Digital Commons Network^™

Prairie Soundscape, Rebecca J. Romsdahl

The Cicadian

This series of soundscapes represents dawn and dusk. Morning Cacophony was recorded at 6:00 AM, May 2023 on the Tympanuchus Reserve near Crookston, MN — a rare remnant prairie never plowed. Voices of the prairie: sedge wren, bobolink, greater prairie chicken, sandhill crane, red-winged blackbird, clay-colored sparrow. Night Chorus was captured at 2:00 AM, June 2024 on restored grassland at Bluestem Preserve near Moorhead, MN — once farmland, now thriving prairie. Nocturnal symphony: whip-poor-will (song + warning call), coyotes, treefrogs, grasshopper sparrow, soft wind, gentle rain.

Cicadian Rhythms: The 2024 Cicada Emergence, Farah Davis

The Cicadian

In Cicadian Rhythms, Farah Davis recounts the rare 2024 dual emergence of cicada broods XIII and XIX, which appeared weeks early due to climate change. She explains how cicadas use tree sap and soil temperature to time their emergence, and how warming trends are disrupting these ancient cycles. The essay blends personal observation with scientific insight, showing how even backyard phenomena reflect broader environmental shifts. Davis emphasizes the ecological importance of cicadas and the cascading effects of climate disruption on ecosystems. Ultimately, she calls for greater awareness and stewardship in the face of accelerating climate change.

Where The Earth Meets The Sky, Ashlyn Ed Herron

The Cicadian

A reflection of finding one's place in an ecosystem that raised them, and a long overdue love-letter to the prairies

Introduction To Our Inaugural Issue, Lacey Anderson, Mary Moroney-Fernandez, Giovanni E. Whyte

The Cicadian

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Ceramides As Biomarkers And Therapeutic Targets For Cardiometabolic Disease And Its Intersection With Cellular Aging, Youssef Moustafa Shalaby

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

Ceramides (Cer), a subclass of sphingolipids with potent bioactive properties, have gained recognition as key players in the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). They modulate critical cellular functions such as apoptosis, inflammation, insulin signaling, and oxidative stress. This dissertation explores the dual role of Cer as both early diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets, bridging clinical insights with mechanistic understanding through a combination of human and experimental studies.

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify intracellular levels of specific Cer species, including CerC16:0, CerC18:0, CerC22:0, CerC24:0, and CerC24:1. This method was translated into …

The Effect Of A Kn95 Mask On High-Intensity Interval Training Performance, Physiological Response, And Perception, David Kenny, Payton Stanziani, Holly Chambers, Madison Vinovrski, Isabel Allocco, Jack Fisher, Morgan Raley, Kyle S. Beyer

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 984-994, 2025. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a KN95 mask on the performance, physiological response, and perception of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Twenty college-aged participants (Male: 10, Female: 10) completed a two-visit, crossover, counterbalanced study. The HIIT workout included four 1-minute “all-out” intervals at 3.5% of body mass with 4-minute rest intervals, performed with or without a KN95 mask. Following HIIT, participants remained on the cycle ergometer for a 15-minute recovery period. For each interval, peak power and average power were recorded. Throughout the HIIT workout and recovery, …

Evaluating The Impact Of Zoa Energy Drink On Muscular Strength, Psychomotor Vigilance, And Mood In Active Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Jose J. Rojas, Jason M. Curtis, Flavia F. Pereira, Cassandra Evans, Kaelan Jones, Alyana Andal, Juan Carlos Santana, Hena Thakkar, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

This study evaluates the effects of ZOA Energy Drink, a commercially available energy beverage, on muscular strength, sustained attention, and mood in exercise-trained individuals. Using a randomized, blinded, two-arm design, 24 participants (15 males, 9 females; age = 31.8 ± 8.4 years) were assigned to consume either ZOA Energy Drink or a caffeine-matched placebo. The primary outcomes included psychomotor vigilance (PVT), mood state (POMS), handgrip strength, and push-up performance. Baseline body composition was also assessed using bioelectrical impedance.

Results revealed no statistically significant differences between the ZOA and the caffeine matched control groups in psychomotor vigilance (p = 0.155), mood …

The Genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

The taxonomic position of Androctonus populations in Oman was investigated by analyzing morphological variation in a comprehensive sample representing 150 records gathered from 95 localities spread throughout the country. Two new allopatric species are described, separated by multivariate morphometric analysis and meristic characters: (1) A. omanensis sp. n., distributed across most of Oman, is characterized by wider, deeper metasomal segments IV–V, shorter legs, more robust pedipalps, more granules on lateral inframedian carinae of metasoma II–III, and sparser setation on basitarsal spurs; and (2) A. ammophilus sp. n., distributed in the dunes of the Rub’ al-Khali (Empty Quarter) of …

The Prospector, September 9, 2025, Utep Student Publications

The Prospector

No abstract provided.

Beneficial Effects Of Performlytetm, A Prodosomed Phytonutrient-Enriched Electrolyte Formulation, In Enhancing Neuro-Muscular Synergy, Immune Competence, Cellular Aerobic Glycolysis And Sports Performance, Bernard William Downs, Samudra P. Banik, Bruce S. Morrison, Tandra Chakraborty, Manashi Bagchi, Sanjoy Chakraborty, Steve Kushner, Debasis Bagchi

Publications and Research

An optimised sports nutrition formulation achieving the correct blend of electrolytes with antioxidants and vitamins is integral towards meeting the demanding performance in professional sports arena. In this work, we describe a pilot study carried out to understand the effect of a novel phytonutrient- and electrolyte-fortified sports nutrition composition, PerformLyte^TM, developed in our laboratories, in boosting the performance of trained male cyclists. PerformLyte^TM is a unique fortified formulation comprising of polyphenolic antioxidants, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, as well as carotenoids, sulforaphanes, exotic spices, sea water-derived electrolytes, and vitamin C, encapsulated in proprietary patent-pending Prodosome absorption technology, enabling sustained …

Intelligence Architectures And Machine Learning Applications In Contemporary Spine Care, Rahul Kumar, Conor Dougherty, Kyle Sporn, Akshay Khanna, Puja Ravi, Pranay Prabhakar, Nasif Zaman

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies has initiated a paradigm shift in contemporary spine care. This narrative review synthesizes advances across imaging-based diagnostics, surgical planning, genomic risk stratification, and post-operative outcome prediction. We critically assess high-performing AI tools, such as convolutional neural networks for vertebral fracture detection, robotic guidance platforms like Mazor X and ExcelsiusGPS, and deep learning-based morphometric analysis systems. In parallel, we examine the emergence of ambient clinical intelligence and precision pharmacogenomics as enablers of personalized spine care. Notably, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk scores are enabling a shift from …

Strategies To Increase The Number Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Employees In Senior-Level Positions, Renée Michele Collins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Ineffective strategies to increase the number of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) employees in senior-level positions can negatively impact financial performance. Some business leaders lack strategies to increase the number of BIPOC employees in senior-level positions and positively impact financial performance, which could increase risk of business instability. Grounded in multidimensional cultural competency framework; equity, diversity, and inclusion theory; and change management theory, this qualitative pragmatic inquiry was conducted to identify and explore effective strategies business leaders use to increase the number of BIPOC employees in senior-level positions and positively impact financial performance. The participants were eight business …

Compositions And Uses Thereof For Treatment Of Idiopathic Preterm Birth, Charles Lockwood, Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli, Umit Ali Kayisli, Frederick Schatz

USF Patents

Disclosed are compositions and methods for delaying or preventing idiopathic preterm birth.

Nanoparticles And Nanogel Drug Compositions For Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Vijaykumar Bhadabhai Sutariya, Priyanka Sureshbhai Bhatt, Vipul B. Amin, Srinivas M. Tipparaju

USF Patents

Disclosed are nanoparticles and nanogel drug compositions and the use thereof for treating age-related macular degeneration.

Stayin' Alive (Even Without Oxygen): Retinal Development In Austrofundulus Limnaeus, Carmen Zecilia Rodriguez

Dissertations and Theses

The vertebrate eye is one of the most metabolically active organs in the body and is particularly sensitive to environmental stressors such as oxygen deprivation. Understanding how eye development proceeds under such conditions can provide critical insights into mechanisms of cellular resilience, tissue organization, and developmental plasticity. The annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus represents a unique model for investigating these processes due to its remarkable tolerance to anoxia during embryogenesis. However, the wild-type form is heavily pigmented, limiting the effectiveness of traditional imaging techniques for studying eye development. This thesis characterizes eye development and anoxia resilience in both wild-type and melanin-deficient …

The Effects Of Tfeα And Promoter Sequence On Early Events In Archaeal Transcription Initiation, Madolyn Toli

Dissertations and Theses

Expression of genes is dependent on promoter sequences in DNA, which direct transcription by RNA polymerase. Transcription factors interact with promoters and RNAP and are often conserved and are essential for proper gene expression. In this thesis, a functional region of archaeal TFEα, homologous to eukaryotic TFIIEα, has been identified, and specific amino acids in these regions have been determined to have significant importance in TFEα's ability to promote transcription in early initiation. All three Domains of life encode a 16S rRNA promoter, which is responsible for production of the 16S portion of ribosome. Transcription with this promoter is not …

2025 Conference - Developing World Approaches To Ocean Governance: Perspectives From The Indian Ocean Rim, Center For Oceans Law & Policy

Conference on Oceans Law & Policy

For the 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy, the Stockton Center for International Law at the United States Naval War College joined Gujarat Maritime University and the World Maritime University–Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute in convening the conference in New Delhi, India, from 9–12 September 2025. Hosted at The Ashok Hotel, COLP 48 marked a historic first for the series as the conference was held in the Indian subcontinent for the first time. The theme of the conference was “Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim.”

Reflecting the strategic and legal importance of the …

[Pdf] From Usf.Edu Nanoparticles And Nanogel Drug Compositions For Treatment Of Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Vijaykumar Bhadabhai Sutariya, Priyanka Bhatt, Vipul B. Amin, Srinivas M. Tipparaju

Pharmacy Faculty/Staff Publications

Disclosed are nanoparticles and nanogel drug compositions and the use thereof for treating age-related macular degeneration.

Integrative Techniques To Alleviate Abiotic Stress In Plants Using Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria And Fungi: Mechanisms, Interactions, And Applications, Muhammad Naseem, Amjad Iqbal, Muhammad Qadir, Anwar Hussain

All Works

No abstract provided.

Corrigendum To "Trustworthiness Criteria For Meta-Analyses Of Randomized Controlled Studies: Obgyn Journal Guidelines" [Ejogrb 305 (2025) 416-418], Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

Participating members of the OBGYN Editors’ Integrity Group (OGEIG) All OGEIG members who participated in meetings discussing the manuscript ‘Trustworthiness criteria for meta-analyses of randomized controlled studies’ are listed here, with their affiliated journal/organization in parentheses: Jason Abbott (J Minim Invasive Gynecol), Ganesh Acharya (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand), Amir Aviram (Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM), Kurt Barnhart (Fertil Steril), Vincenzo Berghella (Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM), Catherine S. Bradley (Am J Obstet Gynecol), Nancy Chescheir (COPE), Thomas D'Hooghe (Gynecol Obstet Invest), Michael Geary (Int J Gynecol Obstet), Janesh Gupta (Eur J Obstet Gynecol), Karl Oliver Kagan (Arch Gynecol Obstet), Anthony …

Fetal Body Composition And Organ Growth In Pregnancies Complicated By First-Trimester Vaginal Bleeding Status: Nichd Fetal 3d Study, Alexandra Jean-Louis, Jessica L Gleason, Zhen Chen, Kathryn A Wagner, Dian He, Roger Newman, William A Grobman, Robert Gore-Langton, Seth Sherman, Magdalena Sanz Cortes, Edward K Chien, Luis F Goncalves, Jagteshwar Grewal, Katherine L Grantz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective

This study aimed to explore associations between self-reported first-trimester vaginal bleeding status and fetal body composition and organ volumes measured by three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound across pregnancy.

Study Design

The NICHD Fetal 3D Study (2015–2019) included individuals with singleton pregnancies at low risk for fetal growth abnormalities (n = 2,634). Fetal body composition measures of arm, abdomen, and thigh, and organ volumes including cerebellum, lung, kidney, and liver, were measured up to five times between 15 and 40 weeks using 3D ultrasound. Women were grouped by cumulative days of self-reported first-trimester vaginal bleeding: 0 (no bleeding, reference), 1, or …

Testis Expressed 50 Is Essential For Maintaining Sperm Acrosome Integrity During Epididymal Transit, Saori Haga, Kaori Nozawa, Ferheen Abbasi, Katarzyna Kent, Naoko Nagasawa, Tsutomu Endo, Haruhiko Miyata, Masahito Ikawa, Martin M Matzuk, Yoshitaka Fujihara

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In mammals, sperm formation is completed in the seminiferous tubules within the testis, and sperm maturation occurs during the epididymal transit of the spermatozoa. Sperm morphology drastically changes when abnormal spermatozoa migrate from the testis to the epididymis. Detailed molecular mechanisms for sperm survival in the epididymis have not been determined yet. Globozoospermia is a cause of male infertility and is characterized by round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes, an abnormal sperm nuclear membrane, and sperm midpiece defects. Testis expressed 50 (Tex50) is a testis-enriched gene that is expressed in mice and humans. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we generated Tex50 knockout (KO) …

Underwater Acoustic Integrated Sensing And Communication: A Spatio-Temporal Freshness For Intelligent Resource Prioritization, Ananya Hazarika, Mehdi Rahmati

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Underwater acoustic communication faces significant challenges including limited bandwidth, high propagation delays, severe multipath fading, and stringent energy constraints. While integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has shown promise in radio frequency systems, its adaptation to underwater environments remains challenging due to the unique acoustic channel characteristics and the inadequacy of traditional delay-based performance metrics that fail to capture the spatio-temporal value of information in dynamic underwater scenarios. This paper presents a comprehensive underwater ISAC framework centered on a novel Spatio-Temporal Information-Theoretic Freshness metric that fundamentally transforms resource allocation from delay minimization to value maximization. Unlike conventional approaches that treat all …

Punitiveness In The Modern Era: Gender Roles & Anti-Transgender Attitudes, Haley Brooke Trantham

Theses and Dissertations

Public opinion on punitiveness is an important topic of study because it can influence political elites’ decision making when developing legislation. This study focused on the role gender ideology and anti-transgender attitudes on punitiveness while controlling for religious and political conservatism. The 2020 American National Election Study (ANES) was used to examine the association between conservatism, traditional gender roles, and anti-transgender attitudes on their influence of punitiveness. Three ordinal logistic regressions were run for each type of punitiveness (i.e., death penalty support, crime spending, and felon disenfranchisement). Results indicated that religious conservatives had lesser odds for supporting the death penalty …

Sleep Architecture And Dementia Risk In Adults: An Analysis Of 5 Cohorts From The Sleep And Dementia Consortium, Stephanie Yiallourou, Andree-Ann Baril, Crystal Wiedner, Jeffrey R Misialek, Christopher E Kline, Stephanie Harrison, Ethan Cannon, Qiong Yang, Rebecca Bernal, Alycia Bisson, Dibya Himali, Marina Cavuoto, Antoine Weihs, Alexa Beiser, Rebecca F Gottesman, Yue Leng, Oscar Lopez, Pamela L Lutsey, Shaun M Purcell, Susan Redline, Sudha Seshadri, Katie L Stone, Kristine Yaffe, Sonia Ancoli-Israel, Qian Xiao, Eleni Okeanis Vaou, Jayandra J Himali, Matthew P Pase

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Study objectives: Poor sleep may play a role in the risk of dementia. However, few studies have investigated the association between polysomnography (PSG)-derived sleep architecture and dementia incidence. We examined the relationship between sleep architecture and dementia incidence across five US-based cohort studies from the Sleep and Dementia Consortium.

Methods: Percent of time spent in stages of sleep (N1, N2, N3, rapid eye movement sleep), wake after sleep onset, sleep maintenance efficiency, apnea-hypopnea index, and relative delta power were derived from a single night home-based PSG. Dementia was ascertained in each cohort using its cohort-specific criteria. Each cohort performed Cox …

Iwu Welcomes Largest Incoming Class In 15 Years, Julia Perez

News and Events (Discontinued Series)

No abstract provided.

Therapeutic Restoration Of Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Cross Talk For Osteoarthritis, Mingzhuang Hou, Yifan Ma, Yaoge Deng, Yubin Wu, Yanrun Zhu, Yang Liu, Xiaoping Li, Lili Yu, Zirui He, Yifan Wang, Shiyan Dong, Xiaowei Xia, Jianfeng Yu, Chenqi Yu, Kang Kang, Yingjie Lu, Lili Sun, Betty Y S Kim, Yuan Yuan, Yijian Zhang, Wen Jiang, Xuesong Zhu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Osteoarthritis is a prevalent joint disease in the aging population. The hallmark of osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joint cartilage, characterized by changes in chondrocytes including mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the precise mechanisms of how this affects chondrocyte homeostasis and whether such processes can be explored as therapeutic targets for osteoarthritis remain unclear. Here, we show that impaired mitochondrial function and disrupted cartilage matrix metabolism due to loss of mitofusin-2 (MFN2) expression in chondrocytes leads to the development of osteoarthritis. Sirtuin-3 (SIRT3), a key regulator of mitochondrial function, plays a critical role in modulating MFN2 to restore mitochondrial dynamics, reduce …

Smart Aquaculture Technology: Building Climate Resilience And Food Security In The Agrifood Supply Chain, Ikape Simon I., Goma Ruth P., Lise Hunter, Ed-Idoko John O., Christiana O. N.

Plymouth Business School

This paper examines the impacts of climate change on fish production within the agrifood supply chain and its implications for food security. It reviews smart aquaculture technologies as key adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable fish production and resilient food security. Adaptation measures include data-driven tools for site and species selection, as well as automated monitoring systems and predictive models that enable proactive risk management under climate variability. Mitigation strategies focus on reducing the sector’s carbon footprint through optimized feed utilization, waste reduction, and the integration of renewable energy sources. Findings suggest that smart aquaculture not only strengthens production efficiency …

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: The Buzz About Bees, Kaitlin U. Campbell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes bees--honey bees and native bees--and the services they provide as pollinators. It describes the threats that bees face, including habitat loss, pesticide use, climate change, and diseases and parasites. It also outlines ways to help bees.

Creating Sustainable School And Home Gardens: Using Citizen Science, Kaitlin U. Campbell, Rita Hagevik, Kathy Cabe Trundle

All Current Publications

Citizen science, also called community-based science or participatory science, provides a way for anyone to gather data, along with scientists, around a scientific question or phenomenon. Citizen science offers immense value to both the general public and scientists. This fact sheet provides resources to connect readers to citizen science projects.