Digital Commons Network^™

Observing Ph Of Grass-Fed Bison Heifer Gastrointestinal Tracts Postmortem, Ekaterina Lopez-Bondarchuk, Madison Higbee, Kallen Kafka, Ava Graham, Phillip Urso

Animal Science Research Report 2026

No abstract provided.

Hydropower Collegiate Competition 2026, Andres R. Arreola, Sammy D. Taporco, Kathryn E. Tinney, Ahmer S. Dhillon

Mechanical Engineering

The Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) is sponsored by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and is meant to offer university students an opportunity to solve complex hydropower challenges, build industry connections, explore career connections, and obtain a greater knowledge of hydropower’s potential in the United States. For this year’s competition, our team investigated a potential in-conduit hydropower site in California. Our work included creating a design package for a crossflow turbine related to our selected site and completing the community connections challenge. We also completed a siting and design report, community connections report, design and siting …

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Division Of Biomechanics And Research Development Annual Report 2023-2025, Uno Biomechanics

Biomechanics Annual Report

This report contains:

A letter from the Director: Dr. Nick Stergiou

Highlights articles

Center for Cardiovascular Research in Biomechanics (CRiB) articles

The Center for Research in Human Movement Variability (MOVCENTR) articles

People of UNO Biomechanics

Student Centered articles

Education Initiative articles

Resource Assessment Report No. 8: Pilbara Prawn Resource - 2024 Assessment, Inigo Koefoed, Rachel Marks, Scott Evans, Sharon Wilkin, Jason How

Resource Assessment Reports

The Pilbara Prawn Resource (Resource) is accessed by three managed commercial fisheries; the Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery (EGPMF), the Onslow Prawn Managed Fishery (OPMF) and the Nickol Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (NBPMF). All three fisheries are managed under effort controls, with the EGPMF and OPMF targeting brown tiger prawns (BTP; Penaeus esculentus), western king prawns (WKP; Penaeus latisulcatus), blue endeavour prawns (BEP; Metapenaeus endeavouri), and lesser quantities of banana prawns (Penaeus merguiensis). The NBPMF primarily targets banana prawns while also catching BTP, WKP, and BEP in lower numbers. These fisheries are situated adjacent to one another along the Pilbara …

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Exploring The Role Of Vitamin D In Familial Mediterranean Fever: Pathogenesis, Triggers, And Immune Modulation, Hagop Sassounian, Saad Aad, Hilda E. Ghadieh, Lara Khouzami, Elsa Nicolas, Sami Azar, Frederic Harb

All Works

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is among the most frequent autoinflammatory diseases in populations originating from the area of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean countries. It is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene, which causes dysregulated pyrin expression and thus an immunologic anomaly. FMF is diagnosed by recurrent episodes of fever and serosal inflammation, predominantly peritonitis and pleuritis, as well as other systemic symptoms. Recent research is dedicated to searching for factors beyond genetic code contributing to how FMF evolves, the severity of its symptoms and response to conventional therapy—colchicine. These factors include epigenetic modifications of the MEFV gene and other …

U.S. Regulation And Litigation Regarding Gmos: A Cautionary Tale Of A Piecemeal Framework, Michael R. Reese, George V. Granade

Northern Illinois University Law Review

Bioengineered crops using genetically modified organisms (GMOs or GM) are big business in the United States. In little more than two decades, GM agriculture constitutes more than 90% of crops such as corn, soy, and canola. The acceptance of GMO foods by consumers, however, has not been as robust—leading to demand for labeling regulations so consumers can identify whether their foods contain GMOs. U.S. law governing GMOs, particularly food labeling, lacks a comprehensive regulatory scheme and is instead highly fragmented. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has debated how to label such foods for over a decade, issuing no rules …

Bringing The Museum To The Library: A Collaboration Between A Natural History Museum And An Academic Science Library, Angela D. Price, Jean Bossart

Collaborative Librarianship

A persistent challenge on college campuses is effectively connecting students with the wide array of university resources available to them. At the University of Florida, an opportunity to address this challenge emerged when the Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), a major campus institution with extensive scientific collections, was scheduled for a 15-month closure due to renovations. In response, librarians at the Marston Science Library initiated a collaborative partnership with FLMNH, offering the library as a venue for science-related events and programming. This collaboration enhanced student engagement, added a non-traditional venue for science learning and interaction, and proved mutually beneficial …

Roots And Greens: Discovering The Power Of Indigenous Produce, Abiodun T. Atoloye, Sherif O. Olasoji, Ebunoluwa G. Ibidapo

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Courseware

The curriculum was designed in alignment with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), Empowerment Theory (ET), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) frameworks. These frameworks were used to determine the selection and sequencing of learning activities. As reflected in CTML principles, the use of texts, images, infographics, and videos enhances knowledge retention and information comprehension and helps prevent cognitive overload. Through activities, homework, and family engagement, the principles of ET were incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate participants’ perceived control over food-related decisions. Additionally, by applying the principles of SCT, the curriculum incorporates scenario-based questions, opportunities to engage with peers, …

Comparable Endogenous Immune Reconstitution, Car-T Expansion, And Cytokine Profiles With Bendamustine Versus Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide Lymphodepletion, Matthew Schwede, Sarah Hawley, Zachary Reitz, Faith Kierney, Neil Bailey, Tenzin Tsomo, Laiken Lopez, Terry Gilbertson, Christopher A Carney, Doug Kieper, Kelly Paulson, Krish Patel

All Poster Presentations

No abstract provided.

From Lineage Discovery To Conservation Prioritisation, Zachary G. Macdonald, Joscha Beninde, Julian R. Dupuis, Thomas W. Gillespie, H. Bradley Shaffer, Gregory F. Grether

Entomology Faculty Publications

Accurate inferences of diversification and evolutionary processes depend on knowing how many independently evolving lineages exist within nominally widespread taxa. Uncertainty in lineage number and composition also limits our ability to meaningfully prioritise conservation efforts. Addressing these knowledge gaps requires frameworks that sequentially identify distinct lineages, assess mechanisms that contribute to their divergence, and quantify spatial and environmental determinants of their genomic diversity. With these goals in mind, we apply whole-genome, ecological, and morphological analyses to the American rubyspot damselfly (Hetaerina americana), a widespread and well-studied North American insect that has been long regarded as a single species of least …

Development And Validation Of The Lifetime Sense Of Safety Scale In Kenyan Adults, Karen Blackmon, Anne Nyambura, Anne Gitere, Levi Muyela, Catherine Onyancha, Kendi Muchungi, Catherine Ajalo, Litha Musili, Rachel Maina, Edna Bosire, Lukoye Atwoli, Zul Merali, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Background. Safety supports psychological wellbeing and potentially shapes brain aging yet existing scales overlook cumulative lifespan safety experiences.

Methods. To address this gap, we developed and validated the Lifetime Sense of Safety (LSS) scale in Kenyan adults. The LSS uses visual analog scaling with a red-to-green color gradient to retrospectively rate felt safety across life stages and settings. We evaluated scale psychometrics and associations with social determinants of health and indicators of brain health.

Results. The LSS shows adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, with two distinct but correlated factors representing childhood and adulthood safety. Women and …

Contextual Variability In Under-Diagnosed Cardiometabolic Disease And Cognitive Vulnerability Among Populations At High Risk For Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Nwanyieze Jiakponnah, Joseph Curran, Tamlyn Watermeyer, Jasmit Shah, Litha Musili, Stanely Onyango, Benard Aliwa, Zul Merali, Karen Blackmon, Chinedu Momoh

Brain and Mind Institute

Underdiagnosis of cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRFs) may represent an unrecognised biological pathway contributing to dementia risk; yet remains poorly characterised in African and African diaspora populations. We quantified the prevalence and determinants of underdiagnosed hypertension and abnormal glycaemia across four cohorts comprising up to 7000 adults aged ≥40 years from Nigeria, Kenya, and The United States: Indianapolis, and North Texas. Underdiagnosis was defined as absence of self-reported diagnosis despite elevated systolic blood pressure ( ≥130 mmHg) or fasting blood glucose ( ≥100 mg/dL). Cohort-stratified analyses examined demographic, socioeconomic, cognitive, Alzheimer’s genetic, and blood-based biomarker correlates. Underdiagnosis was pervasive in African …

Navigating Precarity: Resourcefulness And Interdependence In The Upper Valley Dairy Industry, Benna Mcdermott

Geography Undergraduate Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Informal Humans? Rights To A Clean Environment In Bangkok’S Informal Settlements, Maisie Pike

Geography Undergraduate Senior Theses

No abstract provided.

Adhesion Index Integrates Cell And Bacterial Responses To Titanium Across Protein Conditioning And Surface Roughness, Sahar Afshari, James D. Boyd, Victoria L. Stanton, Arnold Stromberg, Katherine L. Thompson, David M. Devito, Craig S. Miller, Martha E. Grady

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Biofilm formation is a primary cause of implant-associated infections in dental and orthopedic devices. Early interactions between bacteria and host cells at the implant surface critically influence subsequent infection or successful integration. Therefore, biocompatibility screening should evaluate both biofilm formation and cell adhesion. Adhesion Index, defined as the ratio of cell adhesion to biofilm adhesion, provides a non-dimensional number to optimize towards that end. In this work, the laser spallation technique is implemented to compare the effects of implant surface characteristics (rough and smooth titanium) and protein coatings (blood plasma and fibronectin) on bacterial biofilm (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus) and …

Striveforpride: Online Program To Promote Sexual And Gender Minority Well-Being, Shayna R. Greenberg

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and stress relative to non-SGM peers. Digitally-administered mental health interventions show potential for reducing mental health distress in the general population. However, limited reporting of SGM demographics and adherence to online interventions constrain uptake and effectiveness. The present study explored the effect of an existing evidence-informed, self-guided, online-based mental health intervention, StriveWeekly, on internalizing symptoms among SGM university students. The sample consisted of 160 SGM university students, identifying as female, women, or feminine (63.1%), bisexual (36.10%), and Non-Hispanic (77.5%). Cluster randomization was employed on the basis …

A Decade Of Leadership And Impact: Celebrating 10 Years Of The Ors Spine Section, Makarand V. Risbud

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Socio-Ecological Models As A Framework For 21st-Century Genetic Counseling, Shana L. Merrill, Rebecca Mueller

College of Life Sciences Faculty Papers

Socio-ecological models and the related concepts of micro-, meso-, and macro-level practice are commonly used in the fields of social work and public health yet have not been thoroughly conceptualized for application to genetic counseling practice, research, and training. The field of genetic counseling is currently undergoing significant expansion with more genetic counseling training programs, greater variation in genetic counselor job roles, and genetic counselors practicing in more globally dispersed regions. It is therefore a critical time to conceptualize and tailor relevant theoretical frameworks to unify and guide the evolving field of genetic counseling. In this paper, we posit that …

Comparable Endogenous Immune Reconstitution, Car-T Expansion, And Cytokine Profiles With Bendamustine Versus Fludarabine/Cyclophosphamide Lymphodepletion, Matthew Schwede

All Podium Presentations

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Gum Chewing On Postoperative Ileus Following Open Heart Surgery At Swedish Cherry Hill, Jacinta Smith

All Podium Presentations

No abstract provided.

An Obligatory Role For Agrp Neurons In Maintaining Body Temperature During Time-Restricted Feeding, Cunjin Su, Jing Cai, Yuanzhong Xu, Benjamin R Arenkiel, Qingchun Tong

The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine

Homeotherms maintain a steady body temperature through thermoregulation, a process critical for survival during fasting, in which the brain has to defend energy-costly body temperature while reducing energy expenditure to conserve energy reserve; however, the neural basis for defending body temperature remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that AgRP neuron lesion led to lethality during time-restricted feeding on chow but not on HFD, and caused no obvious impact on HFD-induced obesity or obesity-reducing responses to glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonism. The lesion disrupted adaptive feeding behaviors during time-restricted feeding and reduced motivational feeding on chow. Notably, the lethality was caused by hypothermia …

Xenaforms: Reinforcing Kinematic Stability Through Rigid Connections, Katherine G. Thies

Architectural Engineering

XenaForms combine rigid planes and straight lines with the fluidity of structural origami to create beautiful, organic folded plate structures. Unlike many conventional structures, folded plate systems derive their stability from the interaction between connected panels, creating the appearance of a single continuous sheet of material. The XenaForm uses structural origami and triangulation to create stable points at the apex of two non-colinear triangles. While it is mathematically true that no moment needs to be transferred across the seam between panels in order to have a stable structure, allowing some moment capacity greatly helps during construction. Specifically, these stiff connections …

The Development Of The Daughter-Guarding Scale: An Exploratory And Confirmatory Factor Analytic Study, Ray Garza, Farid Pazhoohi

School of Psychology

Fathers represent one of the earliest opposite-sex relationships for daughters, and it has been suggested that fathers may shape their daughters' developmental trajectory. Fathers are often stricter with their daughters compared to sons in monitoring and correcting behaviors, most notably in the avenue of social and sexual monitoring. Nonetheless, there are no valid measurement tools for capturing the different factors associated with daughter-guarding by fathers. The current study proposed an instrument for addressing daughter-guarding as reported by fathers. In Study 1, an exploratory factor analysis showed that 3-underlying factors were present in daughter-guarding, such as social monitoring of friends, guarding …

Microbial Literacy, Equity, And Sustainability At Cal Poly: A Policy Framework With University Housing As A Pilot Case, Joseph B. Fewel

Biological Sciences

Microorganisms play a fundamental role in human health, environmental systems, and the functioning of built environments, yet they remain largely absent from sustainability and public policy discussions. This project proposes a framework for integrating microbial literacy, equity, and health into institutional decision-making, using California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) as a case study and university housing as a pilot site for implementation. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature in microbiology, public health, environmental justice, and sustainability, as well as policy analysis and stakeholder interviews, this project examines how campus systems, including housing, ventilation, sanitation, food systems, and waste management, shape microbial exposure …

Elastic Actuator For Robotic Leg, Bruce Berg, Allan Pham, Madeline Slater, Sofie Zalatimo

Mechanical Engineering

The Cal Poly Legged Robots Group (CPLRG) is developing a 12 degree of freedom robot with the goal of eventually performing highly dynamic movements such as jumps and flips. During such movements, large impact forces will be experienced by the leg, potentially resulting in damage to physical components such as the motors. The scope of this project is to integrate elastic elements into the quadruped legs to reduce shock loads on the motors and improve the efficiency of the legs through energy storage. The key stakeholders for this project are Professor Charlie Refvem and Dr. Simon Xing. Other stakeholders include …

Resource Assessment Report No. 7: Shark Bay Invertebrate Resource - 2024 Assessment, Jason How, Inigo Koefoed, Rachel Marks, Scott E. Evans, Sharon Wilkin

Resource Assessment Reports

The Shark Bay Invertebrate Resource (Resource) is accessed by three managed commercial fisheries; the Shark Bay Prawn Managed Fishery (SBPMF), the Shark Bay Scallop Managed Fishery (SBSMF) and the Shark Bay Blue Swimmer Crab Managed Fishery (SBCMF). Additionally, blue swimmer crabs are taken by recreational fishers through a variety of methods, though the overall level of boat-based catch is relatively low (~ 7.8 t). The SBSMF and SBCMF fisheries are quota managed and primarily retain their target species of scallops and crabs, respectively. The SBPMF is an effort-managed fishery that targets brown tiger prawns (BTP; Penaeus esculentus) and western king …

Hsta 101h.50: American History I - Online, Jonathan W. Hall

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2026-2030

No abstract provided.

Genetic Ancestry-Concordant Ceramide Metabolism And Response To Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibition In Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Sean Piwarski, Lauren Howard, Morgan Paul, Nick Bachelder, Bonnie Lacroix, Angela Clayton, Donna Allen, Julie Kephart, Andrew Armstrong, Steven Patierno, Daniel George, Terry Hyslop, Jennifer Freedman

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The authors observed differences in response between Black and White patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who were treated prospectively with androgen receptor pathway inhibition (ARPI) in the Abi Race and PANTHER studies. In addition, genetic ancestry-related single nucleotide variants in ceramide metabolism genes were associated with the time to prostate-specific antigen progression in the Abi Race study. For this report, the authors analyzed ceramide metabolites and their association with response to ARPI treatment in the Abi Race and PANTHER studies.

METHODS: Fasting serum levels were obtained from 22 Black patients and 22 White patients in the Abi …

Synergies Of Microecology And Macroecology Elicit Insights For Creation Care, David Warners, John T. Wertz

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

This article reports on a collection of microecological and macroecological insights that emerged from extended conversations between Calvin University professors David Warners, a botanist concentrating in restoration ecology, and John Wertz, a micro-biologist specializing in microbial ecology. Classic descriptions of ecology identify biological interactions as happening at the ecosystem, community, or population level. And yet, ecological interactions are very much occurring at the microbial level as well. Furthermore, microbial-level interactions frequently influence the quality and character of macroecological relationships and vice versa. Allowing ecological principles to be applied across all life forms broadens our comprehension of interactions that are happening …