Digital Commons Network^™

Unraveling The Potential Of Black Soldier Fly Larvae As A Sustainable Protein Source For Nile Tilapia Production In Diverse Aquaculture Systems, Jonathan Munguti, Mavindu Muthoka, Jimmy B. Mboya, Domitila Kyule, Menaga Meenakshisundaram, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Aquaculture plays a critical role in global food security, with Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) recognized for its adaptability and robust growth. However, traditional feeds, heavily reliant on fishmeal (FM) and soybean meal, face economic and environmental challenges. In response, black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) has emerged as a promising, nutrient-dense alternative. This review synthesizes existing literature on BSFLM’s nutritional profile and its suitability for Nile tilapia diets, while acknowledging that the data come from diverse independent studies conducted under varying environmental conditions and husbandry practices. BSFLM consistently provides high-quality protein (29.9%–48.2%), aligning with tilapia’s requirements, and is rich in …

Nature-Based Land Management Practices And Yield Dynamics In Oil Palm Production: Insights From Indonesian Smallholder Growers, Kibrom T. Sibhatu, Martin Paul Tabe-Ojong, Hermanto Siregar

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Nature-based land management (NLM) practices are increasingly promoted for their potential to bridge yield gaps and increase overall crop production. Yet, the extent of NLM adoption, the factors driving it, and its impact on yields remain unknown, particularly among smallholder farmers. This study addresses this knowledge gap using a unique three-round panel dataset from independent smallholder oil palm growers in Indonesia, focusing on three main NLM practices: composting, manual weeding, and organic soil amendments (SA) using lime and gypsum. We employ panel data estimators and a multivariate probit model to examine the yield effects of these practices and assess any …

Micrornas As Key Regulators Of Cancer Drug Resistance: Insights And Future Directions In Chemotherapy, Targeted-Therapy, Radiotherapy, And Immunotherapy, Michael Attathikhun, Ancuta Jurj, George A Calin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer therapy remains an active field of investigation, particularly in understanding and overcoming therapy resistance. Small non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), are emerging as key regulators of cancer survival, progression, proliferation, invasion, migration, and metastasis. Although many studies have linked miRNAs to cancer therapy outcomes, significant questions remain regarding their precise molecular and cellular roles in therapy resistance. Increasing evidence shows that miRNAs influence critical pathways such as apoptosis, immune evasion, and other signaling cascades. However, there have been many setbacks because of the limitations in knowledge of each specific miRNA's function. A deeper understanding of miRNA expression and …

Mechanical Regulation Of Macrophage Metabolism By Allograft Inflammatory Factor 1 Leads To Adverse Remodeling After Cardiac Injury, Matthew Deberge, Kristofor Glinton, Connor Lantz, Zhi-Dong Ge, David P Sullivan, Swapna Patil, Bo Ryung Lee, Minori I Thorp, Adam Mullick, Steve Yeh, Shuling Han, Anja M Van Der Laan, Hans W M Niessen, Xunrong Luo, Nicholas E S Sibinga, Edward B Thorp

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Myocardial infarction (MI) mobilizes macrophages, the central protagonists of tissue repair in the infarcted heart. Although necessary for repair, macrophages also contribute to adverse remodeling and progression to heart failure. In this context, specific targeting of inflammatory macrophage activation may attenuate maladaptive responses and enhance cardiac repair. Allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF1) is a macrophage-specific protein expressed in a variety of inflammatory settings, but its function after MI is unknown. Here we identify a maladaptive role for macrophage AIF1 after MI in mice. Mechanistic studies show that AIF1 increases actin remodeling in macrophages to promote reactive oxygen species-dependent activation of …

On Muleback Through Central America, James M. Taylor

Heritage Material

No abstract provided.

Partial Agonism In Heteromeric Gluk2/Gluk5 Kainate Receptor, Nabina Paudyal, Anindita Das, Elisa Carrillo, Vladimir Berka, Vasanthi Jayaraman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Kainate receptors are a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors that form transmembrane channels upon binding glutamate. Here, we have investigated the mechanism of partial agonism in heteromeric GluK2/K5 receptors, where the GluK2 and GluK5 subunits have distinct agonist binding profiles. Using single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer, we found that at the bi-lobed agonist-binding domain, the partial agonist AMPA-bound receptor occupied intermediate cleft closure conformational states at the GluK2 cleft, compared to the more open cleft conformations in apo form and more closed cleft conformations in the full agonist glutamate-bound form. In contrast, there is no significant difference in cleft closure …

Mitochondrial-Targeted Therapies In Traumatic Brain Injury: From Bench To Bedside, Sidra Tabassum, Silin Wu, Chang-Hun Lee, Bosco Seong Kyu Yang, Aaron M Gusdon, Huimahn A Choi, Xuefang S Ren

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with limited effective therapeutic options currently available. Recent research has highlighted the pivotal role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of TBI, making mitochondria an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. This review comprehensively examines advancements in mitochondrial-targeted therapies for TBI, bridging the gap from basic research to clinical applications. We discuss the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial damage in TBI, including oxidative stress, impaired bioenergetics, mitochondrial dynamics, and apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, we highlight the complex interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, elucidating how these …

Anti-Cd137 Agonist Antibody-Independent And Clinically Feasible Preparation Of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes From Soft Tissue Sarcoma And Osteosarcoma, Yining Jin, Zhiliang Jia, Xueqing Xia, Nancy B Gordon, Joseph A Ludwig, Neeta Somaiah, Shulin Li

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) therapy has been proved for treatment of metastatic melanoma and is under investigation for other types of solid tumors. However, these successes are threatened by discontinued supply of GMP-grade anti-CD137 agonist, a key TIL preparation reagent. Therefore, exploring a GMP-adherent method for expanding endogenous TILs without anti-CD137 agonist is urgent. Toward this end, we aimed to establish an anti-CD137-independent and clinically feasible TIL expansion protocol to prepare TILs from under investigated sarcoma tumors.

Methods: We collected resected tumors from patients and cut tissues into fragments. We used IL-2 and T-cell activator CD3/CD28 without anti-CD137 agonist …

Psychosocial Impacts Of Non-Fatal Firearm Injuries On Youth: Findings From A Qualitative Study, Annalyn S Demello, Jeff R Temple, Liam De Vassal, Irma Alvarado, Angela Waguespack, Monique R Pappadis, Jong O Lee, Leila G Wood

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Most adolescents and young adult victims of firearm violence survive, yet the mental and behavioral health outcomes associated with these incidents remain understudied. Given the potential for recurrent violence victimization and long-term psychosocial sequela after being shot, understanding the experiences of firearm injury survivors is a critical area for development. We conducted a qualitative study to explore the development of attitudes, describe psychosocial consequences, and contextualize behavioral and social outcomes among young, gunshot wounded (GSW) patients from a Level 1 trauma center in southeast Texas. A retrospective chart review and prospective recruitment of GSW patients aged 15 to 29 years …

Characterization Of Adaptive Quorum Sensing In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Kayla Simanek

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that is highly antibiotic resistant and causes tens of thousands of infections each year. It persists in hospitals by forming biofilms on medical equipment like ventilators and catheters, making it difficult to eradicate. Biofilm formation, among other virulence factors of P. aeruginosa, is regulated through quorum sensing, a mechanism of bacterial communication. Quorum sensing is primarily coordinated through LuxI-R type systems comprised of an autoinducer synthase and receptor, respectively. Canonically, the first system to be expressed is LasI-R, and LasR upregulates the second arm of the quorum sensing network, the RhlI-R system. Research …

Changes In Functional Connectivity Are Associated With Functional Independence In The Early Postoperative Period Following Awake Surgical Resection Of Language-Eloquent Glioma, Kyle R Noll, Evan D Bander, Henry S Chen, Mariana Bradshaw, Jeffrey S Wefel, Vinodh A Kumar, Sujit S Prabhu, Ho-Ling Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Neurocognitive decline in patients with primary brain tumors is associated with alterations in the functional connectome and reduced independence in daily living. This study explores postoperative connectomic changes associated with functional independence outcomes in patients with eloquent glioma, and how these associations differ from neurocognitive-connetcomic relationships.

Methods: Fifteen patients with left perisylvian glioma underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neuropsychological evaluation within 2 weeks before and on average 1 month after resection. Functional independence was measured with the Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS) and the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scale (IADL). Graph theoretical analysis quantified functional brain …

Wnt7a, Naomi M Calhoun, Richard R Behringer

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

WNT7A regulates numerous developmental processes. It can activate canonical and non-canonical signaling depending on context. It is expressed in the developing central nervous system, limb buds, reproductive organs, and other tissues. Spontaneous and targeted Wnt7a mutations in mouse models resulted in abnormal limbs, defects in male and female reproductive tract organs, infertility, and defects in cerebellar axon remodeling. In zebrafish, wnt7aa mutants exhibited neurogenesis and angiogenesis defects in the central nervous system. In humans, recessive WNT7A missense and nonsense mutations resulted in severe limb and pelvic bone defects. Alterations in WNT7A expression correlated with multiple types of cancer.

Bismuth-Infused Perivascular Wrap Facilitates Delivery Of Mesenchymal Stem Cells And Attenuation Of Neointimal Hyperplasia In Rat Arteriovenous Fistulas, Allan John R Barcena, Joy Vanessa D Perez, Marvin R Bernardino, Jossana A Damasco, Erin Marie D San Valentin, Carleigh Klusman, Benjamin Martin, Gino Martin Canlas, Francisco M Heralde, Natalie Fowlkes, Richard R Bouchard, Jizhong Cheng, Steven Y Huang, Marites P Melancon

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as novel therapies for supporting arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation, and bioresorbable polymeric scaffolds have enabled sustained MSC delivery into maturing AVFs. However, the radiolucency of biopolymeric wraps prevents in vivo monitoring of their integrity and location, hindering long-term preclinical investigations.

METHODS: We infused bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) into polycaprolactone (PCL) to fabricate an electrospun perivascular wrap capable of MSC delivery and conducive to longitudinal monitoring using conventional imaging. We tested the wraps' effects on the attenuation of markers of neointimal hyperplasia (i.e., endothelial dysfunction, hypoxia, and inflammation), the leading cause of AVF failure, in …

Organ Of Corti Macrophages: A Distinct Group Of Cochlear Macrophages With Potential Roles In Supporting Cell Degeneration And Survival, Mengxiao Ye, Celia Zhang, Dalian Ding, Guang-Di Chen, Henry J Adler, Rania Sharaf, Bo Hua Hu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Macrophages are the primary immune cells in the cochlea, essential for maintaining cochlear homeostasis and orchestrating inflammatory responses to pathological events. Although these cells have been found in various parts of the cochlea, their presence in the organ of Corti, a critical structure for acoustic sensing, remains poorly understood. The present study was designed to examine macrophage responses to ototoxic drug-induced cochlear damage and age-related cochlear degeneration, with a particular focus on the pathological conditions that trigger macrophage recruitment into the organ of Corti. We used a model of ototoxicity induced by cyclodextrin, a cyclic oligosaccharide known for its ability …

A Cytotoxic Peptide-Drug Conjugate For Tumor-Specific Delivery Of Co-Injected Molecules, Norio Miyamura, Chisato M Yamazaki, Yasuaki Anami, Kyoji Tsuchikama, Kazuki N Sugahara

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

An ideal cancer therapy enhances anti-tumor effects while minimizing side effects. iRGD, a non-cytotoxic peptide that activates a tumor-specific molecular transport machinery, promotes the penetration of co-injected drugs into tumor tissues. Clinical trials have demonstrated its potential as a tumor-specific delivery scaffold and potentiator of anti-cancer agents. In this study, we synthesized an iRGD conjugate containing monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF), a highly toxic antimitotic agent, and characterized its dual function as a tumor-specific cytotoxic agent and co-injected drug delivery scaffold. The iRGD-MMAF conjugate internalized and killed cultured tumor cells in an αv integrin-dependent manner. When injected systemically, iRGD-MMAF homed selectively …

Comparative Olfactory Anatomy Of Wild And Hatchery-Raised Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Nicole Rahman-Garnier

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are an ecologically and culturally important salmonid species that exhibits diverse life history strategies, including anadromous and resident freshwater life cycles. Though many studies have examined their olfactory morphology, none have directly compared possible olfactory microstructural differences between wild and hatchery-raised populations. Histology and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to compare the gross anatomy and ultrastructure of olfactory rosettes in three O. mykiss populations: wild residents from Jacoby Creek (JC), a resident lineage of hatchery fish from Mad River Hatchery (MRH), and an anadromous lineage from the Cal Poly Humboldt (CPH) Hatchery. The …

Environmental And Spatial Drivers Of Quillback Rockfish (Sebastes Maliger) Growth In The Northeast Pacific Ocean From California To Alaska, Claire E. Stuart

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Quillback rockfish (Sebastes maliger) are a nearshore fishery species found across the Northeast Pacific Ocean, but recent stock assessments have identified a research gap for biological growth parameters, particularly for the southern end of their range. Age-length data compiled from California to Alaska (n=34,396) was used to generate extended von Bertalanffy models with spatial, biological, and environmental covariates, specifically region, sex, depth, and an upwelling index. The objectives of this study were to explore how 1) spatial and 2) environmental covariates affect model parameters L_∞, k, and t₀. Four total models were developed: …

Kelp Guardians Can Save The World: A Food Sovereignty Lab Report Of The Ghvtlh-K’Vsh Shu'-Srnelh-'I~ (Kelp Guardians) California Sea Grant, Delaney A. Schroeder-Echavarria

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

As partners of the Ghvtlh-k’vsh Shu'-srnelh-'i~ (Kelp Guardians) California Sea Grant project, the Rou Dalagurr Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute has actively engaged with local educators, Tribal organizations, and Tribal Nations to create youth-centered curricula, researched through a community-based participatory research lens. This is demonstrated through an innovative approach to recruiting and retaining Indigenous youth and community interest in coastal and marine ecosystems and resources by connecting with Indigenous cultural practices, Indigenous sciences, and community-based programs to encourage future careers. The Kelp Guardians project is led by the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation (TDN or Nation) and includes various …

Geographic Disparity And The Comparison Of Projectile Points In Central California, Robert Clark Newcomb

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The study of stone projectile point typology is not new. Many scholars have developed both similar and very different approaches to classifying various point types based on a wide variety of key morphological characteristics. The comparison of projectile point types and sizes from disparate regions, however, has not been widely examined. This research utilizes the classification systems of Noel Justice (Justice 2002a) and Brian Glenn (Glenn 1991) as a basis for comparing projectile point specimens from two disparate geographic regions. The first specimen collection comes from the Vandenberg Space Force Base region on the central coast of California and represents …

The Impact Of Plant-Based Diets On Erythrocyte Function, Oxidative Stress, And Vascular Inflammation In Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Walter G. Craig

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with diverse etiological contributors, characterized by insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and an increased risk of vascular complications. While much research has focused on plasma and serum markers of metabolic dysfunction, the role of erythrocytes in diabetic pathophysiology remains underexplored. This review examines the impact of dietary macronutrient composition, particularly plant-based diets, on erythrocyte function, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation in T2DM. Red blood cells (RBCs) are not only oxygen carriers but also dynamic regulators of immune and inflammatory responses, with structural and functional alterations playing a critical role …

"Gen Z Climate Being": Podcast Series On Youth, Climate Emotions, And Affective Climate Justice, Rachel Wynne Moszkowicz

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

My project is a co-created 6 part podcast series with youth and the program lead from the Climate Mental Health Network’s Gen Z Advisory Board informed by affective climate justice, youth, mental health and education. This work foregrounds the embodied climate knowing and being of youth climate activists, offers ideas for a different relationship to climate change and climate education futures. In this podcast, Gen Zers speak to the youth mental health crisis as it relates to climate. My thesis project engages with and invites conversations that reflect the climate itself, which is non-linear, complex, porous, creative, expansive, and woven …

A Review Of Contact Dependent Interactions Among Encrusting Bryozoans, Sheena Emily Stephens-Norton

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This review of published literature is focused on bryozoan interactions and discusses overgrowths, “stalemates,” erect bi-laminate growths and fusions. Overgrowths, where one colony grows zooids atop another, have received the most attention in the scientific literature. Stalemates, where two colonies cease growth at the region of contact, have received relatively little research investigating the possible reasons for its occurrence. Erect, bi-laminate growth, following inter- and/or intraspecific contact between colonies, has also received little research, but could reflect mutualistic behavior of encrusting species to increase feeding and reproduction. Fusion of self-self-contacts appears common, yet non-self-fusions to form natural chimeras may also …

Exploring Coastal Spaces Of Tribal Sovereignty And Self-Determination In Ancestral Waters Proposed For Offshore Wind Development, Alyssa Suarez

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Proposed offshore wind development off California’s North Coast raises novel questions about Tribal sovereignty offshore. This project specifically engages claims, assuming the Yurok Tribe’s framing that offshore wind development poses a coastal hazard. The research followed a co-production framework. The research questions were co-designed with the Yurok Tribe and the research itself governed by a Data Sharing Agreement. The work presents findings from 13 semi-structured interviews with individuals and experts navigating sovereignty in the offshore wind space, including government representatives; lawyers; legal researchers; academics; foundation staff; journalists; and Humboldt Bay community members. Participants identified several key tensions surrounding claims of …

Home Range, Habitat Use, And Fall Migration Of Lewis’S Woodpeckers In The Eastern Cascade Range, Oregon, Cameron Piper

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Lewis’s woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis), a burn specialist, is experiencing range-wide population declines despite increasing fire activity in the western U.S. The White River Wildlife Area in Oregon hosts the state's only year-round population, raising questions about their breeding, habitat use, and migration. In summer 2024, we tracked nine woodpeckers using telemetry to estimate home range size and overlap. Full home ranges averaged 428 ha, with 66 ha core areas, and showed evidence of growing after nesting. Home ranges overlapped extensively (Full: 91 ± 13%; Core: 63 ± 29%), though individuals had distinct areas of intense use. Males had …

The Masa That Holds Us: Indigenous Epistemologies And The Food We Share, Necahual Gamboa

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The U.S. higher education system is built on histories and infrastructures of colonization, white supremacy, and western imperialism. Among many of the institutions produced from a history of domination and genocide, the systems of higher education need to shift their focus to decolonial frameworks including Indigenous epistemologies (ways of knowing and being) in order to work toward true reparations between these imperial systems and the Indigenous people they have displaced and disregarded. This project brings these systems into question, but also uses art, prose, and storytelling to better align with what it means or what it could look like to …

Testosterone Reactivity And Parental Care Motivation In Men As A Function Of Parental Status, Nathan Boone

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Paternal investment and caregiving quality have lasting impacts on children's well-being. Children with sensitive, involved fathers typically develop more secure attachments and have fewer behavioral and psychological problems than children with less sensitive and involved fathers. While the importance of fathers’ engagement with their children is well established, the biological mechanisms that underpin paternal behavior are not fully understood. Previous research has found that baseline testosterone levels and testosterone reactivity to infant stimuli are both relevant predictors of paternal sensitivity. Short-term decreases in testosterone in nurturant contexts, and short-term increases in testosterone in challenging contexts have both been linked to …

Can We Help Coast Redwood Adapt To Climate Change? A Provenance Study On Genetic Variation And Climate Transfer Distance, Aidan J. Murphy

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

The climate is changing more rapidly than many species can adapt or migrate. Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is a unique, long-lived conifer and remains California’s most valuable and economically important timber species. The species is threatened in its natural range due to anthropogenic climate change and human activity. Redwood favors asexual reproduction which restricts its ability to migrate naturally. The consequences of asexual reproduction when faced with a rapidly changing climate may make some form of assisted migration necessary for long-lived organisms like redwood.

This study evaluates drivers of variation in redwood growth and the influence of climate …

Patterns Of Kinship And Sociality In North American River Otters, Whitney E. Vickers

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Previous studies of river otters (Lontra canadensis) in coastal Humboldt County, California have documented varying social group compositions over the last four decades. It has been assumed that otters travel between coastal wetland sites, but the extent of movement has been unknown. Socially, river otters have been observed alone, in small family groups that consisted of an otter mom and pup(s), in larger helper groups that consisted of an otter mom, pup(s), and at least one additional adult or juvenile (helpers), and in all-adult social groups. Until now it was unknown whether the composition of social groups was …

The Fragile Fabric Of Society: An Insight Into Religion In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Tomislav Tadić

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

The question of the social function of religion is undoubtedly one of the most important questions at the level of global social ontology. In this context, the sociology of religion turns out to be one of the most significant branches within contemporary sociology. Bearing in mind the events that mark the current global political situation, especially the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine, the need to rethink the relationship between ethnicity and religion as a special expression of the crisis of secularity within the limits of the "radicalized consequences of modernity" further intensifies. The paper is composed of two parts: 1) …

Engraving Justice: Women's Names In Mosque Calligraphy, Zilka Spahić Šiljak

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

No abstract provided.