Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers And Corridors: Timber Rattlesnake Habitat Connectivity In New York, Lauren Rose

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to species that rely on landscape connectivity for movement in search of food, water, and mates. The timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), listed as a threatened species in New York State, travels an average of 1.5 miles—and up to five miles—from permanent denning sites to reach habitat suitable for gestation, foraging, basking, and overwintering. Ongoing development in the lower Hudson Valley has increasingly fragmented these critical habitats, restricting movement between den populations. This thesis evaluates landscape barriers that contribute to population isolation and identifies opportunities to restore connectivity among timber rattlesnake metapopulations.

Using …

Inflammation In Early Borrelia Burgdorferi Skin Infection, Ariana Nobles

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is the causative agent of approximately 476,000 cases of Lyme disease in the United States and rising. Bb is spread through infected saliva of the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, to the host. Patients infected with Bb experience short-term symptoms, such as erythema migrans (EMs), fatigue, pain, and cognitive impairment. If left untreated, Bb infection will cause long-term health complications, like Lyme neuroborreliosis and Lyme arthritis. It is postulated that symptoms associated with Lyme disease are driven in part by inflammation.

My thesis focuses on the skin as it holds significant immunological importance in the …

Becoming-With The Earth: Contemplative Practice As A Critical Onto-Epistemic Resource For Planetary Belonging, Care, And World-Making, Megan M. Fowler

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In an era of accelerating planetary crisis, social work is called to reimagine its theories, methods, and practices beyond anthropocentric frameworks that separate human wellbeing from the health of the Earth and its resplendent living systems. Working in the space of transformative eco-social work, a growing chorus of voices contends that eco-centric responses require broadening the scope of health, welfare, justice, and care to extend beyond the human, to include the more-than-human world upon which all life intimately depends—understandings resonant with Indigenous and other relational knowledge systems long marginalized by colonialist-capitalist-modernity. Drawing from eco-feminist, eco-queer, decolonial, and post-anthropocentric lineages of …

Development And Applications Of Fluorescence Microscopy Protocol To Investigate Borrelia Burgdorferi Immune Interactions In The Skin, Rebecca V. Landry

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

The skin is an immunological organ that acts as the hosts’ first line of defense against infectious agents. Infectious disease vectors like ticks breach this barrier by feeding on hosts, transmitting pathogens like Borrelia burgdorferi in the process. Uncleared infection with B. burgdorferi causes Lyme disease, the most prevalent vector-borne disease in the United States. Previous research has explained many elements of Lyme disease pathogenesis and immunity including the dissemination of the spirochete, innate immune cells performing phagocytosis, the production of antibodies by the humoral response, and the impact of prophylactic treatment with monoclonal antibodies. A remaining gap in the …

Perceptions Of Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy And Standard Interventions For Nicotine Cessation, Philip Kamilar-Britt

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Clinical trials suggest potential therapeutic utility of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) for nicotine cessation. In response to promising outcomes, research into PAP for nicotine dependence is growing. However, attitudes towards PAP among the general public, especially daily nicotine users, remains understudied. To address this knowledge gap, we recruited daily nicotine users (N=534) to complete an anonymous online survey with questions on demographics, nicotine use, prior history with psychedelics, and attitudes towards PAP and standard interventions for nicotine cessation. As hypothesized, daily nicotine users were more familiar with standard interventions and rated them more favorably than PAP. Despite differences in treatment attitudes, …

Cognate Awareness Training For Novice L2 Learners: Orthographic And Phonological Routes To Vocabulary Learning, Jennifer M. Martin

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Within the study of cross-linguistic influence, research on cognate facilitation has consistently shown that proficient bilinguals process cognates (e.g., English “sock” and German “Socke”) more efficiently than non-cognates. However, less is known about how novice adult learners may benefit from these similarities during the earliest stages of second language acquisition or how instructional interventions might facilitate this process. This dissertation addressed this gap through experiments with English-speaking adults learning German. A series of experiments examined the effects of cross-linguistic similarity and explicit cognate awareness training on vocabulary acquisition. Experiment 1A found robust similarity effects in written recall and …

Nation, Nature And Childhood In Five Curricula: Towards Earthly Education, Zsuzsa Millei, Katarzyna Gawlicz, Lucy Hopkins, Camilla Eline Andersen, Danielle Ekman Ladru

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article explores the relations between nation, nature and childhood in five early childhood education curricula in the Nordic, post-socialist and settler-colonial states with the focus on the role education plays in the face of the climate crisis. The authors identify three interconnecting themes in which nation, nature and childhood are entangled in these curricula: 1) national nature as an object of learning; 2) nature and home/birth land and Country; and 3) stewardship for national nature. Exploring these themes from the perspective of alternative pedagogies developed to address the child–nature relations during the Anthropocene, the authors argue that these notions …

The Clinical Applications Of Platelet-Rich Plasma And Platelet-Rich Fibrin Combined With Photobiomodulation In Regenerative Dentistry: A Literature Review, Maryam Pourhajibagher, Rashin Bahrami, Abbas Bahador

Journal of Dental Sciences

Regenerative dentistry seeks to restore oral tissues through biologically driven therapies that stimulate endogenous healing. Among these, autologous platelet concentrates—namely platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)—serve as reservoirs of growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which promote angiogenesis, cell proliferation, and extracellular matrix formation. Complementing these biological mediators, photobiomodulation (PBM) represents a non-invasive light-based therapy that enhances mitochondrial activity, modulates inflammation, and accelerates tissue regeneration. Accumulating evidence suggests that combining PRP or PRF with PBM produces synergistic effects that surpass those achieved by …

January 2026 News Releases, University Of Montana--Missoula. Office Of University Relations

University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present

No abstract provided.

Human Vaccine Hesitancy Spillover In The Field Of Veterinary Medicine: A Systematic Narrative Review Of Impacts And Veterinary Responses, Allison Schimpf

HEAL Project Outputs

Human vaccine hesitancy spillover in the veterinary field is a relatively new concept that has gained traction since the COVID-19 pandemic. Concerns about vaccine safety have increased among pet owners leading to questions about the potential impacts of reduced vaccination and how veterinarians can address these attitudes. A systematic search strategy following PRISMA 2020 guidelines was used with 3 different databases to collect peer-reviewed research articles from 2022 until now. The initial search yielded 376 articles for review and 11 were included after screening. Articles were analyzed using a narrative review format. Results showed that pet owners are more vaccine …

Human Oral Microbiota Dysbiosis May Be A Novel Non-Invasive Indicator Of Erectile Dysfunction, Yu Qiao, Fei Mao, Bing-Ru Jiang, Shu-Yan Lv, Heng-Bing Wang, Guang-Bo Fu

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Leeuwenhoek Paradox In Dental Artificial Intelligence: A Narrative Review Of Artificial Intelligence-Detected Subclinical Periapical Changes And Human-Labeled False Positives, Etyene Schnurr, Mario Parra, David M. Kim

Journal of Dental Sciences

This narrative review explores the “Leeuwenhoek Paradox,” a metaphorical and conceptual challenge that arises when artificial intelligence (AI) detects subtle periapical radiological changes that are not visible to human observers. Drawing on evidence from studies using two-dimensional and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, this review critically examined the limitations of human-centered reference standards and recurrent discrepancies in AI-based periapical detection. The literature shows that AI systems frequently detect more periapical alterations than human experts. These findings may reflect early bone changes, as indicated by CBCT-based analyses of bone density and longitudinal observations. The paradox arises because AI identifies subclinical radiographic …

Oral Pathogens Reprogram Endothelial Barrier And Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme2/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase-Nitric Oxide Signaling To Promote Blood Pressure Dysregulation, Ming-Shou Hsieh, Tung-Nien Hsu, Chin-Sheng Huang, Ting-Yi Renn, Kuang-Tai Kuo, Kuo-Yao Lin, Wei Jen Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Although periodontal disease is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, the endothelial mechanisms linking oral inflammation to vascular dysfunction remain unclear. We investigated whether Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) can directly disturb endothelial homeostasis and whether macrophage–endothelial crosstalk further worsens endothelial injury.

Materials and methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to Pg-LPS alone or co-cultured (transwell system) with Pg-LPS-primed human monocytic cells -derived macrophages. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed through nitric oxide (NO) production, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, inflammatory and adhesion molecule expression, as well as junctional and cytoskeletal changes. Macrophage …

Poly-Ε-Caprolactone/Multi-Wall Carbon Nanotube Composites As Osteoinductive Scaffolds For Alveolar Bone Regeneration,, Chien-Yang Yeh, Firdiansyah Rasyid

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Daisaikoto Restores Mitochondrial Function And Suppresses Inflammation Induced By Periodontal Bacteria-Derived Lipopolysaccharides, Suzuka Tozawa, Kazuo Tomita

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Deciphering Novel Targets In Salivary Gland Pleomorphic Adenoma By Integrating Plasma Proteomics And Parotid Transcriptomics Analyses, Yuchen Fan, Suning Mao

Journal of Dental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Patient And Practitioner Workshops For An Intellectual Disabilities And Epilepsy Neuropsychiatric Genetic Research Database Register: Ethical Dilemmas For Study Design, Rohit Shankar, Jon Allard, Dannielle Bilkey, Brendan Mclean, Pamela Bowman, Chloe Staples, Lance Watkins, Anna Simpson, Elizabeth Boardman, Sarah Mitchell, Sarah Lennard

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundThere is a need for more research studies focussed on People with ID (PwID) and Epilepsy and for the design of these studies to be shaped by this complex and vulnerable population and those who care for and support them.AimsTo develop understanding as to how a future NHS genetic research database register for PwID and Epilepsy should be conducted in a way which is inclusive, suitable and appropriate for them, their carers and the NHS settings where the research would be undertaken.MethodsThree workshops were completed with 17 formal participants: (1) PwID and Epilepsy (n2); (2) carers of PwID and Epilepsy …

Global Manta And Devil Ray Population Declines: Closing Policy And Management Gaps To Reduce Fisheries Mortality, Betty J.L. Laglbauer, Nidhi G. D'Costa, Joshua D. Stewart, Marta D. Palacios, Melissa Cronin, Daniel Fernando, Nerea Lezama-Ochoa, Asia O. Armstrong, Rima W. Jabado, Sarah Fowler, Julia M. Lawson, Olga Koubrak, Jefferson Murua, Thanda Ko Gyi, Divya Karnad, Mayuri Chopra, Giuseppe Notarbartolo-Di-Sciara, Joshua Rambahiniarison, Don Croll, Stefany Rojas, Abdulaziz Fahmi, Joanna L. Harris, Alifa Binthe Haque, Hilario Murua, Juan Carlos Pérez-Jiménez, Emily Humble, Ellen Barrowclift, Muhammad G. Salim, Godefroy De Bruyne, Issah Seidu

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Significant progress has been made in advancing priority actions to conserve manta and devil rays, yet implementation and enforcement of protective measures often fall short, leaving most mobulid populations at risk of overfishing. Drawing on a literature review, fisheries databases, agency reports, and expert interviews, we assess global trends in mobulid catch and mortality. We examine both targeted and incidental catch, in small (<15 m, ‘SV’) and large (>15 m, ‘LV’) vessel fisheries to identify hotspots with the highest risk of fisheries-related mortality and population decline. We estimate global fisheries catch at 264,520 (184,407–344,987) mobulids per year, with SV fisheries accounting for 87 % …

Growth In The Margins: Field Measured Protein Metabolism Rates In The Common Limpet, Patella Vulgata, Ignacio A. Cienfuegos, Benjamin J. Ciotti, Richard A. Billington, Paul A. Sutton, Keiron P.P. Fraser

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

Intertidal shores are characterised by a high variability in abiotic conditions, resulting in marked daily, tidal, seasonal and vertical differences in stress conditions, yet our ability to understand the consequences for key physiological processes at corresponding scales are limited. In particular, no previous studies have directly measured protein metabolism, the key process underpinning animal growth, in the field, in any organism. We measured whole-animal (SGR) and tissue (TSGR) mass growth, protein metabolism (synthesis (k_s), degradation (k_d) and growth (k_g)), RNA to protein ratios and oxidative stress in Patella vulgata in the field every season …

Immunohistochemical Evaluation Of Bone Regeneration Induced By Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Around Implants In An Osteoporotic Rat Model, Mefina Kuntjoro, Nike Hendrijantini, Michael Josef Kridanto Kamadjaja, Bambang Agustono Satmoko Tumali, Jennifer Widjaja, Eric Prasetyo, Guang Hong

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Osteoporosis in the jawbone can compromise the success of dental implant treatment. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have demonstrated osteogenic differentiation potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of hUCMSC induction on implant osseointegration in an osteoporotic animal model. Materials and methods Twenty-eight osteoporotic female Wistar rats were divided into control and hUCMSC-induced groups and observed at 2 and 4 weeks. The treatment group received hUCMSC injections into the implant area of the femur osteoporotic model. Specimens were stained using immunohistochemical and haematoxylin and eosin techniques to assess osteogenic marker expression. Data were analysed using Kruskal–Wallis …

Assessment Of Osseointegration Mechanisms In A Novel Zirconia Implant: From Experimental Insights To Clinical Comparison, Hung-Ying Lin, Yu-Ting Li, Ju-Hsuan Yang, Cheng-Han Chou, Hao-Hueng Chang, Chun-Pin Lin

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Zirconia has been proposed as a substitutive material for the next generation of implants. This study aimed to evaluate the osseointegration of a newly developed zirconia implant and compare its clinical parameters with titanium implants. Materials and methods Beagle dog animal model were used for evaluation of two groups of zirconia implants, with one group subjected to a newly developed sandblasting surface treatment technique and the other using a commercially available zirconia implant. The implants were randomly placed in bilateral edentulous mandibular sites and evaluated at 4, 9, and 13 weeks. The bone-to-implant contact (BIC) ratio was calculated and …

Schneiderian Membrane Perforation Upon The Advancement Of Mechanical Drills Passing Through Sinus Walls: An Ex Vivo Animal Study, Jerry Ching-Yi Lin, Ting-Yi Renn, Chia-Chen Hsu, Wei Jen Chang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose This ex vivo study aimed to evaluate the perforation of Schneiderian membrane upon the advancement of drills incrementally in 1 mm passing through the sinus during the implant site osteotomy with two different drill types and techniques. Materials and methods Fifty goat heads with 50 pairs of sinuses were assigned to two groups: osseodensification drill (OD) and inverse conical shape drill (ICSD) to simulate transcrestal sinus elevation. Osteotomy was performed to pass through the lateral sinus wall, advancing the drills incrementally in 1 mm until perforation occurred. The integrity of the Schneiderian membranes was confirmed under a microscope. Results …

Prevention Of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw After Tooth Extraction By Local Administration Of Antibiotics And Atelocollagen Sponge: A Preliminary Study, Natsumi Nakamura, Sakiko Soutome, Akira Imakiire, Satoshi Rokutanda, Seigo Ohba, Shunsuke Sawada, Yuka Kojima, Yuki Sakamoto, Yoshiko Yamamura, Madoka Funahara, Mitsunobu Otsuru, Masahiro Umeda

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) often develops after extraction of a tooth with a local infection. Therefore, it is necessary to develop extraction methods that can prevent MRONJ. Before examining whether antibiotics and atelocollagen administered in the extraction socket can prevent the development of MRONJ after tooth extraction, this study was conducted to determine the appropriate antibiotics concentration and to conduct a clinical study with a small number of cases as a preliminary study. Materials and methods First, a mixture of minocycline and atelocollagen at different concentrations was implanted into the bone cavity formed in the rabbit head, …

Epigallocatechin Gallate In Dentistry: Therapeutic Applications, Biomaterial Integration, And Translational Challenges, Chloe Jui-Yun Chang, Fang-Yu Fan, Yung-Li Wang, Thi Thuy Tien Vo, Yang-Che Wu, Yu-Chia Chang, I-Ta Lee

Journal of Dental Sciences

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major bioactive catechin in green tea, has attracted increasing attention in dentistry because of its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, matrix-modulating, and regenerative properties. This narrative review summarizes current evidence on the biological mechanisms, dental applications, and translational challenges of EGCG in oral healthcare. EGCG can modulate oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathways, including nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (Nrf2/HO-1), and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-related responses, and has activity against oral disease-associated microorganisms and biofilms. In periodontal therapy, EGCG has been investigated as an adjunct …

Isoliquiritigenin Represses The Pro-Fibrotic Tgf-Β/Smad2 Signaling And Nuclear Enriched Abundant Transcript 1 (Neat1) In Oral Submucous Fibrosis, Chi-Shan Tseng, Shih-Min Wang, Yi-Wen Liao, Her-Hsiung Huang, Cheng-Chia Yu, Yicyuan Chen

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) has shown anti-fibrotic potential in several organ systems, but its effects on oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) remain unclear. This study investigated whether ISL attenuates myofibroblast activities in buccal mucosal fibroblasts (BMFs) from OSF patients by modulating TGF-β/Smad2 signaling and the long non-coding RNA NEAT1.

Materials and methods: Primary normal BMFs and fibrotic BMFs (fBMFs) were isolated from human buccal mucosa, and cell viability, collagen gel contraction, migration, and wound closure were examined after ISL treatment with or without arecoline. TGF-β1 secretion was quantified, while protein expression of phosphorylated Smad2, COL1A1, and α-SMA was analyzed, and …

2-O-Methylmagnolol Suppresses Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Progression By Targeting C-Myc Signaling, Chi-Yuan Chen, Tzong-Ming Shieh, Chin-Chuan Chen, Yann-Lii Leu, Yu-De Chu, Miaw-Jene Liou, Yi-Tsen Liu, Hsin-Wei Lin, Kai-Yin Chen, Cheng-Chia Yu, Tong-Hong Wang

Journal of Dental Sciences

Background/purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by aggressive growth and frequent recurrence, highlighting the need for novel targeted therapies. Magnolol, a bioactive compound derived from Magnolia officinalis, exhibits anti-tumor activity. In this study, we synthesized a methoxylated derivative, 2-O-methylmagnolol (MM1), and evaluated the anti-OSCC efficacy and underlying mechanisms of magnolol and MM1.

Materials and methods: Human OSCC cell lines (SAS and OECM1) were treated with magnolol or MM1. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were analyzed using functional assays. Cell-cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry and DiOC₆/PI staining. Protein expression of c-MYC and downstream regulators …

Artificial Intelligence, Fundamental Motives, And Evolutionary Mismatch, Amy J. Lim, Jose. C. Yong, Edison Sora Tan

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

In recent years, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and psychology has garnered unprecedented attention, particularly following the advent of generative AI tools in 2022. These tools, capable of producing human-like text, images, and even deepening our understanding of cognitive processes, have not only captured the public imagination but also sparked new concerns and debates within the psychological community. While AI has been a subject of research for decades, the emergence of its generative capabilities has truly thrust AI into the spotlight. This article explores how these advancements are reshaping our understanding of human cognition and behavior, as well as …

Creating A Social Media Campaign, Alexa Capeloto

Open Educational Resources

Students research an issue related to social good and apply visual, news, and digital literacy skills to design an original image and a proposed social media campaign.

Assessing Fisheries Dependence Of Coastal Communities In Managed Mangrove Forests In Latin America, Ariel Alexander Quintanilla Magana

Open Access Dissertations

Fisheries dependency refers to the action of a person, community, or society linking their social, cultural, and economic actions to different ecosystem services (ES) for covering their food system with essential marine species, developing a governance system to conserve these fishing areas, their local ecological knowledge, and guaranteeing food security in the coastal areas. In Latin America, most fishing activities are practiced within three nautical miles of the shoreline, estuaries, lagoons, and mangrove forest channels, using small vessels and traditional gear such as hooks, trammel nets, and gill nets. Some coastal communities have developed their subsistence and livelihood activities in …

Assessing Sandfly & Mosquito Abundance, Richness, And Diversity In Villaflora, Ecuador: Linking Disease Vectors To Disease Risk, Carlia Rose Lopez

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.