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Examining The Impact Of Decreased Snowpack On The Rare Frosted Elfin Butterfly’S Host Plant, Christopher Walsh

Biology Student Scholarship

In response to climate change, Earth’s increased global temperature has caused less snowfall and earlier snowmelt in spring. These changes can alter an organism’s phenology, or timing of life history events. Such shifts in phenology may lead to mismatches between interacting species, which are correlated with a decline in the populations of host plant specialists and at-risk species. The rare frosted elfin butterfly (Callophrys irus) is listed as impaired in 5 states, and critically imperiled in 14. These host plant specialists only lay eggs on small yellow wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria) and wild lupine (Lupinus perennis). If neither plant emerges …

Faculty Senate Agenda December 1, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - November 3, 2025
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:30 Information
• EPC Report - November 6, 2025
• 3:45 Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• Faculty Evaluation Committee
• Academic Freedom and Tenure
• 4:10 Old Business
• 4:15 New Business
• Faculty Forum
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Intersectional Life Course Inequalities In Cardiovascular Health In Post-Apartheid South Africa, Winfred A. Avogo

Faculty Publications – Sociology and Anthropology

Background Health inequalities research typically employs single measurement modalities, which limit our understanding of how historical structural violence affects different dimensions of health experience across intersectional social positions over the life course. Methods Using longitudinal data from South Africa’s National Income Dynamics Study (2008–2017), we employed dual measurement approaches and intersectional life course analysis to examine cardiovascular health trajectories among 36,814 individuals (92,702 person-years of observation). Random-effects logistic regression modeled measured hypertension, while zero-inflated Poisson regression examined self-reported CVD comorbidity across birth cohorts defined by differential apartheid exposure, testing race × gender interactions explicitly. Results Pronounced birth cohort gradients emerged …

The Influence Of Muskrats On The Biodiversity Of Wetlands, Emma Thornton

Biology Student Scholarship

Wetlands are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world and are home to various plant and animal species. The relationships between the species living in the wetlands keep the ecosystem functional as well as increasing biodiversity. Increased biodiversity of wetlands creates more resilient plant communities. Muskrats are ecosystem engineers, meaning that they alter their surroundings to change the quality and quantity of the available resources through behaviors related to their eating habits and their burrow construction. Muskrats are herbivores and consume large amounts of vegetation, which creates opportunities for more plant species by creating new ecological niches. In …

Metabolomic And Lipidomic Atlas Of Human Hair Across Its Length., Maria Van De Lavoir, Yuanye Chi, Ting Zeng, Rani Robeyns, Maria Del Mar Delgado Povedano, Leen Jacobs, Celine Gys, Hugo Neels, Shuzhao Li, Alexander L N Van Nuijs, Adrian Covaci

Faculty Research 2025

The stable structure and growth cycle of human hair enables the accumulation of both endogenous and exogenous compounds, making hair an ideal matrix for long-term profiling. However, its exact molecular composition, shaped by root-to-tip variations, remains poorly understood. Here, we present a metabolome and lipidome atlas of human hair originating from a healthy cohort. The Human Hair Atlas maps over 1200 unique molecular species and highlights compounds prone to significant longitudinal variations. Metabolite and lipid levels vary by up to 50% along the length of the hair, underscoring the importance of accounting for segmental differences. We categorized 122 molecules as …

Morphological Variability And Systematics Of Ponto-Caspian Cladocerans Of The Genus Cercopagis Sars, 1897 (Branchiopoda: Onychopoda: Cercopagidae), Larisa F. Litvinchuk, Spartak N. Litvinchuk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

In recent decades, significant changes have occurred in the composition of zooplankton, especially in the Ponto-Caspian Basin. An important component of zooplankton in this region is cladocerans of the genus Cercopagis. However, the introduction of invasive species means that many species of this genus have probably become extinct. Because their disappearance molecular study of these organisms is no longer possible. Therefore, a comparative analysis of morphological variability has become more important. We studied the morphological variability of all 12 currently known species of the genus. Samples from the Caspian, Azov, Black, and Baltic Seas were analyzed. The number of species …

Assessing The Validity Of The Mental Health–Related Survey In Collegiate Student-Athletes, Lindsey Keenan, Zachary K. Winkelmann, Luis Torres, Yvette Ingram, Rachel Daltry

Department of Kinesiology Scholarship and Creative Works

Context

Mental health screenings are recommended during preparticipation physical examinations. The Mental Health–Related Survey (MHRS), a 9-item questionnaire adapted from the 18-item Mental Health Screening Form-III, is suggested in 3 consensus and/or position statements. However, there is no evidence on the effectiveness of the MHRS.

Objective

To assess the validity of the MHRS for mental health screening in collegiate student-athletes.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

University athletic program.

Patients or Other Participants

Five hundred fifteen National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II student-athletes (age = 20 ± 1 years).

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Participants completed the MHRS, the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression …

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Inspires Ole Miss Students During Stop, Staff Report

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Drawing on stories from her memoir, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson told University of Mississippi students on Sunday (Nov. 16) that perseverance and strong mentors helped guide her path to the bench.

Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis Of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Reveals Key Immune Responses In St-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction, Zheng Zhang, Shengfang Wang, Yahui Liu, Gaohan Li, Qianqian Cheng, Wei Yang, Gan-Xin Yan, Chuanyu Gao

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the precise immunological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) provides a powerful approach to dissect immune cell heterogeneity and dynamic changes at single-cell resolution.

METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from 7 STEMI patients (within 6h after primary percutaneous coronary intervention) and 3 healthy controls. Single-cell suspensions were prepared and subjected to scRNA-seq using the 10x Genomics Chromium platform and Illumina NovaSeq 6000. Data were processed using Cell Ranger and analyzed with Seurat for quality control, clustering, and annotation. Differentially …

Ilang Retrospektibo At Pagpapalawig Sa Kaisipang Reyes Hinggil Sa Aralín At Pagtuturo Ng Kulturang Popular Ngayon, Louie Jon A. Sánchez

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

Layon ng sanaysay na ito na maghain ng retrospektibo o, wika nga ni Soledad S. Reyes, “balik-tanaw” sa dalawa niyang sanaysay na matatagpuang pampinid sa Pagbasa ng Panitikan at Kulturang Popular: Piling Sanaysay, 1976–1996 (1997) at sa pinatnugutan niyang teksbuk na Katha (1992) para sa Pamantasang Ateneo de Manila noong dekada 1990. Ang mga ito ay mahalagang pagtatala at pagninilay ng pangunahing iskolar ng kulturang popular sa Filipinas hinggil sa kaniyang mga kaisipan sa aralín at pagtuturo ng kulturang popular. Sa mga akda ring nabanggit, pinahahalagahan niya ang animasyon ng saliksik hinggil sa kulturang popular sa pedagohiya o pagkasangkapan sa …

Rapid Epigenetic Response To Salinity Stress In An Invasive Mussel, Mytilus Galloprovincialis, Andrzej Furman, Açelya Eren, İbrahi̇m Raşi̇t Bi̇lgi̇n, Hati̇ce Aygün Karaçay

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The Mediterranean blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) is a well-known invasive species recognized for its remarkable ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. Here, we investigated DNA methylation changes in M. galloprovincialis exposed to a rapid water salinity decrease. Methylation profiles in M. galloprovincialis were recorded before salinity stress was applied (at 35‰), and then at 3, 9 and 24 h following the stress (at 25‰). We monitored these changes using the methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) method. Methylation levels continued to vary over the 24 h period following stress exposure, indicating that the underlying physiological processes may have changed …

Phylogenetics Of Cyrtodactylus In West Nusa Tenggara: A New Distribution Record Of Cyrtodactylus Jatnai From Lombok Island And A Cryptic Species From Sumbawa Island, Sandra Rafika Devi, Rury Eprilurahman, Tuty Arisuryanti, Yuliadi Zamroni, Imran Sadewo, Windi Edriyanti, Maulana Faiz Ilham Kholiq, Evelyn Elvira

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Cyrtodactylus is one of the most diverse vertebrates of the Gekkonidae family, first described by Gray in 1827 and widely distributed in Asia, Northern Australia, and the Pacific Islands including Wallacea. The biodiversity in West Nusa Tenggara—a region in Wallacea—has been underestimated despite high fauna endemicity. Conservation strategies are needed to maintain the stability of Cyrtodactylus populations in their habitat. Therefore, this study aims to enhance the understanding of cryptic species and potential new distribution records of the genus Cyrtodactylus in West Nusa Tenggara. Molecular character identification was carried out by isolating the ND2 gene in liver tissue using polymerase …

Exploring The Experiences Of Bahamian Men Diagnosed With Hypertension And Medication Adherence, Bianca Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Hypertension (HTN) is associated with significant health complications, including stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and kidney disease. Despite advances in the treatment and management of HTN, a lack of medication adherence contributes to the persistence of HTN-related morbidity and mortality affecting men in The Bahamas. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study, guided by Pender’s health promotion model and Bandura’s social cognitive theory, was to explore the lived experiences of Bahamian men diagnosed with hypertension regarding their adherence to prescribed medications. Using Giorgi’s descriptive phenomenological method, in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 participants. Data were analyzed through repeated …

The Impact Of Machine Learning Security Models On Cloud Data Security, Ali Sanad

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract Many information technology (IT) leaders face challenges in adopting machine learning (ML) models for cloud infrastructure, despite their potential to enhance data security. The extent to which IT leaders’ perceived security (PeS) and perceived privacy (PeP) influence their intent to adopt ML security models is critical for organizational success. Grounded in the technology acceptance model, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between IT leaders’ PeS and PeP and their intent to adopt ML security models in cloud-based applications. Data were collected from 106 IT professionals in Chicago using a validated instrument. Results from …

Dating In The Digital Age: The Effects Of Parental Rejection, Rejection Sensitivity, And Self-Esteem Among Gender-Diverse Gen Z, Crystal Currie

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Gen Z, the first digital-native cohort, faces unique challenges in forming romantic relationships, including heightened dating anxiety. While there is extensive research with previous generations on dating anxiety, self-esteem, and early rejection, no study has examined parental rejection, self-esteem, and dating anxiety collectively, particularly in consideration of gender diverse individuals and digital dating platform use. The purpose of this correlational study was to examine (a) predictors of dating anxiety and (b) whether parental rejection during childhood and rejection sensitivity influenced dating anxiety, as well as the role of self-esteem in mediating those predictor variables. The conceptual framework was the interpersonal …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Zoology

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Montelukast Sodium On Some Biological And Biochemical Aspects, Dna Damage In Drosophila Melanogaster Adults, Ci̇hat Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Montelukast sodium (MS) is a leukotriene receptor antagonist and used clinically as an antiasthma agent. MS has been hypothesized to have adverse effects in insects. To test this hypothesis, MS was added to the artificial diet of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) at different concentrations (1200, 1600, 2000, and 2400 mg/L) under laboratory conditions. The effects of MS on the survival rate and development time of D. melanogaster, as well as its effects on malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP450) enzyme activity in adults were investigated. The genotoxic effect of MS in whole adults was …

Ecotoxicological Assessment Of A Sunscreen-Derived Pollutant, Benzophenone-2, On Freshwater Fish (Labeo Rohita), Mina Jamil, Sajid Abdullah, Maham Riaz, Sana Aziz

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ultraviolet filters (UVFs) are constituents of skincare products that protect skin against UV ray damage, such as suntan, sunburn, and skin tumors. Due to their ability to biotransform, UVFs are considered emerging pollutants. Benzophenone-2 (BP-2), with a yellowish crystalline appearance, is one of the widely used UVFs in skincare products. It enters the aquatic environment by washing off the skin during swimming and recreational activities and becomes hazardous to aquatic life due to its lipophilicity and bioaccumulative potential. This study was designed to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of BP-2 for the freshwater fish Labeo rohita. For acute toxicity, …

Bathyal Gastropod (Mollusca) Species From The Turkish Levantine And Aegean Seas, Bi̇lal Öztürk

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study assigns 35 gastropod specimens and 23 shells collected from two sites on the Turkish Levantine and Aegean coasts at depths of 432 and 702 m, respectively, to 13 species. Among the species identified, Alvania subsoluta (Aradas, 1847), Protatlanta souleyeti (Smith, 1888), Pagodula echinata (Kiener, 1839), Pleurotomella gibbera Bouchet & Warén, 1980, Ringicula gianninii Nordsieck, 1974 and Diaphana marshalli (Sykes, 1904) are new records for the Turkish molluscan fauna; Anatoma aspera (Philippi, 1844) and Acteon monterosatoi Dautzenberg, 1889 are new records for the Levantine coast of Türkiye; and Crenilabium exile (Jeffreys, 1870) is a new record for the Turkish …

Advances In Artificial Intelligence For Glioblastoma Radiotherapy Planning And Treatment, Reid Master, Nesha Rubin, James Sampson, Kamlesh K Yadav, Shruti Pandita, Aria Sabbagh, Anika Krishnan, Patrick J Silva, Kenneth S Ramos, Vincent Gregoire, Nikos Paragios, Sunil Krishnan, Tej K Pandita

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Glioblastoma is an aggressive central nervous system tumor characterized by diffuse infiltration. Despite substantial advances in oncology, survival outcomes have shown little improvement over the past three decades. Radiotherapy remains a cornerstone of treatment; however, it faces several challenges, including considerable inter-observer variability in clinical target volume delineation, dose constraints associated with adjacent organs at risk, and the persistently poor prognosis of affected patients. Recent advances in artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, have shown promise in automating radiation therapy mapping to improve consistency, accuracy, and efficiency. This narrative review explores current auto segmentation frameworks, dose mapping, and biologically informed radiotherapy …

Stra8 Links Neuronal Activity To Inhibitory Circuit Protection In The Adult Mouse Brain., Ming Huang, Shuwen Yue, Xiaoyu Zhang, Lan Wu, Jay L. Vivian, Zi-Jun Wang, Ning Wang

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

While neuronal activity is essential for brain function, it also poses threats to neuronal integrity. Here, we show that activity-induced expression of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8) protects neurons from degeneration. Previously considered germline specific, Stra8 is expressed in the adult mouse brain and is induced by neuronal activity via calcium influx and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor signaling. Neuron-specific Stra8 knockout mice display hallmark features of neurodegeneration, including DNA damage, impaired proteostasis, inflammation, nuclear envelope erosion, reduced dendritic plasticity, memory deficits, and heightened excitotoxic vulnerability. Electrophysiological studies reveal disrupted inhibitory circuit function. Mechanistically, Stra8 binds regulatory regions of neuromodulator …

Botulinum Toxin Combined With Robot-Assisted Therapy For Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Systematic Review, Salvatore Facciorusso, Stefania Spina, Mirko Filippetti, Rajiv Reebye, Gerard E Francisco, Andrea Santamato

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Post-stroke spasticity limits motor recovery and independence. Combining botulinum toxin type-A (BoNT-A) injection with intensive, task-specific robot-assisted therapy (RAT) might enhance neuroplasticity and functional gains, but its additive effect and optimal timing are uncertain. (

Methods: We systematically searched major medical databases and trial registries up to April 2025 for randomized controlled trials in adults with post-stroke spasticity comparing botulinum toxin type-A injection plus RAT with toxin injection plus conventional therapy, or RAT alone with RAT combined with toxin injection. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and findings were synthesized narratively.

Results: Seven trials ( …

Identification Of Novel Tat-I24-Related Peptides With Antiviral Activities, Hanna Harant, Siegfried Hofinger, Reingard Grabherr, Zsolt Ruzsics, Hartmut Hengel

Michigan Tech Publications

To identify novel peptides with potential antiviral activities, a database search was performed based on the primary sequence of the peptide I24 (CLAFYACFC), the effective part of the antiviral peptide TAT-I24 consisting of peptide I24 and the cell penetrating TAT-peptide (amino-acids 48–60, GRKKRRQRRRPPQ). A Protein BLAST search identified several sequences with high similarity to I24 in diverse proteins, some of which are known to be involved in the interaction with nucleic acids. Selected sequences and newly designed variants of I24 were synthesized as TAT fusion peptides and tested for antiviral activity in two well-established models: baculovirus transduction of HEK293 cells …

Conulariids From The Late Serpukhovian (Late Mississippian) Carbonate Deposits Of Ne Europe, Andrey Vladimirovich Zhuravlev, Andrey Vladimirovich Erofeevsky, Yadviga Alfredovna Vevel

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Late Mississippian (late Serpukhovian) conulariids are described from the deep carbonate platform facies of the northern Cis-Urals. The fossil assemblage also includes brachiopods, foraminifers, ostracods, conodonts, Sphenothallus (?), crinoids, and rare bryozoan and fish remains. Conulariid remains are represented by isolated rods and articulated thecae of Paraconularia aff. subulata (Hall). A carbon isotope study suggests that the conulariids were low-level consumers, likely feeding on seston.

A Feature-Free Deep Learning Approach For Midair Hand Gesture Recognition From Surface Electromyogram (Semg) Data, Yasir Altaf, Abdul Wahid, Mudasir Manzoor Kirmani

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Midair hand gesture recognition plays a crucial role in applications such as sign language recognition and human-computer interaction, particularly for supporting individuals with partial or complete hearing loss. However, recognizing gestures in midair remains challenging due to the rapid and complex nature of hand movements. To address this, noninvasive techniques like surface electromyography (sEMG)—which captures muscle activity through sensors placed on the skin—have gained attention. sEMG provides rich time-series data that reflect both spatial and temporal muscle dynamics. In this study, we propose a deep learning architecture that combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to classify …

Persistent Ifn-Γ Signaling In Acquired Resistance To Pd-(L)1 Blockade In Nsclc, Vasisht Karri, Samir Dalia

Student Publications

Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have transformed the therapeutic landscape of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), producing durable responses in a subset of patients. Yet for most, clinical benefit is undermined by the development of acquired resistance (AR), a phenomenon that continues to limit the long-term success of immunotherapy. Recent analyses have drawn attention to persistent interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling as a paradoxical hallmark of AR: a cytokine typically associated with effective antitumor immunity that, when chronically engaged, sustains immune dysfunction. In this commentary, we synthesize existing literature to …

Decision Support To Meet Objectives For Water And Fisheries Management In Large River And Estuarine Systems, Phaedra Elizabeth Budy

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Volume 13, Number 1, 2023, Volume 13, Number 1, 2023

Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia

No abstract provided.

Prospective Sars-Cov-2 Additional Vaccination In Immunosuppressant-Treated Individuals With Autoimmune Diseases In A Randomized Controlled Trial, Meggan Mackay, Alfred Hj Kim, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Individuals with autoimmune diseases (AD) on immunosuppressants often have suboptimal responses to COVID-19 vaccine. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of additional COVID-19 vaccines in those treated with mycophenolate mofetil/mycophenolic acid (MMF/MPA), methotrexate (MTX), and B cell-depleting therapy (BCDT), including the impact of withholding MMF/MPA and MTX.

METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized trial, 22 participants taking MMF/MPA, 26 taking MTX, and 93 treated with BCDT who had suboptimal antibody responses to initial COVID-19 vaccines (2 doses of BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 or 1 dose of AD26.COV2.S) received an additional homologous vaccine. Participants taking MMF/MPA and MTX were randomized (1:1) …

Variation In Corneal Biomechanical Properties Following Continuous Cross-Linking Treatment, Daniela Oehring, Chenhao Zhao, Xinyu Yao, Yewei Zhao, Fangjun Bao, Ahmed Elsheikh, Hongjiang Wu, Jiahui Zon, Xuanya Tong, Lan Yang, Xiaofei Zhou, Ying Li, Yanjie Shen, Yufeng Ye, Shihao Chen, Jia Qu, Qinmei Wang

School of Health Professions

BackgroundThis retrospective study aimed to evaluate the ecacy of transepithelial accelerated corneal cross-linking when applied separately (transEpi ACXL) or combined with phototherapeutic keratectomy (transPTK ACXL) in keratoconic eyes using biomechanical parameters.MethodsThe study included eyes with progressive keratoconus treated with either continuous transEpi ACXL or transPTK ACXL with 6 months of follow-up. The following parameters were assessed preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively: biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP), maximum and mean keratometry (Kmax and Km), minimum and central corneal thickness (MCT and CCT), corneal coma, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), deformation amplitude ratio at the apex and 2 mm nasal/temporal (DAR2), integrated inverse …