Digital Commons Network^™

Grass Rejection By Capybaras Can Be Used As A Possible Strategy To Mitigate Road Accidents, André Luiz Gama Nogueira, Sérgio Luiz Gama Nogueira-Filho, Selene Siqueira Da Cunha Nogueira, Denis Sato, Natasha Camilo Maximiano Da Silva, Lilian Elgalise Techio Pereira, Michael Mendl, Adroaldo José Zanella

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Feeding management can be a good strategy for avoiding wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs), which are a worldwide concern. In this study, we aimed to identify grass species that capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) reject as feeding material. These species could be planted to make roadsides less attractive to capybaras and, consequently, decrease WVCs involving this species. We planted 3 grass species (Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk, B. hybrid Mavuno, and Zoysia japonica) in 4 blocks, applying a randomized-complete blocks design. The first 2 species we assumed would be rejected, since some animals do not consume them due to their high …

Cover, Editorial Staff, Journal Information

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This includes the cover caption, editorial staff, and journal information.

Survival Of Translocated Coyotes In The Chicago Metropolitan Area, Usa, Charlotte R. Milling, Chris Anchor, Stanley D. Gehrt

Human–Wildlife Interactions

For nuisance animals, the general public perceives translocation to be a humane alternative to lethal control measures, but survival of translocated wildlife is often quite low due in part to increased movement post-release. Thus, for common species whose relocation generally serves a social rather than conservation purpose, translocation might not be correctly characterized when presented as nonlethal. We quantified release site fidelity and survival of coyotes (Canis latrans) fitted with very high frequency radio-collars and translocated within the Chicago Metropolitan Area, Illinois, USA, from 2000 to 2006. We also compared survival for 14 weeks post-collaring for our translocated …

Cover, Editorial Staff, Journal Information

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This includes the cover caption, editorial staff, and journal information.

Blood Lead Level And School Violence Among Male Secondary School Students In A-Kut City Center/ Wasit Province, Isam Salim Ismaiel, Khalida Abdul-Sattar, Hasan Alwan Baiee

Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Background: Toxic level of blood lead among schoolchildren was associated with violent behavior and may lead to delinquencies and truancy as well as low social skills and poor school performance.

Objective: to assess blood lead level among sample of students in secondary schools in Kut City and determining its relation to violent behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out targeting students in three secondary schools in Kut City/Iraq. A convenience sample of 54 students were selected where; (27 violent students and 27 non-violent students) according to certain reference criteria.

Results: This study shows that 74% of our students had …

On The Ground And From Above: A Multi-Factor Analysis Of The Direct And Indirect Drivers Of Tallgrass Prairie Small Mammal Communities, Erin Rowland-Schaefer

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Tallgrass prairies are among the most globally threatened ecosystems, with only one percent of the historical extent remaining in Illinois. Prairie restoration is an essential strategy to preserve biodiversity and reestablish threatened species. Practitioners use management tools to shift the landscape context of prairie restoration sites, such as prescribed fire and land cover change. Managers can also impact the landscape connectivity and edge proximity of certain areas through the use of mowed driving lanes. The effects of these factors on small mammals, which are central in tallgrass prairie food webs and relevant to human health and restoration success, are not …

Evaluating Computational Reproducibility Of Jupyter Notebooks Using Machine Learning And Natural Language Processing, A S M Shahadat Hossain

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

In recent years, computational reproducibility, which refers to achieving consistent results upon rerunning an experiment, has become one of the major concerns of various research communities. Jupyter Notebook, as a web-based computational notebook application, offers useful features for running and publishing computational experiments through interactive environments. However, rerunning notebooks does not always reproduce the experimental results. This thesis aims to develop novel methods to evaluate reproducibility by comparing different types of outputs between original and rerun notebooks. It also explores the idea of using machine learning models to predict reproducibility of notebooks automatically without the need of rerunning them. Through …

Evaluation Of Conservation Strategies For Blanding’S Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii), Callie Klatt Golba

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Across the globe, biodiversity is threatened due to anthropogenic changes to the environment and large numbers of freshwater species, especially turtles, are facing population declines. Resources for conservation are limited, making empirically based conservation planning of utmost importance. Effective management strategies incorporate relevant biological information to outline specific and feasible actions that will mitigate the greatest threats to a species. Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) are a long-lived, semi-aquatic, freshwater species that are classified as endangered in Illinois and internationally. As with other species of concern, Blanding’s Turtles are threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. They are also threatened by …

The Association Between Disease Burden And Alzheimer's Hospitalization Rates In Older Adults., Autumn Johnson

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2025

Dementia refers to symptoms that impair daily life, including social and intellectual abilities, with memory loss being a key feature. Conditions such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) are major causes of memory loss. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disorder that deteriorates memory and thinking skills, characterized by withdrawal from social activities, mood changes, and confusion about time or place.

Age is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s, alongside non-modifiable factors like genetics and family history. Modifiable factors include physical activity, smoking, education, and social engagement. The Alzheimer’s Association’s 2024 fact sheet emphasizes the need for more research …

Mobile Payment, Financial Behavior And Financial Anxiety: A Multi-Group Structural Equation Modeling Study, Ting An, Jing Jian Xiao, Nilton Porto, Luiz Cruz

Human Development and Family Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety, and explores the mediating role of financial behavior. Moreover, this research also compares the moderating effects of financial education and financial knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 18,584 consumers from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study in the U.S. was analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to explore indirect associations between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety. Two undesirable financial behaviors, overspending and over-indebtedness were used as mediators between mobile payment and financial anxiety. Moreover, multi-group analyses was conducted for two financial knowledge …

Assessment Of Total Petroleum Carbon And Heavy Metals Of Some Selected Plants Grown In Crude Oil Polluted Soils Using Gc-Fid, Pius O. Adah, Ndem E. Edu, Reagan B. Agbor, Henry B. Kogbara

Applied Environmental Research

This study was focused on assessing the phytoremediation potentials of some selected plant species on crude oil contaminated soils. Five plant species were cultivated in soils polluted with crude oil at 10, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg kg-1. The results revealed that there were significant reduction in THC contents of soil ameliorated with the various plants species compared to the control group increases with increasing concentration of crude oil pollutant in soil. THC was 62.24 mg kg-1, 1,120 mg kg-1, 208.67 mg kg-1, 257.87 mg kg-1 and 2,762.79 mg kg-1 for R. simplex, P. balfouriana, K. pinnata …

Long- And Short-Term Weather Variables Affect Capture Rates In Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys Picta Bellii) In Marshall Co., South Dakota, Amy Dolan, Heather L. Waye, Peter Dolan

Biology Publications

Turtle populations are declining globally, and yet accurate long-term population surveys are often lacking. Even amongst widespread species, information on long-term population trends is largely missing. As such, studies on demographics, population structure, and factors that affect capture efficacy are needed. In 2019 we began a long-term study on Western Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta bellii) in the Couteau des Prairie habitat in northeastern South Dakota. We captured turtles using several trapping techniques and investigated the effects of short- and long-term weather variables on catch per unit effort. Temperature was positively associated with daily capture rates, showing the strongest …

A Digital Platform That Integrates Biogeographic, Molecular, And Phenotypic Relationships Of Wild Plants, Fruits, And Associated Insects In Kenya, Bonface Odhiambo Onyango

All Master’s Theses

Museum biocollections contribute to exploratory studies on insects, which are increasingly providing insights into their interactions with fruits. Scientists at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) conducted a study which documented data on biocollections of wild plants, fruits, and associated insects. Despite publishing this study, most of the data records remained secluded within icipe. In addition, the biocollections lacked associated molecular data information limiting the understanding of their phylogenetic relationships.The aim of this study was to digitize the icipe biocollections and integrate the corresponding publicly available molecular barcodes. First, a database was designed.Second, respective barcodes were retrieved …

Optimisation Of Classification Methods To Differentiate Morphologically-Similar Pollen Grains From Ft-Ir Spectra, Laura Scoble, Simon J. Ussher, Mark F. Fitzsimons, Lauren Ansell, Matthew Craven, Ralph M. Fyfe

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

A growing body of research is demonstrating the potential of Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to identify and differentiate morphologically similar pollen taxa. The Poaceae (grass) family is a large and complex with morphologically similar pollen grains. It is not possible to use traditional light microscopy to differentiate Poaceae species, or genus, based on pollen morphological characteristics. This research presents a study of five species from the Poaceae family found across a wide variety of different moorland vegetation communities, to test the extent to which FT-IR microspectroscopy can be used to separate and identify these species and develop statistical approaches for …

Ficus Diversity And Structure Along The Ulot River Riparian Zones In Samar Island Natural Park, Maria Celeste N. Banaticla-Hilario, Anne Frances V. Buhay, Lailani A. Masungsong, Diana Shane A. Balindo, Edelyn O. Echapare, Noba F. Hilvano, Inocencio E. Buot Jr.

Journal Article

Ficus species are keystone components of riparian ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Hence, studying their abundance and diversity in riparian areas can provide insights on the health and functions of the ecosystem. In this study, the diversity of Ficus along the riparian zone of Ulot River in Samar Island Natural Park (SINP) was evaluated by sampling across the upstream, midstream and downstream sections and using diversity indices and descriptive statistics to analyze the data. The Ulot riparian zone supports a phylogenetically diverse Ficus flora composed of 13 species representing five of the six subgenera. Three endemic species were observed namely, Ficus …

Exposure To Air Pollution And Risk Of Respiratory Tract Infections In The Adult Danish Population—A Nationwide Study, Kathrine A. Kaspersen, Sussie Antonsen, Henriette T. Horsdal, Bertram Kjerulff, Jørgen Brandt, Camilla Geels, Jesper H. Christensen, Lise M. Frohn, Clive E. Sabel, Khoa M. Dinh, Ole Hertel, Torben Sigsgaard, Carsten B. Pedersen, Christian Erikstrup

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

Objectives: The association between air pollution and risk of respiratory tract infection (RTI) in adults needs to be clarified in settings with low to moderate levels of air pollution. We investigated this in the Danish population between 2004 and 2016. Methods: We included 3 653 490 persons aged 18–64 years in a nested case-control study. Exposure was defined as the average daily concentration at the individual's residential address of CO, NO_X, NO₂, O₃, SO₂, NH₃, PPM_2.5, black carbon, organic carbon, mineral dust, sea salt, secondary inorganic aerosols, SO …

Comparative Study On Reproductive Behavior Of Three Thai Indigenous Apple Snails Pila Celebensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1834), P. Pesmei (Morlet, 1889) และ P. Virescens (Deshayes, 1824), Supunya Annate

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Species of the Thai indigenous apple snail genus Pila Röding, 1798 are undergoing population decline. Accordingly, their conservation is needed, but the lack of knowledge of their reproductive biology is a significant obstacle to implementing conservation measures. Therefore, this study analyzed the mating and egg-laying behavior of three of the five Thai indigenous apple snails: P. celebensis, P. pesmei, and P. virescens using continuous video recording under laboratory conditions. In addition, the egg-laying behavior of P. virescens in a seminatural habitat was observed in the rainy season of 2023. Moreover, their egg, egg mass, incubation time, and hatchling characteristics were …

A Worldwide Overview Of The Status And Prospects Of Edible Insect Production, R. Caparros Megido, F. Francis, E. Haubruge, P. Le Gall, J. K. Tomberlin, C. D. Miranda, H. R. Jordan, C. J. Picard, M. J.M. Pino, J. Ramos-Elordy, E. Katz, K. B. Barragán-Fonseca, E. M. Costa-Neto, R. Ponce-Reyes, G. Wijffels, S. Ghosh, C. Jung, Y. S. Han, B. Conti, A. Vilcinskas, C. M. Tanga, M. O. Kababu, D. Beesigamukama, J. A. Morales Ramos, A. Van Huis

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

There has been continuous and growing interest in edible insects. Worldwide, various levels of insect farming are emerging, ranging from small domestic farms to vertical farms reaching heights of 36 meters, accommodating several million growing insects. The appeal of insects lies in their ecological benefits, as they contribute to the valorization of unde-rutilized organic residues while requiring minimal space and water. The selection of insect species is influenced not only by their biology and behavior but also by local preferences and customs, varying with the scale of production and geographi-cal location. This review article aims to provide an updated overview …

The Effects Of Native Perennial Cover On Physiological Indicators Of Habitat Quality For Sparrows In California Coastal Prairie Rangelands, Madeleine A. Ybarra

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Prescribed grazing management can have myriad effects on wildlife, with low to moderate grazing being associated with an increased abundance of some grassland birds. Specifically, Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) and Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) abundance have been shown to be positively associated with both grazing and a higher percentage of native plant cover. However, measures of abundance provide an incomplete assessment of habitat quality for birds. Physiological and morphological measurements can help indicate environmental stress in individual birds, which reveals more information about habitat quality. We measured body condition and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios to gauge avian stress …

Single Electrode Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerator For Recognition Of Animal Sounds, Archana Panda, Kunal Kumar Das, Kushal Ruthvik Kaja, Mohamed Belal, Basanta Kumar Panigrahi

Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals

This research presents an innovative and sustainable solution by designing triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for energy harvesting. The fabrication process of TENGs includes PDMS and aluminum. The two single electrode mode TENG was designed one is plain PDMS/Al and the other is porous PDMS/Al TENG devices. The porous PDMS/Al TENG device generated a voltage and current of 7 V and 5 nA for 2 cm ´ 2 cm device area. Moreover, the TENG system was employed to successfully charge capacitors, and recognize various animal sounds. This study underscores the promising potential of harvesting energy from body movements and powering of devices, …

Escarpments Within Mediterranean Seagrass Posidonia Oceanica Meadows Increase Habitat Heterogeneity And Structural Complexity Enhancing Fish Diversity And Biomass, Enric Gomis, Enric Ballesteros, Irene Bernabeu, Karina Inostroza, Miguel A. Mateo, Oscar Serrano

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Seagrass meadows provide important ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, coastal protection from erosion, and sustained biodiversity and fisheries thereby improving the wellbeing and livelihoods of coastal communities. The erosion of millenary deposits of intertwined roots and rhizomes of Posidonia results in the formation of three-dimensional structures named escarpments that constitute a biogenic reef habitat. However, the natural history of seagrass escarpments including their formation processes and their role as habitat for reef fauna and flora remains poorly understood. This research located and characterized Posidonia oceanica escarpments in Menorca (Balearic Islands) and compared structural complexity and fish assemblages among seagrass escarpments, …

Taking Sides? Aspect Has Limited Influence On Soil Environment Or Litter Decomposition In Pan-European Study Of Roadside Verges, A. Amstutz, L. B. Firth, J. I. Spicer, P. De Frenne, L. Gómez-Aparicio, B. J. Graae, S. Kuś, S. Lindmo, A. Orczewska, F. Rodríguez-Sánchez, P. Vangansbeke, T. Vanneste, M. E. Hanley

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

In addition to well-known effects on species ecophysiology, phenology, and distributions, climate change is widely predicted to impact essential ecosystem services such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. While temperature and soil moisture are thought to influence litter decomposition, elucidating consistent soil process responses to observed or predicted shifts in climate have proven difficult to evidence. Here we investigated how aspect (i.e., north-south orientation), a natural model for variation in soil temperature, influenced soil physico-chemical conditions and decomposition of two standardised litter types (Green tea and Rooibos teabags) in Pole-facing (PF) and Equator-facing (EF) roadside verges spanning a 3000 km and …

An Overview Of The Brazilian Chrysomelidae (Insecta: Coleoptera): The Most Species-Rich Beetle Family In Brazil, Adelita M. Linzmeier, Luciano De A. Moura, Cibele S. Ribeiro-Costa, Daiara Manfio, Federico Agrain, Maria L. Chamorro, Geoffrey Morse, Renato Regalin, Lukáš Sekerka

Biology: Faculty Scholarship

The leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) are one of the most species-rich family of herbivorous beetles with about 45,000 species worldwide. Based on the contributions of chrysomelidologists to the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna - CTFB, the family comprises 6,079 species in 562 genera of which 951 species are endemic to Brazil, standing out as the most diverse, representing 4.8% of the Brazilian fauna and 17.1% of the beetle species. Chrysomelidae has twelve subfamilies with nine reported to Brazil: Galerucinae, the richest with 1,916 species in 202 genera, followed by Cassidinae, Eumolpinae, Cryptocephalinae, Chrysomelinae, Bruchinae, Criocerinae, Lamprosomatinae and Sagrinae - this …

Inconsistent Bioreceptivity Of Three Mortar Mixes In Subtidal Sites, Jessica R. Bone, Alice E. Hall, Rick Stafford, Roger J.H. Herbert

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Concrete is extensively used in coastal engineering and development which, in addition to its high carbon footprint, threatens intertidal habitats and ecosystems. Eco-engineering addresses this by designing habitat features into coastal infrastructure. The chemical bioreceptivity of cement has been shown to vary, but ordinary Portland cement is generally considered to be the least bioreceptive. In this study, we compare two low carbon mortars (a natural, single source cement (VP), and an ordinary Portland cement/ ground granulated blast furnace slag blend (GGBS)) with an ordinary Portland cement-based control mix (OPC). The three mortars were made into smooth blocks which were secured …

Examining The Role Of Microbial Communities In Soil Carbon Cycling Across Levels Of Complexity, Chansotheary Dang

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Microorganisms provide the foundation for many ecosystem processes and are important drivers of carbon and nutrient cycling. The advancement of next generation sequencing has allowed researchers to lift open the lid on the ‘black box’ in microbial ecology. While previously unculturable microbes can now be characterized with the 16S rRNA gene, answering ‘who’s there?’ is only part of the challenge. Hidden inside the ‘black box’ remains the question, ‘who’s doing what?’. Recent development in trait-based methods like quantitative stable isotope probing (qSIP) equipped microbial ecologists with the tool to connect taxon-specific traits to ecosystem processes. Despite the growing body of …

Measures Of Feed Efficiency In Beef Cattle: Biological Basis And Effect On Response To Dietary Supplementation, Modoluwamu Idowu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

During the feedlot receiving period, newly weaned beef cattle face various stressors, including weaning, transportation, vaccination, and exposure to pathogens. Additionally, changes in diet and low dry matter intake contribute to nutrient deficiencies, heightening susceptibility to disease and performance declines. Therefore, we examined the effects of dietary supplementation with a multicomponent blend of prebiotics and probiotics on the health, immune status, metabolism, and performance of newly weaned beef steers during a 35-day receiving period. Our results showed that compared to the control group, the supplemental additive (SYNB) increased average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake, and meal events during the …

Development And Implementation Of Occupational Therapy Group Protocols For Individuals In Recovery For Substance Use Disorder: Considering Social Determinants Of Health And Occupational Areas Of Need, Samantha Jane Windisch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are becoming a more widespread issue globally. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million adults in the U.S. suffered from an SUD in 2017. (SAMSHA, 2018). Recurrent alcohol and/or drug use that results in significant disability, including health issues, and/or a failure to prioritize obligations like employment, school, or family life are characteristics of SUD (SAMHSA, 2022). Research suggests that healthcare providers must integrate cutting-edge and successful treatments for this population to lower the risk of overdose and relapse rates, given the swift global spread of addictive disorders. In the past, …

Assessing Associations Between Emergency Room Visits For Respiratory And Cardiovascular Diseases And Criteria Air Pollutants Exposure In New York State, Tamba Solomon Lebbie

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

Air pollution is a major environmental health hazard for the general population. Approximately 90% of the global population is at risk of both indoor and outdoor air pollution, and it accounts for an estimated 7 million premature deaths every year according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Multiple studies including epidemiological and molecular analyses have confirmed the negative effects of air pollutants on human health even at levels within the WHO guidelines. This study examines the health impacts of releases of criteria air pollution from point sources in New York State (NYS). There is evidence from population studies that …

Ivermectin, Colleen Aldous, Eleftherios Gkioulekas, Philip Oldfield

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Influence Of Seasonality And Public-Health Interventions On The Covid-19 Pandemic In Northern Europe, Gerry A. Quinn, Michael Connolly, Norman E. Fenton, Steven J. Hatfill, Paul Hynds, Coilín Óhaiseadha, Karol Sikora, Willie Soon, Ronan Connolly

Articles

Background: Most government efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic revolved around non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and vaccination. However, many respiratory diseases show distinctive seasonal trends. In this manuscript, we examined the contribution of these three factors to the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Pearson correlation coefficients and time-lagged analysis were used to examine the relationship between NPIs, vaccinations and seasonality (using the average incidence of endemic human beta-coronaviruses in Sweden over a 10-year period as a proxy) and the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic as tracked by deaths; cases; hospitalisations; intensive care unit occupancy and testing positivity rates in six …