Digital Commons Network^™

Thermophilic Microbiota Of Fifth Water Hot Springs: A Genomic Perspective, Ethan Powers, Zack Galbraith, Trever Thurgood

Annual Research Symposium

Geothermal hot springs provide unique microbial habitats characterized by extreme temperatures, variable pH, and diverse geochemical conditions. This study investigates the microbial diversity of three hot spring locations in Diamond Fork Canyon, Utah—Diamond Fork Warm Springs, Fifth Water Hot Springs, and Monk’s Hollow Trailhead—using Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Samples were collected in triplicate and analyzed to identify the bacterial composition, with a focus on potential opportunistic pathogens. Our results revealed a diverse microbial community, including members of Pseudomonas, Comamonas, Helicobacter, and Flavobacterium, some of which are known for biofilm formation, antibiotic …

Associations Between Atmospheric Ozone, Pm2.5 And Prevalence Of Diabetes In Georgia, United States, Kingsley A. Kalu, Jingjing Yin, Atin Adhikari

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Objective:

This study examines the association between two air pollutants (PM_2.5 and ozone), and the prevalence of adult diabetes mellitus in relation to various confounding factors.

Methods:

We collected diabetes prevalence data from the 2015 County Health Ranking and Georgia Health Data Hub. A negative binomial regression analysis was conducted to examine the associations between the county-level dependent variable “adult diabetes” (for adults aged> 18 years diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) and two independent county-level variables: percentage of days ³ NAAQS for ozone and PM_2.5 concentration levels while controlling for confounders.

Results:

At the county …

Farm Chemicals As Indicators Of Sediment Sources In Iowa Rivers, Edward N. Nealson, George P. Malanson

The Geographical Bulletin

Determination of the source of sediment in rivers and streams is important in order to effectively implement a program to reduce its concentration. This project uses agricultural chemicals as indicators of current sources of sediment from farm fields in the Cedar River, Iowa watershed. We hypothesized that the relations of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorous yields to precipitation would indicate whether sediment originated from erosion of fields or from channel bank erosion of floodplains. The changes in sediment, nitrate, and phosphorus in the channel in response to rainfall events were determined. In simple regressions, all three variables have similar slopes when …

Determining The Physiological And Behavioral Tolerance To Hypoxia In Two Species Of Rockfish (Sebastes Spp.), Makenna Chan

Theses

In the eastern North Pacific, the oxygen minimum zone naturally shoals seasonally and impacts demersal fish habitat along the continental margins and on offshore seamounts. This hypoxic layer has been shoaling in recent decades, likely affecting the habitat and distribution of commercially-important fish species such as rockfishes (genus Sebastes). Respirometry and shuttle box behavioral experiments were used to determine the hypoxia sensitivities of two rockfish species with contrasting movement patterns and habitat use: cowcod (Sebastes levis) and bocaccio (Sebastes paucispinis). Although both species inhabit similar deep-water, rocky-reef habitat, they have different lifestyles, in which cowcod …

Wearable Penile Devices: The Techring, Gal Saffati, Daniela Orozco Rendon, Riley Daily, Mohit Khera, John P Mulhall

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The integration of wearable technology into healthcare has transformed patient monitoring, particularly in urology. Wearable penile devices (WPDs), such as the FirmTech TechRing, offer real-time data on erectile function, providing critical insights into nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) patterns that can indicate underlying health issues. This piece highlights the potential of the FirmTech TechRing, a WPD, to advance erectile function monitoring by providing real-time data on NPT and intra-coital activity. It explores its promise in detecting early dysfunction, assessing cardiovascular risk, and enhancing proactive health management. By measuring parameters like firmness, girth expansion, and the frequency of erections, the TechRing enables …

Development And Validation Of Rapid Edna Detection Method For Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon Flavescens: A Field Study In South Texas, Usa, Sakib Tahmid Rishan, Richard Kline, Md Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The conservation of freshwater turtle species depends on precise and effective monitoring techniques. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a potential method for identifying cryptic and elusive turtle species in aquatic ecosystems. eDNA analysis can help to identify key regions for conservation efforts and monitor changes in population levels over time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid eDNA detection method for the yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens, an indicator species that is endangered in some states in the USA), which inhabits local oxbow lakes (e.g., resacas) in Cameron County, South Texas. A species-specific nested PCR …

Integrative Approaches To Climate Resilience Planning: Application Of A Plan Evaluation Framework, Maulsri Jha

Dissertations and Theses

In the last two decades, urban governments have streamlined and prioritized the creation and implementation of climate resilience plans to cater to the communities' vulnerabilities. Existing research illustrates that there is a gap in understanding how, or if, empirical (evidence-based) data are incorporated into the design and implementation of such plans and the extent to which their inclusion impacts outcomes in terms of vulnerability reduction. There is also a gap in the systematic study of their outcomes in terms of community resilience, and whether equity and environmental justice are promoted as priorities.

The purpose of the research is to understand …

Optimising The National Strategy For Progressive Employment Absorption To Ensure The Rights And Responsibilities Of Citizens In Indonesia, Rizda Ardyati, Afridah Ikrimah

Jurnal Civics: Media Kajian Kewarganegaraan

Indonesia is experiencing a demographic transition phenomenon. This can be seen from the results of the 2010 population census, which showed a positive trend in the productive age population, namely 15-64 years. In that year, the proportion reached 66% of the total population. The potential growth of Indonesia's productive population can be an engine of sustainable economic growth or a source of social conflict between classes in the future, if the government cannot handle this potential, it will become a problem related to fulfilling the rights of citizens to get decent work, because instead of being absorbed into the workforce, …

Behavioral Ecology And Physiology Of Spotted Turtles (Clemmys Guttata) In A Fragmented And Polluted Landscape, Jessica Rojas Lindberg

Master's Theses

Turtles are one of the most threatened groups of animals across the globe. This is especially true for freshwater turtles that rely on multiple habitats to fulfill their life history requirements. Wetlands are a crucial habitat type for many freshwater turtle species, and this ecosystem has been susceptible to conversion, fragmentation, and pollution. In turn, these hazards to wetland habitats threaten already declining freshwater turtle populations. The spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) is a species of freshwater turtle that is particularly at-risk due to life history traits as well as habitat fragmentation and pollution. This study aims to investigate the effects …

Barriers To The Enforcement Of Environmental Law: An Effect Of Free Market Domination And Regional Autonomy In Indonesia, Jean Claude Geofrey Mahoro, F.X. Adji Samekto

Hasanuddin Law Review

This paper discusses different issues relating to the enforcement of environmental law in Indonesia in the long way of the Indonesian government to sustainable development. To reach reliable conclusion, socio-legal approach was employed in this paper. Throughout the work the researcher analyses environmental philosophies including anthropocentrism, biocentrism and ecocentrism. This phenomenon does not only pose responsibility to the government but also to private individuals or companies in their operations in order not to leave burdens to the shoulders of future generations. This ideology was not well ensured in the free-market economy and regional autonomy as the proliferated regulations were not …

Faunistic Study Of Some Fouling Species Associated With Pearl Oysters, Including A New Record For The Egyptian Mediterranean Sea, Khaled M. Abdelsalam, Noha H. Elebiary

Blue Economy

The objective of this study is to redescribe four marine fouling species on Al Dhahab Island in front of Miyami Beach, Alexandria, that are associated with the pearl oyster Pinctada radiata (Leach, 1814). During June 2021, eighteen shells of P. radiata oysters were collected by scuba diving. Analyzed fouling communities revealed that a total of 106 taxa were associated with the studied shells, among these two polychaetes (Lepidonotus carinulatus and Eurysyllis tuberculata), one bivalve (Septifer cumingii), and one isopod (Munna sp.) were recorded. The fourth species, identified as Uromunna petiti (Amar, 1948), constitutes a new record for the Egyptian Mediterranean …

‘Heimat’—More Than A Sense Of Home: Reviving A Medieval Concept For Communication Research, Holger Schramm, Nicole Liebers, Priska Breves

Communication Research Trends

No abstract provided.

Benchmarking Spatial Co-Localization Methods For Single-Cell Multiplex Imaging Data With Applications To High-Grade Serous Ovarian And Triple Negative Breast Cancer., Alex C. Soupir, Ishaan V. Gadiyar, Bryan R. Helm, Coleman R. Harris, Simon N. Vandekar, Lauren C. Peres, Robert J. Coffey, Julia Wrobel, Siyuan Ma, Brooke L. Fridley

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Single-cell multiplex imaging (scMI) measures cell locations and phenotypes within a tissue and can be used to understand the tumor microenvironment. In scMI studies, it is often of interest to quantify spatial co-localization of immune cells and its association with clinical outcomes; however, it remains unknown which of the many available spatial indices have adequate power to detect spatial within-sample co-localization and its association with patient outcomes, such as survival. In this study, the performance of six frequentist metrics of spatial co-localization used in scMI studies were evaluated. Simulated data was used to assess the power and type I error …

A Proposed Mhealth Intervention To Address Patient Barriers To Colposcopy Attendance: Qualitative Interview Study Of Clinic Staff And Patient Perspectives, Jennifer Hemler, Rachel Wagner, Brittany Sullivan, Myneka Macenat, Erin Tagai, Jazmarie Vega, Enrique Hernandez, Suzanne Miller, Kuang-Yi Wen, Charletta Ayers, Mark Einstein, Shawna Hudson, Racquel Kohler

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer disparities persist among minoritized women due to infrequent screening and poor follow-up. Structural and psychosocial barriers to following up with colposcopy are problematic for minoritized women. Evidence-based interventions using patient navigation and tailored telephone counseling, including the Tailored Communication for Cervical Cancer Risk (TC3), have modestly improved colposcopy attendance. However, the efficacious TC3 intervention is human resource-intense and could have greater reach if adapted for mobile health, which increases convenience and access to health information.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe feedback from clinic staff members involved in colposcopy processes and patients referred for colposcopy regarding adaptions …

Changes In Vertical Stratification Of Neotropical Nymphalid Butterflies At Forest Edges Are Not Directly Caused By Light And Temperature Conditions, Brian K. Oye, Ryan I. Hill

Pacific Faculty Work

Habitat fragmentation and land use changes threaten neotropical habitats and alter patterns of diversity at forest edges. Like other arthropod assemblages, neotropical fruit-feeding butterfly communities show strong vertical stratification within forests, with some recent work showing its potential role in speciation. At forest edges, species considered to be forest canopy specialists have been observed descending to the forest understory, with the similarity in light conditions between the canopy and understory strata at edges hypothesized to be responsible for this phenomenon. We conducted a study using standardized sampling to document and quantify this edge effect, characterize edge and forest strata, and …

Geospatial Analysis Of Social Variables Of The Health Opportunity Index And Stroke Prevalence In Health And Human Services Region 3, Wanderimam R. Tuktur

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disparities exist in stroke prevalence and outcome. There is sparsity of ecological studies at the census tract level that elucidate neighborhood predictors of stroke prevalence in states across U.S. Health and Human Services Region 3 (HHS Region 3: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia). This study was conducted to explore the geospatial relationship between the 13 indicators of the Health Opportunity Index (HOI) and stroke prevalence at the census tract level in HHS Region 3 using four HOI indicator profiles: (a) neighborhood and built environment profile, (b) social and community context profile, (c) resource profile, …

The Continuing Search For A Better Mouse Trap: Two Tests Of A Practical, Low-Cost Camera Trap For Detecting And Observing Small Mammals, Raymond D. Dueser, John H. Porter, Nancy D. Moncrief

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The advent of digital wildlife cameras has led to a dramatic increase in the use of camera traps for mammalian biodiversity surveys, ecological studies and occupancy analyses. For cryptic mammals such as mice and shrews, whose small sizes pose many challenges for unconstrained digital photography, use of camera traps remains relatively infrequent. Here we use a practical, low-cost small mammal camera platform (the “MouseCam”) that is easy and inexpensive to fabricate and deploy and requires little maintenance beyond camera service. We tested the MouseCam in two applications: a study of small mammal species composition on two transects across a barrier …

Evaluating Forest And Land Rehabilitation Using Remote Sensing: A Case Study In Maros Regency, Syamsu Rijal, Munajat Nursaputra, Chairil A

Jurnal Penelitian Kehutanan Wallacea

Remote sensing technology has become crucial in vegetation monitoring, particularly for assessing vegetation density. Despite its broad application, its use in evaluating land rehabilitation efforts remains limited. The increasing extent of degraded lands has underscored the importance of effective forest and land rehabilitation activities. Traditionally, evaluating these efforts involves direct site visits to monitor plant growth annually for three years post-planting, which is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly. According to rehabilitation standards, a program is successful if 75% of the planted vegetation survives until the end of the third year. This study presents an efficient alternative by evaluating a rehabilitation site …

Spatiotemporal Variation Of Vegetation Cover In Mining Areas Of Ysr Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh Using Remote Sensing And Gis, Vinod Kumar Yarlanki, Prudhvi Raj Muppala, Prem Kumar Yasam, Balaji Gollapudi, Sumanth Moddu, Appanna Besta

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The spatiotemporal variation of vegetation cover in the mining areas of YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques. By focusing on the years 2014, 2018, and 2023, the analysis provides insights into changes observed in water bodies, bare soil, sparse vegetation, moderate vegetation, and dense vegetation. The results reveal dynamic trends in land cover categories, highlighting the environmental impact of mining activities in the region. A significant decline in water bodies is observed, with the area reducing from 3.48 km² in 2014 to 1.91km² in 2023. This decrease raises concerns about the potential degradation …

Measuring Spatial And Temporal Variation In Species Composition Of Ephemeral Pond Amphibian Assemblages Using Metabarcoding, Elizabeth Strasko

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Amphibian populations worldwide face severe threats, heightening the need for reliable monitoring methods. In this thesis, I explored and tested environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding protocols to survey amphibian assemblages in ephemeral ponds of the the Green River Preserve in central Kentucky, USA. First, I evaluated whether the commonly used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene could effectively capture species-level variation in local amphibians for eDNA metabarcoding. Extensive primer design and testing revealed significant challenges in amplifying fragmented eDNA from water samples. In a second study, I applied a metabarcoding approach using the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (12S) gene …

Looking For Manna, Dung, And Craters - Uncovering Hidden Diversity In Circinaria Lichens, Lizzie Perry, Ginny Basset, Steve Leavitt

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

• Lichens, symbiotic partnerships between fungi and photosynthetic organisms, are often overlooked in biodiversity studies due to their cryptic nature. The lichen genus, Circinaria —historically, described as “Manna Lichens”, “crater lichens”, “pigeon dung lichens”, and “excrement of the earth”¹ —remains understudied.
• This genus includes approximately 40 formally described species worldwide, however, only 13 have been documented in North America³.
• To better understand species-level diversity of Circinaria in Western North America, we used an integrated data set – DNA, morphology, and ecology – to characterize diversity and delimit potential candidate species.

Expression And Function Of Floral Symmetry Genes In The Regulation Of Flower Shape In Fedia Graciliflora, Theresa A. Mustacchio

Theses and Dissertations

Shifts between radial symmetry (actinomorphy) and bilateral symmetry (zygomorphy) in flowers have occurred multiple times independently within angiosperms (flowering plants). Evidence across angiosperms indicate the transcription factors RADIALIS (RAD), DIVARICATA (DIV), and CYCLOIDEA (CYC) play a major role in regulating floral symmetry and morphology. The CYC-like genes have been shown to shift their expression dorsally independently in nearly all shifts to bilaterally symmetrical flowers examined. Three core eudicot clades of CYC-like genes have been identified: CYC1, CYC2 and CYC3, with only CYC2 genes being shown to have a role in floral symmetry. We use the non-model plant, Fedia graciliflora (Caprifoliaceae) …

Climate And Gypsum Parent Material Shape Biocrust Communities And Moss Ecology In The Chihuahuan And Mojave Deserts, Katelyn Gobbie, Nicole Pietrasiak, Brian M. Jusko, Rebecca E. Drenovsky

2025 Faculty Bibliography

Biological soil crust communities (biocrusts) establishing on gypsum soils have been well-documented for their prolific appearance and rich diversity of lichens and bryophytes. However, studies characterizing gypsum biocrusts have occurred primarily outside of the U.S., most of which lack comparisons to other soil types. We conducted intensive field surveys to evaluate the ground cover and frequency of biocrust functional groups and moss species on gypsum and non-gypsum soils in the U.S. regions with the most extensive gypsum outcrops, the northern Chihuahuan and eastern Mojave Deserts. Study sites were stratified by geomorphology and paired, so that every gypsum site was matched …

Association Between Excess Body Weight And Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Incidence, Taylor Parks

High Impact Practices Student Showcase Fall 2025

No abstract provided.

Small-Scale Green Infrastructure In Urban Networks - Trinity Presbyterian Church As A Pilot Project, Selvana Getsy -

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses - Archive

Rapid urbanization and increasing impervious cover in cities like those within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex have intensified flooding, heat, erosion, and declining ecological quality. Although large-scale green infrastructure (GI) interventions are widely recognized as solutions to these issues, small-scale institutional landscapes remain a neglected yet powerful component of urban GI networks. This study functions as a pilot/demonstration project to evaluate the potential of small-scale GI interventions at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Plano, Texas. The goals are to reduce stormwater runoff, provide ecological and microclimatic improvements, increase community engagement, biodiversity enhancement, and environmental awareness in public institutional settings.

The study utilizes a …

Indirect Effects And Context Dependency In Stream Fish Invasions, William K. Annis, Lily M. Thompson, Stephen R. Midway, Julian D. Olden, Brandon K. Peoples

Faculty Publications

Aim: Invasion ecology is replete with a body of well-supported yet contradictory evidence for numerous invasion hypotheses, likely as a result of context dependency. Context dependency in invasion studies can arise in two ways: (1) apparent, when results differ between studies solely due to methodical differences, or (2) mechanistic, when results truly differ due to ecological processes. One form of apparent context dependency occurs when causally linked factors associated with invasion success (hereafter, invasion drivers) either mask or enhance each other's effect on invasion success. Mechanistic context dependency can occur when regional scale processes modify the influence of local scale …

Sptiotemporal Changes In Aboveground Biomass, Canopy Cover And Livestock Movements Across Mongolia Grasslands, Abhinav Chandel

Dissertations and Theses

This study presents an integrated geospatial framework for understanding grassland productivity dynamics and livestock movement behavior across the Mongolian steppe. Mongolia’s grasslands constitute one of the world’s largest pastoral ecosystems, yet they face increasing vulnerability due to climate variability, overgrazing, and land degradation. To quantify vegetation change and grazing responses, this research combines multi-decadal remote sensing with high-frequency GPS-based livestock movement tracking. Using Landsat imagery from 1990 to 2023, Aboveground Biomass (AGB) and Canopy Cover (CC) were estimated through Random Forest regression models integrating key spectral vegetation indices (e.g., NDVI, OSAVI, CTVI, TNDVI, IPVI) and climatic predictors such as summer …

Enhancing Disease Surveillance In Conflict Settings: An Ecological Case Study On Cholera In Sudan At The Intersection Of Environmental And Conflict Drivers, Kinsey Medlin

Public Health Theses

Cholera outbreaks are complex and driven by an interaction of environmental circumstances and conflict-related disruptions, yet few studies have integrated both in the context of conflict regions. This ecological study examines cholera transmission dynamics in Sudan from 2016 to 2025, exploring temporal associations using cross-correlation analysis and applying generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) to analyze the influence of remotely sensed environmental variables (rainfall, temperature, NDVI, NDWI) and conflict indicators (civilian targeting, political violence, demonstrations) on cholera cases. Weekly cholera surveillance data, combined with satellite-derived environmental variables and conflict event datasets, were modeled across two time periods: pre-conflict (2016-2018) and active …

Exploring The Link Between Low-Income Communities And Increased Cancer Risk From Nitrate Contamination In Drinking Water: A Review, Anna Wiggins, Rena Phillips, Michael L. Phillips, Wei-Hsiung Yang

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Use Of E-Cigarettes And Other Substances And Related Psychiatric Symptoms In Undergraduate Students, Grant L. Saba

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

This study evaluated the role that use of alcohol and e-cigarettes had in the development of dependence and demand of each other, along with symptoms of depression and anxiety in undergraduate college students. It tested four hypotheses: (1) that these symptoms are related to more frequent e-cigarette use, (2) they are related to problematic alcohol dependence, (3) alcohol demand will be higher in e-cigarette users, and (4) e-cigarette demand will be higher in problematic drinkers. 173 undergraduate students completed self-report inventories describing their alcohol dependence, e-cigarette dependence, depression, and anxiety, along with completing two hypothetical purchase tasks where they were …