Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Impact Of Mindfulness Practice On Quality Of Life And Anxiety Levels In College Students, Ope L. Oyeyemi

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Anxiety disorders are becoming more common among college students, seriously affecting their academic performance and overall well-being. This study sought to investigate how current mindfulness practices and willingness to engage in mindfulness relate to psychological outcomes in college students. Participants (N=432) were students ≥ 17 years old recruited from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). Analyses compared differences in levels of anxiety, quality of life, depression symptom severity, cognitive dysfunction, and stress based on participant self-reported willingness to engage and current time spent engaging in mindfulness practices. It is expected that students who currently engage in more mindfulness will …

Natural Lighting As A Strategy For Sustainable Design, Grace Holdsworth

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Modern buildings are increasingly reliant on artificial light to illuminate interior spaces, decreasing the importance of natural light in architectural design. However, the adverse effects of climate change, catalyzing blackouts and rising energy costs, have made this reliance a significant issue. This study aimed to analyze the benefits of daylighting in architectural design and its ability to improve buildings’ sustainability. To examine the impact of sunlight on the perception of a space, a light box study model was constructed, and the interior was photographed periodically from sunrise to sunset. This study highlighted the dynamic quality of sunlight, and its ability …

Analyzing Head Morphology Trends With Increasing Population Density In A Jamaican Lizard Species, Lillian Durand

2024 Fall Honors Capstone Projects - Archive

Anolis lizards are model organisms for studying natural selection and evolutionary processes. One trait that is hypothesized to be advantageous for males is head size, as larger heads lead to stronger bite forces and increased likelihood in outcompeting other males for mates. To better understand how linked head size and intraspecific competition are, the head morphology of male A. lineatopus was analyzed among Jamaican populations with varying levels of population density. Population densities were determined using standardized plot surveys and mark resight models. Head dimensions and body condition for individual lizards were measured at each site. My study found that …

Forced To Weather The Storm: Reforming The Livestock Indemnity Program To Improve Farm Animal Welfare, Cameron Krier Massey

Journal of Food Law & Policy

Each year, extreme weather events put the lives and wellbeing of millions of farm animals at risk. These events can lead to injury, suffering, acute and chronic stress, decreased productivity, and loss of life. As storms increase in frequency and intensity, efforts should be made to ensure livestock are protected. This paper proposes modifications to the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), a federally run disaster assistance program that compensates livestock owners and growers for animal deaths and reduced value caused by eligible conditions, including extreme weather. Surprisingly, the program does not require producers to show proof and use of a disaster …

Incorporating The Pcl-5 Self Assessment Tool In The Treatment Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Using Virtual Reality Therapy, Janette Sanchez

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Background. Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs when individuals experience a traumatic event causing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive difficulties (Sadock et al., 2017). Failure to assess changes in post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can result in ineffective treatments (Department of Veterans Affairs & Department of Defense, 2023). Purpose. Implement the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 screening tool as part of an outpatient clinic’s virtual reality exposure therapy protocol evaluating patients’ perceived effectiveness of virtual reality exposure therapy in post-traumatic stress disorder management. Methods. All staff and providers were educated on the use of the PCL-5 screening tool. Patients were …

Students Participating As Ambassadors For Research In Kentucky (Spark): A Health Equity Undergraduate Research Training Program, Ariel A. Arthur, Rebecca L. Delacerda Allen, Fidelis Y. Sesenu, Maxwell A. Groznik, Carrie B. Oser, Madeline Dunfee, Philip A. Kern, Nancy Schoenberg

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The Students Participating as Ambassadors for Research in Kentucky (SPARK) program provides novel health equity research training and targeted mentorship for undergraduates, particularly those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral research and workforce. SPARK aims to address inadequate diversity in the medical and scientific research fields by providing comprehensive research mentorship and skill-building. Unlike most existing research training programs that are brief, focus on laboratory research, or are limited to graduate students and junior faculty, SPARK delivers a 16-month intensive behavioral and population health science training, equipping students with needed tools to conceptualize, plan, execute, and analyze their …

Myosin Xva Isoforms Participate In The Mechanotransduction-Dependent Remodeling Of The Actin Cytoskeleton In Auditory Stereocilia, Ana I. López-Porras, Ava M. Kruse, Mark T. Mcclendon, A. Catalina Vélez-Ortega

Neurology Faculty Publications

Auditory hair cells form precise and sensitive staircase-like actin protrusions known as stereocilia. These specialized microvilli detect deflections induced by sound through the activation of mechano-electrical transduction (MET) channels located at their tips. At rest, a small MET channel current results in a constant calcium influx which regulates the morphology of the actin cytoskeleton in the shorter ‘transducing’ stereocilia. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this novel type of activity-driven plasticity in the stereocilium cytoskeleton are currently unknown. Here, we tested the contribution of myosin XVA (MYO15A) isoforms, given their known roles in the regulation of stereocilia dimensions during hair …

A Graph Theoretical Approach To Experimental Prioritization In Genome-Scale Investigations., Stephen K Grady, Kevin A Peterson, Stephen A Murray, Erich J Baker, Michael A Langston, Elissa J Chesler

Faculty Research 2024

The goal of systems biology is to gain a network level understanding of how gene interactions influence biological states, and ultimately inform upon human disease. Given the scale and scope of systems biology studies, resource constraints often limit researchers when validating genome-wide phenomena and potentially lead to an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Further, prioritization strategies are often biased towards known entities (e.g. previously studied genes/proteins with commercially available reagents), and other technical issues that limit experimental breadth. Here, heterogeneous biological information is modeled as an association graph to which a high-performance minimum dominating set solver is applied to …

Net Evaporation-Induced Mangrove Area Loss Across Low-Lying Caribbean Islands, Isamar M. Cortés, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Andre S. Rovai, Robert R. Twilley, Mark Chopping, Temilola Fatoyinbo

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Although mangroves provide many beneficial ecosystem services, such as blue carbon storage and coastal protection, they are currently under threat due to changes in climate conditions, such as prolonged drought exposure. Under drought conditions, evaporation exceeds precipitation and high soil salinities can lead to stunted growth and die-back. To quantify this interplay, we developed a database for low-lying and uninhabited mangrove islands in the Caribbean under various evaporation and precipitation regimes. We extracted physical and biological information from each island using remote sensing techniques and coupled it with a process-based model. We used this database to develop a model that …

Enhancing Webtas: From An Atam Simulator To A Developmental Environment, Elizabeth G. Schmidt

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

As interest in a niche research area, like the abstract Tile Assembly Model (aTAM), grows it is crucial to ensure that simulation tools are accessible and user-friendly for a broad audience. Existing resources can pose challenges for less experienced users, highlighting the need for enhancements that improve usability and functionality. To address these issues, key upgrades to the current online simulation platform, WebTAS, were implemented, including breakpoint functionality and nondeterminism checks, alongside features such as XML file integration, image capturing, and simulation view resets. These enhancements collectively elevate the platform from a basic learning tool to a comprehensive environment for …

Evaluation Of Commercially Available Sanitizers Efficacy To Control Salmonella (Sessile And Biofilm Forms) On Harvesting Bins And Picking Bags, Colton Ivers, Samhitha Chalamalasetti, Blanca-Ruiz Llacsahuanga, Faith Critzer, Manreet Bhullar, Londa Nwadike, Umut Yucel, Valentina Trinetta

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

This study evaluated the efficacy of five commercially available sanitizers to reduce Salmonella (sessile and biofilm forms) count on experimentally inoculated materials representative of harvesting bins and picking bags in the fresh produce industry. Sessile Salmonella cells were grown onto tryptic soy agar to create a bacterial lawn, while multistrain Salmonella biofilms were grown in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reactor at 22 ± 2 °C for 96 h. Samples were exposed to 500 ppm free chlorine, 500 ppm peroxyacetic acid (PAA), 75 psi steam, and 5% silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) for 30 sec, 1, or 2 …

Rumen-Protected Methionine Supplementation Improves Lactation Performance And Alleviates Inflammation During A Subclinical Mastitis Challenge In Lactating Dairy Cows, A. Paz, T.C. Michelotti, M. Suazo, J. Bonilla, M. Bulnes, A. Minuti, D. Luchini, E. Trevisi, A.F. Lima, J. Halfen, M. Rovai, J.S. Osorio

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rumen-pro- tected Met on lactation performance, inflammation, and immune response, and liver glutathione of lactating dairy cows during a subclinical mastitis challenge (SMC). Thirty-two Holstein cows (145 ± 51 DIM) were enrolled in a randomized complete block design. At −21 d relative to the SMC, cows were assigned to dietary treatments, and data were collected before and during the SMC. Cows were blocked according to parity, DIM, and milk yield and received a basal diet (17.4% CP; Lys 7.01% MP and Met 2.14% MP) plus 100 g/d of ground corn (CON; n …

Pediatric Slipping Rib Syndrome And Pectus Excavatum: An Occupational Therapy Approach, Haley Bohannon

Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstones

The purpose of this project was to determine how patient/family education increases the quality of life for a child diagnosed with Pectus Excavatum and Slipping Rib Syndrome. As part of the capstone experience, educational handouts for the child and their parent or guardian were developed and refined in coordination with the site mentor to meet the needs of the site. The handouts focus on environmental modifications, occupational adaptations, postural re-education, and body mechanics. The goal of this project was to establish occupational therapy services as a critical component of chest wall deformity care for the pediatric population.

Evaluation Of Pierce’S Disease-Resistant Grapevine Cultivars In Upstate South Carolina, Annie Bruno

All Theses

Interest in wine grape production is increasing in South Carolina, but Pierce’s Disease (PD) caused by the xylem-limited bacteria Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is a major limiting factor. Xf is spread by sap-sucking insect vectors in the Cicadellidae family such as sharpshooters. In the United States, Xf has become endemic to the southeast as global temperatures rise, causing winter temperatures to increase, which allows the bacteria to survive year-round. However, PD-resistant grapevine hybrid cultivars have become available through breeding V. vinifera genes with native American Vitis species that are resistant to Xf. In this study, the PD-resistant grapevine …

Native Seed Scoop, 2024 Post Harvest Edition, University Of Northern Iowa. Tallgrass Prairie Center.

Native Seed Scoop

Contents:

--- Upcoming Events
--- TPC Highlights
--- What's Your Scoop
--- A New Toolkit for Finding CRP Plant Materials
--- Native Seed Plant Stakeholder Meeting
--- News from the Plots
--- New Collections
--- A Scoop of Science
--- In Other News . . .

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing Socio-Economic Impacts Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Plant Diseases And Pests Within Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley N. Fishman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As climate change furthers weather events and unprecedented hot and wet seasons, European farmers are amongst those challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability can be difficult, especially under European Union (EU) agricultural regulations. A key area of concern for some agro-regulations is viticulture, or grape growing, which is amongst the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. These agro-regulations address multiple goals, including sustainability, exports, and cultural heritage protection. Yet, to what extent EU climate-driven agricultural regulations influence regional wine-growing operations’ socio-economics remains unclear, particularly in managing climate-aggravated pests and plant diseases. My thesis aims to …

Notes From The Director, The Mcnair Team

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

A Machine-Learning Approach To Predicting The Achievement Of Australian Students Using School Climate; Learner Characteristics; And Economic, Social, And Cultural Status, Myint S. Khine, Yang Liu, Vivek K. Pallipuram, Ernest Afari

Pacific Faculty Work

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a global survey conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to assess educational systems by evaluating the academic performance of 15-year-old school students in mathematics, science, and reading. In PISA 2022, 13,437 students from Australia participated in the test. While the PISA main questionnaire assesses the subject knowledge, the student background questionnaire solicits contextual information such as school climate, learner characteristics, and socioeconomic status. This study analyses how these contextual variables predict student achievement using the machine-learning models Ridge Linear Regression, K-Nearest Neighbours, Decision Trees, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and …

First Breeding Confirmation For Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis) Along The Big Bend Reach Of The Platte River, Jacob C. Cooper, Cody Mcgregor, Letitia M. Reichart, Janet Steele

Nebraska Bird Review

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is a highly nomadic species of North American nuthatch prone to large movements across the entire continent (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). This behavior has resulted in both a lack of geographic variation across the continent and propensity to colonize isolated patches of suitable habitat (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). In the Bessey District of the Nebraska National Forest (NNF), Red-breasted Nuthatches were one of the first coniferous-forest bird species to colonize and begin breeding in the isolated planted stands of pine (Zimmer 1913, Bray 1994). Despite the increasing number of records for the species …

Index To Volume 92

Nebraska Bird Review

Able, K. A. 131
Adams, H. 88
Alexander, Jan 33
Allard, Savannah 33
Allen: C.R. 167; Edward 58
Allison, Betty 34
Altman, Dakota 33
Ames, Cheryl 68
Amy, Peter 68
Anderson: Ann 157; Brett 32, 34; Logan 61; Rachel 33; Will 125
Andersson, Justin 34
Ani, Groove-billed 134
Archer, Kellen 33
Arends, Jim 34
Audubon, John J. 18, 19, 20
Austgen, Jane 34
Avocet, American 58, 92, 111, 148, 169

. . .

Zach, Joel 34
Zicafoose, Kirby 32
Zimmer, J.T. 167
Zimmerman, Kelsey 63
Zoller, Lawrence 61
Zonotrichia leucophrys: leucophrys 16, 72; oriantha 16, 72

Mccook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, Gary Roberts

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2024 NOU Fall Field Days were held in McCook on September 20–22, with approximately fifty-one people in attendance. The programs were held at McCook Community College Student Union. A special thanks to Boni Edwards and Jan Johnson for planning the meeting.

Field trips were led by Bill Flack—Medicine Creek Reservoir and Cambridge Park, Robin Harding—Red Willow Reservoir and Culbertson Trail, Joel Jorgenson—Swanson Reservoir and Hitchcock County, and T.J. Walker—Rock Creek Recreation Area and Dundy County. Counties included were Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Lincoln, Perkins, and Red Willow.

A total of 139 species were observed with notable sightings …

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

First off, I should reiterate that records are only mentioned in this Introduction and in the text when they add to or fine-tune data included in BONO (Birds of Nebraska – Online (outdoornebraska.gov). It was my expectation that as the number of birders and in particular those reporting to eBird continue to increase, gaps in the database will be filled and my job will become simpler. However, this expectation is yet to be realized, likely due to increasing movements and activity among birds that appears to be due to increasing severity of weather events, such as heat, cold, and drought, …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2024) 92(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, by W. Ross Silcock

First Breeding Confirmation for Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) along the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River, by Jacob C. Cooper, Cody McGregor, Letitia M. Reichart, and Janet Steele

McCook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, by Gary Roberts

Index to Volume 92

Subscription and Organization Information

Black/White Biracial Identity And Sense Of Belonging In High School: A Grounded Theory Qualitative Study, Kathleen Richardson

Education Doctoral

This qualitative research aimed to understand better the identity development and sense of belonging of Biracial high school students. The study used a Charmaz (2012) constructivist grounded theory design to describe the experiences of postsecondary students who self-identified as having one Black parent and one White parent through semi-structured interviews. The study generated an emerging theory for identity development and sense of belonging in secondary educational institutions that can be used by parents, teachers, school leaders, and school policymakers as a framework to improve the high school experiences and student achievement of all multiracial students. The results of this study …

Chemogenetic Neuronal Silencing Decouples C-Jun Activation From Cell Death In The Temporal Cortex, Caleb A Wood, Preethi Somasundaram, Jacob M Dundee, Melissa A Rudy, Trent A Watkins, Joanna L Jankowsky

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Initial symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are often defined by the loss of the most vulnerable neural populations specific to each disorder. In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, vulnerable circuits in the temporal lobe exhibit diminished activity prior to overt degeneration. It remains unclear whether these functional changes contribute to regional vulnerability or are simply a consequence of pathology. We previously found that entorhinal neurons in the temporal cortex undergo cell death following transient suppression of electrical activity, suggesting a causal role for activity disruption in neurodegeneration. Here we demonstrate that electrical arrest of this circuit stimulates the injury-response transcription …

Hypervalent Iodine Based Macrocycles And Their Supramolecular Interactions With Guests, Krishna Pandey

Dissertations

In this contribution, we successfully synthesize different variations of hypervalent iodine macrocycles (HIM) including novel phenylalanine base HIM. Next, this study explores the dynamic self-assembly and disassembly of hypervalent iodine-based macrocycles (HIMs) guided by secondary bonding interactions. The reversible disassembly and reassembly of HIMs are facilitated through anion binding via addition of tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts or removal of the anion by addition of silver nitrate. The association constants for HIM monomers with TBA(Cl) and TBA(Br) are calculated and show a correlation with the strength of the iodine-anion bond. A unique tetracoordinate hypervalent iodine-based compound was identified as the disassembled monomer. …

Modulation Of Piezo Mechanosensors: Exploring The Effects Of Proteinogenic Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids And Propofol, Donggyeom Yu

Dissertations

Organisms are constantly subjected to mechanical stimuli originating from their environment or internal activities. To sense and properly handle such mechanical cues, the conversion of mechanical signals into electrochemical signals occurs continuously within the organisms. Mechanosensitive ion channels (MSCs) are pivotal participants in this process, being ready to open to allow the movement of ions across cellular membranes in response to mechanical stimulation. Piezo1 and Piezo2 mechanosensitive cation channels are evolutionarily conserved MSCs, taking part in various physiological processes, including bone formation and touch sensation. Mutations in Piezo1 or Piezo2 lead to pathological conditions and overexpression of the channels is …

The Disappearing Fishermen, Areli Palomo Contreras

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

The Disappearing Fishermen is one of a series of ethnographic journalism stories about the violence embedded in the web of power structures shaping our global market system. In the Honduran wetlands of the Central American Gulf of Fonseca, these structures result in multiple forms of harm and damage to artisanal fishing communities. During the eighties and the nineties, the shrimp farming industry that settled in these wetlands was conceived to meet the Global North’s “need” for shrimp. Powerful international institutions including the World Bank and development agencies such as USAID provided loans to private companies, while the Honduran government enabled …

Discrimination Against Wayuu Women As A System Of Collective Violence Against The Wayuu Indigenous People In Venezuela And Colombia / Errata Wayuumuin Sumuin Tu’ Wayuu Jiertkaa Jutuma’A Milia’An Jauhtu’U Jumaika’A Heka Jumana’A Tuu Wuomain Eh Venezuerraka Musia Colompianaka, Dayanna Palmar Uriana

Kroc IPJ Research and Resources

I wanted to shed light on the situation of Indigenous women in Colombia and Venezuela, focusing specifically on the situation of Wayuu women living in the northern border of both countries. The identity of an Indigenous woman carries a dual burden—defined by both gender and ethnicity—that determines living conditions and access to rights within a worldview rooted in a collective sense of belonging to an Indigenous people. As a Wayuu Indigenous woman and a human rights researcher, my objective was to identify forms of discrimination by listening to Wayuu women in the territories of both countries. This approach allowed us …

Thermal Modeling Of Cooling Time Of Submarine Dacite Lapilli Tuff: Brothers Volcano, Kermadec Arc, Kyler Byrd

Master's Theses

Little is known about submarine volcanoes' eruptive histories and styles, even though they are essential to developing island arc systems and represent the second largest volcanic systems on Earth. Scientific drilling allows for the opportunity to study these systems. This study focused on two drill sites on Brothers volcano from IODP Expedition 376: Site U1528, located on the resurgent cone, and Site U1530, located on the caldera rim. Expedition researchers analyzed samples for clast radius, density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat. This data was then entered into the heat transfer equation of a sphere to create a cooling curve model …