Digital Commons Network^™

Novel Origin Of Sperm Heteromorphism In The Drosophilidae, Karan Bhatt

Theses - ALL

Sperm heteromorphism, the production of two or more discrete sperm types or morphs within a single testis, occurs in diverse taxa. This phenomenon is believed to represent a division of labor by male gametes, with only one morph (the "eusperm") participating in fertilization and the other morph(s) specialized to perform some other (typically unknown) function within the female reproductive tract. One of the most intensively investigated systems is the Drosophila obscura species group, for which sperm heteromorphism evolved once in the common ancestor to the group, with all examined descendent species exhibiting sperm length heteromorphism. The absence of additional sperm …

Exploring The Role Of Astrocyte System Xc– In Excitatory/Inhibitory Balance, Samantha Olivia Sutton

Theses - ALL

Astrocytes play a central role in maintaining excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in the central nervous system by supporting intracellular glutathione (GSH) synthesis and regulating extracellular glutamate. System xc– (Sxc–), an obligate cystine/glutamate antiporter encoded by SLC7a11, couples the import of L-cystine with the export of L-glutamate. It is highly expressed throughout the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum, where its activity provides cystine—the rate-limiting substrate for cysteine-dependent GSH production—and contributes to ambient glutamatergic tone. Although global loss of Sxc– alters seizure threshold and redox homeostasis, whether these effects arise specifically from the loss of astrocytic Sxc– has remained unresolved. This thesis examined …

Investigating The "Tend-And-Befriend" Stress Response As A Risk Factor For Sexual Victimization Among College Women, Emily Kathleen Presutti

Theses - ALL

Sexual victimization of college women is a significant public health concern on U.S. college campuses. Traditional research on the human stress response has focused on the "fight-or-flight" model, which may not adequately capture female-typical responses in stress-inducing situations. Using a mixed-methods design, we sought to determine whether the "tend-and-befriend" stress response serves as a potential correlate of sexual victimization among college women and examine whether it contributes additional variance beyond established correlates of sexual victimization such as alcohol use, history of sexual victimization, and involvement in campus party culture. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase I, 128 …

Dampit Robusta Coffee Effect On The Creatinine Kinase Levels And Muscle Pain Scales Among Sport Enthusiast, M. Fath Alhaqqi Sanis Salamy, Mohammad Fathul Qorib, Lilik Herawati, Rizky Darmawan, M. Izzul Mujahiddin, Salamun Salamun, Ahmed Zaiyan Nahel Salamy, Achmad Yarziq Mubarak Salis Salamy, Moh Nahar Azmi Mohamed, Ain Darojah Siddiq Ramadhan Ramadhan

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Excessive eccentric exercise often results in muscle injury, reflected by elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). In Indonesia, coffee consumption after exercise has increased, with Dampit Robusta Coffee (DRC)—a local variety rich in caffeine and antioxidants considered a potential aid for recovery. This study evaluated the effect of DRC consumption on biomarkers of muscle damage and perceived soreness. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 20 healthy untrained men aged 20–25 years, allocated into treatment (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. The treatment group consumed brewed DRC (≈200 mg caffeine/day) …

Road Performance And Water-Softening Characteristics Of Stabilized Soil Under Cyclic Loading, Hu Hong, Li Zongheng, Feng Yong, Cao Zhigang, Liu Yaoxing

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To effectively deal with waste soil and reduce environmental pollution,this paper took a road engineering project in Shaoxing as the research object and conducted a cyclic triaxial incremental loading test on the undisturbed lime soil under undrained conditions to study the effects of confining pressure,cyclic stress ratio,and water immersion on its performance.The results show that when the cyclic stress ratio increases from 1 to 4,the cumulative strain and resilient strain increase rapidly in the initial loading stage,showing a trend of “stepwise” increase.The cumulative strain produced at a cyclic stress ratio of 2 is about twice that at the cyclic stress …

Synthesis, Spectroscopic Characterization, And Biological Evaluation Of Mixed Ligands Complexes From Schiff Base And 1,10-Phenanthroline With Multivalent Metal Ions, Maryam H. Abboud, Shaymaa R. Baqer

Baghdad Science Journal

The new Schiff base (L) was synthesized from the condensation reaction of 3-amino-4-(1-methoxy-1-oxo-3-phenylpropane-2-ylamino)-4-oxobutanoic acid (aspartame) with 4-chlorobenzaldehyde in 3 drops of glacial acetic acid. This ligand is characterized by techniques: UV-Vis, FT_IR, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, Mass and C.H.N.O. A series of complexes were prepared with 1,10- phenanthroline as mixed ligands complexes. All mixed ligands complexes of chromium, cobalt, nickel, copper, palladium and platin have been characterized by the same ligands techniques. In addition to molar conductivity and magnetic moments, the NMR spectrum and mass spectrum were for ligands only. Results showed through previous techniques that the ligand (L) behaves …

Taxonomic Significance Of Anatomical Characters In Some Species Of Apiaceae Family In Iraq, Karzan Omer Qader

Baghdad Science Journal

The study included the anatomical characteristics of nine species belonging to the nine genera of the Apiaceae family: Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss, Grammosciadium scabridum (Boiss.) B.L. Burtt & P.H. Davis, Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Lisaea strigosa (Banks & Sol.) Eig, Ormosciadium aucheri Boiss, Pimpinella puberula (DC.) Boiss., Prangos ferulacea (L.) Lindl., Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link and Zosima absinthifolia (Vent.) Link. The results showed that anatomical characteristics were important in the separation of taxa, two types have been recognized in the mesophyll of leaves: dorsiventral (Bifacial) recorded in the Grammosciadium scabridum, Prangos ferulacea, Pimpinella puberula species and isobilateral in the remaining species. Palisade …

Comparing The Antibacterial Efficiency Of Chitosan And Dextran As Nanocomposites Against Escherichia Coli, Saja Sachit, Alaa Al-Taie

Baghdad Science Journal

Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used in many different fields and applications. In this study, Silver (Ag) NPs and Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) NPs were generated using the laser ablation method by using Q-switched Nd: YAG laser. In addition, Chitosan (CS) and Dextran nanopolymers were chosen to prepare the nanocomposites by combining the two types of nanopolymers with the generated NPs in different ratios to obtain the samples: CS and Dextran as a control, CS-Ag, CS-TiO₂, CS Ag-TiO₂, Dextran-Ag, Dextran-TiO₂, and Dextran Ag-TiO₂. Several tests were carried out on these nanocomposites such …

Biosynthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles From Halophilic Green Algae (Dunaliella Viridis) Extract And It Is Antibacterial Activity, Payman Omer Salih, Trifa Kamal Jalal, Hoshyar Abdullah Azeez

Baghdad Science Journal

Biological synthesis of nanoparticles is a new area of nanotechnology that has advantages in terms of cost and the environment compared to chemical or physical synthesis methods. The current work is carried out to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) utilizing green algae (Dunaliella viridis Teodoresco 1905) extract as a reducing and capping agent and to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of AgNPs. The. The measures of UV-V spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM-EDSand FTIR were used to characterize the synthesized silver nanoparticles. Additionally, agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods were used for antibacterial activity. The plasmon absorbance of AgNPs was …

Hepatocyte-Specific Lrp1 Silencing Exacerbates Brain Amyloidosis Without Compensatory Ldl Receptor Family Involvement, Brian Carson, Josephine Chu, Devaraj V. Chandrashekar, Jerome Garcia, Rachita K. Sumbria, Derick Han

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

LDL receptor related protein 1 (LRP1) is a major hepatic receptor involved in lipoprotein metabolism, protease degradation, transmembrane receptor modulation, and clearance of excess protein, such as Aβ. Decreased expression of LRP1 due to liver injury can impair receptor-mediated clearance, increasing Aβ availability in the periphery. We investigated the effects of hepato-specific silencing of LRP1 on Aβ deposition in the brain. Additionally, other LDL family members (LRP5, LRP6, and LDLR) that may participate in Aβ clearance were monitored in the liver to ensure non-compensatory effects of LRP1 silencing.

Method

4-month-old male double transgenic (APP/PS1) AD mice were injected with …

Construction And Application Of Knowledge Graph For Quality Management In Bridge Pile Engineering, Fang Xiaofeng, Dong Runhao, Gu Yanke, Pan Yanran

Journal of China & Foreign Highway

To enhance the efficiency of quality management in bridge pile foundation construction,this study constructed a knowledge graph applicable to the construction field of bridge pile foundation engineering to enable systematic representation and intelligent organization of knowledge.A methodology combining top-down design and bottom-up design was adopted to develop a framework for constructing a knowledge graph for the quality management of bridge pile foundation construction that encompasses both the schema layer and the data layer.The schema layer was established through ontology modeling,clarifying the concept categories,hierarchical structure,and their attribute relationships.The data layer employed a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM ) network integrated with …

Twas-Ctl: A Robust And Efficient Method For Multi-Tissue Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies Using Cross-Tissue Learners, Md Mutasim Billah, Hairong Wei, Fengzhu Sun, Kui Zhang

Michigan Tech Publications

The advent of transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) has expanded the classical genome-wide association study (GWAS) framework by integrating gene expression with genetic variation to identify trait-associated variants. While multi-tissue TWAS approaches improve statistical power over single-tissue models, existing methods often lose information during result aggregation and require intensive computation. Here, we present TWAS-CTL (Cross-Tissue Learner), a novel framework that leverages heterogeneous gene expression across tissues by adaptively reweighting and optimizing multiple single-tissue learners. Simulations demonstrate that TWAS-CTL achieves higher statistical power than the leading method, UTMOST, while maintaining proper type I error control and reducing computational time by over half. …

Model Inference And Sparse Network Analysis: Machine Learning In The Gene Regulatory Network Framework, Youchuan Wang

Dissertations - ALL

This thesis explores sparse network inference from high-dimensional, noisy, and underdetermined data—a fundamental challenge in many scientific domains. We focus on the development of evolutionary computation methods for discovering underlying network structures that are both interpretable and biologically plausible. Our methods are applied to the domain of Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) inference, where sparsity, indirect interactions, and limited observations pose significant hurdles. The framework models both steady-state and time-series gene expression data, with particular emphasis on biological sparsity and regulatory dynamics. We approach the problem from three perspectives: (1) edge-level analysis using transitive reduction to distinguish direct from indirect regulation; …

Enzyme Active Bath Affects Protein Condensation, Kevin Ching

Dissertations - ALL

The idea that the activity of an active bath can act as an effective temperature and alter system behavior has been theorized and demonstrated for micron-scale systems, but it has not yet been shown for nanoscale systems. Previous studies have suggested that, although passive and active systems can be combined at the nanoscale, activity from the active system typically disrupts and destroys the passive system. In this work, I attempt to create an enzyme-driven active bath to control the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and condensation of a protein. I find that enzymatic activity enhances phase separation, effectively driving the LLPS …

Microtubule Self-Organization With Active And Passive Crosslinkers, Prashali Chauhan

Dissertations - ALL

Humans have always been trying to unravel principles that guide how things around us function, all the way from galactic ovements to basic building blocks of matter. The physical and chemical properties of ‘biological’ systems govern processes all the way from molecular interactions of proteins to the form and function of individual living organisms. In this work, I focus on the proteins which help give shape and structure to the smallest building block of life, the cell and associated mechanisms of building fundamental cellular architectures, like the mitotic spindle. Mitosis takes place by microtubules aligning themselves in anti-parallel fashion with …

Exploring The Chemical And Biological Foundations Of Protein Lipidation Through Functional And Computational Studies, Andrea Sprague-Getsy

Dissertations - ALL

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) are essential for the diversification of the human proteome. Prenylation is a PTM defined by the addition of a 15-carbon or 20 carbon isoprenoid group by FTase and GGTase-I, respectively, onto a cysteine near the C-terminus of proteins. This modification is the first step within the prenylation pathway where proteolysis and carboxymethylation occur afterwards, aiding in proteins localization to the cellular membrane. These prenyltransferases canonically recognize a “CaaX” box motif which has been determined through biochemical and structural studies. Recently, sequences following the C(x)3X and Cxx patterns have been shown to be prenylated as well as an …

On Detecting Change-Points Of A Segmented Logistic Regression Model, Jingwen Li

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation investigates the problem of change-point detection in segmented logistic regression models, where the total number of change-points is unknown. We consider both unconstrained models, which allow discontinuities at change-points, and constrained models, which impose continuity across change-points. The central challenge is to determine the number of change-points and to accurately estimate their locations, while ensuring valid statistical inference for the associated regression coefficients. We begin by introducing a set of regularity assumptions that underlie the theoretical analysis throughout this work. For a given number of change-points, we present algorithms to estimate their locations and obtain the maximum likelihood …

Synergistic Use Of Sentinel-1 And Sentinel-2 Data For Mapping Of Degradation In Coastal Forests And Miombo Woodlands Of Tanzania, Daria C. Kimaro

Tanzania Journal of Science

Forest degradation is one of the leading sources of carbon emission globally. In Africa, particularly in Tanzania, forest degradation is driven by selective logging and forest fires. Monitoring degradation over large areas is very challenging due to the lack of accurate and reliable methods. This study assessed degradation in miombo woodlands and coastal forests using a synergy of remotely sensed data acquired from sentinel-1 and sentinel-2 achieved by integrating their complementary strength where sentinel-1 enhanced detection of structural changes and sentinel-2 provided spectral insight into vegetation. The 3I3D, unsupervised algorithm analysing trends for three vegetation indices (3I) in a three-dimensional …

Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Blighia Unijugata Baker Aril Protein-Rich Extract, Oludele O. Odekanyin, Ifeoluwa M. Adepoju, Tolulope A. Anjorin, Oluwatobi S. Adekoya

Tanzania Journal of Science

The study investigated the in vitro oxidative-stress-mitigating effect and anti- inflammatory potential of the soluble protein of the arils of Blighia unijugata in order to establish possible use in inflammatory therapy. Air-dried Blighia unijugata aril was pulverized into powder, defatted using petroleum ether, and homogenized in Phosphate Buffer Saline. The homogenate was centrifuged, and the supernatant was subjected to ammonium sulphate fractionation. The precipitate was thoroughly dialyzed, dialysate was freeze-dried, and termed partially purified Blighia unijugata aril protein extract (ppBUAPE). The antioxidant potential of the protein-rich extract was investigated using DPPH, H2O2 scavenging activity, and FRAP. The ability of ppBUAPE …

Enterobacteriaceae Contamination In Locally Packaged Roasted Cashew Kernels From The Coast And Morogoro Regions, Tanzania, Douglas Mushi, Silvia Francis Materu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The increased sales of locally packaged roasted cashew kernels (RCK) in Tanzania reflect growing consumer demand for healthy, convenient snacks. Despite this popularity and frequently reported cases of gastrointestinal illness, the microbial safety of these plastic- bagged products is not well-documented, posing a potential public health concern. To address this, a study was performed to evaluate packaging hygiene, package integrity, and microbial contamination of randomly selected packages of RCK (small: n=99; medium: n=87; large: n=118) from vendors in Coast and Morogoro regions, Tanzania. Package integrity was assessed using a vacuum decay leak tester while microbial contamination on surfaces including RCK, …

Molecular Evidence For Presence Of Manihot Esculenta Associated Virus 1: Cg-Nmb And/Or Cg-Kah Isolates In Coast, Tanzania: A Threat To Cassava Production, Herieth R. Mero

Tanzania Journal of Science

Genetic diversity of Manihot esculenta associated virus type 1 (MEaV-1) species suspected to cause the most destructive Brown Streak of Cassava (CBSD) in Tanzania, has remained elusive since the year 2020 when MY-6mb-4 virus isolate was first identified in Chambezi, Coast region. In this study, two additional isolates (CG-Nmb and CG-Kah) of the MEaV-1 species were characterized in the same area after screening leaf samples collected from 292 Kiroba, 12 Albert and 22 Kikombe varieties of cassava using a Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT- PCR) assay. One half of the leaf samples collected from each of the three varieties …

Exploring Bacterial Diversity In Seagrass Meadow Of Thalassia Hemprichii And Syringodium Isoetifolium From Tanzania’S Coast, Lucy D. Mbusi, Thomas J. Lyimo, Sylvester L. Lyantagaye

Tanzania Journal of Science

Seagrasses are highly productive coastal ecosystems that harbor diverse bacterial communities, including both culturable and unculturable taxa. These bacteria play vital roles in ecological, biogeochemical, and biotechnological processes. In this study, a metagenomic approach using Pacific Biosciences next-generation sequencing was employed to investigate bacterial diversity associated with Thalassia hemprichii and Syringodium isoetifolium collected from the Mjimwema coast, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Results revealed that T. hemprichii supported greater bacterial species diversity (117 OTUs) compared to S. isoetifolium (109 OTUs). Among plant compartments, roots harbored the highest diversity, followed by rhizosphere sediment and leaves. The phylum Proteobacteria dominated across all samples …

Simulation Based Model For Canine Distemper Virus In Prey-Predator Dynamics, Mussa A. Stephano

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study investigates the dynamic interactions of a prey-predator ecosystem infected with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), focusing on predation and disease transmission. A deterministic model, coupled with Monte Carlo simulations (MCS), employed to capture both stochastic variability and environmental fluctuations. The findings indicate that classical prey-predator cycles provide the baseline for population dynamics, but the introduction of CDV and environmental noise fundamentally alters system behavior. Initially, populations exhibit oscillations that gradually stabilize into dynamic equilibria. However, the disease persists within both prey and predator populations, suggesting endemicity rather than extinction. Predation plays a dual role in disease dynamics, while it …

Mathematical Modeling Of Awareness-Driven Interventions For Gender-Based Violence Control In A Closed Population, Furaha M. Chuma, Edward K. Ngailo, Zubeda S. Mussa

Tanzania Journal of Science

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical global health issue with profound social, economic, and psychological implications. Despite concerted efforts to address this challenge, traditional intervention approaches often fall short of effectively mitigating its prevalence. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the potential impact of awareness-based interventions in addressing various social and health crises. This paper introduces a modeling framework to explore the efficacy of awareness-based interventions in influencing the dynamics of the GBV epidemic within a closed population. A detailed sensitivity analysis, utilizing a normalized sensitivity index method, reveals that the violence transfer rate between perpetrators and …

Modelling The Impact Of Multiple Control Strategies On The Spread Of Phyllody Disease In Sesame, Augustino I. Msigwa, Furaha M. Chuma

Tanzania Journal of Science

Phyllody disease, caused by phytoplasma and transmitted by insect vectors such as leafhoppers, poses a serious threat to the productivity of sesame (Sesamum indicum) as it has caused substantial yield and oil-quality losses worldwide, with documented seed-yield reductions ranging from 38% to as high as 80% in severe outbreaks, particularly in Africa and India. Understanding phyllody dynamics is therefore critical to safeguard yields and trade. While some modeling efforts exist for sesame phyllody (for example, statistical and prediction-focused approaches), mechanistic transmission models (SEIR) assessing its full impact remain scarce. This study therefore develops and analyses impact of multiple control strategies …

Variations In Physicochemical Properties, Microbiological Profiles, And Nutrient Dynamics In The Temi River, Arusha, Tanzania: Sources And Implications, Aldo J. Kitalika

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study thoroughly investigates the physicochemical properties, microbiological profiles, and nutrient dynamics of the Temi River in Tanzania. The sources and implications of fluctuations in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrients during the wet and dry seasons are carefully analysed. Water samples were collected from various geographically referenced points along the river, and analyses were performed using the APHA Standard Methods for Water and Wastewater Testing. The results show that most parameters increased downstream in both seasons, with the highest DOC levels reaching 352.11 mg/L in the wet season, followed by a significant decrease to 126.00 mg/L during the dry …

Mapping Research Trends On Mental Health Literacy Among University Students: A Bibliometric Systematic Review, Eko Pramudya Laksana, Muslihati Muslihati, Arbin Janu Setiyowati, Salsabila Kholifahtun Nisa, Muhammad Nur Hudha, Margaret Kehinde Soetan

Jurnal Kajian Bimbingan dan Konseling

Mental health is a global issue that has received increasing attention, particularly among university students. Mental health literacy (MHL) is an important factor in promoting students' psychological well-being through knowledge, attitudes, and the ability to recognize and address mental health problems. This study aims to map the developmental trends of MHL research among university students in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the direction and focus of studies in this field. This research employed a bibliometric literature review approach by analyzing 48 journal articles indexed in the Scopus database and published between 2021 and 2025. The findings indicate that …

Feasibility Of Exercise And Mindfulness Intervention For Improving Psychological Symptoms In Female University Students With Smartphone Addiction: A Pilot Study, Huange Liu, Kim Geok Soh, Shamsulariffin Samsudin, Suriyan Somphong, Ranintya Meikahani, Nugroho Puji Santoso

Modern Sport

The prevalent use of smartphones has raised significant concerns regarding smartphone addiction among university students. This addiction can lead to a range of psychological problems, which may ultimately affect their academic performance and overall well-being. Engaging in exercise has been linked to improved mental well-being, mainly by regulating endorphin levels, which can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have become effective strategies for tackling different psychological challenges. Evidence indicates that mindfulness practices can significantly decrease stress, anxiety, and depression levels. Combining exercise with mindfulness (EM) techniques can boost their overall effectiveness and provide additional mental health …

Antifungal Activity Of Nutmeg Mace (Myristica Fragrans Houtt) Ethanol Extract Against Candida Spp., Muhammad Akbar Yandji, Eka Astuty, Fitri Kadarsih Bandjar

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Candida infections are increasingly common worldwide and represent one of the leading causes of death after cardiovascular disease. There are three types of candida that often infect humans, namely Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. In the standard treatment used, immunity and side effects of treatment have been found. Therefore, other treatment options are needed, one of which is by using mace (Myristica fragrans Houtt) which is a native plant of Maluku and has secondary metabolite compounds that can be antifungal agents. This study aims to test the ability of ethanol extract of mace nutmeg ( …

Variety Of Study Methods In Ophthalmology Residency, Muhammad Rizqy Abdullah, Evelyn Komaratih

Folia Medica Indonesiana

Effective study methods are critical in ophthalmology residency, which must balance cognitive learning with surgical skill development. This systematic review examined non-surgical cognitive strategies and surgical training techniques to inform curriculum design and enhance resident performance. A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus (2016–2025) using keywords (“study method” OR “effective study” OR “learning strategy” OR “educational intervention” OR “training approach”) AND (“ophthalmology residency” OR “resident education”). After screening and applying eligibility criteria, 17 studies were included. Methods were categorized as non-surgical (n = 5) and surgical learning (n = 12). This review revealed that non-surgical strategies, including …