Digital Commons Network^™

Influences Of Dietary Enrichment In Juvenile And Adult Male Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia Castanotis) On Cheek Patch Growth And Color, Carley Craig, Mathew Thibodeaux, Mary Tharp, Gabrielle Morris, Woodward Young, Belinda Bagwandeen, Lainy B. Day

Neuroscience Research Showcase

Zebra finches (ZF) are sexually dimorphic. In captive ZFs, enriched diets increase cheek area and alter color, increasing adult male attractiveness. In the wild, breeding and brooding occur when proteinaceous seeds available. Our experiment tests whether supplemental egg food benefits captive non-breeding adults and juveniles.Pre-experiment, adults fed eggs, cuttlebone & bread 2x week. Other facets of our experiment showed enriched diet led to decreased reactive CORT levels and increased body mass, with the largest increase in females.

All authors are affiliated with the University of Mississippi Department of Biology and Neuroscience Minor.

What Effect Does Standards-Based Grading Versus Traditional Grading Have On Standardized Tests For Fifth-Grade Students In Mathematics In Arkansas?, Ruby Dean

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

WHAT EFFECT DOES STANDARDS-BASED GRADING VERSUS TRADITIONAL

GRADING HAVE ON STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS IN ARKANSAS?

Ruby Earlene Dean

This study examined the effects of standards-based grading and traditional grading on standardized tests for fifth grade students in mathematics in Arkansas. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the type of grading system (traditional or standards-based) used to assess student progress makes a difference on the ACT Aspire results in fifth grade in mathematics. The information gleaned from this study will provide school leaders and teachers with information to make more informed decisions to …

Effectiveness Of Wellness Programs For Correctional Officers, Robert Salvatore Petralia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

The Food Waste Challenge, Andrew N. Rowan, Kathleen Rowan

WellBeing News

The world wastes an extraordinary quantity of food, but the issue has begun to be addressed.

Issue 440: April 4-14, 2023, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Duddingtonia Flagrans Aged In Mineral For Gastrointestinal Parasitic Nematode Control In Small Ruminants, Elisa M. Preston

LSU Master's Theses

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are a major constraint to small ruminant health and production throughout the world. Haemonchus contortus commonly known as the “barber pole worm” is a major concern for producers and veterinarians because of the severe anemia, and other clinical symptoms these worms cause. For decades, anthelmintics have been used to control the GIN burden small ruminants face. Katahdin (n=36) and Hampshire sheep (n=12) were used in a randomized block design experiment over a 30-day period. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Duddingtonia flagrans spores, the active ingredient in a commercial product, Bioworma® (International …

Settling Preference Of Nipponaclerda Biwakoensis (Hemiptera: Aclerdidae) On Phragmites Australis Stems, Alexia Catherine Desoto

LSU Master's Theses

Phragmites australis, a wetland grass that stabilizes the Louisiana coastline, has been undergoing a major die-off near the Mississippi River Delta (MRD) since the autumn of 2016. One suspected cause for this plant decline is the attack of an invasive scale insect, Nipponaclerda biwakoensis. We lack information on the host preference of the crawlers, the life stage that decides where to settle and when to start feeding on the plant. The objectives of this study were to identify what positions along the vertical stem N. biwakoensis prefers to settle and what host-plant traits may be influencing this choice. We recorded …

Social-Emotional Learning And Teachers’ Perceptions Using The Collaborative For Academic, Social, And Emotional Learning Framework, Louise Simmon

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.

Maine Farmers Receptive To Seaweed Feed, Nicholas Gosling

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Characterizing The Roles Of Bacterial And Viral Agents In House Crickets (Acheta Domesticus) At Commercial Rearing Facilities In The United States, Kimberly L. Boykin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Feeder insects, and in particular crickets, are becoming more popular as food for humans and domesticated animals. However, disease outbreaks continue to decimate commercial populations. The goals of this dissertation were to characterize the epidemiology of different viral and bacterial pathogens affecting the survival of European house crickets (Acheta domesticus) being raised under mass rearing conditions and identify methods to reduce the impact of these pathogens.

Crickets from nine different producers across the United States were sampled during different seasons to better estimate the prevalence of three pathogenic viruses: Acheta domesticus densovirus (AdDV), Acheta domesticus volvovirus (AdVVV), and …

The Importance Of Urban Eco-Gardens For Biodiversity And Human Sustainability: A Case Study From Palestine, Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, Mohammad H. Najajrah, Elias N. Handal, Johanna Gideon, Mohammed A. Abusarhan, Ruediger Prasse

Cities and the Environment (CATE)

The situation in Palestine is of concern where global threats of climate change, overexploitation, habitat destruction, invasive species, and pollution are compounded by occupation and conflict. Thus, almost 1/3^rd of vascular plant species are rare and over 50 are listed as endangered or rare based on their abundance and presence in grids studied earlier. Here, we describe the development of a conservation botanic garden that works via research, education, and direct in situ and ex situ conservation of plant species. The garden now boasts 381 species of vascular plants (63 are rare). The team scientifically and selectively introduced some …

The Hallmarks Of Precancer, Mary M Stangis, Zhengyi Chen, Jimin Min, Sarah E Glass, Jordan O Jackson, Megan D Radyk, Xen Ping Hoi, W Nathaniel Brennen, Ming Yu, Huy Q Dinh, Robert J Coffey, Martha J Shrubsole, Keith S Chan, William M Grady, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Costas A Lyssiotis, Anirban Maitra, Richard B Halberg, Neelendu Dey, Ken S Lau

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Research on precancers, as defined as at-risk tissues and early lesions, is of high significance given the effectiveness of early intervention. We discuss the need for risk stratification to prevent overtreatment, an emphasis on the role of genetic and epigenetic aging when considering risk, and the importance of integrating macroenvironmental risk factors with molecules and cells in lesions and at-risk normal tissues for developing effective intervention and health policy strategies.

First-Time Market Steer, Ashley T. Longmore, Cheyenne A. Reid

All Current Publications

The target audience for this fact sheet is 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H steer. This fact sheet is a simple outline that will give them more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

First-Time Market Hog, Ashley T. Longmore, Cheyenne A. Reid

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is for 4-H youth who are thinking about or have recently purchased their first 4-H hog. This fact sheet is a simple outline that will give them more information on selection, feeding, housing, basic care, and grooming.

Alcohol Use Among High School Students In Select Florida School Districts, A Comparison Of Pre-Covid And Covid Years, (2019, 2021), Marlee Dauphin, Roohika Rastogi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: The widespread concern about alcohol use among high school students underscores the urgent need for effective prevention and education programs. Comparing underage drinking statistics before and during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential for understanding patterns of behavior during this unique time period. This knowledge can potentially illuminate changes in risk factors and guide targeted interventions to protect the well-being of adolescents in the post-pandemic era.

Methods: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data was used to analyze alcohol use behaviors in six Florida counties. We used student responses to examine alcohol-use initiation and whether they were currently drinking at …

Metabolic Potentation Of Antibiotic Lethality From Carbon Source Preference In P. Aeruginosa And S. Aureus, Pooja Parikh, Trent Moudler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health concern with a dire need for new solutions. This problem has only been exacerbated in recent years due to the misuse of antibiotics and globalization. As new antibiotic drugs are costly and time-intensive, it is imperative to understand and study creative new ways to combat AMR. In both natural ecosystems and clinical infections, microorganisms seldom exist in isolation. Rather, they flourish within polymicrobial communities, presenting unique challenges for therapeutic interventions owing to elaborate inter-species interactions. Two such pathogens are Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA); bacteria commonly found in patients with …

Toxoplasma Gondii Seropositivity And Risky Behaviors In College-Age Adults, Roohika Rastogi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasite that has infected more than 40 million people in the USA. House cats and other felids serve as definitive hosts and acquire Toxoplasma by consuming infected prey and intermediate hosts (e.g. rodents). Toxoplasma is known to manipulate prey neurophysiology to enhance its transmission. For example, infected rodents exhibit changes in testosterone, vasopressin, and dopamine. These neurophysiological changes elicit remarkable changes in host behavior: Toxoplasma-infected rodents are more likely to frequent open spaces and are less responsive to normally aversive stimuli (e.g. cat urine). The manipulation of intermediate host neurophysiology and behavior observed in …

Understanding Molecular Packing Using X-Ray Crystallography, Olivia Livingstone

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Foldamers are molecules that fold into predictable three-dimensional shapes. This project seeks to understand the relationship between foldamer shape, hydrogen bonds and the molecular packing mode. This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between KAIST, a research university in South Korea, and NSU. We solved the single crystal x-ray structure of a foldamer and expanded the molecular contacts using Mercury to understand how intermolecular hydrogen bonds influence the solid-state packing mode. Each foldamer has a helical shape and makes two N-H^….O hydrogen bonds with molecules on the N-terminus, and also two N-H^….O hydrogen bonds with molecules on …

Utilizing Item-Analyses Method To Identify Opportunities For Improving Mental Health Literacy Training Programs, Aashi Chhabra

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that are linked to actions in recognizing, managing, and preventing mental health disorders. Acknowledging the importance of quantifying this information, the study aims to explore differences in mental health literacy among various groups. Understanding these disparities is crucial for designing targeted educational campaigns that address specific concerns within the training curriculum.

Participants (n = 170) enrolled in a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course completed a 15-item pre-survey measuring knowledge and attitudes about mental health. Demographic data was collected, and results were stratified by age, race, gender, and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Serpind1 In A Genomic Lens In Sharks, Vallabh Korivi, Samuel Angel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research investigates differences in wound healing between sharks and humans, focusing on key components in the healing pathway. Sharks are known for their remarkable lesion-healing capabilities. Genes such as SERPIND1 play crucial roles in tissue remodeling for sharks while playing a role in cancer metastasis and inflammation in humans. The SERPIND1 gene codes for plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), which is involved in blood clotting. This clotting process is vital for repairing dermal wounds, sealing off the damaged area, and preventing further blood loss. Comparative genomic analysis reveals distinctions between human and shark SERPIND1 genes at different levels such …

A Comparison Of The Impact Of Colonial Heritage On The Development Of Former Western And Soviet Union Colonies, Sophia Wehle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

How successful were countries colonized by the West in developing compared to countries colonized by the Soviet Union. This paper presented three hypotheses: Former Soviet colonies will be more economically developed than former Western colonies, Former Soviet colonies will be more politically developed than former Western colonies, Former Soviet colonies will be more socially developed than former Western colonies. These hypotheses are derived from the theory that the types of colonialism that the Soviet Union and Western countries practiced were different, meaning that Western European nations created colonies to extract resources from them, rather than to form permanent bonds. This …

A1 Vs A2 Milk Variants And Their Impact On Cysteine Metabolism In Autism-Spectrum Disorder, Esha Patel, Peter Kim

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Dairy cow milk stands as a vital source of nutrients encompassing proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients. This nutritional complexity is heightened by the choice between A1 and A2 milk types. This research probes the distinctions between A1 and A2 milk and their potential implications for cysteine metabolism within the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study focuses on BCM7, a bioactive opioid peptide exclusively released during digestion of A1 milk, and its impact on mitochondrial respiration of macrophage-like THP1 cells.

Using the Seahorse XF for mitochondrial assessment, oxygen consumption rate (OCR), extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), basal respiration, proton leak, …

Assessing Cardiologists' User Experience With Electronic Medical Records And Generative Artificial Intelligence Visualization, Colin Pulickathadam, David Giordano

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year. Artificial intelligence has gained prominence in recent years, and there is a significant interest in exploring how artificial intelligence can improve patient outcomes and decrease hospitalization rates. This study will identify the most critical values that cardiologists consider when evaluating patients’ charts, including factors such as medical history, diagnostic results, and current medications. Additionally, the study explores cardiologists' attitudes towards the integration of AI-generated imagery based on these critical values to enhance the efficiency and quality of patient care. A comprehensive survey will …

Assessing Sociodemographic Impact On Mental Health Experience In University Students, Kaitlin Bohorquez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The COVID-19 pandemic helped shift mental health conversations from taboo to embraced among younger generations. With this shift, young people may be more willing to report on their mental health status, aiding professionals in understanding the relationship between mental health and overall health status. Research supports that factors vary among youth mental health experiences, but gaps in knowledge on the extent sociodemographic factors contribute still exists. This study investigates associations between the mental health experiences (MHE) and sociodemographic factors among college students. This knowledge can inform how to craft mental health programs to suit the needs of diverse university student …

Assessment Of Wearable Vert Technology In Collegeiate Volleyball Athletes, Nicole Stanchfield

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research study is to assess the use of the VERT device with (NCAA Division II Volleyball players. The VERT is a wearable and portable device that measures multiple variables including workload, jump height, frequency, intensity, and impact. Previous research indicates accurate data overall on jump performance which can then be applied to player work loads and injury risk. NCAA Division II Volleyball players included in this study will use the VERT device for one collegiate volleyball season, including practices and games. A typical season includes between 4-5 practices in a week and 1-3 games per week. …

Changes In The Nse And S100b Levels In Plasma Following Treatment With Peripheral Neuropathy-Inducing Chemo Drugs, Shriya Selvakumar, Priya Vontikommu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is a common chemotherapy-induced side effect that impacts 50% of all patients who receive chemotherapy. Treatment with Bortezomib (BTZ), Cisplatin (CIS), and Vincristine (VIN) has been established as the most common triggers of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN) among cancer patients. Therefore, it was hypothesized that identifying diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers that can accurately predict the onset or progression of CIPN would help to determine the eligibility of the above-mentioned drugs for chemotherapy use and also would help to proactively prepare the patients for protective care. Therefore, our initial goal was to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and …

Characterizing Visual Literacy In Biochemistry: Interpreting The Symbolic Language Embedded Within Biochemistry Representations, Sahil Sheth, Manav Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Representations play a key role in communicating concepts and phenomena in courses such as chemistry, biology, and biochemistry. While representations have the potential to help students develop conceptual understanding of a subject, integrating multiple ideas to interpret and use the representations can be challenging. For example, biochemistry students are faced with the unique challenge of having to combine their knowledge of both chemistry and biology to make sense of complex biological structures and processes. Using the Visual Literacy Framework proposed by Schönborn and Anderson, the objective of our study is to investigate the symbolism embedded within biochemistry representations and how …

Climate Change Attitudes About Human Responsibility Among The Nsu Community, Anshu Jasani

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research is about how people self-report climate change attitudes about human responsibility. Self-reports precede actions (Critchfield & Perone, 1990), so a predictive model of attitudes is important. Ransdell (2016) surveyed a similar NSU sample in 2015 and found that 62% reported a belief that climate change is mostly human-caused. The present study is a replication with some additional questions. As before, all with NSU email addresses were sent the survey once, without any incentive or follow-up. In this survey, the main goal was to predict Question 6 which showed participants' views on climate change as mostly human caused. The …

Comparative Genomics Across Ganoderma Species To Identify Anti-Cancer Producing Secondary Metabolite Clusters, Abril Chao, Omobolanle Ayangade, Rajendra Pangeni Ph.D., Braham Dhillon Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom-forming fungus that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. G. lucidum, also known as lingzhi or reishi, is consumed in several Asian cultures to promote health and longevity. Bioactive molecules with anticancer properties have been isolated and characterized primarily from the species Ganoderma lucidum, and the cytotoxic potential of other species in the genus Ganoderma remains relatively unclear. Bioactive molecules isolated from mushroom fruiting bodies are demonstrated to have cytotoxicity against different cancer cell lines. Triterpenes and polysaccharides are the two major groups of compounds that exhibit antitumor and …

Comparative Genomics Across Streptomyces Murinus Strains To Study Conservation Of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Producing Antifungal Compound Pentamycin, Sheril Mathew, Niah Johnson, Vamsi Korisapati, Dhivyan Kurani, Sathvi Gandra, Rebecca Thomas

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Streptomyces are filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria that are known to produce a diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites. A bacterial isolate, labeled Streptomyces murinus strain SPC1, recovered in Davie, FL, from ripe berries of foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) exhibited antimicrobial activity against fungal pathogens of palms (Dhillon and Chakrabarti 2023). Interestingly, the genome of Streptomyces strain SPC1 contains a complete secondary metabolite cluster for antifungal metabolite pentamycin (fungichromin) biosynthesis. Secondary metabolite clusters (SMCs) or biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are groups of genes responsible for the production of bioactive compounds, such as antibacterial and antifungal agents. In …