Digital Commons Network^™

The First Complete Assembly For A Lungless Urodelan With A “Miniaturized” Genome, The Northern Dusky Salamander (Plethodontidae: Desmognathus Fuscus), Edward A. Myers, Alexander A. Stewart, Aidan E. O’Brien, Jeramiah J. Smith, R. Alexander Pyron

Biology Faculty Publications

Salamanders have some of the largest genomes among animals, driven primarily by expansion of repeat elements and slow rates of DNA loss. However, species in the lungless genus Desmognathus (Plethodontidae) have some of the smallest genomes at ∼13 to 15 GB, though previous sequencing attempts with short-read assemblies were still fragmentary. Here, we assemble an annotated draft genome of Desmognathus fuscus using PacBio HiFi reads and transcriptomic data from 2 specimens from the same population. The combined dataset resulted in a 16.1 GB assembly in 19,632 contigs and an L/N50 of 2,459/1.74 MB, with the longest contig at 27.9 MB. …

Lsab Minutes September 2025, Shawna Battle, Maryke Barber

WRL: Library Student Advisory Board Minutes

No abstract provided.

Estimating Historical Age-Sex Distributions Of A Tribal Population: A Case Study Of The Hopi, 1900 To 1940, David Swanson, Jeff Tayman

Publications, Reports and Presentations

Historical information on tribal populations in the United States is scattered and discontinuous. A significant part of the discontinuity is the gap between 1900 and 1970. This paper describes a process that may partially fill this gap by developing decennial age-sex data from 1900 to 1940. Where temporally consistent, we compare these estimates to those done by others. This work provides a point of departure for generating more demographic information about the Hopi from 1900 to 1940 and, ultimately, beyond 1970, a critical turning point regarding the increased availability of American Indian data from the U.S. Census Bureau. It also …

I Am Scared Too: A Qualitative Study On The Influential Factors On The Fear Of Childbirth In Black Women, Imani Rivers

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Pregnancy and childbirth can evoke a range of emotions, including happiness, frustration, and fear. While some worry during pregnancy is expected, heightened and persistent fear can negatively impact a woman’s mental and physical health. Despite this, fear of childbirth remains underexplored, particularly in the context of Black women’s experiences. Existing literature lacks focus on the contextual and systemic factors contributing to this fear, creating a significant research gap (Reissig et al., 2021). Black women in the United States are disproportionately affected by medical mistreatment, often experiencing dismissal and silencing in clinical settings—an issue frequently rooted in implicit bias and racial …

Regioselective C-Allylation Of Indole With Potassium Allyltrifluoroborate In The Presence Of Pd-Catalyst, Milton Kumar Kundu

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Indole is a versatile heterocyclic scaffold renowned for its wide range of pharmacological activities and strong potential as a successful drug candidate. These attributes continue to inspire researchers to explore indole derivatives as promising leads in drug development. In this project, we report the development of a cross-coupling reaction of indoles and potassium allyltrifluoroborate to the corresponding 3-allylindoles in the presence of PdCl2(dtbpf) and PdCl2(dppf)CH2Cl2 catalyst under microwave heating, offering a rapid, regioselective, and high-yielding synthetic route. This methodology provides a valuable platform for generating structurally diverse indole-based compounds, which could serve as promising leads for further pharmacological evaluation and …

Identification And Characterization Of Peptide Responsive Histone Modification Genes During Root Nodule Symbiosis In Medicago Truncatula, Shivani Dharam

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an essential but limiting macronutrient for crop growth in agroecosystems. Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) is a critical biological process where atmospheric Nitrogen is converted into ammonia by Nitrogen fixing the bacteria called rhizobia, forming mutualistic relationships with legume plants. These interactions are mediated by several signaling pathways and may involve epigenetic modifications like DNA methylations, histone modifications, where gene expression is altered without any change in DNA sequence. Histones are proteins provide structural support to DNA. However, genes encoding enzymes for these post translational modifications are poorly investigated in the Leguminosae family. This project aims to answer …

Understanding Performance And Egg Quality Parameters In A Pastured Egg-Type Poultry Breed, Biswajit Kumar Biswas

Tennessee State University Alumni Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the effects of rearing systems on performance, egg quality, and ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility in laying hens (65 weeks of age). A total of 66 hens were distributed into two rearing systems: Cage (2 birds/replication, total 12 birds in 6 replications) and pasture (9 birds/replication, total 54 birds in 6 replications), and reared on three levels of energy diet (11.50 MJ/kg, 12.50 MJ/kg, and 13 MJ/kg). The birds were reared from d 1 to 14 (diet 1), d 15 to 28 (diet 2), and d 29-42 (diet 3). The average temperature, wind speed, and humidity were …

Realizing Nepa’S Reasonable, Productive, And Enjoyable Harmony: The Fiscal Responsibility Act’S Amendments And Implications For Practitioners, L. Sheldon Clark, Catherine E. Kanatas, Maxwell C. Smith

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the “Magna Carta” of environmental protection, serves two important purposes: providing (1) decision makers and (2) the public with a federal agency’s assessment of the impacts that may occur from its proposed or selected course of action before the agency acts. Despite frequent criticism about NEPA reviews causing costly project delays, NEPA’s procedural requirements and framework had remained unchanged for more than 40 years. That all changed with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). The writing on the NEPA wall is now very clear: agencies must now produce shorter NEPA analyses with a …

Artificial Intelligence In Head And Neck Cancer: Towards Precision Medicine, Jacob Hagen, Logan Hornung, William Barham, Supratik Mukhopadhyay, Adam Bess, Kevin Contrera, Devraj Basu, Vlad Sandulache, Guillaume Spielmann, Sagar Kansara

Faculty Publications

Over the past 20 years, the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) have gained significant interest. While AI has been implemented to various degrees in several disciplines, its unique applications in head and neck cancer (HNC) remain underdeveloped. This narrative review examines the existing body of literature regarding the use of AI in HNC. Studies to date have demonstrated AI’s utility across multiple phases of the HNC treatment continuum. Despite its promise, integrating AI into clinical practice faces several challenges, including concerns about system integrity, generalizability, privacy, and bias. In this review, we address these challenges and offer insights into future …

Furman Magazine. Volume 68, Issue 2 - Full Issue, Furman University

Furman Magazine

No abstract provided.

Zika Virus Impairs Autophagic Flux In Trabecular Meshwork, And Inhibition Of Autophagy Restricts Ocular Viral Transmission And Associated Pathology, Faraz Ahmad, Prince Kumar, Pallav Singh, Trupti Joshi, Pawan Kumar Singh

Biomedical Sciences

Zika virus (ZIKV) is the lone member of Flavivirus family known to cause congenital glaucoma following in utero exposure. The molecular mechanisms of ZIKV-induced glaucoma remain elusive, with no known therapeutic modalities. Autophagy plays a dual role in viral infections and glaucoma pathogenesis. However, how ZIKV  interferes with autophagic pathways in the trabecular meshwork (TM) and whether autophagy contributes to ZIKV-induced ocular complications remains elusive. Here, we investigated the role of autophagy in ZIKV ocular pathogenesis utilizing a primary human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMC) and IFNAR1-/- mouse model of ocular infection. Our results show that ZIKV permissively infects HTMC, elicits …

Root Exudates: The Rhizospheric Frontier For Advancing Sustainable Plant Protection, Muhammad Rahil Afzal, Misbah Naz, Youbo Yu, Lisha Yan, Peiyi Wang, Janaki Mohotti, Gefei Hao, Jing-Jiang Zhou, Zhou Chen, Libo Zhang, Qian Wang

Faculty Publications

Root exudates (REs), a diverse array of bioactive metabolites secreted by plant roots in response to environmental stimuli, serve as key mediators of rhizosphere ecology and plant defense responses, offering a promising avenue for sustainable pest management and eco-friendly plant protection. While earlier reviews primarily focus on root exudates in the context of general rhizosphere dynamics and plant-microbial interactions, critical knowledge gaps persist in REs-plant-pest tripartite interactions, the mechanistic basis of REs-mediated plant defense, and their practical integration with integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks. This review provides a synthesis of the latest literature on the biochemical diversity and functions of …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 149 - Economic Contribution Of Wild-Catch Fishing In Western Australia, 2024: Beyond Gross Value Of Production, Dipesh Maharjan, Vilaphonh Xayavong, Ben Fraser, Rebecca Thomas

Fisheries Occasional Publications

The wild-catch fishing industry plays a significant role in Western Australia’s economy, particularly in regional communities. This report summarises the economic contribution of the commercial wild-catch fishing sector in 2024, based on REMPLAN’s input-output (I-O) modelling methodology and DPIRD data and analysis. This report focuses on key economic indicators including total economic output, gross value added (GVA), and employment (FTEs).

Key findings:

• Total Economic Output of the wild-catch fishing industry is $1.22 billion (total value of goods and services produced, including intermediate inputs)
• Gross Value Added (GVA) of the wild-catch fishing industry is $487 million (value of profit, wages, salaries …

Comparative Analysis Of Vermicomposting Practices Utilizing Agroforestry Farm Materials, Theresa Nemesis P. Ocampo Maria, Armie Janica R. Pleto Ma., Reden D. Macalagay, Wilfredo O. Banasihan

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Vermicomposting is an effective and eco-friendly method of converting biodegradable materials into fertilizers that promote plant growth and development. This study aimed to assess the efficiency and quality of vermicompost and vermiworms produced using combinations of biodegradable farm materials in agroforestry systems. The materials used for the 6 treatments included combinations of the following materials: fresh leaves of leguminous plants (Gliricidia sepium, Flemingia macrophylla, and Senna spectabilis), fresh cattle manure, and other plant materials (rice straw and banana trunk). Using a 90:10 ratio of plant residues and cattle manure, respectively, a substrate of 100 kg was prepared for each treatment …

N Y State Dent J August-September 2025

The New York State Dental Journal

In the August-September 2025 issue, the reader will find the following feature articles:

• "Subcutaneous Facial Emphysema and Pneumomediastinum Following a Class V Dental Restoration"
• "Beyond Brushing: Can Toothpaste Cure Your Child’s Peanut Allergy?"
• "Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome with Familial Manifestation: A Case Report with Emphasis on Early Diagnosis"

This issue includes regular columns with regional news impacting the New York membership including: editorial and legal columns, association activities, component news, continuing education opportunities, and classifieds.

Comparison Of Gonad Development Between Wild And Hatchery-Bred Silver Therapon Leiopotherapon Plumbeus (Teleostei: Terapontidae) During An Annual Reproductive Cycle, Frolan A. Aya, Samantha Ally V. Bismonte, Mary Jane P. Sayco, Luis Maria B. Garcia

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study compared gonad development between wild-sourced and hatchery-bred silver therapon Leiopotherapon plumbeus. Wild fish from the east bay area of Laguna de Bay, Philippines, and hatchery-bred stocks grown to adult size in outdoor tanks were sampled, and somatic condition, gonad histology, gonadosomatic index (GSI), gut index (GI), and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were assessed during the annual reproductive cycle. Hatcherybred fish condition was generally better than that of wild-sourced fish as a consequence of readily available food resources and environmental conditions. Hatchery-bred male GSIs were significantly higher than in wild male fish in November to February, coinciding with low water …

Evaluation Of Semen Characteristics And The Impact Of Storage Time In Dong Tao And Ho Indigenous Chickens, Phan Nhan, Nguyen Thi My Phuong

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

This study aimed to evaluate the semen quality of 2 indigenous Vietnamese chicken breeds, Dong Tao and Ho, and to assess their reproductive potential for breeding and conservation programs. Semen samples were collected from 10 roosters of each breed and analyzed for macroscopic and microscopic traits. The results indicated that both breeds exhibited semen quality within acceptable physiological ranges. Mean semen volume was 0.47 mL in Dong Tao and 0.48 mL in Ho roosters; pH values were 7.47 and 7.42, respectively. Semen color scores (2.39 vs. 2.35), sperm concentrations (2.11 vs. 1.92 × 109/mL), and mass activity scores (3.79 vs. …

Bridging Gaps In Breast Cancer Care: A Breast Cancer Care Quality Index To Improve Outcomes Worldwide, Eduardo Cazap, Benjamin Anderson, Giuseppe Curigliano, Sandeep Sehdev, Fatima Cardoso, Ana Gonzalez, Emad Shash, Cheng-Har Yip, André Mattar, Miriam Mutebi

General Surgery, East Africa

Background: Breast cancer (BC) care faces challenges in early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive management. Disparities persist, with underserved populations facing the greatest barriers. Addressing these requires policies that support consistent, evidence-based practices and enhance healthcare capacity and technology advancements. This document presents the development of the Breast Cancer Care Quality Index (BCCQI), supported by evidence to promote equitable care and improve BC outcomes globally, and discusses its adoption as a strategic tool within National Cancer Control Plans.

Methods: A two-part methodology identified challenges in BC care and defined dimensions, targets and indicators for the BCCQI, aligned with …

Synthesis Theorization, Gauri Pillai

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

Finding a space for reproductive rights within constitutions that are silent on them has been a perennial challenge. Most common responses fall into one of three categories. First, reading them into the right to privacy (or liberty). Second, and more recently, eschewing privacy and turning to the right to equality. And third, and most comprehensively, adding or combining privacy and equality. I argue that while rights addition avoids the need to choose between privacy and equality in framing reproductive rights, it falls short of capturing the intertwined lived reality of rights infringement. I source from within Indian constitutional law a …

Inter-American Reproductive Autonomy, Rosa Celorio

Denver Journal of International Law & Policy

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (“Inter-American Court” or “Court”) has become known for its prolific jurisprudence on women’s rights issues. Even though it took the Court decades to rule its first comprehensive women’s rights judgment in 2009 in González et al. (“Cotton Field”) v. Mexico, it has developed a remarkable body of case law emphasizing five areas in particular: (i) violence, due diligence, and access to justice; (ii) gender-based and intersectional discrimination; (iii) sexual and reproductive rights; (iv) economic, social, and cultural rights; and (v) women who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (“LGBTIQ+”). The Court’s …

Human Physiology And Exercise Physiology Syllabus, Jean-Philippe Berteau

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Single-Molecule Orientation And Localization Microscopy, Sophie Brasselet, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) offers enhanced spatial resolution in optical microscopy, providing detailed insights into the spatial organization of proteins in cells at the nanoscale. Over the past decade, SMLM has progressively incorporated the capability to retrieve the orientations of single molecules using their polarized dipolar emission pattern. Here we explore recent advancements in single-molecule orientation and localization microscopy (SMOLM), which yields super-resolved images of molecular three-dimensional (3D) orientations, wobble and 3D positions. This advancement opens possibilities to explore the nanoscale organization and conformation of biological molecules as well as to monitor and design local 3D optical fields in nanophotonics. …

Summer Field Report, June–July 2025, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

I have mentioned previously the breeding categories that are available to observers in eBird checklists. This database is becoming more comprehensive and useful, and I encourage observers to use this eBird feature.

Usefulness of Merlin-derived checklists continues to be an issue. As an example, Merlin seems to love White-winged Doves; there were 52 undocumented Merlin reports of this species this summer, no doubt some correctly identified and acceptable if observers had taken a minute to add even minimal observation details to support Merlin’s identifications.

A vexing issue for me is determining the status of midsummer (i.e. between spring and fall …

The Nebraska Bird Review (September 2025) 93(3), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Summer Field Report, June–July 2025, by W. Ross Silcock

First Confirmed Nebraska Breeding Record of the Common Raven (Corvus corax) since the 19th Century, by Eugene A. Huryn and Jacob C. Cooper

2024 (36th) Report of the NOU Records Committee, by Mark A. Brogie

The Official List of the Birds of Nebraska: 2024, compiled by Mark A. Brogie

Subscription and Organization Information

2024 (36th) Report Of The Nou Records Committee, Mark A. Brogie

Nebraska Bird Review

The functions and methods of the Nebraska Ornithologists’ Union Records Committee (NOURC) are described in its bylaws (NOURC 2010). The committee’s purpose is to provide a procedure for documenting unusual bird sightings and to establish a list of all documented birds for Nebraska. Species for which the NOURC seeks documentation (NOURC Review List) can be found at the NOU website: www.NOUbirds.org.

Starting in 2020, the NOURC decided to deal mainly with those species deemed as Accidental on the “Official List of the Birds of Nebraska.” Casual species and out-of- range species are now summarized in the “Seasonal Reports” of the …

Stay Woke: Understanding Critical Consciousness Development In Adults And Its Relationship To Psychological Constructs, Christin Alexandra Mujica

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Racism confers numerous measurable health risks for people of color. Interventions to mitigate the impact of racism on health are necessary and important to reduce disease burden and improve health outcomes for people of color. While communities of color have developed resiliency tactics that have allowed them to survive, even thrive, in the face of racial oppression, the evaluation and promotion of promising tools that counteract racism’s negative impacts are essential (Phillips et al., 2015). Critical consciousness is just such a tool. Research with children suggests it holds promise (Diemer et al., 2016; Heberle et al., 2020; Maker-Castro et al., …

Helping Someone Off The Hook: Post-Moral Disengagement As An Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Strategy In A Hypothetical Alcohol-Involved Sexual Assault Vignette, Kayla Ford

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Post-moral disengagement (PMD) is posited as a form of interpersonal emotion regulation that involves altering the severity of harmful conduct and/or the transgressor’s personal responsibility to facilitate avoidance of negative emotions like guilt, which could maintain problematic behaviors. A pervasive harmful behavior on college campuses is alcohol-involved sexual violence, wherein intoxication is often used as an excuse or justification for assault. Though some aggressors of sexual violence experience guilt afterwards, it is unclear how bystanders might respond to this display of emotion and the potential applicability of PMD. As an initial step to assessing PMD as interpersonal emotion regulation, the …

Structured Discussions About Linguistic Diversity: Student Voices And Campus-Based Cultural Mapping, Adrienne Jankens, Nicole Guinot Varty, Anna Elise Lindner, Linda Jimenez, Marni Lorenz, K. M. Begian-Lewis, Colleen Hart, Anita Mixon, Ma'idah Shiekh, Lena Hakim

English Faculty Research Publications

The study presented in this chapter foregrounds student voice research and students as participants in identifying locations on our urban research campus where linguistic diversity can be acknowledged and developed as a tool for knowledge-making. Beyond acknowledging the presence of diverse languages and linguistic practices on our urban campus, this study takes steps toward ensuring that linguistic diversity is recognized by faculty and administrators as a rich and active feature of campus life that crosses academic boundaries.

The study asks the following questions:

● How do Wayne State University (WSU) students experience diversity on campus?

● How do they experience …

Nocturnal Foraging By Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) And Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea Ajaja), Laura E. Josler, Johnny E. Owens, Sarrah E. Bristol, Leo N. Dutkewych, Abigail R. Kauke, Signe E. Renstrom, Ben G. Sheffield, Madelyne E. Vashaw, Avery J. Nesbitt, Melia K. Paat, Timothy D. Bransford, Elizabeth A. Forys

Florida Field Naturalist

The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) are long-legged wading birds that can forage throughout a 24-hour cycle. Nocturnal foraging enables these species to take advantage of optimal foraging conditions and reduced competition. This study aims to investigate how environmental factors influence the nocturnal foraging behavior of these species. To monitor foraging activity, we deployed 17-18 infrared cameras from dusk until dawn from 4 October 2023 to 24 July 24 2024, covering two sampling periods across different habitats within Fort De Soto County Park, a barrier island complex in Tampa Bay, Florida. We compared the frequency …

Avian Mortality On U.S. Highway 1, Middle Keys, Monroe County, Florida, Usa, Adrianna Nelson, Anthony Sanchez

Florida Field Naturalist

No abstract provided.