Digital Commons Network^™

Remnant Prairies And High-Diversity Restorations Work Together To Support Wild Bees Season-Long, Katie Lamke, David A. Wedin, Judy Wu-Smart

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The presence of diverse bee communities in an ecosystem is vital for maintaining healthy plant communities, promoting habitat resilience, and supporting agriculture. In the US, wild bee declines have led to increased monitoring efforts, but there remain critical data gaps in much of the Midwest. Here, we sought to examine how variation in richness and abundance of flowering forbs influences the richness and abundance of wild bees across “remnant” tallgrass prairies, “high diversity” prairie restorations, and “low diversity” prairie restorations or degraded grasslands in eastern Nebraska. High-diversity plots attracted no bees in the early season due to a lack of …

Analysis Of The Zebra Finch Gut Microbiota, Cole Hanke

Student Presentations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the gut microbiota of the zebra finch. The fecal samples of both male and female birds were collected from two separate populations. The bacteria were then incubated and isolated in order to amplify and sequence their 16s rRNA. The analysis of the 16s rRNA in a bacterial database showed the presence of a variety of species from the bacillus, staphylococcus, and citrobacter genera.

The Effects Of Celiac Disease On Oral Health In Children And Adults, Marissa Balducci, Katarina Jones

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by intolerance to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed subjects. To ensure affected patients receive optimal dental care, it is necessary for dental professionals to recognize the oral manifestations of celiac disease in both children and adults. Upon associating oral conditions with celiac disease, the dental provider should be able to present recommendations to the patient, contributing to an improvement in their oral health.

Methods: This review of the literature used PubMed to identify relevant professional research articles with publication after 2017. MesH terms utilized in the search process were …

How Effective Are Eco-Friendly Dental Hygiene Products In Preventing Carious Lesions And Improvement In Overall Oral Health, Mary Claryns Truz, Destiney Coles

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives: The purpose of this review of literature is to measure the effectiveness, and future of eco-friendly¹ dental hygiene products in the dental field. As the manufacturing of products from food to technology increases over time, so does the sentiment for environmental practices. The numerous organizations that push for more sustainable initiatives in modern-day society continue to increase over time. The efforts for sustainable practices can be seen in the field of dentistry through dental hygiene products. These products range from compostable toothbrushes, waste-free toothpastes to organic floss advertised for use by the public. In reviewing the efficacy of …

Informational Materials: Dual Prevention Pill, Population Council

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

Informational materials being used in a dual prevention pill study in South Africa.

Trends And Outcomes Of A School-Based Campaign To Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Racially And Ethnically Diverse Students In Middle School, Roya Amirniroumand

Theses and Dissertations

Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption has been identified as a chronic disease prevention strategy in children and adolescents (Muth et al., 2019; USDA & HSS, 2015) and promoting healthier alternative beverage options has become an important focus for public health policy and educational efforts. Community-driven school-based health initiatives targeting SSB consumption have shown promising outcomes however, few studies have explored these strategies for middle school students and less is known about the potential benefits of these efforts with racial/ethnic minority youth.

The present study examined whether racial/ethnic differences in SSB consumption existed in a sample of 419 students at one …

2022 Annual Report, Tennessee. Department Of Human Services

Annual Reports

This annual report highlights the accomplishments of the Department of Human Services for the fiscal year.

Maura O'Neill's Portfolio, Maura O'Neill

Honors College Portfolios

This portfolio consists of works that I have completed during my time in the School of Nursing at Duquesne University. The portfolio consists of blogs, brochures, posters, reflections, and more that encapsulate not only my nursing curriculum but my public and global health minor. Each element of this portfolio demonstrates my knowledge, passion, and interest in nursing with a focus in public/global health. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculum consists of science-based courses and clinical experience. Aside from the tedious and rigorous nursing courses, public health courses can be added to further educate nursing students. Being able to understand …

Assessing The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Idahoans, Mcallister Hall, Aisha Kayed, Lantz Mcginnis-Brown

Idaho Policy Institute Reports

The COVID-19 pandemic has, in many ways, highlighted the challenges and benefits of our collective humanity. It brought us together, it tore us apart. It spread great fear but also gave rise to great hope. It took the existing challenges facing the Treasure Valley – health, housing, education, and poverty, among others – and often made them more pronounced. Job losses and childcare capacity changes, and school shutdowns can be especially devastating for low-income families, and the stress of illness can accentuate financial stress. While these pandemic impacts occurred, Idaho’s housing costs continued rising significantly, adding yet another challenge for …

Idaho Rural Industry Clusters Needs Assessment 2021, Mcallister Hall, Benjamin Larsen, Aisha Kayed, Vanessa Fry

Idaho Policy Institute Reports

No abstract provided.

Elementary Schools’ Response To Student Wellness Needs During The Covid-19 Shutdown: A Qualitative Exploration Using The R = Mc2 Readiness Heuristic, Hannah G. Calvert, Hannah G. Lane, Michaela Mcquilkin, Julianne A. Wenner, Lindsey Turner

University Author Recognition Bibliography: 2022

During spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying public health advisories forced K-12 schools throughout the United States to suspend in-person instruction. School personnel rapidly transitioned to remote provision of academic instruction and wellness services such as school meals and counseling services. The aim of this study was to investigate how schools responded to the transition to remote supports, including assessment of what readiness characteristics schools leveraged or developed to facilitate those transitions. Semi-structured interviews informed by school wellness implementation literature were conducted in the spring of 2020. Personnel (n = 50) from 39 urban and rural elementary …

The Life History Of Euborellia Annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) Fed Onlarvae And Pupae Of Plutella Xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), Gilmar Da Silva Nunes, Thais Aparecida Vitoriano Dantas, Wennia Rafaelly Souza Figueiredo, Roberio De Oliveira, Jacinto De Luna Batista, Alessandra Marieli Vacari, Sergio Antonio De Bortoli

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae) is reported as a potential predator of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fourth instar larvae, 1 or 3-day-old pupae of P. xylostella are suitable food for the development and reproduction of E. annulipes. We evaluated the characteristics of the predation, development of each life stage, and reproduction of the predator, by comparing them with an artificial diet. The nymphs consumed larvae and pupae equally in the first instars, but, from the third to fifth, they consumed more larvae over pupae. Both males and females consumed more larvae …

Discrimination Of The Sister Hedgehog Species Erinaceus Concolor And E. Roumanicus(Erinaceomorpha: Mammalia): A Geometric Morphometric Approach, Sadik Demi̇rtaş, İslam Gündüz, Jeremy S. Herman

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study investigates skull variation between the two closely related hedgehog species, Erinaceus concolor and E. roumanicus by using geometric morphometric analyses based on 2-dimensional landmarks. For this purpose, a total of 68 specimens were evaluated: 54 E. concolor and 14 E. roumanicus. The results of PCA, ANOVA and MANOVA analyses showed significant shape differences between the species, especially for the dorsal cranium. Shape differences were most prominent on the neurocranium and viscerocranium regions of the dorsal surface of the cranium and in mandibular ramus and the premolar regions. DFA tests were statistically significant against the null hypothesis of equal …

Autophagic Chemicals Effect To Atg8 And Rice Stripe Virus Relative Expressions, And Wolbachia Relative Density In Laodelphax Striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), Achmad Gazali, Ardhiani Hidayanti, Yohsuke Tagami

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Laodelphax striatellus is one of the most important pest insects and vectors of rice stripe virus (RSV), which causes rice stripe disease (RSD) in rice plants. L. striatellus is infected by Wolbachia. RSV and Wolbachia may be regulated by a cell defense mechanism within insect cells called autophagy. We utilized autophagic chemicals to predict the relationships between Atg8 (an importance of autophagy-related genes), Wolbachia, and RSV within L. striatellus. The relative expressions and density level of Atg8, RSV, and Wolbachia were determined by three autophagy inducers and two inhibitors. We examined the effect of chemicals on the host. We report …

Evaluation Of The Feeding Patterns Of Important Mosquito Vector Species Using Molecular Techniques, Fatma Bursali, Fati̇h Mehmet Şi̇mşek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study investigated the feeding patterns of populations of Anopheles sacharovi, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, and Culex pipiens in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey. Blood-fed females resting inside barns, houses, and chicken coops in the rural areas were collected between May 2017 and September 2019, and the genomic DNA from each female was isolated to determine the blood source after amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene region. Cytb results showed that out of 445 blood-fed An. sacharovi females 2 blood-fed from dogs, 9 from birds, and 434 from cows. The results also showed that all 216 blood-fed females Cx. …

The Web Amount And Quality Of Web Spiders (Agelenidae, Pholcidae), Agelena Labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757) And Holocnemus Pluchei (Scopoli, 1763), Depending On Food And Temperature, Bayda Hameed, Adi̇le Akpinar, Derya İşler Ceyhan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The web amount and quality of web-weaving of two spider species, Agelena labyrinthica (Clerck, 1757) and Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763), were determined depending on the temperature and the amount of food consumed. Two different experiments were set up in the study. In the first one, the spiders were raised at different temperatures (20-25 °C and 25-30 °C) under laboratory conditions and they were fed with 10 Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) each time. In the second one, the spiders were fed with 7-10 insects caught from their natural habitats, at 20-25 °C and 25-30 °C. According to this, the difference in …

Effects Of Nitrogen Fertilizer On Capoeta Capoeta: An Immunohistopathological And Biochemical Investigation, Seda Vural Aydin, Hasan Özen, Muhi̇tdi̇n Yilmaz

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Increased use of fertilizers to increase plant production causes important environmental pollution not only in soil but also in water resources. Soil structure, water quality, water systems, and biodiversity are adversely affected by the unconscious use of fertilizers. In this study, Capoeta capoeta (Guldenstaedt 1773) were used to investigate the degenerative effects of nitrogen fertilizer. Twentyfour fish were equally allocated into three groups; group 1 (control), group 2 (15 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer in water) and group 3 (15 mg/L nitrogen fertilizer in water). Fish were exposed to the fertilizer for 15 days and then the tissues of gill, liver and …

Basic Laboratory And Field Manual For Conducting Research With The Entomopathogenic Nematodes, Steinernema And Heterorhabditis, And Their Bacterial Symbionts, Selçuk Hazir, Harry Kaya, Mustapha Touray, Harun Çi̇men, David Shapiro Ilan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Broad spectrum chemical pesticides are harmful to humans and other nontarget organisms. Biological control, which entails the use of natural enemies, is a viable alternative. Isolation, identification, and application of biocontrol agents such as the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Steinernema and Heterorhabditis and their symbiotic bacteria, Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus have increased substantially over the last four decades, and the trend continues with advancement of molecular techniques. Yet, there is a need for a simple hands-on guide for their proper identification, classification, and handling, especially for researchers and users who are not totally familiar with these biocontrol agents. Thus, this manual is …

Evaluation Of Tea Tree Oil Formulations Contact And Stomach Toxicity Against The Egyptian Cotton Leafworm, Spodoptera Littoralis (Boisduval, 1883) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Şeyda Şi̇mşek, Ayhan Gökçe, Errol Hassan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The insecticidal potential of tea tree oil formulations was tested for contact and stomach poison toxicities against various stages of the Spodoptera littoralis ((Boisduval, 1883) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae under laboratory conditions. The study was carried out at Yozgat Bozok University Faculty of Agriculture between 2020 and 2021. In the contact toxicity test, the formulations were tested at different stages of larvae by topical application. Among the tested formulations, TTO (100%), F14 (91.72%), and F15 (89.20%) formulations caused the highest mortality in the S. littoralis 3rd stage larvae after 72 h. Dose-response bioassay with the most promising formulations (TTO, F14 and …

New Insights On The Impact Of Earthworm Extract On The Growth Of Beneficial Soil Fungi: Species-Specific Alteration Of The Nematophagous Fungal Growth And Limitation Of An Entomopathogenic Fungus, Maryam Chelkha, Lamia Yakkou, Sofia Houida, Mohamed Raouane, Souad Amghar, Raquel Campos-Herrera, Abdellatif El Harti

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Earthworms influence soil ecosystem functions such as decomposition and regulation of nutrient cycles by burrowing, feeding, or secreting their cutaneous excreta. Earthworms can also modulate soil biodiversity and their interactions. Recent research has revealed that earthworm feeding activity or excretions can alter the performance of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), known biological control agents. Still, the impact of earthworm cadavers on the growth and reproduction of other biological control agents such as nematophagous fungus (NFs) and EPFs has been poorly explored. We suggest that earthworm body tissue could be used as a food supply by certain fungal species. …

Body Condition Of Three Autochthonous Canid Species From Serbia, Aleksandra Penezic, Milica Kurucki, Neda Bogdanovic, Ilija Pantelic, Dusko Cirovic

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The body condition of three autochthonous canid species in Serbia (wolf- Canis lupus, jackal-Canis aureus, and fox-Vulpes vulpes) was assessed based on the value of Kidney Fat Index (KFI). A total of 1232 specimens (147 wolves, 711 jackals, and 375 foxes) were collected during a ten years period. Data were analyzed according to multiple factors such as sex, age, seasons, species, and genus. The results indicate that the adult members of the Canis genus have a significantly better body conditional status than the yearlings as well as the representatives of the Vulpes genus (F (2, …

Berry Anthocyanin, Acid, And Volatile Trait Analyses In A Grapevine-Interspecific F2 Population Using An Integrated Gbs And Rhampseq Genetic Map, Dilmini Alahakoon, Anne Fennell, Zachary Helget, Terry Bates, Avainash Karn, David Manns, Anna Katherine Mansfield, Bruce I. Reisch, Gavin Sacks, Qi Sun, Cheng Zou, Lance Cadle-Dvidson, Jason P. Londo

Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science Faculty Publications

Increased map density and transferability of markers are essential for the genetic analysis of fruit quality and stress tolerance in interspecific grapevine populations. We used 1449 GBS and 2000 rhAmpSeq markers to develop a dense map for an interspecific F₂ population (VRS-F₂) that was derived by selfing a single F₁ from a Vitis riparia x ‘Seyval blanc’ cross. The resultant map contained 2519 markers spanning 1131.3 cM and was highly collinear with the Vitis vinifera ‘PN40024’ genome. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for berry skin color and flower type were used to validate the map. Four rhAmpSeq …

Division Of Research And Economic Development Annual Report For Fy2022, Uri Division Of Research And Economic Development

Reports (Research and Economic Development)

Annual report for the Division of Research and Economic Development of the University of Rhode Island for the year 2021-2022.

Includes statistics of project proposals, expenditures, URI Foundation Awards, previous annual report summaries and awards received by individual academic and administrative departments.

Momentum: Research & Innovation For Spring 2022, University Of Rhode Island

Publications (Research and Economic Development)

The Spring 2022 issue of Research & Innovation, a periodical focused on research at the University of Rhode Island.

Cold Plasma Technology In Food Packaging, Kalpani Perera, Jack Prendeville, Amit Jaiswal, Swarna Jaiswal

Articles

Cold plasma (CP) is an effective strategy to alter the limitations of biopolymer materials for food packaging applications. Biopolymers such as polysaccharides and proteins are known to be sustainable materials with excellent film-forming properties. Bio-based films can be used as an alternative to traditional plastic packaging. There are limitations to biopolymer packaging materials such as hydrophobicity, poor barrier, and thermos-mechanical properties. For this reason, biopolymers must be modified to create a packaging material with the desired applicability. CP is an effective method to enhance the functionality and interfacial features of biopolymers. It etches the film surface allowing for better adhesion …

The Effects Of Clinical Depression On The Oral Health Of College Students, Delorias Perkins, Sarah Peng

Dental Hygiene Student Scholarship

Objectives: Mental health among college students has become a recent concern due to the rising cases of depression. In addition to the stress factors a typical college student often faces, we now have the COVID-19 pandemic that further exacerbates this issue. One’s state of mind has a significant impact on not only their mindset but their body overall. If the body’s health is impacted by depression, then it will influence the immune system and bodily function, ultimately affecting the oral cavity as well. The purpose of this review of literature is to identify the relationship between clinically diagnosed depression and …

Patient And Provider-Level Factors That Underlie Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment Offer And Acceptance In Veterans With Cirrhosis, Nikki Duong

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Resident and Fellow Research Day Posters

Background: Untreated alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with poor cirrhosis outcomes. We evaluated factors associated with AUD treatment discussions and initiation in the Veterans Health Administration.

Methods: Chart reviews were conducted for veterans with International Classification of Diseases codes for both cirrhosis and AUD who were receiving care at one of three large medical centers in 2020. Factors associated with a 1-year offer of AUD treatment and its acceptance were assessed using regression models, which included as covariates demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and depression, as measured by the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-2) from the electronic health record.

Results: The cohort …

Characterizing Abdominal Pain In Patients With Gastroparesis, Dylan Vainer, Henry Parkman, Dariush Shahsavari

Graduate Medical Education (GME) Resident and Fellow Research Day Posters

TITLE: CHARACTERIZING ABDOMINAL PAIN IN PATIENTS WITH GASTROPARESIS

AUTHORS (LAST NAME, FIRST NAME): Vainer, Dylan¹; Shahsavari, Dariush²; Parkman, Henry P.²

INSTITUTIONS (ALL): 1. Section of Gastroenterology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States. 2. Temple University Health System Inc, Philadelphia, PA, United States.

ABSTRACT BODY: Introduction: Patients with gastroparesis (Gp) typically present with nausea, vomiting, and early satiety. Abdominal pain can be present in Gp. The cause of abdominal pain in patients with Gp is often unknown. In patients whose predominant symptom is abdominal pain, other causes of abdominal pain …

Obesity, Physical Activity And Prostate Cancer: An Overview, Joanna Kruk, Joshua Bernstein, Basil Aboul-Enein

Health & Wellness Department Faculty Publications and Research

Obesity and a lack of sufficient physical activity (PA) are recognized as risk factors for most civilization diseases, including cancer. This study synthesized the current evidence evaluating the relationship between excess body weight and prostate cancer (PCa) in the relation to the disease risk, progression, and mortality, and identifies biological plausibility of the association. We also estimated the importance of PA in intentional body weight loss. Several electronic major databases to identify eligible articles were searched until March 2022. A total 22 observational articles, the literature on the underlying biological mechanisms, and the crucial evidence of a role of PA …

Childhood Obesity And Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Role Of Medicaid Expansion, Sonya Dunlap

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Introduction: Obesity was defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over the 95th percentile as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Childhood obesity has been a worldwide concern, but has disproportionately affected the socioeconomically disadvantaged, racial/ethical minorities, and rural children. The presence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) contributed to social and health problems. ACEs included the areas of domestic violence, mental illness, neighborhood violence, parent or guardian death, divorce or separation, parent or guardian incarceration, and substance misuse.

Purpose of Study: The purpose of this research was to compare the ACEs scores with childhood …