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Understanding The Origin Of Parthenogenesis Via Crossing And Crispr Gene Editing In Daphnia Pulex, Thinh Pham

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Daphnia has been used as a key model system for studying ecological changes, evolution, and genomics for the past few decades due to its rapid turnover time in reproduction. The organism possesses two fascinating modes of reproduction: obligate parthenogenesis and cyclical parthenogenesis. This dissertation delves into the intricate reproductive strategies of Daphnia pulex, focusing on hybrid F1s from different reproductive modes. The first aim is to investigate 31 hybrid F1s generated from obligate parthenogenesis (OP) and cyclical parthenogenesis (CP) parental lines. Transcriptomic analysis reveals misexpression patterns and regulatory divergences, highlighting meiosis-related genes like CDC6 as potential parthenogenesis regulators. The …

Exploring Ecological Drivers Of Evolution Of The Brain, Cognition, And Behavior, Meghan Korte

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Evolutionary theory proposes that increases in brain size confer cognitive and behavioral benefits that offset the expensive investment in brain tissue. However, few studies have examined the relationship between brain size, cognition, and behavior within species. The majority of research has focused on cross-species comparisons, thus there is a need for empirical research within species examining how contrasting ecological pressures select for cognitive and behavioral benefits and how these may evolve in tandem with changes in brain size. My dissertation addresses this gap by examining: 1) Whether selection on brain size is linked to improvements in cognitive ability; 2) How …

Managing Stress: A Study Of Stress Response Mechanisms In Mycobacteria, Augusto C. Hunt Serracin

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Mycobacteria encompass many pathogenic species known to cause severe disease in humans. A well-known example is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of the lung disease tuberculosis, which kills millions of humans worldwide yearly. Pathogenic mycobacteria like Mtb are challenging to treat because of their innate ability to adapt to environmental stress. Their unique cell physiology and conserved stress responses allow them to combat biological insults, regulate growth, and regulate genes involved in stress; all these responses increase tolerance to antibiotics. The current therapies to treat mycobacterial infections are lengthy and, at times, unsuccessful, partly due to antibiotic tolerance. A …

A New Model For Polar Growth In Mycobacteria: The Role Of Wag31 And Mmpl3 In Cell Wall Synthesis, Neda Habibi Arejan

Biology Dissertations - Archive

The disease Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis and was the cause of over one million deaths worldwide in 2023 (World Health Organization, 2023). TB treatment is difficult due to antibiotic tolerance and emerging resistance in Mtb strains. Mycobacterial cells have different regulatory mechanisms that allow them to adjust to myriad environmental stressors: these responses often lead to antibiotic tolerance. Therefore, studying responses to stress will lead to insights about antibiotic tolerance and treatment failure. Here, we specifically study two essential mycobacterial proteins, Wag31 and MmpL3, involved in cell wall metabolism. We show that Wag31 has distinct …

Friends With Benefits: How Picking The Right Partner Pays Off, Patrick T. Stillson

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Animals are highly dependent on microbial symbionts for nutrient supplementation, parasite protection, toxin resistance, and more. While these microbes are important, these associations have the potential to shift from mutualistic to parasitic across environments and over time. Eight insect families from the hemipteran infraorder Pentatomomorpha have evolved a highly specialized relationship with bacteria in the genus Caballeronia. The symbiont is a free-living microbe, acquired from the environment each generation during early host development. By manipulating environmental conditions, I used the bug-Caballeronia model 1) to investigate whether symbionts with greater growth rates at high temperatures prevent hosts from experiencing …

Role Of Extracytoplasmic Function (Ecf) Sigma Factors In The Survival And Symbiosis Of Nitrogen-Fixing Bradyrhizobium Under Desiccation Stress And Comparative Analysis Of Desiccation-Tolerant Rhizobial Isolates, Mohammad Kamruzzaman

Biology Dissertations - Archive

Rhizobia are soil bacteria that facilitate biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) through a symbiotic relationship with legumes such as soybeans. As an eco-friendly alternative to chemical nitrogen fertilizers, rhizobial inoculants can enhance plant growth and yield. However, they face various stresses, including drought (i.e., desiccation). Rhizobia can manage desiccation stress by accumulating trehalose, a disaccharide produced by genes such as otsA, otsB, and treS. Extracytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors sense external signals and regulate these desiccation-related genes during the stress. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of EcfG in response to desiccation stress and symbiosis. Based on the protein sequence …

A Perceptual Investigation Of Speech Rhythm Based On A Continuum Of Durational Change, Matthew Benton

Linguistics & TESOL Dissertations - Archive

Speech rhythm is a complicated prosodic feature of spoken languages. Being a suprasegmental feature, it is not a clear cut difference between tonal (Chinese) and non-tonal (English) languages. The popularization of defining languages in terms of their speech rhythms was popularized in the mid 1900’s. Terms like syllable-timed and stress-timed were coined and ever since then there has been much debate on what is a speech rhythm and why particular languages have different rhythms. While speech rhythm was initially a study based on how a listener perceived a spoken language, it became much more focused on measurements and attempts to …

Enhancing Electromigration Reliability In Solder Interconnects Through Microstructure Control And Thermomechanical Failure Mechanisms In Thin Metal Lines Under Surge Current Conditions, Hariram Mohanram

Material Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

The relentless miniaturization of semiconductor devices has intensified reliability challenges in electronic packaging, particularly for solder interconnects and thin metal lines. This dissertation investigates two critical failure mechanisms—electromigration (EM) and thermomechanical fatigue (TMF)—and explores strategies to mitigate these effects. Electromigration, driven by high-density current-induced atomic migration, significantly impacts solder interconnects. This study examines the role of Under-Bump Metallization (UBM) and solder microstructure in improving EM reliability. Findings reveal that thicker UBMs delay void nucleation and enhance EM resistance, while the absence of UBM leads to failure through vertical void propagation. Additionally, grain orientation, particularly the c-axis alignment in Sn grains, …

Optimal Control Frameworks For A Class Of Epidemiological And Oncological Models, Asma Ali H Alghamdi

Mathematics Dissertations - Archive

In this thesis, we employ optimal control frameworks in two distinct contexts: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and esophageal cancer. For HIV, we introduce a comprehensive data-driven nonlinear optimization framework designed for personalized therapies. This framework utilizes a deterministic in-host nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) model and formulates two optimization problems using individual patient data. The first problem focuses on estimating patient-specific parameters through constrained optimization, while the second problem determines optimal combination therapies to reduce viral load to undetectable levels. Several numerical experiments suggest that our framework can provide a robust and effective optimal dosages with lower toxicity levels to …

Evaluating Factors Influencing Wound Healing: A Mixture Cure Rate Model Approach, Anoushka Khayar

Mathematics Theses - Archive

The study focuses on healing of chronic wound. A cure rate and probabilities of patients are calculated and visualized byusing Proportional Hazards Mixture Cure (PHMC) Model. This study reveals that alkaline wounds tend to heal slower than non-alkaline wounds, with significant differences between male and female patients. To be specific, males generally exhibit slower wound healing in both alkaline and non-alkaline conditions compared to females. This study also reveals the need for future research into biological, environmental and social factors, such as hormonal imbalance, living conditions and caregiver support among the patients.

Statistical Analysis On The Effects Of Environmental Factors On Bridge Condition Rating In Texas, Mohammad Wasif Quadri

Civil Engineering Theses - Archive

The development of predictive models for bridge deterioration is crucial for ensuring the longevity and safety of transportation infrastructure. Bridge condition degradation is heavily influenced by environmental conditions. This research integrates various environmental variables such as rainfall, humidity, air temperature, coastal influence, and freezing effects to generate environmental risk scores. These scores help in developing environmental risk zones within the Texas region. Deck condition ratings from the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) database are used to develop deterioration models using linear regression and the Markov method. The results highlight the impact of different environmental risk zones on bridge degradation patterns and …

The Establishment And Sustainment Of Trauma-Informed Culture Perspectives Of Trauma-Sensitive Principals In Elementary Public Schools, Elizabeth R. Foreman

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

The COVID-19 pandemic brought much awareness to the public education system and the role it plays in alleviating the adverse effects of childhood trauma. However, extant literature has focused mainly on classroom-level interventions rather than school-wide interventions implemented by school leadership. This study examines the perspectives of trauma-sensitive principals in public elementary schools on implementing TIPs. The research questions that guided this study are as follows: What are elementary principals' perceptions regarding implementing school-wide TIPs? What are the leadership approaches of principals in trauma-informed schools? Two findings were identified: (1) principals proactively establish a trauma-informed culture, and (2) principals sustain …

Student Knowledge Of Sexual Assault Resources, Kali Forden

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Despite the changes in policy and the endorsement of mandatory reporting among college students over time, less than half of survivors of sexual assault report the incident to police or university officials (Cantor et al., 2020). Further, while there is little research on the subject, Moore and Baker (2016) found that a student’s residence can influence whether they report a sexual assault. This project sought to extend this research to determine whether a student’s residence and knowledge of available resources effects the likelihood to report a hypothetical sexual assault. Additionally, it sought to determine the relationship between reporting a sexual …

The Federal Future Of Medication Abortion, Michelle S. Simon

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

A majority of Americans believe that there should be a right to abortion, at least in some cases. Yet a vocal and determined minority has its sights set on a complete ban on all abortions everywhere in the United States. In many states, these anti-abortion activists have achieved their goal through new laws and limitations enacted in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs. Anti-abortion advocates are also challenging the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory approval of mifepristone, one of the drugs used in medication abortion (also known as medical abortion). The FDA had initially approved mifepristone …

Displacing Climate Precarity, Camila Bustos, Julia Neusner

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In this Essay, we explore these questions and present a two-part argument. In Parts II and III, we argue that because climate change is exacerbating other drivers of displacement, it is seldom possible to attribute movement to any single factor or to categorize movement conclusively as voluntary or involuntary. Therefore, expanding pathways to safety for all people on the move is the best approach to protect those displaced, directly or indirectly, by climate change and environmental disasters. In Part IV, we argue that, despite attribution and definitional challenges with regard to climate-related mobility, documenting and assessing the role of climate …

Two-Year Clinical Performance Of The Indirect Resin Composite Restorations In Endodontically Treated Teeth With Different Cavity Preparation Designs: A Randomized Clinical Trial., Mohamed Fouad Haridy, Hoda Omar Fouda, Hend Sayed Ahmed, Shehabeldin Saber, Maha Elbaz, Olfat Hassanien, Ahmed Abuelezz

Dentistry

No abstract provided.

United States Court Of Appeals For The Tenth Circuit, Abigail Frische, Eleanor C. Hasenbeck

Water Law Review

No abstract provided.

Developments At The United Nations International Law Commission On Sea-Level Rise, Claudio Grossman

Scholarly Articles in Law Reviews & Journals

Sea-level rise is a pressing global challenge that could generate catastrophic consequences for humankind. The implications for States and people all over the world are grave, making rising sea-levels a matter of utmost urgency. This paper will examine some of the challenges presented by the phenomenon of sea-level rise in relation to international law with a focus on the analysis undertaken by the Study Group on Sea-Level Rise (“Study Group”) of the United Nations International Law Commission (“ILC”).

Architectural And Training Regime Modifications To Transformer Models For Low Data Applications, Azwad Tamir

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

A significant catalyst of the recent Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning revolution is attributed to large language models (LLMs), which include many prominent AI systems such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Gemini. The majority of high-performance LLM models are based on the transformer architecture and the primary factor behind the recent enhancement in the performance of these models is attributed to the increase of layer quantity and dimensionality, resulting in an exponential rise in the total number of learnable parameters, necessitating substantial data for effective training. This may pose a significant barrier in certain application domains, such as bioinformatics, pharmaceutical research, …

Bridging Data And Theory: A Gray-Box Approach To Traffic Flow Dynamics, Shakib Mustavee

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

The dissertation demonstrates the applicability of the data-driven dynamical systems (DDS) approach at both macroscopic and microscopic scales to extract mathematical structures from observed traffic data. Firstly, a novel DDS model is developed to capture the evolution of queue lengths in a signalized arterial corridor, dividing the dynamics into quasiperiodic and chaotic components. The proposed model effectively captures nonlinear dynamics from time series data. The Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) method is employed to estimate mathematically guaranteed Koopman eigenvalues and functions of the system, providing valuable insights into the periodic and chaotic behaviors of the system. Secondly, to further characterize …

Computational Approaches To Study Post Transcriptional Regulation Events, Naima Ahmed Fahmi

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

A simplistic understanding of the central dogma falls short in correlating the number of genes in the genome to the number of proteins in the proteome. Post-transcriptional regulation, including alternative splicing and alternative polyadenylation contribute to the complexity of the proteome and is critical in understanding gene expression. In this dissertation, we aim to provide genome-wide detection and visualization of the transcript variants and quantify their significance in gene regulation. First, we propose a robust computational program to identify alternative splicing events from RNA-seq data, called AS-Quant. Our extensive experiments on simulated and real datasets demonstrate that AS-Quant can accurately …

Evaluating Sexual Dimorphism In Occipital Morphological Shape Through Modern Human Ontogenetic Changes, Jennifer S. Barritt

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation post-2024

Sex estimation is vital to building the biological profile in forensic anthropology. Cranial nonmetric traits are often used in adult sex estimation due to their sexually dimorphic nature. However, only one nonmetric trait is assessed on the occipital despite the bone’s postmortem durability. While these sex estimation methods were developed for use on adult crania, juvenile sex estimation is less accurate due to differences in the age at which individuals reach sexual maturity. The aim of this study was to improve upon existing sex estimation methods by accounting for shape differences that exist within the occipital. This study used computed …

Applications Of Plasmonic Biosensors In Chiral And Achiral Sensing, Aritra Biswas

Graduate Thesis and Dissertation 2023-2024

Monitoring biological systems is crucial in healthcare, driving the need for reliable and noninvasive solutions. The proliferation of unverified drugs in the market necessitates reliable methods for their detection and identification, especially amidst advancements in pharmaceuticals. Plasmonic biosensors emerge as a great platform for ultra-sensitive detection, identification, and manipulation of biomolecular systems. This dissertation report addresses the critical need for precise detection and monitoring of biomolecules and drugs, presenting innovative solutions through the design of a plasmonic biosensor to tackle challenges in sensitivity, selectivity, and label-free detection and identification. We introduce a robust and tunable, cavity-integrated plasmonic nanopatterned sensor that …

Social Problem-Solving, Stress, Social Support As Predictors Of Distress Among First-Generation Students, Marisa Leib

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

First-generation students are steadily increasing in the United States, and currently comprise one third of today’s college undergraduate population (Stebleton & Jehangir, 2020). First-generation students are more likely to face various academic, social, economic, and cultural challenges when transitioning to higher education. The culmination of these stressors put first-generation students at risk for developing mental health conditions. Social problem-solving (SPS) is one variable that has been shown to buffer against the negative effects of stress among the general college student population. The purpose of the current study was to examine how specific variables contribute to psychological distress among the population …

Assessment Of Trauma In Youth With Intellectual Disabilities: Comparison Of Research And Clinical Practice, Olga Joyce Bilardi

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

This study seeks to assess clinician use of trauma assessments when working with youth with lower cognitive and adaptive functioning who meet criteria for having an Intellectual Disability. Given the limited assessment instruments discussed in the literature, it is essential to determine what practices clinicians use to assess trauma with intellectually disabled youth. This study aims to determine the prevalence of trauma measures used with the Intellectual Disability population and assess clinician comfort with this population. This study will highlight the necessity for further development of appropriate and standardized trauma measures in the Intellectual Disability population and training for clinicians …

Exploring Forensic Psychologist, Psychiatrists And Lawyers Perceptions On Incorrigibility And Juvenile Resentencing, Tyeca Reviere

PCOM Psychology Dissertations

The United States is one of the only countries in the world that sentences juveniles to life without parole. In the United States, over 2,500 juveniles as young as the age of 13 are serving life in prison sentences without the possibility of parole. In 2012, the Supreme Court case Miller v. Alabama determined that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole was unconstitutional. Forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and lawyers assist in resentencing juveniles by determining if a juvenile is incorrigible (not rehabilitated). The method of determining incorrigibility regarding juvenile resentencing has not been standardized or well-defined amongst professionals in psychology …

Perennializing Marginal Croplands: Going Back To The Future To Mitigate Climate Change With Resilient Biobased Feedstocks, Salvador Ramirez Ii, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin, Robert B. Mitchell, Catherine E. Stewart, Jay Parsons, Daren D. Redfearn, John J. Quinn, Gary E. Varvel, Kenneth P. Vogel, Ronald F. Follett

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Managing annual row crops on marginally productive croplands can be environmentally unsustainable and result in variable economic returns. Incorporating perennial bioenergy feedstocks into marginally productive cropland can engender ecosystem services and enhance climate resiliency while also diversifying farm incomes. We use one of the oldest bioenergy-specific field experiments in North America to evaluate economically and environmentally sustainable management practices for growing perennial grasses on marginal cropland. This long-term field trial called 9804 was established in 1998 in eastern Nebraska and compared the productivity and sustainability of corn (Zea mays L.)—both corn grain and corn stover—and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum …

Program And Proceedings: Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2024, 144th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Fourth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program

Aeronautics and Space Science

Aeronautics and Space Science Poster Session

Anthropology: Humans Past and Present

Maiben Lecture: "Platte Basin Timelapse: A Watershed in Motion," Grant Reiner

Applied Science and Technology

Biological Sciences

Biomedical Sciences

Chemistry

Earh Sciences

Environmental Sciences

Physics

Science Education

Predictors Of Depression And Life Satisfaction Among Asian Indians Living In The United States Of America, Ramanjot Kaur Basanti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study assessed the statistical contribution of gender, acculturation, Asian values, coping self-efficacy and discrimination in the prediction of depression and life satisfaction with Asian Indian American adults. The increasing number of Asian Indians in the United States has prompted psychologists and other clinicians to seek understanding of the unique mental health needs of this population. However, previous studies on predictors of depression and life satisfaction among Asian Indians living in the United States had been scarce and inconclusive. The current study, grounded in Berry’s multidimensional theory of acculturation, used a cross-sectional correlational survey design to examine if gender, acculturation, …

The Impact Of Human Attachment To A Pet Bird On Psychological Well-Being, Kathryn Marie Trautmann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Few studies have addressed human attachment to a pet bird and psychological well-being, and the research that has been conducted is largely anecdotal and anthropomorphic perspectives on human relationships with birds. In this quantitative study, the relationships between humans and their birds were explored using Bowlby's attachment theory and Fredrickson and Losada's broaden and build theory. The study consisted of a randomized experiment, in which individuals were randomly assigned to either an attachment (n = 81) or detachment (n = 88) group. The security priming manipulation was used to prime the groups. The attachment group was asked to list things …