Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Stem Career Presentations On Elementary Students, Mannat K. Gill, Mathais Xiong, Elisa Ceja, Fariel Enyong

Service Learning Showcase

During our service as College Corps members in elementary school classrooms (1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades), our group consistently observed a lack of student engagement, particularly during science-related lessons and activities. The goal of our project was to increase student interest in science and introduce accessible pathways into STEM and healthcare careers. To achieve this, our group designed and delivered structured, age-appropriate presentations based on our own academic backgrounds, including biology on a pre-dental track, chemistry, and psychology.  The project also emphasized building students’ confidence in their ability to pursue science-related fields. By presenting ourselves as relatable role models …

Impact Of Human Disturbance On Moth Populations In Ecuador, Gianna Jones, Abbie Miller, Esther Frederickson, Grace Glerum

Science Seminar

Habitat disturbance in the temperate zone has been shown to negatively impact moth biodiversity and population size through a reduction in moth food resources and light pollution. Our study sought to understand how human activity impacts moth population numbers and diversity (# unique taxa) in the tropics. Specifically, we sampled moth population and diversity using light traps on two different nights in a disturbed habitat (Mera township, Ecuador) and on two nights at a nearby ecolodge situated in dense tropical forest. Significantly fewer moths were observed during trapping sessions in the township, and many fewer distinct taxa were noted when …

Patterns Of Moth Diversity In Relationship To Human Disturbance And Forest Type, Gianna Jones, Abbie Miller, Esther Frederickson, Grace Glerum

Science Seminar

Moths play a vital role in the health of tropical ecosystems, acting as important pollinators and food resources for a variety of species. Unfortunately, human habitat disturbance has been associated with declines in moth populations and diversity. To explore the impacts of habitat disturbance on taxonomic diversity in the tropics, we sampled moth populations at two different locations in the Pastaza Province (Mera township and an undisturbed forest at Tamandua Ecolodge). Though small in population (

The Impacts Of Wing-Flashing By Northern Mockingbirds On Foraging, Parental Care, And Reproductive Success, Anna Starman, Hayley Ponn

Science Seminar

Foraging efficiency may be enhanced by flashing patches of white wing and tail feathers and has been documented in several avian species. Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos, NOMO) exhibit this "wing-flashing" (WF) behavior while foraging, during displays, and in response to predators. In NOMOs, WF has been hypothesized to increase foraging success, but previous findings are inconclusive. To further investigate the biological role(s) of WF behavior in NOMOs, the ventral surface of white primary feathers of male NOMOs were artificially darkened and the foraging and provisioning rates of undarkened (control) males and their mates were compared. While foraging, undarkened males performed …

Foraging Load Size And Activity In Leaf-Cutter Ants In Rural And Urban Ecuador, Natalie Tollison, Anna Starman

Science Seminar

Leaf cutter ants are important ecosystem engineers in Neotropical forests, moving a significant amount of nutrients from the forest canopy to the soil. We were interested in understanding how time (day vs. night), weather, and level of human disturbance would impact foraging activity in leaf-cutter ants (Atta spp.). To investigate, we sampled activity levels and leaf size along leaf-cutter ant trails in Mera (urban, N=17) and Tamandua (forest, N=27). During the daytime, ants in Mera carried significantly more leaves that were larger in size as well as more total items than did ants in Tamandua. Factors such as the level …

Biodiversity And Diet Patterns: Environmental Impacts On Ecuadorian Birds, Holly Hylton, Fin Bolt, Gracyn Herbst

Science Seminar

The current biodiversity crisis is of great concern, particularly to bird species in temperate and tropical areas. We examined avian biodiversity patterns in Ecuador, one of the most bird-biodiverse countries in the world (1650+ species). In January 2026, birds were surveyed (visual and auditory) for 30 minutes on consecutive days in 4 different locations that differed in the degree of human development. As expected, species richness was much higher in undisturbed locations than disturbed locations. In addition, our comparison of dietary patterns between sites showed a much higher proportion of frugivorous and insectivorous species in areas with less human disturbance …

Building A Course-Specific Genai Chatbot: A Comprehensive Tutorial And Comparison, Elias Gil, David Han, Joseph Mendez

TxDLA Journal of Digital Learning

This practitioner article presents a step-by-step guide for designing and embedding a course-specific generative AI chatbot using the Botpress platform. Aimed at digital learning practitioners and instructional designers, the article demonstrates how curated knowledge bases, carefully crafted prompts, and seamless LMS integration can create AI-powered teaching assistants that support student engagement and learning. Drawing on recent scholarship, the work highlights opportunities and challenges in leveraging generative AI for higher education, including accuracy, trust, and ethical considerations. A comparative analysis of alternative platforms such as ChatGPT and Google Dialogflow, further contextualizes Botpress within the broader landscape of AI-enabled educational tools. By …

Spin-Label Probing Of Gp28 Elucidates Interactions With Lipid Vesicles Using Cw-Epr, Maxwell Sutherland, Binaya Baral, Gary Lorigan

ONU Student Research Colloquium

The phage protein gp28 is a bacterial membrane lysis protein that functions outside of currently understood canonical pathways for bacterial lysis. Primarily, lysis is done in conjunction with proteins called spanins, however about 15% of gram negative bacteria infecting phages have coding for spanins. This led to the discovery of the disruptins, a class of non-spanin outer membrane disrupting proteins which includes gp28 from the φKT phage. To understand the mechanism in which gp28 disrupts the outer membrane, we employ spin labeling of the protein in its synthesis and create samples of artificial membranes. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we …

Biologically Inspired Segmented Electric Traction Motor With Load-Adaptive Stator Recruitment And Thermal-Aware Control, Justin Miles Jorgensen

Defensive Publications Series

Abstract

This disclosure describes an electromagnetic traction motor architecture that mimics the distributed, modular torque production of biological motors (e.g., flagellar motors). The system utilizes a stator divided into independently energizable sectors (circumferential or axial). A supervisory controller dynamically “recruits” or “de-recruits” these sectors based on real-time torque demand, efficiency maps, and thermal headroom. This architecture enables improved part-load efficiency, 800V+ operation with reduced I²R losses, and “limp-home” fault tolerance by isolating degraded sectors without shutting down the entire machine.

Key Technical Keywords for Search Indexing

Electric Traction Motor; Segmented Stator Architecture; Load-Adaptive Stator Recruitment; Multiphase Inverter (6-phase / 9-phase); …

Effects Of Limb Dominance On Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration In A 6-Ohda Rat Model Of Parkinson’S Disease Assessed By Immunoblotting, Jasin Aziz Porshia, Deanna Chaialee, Dipesh Pokharel, Kala Venkiteswaran, Thyagarajan Subramanian, Dilshan Beligala

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Effects of Limb Dominance on Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in a 6-OHDA Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease Assessed by Immunoblotting

Jasin Porshia^a , Deanna Chaialee^a , Dipesh Pokharel^b,c , Kala Venkiteswaran^{b, c, d} , Thyagarajan Subramanian^{b, c, d}, Dilshan Beligala^a

^aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Ohio Northern University, Ada, OH, USA

^bDepartment of Neurosciences and Psychiatry, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^cDepartment of Neurology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH, USA

^dDepartment of Neurology, Howard University, Washington, DC, …

A Single Administration Of Psilocybin Is Ineffective In Reversing Ptsd-Like Sequelae In A Rat Model Of Stress-Enhanced Fear Learning, Kylie M. King, Marisa J. Savini, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics produce rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. Psychedelics may also exert anxiolytic effects and be useful in treating more complex psychiatric conditions, such as PTSD. However, less is known about the impact of these agents on PTSD-related symptoms. Thus, we aimed to determine whether a single administration of psilocybin could reverse PTSD-like sequelae induced by stress-enhanced fear learning in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were placed in Context A (circular, white conditioning box) and exposed to several uncontrollable footshocks (Stress) or no footshocks (No Stress). The next day, the rats were placed in Context B (square conditioning box with clear …

Psilocybin And The Related Tryptamine, Norbaeocystin, Exert Acute Anxiogenic Effects That Depend On Sex, Marisa J. Savini, Kylie M. King, Noelle M. Molnar, Evelynn J. Schneider, Savannah E. Straub, Joe Parker, Lillianna P. Puppel, Aleece K. Al-Olimat, Allison M. Bach, Andrew Jones, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Single treatments with psychedelics have demonstrated rapid, long-lasting antidepressant effects. However, psychedelics often produce unfavorable psychoactive effects that could worsen existing psychological distress. Thus, we compared the effects of psilocybin and the related tryptamine, norbaeocystin, on anxiety-like behavior in male and female rats. In Experiment 1, rats were treated with 1 mg/kg psilocybin (PSIL), 1 mg/kg norbaeocystin (NOR), or vehicle 30 min before a 5-min trial on an elevated plus maze (EPM) or in an open field test (OFT). On the EPM, PSIL led to decreased open arm time and fewer arm entries in males and females. NOR led to …

Impact Of Caffeine On Participant Memory For A Stressful Experience And The Development Of Intrusive Memories, Jaycee L. Kirkland, Kaylina R. Mcclenen, Natalina E. Porter, Sarah M. Wood, Julia Gross, Madilyn E. Paphanchith, Kelsey M. Siereveld, Jasmine Ic Ifeakanwa, Caeden M. Gurganus, Koen N. Suzelis, Aiden J. Farrell, Boyd R. Rorabaugh, Phillip R. Zoladz

ONU Student Research Colloquium

Most individuals consume caffeine on a daily basis. Research has shown that caffeine stimulates the release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines and can enhance cognition. Caffeine also amplifies stress-induced increases in arousal and aggravates PTSD-like symptoms. Thus, we examined the impact of caffeine on memory for a stressful experience and intrusive memories related to that experience. Undergraduate students ingested caffeine or a placebo. Thirty minutes later, they were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; stress condition) or friendly-TSST (f-TSST; control condition), both of which were designed to enable participant memory for the experiences to be quantified. In each condition, …

Abstract Book (Pdf), Lsu Health School Of Medicine

Medicine Research Day

No abstract provided.

Surrogacy-Friendly State Law: Criteria For Categorizing State Law By Strength Of Legal Pathways To Gestational Surrogacy, Emma J. Noble

Honors Theses

This paper proposes new criteria for defining U.S. states as surrogacy-friendly. It exclusively considers gestational surrogacy and domestic intended parents. It provides an overview of the surrogacy laws in each state and Washington D.C., and classifies them by the newly proposed criteria. Existing definitions of surrogacy-friendly do not often provide detailed legal distinctions between the states. The proposed criteria consider whether or not a state has express surrogacy laws and if the intended parents’ sexual orientation, marital status, or genetic relationship to the child are limiting factors in their ability to obtain parentage orders. The criteria depend on the legal …

Disruption Of The Lrrk2 Substrate Rab12 Facilitates Neurotransmission And Causes Hyperactivity In Mice, Xingjian Li, Yuanxin Chen, Huaixing Wang, Xue Zhang, Noah Guy Lewis Guiberson, Xianting Li, Jacqueline Burré, Junmin Peng, Hui Zhang, Zhenyu Yue

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

RAB12 is a small GTPase and a validated substrate of LRRK2, a kinase genetically linked to Parkinson's disease (PD). While RAB12-LRRK2 signaling has been implicated in ciliogenesis and immune regulation, the neuronal function of RAB12 remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the role of RAB12 in synaptic physiology using Rab12 knockout (KO) mice. Rab12 KO mice developed normally but exhibited increased locomotor activity in adulthood. Electrophysiological recordings from striatal slices revealed enhanced presynaptic release probability and increased excitatory drive onto medium spiny neurons. Consistently, live-cell imaging of cultured cortical neurons revealed that Rab12 deletion facilitated, while Rab12 overexpression inhibited, synaptic …

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

The Minutes Of The Marshall University Graduate Council Meeting, April 24, 2026, Marshall University Graduate Council

Graduate Council Minutes

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Drug Use Through Examination Of Local Water Sources: Drug Concentrations Within Biota Systems, Madeleine Freyhof

Honors Projects

Understanding drug usage based on drug concentrations found within biota samples grown in different concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine. Drug policy then can be potentially based on how drug concentrations display drug usage for a specific community.

Pepper Spray Exposure And The Effect On Dna Profiling Of Blood, Brandon Schmakel

Honors Projects

Pepper spray is a common self defense tool used in both law enforcement and civilian settings, with the goal of incapacitating the sprayed individual. In real casework where pepper spray was used, a red-brown stain which tested positive presumptively for blood provided no DNA profile after further testing six months later. A previous graduate student, Emma Crawn, attempted to emulate these casework conditions and instead achieved a DNA profile with slight indications of inhibition or degradation. Further analysis of active pepper spray ingredients such as Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) and Chloroacetophenone (CN) reveals that there are observed reactions, such as oxidation, …

Teacher Perceptions On Technology Integration And Its Impact On Student Writing Skills In High School English/Language Arts Classrooms, Brittany Tischmak

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The rapid integration of technology in educational settings has transformed the landscape of teaching and learning, raising questions about its impact on foundational skills such as student writing. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the perceptions of high school English/Language Arts teachers with over ten years of experience regarding technology’s influence on student writing. Guided by the Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, semi-structured interviews were conducted to capture educators’ lived experiences and understand their perceptions of how their pedagogical, content, and technological knowledge intersect in the classroom. Findings revealed that while technology offers tools that can enhance efficiency, educators …

The Implementation Of The Therapeutic Alliance In Aphasia Rehabilitation Research: A Narrative Review, Shelby Swiercz

Honors Theses

Background: The therapeutic alliance (TA), defined as the collaborative relationship between clinician and client, is widely recognized as a key factor influencing rehabilitation outcomes. However, within aphasia rehabilitation, its role remains underexplored and inconsistently measured

Methods: This narrative review examined peer-reviewed studies published between 1990 and 2025 that focused on adult aphasia rehabilitation and addressed the client-clinician relationship. Studies were identified through database searches, including PubMed, CINAHL, ComDisDome, EBSCO, and Google Scholar, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results: Most of the studies employed qualitative methodologies, particularly thematic analysis and semi-structured interviews, to explore patient and clinician perspectives. The therapeutic alliance …

Cultivating Curiosity Across Academic Audiences: Biology And Evidence-Based Science Communication, Nathan D. Forbes

Whittier Scholars Program

Effective Science Communicators must speak to a variety of audiences, with varying quantities of prior interest and qualities of background knowledge. The purpose of this paper was to engage differing audiences in scientific learning. This was done through a hypothetical newsletter made up for four different segments exploring a variety of topics in biology. Each segment intends to speak to a different audience with a different level of interest and/or educational level. Simplifying or analogizing without sacrificing the statistical basis of this project was of paramount importance. In the two segments targeted towards younger audiences, the primary focus was on …

Exploring Marital Resilience Through The Lived Experiences And Perception Of Spousal Support During Events Of Shared Stressors, Prince-James Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Marital resilience during shared stressors remains insufficiently understood, particularly when both spouses are simultaneously affected by the same external stressor and must adapt together over time. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore marital resilience through the lived experiences and perceptions of spousal support during shared stressors among individuals who had been legally married for 10 years or more, with specific attention to how participants described the shift from solo coping to dyadic coping over time. Bowlby’s attachment theory provided the theoretical foundation, and Senge’s learning organization theory served as the conceptual framework. Participants included 18 legally …

April 24, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

How Pollinator Populations Can Impact Chronic Disease Risk, Kylee Cubbison

Honors Projects

This project investigates how pollinator populations can impact chronic disease risk. Pollinator populations are declining, which can have serious implications for human health. Declining pollinator populations can limit healthy food production and affordability. Poor nutrition is a major risk factor for most chronic diseases. Less healthy food available for people to consume can negatively impact diets and increase the risk of developing chronic diseases. This project aims to address a potential gap in research existing on this specific topic regarding pollinator populations and human chronic disease risk. A brochure targeted towards educating the general public on this topic was created …

Swosu Standing Committees 2025-2026, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

University Standing Committees

2025 – 2026 SWOSU Standing Committees

Unsettling Settled Science: The Perils Of And Rationale Behind Blind Faith In Forensic Evidence, Jaclyn Marra

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

Science—a seemingly compelling and infallible adjudicative element—plays a pivotal role in criminal trials, serving as a cornerstone for evidence interpretation and decision-making. However, the perceived infallibility of scientific evidence often masks its inherent limitations and vulnerabilities. Forensic methods, widely regarded as objective and precise, can suffer from a plethora of inconspicuous constraints—including flawed methodologies, human error, and biases—which undermine their reliability. The American public and legal system frequently place undue trust in forensic evidence and experts, influenced by portrayals of their certainty in media and popular culture. This phenomenon has been referred to as the “Reverse CSI Effect.” This note …

On The “Storied” History And Sustained Impact Of A Thriving Social Justice Journal, Mario L. Barnes

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

No abstract provided.

Separate But Equal In The Bold New City Of The South: A Shadow Of What Remains, Charity Dera

University of Miami Race & Social Justice Law Review

This project undertakes the task of analyzing the historical and contemporary landscape of Jacksonville, Florida, the “Bold New City of the South,”1 from a multidisciplinary vantage point. It argues that the spirit of the overturned “separate but equal” holding of Plessy v. Ferguson2 and its bold segregationist ideologies reverberate today in both subtle and overt ways. Yet, that reality has not come without the resilience and perseverance of pioneering natives who have resisted such ideals in bold ways. While segregation is deeply rooted in U.S. history and scholars have readily addressed the contemporary effects of landmark cases such as Plessy …