Effects Of Beaver Dam Analogs On Stream Ecosystem Function Of Crab Creek, Washington State, Nicholas D. Broderius

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

This study documents the effects of beaver dam analogs (BDAs) on nutrient transport, fish community composition, macroinvertebrate drift, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities of Crab Creek, WA, USA. In 2019, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) placed 25 BDAs in Crab Creek on a section of private land near Harrington, WA. Beaver dam analogs are structures placed in streams to mimic the ecosystem effects of beaver activity and are increasingly used as a stream restoration technique. The primary goals of placing these BDAs in the stream was to impound sediment and create a new …

Bryozoan Taxa Of The Toroweap Formation Of Clark County, Nevada, Amy Joy Hess

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

No abstract provided.

Remnant Assessment And Soil Inoculation To Inform Large-Scale Prairie Restoration At Eastern Washington University, Erik E. Peterson

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

The Palouse Prairie of Eastern Washington and Western Idaho, characterized by rolling hills of deep loess soil, is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, with more than 99% converted to tilled farmland. To mitigate this loss, Eastern Washington University has begun prairie restoration on a tilled wheat field adjacent to campus, in the northern extent of the Palouse Prairie Ecoregion. However, effective restoration requires understanding reference conditions, and there are relatively few studies of remnant prairie plant communities or soils, particularly in the Northern Palouse. From north to south in the Palouse Prairie Ecoregion, there are gradients …

Geometric Morphometric Analyses Define Riverine And Lacustrine Species Flocks Of Himalayan Snowtrout (Cyprinidae: Schizothorax) In Nepal, Binod Regmi, Marlis R. Douglas, David R. Edds, Michael E. Douglas

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Freshwater fishes in the river and lake systems in the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau are morphologically diverged but the evolutionary relationship of putative subspecies separated in these freshwater systems has not been explored. Snowtrout (Schizothorax spp.) are minnows (Cyprinidae) broadly distributed in Asia. Body shapes of 3 Lake Rara (northwest Nepal) endemics (S. macrophthalmus, S. nepalensis, S. raraensis) and 2 widely distributed riverine species (S. progastus, S. richardsonii) across 3 drainages in Nepal (i.e. Karnali, Gandaki, and Koshi Rivers) were studied using geometric morphometry. Data were derived from museum voucher specimens/tissues collected …

Modeling Of The Van Der Waals Forces During The Adhesion Of Capsule-Shaped Bacteria To Flat Surfaces, Fathiah Mohamed Zuki, Robert G.J. Edyvean, Hamed Pourzolfaghar, Norherdawati Kasim

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

A novel model is developed to evaluate the van der Waals (vdW) interactions between a capsule shaped bacterium (P. putida) and flat minerals plates in different approach profiles: Vertically and horizontally. A comparison of the approaches to the well-developed spherical particle to mineral surface (semi-infinite wall and spherical) approach has been made in this investigation. The van der Waals (vdW) interaction potentials for a capsule-shaped bacterium are found using Hamaker’s microscopic approach of sphere to plate and cylinder to plate either vertically or horizontally to the flat surface. The numerical results show that a horizontal orientated capsule shaped bacterium to …

Online Support-Provision In The Self-Disclosure Of Eating Disorders, Nur Azwin Zulkarnain, Jariah Mohd Jan, Ridwan Wahid

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

This paper highlights the importance of appropriate communication with individuals who suffer from eating disorders (ED). The negative perception that society has towards ED often leads its patients to conceal their problems and avoid seeking help (Perveen et al., 2017). Understanding the manners in which support-providers approach ED patients in order to eliminate the fear is therefore important. Data was collected from the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website from January to March 2018, where support-providers' responses to posts of self-disclosure were qualitatively analyzed through computer-mediated discourse analysis (CMDA) using McCormack's (2010) Categories of Social Support and Blum-Kulka and Olshtain's …

Youth Awareness Level Towards Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs) In Greater Kuala Lumpur, Zul Ilham, Wan Abd Al Qadr Imad Wan-Mohtar, A.A. Jamaludin

Research Publications (2021 to 2025)

In 2015, the United Nations initiated the Sustainable development goals (SDGs) to address the global changes while ensuring better and sustainable actions for the future. Among Asian countries, Malaysia has also made an effort to integrate the SDGs into its national development plan. In this study, the awareness level of youth from high schools in Greater Kuala Lumpur towards Sustainable Development Goals has been assessed through questionnaires with 60 questions given to 421 respondents. Sufficient levels of feedbacks for the whole population were acquired (Confidence level: 95%, Margin of error: 5%). Five schools were selected and grouped into 3 types: …

Extending Animal Welfare Science To Include Wild Animals, Walter Veit, Heather Browning

Animal Sentience

Ng’s (2016) target article built on his earlier work advocating a science of welfare biology (Ng 1995). Although there were problems with the models proposed in Ng’s original paper regarding the balance of pleasure and suffering for wild animals, his call for a science of wild animal welfare was a sound one. This does not require a new discipline but just an extension of the existing frameworks and methods of animal welfare science to include wild animals.

International Rule Of Law And Domestic Courts: A Few Concerns, Akhila Basalalli

Articles

The manifestation of the international rule of law appears as one of the possible paths to check the rule of power and establish an egalitarian system. Many international organizations have emphasized on the international rule of law in their objectives and mandates and have called the states to act in their service. The domestic courts have resonated with the call by exhibiting internationalism in their decisions. The international norms have been domesticated by the courts by adopting several incorporation and interpretation methods. The domestic courts, therefore, have been called as the ‘agents’ in the service of international law and protectors …

Analyzing Perceptions Of Citizen Science As Part Of An International Learning Experience, Katelyn Marie Miner

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study focused on a perceptions-based citizen science project that emphasizes meaning over measurement. Specifically, student perceptions of citizen science in a unique location, rather than the specific data outcomes of the water quality citizen science activity were analyzed. Many researchers have used citizen science participants to collect samples from water sources around them, increasing the use of mass data collection for scientific purposes.This study was a mixed-methods design, using triangulation of the pre-survey, modified focus group, and post-survey. The goal was to gauge the perceptions of participants in perceived benefits and gains before and after participating in a water …

Examining Individual Differences In Attitudes Toward The Insanity Defense, Dominique M. Kornely

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of the present study was to examine how individual differences in stigma against people who are mentally ill, free will beliefs, just world beliefs, and sentencing goals are associated with attitudes toward the insanity defense. Because there are many misconceptions about what the insanity defense is, and how it is actually used as a sentence, the Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) plea may be underutilized due to public opinions reflecting misunderstanding and/or possible biases (Perlin, 2017). Understanding the relation between individual beliefs and attitudes about the insanity defense would help to better understand potential biases present …

Quantifying Carbon Sequestration For Riparian-Zone Restoration In Ecuador, Paula Carvalho De Castro

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Carbon sequestration supported by carbon pricing and carbon offset programs has the potential to mitigate the risks associated with environmental change. Riparian-zone restoration, beyond enriching degraded ecosystems, promotes carbon sequestration. With that premise, this study aims to estimate and compare how much carbon is captured and stored using six riparian-zone restoration scenarios for the Northwestern part of the Pichincha Province in Ecuador and the economic value of the respective carbon. The InVEST Carbon Storage and Carbon Sequestration Model which integrates land cover maps, carbon pools, and economic value of carbon in currency units was used to quantify the amount of …

Maintaining My Humanity In Medical School, Max Lydiatt

EMET Projects

No abstract provided.

Recent Developments In Targeting Genes And Pathways By Rnai-Based Approaches In Colorectal Cancer, Asiyeh Jebelli, Behzad Baradaran, Jafar Mosafer, Amir Baghbanzadeh, Ahad Mokhtarzadeh, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

A wide spectrum of genetic and epigenetic variations together with environmental factors has made colorectal cancer (CRC), which involves the colon and rectum, a challenging and heterogeneous cancer. CRC cannot be effectively overcome by common conventional therapies including surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormone replacement which highlights the need for a rational design of novel anticancer therapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that RNA interference (RNAi) could be an important avenue to generate great therapeutic efficacy for CRC by targeting genes that are responsible for the viability, cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, metastasis, and invasion of CRC cells. In this review, we …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Advanced Functional Properties Of Well-Defined Nanoscale Building Blocks, Patrick Campbell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Nanotechnology is the science and engineering conducted at dimensions of 1–100 nanometers, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. In the last decade, engineered nanoparticles have become an important class of new materials with several properties that make them very attractive for commercial development.

This MSc research successfully accomplished the synthesis of uniform AgDeNPs, IrO_2-x core shells, 3-D hematite NPs, 1-D hematite NPs and subsequent creation of thin films of hematite NPs. These nanostructures were investigated for potential applications that included sensing, catalysis, water splitting and construction of pigments. This was accomplished by synthesizing uniform NPs of defined shape and …

Role Of Training Mode On Individual And Group Responses To Sprint Interval Training, Lauren T. Digby, Seth F. Mccarthy, Claudia Jarosz, Derek P.D. Bornath, Jessica A.L. Tucker, Tom J. Hazell

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Improvements in V̇O_2peak decrease the risk of heart disease and all-cause mortality, and is predictive of overall health. This study compared the group and individual responses of V̇O_2peak, as well as group responses of aerobic performance and anaerobic capacity following running and cycling sprint interval training (SIT) to determine the optimal modality. Twenty-three recreationally active young adults (males: n = 16, BMI = 27.5±4.9; females: n = 7, BMI = 23.6±3.0) completed 3 training sessions/week for 3 weeks (9 sessions). Pre- and post-testing measures included: aerobic capacity (V̇O_2peak), aerobic performance (time trial), and anaerobic capacity …

A Bioinformatic Analysis Of The Biosynthesis Of Carotenoids In The Copepod Tigriopus Californicus, Anchalya Balasubramaniam

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Abstract

Biological pigments, also called biochromes, are coloured compounds which are displayed by a variety of life forms, including animals, due to selective colour absorption. The combination of light absorption and reflection enables each pigment to portray a distinct colour which results in the broad spectrum of colours we observe in our surroundings. Carotenoids are a large group of yellow, orange, and red biological pigments found in living organisms. Our current biomolecular knowledge of carotenoids is heavily derived from studying the pathway in photosynthetic prokaryotes, bacteria, fungi, and plants. Carotenoid pigments are exceptionally multifunctional as they act as photo-protectors against …

"Learning" To Feel Valued: Exploring The Impact Of Community Service Learning On Student Mattering And Mental Health, Emily Weatherhead

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Post-secondary students are facing an unprecedented level of mental health concerns. While treating mental illness has traditionally been prioritized, mental health promotion strategies are also essential. Existing research has shown that mattering, one’s ability to feel valued by and add value to their community, can promote positive mental health in post-secondary students. Using mixed methods, the goal of this research was to explore the potential of community service learning (CSL), which allows students to participate in community placements in exchange for course credit, to increase student mattering and positive mental health. Pre- and post-online surveys were administered to a sample …

Drivers And Consequences Of Alnus Alnobetula (Green Alder) Distribution At The Taiga-Tundra Ecotone Of The Northwest Territories, Cory Wallace

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Climate warming in the Arctic is occurring considerably faster than the global average. One of the most widespread biological responses to this warming in terrestrial systems has been a marked increase in the productivity of shrubby vegetation. Increased shrub growth and reproduction has the potential to alter both local and global aspects of ecosystem function, making understanding its drivers and environmental impact an important research priority. In this context, considerable research has focused on characterizing relationships between shrub cover, abiotic conditions, and understory communities. However, fewer studies have co-located measurements of these components simultaneously in undisturbed tundra shrub patches to …

Wildlife Forage Recovery Following Boreal Wildfire, Alexis Jorgensen, Jennifer Baltzer

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Climate change is altering the boreal wildfire regime through increases in the extent and severity of burning and reductions in fire return intervals. These changes can alter the regeneration trajectory of canopy species and ground vegetation, with implications for wildlife habitat. There is some uncertainty about the timelines of when different animal species will use burned areas as their preferred forage taxa recover following fire, and how such recovery is mediated by environmental factors. Here, we aim to address these knowledge gaps through the following questions: 1) What are the main forage types consumed by boreal wildlife and how much …

Collaboration, Knowledge-Sharing And Natural Hazard Risk Management In The Greater Pinery Provincial Park Region, Madeline Mcfadden

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In Canada, parks and other forms of protected areas are visited by tens of millions of people annually. By their very nature, parks and protected areas present various risks that must be mitigated. Risk management is an area of research that is receiving increased attention because in recent years, natural hazards (e.g. effects the environment) and disasters (e.g. effects the environment and humans) have exacted significant economic, social, health, cultural, and environmental impacts on persons and communities across Canada. Natural hazards, which pose significant risks to the natural environment and those individuals who inhabit or visit them, are expected to …

Investigating The Antitumor Effects Of A Dsrna-Nanoparticle Complex In An In Vitro Ovarian Cancer Model, Aaron Lewis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

An estimated 1 in 70 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in their lifetime. Despite advanced detection and treatment methods, it remains a silent killer with an expected survival rate of 50%. A developing method in cancer treatment is the use of compounds that stimulate the immune system to aid in the body's fight against the disease. This project focused on the use of the potent immune stimulant double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), commercially available as polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, poly(I:C), to induce cytotoxicity in two ovarian cancer cell lines; SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3. Some challenges exist with the delivery of dsRNA due to …

Physiological Impacts Of Lampricides On Invasive Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon Marinus) And Non-Target Fishes, Razvan, Adrian Ionescu

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Parasitic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) ingest large quantities of blood from fishes using their oral disc and rasping tongue, most often killing the host. In the early 1900s, sea lamprey invaded the Laurentian Great Lakes, decimating sport, commercial and culturally significant fisheries. Since the early 1960s, chemical control using the lampricides 3- trifluoromethyl-4-nitrophenol (TFM) and niclosamide have helped to reduce sea lamprey populations by 90%. Lampricides are applied to larval lamprey nursery streams targeting many generations of lamprey at once. However, there is concern about the potential adverse effects of lampricides on other fishes, particularly vulnerable lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) …

How Did We Learn About Sex? —— Sex Education And Sexual Health In Chinese Youth, Yujuan Liu

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Attitudes toward sexuality among Chinese youth have become more liberal in recent generations, but sex education remains controversial and limited. Due to the lack of awareness of sexual risks, many Chinese youth engage in unprotected sexual activities resulting in unintended pregnancy, abortions, and STIs. Therefore, understanding successful pathways and unique challenges are crucial to develop adequate sex education for youth’s sexual health in China. The current study used semi-structured in-depth interviews and investigated 28 Chinese youths’ experiences of sex education and sexual health. The results mapped out youth’s sex education experiences by age and sources and demonstrated the impacts of …

The Effects Of Fermented Vegetable Consumption On The Composition Of The Intestinal Microflora And Levels Of Inflammatory Markers In Women: A Pilot And Feasibility Study, Amy Galena

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The gut microbiome plays a key role in metabolic disease development. Diet is a modifiable factor that significantly influences gut microbial composition, and fermented foods are a reliable source of probiotic microorganisms that can contribute to gut homeostasis. The primary objective of this study was to explore the feasibility of fermented vegetable consumption for six weeks on markers of inflammation and gut microflora profiles in women.

Methods: Thirty-one women consumed 100 g/day of fermented vegetables (group A), non-fermented vegetables (group B), or no vegetables (group C) for six weeks. Dietary intake was assessed twice during the intervention by a …

An Examination Of The Impact Of The Covid-19 Health Threat, Stress, And Social Isolation On Lifestyle Habits As Analyzed Through The Protection Motivation Theory, Luciana Adib Soares

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 emerged in China in 2019 and quickly spread to other countries, leading to mandated lockdowns and social isolation. This cross-sectional study examined the impact of the COVID-19-generated stress, health threat, and social isolation on dietary, physical activity, and self-care habits of adults in Florida, utilizing the PMT as a framework. Participants (n = 478) completed online surveys about demographics, perceived stress, and changes in lifestyle habits. Significant positive changes were reported in cooking at home (p < .001) frequency, sweets (p < .001), and breakfast (p = .009) consumption, outdoors physical activity (p = .005), self-care (p < .001), relaxation (p < .001), and rest (p < .001) habits. Significant negative changes were reported in fast food (p = .004) and snack (p < .001) consumption. A significant relationship existed between self-reported stress, perceived threat, (r = .33, p < .001), and perceived efficacy, (r = -.15, p = .002). Perceived threat was the most important predictor of changes …

The Relative Contribution Of The Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) To Periwinkle Snail (Littoraria Irrorata) Predation Mortality In The Lower Salt Marsh Intertidal Of Northeast Florida, Amanda Paige Small

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In top-down regulation of ecological communities, predation of grazers is critical for maintaining the presence and growth of essential vegetation. The periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) is a ubiquitous grazer in Atlantic salt marshes that can defoliate patches of Spartina alterniflora when populations are extremely dense. On the east coast of Florida, multiple predators could contribute to periwinkle population control maintaining this critical habitat. This study aimed to determine if the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is the primary predator of periwinkle snails in the salt marsh lower intertidal. Tethering was utilized to assess if periwinkle mortality is …

Investigation Of The Multidimensional Determinants Of Nutritionally Risky Coping Strategies And Tradeoffs In Adults, Cheryl Marsland

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multidimensional determinants influence use of negative nutrition coping strategies and tradeoffs in households accessing food relief. The objective of this study is to examine negative nutrition coping strategies and tradeoffs at different levels of food insecurity in households accessing food relief and investigate how these behaviors relate to experience-based food insecurity dimensions and populations at risk. This secondary data analysis is from the cross-sectional Sunshine State Hunger Survey (SSHS) conducted June 2018 to August 2018. Over 600 adults were surveyed capturing households of Floridians who accessed 18 direct service charities and community groups that provide food relief across the Tampa …

Benthic Microalgae Response To A Warming Climate And Shift In Foundational Vegetation Species In A Saltmarsh-Mangrove Ecotone, Gabriela Canas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The ecotone in Northeast Florida is experiencing rapid change as mangroves begin to encroach northward into saltmarsh dominated coastal wetlands. This is especially prevalent within the boundaries of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve where studies are attempting to understand the consequences of more mangroves. Although we are beginning to understand some of the implications of this shift in dominant vegetation, the true effects and the accompanying sustained climatic warming effects on the resilience of wetland habitats and their associated communities remains unknown. Primary producers such as benthic microalgae (BMA) are important food sources in both mangrove and …

A Mixed Methods Study Examining The Barriers And Facilitators To Research Utilization And Evidence-Based Practice In Adult Weight Management, Kevin B. Metcalf

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background

Obesity is a disease with many associated comorbidities and its prevalence in the U.S. continues to increase despite the majority of people with obesity attempting weight loss. Dietitians are responsible for using evidence-based practice to mitigate the effects of obesity, however, differences in practice philosophies, opinion leaders, misinformation, a sense of competence, and the complexity of nutrition research have been identified as barriers to implementing practice guidelines into daily practice. It is unclear how dietitians strike a balance between empirical evidence, anecdotal evidence, and patient-centered practice.

Aims

The primary aim of this mixed-methods study was to identify the barriers …