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Local Identity In The Lives Of The Fathers Of Mérida: When Ethnicity And Religion Aren’T The Point, Erica Buchberger

History Faculty Publications

While scholarship on early medieval Europe often centers ethnicity or religion over other forms of identity, they were not always the most relevant form of identification for contemporaries. In the Lives of the Fathers of Mérida (late sixth-early seventh century), ethnic and religious identity were actually deployed to construct a local identity around the space and people of the city. This article explores how the text did so by closely analyzing terms used and their context, and by applying social scientific theories of boundary construction to illuminate the strategies of identification behind it. It argues that such an approach …

Evaluating Unoccupied Aerial Systems (Uass) For The Monitoring Of Unmarked Moose In New Hampshire, Usa, Lily Hall

Master's Theses and Capstones

Accurate estimates of wildlife densities are important for understanding population dynamics and informing management decisions. Recent technological developments such as improvements of unoccupied aerial systems (UASs) and sensors provide novel pathways to estimate wildlife densities. However, these methods require critical evaluation of efficacy. In this research, we evaluated the capability of UASs to predict moose (Alces alces) density across a large landscape (~12,000 km2) in northern New Hampshire, USA using longwave infrared imagery via UAS sampling. In Chapter 1, our objective was to account for imperfect detection by creating a sightability model for unmarked moose that includes covariates expected to …

Csd 210.50: Speech, Language, Hearing, & Occupational Sciences, Anya A. Leyhe

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Fors 330.01: Forest Ecology, Andrew J. Larson

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Fors 538.01: Statistical Models For Ecological Data Analysis, Solomon Z. Dobrowski

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Biob 480.01: Conservation Genetics, Andrew R. Whiteley

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Integrated Systems Biology Identifies Disruptions In Mitochondrial Function And Metabolism As Key Contributors To Hfpef, Andrew A. Gibb, Kyle Lapenna, Ryan B. Gaspar, Nadina R. Latchman, Yinfei Tan, Carmen Choya-Foces, Jake E. Doiron, Zhen Li, Huijing Xia, Michael P. Lazaropoulos, Mariell Conwell, Thomas E. Sharp, Traci T. Goodchild, David J. Lefer, John W. Elrod

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) accounts for ∼50% of HF cases. The ZSF1-obese rat model recapitulates clinical features of HFpEF including hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, exercise intolerance, and diastolic dysfunction. We utilized a systems-biology approach to define the metabolic and transcriptional signatures to gain mechanistic insight into pathways contributing to HFpEF development. Male ZSF1-obese, ZSF1-lean hypertensive controls, and WKY (wild-type) controls were compared at 14 weeks of age for extensive physiological phenotyping and left ventricle (LV) tissue harvesting for unbiased-metabolomics, RNA-sequencing, and mitochondrial morphology and function. Utilizing ZSF1-lean and WKY controls enabled a distinction between hypertension-driven molecular changes …

Resource Assessment Report No. 4: North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource - Kimberley 2025 Assessment, Fabian Trinnie, Rubie Evans-Powell, Ainslie Denham, Sybrand A. Hesp, Corey Wakefield, Craig L. Skepper, Brett Crisafulli, Stephen J. Newman

Resource Assessment Reports

The North Coast Demersal Scalefish Resource (NCDSR) comprises ecological suites of tropical demersal fish species that occur predominantly in inshore waters (20–250 m deep) and offshore waters ( > 250 m deep) of the North Coast Bioregion (NCB). More than 60 demersal species are landed by fisheries operating in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions of the NCB each year, including high-value snappers (Lutjanidae), groupers (Epinephelidae), and emperors (Lethrinidae). As outlined in the NCDSR Harvest Strategy (DPIRD, 2017), the Kimberley resource is currently monitored through annual reviews of total removals and catch rate trends of indicator species, as well as periodic (every …

Impact Of Varied Dietary Macronutrient Ratios On The Nutrition Status Of Swiss Albino Mice, Hellen Kinyi, Charles Kato, Gertrude Kiwanuka

Biomedical Sciences, East Africa

The nutrition status of an organism depends on the balance between nutrient intake and utilization. Malnutrition results not only from inadequate caloric intake but also from imbalanced macronutrient ratios, which can affect aging, metabolism, and health. While many studies focus on individual nutrients, this study used purified, isocaloric diets with varying macronutrient ratios to assess dietary effects on nutrition markers in Swiss albino mice.

Mice were randomized into 6 dietary groups, each containing 6 males and 6 females housed separately. Each group received an isocaloric diet with different carbohydrate, protein, and lipid ratios for 15 weeks. Animal weight, body mass …

Docking Investigation Of Thevetia Peruviana Plant Compounds For Targeting Molluscicidal Activity Against Biomphalaria Alexandrina Snails, The Intermediate Host Of Schistosoma Mansoni, Samah I. Ghoname, Basma H. Amin, Asmaa T. Mohamed, Olfat A. Olfat A. Hammam, Hebat‑Allah A. Dokmak

Nanotechnology Research Centre

Background Thevetia peruviana, commonly known as Yellow Oleander or Cabbage Tree, is a tropical shrub. Extracts from various parts of the plant (e.g., leaves, seeds) have demonstrated pesticidal properties, including the ability to repel or kill intermediate hosts of Schistosomiasis. Methods This study employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis to identify 33 compo nents in the ethanol extract, with key compounds exhibiting antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory, anticancer, and anti microbial properties. Additionally, the research investigated the molluscicidal activity of the plant extract, its impact on Caspase‑3 expression, steroid sex hormone levels in Biomphalaria alexandrina, and histological alterations in the digestive and hermaphrodite …

(Si15-068) Advanced Numerical Methods For The Solution Of Nonlinear Fisher Equation, Vikash Vimal, Richa Kumari, Ashish Awasthi

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper examines the use of advanced numerical techniques to approximate solutions of the Fisher equation with higher-order accuracy. This technique integrates the method of lines with a strong stability-preserving Runge–Kutta scheme of orders four and five stages (SSPRK-54) for the numerical formulation. This scheme is then tested on two examples and the results show that it is more efficient than existing methods and requires less computing power. These equations are widely used across scientific and engineering disciplines, with particular relevance in biomedical studies, such as estimating the boundary size of tumors. The difficulties arising from their nonlinear nature are …

A Mixed-Methods Approach To Describe Typologies And Fiber Consumption Patterns Of Hispanic/Latino Adults Grouped Using Cluster Analysis, Nicholas Clarke

Master's Theses and Capstones

AbstractBackground: Hispanic/Latino adults in the United States experience disproportionate rates of obesity and diet-related chronic diseases yet remain underrepresented in obesity research. Traditional “one-size-fits-all” nutrition interventions have demonstrated limited effectiveness in this population, largely due to substantial heterogeneity in cultural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors that influence dietary patterns. Objectives: The overarching goal of this project was to further characterize previously identified subgroups within the Hispanic/Latino population to provide a foundation for future tailored interventions that address the specific needs and preferences of these subpopulations. Specific aims were to: 1. Describe cluster typologies using a virtual nominal group technique (vNGT) with …

Wildlife Connectivity And Its Relationship With Vehicle Collision Hotspots Across New Hampshire, Clara Dawson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Chp. 1: Road networks fragment wildlife habitat and impede wildlife connectivity, which leads to elevated wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) risk and increased danger to humans and wildlife. Habitat connectivity has been linked to WVC hotspot location and intensity, but this relationship likely depends on landscape context and road characteristics, which may be nonlinear due to varying habitat availability. Our objective was to evaluate factors affecting WVC location and intensity across New Hampshire, USA, with a focus on habitat connectivity. We assessed the relationship between WVCs and five connectivity models using generalized additive models and compared connectivity effects to road and land …

Toxin-Producing Cyanobacteria In Green Manure Microbiomes, Alyssa Nicole Daigle

Master's Theses and Capstones

The increasing reliance on inefficient synthetic fertilizers, which readily leach from soils and contribute to downstream pollution, underscores the urgent need for more sustainable nutrient sources, such as green manures (GMs). Floating aquatic plants like duckweeds are particularly promising candidates due to their natural abundance, rapid growth rates, and ability to efficiently uptake nutrients. However, the presence of toxin-producing cyanobacteria in duckweed microbiomes raises concerns about the potential for toxin accumulation, like microcystins (MCs), both in the GM biomass and in the edible crops to which it is applied. To evaluate the suitability and safety of duckweed-based GMs, we conducted …

Evaluating The Influence Of Landscape Structure On Blanding’S Turtle (Emydoidea Blandingii) Home Range Size, Maeve Grace Kelley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Freshwater turtles are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities that fragment critical habitats and impede movement across the landscape. The Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), a species that undergoes frequent interwetland movements, is particularly vulnerable to road mortality when natural habitats are disturbed or converted. Understanding the spatial ecology of this species is essential to inform effective conservation and management strategies. This study examined how landscape structure (composition and configuration) influences Blanding’s turtle home range size. Home range and core areas were modeled during the active season and separately for two distinct activity periods (nesting and post-nesting) using radio-telemetry data collected across …

Host Evolutionary History As A Predictor Of Microbiome Breeding Success, Ciana Lazu

Master's Theses and Capstones

Microbial inoculants present a potential alternative to artificial fertilizers and other chemical products in agriculture, yet microbial products derived from non-native microbes may pose ecological risks or fail to thrive. On the other hand, creating microbial inoculants from local microbes via “microbiome breeding” can be unpredictable. Here, the aquatic plant Lemna minor (duckweed), microbes isolated from duckweed, and microbes isolated from other, co-occurring aquatic plants was used to evaluate if the evolutionary distance between hosts from which microbes are sourced is a predictor of the success in “breeding” locally derived microbiomes to promote duckweed growth. “Microbiome breeding” was performed on …

Laying The Foundation For A Tartary Buckwheat Breeding Program For The Northeast: Phenotypic Characterization Of Seedling Traits And Hybridization Techniques, Julia Oliveira Barreiro De Jesus

Master's Theses and Capstones

Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum) is an underutilized crop with the potential to address key challenges in modern agriculture, including food security in the context of climate change and growing resource scarcity. It is valued for its tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, and marginal soils, making it a promising candidate for cultivation in the Northeastern United States, a region where average temperatures have risen by approximately 0.25 °C per decade since 1970. These climatic shifts have led to changes in snow-to-rain ratios, earlier phenological events, and increased intensity of precipitation events, particularly in spring, posing challenges for early …

The Role Of Liver Macrophages In Viral Liver Pathogenesis, Alexis Brantly, Kyle Yeakle, Michael J. Bouchard, Peter J. Gaskill, Michael R. Nonnemacher

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Liver macrophages play important roles in the pathophysiology of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, liver macrophages are a heterogenous population and have differing roles in maintenance of liver function and response in disease. In a healthy liver, macrophages play a critical role in antigen processing, maintaining tolerance to the high levels of gut-derived bacterial products, and regulating inflammation through cytokine response. However, macrophages also play a critical role in liver pathology, specifically in the context of viral infection. The liver is targeted by multiple viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus, which dysregulate macrophage …

Unplanned Hospitalization Among Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients By Diabetes Status: A Population-Based Study, Amy L. Shaver, Krupa Gandhi, Scott W. Keith, Nikita Nikita, Christopher C. Yang, Felix J. Kim, Hushan Yang, William K. Kelly, Stephen J. Freedland, Grace Lu-Yao

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Older adults with advanced prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes mellitus are underrepresented in trials of androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. This study examined changes in unplanned hospitalization rates in patients receiving androgen receptor pathway inhibitors by type 2 diabetes mellitus status and assessed if unplanned hospitalization varies according to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors.

METHODS: This population-based study of advanced prostate cancer patients aged older than 66 years used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data. Prepost androgen receptor pathway inhibitor initiation changes and androgen receptor pathway inhibitor differences in unplanned hospitalization rates were estimated by adjusted incidence rate ratio with …

Balancing Acts: Student Rights, Parental Authority, And State Interests In Modern Sex Education, Linda S. Anderson

Marquette Benefits and Social Welfare Law Review

The article explores the complex interplay between parental rights, state authority, and student interests in the context of sex education in American public schools. It highlights the ongoing tension between abstinence-only and comprehensive sex education approaches, emphasizing the need for a student-centric framework that balances the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders. The current legal landscape is examined through historical development, seminal court decisions, and recent legislative trends. Empirical evidence is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of comprehensive sex education in promoting public health and supporting adolescents' development. The article advocates for a framework that incorporates student autonomy, age-appropriate content, …

A Co-Design Approach To Integrating Gender Into The Cacao Value Chain In Davao City, Philippines, Mia Barbara Aranas, Aileen Lapitan, Mitchiko Lopez, Nico Jayson Anastacio, Canesio Predo, Mara Faylon, Emmanuel Flores, Claire Estelle Cruz, Anjelyn Joy Enong

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The specific needs and challenges of women and their contributions are often not integrated when developing interventions and policies targeted to improve agricultural value chains. Therefore, this study developed a codesign approach to creating solutions to improve gender relations in agri-food value chains. Specifically, it focused on the cacao value chain in Davao City, which is located in the southern Philippines. Co-design is a highly participatory approach in which solutions are designed with, and not just for, the people who have lived experiences of the problems being addressed. The approach emphasizes understanding gender-related barriers and opportunities to inform government interventions …

Crispr-Cas9 Gene Editing In Tomato: Development And Characterization Under Stress, Jun Guo

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factor (TF) families played essential roles in plant responses to abiotic stress, contributing significantly to stress tolerance and adaptation. The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) TF family included 161 members in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Previous proteomic analysis identified TF bHLH148 (Solyc01g058670) as being upregulated under aluminum (Al) stress, suggesting a potential role in Al tolerance. To investigate this, CRISPR-Cas9 was used to generate SlbHLH148 knockout mutants in the ‘Black Vernissage’ tomato cultivar. Two homozygous T2 lines, Slbhlh148-1 and Slbhlh148-2, were confirmed to contain frameshift mutations that resulted in truncated proteins lacking the bHLH_AtIBH1_like domain, as shown by protein modeling. Phenotypic evaluation …

Evaluating Early Successional Habitat Selection By Herpetofauna And Pygmy Rattlesnakes In Tennessee, Carlin Frost

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Coupled with climate change, global biodiversity declines are exacerbated by increasing anthropogenic pressures and ecosystem destruction. Amphibians and reptiles are particularly vulnerable due to their specific and narrow habitat requirements. In Tennessee, the Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri) is classified as Threatened and is primarily associated with floodplains adjacent to early successional habitats (ESH) in the western Interior Plateau ecoregion. These ESH support unique flora and fauna but have declined in recent decades, largely due to urban encroachment and disturbance suppression. Studying snakes is challenging because of their limited activity periods, small home ranges, and low detectability from cryptic …

Dissecting The Function Of The Dnmt2-Homolog (Dnma) In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Zaza Gelashvili, Denis Larochelle, Jacqueline Dresch, Maddison A. Hincher, Javier F. Tabima, Robert A. Drewell

Biology

Methylation of cytosine residues in nucleic acids plays a critical role in a range of biological activities in eukaryotes, including regulation of transcription, organization of chromatin structure, modulation of translation, cellular differentiation, and development. While much of the scientific focus in this field was centered on DNA methylation over the past few decades, it has also become clear that methylation of RNA is a crucial modification. A group of homologous DNMT2 methyltransferase enzymes in different model organisms are now known to catalyze the transfer of a methyl group to the cytosine at position 38 in tRNAAspGUC molecules. The important biological …

Challenges In Providing Equitable Education For Primary School Students With Learning Disabilities In Zimbabwe: Teachers’ Experiences., Joyce Madzinga

Dissertations

This study examines the challenges primary school teachers in Zimbabwe face when supporting students with learning disabilities (LDs). Many learners with LDs are excluded from adequate classroom support due to systemic, cultural, and resource limitations. Learning disabilities are often under-recognized as compared to other disabilities because they are invisible. Raising awareness and empowering educators are crucial steps toward addressing these hidden needs and ensuring they are recognized and met. Six teachers were interviewed using a qualitative ethnographic approach. Findings reveal obstacles, including insufficient training in special education, limited teaching resources, high pupil-teacher ratios, negative societal attitudes, and poverty-related constraints. Additional …

Mechanistic Insights Into The Neuroprotective Effects Of The Antidepressant Agomelatine In Alzheimer's Disease, Grace Terry

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that has limited treatment options and no cure. AD is characterized by robust pathology including extracellular amyloid beta plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal and synaptic loss, neuroinflammation, and brain atrophy. AD presents with cognitive decline and memory loss but only years after neuropathology has started to accumulate. This robust pathology has made AD difficult to treat and highlights the need for therapeutics that modulate multiple pathways. Agomelatine (AGO) was selected by a high-throughput machine learning drug repurposing algorithm by our collaborator Dr. Lie Xie (Hunter College Dept. of Comp. Sci.) as having …

Investigating The Role Of Early Growth Response 1 (Egr1) Gene In Riluzole-Induced Apoptosis In Osteosarcoma, Syeda Maryam Azeem

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Osteosarcoma is a rare but aggressive bone malignancy most commonly affecting adolescents and young adults (AYA). With 5-year survival rate stagnating over the last four decades despite the advancements in multi-modal therapy, drug repurposing offers a rapid path to new osteosarcoma treatments. Recent studies suggest that Riluzole, a drug approved for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), may be repurposed for osteosarcoma treatment due to its ability to slow tumor progression and induce apoptosis. Previously, we have shown that Riluzole increases reactive oxygen species (ROS), activating c-Abl, which phosphorylates YAP in the nucleus. YAP then forms a complex with p73 to enhance …

The Role Of Parent Psychiatric Symptoms In The Intergenerational Continuity Of Child Neglect: A Prospective Examination, Cody D. Stitzel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Parental history of childhood neglect is a risk factor for offspring neglect. When a parent and their offspring both experience neglect in childhood, the phenomenon is referred to as the intergenerational continuity of child neglect. Understanding how child neglect is continued from one generation to the next is essential for creating effective interventions and prevention strategies that may help break the cycle. Since links between childhood neglect and heightened risk for various psychiatric symptoms have consistently been identified in research, as well as links between various psychiatric symptoms and heightened risk for child neglect, it may be that parents’ psychiatric …

Liberated Learning Spaces: A Visual Playlist, Tarilyn R. Little

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Liberation can be defined as “the act of setting free” or “being free from limits on thoughts and behavior.” Both an action and a state of being, liberation has long been centered as a key function of education, particularly for those who live in historically and systemically marginalized identities. Despite the long-standing existence of liberation-focused pedagogies and activism aimed at transforming schools and students’ lived experiences, educational institutions in the United States have struggled to live out these ideals, often sustaining and replicating systems and practices of oppression. Drawing on historical and contemporary conversations in education and psychology, Liberated Learning …

Behavioral Biomarkers Of Vulnerability In The Aba Model, Nora Ozer

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a severe psychiatric disorder with the highest mortality rate among mental health conditions, yet effective biological treatments remain limited. The activity-based anorexia (ABA) paradigm, which combines food restriction with wheel access to model the hyperactivity and self-starvation cycle characteristic of AN, shows considerable individual variability in vulnerability. Understanding what predisposes certain individuals to develop the full ABA phenotype while others remain resilient could inform early intervention strategies for human AN. This study employed continuous behavioral monitoring technology to identify early predictors of vulnerability to activity-based anorexia in mice, with the goal of discovering behavioral biomarkers that …