Digital Commons Network^™

Fish Meal Serum Modulates Mitochondrial Membrane Potential In Steroidogenic Cells: Implications For Luteoprotection In Cattle, Tyra Marie Goodluck

Master's Theses

The bovine corpus luteum (CL) is a transient endocrine gland that forms after ovulation and produces progesterone, a hormone crucial for early pregnancy. The cattle industry faces tremendous losses annually due to early embryonic mortality within the first 100 days of gestation, where approximately 16% occur during a critical timeframe known as the maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP). In a normal estrous cycle, if no viable embryo is present, the uterus secretes prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) during the late luteal phase, triggering luteal regression. One key action of PGF2α is reducing luteal blood flow, leading to hypoxia. This hypoxic state induces …

The Acute Effect Of A Single Dose Of Berberine On Blood Glucose Response Following A Standardized Meal And 2-Mile Walk Performance In Healthy Adults, Victor Emmanuel Obaro

Master's Theses

It is clear that exercise improves overall health status, and it is possible that berberine (BR) may work through some similar mechanisms to improve health status as well.  Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the acute effects of a single dose of BR on health status following a standardized meal and a 2 mile walk treadmill protocol with outcomes including blood glucose (BG), blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and a two-mile walk time trial performance. Methods: This study used a cross-over design where 14 healthy, young adults were given berberine (BBR) …

Van D. And Barbara B. Fishback Honors College Annual Report 2025-2026, Van D. And Barbara B. Fishback Honors College

Honors College Annual Reports

Table of Contents:

[Page] 4   Honors Engagement Showcase
[Page] 6   Honors by the Numbers
[Page] 8   College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
[Page] 10 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
[Page] 12 College of Education and Human Sciences
[Page] 14 College of Natural Sciences
[Page] 16 College of Nursing 
[Page] 18 College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
[Page] 20 Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering
[Page] 22 Imagine Honors Progress Report
[Page] 26 Cultivating the Honors Community
[Page] 28 Study Abroad
[Page] 30 The Justice Challenge
[Page] 32 Celebrating Honors: Honors Convocation
[Page] 36 Honors Grads Going …

Impact Of Inguinal Fat Trauma On Collateral Arteriolar Sympathetic Innervation Following Arteriogenesis, Sydney Christina Luong

Biological Sciences

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow and tissue ischemia. Arteriogenesis, the formation of natural bypasses through collateral vessels, is a promising therapeutic target for PAD, but the presence of enlarged collaterals does not always result in a protective effect. This may be because arteriogenesis is associated with loss of vascular tone, or the ability to vasodilate in response to changes in tissue metabolic demand or pharmacological agents. One of the primary regulators of vascular tone is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), the increased activity of which increases …

Incoming Student Issaq Profiles, Paul E. Mabrey Iii

Student Success Analytics

Presentation of the ISSAQ data profiles for the incoming first-year and transfer class into JMU fall 2026.

Spatial Structure And Energy Content Of Wakes Behind Single And Arrayed Undulated Cylinders, Taiga Naomi Drucker-Boisvert, OndˇRej FerˇCák, Jérémie Auzoux, Sarah E. Smith, Zein Sadek, Rowan Moore, Christain T. Murphy, Trevor Dunt, Jennifer A. Franck, Raul Bayoan Cal

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Biologically inspired undulated cylinder geometries significantly influence wake structure and vortex-induced vibrations in turbulent flows, yet the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. It is further unknown how these influences extend to multi-cylinder arrays, where interacting wakes accumulate and mix. This study examines the wake characteristics of an undulated cylinder and a smooth elliptic cylinder in single- and multi-cylinder array configurations, using particle image velocimetry and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Relative to the smooth elliptic cylinder, the undulated geometry induces pronounced spanwise-axial variability, characterized by enhanced near-wake mean momentum and weak far-wake signatures, consistent with reduced turbulent kinetic energy. While …

Neutralization Of Reactive Oxygen Species With Cobinamide Augments Aortic Dissections And Rupture In Bapn-Administered Mice, Alexis Richard, Zhen Zhou, Jose Emiliano Esparza Pinelo, Callie S. Kwartler, Hema Kalyanaraman, Gerry R. Boss, Hong S. Lu, Alan Daugherty, Dianna M. Milewicz

Physiology Faculty Publications

Thoracic aortic aneurysms involving the root and ascending aorta progressively enlarge and can lead to life-threatening acute aortic dissections, collectively termed thoracic aortic disease (TAD). Oxidative stress due to an excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in TAD pathogenesis by promoting vascular inflammation, extracellular matrix degradation, and smooth muscle cell apoptosis. Cobinamide (Cbi), a potent antioxidant and vitamin B12 analog, has been reported to slow aortic aneurysm growth in TAD mouse models. We evaluated its efficacy in mice administered b-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) to induce TAD, a model in which aneurysms progress to dissections. C57BL/6J mice of both sexes …

Nh Dfl - 25 Years Of Hwa - Peterborough_2026_Aug_11, Ryan Crandall

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Machine Learning In Flow Cytometry For Acute Myeloid Leukemia Diagnosis: A Scoping Review, Katrina Jezzela M. Dela Pena Md, Mls (Ascp)

Other Specialties

Manuscript version:

Introduction: Flow cytometry is essential for the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but conventional analysis is labor-intensive, operator-dependent, and increasingly complex. Machine learning (ML) may support automated analysis; however, its readiness for clinical implementation remains unclear. This scoping review mapped ML approaches applied to flow cytometry for AML-related diagnosis.

Methods: PubMed was searched for English-language primary studies applying artificial intelligence, ML, or deep learning to human flow cytometry data for AML diagnosis or classification. Eligible studies reported diagnostic performance metrics. Study characteristics, preprocessing, data representation, model architecture, validation strategy, performance metrics, interpretability, and implementation considerations were descriptively …

Land And Language At St. Joseph’S Indian Industrial School And Beyond, Ciera R. Tucker

All NMU Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the impacts of the Indian boarding school era on Menominee people through using St. Joseph’s Indian Industrial School in Keshena, Wisconsin, as a focal point of study. Through analyzing the social and political contexts of the school, oral texts from St. Joseph’s survivors, and contemporary popular culture texts, this thesis examines the intergenerational impacts of the boarding school era on Menominee people and Indigenous people in general. I employ Indigenous methodologies from Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (Anishinaabe), Kathleen Absolon (Anishinaabe), and Shawn Wilson (Cree) to ground my approach to research and engagement with survivor testimonies. Further, I draw …

The Stories We Tell About Wolves, Olivia Lubig

All NMU Master's Theses

This study investigated the connections between wolf stories, wolf history, and educational theories: critical literacy, schema theory, reader response theory/transactional theory, and the use of intertextual approaches in the classroom. In this study, I used a mix of transactional theory as the theoretical framework, self-study methodology, and living educational theory research methods to study myself as an educator, methods of teaching in a classroom, and children’s literature. My first finding, detailed in Chapter One, was discovering the connection between wolf stories and wolf history. I argue that the relationship between wolves and humans is represented in literature, and the representation …

Facilitating Occupational Participation In Older Adults With Chronic Pain, Emily K. Ruesch

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project developed doctoral-level clinical skills in the management of chronic pain. This capstone project also implemented a six‑week chronic pain management program for independent community‑dwelling older adults at Dow Rummel Village. Eleven adults aged 50–95 participated in weekly 45‑minute group sessions addressing adaptive equipment use, graded exercise, energy conservation, nervous system regulation, stress management, and sleep hygiene. Seven participants completed pre‑ and post‑intervention measures using the Brief Pain Inventory–Short Form and the Pain Self‑Efficacy Questionnaire. A paired samples t‑test assessed changes in pain severity, pain interference, and self‑efficacy. Results demonstrated a decrease in pain severity (t(6) = −3.96, …

Cost-Effectiveness Evaluation Of Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Chest Radiograph Interpretation For Tuberculosis Screening In Rural Health Units In The Philippines, Harold Henrison C. Chiu, Bryan Christopher C. Lao, Gloanne C. Adolor

Graduate School of Business Publications

Background: Tuberculosis remains a major public health burden in the Philippines, where diagnostic delays are amplified by limited radiology capacity in rural health units (RHUs) and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted chest radiograph interpretation may shorten the screening pathway and reduce reliance on scarce specialist readers. However, its economic value for RHUbased tuberculosis screening has not been fully evaluated.
Methods: We developed a decision-tree cost-effectiveness model in Microsoft Excel 365 to compare AI-assisted chest radiograph interpretation with conventional manual radiologist or teleradiology interpretation among a theoretical annual cohort of 1,000 presumptive tuberculosis …

Biochar-Derived Ethylene Scavengers For The Preservation Of Bananas, Morgan Samson

Theses

Ethylene regulates the rapid ripening of numerous climacteric fruits (e.g., banana, tomato, mango, and avocado). Minimization of ethylene formation and action in fruits during harvest or at any stage along the supply chain has become an important approach to prolong storage periods and minimize postharvest losses. Active packaging with ethylene scavengers has been proven to extend the shelf life of climacteric fruits; however, a cost-effective and sustainable solution is needed. Biochar-derived ethylene scavengers offer a promising approach to minimize postharvest losses, along with the valorization of abundant organic residues. This study produced and characterized biochars from two different feedstocks (i.e., …

Modeling Intercellular And Intracellular Organization And Dynamics Of The Bacteria Escherichia Coli : From Population Dynamics In The Gut Microbiome, To Condensate Formation In Starved Cells, Alberto Alonso

Theses

Escherichia coli is a predominantly non-pathogenic species of bacteria present in the gut of most healthy adults. It plays a critical role in the health of the gut microbiome and is also widely used as a model organism in microbiology and synthetic biology studies. This thesis discusses results from two ongoing projects on E. Coli organization and emergent biophysical properties at two very distinct length scales. The first project focuses on using genetically modified engineered E. coli bacteria for early detection and intervention in colorectal cancer (CRC), a significant public health issue in the US. The success of these engineered …

Impact Of Chiral Chain Conformations On The Self-Assembly Of Helical Polymers, Michael J. Grant

Theses

Polymers are a soft material with diverse applications across a spectrum of technologies including, but not limited to, packaging, drug-delivery, optics, lithography and templating. This ubiquity stems from over a century of in-depth theoretical and experimental investigations relating polymer size, stiffness and architecture to their emergent material properties. Interestingly, unlike small organic molecules where solution behavior is predominantly a function of hydrophobicity, in polymers, adjusting the aforementioned features can have a dramatic impact on their interactions with neighboring molecules. In turn, this allows for a tunable parameter space enabling the ability to achieve specific engineering goals. Yet, while the impact …

Association Between Stress Mindset, Psychological Symptoms, And Psychosocial Risk In Liver Transplant Patients, Sarah Kay Brill

Dissertations

Psychosocial functioning is a central component of liver transplant evaluation, yet less is known about how cognitive factors, such as stress mindset, relate to transplant readiness. The present study examined the association between stress mindset and psychosocial risk, as well as its relationship with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and perceived stress among patients undergoing liver transplant evaluation. Patients included 62 adults completing standard pre-transplant assessment measures, including the Stress Mindset Measure–Specific (SMM-S), Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Hierarchical logistic regression analyses indicated that stress mindset was …

The Legacy Of Trauma: Exploring The Effect Of Generational Stress On Gut Health And Mental Well-Being In Black Women, Jocelynn Jones

Dissertations

This dissertation examines how generational trauma and chronic stress may relate to gut health and mood outcomes among Black women. Using a literature review design, this work brings together research on intergenerational trauma, gendered racism, Superwoman Schema, weathering, allostatic load, mood disorders, reproductive health disparities, and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The central argument is that depression, anxiety, gastrointestinal symptoms, fatigue, reproductive vulnerability, and healthcare mistrust should not be understood as fully separate concerns when they may be shaped by shared stress conditions. The proposed integrated model does not claim that trauma directly causes gut dysbiosis or mood disorders. Instead, it suggests …

Seeing The Unspoken: A Pilot Eye-Tracking Study Of Moral Injury Among Veterans, Eva M. Valdez

Dissertations

This pilot study examined associations between self-reported moral distress, state distress, combat exposure, deployment history, and maximum pupil reactivity among veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Participants viewed neutral and morally relevant images while pupil responses were recorded using eye-tracking technology. Self-report measures included moral distress severity, exposure to potentially morally injurious events, Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) ratings, total deployments, number of combat deployments, and Combat Exposure Scale scores. Maximum pupil reactivity was calculated by subtracting the mean z-scored maximum pupil response during neutral image presentations from the mean z-scored maximum pupil response during morally relevant image presentations. This variable …

Intergenerational Trauma And Grief Among The Latine Community: Proposed Interventions And Treatment Considerations, Alexandra M. Johnson

Dissertations

The intersectionality of bereavement, trauma, and culture has many clinical considerations, including the impact on individuals and families. Traumatic events can impact an individual directly, collectively, and intergenerationally. The Latine community is one of the largest cultural groups in the United States, and mental health treatment often includes several cultural considerations. This critical literature review examined how the Latine community has been impacted by intergenerational trauma, specifically through experiences of grief and loss, to inform clinical focus, case conceptualization, and identify gaps in the literature. The first chapter provides a brief history of the intersectionality of intergenerational trauma and bereavement, …

Pathways To The Streets: A Proposed Model Examining The Factors Influencing Gang Affiliation And Involvement Among Young Black Men In The United States, Ceauna L. Juarez

Dissertations

This literature review examined gang involvement among young Black men in the United States and explored the factors that contribute to joining gangs and the consequences that may follow. The first chapter provides a brief history of gang involvement in Black communities and introduces Erikson’s development model, self-determination theory, and the minorities’ diminished returns as the three theoretical frameworks. The second chapter discusses common challenges faced by young Black men who are currently involved in gangs or are at risk of joining. The chapter explores issues such as life expectancy after gang involvement, adverse childhood experiences, mental health concerns, and …

Analysis Of The Cannabinoid Compositions, Byproducts And Heavy Metals In Unregulated Cannabinoid Products By Hplc-Ms/Icp-Ms, Simone K. Melle

All NMU Master's Theses

The rapid expansion of unregulated hemp-derived products has created a need for analytical methods that characterize both cannabinoid composition and contaminant occurrence. This thesis used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify cannabidiol (CBD), Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in commercial hemp-derived products, laboratory-prepared hemp oils, cultivated hemp tissues, extracted material, and post-harvest soil. Commercial products showed wide cannabinoid variability, with several samples containing more than one target cannabinoid, while laboratory-prepared plant oils showed a more consistent profile dominated by …

Parkinson's Disease: Immunometabolic Control Points Across Neural, Vascular, And Peripheral Systems, Y Narvaez Irizarry Felix, Alondr M. Bermudez Adorno, Boris Ermolinsky, Lilia Kucheryavykh, Mikhail Inyushin

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder most associated with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Increasing clinical and experimental evidence, however, indicates that PD is a multisystem disease in which immune, metabolic, vascular, and peripheral nervous system dysfunction precede and shape motor circuit failure. Nonmotor manifestations, including olfactory impairment, sleep and autonomic disturbances, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and cognitive decline, often arise years before motor diagnosis, highlighting pathogenic mechanisms beyond dopamine deficiency alone. In this review, we synthesize evidence supporting the view that PD represents a disorder of chronic immunometabolic dysregulation rather than isolated neuronal loss. …

Isolation, Identification, And Enzymatic Screening Of Fungi From Utah Dryland Soils For Industrial And Waste Valorization Applications, Jessica Lorena Silva Cuero

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Agricultural waste accumulation presents environmental challenges but also opportunities for biological valorization into value-added products. Fungi are particularly well-suited for this purpose due to their capacity to produce extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of complex organic substrates. Dryland ecosystems represent a promising source for bioprospecting microbes capable of producing such enzymes. Drylands harbor a high diversity of extremophilic microorganisms that can withstand harsh conditions, extreme heat, UV, and low nutrients using unique adaptations. This suggests that these microbes are resilient and capable of surviving under varying conditions and still produce enzymes for biotransformation. The objective of this study was …

A Design Guide For Extreme Heat In Play Environments: Exploring Landscape Architecture Strategies, Amy Elise Guenther

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Urban heat is a rising concern and is affecting vulnerable populations such as our youth. A particular concern is exposure to extremely high temperatures on playgrounds – an environment that is meant to be safe for children even in extreme weather conditions. There has been an increase in many impervious surfaces such as concrete and asphalt in urban areas. These surfaces absorb solar radiation, which contributes to the heat island effect. These same surfaces are in and around playground areas, which are contributing to the extreme heat felt within these play environments. Therefore, requiring intervention to help mitigate the effects …

The Confluence Of Conflict-Induced Vulnerability, Organized Crime, And Sex Trafficking In Receiving States: A South African Civil Society Perspective, Monique Emser

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

The crime-conflict nexus has been well-documented in conflict-affected and post-conflict states. Criminal networks make use of manifold methods and strategies to exploit individual and structural vulnerabilities, particularly those affected by war, displacement, and precarious migration journeys, forming the backbone of most conflict-induced trafficking ecosystems, whether in countries of origin, transit, or receipt. This article examines the intersection of sex trafficking, diaspora communities, and organized crime within South Africa as a receiving state from a civil society perspective. It underscores the deficiencies in traditional, reductionist, enforcement-based approaches to counter-trafficking by the state, where nested subsystems, such as those produced by endemic …

Dnp Final Report: Improving School Nurse Confidence In Managing Student Anxiety Through Simulation-Based Training, Jessica Marish

DNP Final Reports

Evidence has shown that students with untreated or poorly managed mental health concerns are at higher risk for absenteeism, psychiatric hospitalization, and school dropout. School nurses are often among the first healthcare professionals students encounter when experiencing emotional distress; however, many report limited preparation in mental health screening, grounding techniques, and referral support. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine the feasibility of a simulation-based educational intervention for school nurses in managing student anxiety. Guided by the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Model and Neuman Systems Model, this initiative also included the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) quality improvement model …

Nocturnal Insect Diversity Within Myakka Headwaters Preserve (And Its Implications For Local Bat Populations), Devin Brannon

Theses & ETDs

Insects and bats act as potential bioindicators for environmental health in a given area due to their sensitivity to ecological change, alterations, and placement within the food chain. This study works to establish a baseline framework for the assessing of habitat quality in Big Waters Land Trust Myakka Headwaters Preserve (MHP) within Manatee County, Florida. This was done through the combined use of passive acoustic bat monitoring alongside insect light-trapping. Insect sampling was conducted at 8 sites/habitat types across MHP between September and November 2025. The use of a modified UV light trap design resulted in the collection of a …

The Author Has Granted New College Of Florida The Nonexclusive Right To Archive, Make Accessible, And Distribute For Educational Purposes This Work In Whole Or In Part In All Forms Of Media, Now Or Hereafter Known. The Copyright Of This Work Remains With The Author., Alexandra Diliberti

Theses & ETDs

Indigenous women in Guatemala face disproportionate rates of maternal mortality, malnutrition, and reproductive health disparities compared to non-indigenous women. These disparities persist, even after the signing of the 1996 Peace Accords formally committed the government to indigenous rights and improved healthcare. This thesis argues that this is the result of coloniality, neoliberal privatization, and the epistemological exclusion of Maya health knowledge from the official health system. The theoretical framework is based on coloniality of power and knowledge (Quijano 2000), abyssal thinking and ecology of knowledges (Santos 2014), coloniality of gender (Lugones 2008), structural violence (Farmer 1996), and decolonizing methodologies (Tuhiwai …

Measuring Administrative Hiring Confidence Of Music Teachers In The Context Of Shallow Hiring Pools, Aaron M. Strum

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and measure the confidence of K-12 administrators in hiring music faculty. This study also aimed to analyze administrators’ perspectives and confidence in key stages of the hiring process, including defining job expectations, posting, advertising, interviewing, and selecting highly specialized music teachers in K-12 settings. Confidence of K-12 administrators can be gauged through their understanding of how well an applicant aligns with the specific needs of the school’s program. Three research questions guided this investigation: (1a) How confident are K-12 administrators in their understanding of music teaching pedagogy when interviewing music teacher candidates …