Digital Commons Network^™

Controls Over Visitation Rates To Mineral Licks By Snowshoe Hares (Lepus Americanus) In Northern Alaska, Laura Knutsen

Biological Sciences

Geophagy, or soil consumption, is a common behavior of several avian and mammalian herbivore species. This activity has been attributed to providing essential nutrients and improving digestion of forage high in plant secondary metabolites. Recently, this behavior has been observed in snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and is thought to influence both their nutritional ecology and population dynamics. The purpose of this study was to examine the possible ecological controls over snowshoe hare visitation rates to mineral licks using a camera trap study at four sites near Wiseman, AK, from 2017 to 2020. Data visualization and modeling showed hare activity was …

Geochemical Variation In The Muscle Of Aleutian Steller Sea Lion Prey, Scott Chandler

Biological Sciences

Body tissue chemistry has been extensively utilized as biomarkers about the cryptic life histories of Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) in the western and central Aleutian Islands, Alaska, specifically tissue total mercury concentrations and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. As patterns in these biomarkers can be associated with either trophic dynamics or environmental conditions, I examined spatiotemporal and biological variability of bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and total mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of ten fishes and two cephalopods found in Steller sea lion diets. I hypothesized that the complex bathymetry and oceanography of the …

Effects Of Hunting Pressure On The Spatial Dynamics Of A Subarctic Caribou Herd, Jeffrey Wells

Biological Sciences

Indirect effects of hunting can have important ecological and hunt management implications, and little has been done to quantify these indirect effects on caribou (Rangifer tarandus). To assess effects of hunting pressure on caribou spatial dynamics, we used GPS locations that spanned fall and winter 2010-2022 from the semi-migratory Fortymile caribou herd in interior Alaska. We analyzed these locations using integrated step selection analysis to evaluate step lengths (i.e., movement rates) and selection of distance to roads and trails, and forest cover across 3 hunting pressure levels (none, low, and high) as well as road crossings during hunting compared to …

Biogeographic History Of The World's Marmots And The Genetic Basis Of Melanism In An Alaskan Population Of Hoary Marmots, Kendall K. Mills

Biological Sciences

This dissertation addresses questions related to the phylogenetics, molting phenology, and genetic basis of melanism in marmots. Marmots (genus Marmota) are large, diurnal ground squirrels that hibernate for 7-8 months each year and have a broad Holarctic distribution. In Chapter 1, I use ultraconserved elements from all 15 extant species to better resolve the phylogeny of Marmota and shed light on the biogeographic history of marmots. The results indicate marmots originated in North America ~16.3 Ma and crossed the Bering Land Bridge into Eurasia ~3-4 Ma. In addition, the Woodchuck (M. monax) and the Alaska Marmot (M. broweri) are more …

Differential Equations For Modeling Pathways Leading To Diabetes Onset, Viktoria Savatorova, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

This paper presents a mathematical model that explains potential pathways leading to diabetes onset. By utilizing a system of nonlinear differential equations to describe the dynamics of the glucose regulatory system, the model can serve as a pedagogical tool for teaching and learning differential equations, dynamical systems, mathematical modeling, and introduction to biomathematics. Within this framework, students can analyze equilibrium solutions, investigate stability, assess parameter sensitivity, and explore the potential for bifurcations. Theoretical analysis is complemented by illustrative numerical examples. Instructors have the flexibility to adapt and incorporate suggested activities according to their teaching preferences and objectives.

Leveraging Collaboration In Advocacy: An Examination Of The 501(C)(4) Regulatory Framework And Its Utility For Advancing Immigrant Rights, Christine D. Ambegia

Master's Projects and Capstones

The nonprofit sector is uniquely positioned for leading the charge in advocacy through various social justice movements, and their capacity to engage in lobbying work plays a crucial role in advancing policies that contribute to the collective good. The regulations on lobbying that are set forth and enforced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities can limit them from aggressively engaging in policy and advocacy work that holds legislators accountable to their constituents. Nonprofit 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations are governed by a regulatory framework that has the potential to expand on 501(c)(3) charities’ work because they …

Low Hunting Costs In An Expensive Marine Mammal Predator, Laia Rojano-Doñate, Jonas Teilmann, Danuta M. Wisniewska, Frants H. Jensen, Ursula Siebert, Birgitte I. Mcdonald, Siri L. Elmegaard, Signe Sveegaard, Rune Dietz, Mark Johnson, Peter T. Madsen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Many large terrestrial mammalian predators use energy-intensive, high-risk, high-gain strategies to pursue large, high-quality prey. However, similar-sized marine mammal predators with even higher field metabolic rates (FMRs) consistently target prey three to six orders of magnitude smaller than themselves. Here, we address the question of how these active and expensive marine mammal predators can gain sufficient energy from consistently targeting small prey during breath-hold dives. Using harbor porpoises as model organisms, we show that hunting small aquatic prey is energetically cheap (<20% increase in FMR) for these marine predators, but it requires them to spend a large proportion (>60%) of time foraging. We conclude that this grazing foraging strategy on small prey is viable for marine …

2024 Stratham Summerfest 4-H Animal Premium Booklet, Unh Cooperative Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

2024 Stratham Summerfest 4-H Building Premium Booklet, Unh Cooperative Extension

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Liver Acox1 Regulates Levels Of Circulating Lipids That Promote Metabolic Health Through Adipose Remodeling, Dongliang Lu, Anyuan He, Min Tan, Marguerite Mrad, Amal El Daibani, Donghua Hu, Xuejing Liu, Brian Kleiboeker, Tao Che, Fong-Fu Hsu, Monika Bambouskova, Clay F. Semenkovich, Irfan J. Lodhi

2020-Current year OA Pubs

No abstract provided.

Using An Interrupted Case Study To Engage Undergraduates’ Critical Thinking Style And Enhance Content Knowledge, Kelsey Hall, Katherine Starzec

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

The interrupted case study is a structured way to engage students in active learning. Interruptions, or pauses for reflection and discussion scheduled within the case-study presentation, provide students with a chance to collaborate and engage in critical thinking. Critical thinking style, which is a measure of how one tends to think critically, provides insight into how one tackles problem solving. This article describes a pilot project that combined critical-thinking style and an interrupted case study, delivered over a two-class-period time frame, to four college courses. The project’s goals were to assess …

Land Use Intensification And Bio-Resource Utilisation In The South Pacific Islands, David Lopez Cornelio

International Journal of Islands Research

The long and gradual colonisation of the Pacific islands created settlements of cohesive social networks that fused or were displaced by western ways of life, trade and governance through the centuries. In this paper, a historical review of the processes of island discovery, plants domestication, and of land use practices are discussed alongside the main socioeconomic drivers of land cover change. The native trees of the South Pacific constitute an invaluable resource for sustainable development; they were used and domesticated for thousands of years but logging, commercial agriculture, mining, the introduction of exotic species and urban expansion are threatening them …

Opposition To The Poor Law Amendment Act Of 1834, Janae Lakey

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

According to John Bull, "I repeat, I consider this New Poor Act a most cruel, a most unjust, and injurious enactment." John Bull expressed the frustration and injustice many Englishmen felt toward the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, or the new Poor Law. Before this statute, the Poor Law Act of 1601, otherwise known as the 43d Elizabeth or the Old Poor Law, governed poor relief. According to this law, parish guardians supported their own poor with funds extracted from parish residents. Their responsibilities included assigning pauper children to apprenticeships to learn skillful trades and giving relief to the …

"Born For Liberty" The Emergence Of Female Patriotism During The American Revolution, Anne Bennett

The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing

Esther Reed, a colonial woman who lived during the American Revolution, praised the women of her time: "Born for liberty, disdaining to bear the irons of a tyrannic [sic] Government, we associate ourselves to the grandeur of those ... who have broken the chains of slavery, forged by tyrants in the times of ignorance and barbarity."

Statistical Mobility Of Aggregated Microswimmers, Yonatan Ashenafi

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Subject Ninety-Four, Sophie Trist

Student Literary Anthologies

No abstract provided.

Lunchtime In The Student Union, Russell Webb

Student Literary Anthologies

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Monstrosity In “The Little Mermaid” With Respect To Christian Theology And Western Ideology

The Compass

The Little Mermaid is a story of monsters – or, at the very least, it is a story full of creatures that many might construe as monstrous in the Western understanding. Oftentimes, monsters are described as being outside of what is deemed as normal. This distinction “others” the creatures in a way that is evidently non-human, and in this inhumanity, they become lesser beings. Society paints these supposed monsters with perceived deformities, disabilities, or otherings – contrivances that we don’t recognize or understand, and thus become fearful of.1 In the case of Hans Christian Andersen’s land under the sea, we …

European House Cricket (Acheta Domesticus) Behavorial Decision Making And Resource Prioritization

The Compass

This study investigates the olfactory decision-making of the Acheta domesticus (European house cricket), specifically focusing on resource prioritization between mating and food preferences. Utilizing approximately 50 mature and 50 juvenile crickets, the experiment involved filter papers scented with female pheromones and dog food to represent mating and food resources. While mature males showed a slight preference for female cues, the difference was not statistically significant with a 95% confidence level. In contrast, juvenile crickets exhibited a significant preference for female scents over food scents. Additionally, Mann-Whitney U-tests revealed no significant differences between the two groups in the time spent on …

The Compass, Issue 11

The Compass

No abstract provided.

Antibiogram Profiles Of Pathogenic And Commensal Bacteria In Goat And Sheep Feces On Smallholder Farm, Ashesh Basnet, Agnes Kilonzo-Nthenge

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Introduction: The increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic pathogens poses a substantial threat to both animal production and human health. Although large-scale animal farms are acknowledged as major reservoirs for AMR, there is a notable knowledge gap concerning AMR in small-scale farms. This study seeks to address this gap by collecting and analyzing 137 fecal samples from goat and sheep farms in Tennessee and Georgia.

Method: Bacteria were identified using culture-dependent methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) was performed using the Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion method.

Results and discussion: The prevalence of E. coli (94.9%) …

Navigating Epistemological Barriers For Inclusive Assessment: A Collaborative Self-Study, Yuankun Yao, Comfort M. Ateh

Education Faculty Publications

While inclusive pedagogy has been increasingly embraced in teacher education, inclusive assessment of student learning remains an area that has received limited attention. A critical friend (Ateh) from an outside institution encouraged Yao to examine how he approached inclusive assessment in a course on assessment strategies for preservice teachers. The collaborative self-study showed that his initial understanding of inclusivity was limited when he taught and practiced inclusive strategies in the assessment course. Yao’s reflections came upon moments of tensions as he navigated through barriers for conceptualizing and implementing inclusive assessment strategies. The weekly interactions with his critical friend, helped Yao …

Issue 443: May 16-30, 2024, The Local Voice

The Local Voice

No abstract provided.

Democracy, Discourse, And The Artificially Intelligent Corporation, Michael R. Siebecker

Sturm College of Law: Faculty Scholarship

Does the ascendance of the artificially intelligent corporation threaten the integrity and legitimacy of democracy? The question seems particularly important as the 2024 presidential election approaches. Hardly a day passes without a new report regarding the disruptive impact of harnessing artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies. A cascading cadre of academics, business leaders, and politicians warn that unchecked development and dissemination of AI could irreparably damage vital institutions of civil society. Despite the warnings about existential threats AI poses to human agency and democratic processes, reliance on AI technologies proliferates at break-neck speed.

The concern about AI’s destructive impact gets exacerbated by …

Gpatch8 Modulates Mutant Sf3b1 Mis-Splicing And Pathogenicity In Hematologic Malignancies., Salima Benbarche, Jose Mario Bello Pineda, Laura Baquero Galvis, Jeetayu Biswas, Bo Liu, Eric Wang, Qian Zhang, Simon J Hogg, Kadeen Lyttle, Ariana Dahi, Alexander M Lewis, Martina Sarchi, Jahan Rahman, Nina Fox, Yuxi Ai, Sanjoy Mehta, Ralph Garippa, Juliana Ortiz-Pacheco, Zhuoning Li, Mara Monetti, Robert F Stanley, Sergei Doulatov, Robert K Bradley, Omar Abdel-Wahab

Faculty Research 2024

Mutations in the RNA splicing factor gene SF3B1 are common across hematologic and solid cancers and result in widespread alterations in splicing, yet there is currently no therapeutic means to correct this mis-splicing. Here, we utilize synthetic introns uniquely responsive to mutant SF3B1 to identify trans factors required for aberrant mutant SF3B1 splicing activity. This revealed the G-patch domain-containing protein GPATCH8 as required for mutant SF3B1-induced splicing alterations and impaired hematopoiesis. GPATCH8 is involved in quality control of branchpoint selection, interacts with the RNA helicase DHX15, and functionally opposes SURP and G-patch domain containing 1 (SUGP1), a G-patch protein recently …

Unraveling The Role Of Lipid Droplets And Perilipin 2 In Bovine Luteal Cells, Michele R. Plewes, Heather A. Talbott, Micah B. Schott, Jennifer R. Wood, Andrea S. Cupp, John S. Davis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Steroidogenic tissues contain cytosolic lipid droplets that are important for steroidogenesis. Perilipin 2 (PLIN2), a structural coat protein located on the surface of lipid droplets in mammalian cells, plays a crucial role in regulating lipid droplet formation and contributing to various cellular processes such as lipid storage and energy homeostasis. Herein, we examine the role that PLIN2 plays in regulating progesterone synthesis in the bovine corpus luteum. Utilizing gene array databases and Western blotting, we have delineated the expression pattern of PLIN2 throughout the follicular to luteal transition. Our findings reveal the presence of PLIN2 in both ovarian follicular and …

The Lopsided Law Of Medical Conscience, Dov Fox

The Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues

We’re used to hearing about conscientious refusal: when physicians or pharmacists deny services they deem sinful or wrong, in violation of hospital policies or malpractice laws. Less familiar is conscientious provision: when clinicians supply care that their employer or state restricts. America’s conscience regime often protects refusers categorically: they get conscience without conditions or consequences. But doctors with heartfelt reasons to supply care their institution or government forbids? For them, conscience is no defense.

This radical asymmetry is indefensible and unjust. Both refusers and providers resist workplace rules and legislative directives at odds with their sincere moral convictions. Both sometimes …

Is Florida At War With The Mouse Or Free Speech: Understanding The Dissolution Of Disney’S Reedy Creek And The Threat To Corporate First Amendment Rights, Julia Gibson

University of Miami Business Law Review

On April 22, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida Senate Bill 4C, which stripped Walt Disney World of its status as an “independent special district,” with its Reedy Creek Improvement District. The legislation was passed in response to the corporation’s public criticism of the Parental Rights in Education Act. After months of speculation regarding the solution to the grave tax and debt consequences of the bill, the Governor signed Florida House Bill 9B to reinstate the district under a State elected board and under a new name—the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.

This Comment delves into the longstanding history …

Selective And Brain-Penetrant Acss2 Inhibitors Target Breast Cancer Brain Metastatic Cells, Emily Esquea, Lorela Ciraku, Riley Young, Jessica Merzy, Alexandra Talarico, Nusaiba Ahmed, Mangalam Karuppiah, Anna Ramesh, Adam Chatoff, Claudia Crispim, Adel Rashad, Simon Cocklin, Nathaniel Snyder, Joris Beld, Nicole Simone, Mauricio Reginato, Alexej Dick

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) typically results in an end-stage diagnosis and is hindered by a lack of brain-penetrant drugs. Tumors in the brain rely on the conversion of acetate to acetyl-CoA by the enzyme acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2), a key regulator of fatty acid synthesis and protein acetylation. Here, we used a computational pipeline to identify novel brain-penetrant ACSS2 inhibitors combining pharmacophore-based shape screen methodology with absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) property predictions. We identified compounds AD-5584 and AD-8007 that were validated for specific binding affinity to ACSS2. Treatment of BCBM cells with AD-5584 and AD-8007 leads to …

Isaiah 53: Grammatical, Structural And Exegetical Observations, Felipe Braz Federson

Masters Theses

Isaiah 52:13-53:12 is a famous passage from the Tanakh that contains important grammatical constructions in Hebrew which, if translated incorrectly, can lead to erroneous exegetical and theological conclusions. Among these problems, the Servant’s relationship with the other characters in the passage is addressed. Through an analysis of the literary context and the structure of the text, not only are several exegetical possibilities substantiated, but two prototype translations are also provided, one based on the Leningrad Codex and another based on the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa).