enhance airflow acceleration efficiency. The results from both numerical simulations and experimental studies indicate that: 1) a …

Exploring The Genetic Diversity And Population Structure Of Serbian And Selected European Bread Wheat Cultivars Through Ipbs-Retrotransposon Markers, Rada Šućur, Amjad Ali, Parnaz Mortazavi, Muhammad Tanveer Altaf, Muhammed Tatar, Muhammad Azhar Nadeem, Bojan Jocković, Velimir Mladenov, Sotirios Fragkostefanakis, Yong Suk Chung, Faheem Shehzad Baloch

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Bread wheat is a globally vital crop, sustaining millions and contributing to food security. The present study investigated the molecular characterization of 60 bread wheat accessions, using 12 interprimer binding site (iPBS) retrotransposon markers, which yielded a total of 260 distinct bands. Out of the 260 bands, 42 were monomorphic while the remaining 218 (83.84%) were polymorphic, with polymorphism information content values ranging from 0.38 to 0.45. Genetic diversity indices, including Shannon’s information index (I = 0.01–0.53), effective number of alleles (Ne = 1.00–1.63), gene diversity (He = 0.0037–0.36), and marker index (MI = 0.31– 0.51), revealed moderate variability across …

The Status Of Agritourism In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Nerma Čolaković-Prguda, Jasna Hasanbegović, Irma Đidelija Čolaković, Lejla Škaljić, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Agritourism in Bosnia and Herzegovina has a lot of potential benefit for economic growth and sustainable development in rural regions, as it incorporates local culture and natural beauty into the tourism offerings of the region. Tourism creates opportunities to diversify the economy, retain traditions, improve local income, and protect natural resources. This study covered Međugorje, Ilijaš, Rostovo, Vlašić, Bosanska Krupa, Neum, Olovo, Gornji Vakuf, Sarajevo, and Donji Vakuf. Agritourism can provide authentic experiences like learning about traditional agriculture, fruit harvesting, tasting local products, and environmental preservation in destinations like Međugorje and Neum. Ilijaš and Gornji Vakuf have potential in organic …