Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Phosphate-Solubilizing Fungi On Phosphorus Availability, Retention, And Soil Chemical Properties In Shallot Cultivated On Andisols Of North Sumatra, Agustina Erlinda Marpaung, Tengku Sabrina, Abdul Rauf, Dwi Ningsih Susilowati

Jurnal Kultivasi

The availability of phosphorus (P) is one of the main limiting factors for plant productivity in Andisol soils due to the strong fixation of P by allophane clay minerals, aluminum and iron oxides. Giving the phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) is an alternative to increase available P which plants can use to increase the yield. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of phosphate-solubilizing fungi (PSF) in improving P availability on Andisol. The experiment used a block randomized design (BRD) with three replications. The first factor is Andisol soil origin (Soil 1 and Soil 2) and the second is isolate of …

Geospatial Assessment Of Agrivoltaic Opportunities And Land Use Requirements In Nigeria, Ifeoluwa Ezekiel Babarinde, Bashir Salisu, Jude A. Benavides, Engil Pereira, Steven M. Grodsky, Rafael M. Almeida

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Agrivoltaics, the co-location of agriculture and solar photovoltaic (PV) infrastructure, can deliver co-benefits like reduced plant drought stress and improved yields of shade-tolerant crops, particularly in water-scarce regions. Despite growing global interest, the technical potential and opportunities for agrivoltaics remain poorly understood in many regions facing both food and energy insecurity, such as sub-Saharan Africa. Here we provide a spatial assessment of agrivoltaic opportunities in Nigeria by integrating cropland distribution, solar resources, and water stress. We find that northern states—where cropland is abundant and water-stressed, solar irradiance is high, and electricity access remains low—offer the greatest potential for agrivoltaic systems …

Volume 12 Full Text, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Front Matter And Table Of Contents, Bjur Staff

Butler Journal of Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Building Human-Aware Ai: Learning From And Assisting Human Decision-Makers, Saumik Narayanan

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

As artificial intelligence systems become more capable, they are increasingly used not only as standalone problem-solvers, but as systems that learn from and interact with humans. In these settings, success depends not only on the strength of the model in isolation, but also on how well it fits the humans it is trained on or deployed alongside. This dissertation argues that human heterogeneity is a central ingredient in the design of effective human-aware machine learning systems. Rather than treating differences between people as noise to be averaged away, I show that variation in human expertise and preferences can provide useful …

Intermediate-Scale Outflow Dynamics Of Eta Carinae, Edmund J. Garcia, Matthew C. Fleenor

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

η Carinae (η Car) is a binary system, with the larger star being an extremely massive, luminous blue variable (LBV) beyond the Eddington Limit. Surrounding the η Car system, numerous multi-wavelength imaging campaigns reveal axisymmetric structures with the expanding bipolar Homunculus Nebula (¡1 pc). In combination with the episodic eruptive history of the η Car system, our initial intermediate-scale imaging revealed further axisym- metric structures (1-5 pc). To gain a more expansive view of how the small scale structure connects to panoramic imaging of the η Car region, we constructed a deep, optical, narrowband mosaic of 189 images utilizing the …

Molecular Catalysts For Electrochemical Nitrogen Activation Toward Sustainable Ammonia Synthesis, Jin-Xiu Han, Hao Xue, Xian-Biao Fu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Homogeneous electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) provides a powerful framework to interrogate molecular nitrogen-fixation pathways under mild conditions. By tuning the metal center, ligand architecture, and reaction medium, these systems enable capturing key intermediates and delivering mechanistic insight at the molecular-level resolution. Nevertheless, advances remain constrained by highly reduced operating potentials, intense competition from the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), limited durability in turnover, and inadequate long-term stability.

In this review, we take electron delivery to the molecular active site as the guiding principle for organizing homogeneous electrochemical N₂ activation and transformation. We classify reported systems into direct electron transfer …

Water-Driven Solid Electrolyte Interphase Governs Continuous-Flow Ammonia Electrosynthesis, Peng-Bo Liu, Sheng-Liang Zhai, Ji Huang, Zhong-Shuo Zhang, Jie Zeng, Shao-Feng Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

Flow-cell architectures have emerged as a powerful platform for continuous and stable lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction (Li-NRR), enabling ambient-condition electrochemical ammonia synthesis and offering a promising alternative to Haber-Bosch processes. However, Li-NRR is exceptionally sensitive to trace water, and even minor variations in water content can profoundly alter interfacial chemistry. Here, we systematically investigate how initial water concentration affects Li-NRR performance in a continuous-flow cell. Excess water drives the formation of a thick solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, which may impede nitrogen access to metallic lithium and hinder lithium-ion transport. As a result, the ammonia Faradaic efficiency collapses from ~61% to …

Isolation, Identification And Antibiotic-Resistance Profiling Of Bacteria Isolated From Mobile Phone Surfaces In Karbala., Kawkab Abdullah Alsaadi, Zahraa Raheem Murshidy, Dhuha Ali Hussein, Sura Abd Ali Kadhim, Kawakib Aboudi Hanoon

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Due to the diverse environments that mobile phones are exposed to via human handling they become reservoirs of microorganisms. The objective of the current study was to determine the level and character of bacterial contamination on mobile phones by identifying bacterial strains, and the degree of antimicrobial susceptibility. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2025 where phones belonging to 115 individuals were randomly chosen from various departments and units at Kerbala University and swabbed. The VITEK 2 automated system was used to identify bacterial taxa and test for antimicrobial susceptibility, and 50 of the swabs exhibited bacterial …

Fast Hyperspectral And Super-Resolved Mapping Of Lipid Membrane Polarity With Single-Molecule Sensitivity, Elric Dion Pott, Meek Yang, James Ethan Batey, Jole Embree, Bin Dong

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cell membranes display nanoscale heterogeneity in lipid composition and organization that regulates vital biological processes yet remain challenging to resolve with conventional imaging. We introduce spectral phasor single-molecule localization microscopy (SP-SMLM), a hyperspectral and super-resolution method that combines wavefront-like optical filtering with single-molecule imaging for simultaneous spatial and spectral analysis. A lab-built three-channel imager with sine/cosine filters encodes emission spectra of single molecules into the phasor space, enabling high-throughput, high-SNR mapping of membrane polarity at sub-50 nm spatial and 15 s temporal resolutions. Through simulation, we validate that the phasor angle correlates with the spectral mean for single dye molecules. …

Evaluation Of Sirna-Mediated Knockdown Of Heat Shock Protein 16.2 In Adult Acropora Cervicornis, Edward P. Gniffke, Benjamin D. Young, Keir J. Macartney, Michael S. Studivan, Ian C. Enochs, Erin E. Easton

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Acropora cervicornis is a critically endangered Caribbean coral species facing a precipitous decline due to disease and thermal bleaching. To combat the loss of ecologically important reef-building corals, novel molecular approaches can be used to understand mechanisms of resilience and ultimately provide a means to modulate coral performance. In this study, we tested a recently developed method for gene knockdown in adult corals that utilizes short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and the RNA interference pathway. The Heat Shock Protein 16.2 (HSP16.2) gene in fragments of adult A. cervicornis was targeted for knockdown using a single siRNA construct. RT-qPCR analysis of HSP16.2 …

Mechanisms Behind The Impacts Of Co2 Concentration On Microbial Methanogenesis In Coal Seams, Wang Junyu, Liu Bingjun, Jiang Xiangqing, Chen Ruifeng, Xue Sheng, Zhou Wanlong, Yang Yundu

Coal Geology & Exploration

Background Coal seams exhibit the extensive distribution of a variety of indigenous functional microorganisms. Among these, some archaea enable methane metabolism using CO₂ as a substrate, providing the potential for the biological CO₂ storage and utilization in coal seams. However, conventional studies focus primarily on the degradation characteristics of coal matrix, leading to a lack of a systematic understanding of the mechanisms governing the adjustment of the methanation process in CO₂-bearing environments. Methods This study investigated the bituminous coals with a high volatile content in the Huainan mining area. Using laboratory-scale experiments on methanogenesis through anaerobic …

Ontogeny Of Microbial Community Structure In Shoal Grass Grown In Biochar-Amended Sediments, Sajeda Slhoub, Nicole Katz, Joey Ciocher, Jack Denvir, Jenisse Louis, Katelynn Zagami

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in the United States and contributes over $55.4 billion annually to Florida’s economy. Since 2010, more than 52% of the IRL seagrass meadows have been lost, reducing both the ecological and the economic potential of this ecosystem. Biochar, a stable carbon material produced by pyrolysis, added to soil enhance organic productivity perhaps because of increased microbial activity in the soil (Lehmann et al., 2017). Our study evaluates the use of biochar to grow resilient strains of seagrass for ecosystem restoration in the IRL.

N.A.U.T.I.L.U.S.: Natural Aquaculture Using Technology In Living Underwater Systems, Joey Ciocher, Abby Vallejo, Will Marble, Martin Pham, Roger Jiang

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are small subsets of marine ecosystems with limited to no access to exploitation to promote sustainability and growth of healthy populations of marine organisms. Factors that affect the performance of MPAs include Size, Age, Level of Protection, Enforcement and Compliance, Isolation and Connectivity, and Habitat Quality and Diversity.

Growing Pains: A Genetic Comparison Of Nurse Sharks (Ginglymostoma Cirratum) With Differing Growth Rates, Michelle Gargiulo

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Nurse sharks, Ginglymostoma cirratum, range throughout the tropical and subtropical Atlantic, and are commonly found in coastal ecosystems in Southern Florida and the Keys. Nurse sharks like all Elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) are slowgrowing and long lived, making them susceptible to extinction. Recently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List1,2, nurse sharks are relatively underrepresented in scientific literature, and much research remains to be done to understand and protect this species. Growth rates and body size between fish populations of the same species can vary widely. Individuals in the tropics often grow faster and mature at a smaller …

Finding Jaws: Dna Barcoding Shark Cartilage To Identify Species, Kenna Peters

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) are vital keystone predators that help regulate the health of marine ecosystems, and some of the largest and most wide-ranging fishes in the ocean1. Elasmobranch identification is difficult due to morphological similarities between species, and the high risk of encountering cryptics. These are evolutionarily distinct, but physically identical to more common taxa, and can only be identified using genetics. Misidentification is a major obstacle to shark science, especially considering new data showing that >70% of all elasmobranchs have been lost in the past 50 years, and many sharks are now shifting ranges in response to global …

Sustainable Ethanol Production From Agricultural Waste, Eva Shealy, Bre Venditti, Muath Alharbi, Jacob Dymock

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

This project presents a commercial-scale process which converts waste corn stover into fuel grade ethanol through syngas fermentation. By integrating thermochemical conversion with microbial processing, the design explores an innovative pathway for ethanol production, resulting in a lower-impact alternative to traditional processes.

Microgravity Simulator, Aruna Dookeran, Alexander Montano, Elias Orellana, Aiden Smart

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Microgravity significantly affects biological growth, but space-based experiments are costly and difficult to access. Ground-based systems provide an alternative; however, many require continuous manual supervision to maintain operating conditions.

Impact Of Bryozoans On The Psii Efficiency Of Sargassum, Maxwell Ronan Stanfield

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Student Publications

Sargassum species such as s. fluitans and s. natans support epiphytic organisms on its surface, such as diatoms, hydrozoans, and encrusting bryozoans. Evidence previous studies suggests that marine epiphytic organisms have a negative effect on the photosynthetic pathways of the algae they live on (Khan, Du, Khan, Che, and Khurshid 2021; Cancino, Mufioz, Mufioz, and Orellana 1987). Interestingly, some evidence shows that even when epiphytic encrusting bryozoans limit the light reaching red algae, the algae was able to produce more photosynthetic pigments to compensate for the lowered light intensity (Muñoz, Cancino, and Molina 1991). No data is currently available on …

Dual-Lev: A Dual-Axis Ultrasonic Acoustic Levitator, Trevor Hennington, Alyx Mason

Aerospace, Physics, and Space Science Student Publications

sound waves to create a standing wave, where regions of high and low pressure form stable nodes that can trap small objects. The upward acoustic radiation force at these nodes balances gravity, allowing the object to float in midair. This technology is applicable in various fields such as chemistry, biological engineering, and sub-gravity simulation. It can also be used for drop dynamics studies, crystallization, and

Photochemical Activation Of Cyanine-Based Nanogels For Controlled Drug Delivery, Presley Clary

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Student Publications

Cyanines are highly conjugated molecules with useful properties, such as ease of aggregation and fluorescence. In this project, they were incorporated into an acrylamide-based nanogel made through organic synthesis to exploit these properties for controlled drug delivery. Exposing the nanogel to nearinfrared (NIR) light causes it to react with reactive oxygen species (ROS), forming an unstable intermediate. The intermediate splits into two fragments, releasing the nanogel's cargo.1 The cargo, temozolomide, is an alkylating agent which can be used to disrupt the DNA of cancer cells.

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

Reproductive Season And Fecundity Reassessment Of Gopher Tortoises (Gopherus Polyphemus) In Southeastern Florida, Riley Waters

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) breeding season occurs throughout spring and early summer across its distributional range, but recent research shows that in southeastern Florida, mating also occurs in the fall and winter months. This project evaluates the gopher tortoise’s extended reproductive season in southeastern Florida and female fecundity. The study, conducted at two locations in South Florida: Jupiter, FL and Boca Raton, FL, used field ultrasound equipment and radiographs to identify gravid females and determine clutch size. The data suggest a much earlier start to egg development and nesting, and the possibility of an extended egg development …

High Performance Ae-Cnn Model Enhanced Via Gaussian Augmentation For Rssi-Dependent Indoor Positioning In Wireless Sensor Networks, Kahlaa K. Al-Nassrawy, Ghaidaa A Al-Sultany

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Precise indoor positioning system remains a significant challenge within Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) due to the instability and noise sensitivity of Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data. This paper proposes an advanced hybrid deep learning framework designed for 2D indoor localization, utilizing RSSI measurements to predict human or object position. Furthermore, to enhance the robustness of the model against signal variance and promote its generalization capability under this uncertainty, a data augmentation strategy is applied using three methods: Gaussian Noise Injection (GNI), Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), and Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model (BGMM). The purpose of data augmentation is to simulate …

Investigating The Bioactivity Of Novel Β-Diketonate Complexes, Celeste Remolina, Dylan Wolfe

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Ruthenium β-diketonate complexes have emerged as promising chemotherapeutics due to their selective bioactivity against tumors. We assessed the bioactivity of novel synthesized ruthenium β-diketonate complexes on human cancer cells as well as wild-type cells. Using cell growth assays, we screened candidate ruthenium complexes and determined the IC50 value for effective candidates. Here we present a model for ruthenium-mediated growth inhibition

Deep Tissue Massage-Induced Muscle Damage Associated With Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms), Stress, And Rhabdomyolysis, Lily M. Ekert, Ella R. Halopka, Micah Maddio, Marisa Wood, Bailey Kerkow, Logan Murphy, Ashley Wise

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Deep tissue massage is a common treatment method used to aid in muscle recovery, reduce pain, and promote overall physical well-being. However, there is limited research explaining its biochemical effects at a cellular level, particularly in relation to muscle damage and systemic inflammation. Severe cases of muscle tissue breakdown are Rhabdomyolysis, which is discussed with an emphasis on clinical evidence rather than biochemical aspects. The goal of this study is to determine whether deep tissue massages cause cellular damage and tissue inflammation. This testing will be done through quantitative measurements of biomarkers within the bloodstream. In previous studies, four specific …

Purification And Investigation Of Bromelain Enzyme From Pineapple, Elsie J. Dahnert, Leah O. Hanson, Regan E. Stafanoni, Reyna Olson, Eion D. Hinkle, Muaj-Infinite S. Yang

Research & Creative Achievement Day

Bromelain proteins are a group of digestive protease enzymes that act as a chemical defense to prevent grazing. Bromelain is often taken as a dietary supplement in an attempt to support digestion, and it is used as a meat tenderizer in the restaurant industry. Extracting Bromelain from pineapple, especially the skin, leaves, and stem of the plant, can create a value-added product from what is widely considered to be agricultural waste. In this research, we examined the difference in Bromelain concentrations between the flesh of the pineapple and the skin, leaves, and stem of the pineapple, and the efficacy of …

Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, In Vitro Antibacterial Activity Of Mononuclear Ag(I) Complex Derived From (E)-N-(4-Fluorophenyl)-1-(Pyridin-2-Yl) Methanimine And Triphenylphosphine Ancillary Ligand., Olufemi Stephen Odulaja, Saliu Alao Amolegbe, Muritala Adeniyi Olusola

Tanzania Journal of Science

Chemo-therapeutic application of metal complexes to remediation and subjugation of emerging infectious diseases with a view to improving potency and efficacy of a variety of drugs is gaining more momentum, especially in the 21st century. This research work designed a new biologically active complex [AgL(PPh3)2]NO3,C, obtained from the reaction of Ag(I) nitrate with bidentate pyridinyl Schiff base ligand (E)-N-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(pyridin-2-yl) methanimine L, with triphenylphosphine (PPh3) as co-ligand. Characterisation was done by FT-IR, UV-Vis, NMR, (TGA/DTA), X-ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. The combined effects of pyridinyl Schiff base ligand and PPh3 on the antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, …

Optimization Of Pediatric Multidetector Ct Imaging Parameters Using A Machine Learning–Based Monte Carlo Simulation Model, Ali O. Masoud, Adithya Rajnaryanan, Khamis O. Amour, Ahmed M. Jusabani, Justin E Ngaile, Manoj Kumar, Mwingereza John Kumwenda Dr

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study utilized Monte Carlo (MC) simulations to optimize radiation doses in pediatric multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) head scans by analyzing key parameters like tube current (mA), tube voltage (kV), pitch, and slice thickness. The findings indicate that reducing tube current significantly lowers the Computed Tomography Dose Index (CTDIvol) and Dose Length Product (DLP), effectively minimizing patient radiation exposure. Higher pitch values (0.7–0.9) further reduced radiation by decreasing beam overlap, while using a thinner slice thickness (0.6 mm) improved dose efficiency. A comparison highlighted the effectiveness of optimization: simulated parameters kVp 100, mAs 81, pitch 0.98 yielded a CTDIvol of …

Theory And Simulations Of Delayed Stochastic And Deterministic Models Of Prion Diseases, Gangadhara Boregowda, Omar Sharif, Daniel Gutierrez Iii, Allegra Simmons, Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, Tamer Oraby, Michael R. Lindstrom

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases, are characterized by the dynamical spread of toxic proteins through the brain. In prion diseases, cellular prion protein (PrPC), produced by neurons, misfolds into a toxic form, known as scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). PrPSc induces neuronal stress which ultimately leads to cell death. In this paper, we develop mathematical models for the progression of prion diseases, incorporating a cellular defense mechanism that introduces a delay term affecting protein translation and a volatility term accounting for unaccounted biological factors influencing the system. We also extend the model to capture the spatial …