Digital Commons Network^™

Exudation Entomology, John Buchanan

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

My master's project is exudation entomology. I propose a new area of entomology that will renew and reshape the science, answer questions that have been explored, and open new questions that have yet to be asked.

Exudation entomology is the study of exudates from arthropods. This includes (but is not limited to) honey, saliva, silk, secretions, venom, pheromones, paper, wax, and more. Other properties, such as bioluminescence, sounds, and odors, are also included. Exudation entomology will explore the chemical makeup of exudates, the anatomical mechanisms for how the arthropod produces the exudate, why the exudate is essential for arthropods and …

Hyalophora Cecropia: An Educational Guide For Learning About And Raising Hyalophora Cecropia, Deserae Emmett

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Ths is an educational guide for learning about and raising Hyalophora cecropia, also known as the cecropia moth, cecropia silkmoth, or robin moth, classified in the family Saturniidae.

Website: https://deseraeemmett.wixsite.com/ chasing-cecropia

Insect Evoluation Lesson, Melissa Adriano

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

The insect evolution Lesson Plan is a four-day course, to be taught sequentially through a week. All the materials presented are meant to be for ninth to tenth grades. The first day begins with a pre-test and an introduction to insect evolution. The following days will cover divergent evolution, convergent evolution, and co-evolution. Instructions are step-by-step in order to make possible the inquiry process. On the last day a review and a post-test for an overview of the knowledge acquired by the students. All activities and materials are available in the Appendix Section. The insect evolution lesson caters to the …

Flies: Nature’S Hidden Helpers, A Science Literacy Project Exploring Beneficial And Pest Insects, Natalie Johnston

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

A science literacy project for elementary learners exploring beneficial and pest insects with a focus on flies, nature's hidden helpers.

This project demonstrates that science literacy can be cultivated through experiential and interdisciplinary teaching. Future developments could include digital tools for compost monitoring, citizen science participation, or expanded studies of other decomposer species. Cross-curricular collaboration with language arts and art education can further strengthen the integration of creativity and evidence-based reasoning.

Ultimately, this work reaffirms that even small organisms—like flies—can inspire big learning outcomes. By integrating science literacy with sustainability education, we prepare students to think critically about ecological relationships …

Course Syllabus For Entomology: Introduction To Acarology, Andrew Prescott

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Includes an outline and syllabus for an introductory college-level class on acarology, covering both ticks and mites.

Mini Movie Master Of Science Project, Nicole Pruess

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Contents

Educational Video Creative Process

Host Plants

Fruit Trays/Nectar Plants

Butterfly vs Moth

Longevity/Lifespan

Includes videos:
Butterfly vs Moth.mp4 (2623912 kB)
Fruit Trays and Nectar Plants.mp4 (1742827 kB)
Host Plants.mp4 (1721714 kB)
Lifespan and Longevity.mp4 (2528704 kB)

Hungry Minds: Analyzing The Impact Of Food Insecurity And Food Assistance Programs On Neurocognitive Development And Childhood Mental Health, Kayla A. Davenport

Senior Theses

Introduction: Food insecurity affects millions of children in the United States and is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor for poor nutritional intake and adverse health outcomes. However, less is known about how the experience of food insecurity disrupts healthy development and well-being, particularly among American youth. This thesis had two aims: (1) to examine the relationship between household food insecurity and children’s neurocognitive and mental health outcomes and (2) to evaluate how major food assistance programs address, or fail to address, these developmental risks.

Methods: This thesis uses a mixed-methods approach, integrating a narrative literature review, a cross-sectional …

Burdens Of Proof In Criminal Procedure, Eve Brensike Primus

Articles

The Supreme Court’s haphazard approach to allocating burdens of proof in criminal procedure has created a system in which constitutional rights can be rendered meaningless simply because defendants are required to prove things they cannot possibly know. Even though allocations of the burden of proof often drive litigation outcomes, the Court has failed to establish clear burden allocation structures for cases arising under the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Fourteenth Amendments, leaving lower courts split about how to allocate the burdens. When the Supreme Court does allocate burdens, it often does so without explanation or consideration of key factors. Recent Supreme …

77 | Khirbat ‘Amra: A Rural Site From The Hellenistic To Early Islamic Periods In The BeʼEr Sheva‘ Valley, Itamar Taxel, Noé D. Michael

IAA Reports—Monograph Series of the Israel Antiquities Authority

This volume constitutes the final report of the large-scale salvage excavations directed by Gil Tahal on behalf of the IAA in 1993–1994 at the site of Khirbat ‘Amra, in the north-central area of the Be’er Sheva‛ Valley. The excavations revealed architectural remains and finds dated mainly to the Hellenistic until the Early Islamic periods, in addition to scantier remains or isolated finds from the Chalcolithic period, the Iron Age II and the Ottoman period. Khirbat ‘Amra is one of the largest multiperiod sites in the Be’er Sheva‛ Valley, specifically in the Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. Furthermore, Tahal’s excavations were …

United States Response To 2025 Questionnaire, Philippa Loengard

Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts

ALAI-USA is the U.S. branch of ALAI (Association Littèraire et Artistique Internationale). ALAI-USA was started in the 1980's by the late Professor Melville B. Nimmer, and was later expanded by Professor John M. Kernochan.

When The Student Becomes The Teacher: Learning-By-Teaching As A Tool For Conservation Career Development, Ana Dixon

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Dixon, A. (2025). When the Student Becomes the Teacher: Learning-by-Teaching as a Tool for Conservation Career Development

This study explored the research question: How do teaching-centered conservation career development programs influence participants’ science identity and self-efficacy? The literature review includes context on STEM and conservation careers, social cognitive career theory, science identity and self-efficacy, and learning-by-teaching. Participants in the Zoological Society of Milwaukee’s High School Assistant (HSA) volunteer and conservation education internship programs were given the option to complete pre- and post-surveys surrounding their participation in their respective summer program. These surveys measured individuals’ science identity, science and environmental self-efficacy, …

Montana Folk Festival 2025, Butte, Montana, Rachel Baer, Ava Worbets, Kika Bradford

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This study was conducted for the Montana Folk Festival to provide insight into the characteristics of attendees of the 2025 Montana Folk Festival. 968 attendees from the event completed the survey. Results show that 80% of respondents were residents of Montana, of which 37% were from Butte-Silver Bow County. Out-of-county respondents spent an average of 4.5 nights in Montana, reporting a total spending of $263,194.25, mostly in hotel/motel/bed and breakfasts and restaurants/bars. Results provide event organizers with useful data for future event planning, making improvements to the event, event marketing/promotion, and understanding the visitor spending associated with the event.

Smokejumper Magazine, October 2025, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines

This issue of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) Smokejumper Magazine, contains the following articles:

Message from the President; Silk Stories; Jumper Turned Forensic Pioneer; Wild Bill’s Hardest Two-Manner; Some Thoughts in Defense of Today’s USFS; Dick Tracy: Best Boss I Ever Had; The Youngest Smokejumper; Pioneer Smokejumping Pilots; The Down-to-Earth Smokejumper and His “Moon Trees”; To the Moon!; Smokejumpers Deserve More; NSA Honors Extraordinary Service at Reunion Banquet; Notes From the Ranks; How Spider Got His Name; A Question of Leadership; Legacy Firefighter Bob Wilken Retires; Three Minutes, Seven Seconds; Smokejumper Takes National Spotlight; Sounding Off; Odds and Ends; The …

Investigating The Effects Of Cbd And Caffeine Interaction On Embryonic Development In Xenopus Laevis, Jeanesia M. Pierre

Theses

This study examined the interactive effects of cannabidiol (CBD) and caffeine on Xenopus laevis embryos over a 96-hour exposure period. Developmental toxicity was assessed using toxic unit isobole analysis, with LC₅₀, EC₅₀, and teratogenic index (TI) values calculated for CBD, caffeine, and mixtures at 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 ratios.

Results showed that mixtures produced concentration-dependent interactions. When caffeine levels were higher, the mixtures displayed synergistic toxicity; as the proportion of CBD increased, the interaction shifted toward a concentration-addition model. Mortality was elevated in mixtures relative to single-compound exposures, while malformation rates decreased, indicating reduced teratogenicity. Overall, findings suggest that CBD …

Genome-Wide Identification Of Essential Genes For Microbial Insecticide Bioremediation, Mary Snook

AES Theses

Insecticides pose a threat to ecological, wildlife and human health when they are carried in runoff water from agricultural fields to surface and ground waters. Microbial bioremediation provides a promising avenue for degrading and removing these pollutants from runoff water before they dissipate into downstream ecosystems. While effective bioremediators for various target pesticides have been identified, we do not yet understand exactly how microbes degrade insecticides in most cases. In this study, I examined three bacterial strains with the ability to metabolize imidacloprid (strain Imidl Y) or malathion (strains Mal4 and Mal6), both common insecticides, and used transposon-mediated mutagenesis to …

Computational Dataset Of Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium-Anion Complex Structures And Simulated Infrared Spectra, Arun K. Sharma, Owen Mcmillan

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

This dataset presents computationally derived geometries and vibrational spectra of cetyl trimethyl ammonium ion pairs formed with three environmentally and chemically relevant anions: bisulfate, nitrate, and methyl sulfonate. Data were obtained using quantum chemical calculations performed using the Gaussian 16 software package, utilizing the ONIOM method at the second-order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) level. To account for solvent effects and electrostatic screening, calculations incorporated an implicit solvent environment via the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The dataset includes optimized geometric coordinates, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and simulated infrared (IR) spectra for each cetyl trimethyl ammonium-anion pair. Additional computational details, including input parameters, …

Assessing The Role Of Ocean Literacy In Liberia's Blue Economy : Pathway To Sustainable Blue Ocean Development In Liberia, Precious Tete Nah

Ocean Sustainability, Governance & Management Dissertations

Ocean literacy involves understanding the fundamental concepts of the ocean's functioning, leading to informed and responsible decisions about the ocean. This understanding is vital for developing responsible ocean citizenship and implementing measures to sustain the ocean, as it highlights the ocean's influence on humans and the impact of human activities on it. Using a qualitative research method with a purposive sampling approach, the research asks focus group representatives from New Kru Town and Westpoint, both closed- and open-ended questions, on the importance of ocean literacy, challenges, prospects, and recommendations to promote sustainable blue ocean development.

The results of the research …

Cannabis Improves Metabolic Dysfunction And Macrophage Signatures In Obese Mice, Brandon N. Vanderveen, Thomas D. Cardaci, Christian A. Unger, Mitchell M. Nesmith, Jeffrey C. Freeman, Arianna V. Bastian, Kasie Roark, Mansi Upadhyay, Andrew G. Levy, Brooke M. Bullard, Sierra J. Mcdonald, Kandy T. Velázquez, Reilly T. Enos, Jason L. Kubinak, Lorne J. Hofseth Ph.D., James Hébert Scd, Daping Fan, E. Angela Murphy

Faculty Publications

Obesity rates continue to rise, highlighting the need for new treatments that are effective, safe, and widely accessible. Aligned with the easing of restrictions on cannabis use, interest in its therapeutic potential is evolving. As such, we examined the effects of the cannabis plant with high cannabidiol (CBD) content or high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content on metabolic and immune dysregulation in obese mice. Briefly, female C57BL/6 mice were randomized into four groups (n = 15/group): 1) lean, 2) obese placebo, 3) obese CBD, and 4) obese THC. Lean mice consumed a low-fat diet for the study …

A Translation Of Akira Mizubayashi's Reine De Coeur, Zachary N. Knudson-Swain

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Akira Mizubayashi's Reine de Coeur is a story about intergenerational trauma, and the ability music has to mend broken bonds. This translation is an attempt to bring the musicality of his language into English and convey Mizubayashi's unique cultural perspective in an English language context.

Advisor: Jordan Stump

A Better Great Plains: Bridging The Implementation Gap For A Better Future, David W. Sandahl

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Northern Great Plains is experiencing extensive native grassland loss and landscape degradation, jeopardizing both ecological integrity and the socio-economic systems that rely upon these ecosystems. In an early effort to lessen degradation, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) introduced the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) which generated ecosystem services benefits such as reduced soil erosion, improved water quality, and increased species diversity through the retirement of cropland and rangeland for 10- or 15-year contracts. However, CRP has not fully modernized alongside today’s agriculturalists and adoption remains shaped by an historically fraught socio-political context characterized by deep-seated mistrust between ranchers, …

Illuminated Magazine - Fall 2025, School Of Graduate Studies, East Tennessee State University

Illuminated: Graduate Student Research Magazine

• 2: Editorial Staff
• 5: Graduate Students and Advisors
• 6: ETSU’s First Master of Music Cohort Finds Its Voice on Campus
• 9: Where Are They Now? Jacob Mitchell
• 10: Characterizing and Enhancing Carotenoid Production in Tomato Plants
• 14: Where Are They Now? Jeremiah J. Flake
• 15: In the Gaps of the System: Centering BIPOC Mothers in Maternal Mental Health
• 18: Roles of Female Musicians in Appalachian Bluegrass
• 20: Where Are They Now? Alexis Moser
• 21: From Guyana to Tennessee: Bridging Gaps in Women’s Mental Health Care
• 24: Where Are They Now? Megan Roberts
• 26: Characterizing User Experience in AI Chatbots within …

Nutrition In Context: How Cultural Beliefs, Gender Norms, Social Environments, And Interventions Shape Maternal Nutrition In Nepal, Rebecca Fan

Switzerland: Global Health and Development Policy

Maternal nutrition is recognized as one of the most significant and modifiable determinants of persistent inequities in maternal and neonatal health. In Nepal, what women are able to eat and how they experience pregnancy are all shaped by a complex interplay of cultural beliefs, gendered expectations, household dynamics, structural barriers, and nutrition intervention efforts. This study examines these intersecting factors through ethnographic accounts, peer-reviewed scientific literature, expert interviews, and an analysis of current interventions operating across different levels. Specifically, to understand the social environments shaping maternal nutrition, the paper explores cultural beliefs and misconceptions surrounding food, women’s limited control over …

Not Born A Democracy: Constitutional Preconditions, Martha Minow

William & Mary Law Review

Beneath growing perceptions of constitutional crisis and democratic fragility in the United States lies a fundamental conundrum. Critical preconditions for effective self-government are either weak or missing in action, and our constitutional system, at least for now, stands in the way of actions to strengthen or build those preconditions. This Article focuses on three essential predicates for constitutional democracy that face jeopardy: education, reliable news, and security against lethal violence. As basic as these elements may be, repeated efforts to secure a federal constitutional right to education have failed in the courts. Because of a confluence of legal, technological, and …

Mckee Minute October 2025, Southern Adventist University

McKee Minute – McKee Library This Month

The October 2025 edition of McKee Minute includes information on International Open Access Week, National Book Month, course reserves, and the library's mid-semester break hours.

Border Decriminalization As A State Project: Lessons From Marijuana And Assisted Suicide Legalization Across The United States, Victor C. Romero

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

My prior work argued for the decriminalization of border crossings without proof of specific intent to violate another law (like drug trafficking), which is even less likely to happen now than it was when the piece was published, given the current presidential administration’s zealous deportation strategy and Congress’s seeming acquiescence. As such, I advocate for a second-best solution involving federal-state cooperative agreements wherein border states abutting both Mexico and Canada are given the option by the federal government to pass local legislation decriminalizing border crossings into their states as their communities desire. To the extent that the current presidential administration …

The Demonization Of America's Economic Engine, Ediberto Roman

William & Mary Journal of Race, Gender, and Social Justice

In a 2013 book entitled Those Damned Immigrants: America’s Hysteria Over Undocumented Immigration, I warned of a conservative political trend that I believed would lead to an all-out assault on undocumented immigrants. This trend occurred despite the fact that these immigrants are critical economic boons to our economy.

On his first day in office in 2025, President Trump made the book’s warnings prophetic. That day, President Trump issued a series of executive orders, including 10 focused on limiting entry into the United States and questioning many who previously entered the United States legally. These orders include, 1) enhanced deportation …

Analyzing Apoe Genotypic Variants And Expression Of Associated Genes And Mirnas In Alzheimer's Disease, Angelica Mendez

Theses (2016-Present)

One of the neurodegenerative diseases that affect the human brain is Alzheimer's disease (AD). It progressively destroys memory, thinking skills, and other critical mental functions of the brain. It is the most common cause of dementia due to the loss of cognitive functions. However, it differs from dementia, which includes other diseases resulting in cognitive deterioration and causing a person to lose independence and functionality. The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene influences Alzheimer's risk. APOE protein transports cholesterol and other types of fat in the bloodstream. When the process fails, it contributes to the development of AD. Three genotypes of APOE …

Beyond The North Star: The Southward Flight Of Enslaved People To Mexico, Kayro Gonzalez

Theses (2016-Present)

When most people think of the Underground Railroad, they often picture brave individuals escaping the slave-owning South, seeking safety in the northern United States or Canada. However, it's essential to recognize that the fight for freedom went far beyond those regions. In 1830, Mexico abolished slavery, leading many escapees from enslaved areas across the United States. With freedom just a few miles away, hundreds of American slaves established several secretive and advanced routes into Mexico’s northern states, settling in newly founded free black colonies like San Lorenzo de los Negros and El Nacimiento de los Negros, among others. Using data …

Assessment And Management Of Magnesium And Trace Element Status In Children With Ckd Stages 2-5, On Dialysis And Post-Transplantation: Clinical Practice Points From The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce., Jetta Tuokkola, Caroline E. Anderson, Sheridan Collins, Pearl Pugh, Molly R Wong Vega, Matthew Harmer, Lyndsay A. Harshman, Christina L. Nelms, Barry Toole, An Desloovere, Fabio Paglialonga, Nonnie Polderman, José Renken-Terhaerdt, Rukshana Shroff, Evelien Snauwaert, Stella Stabouli, Johan Vande Walle, Bradley A. Warady, Vanessa Shaw, Larry A. Greenbaum

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Children and young people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at risk for deficiency or excess of magnesium and trace elements. Kidney function, dialysis, medication, and dietary and supplemental intake can affect their biochemical status. There is much uncertainty about the requirements of magnesium and trace elements in CKD, which leads to variation in practice. The Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce is an international team of pediatric kidney dietitians and pediatric nephrologists, formed to develop evidence-based clinical practice points to improve the nutritional care of children with CKD. PICO (patient, intervention, comparator, and outcomes) questions led the literature searches, which were …

The Impact Of Long-Term Exposure To Lip Cosmetics On The Fertility Of Female Drosophila Melanogaster, Neeka Oghli

Holster Scholar Projects

Are products marketed as safe to use, truly safe to use? Inspired by an article exposing the dangers of Tampax tampons, this study examines potential reproductive risks from consumer lip products marketed as natural and safe18. Drosophila melanogaster, a model organism with genetic and reproductive similarities to humans, was utilized to test the impacts of Rhode and Avène lip cosmetics. Avène’s Cicalfate + Lips Repair Lip Balm is the closest alternative to Rhode’s unscented peptide lip treatment, which was mindfully chosen to test if affordability comes at the expense of safety. Various concentrations of these products will be exposed to …