Life Sciences Commons^™

Proposing Urban Agroforestry Designs For Lincoln, Nebraska: A Model From Berlin, Germany, Noah Johnson

Honors Theses

Given the threat of a worsening climate crisis, there is a strong need for community and ecosystem resilience. Diverse urban agroforestry systems have the potential to accomplish both and meet many of the objectives outlined in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska’s climate action plan. Additionally, Berlin, Germany could provide an effective model for Lincoln in this regard given the city’s extensive history of established urban agroforestry systems. The objective of this study then is to develop a design for an urban agroforestry site modeled on Berlin’s allotment gardens and tailored to Lincoln’s needs. The methods for creating this design included …

Determining The Impacts Of Corn Silage Mixing Ratios On Hydrogen Production From Beef Cattle Manure, Katya Faber-Quimby

Honors Theses

With global warming becoming an increasingly serious threat and a growing population requiring additional energy resources, interest in the production of clean energy from the agricultural sector has surged in popularity. Biohydrogen, also known as green hydrogen, is H₂ that has been produced using renewable energy, such as from agricultural byproducts or waste materials. It presents a promising alternative to nonrenewable resources due to its high potential for energy storage and lack of carbon emissions when used. Cattle manure has been explored as a resource for the production of biohydrogen. Selecting for hydrogen-producing microbes in the manure serves the …

The Future Of The Organization Of The Petroleum Exporting Countries, Mikayla Gross

Honors Theses

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a multinational and intergovernmental organization that dictates the petroleum exportation policies of 13 countries: Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela (About Us, 2023). The mission of OPEC is to ensure a stable supply of petroleum through its shared policies for its Member Countries and consumers (Our Mission, 2023). Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela founded OPEC in 1960 under the foundations and principles that dictated the international world order. Those foundations and principles …

Determining The Antimicrobial Activity And Permeabilizing Effects Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Piscidins On Vibrio Parahaemolyticus And Vibrio Vulnificus, Christina Harris

Honors Theses

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in all organisms and have gained attention for their effectiveness against a variety of pathogens. Piscidins are AMPs that were discovered in mast cells of vertebrates, mostly within marine animals, and are an important part of the innate immune system due to their potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidin 1 (P1) and piscidin 3 (P3) are found within sea bass and have different antimicrobial activities. P1 exhibits strong membrane disruptive properties, while P3 goes through the membrane to the targeted DNA. These piscidins can experience metalation with copper (Cu2+) which enhances their antimicrobial activity in vitro (P1-Cu2+ …

Ncaa Di Student-Athletes’ Understanding Of And Attitudes Toward Mental Performance Services, Allison Rudisill

Honors Theses

Mental performance services are designed to assist student-athletes with psychological challenges affiliated with performance (McHenry et al., 2022). Currently, only 65 NCAA DI athletic institutions employ a psychological provider, with only 23.2% of those being mental performance consultants (MPCs; Jones et al., 2022). As student athletes are aware of the mental demand of sport (Bemiller & Wrisberg, 2011) and the NCAA begins to bring awareness to the importance of the mental well-being of the athlete (NCAA Transformational Committee, 2023), it is important to understand student athletes’ attitudes toward these services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to learn about …

The Impact Of Differing Instability Devices On Postural Sway Parameters, Kacey Wallace

Honors Theses

Single-limb balance training is an integral part of preventing and rehabilitating lower extremity injuries. Practitioners use instability devices to provide a progressive overload to an individual during single-limb balance training sessions. Previous investigations have shown that when using instability devices, differences may or may not exist in postural sway parameters during use depending on the specific devices being assessed. Thus, this investigation sought to examine differences between a commonly used foam pad and a novel instability device (block) in measures of postural sway.

This experiment consisted of 22 healthy individuals with no history of lower extremity injury and neurological disorders. …

Analyzing Phototaxis And Related Visual Behaviors Among Diverse Species Of Drosophila, Madeline M. Hill

Honors Theses

Phototaxis and related visual behaviors can vary between species, and thus members of the genus Drosophila make an excellent study system to examine the evolution of vision. While some existing research points to these phototactic behaviors arising due to mating requirements or due to their species-specific ecology or environmental factors, there exists a lack of understanding as to why striking behavioral differences can exist between closely related species, or between members belonging to the same genus. The present research seeks to uncover the specifics regarding these discrepancies in visual evolution and aims to provide a foundation of knowledge about visual …

Toxicological Effects And Treatment Of Accidental Ingestion Of Simparica Trio® In Felis Catus: An Investigative Review, Aussia Stander

Honors Theses

Simparica TRIO^®, a canine endectocide manufactured by Zoetis, contains sarolaner, moxidectin, and pyrantel pamoate salt in an orally administered chewable tablet. These compounds are all toxic to both cats and dogs in sufficient amounts. As Simparica TRIO^® rises in popularity among pet owners, Felis catus (felines, cats) in multi-pet households (households with both cats and dogs) are at increased risk of overdosage and toxicosis from accidental ingestion of Simparica TRIO^® due to their smaller weight.

Simparica TRIO^® is not for feline use and little literature exists on the symptoms of and treatment for accidental ingestion …

Sarcopenia And The Importance Of Resistance Training And Protein-Rich Diets For Prevention Of Muscle Loss In Older Adults: A Literature Review And Informational Pamphlet, Madison Steele

Honors Theses

The growing prevalence of sarcopenia among older adults as well as youths has prompted further research aimed at developing effective preventative measures and treatment plans. Sarcopenia is often thought to occur solely due to aging, but several other factors contribute to progressive muscle loss. Previous research studies have found an effect of physical activity and dietary protein levels on the risk of developing sarcopenia as well as its onset age. This study aims to review existing knowledge in the field to compile an extensive list of sarcopenia causes and methods of prevention. The main causes identified in this review are …

Investigating Large Repeats In The Arabidopsis Thaliana Mitochondrial Genome Using Mitotalens, Megan Gusso

Honors Theses

This lab project explores the complexity of the mitochondrial genome by investigating large genomic repeats and their effect on flowering plants’ reproduction and viability. Mitochondria are the site of cellular respiration to create energy and contain their own DNA. This is counterintuitive because the byproducts of cellular respiration impose a threat of mutation for the stored DNA. The mitochondrial genome differs in size between animals and plants. Plant mitochondrial DNA is larger due to the presence of large, noncoding repeated sequences, and a large amount of DNA of unknown function. These sequences undergo high levels of recombination and rearrangement. The …

Understanding Taf13 (Tata Box-Binding Protein-Associated Factor 13) Upregulation In Eukaryotic Cells, Selin Kaplanoglu

Honors Theses

TATA-binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (Tafs) comprise RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II) pre-initiation complex. This universal component carefully controls the transcriptional initiation process. One of the Tafs, Taf13, also plays an important role in the regulation of RNA Pol II transcription initiation which is evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans. It is found that Taf13 is overexpressed in cancer cells, although the exact mechanism that is responsible for this overexpression is unclear. Our hypothesis suggests that targeted degradation by the 26S proteasome via ubiquitylation [Ubiquitin-Proteasome System (UPS)] may be the mechanism that regulates the stability of Taf13. To …

Elucidation Of The Overexpression Of Taf2 In Eukaryotic Cells, Morgan Osborn

Honors Theses

Through several studies, Taf2 has been found to be upregulated in various cancer cells. However, the mechanism through which this increased expression of Taf2 occurs remains unknown. As evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) maintains protein homeostasis for normal cellular function, we hypothesized that stability of Taf2 may be regulated by this UPS and this UPS may be dysregulated in cancer cells causing overexpression of Taf2. To test our hypothesis, we assessed the role of the UPS in the regulation of the stability of Taf2 by 26S proteasome-mediated degradation. To do so, we performed molecular experiments mainly through two steps: 1st …

Associations Between Gut Microbiome Metabolomics And Endometriosis Risk, Progression, And Non-Invasive Diagnosis: A Review, Marlee Sanders

Honors Theses

Endometriosis is a gynecological condition that affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, is characterized by growth of endometrial tissue outside of the uterus, and encompasses metabolic, immunologic, and endocrine dysfunction. Despite its significant impact, endometriosis remains inadequately studied within the realm of women's health, emphasizing the crucial need for innovative approaches in the analysis and diagnosis of this complex condition. The cause of endometriosis is unknown however it could be influenced by genetics, environmental factors, diet, lifestyle, and notably composition of the gut microbiome. Recent scholarly interest has sparked inquiries into the correlations between endometriosis and the gut …

An Analysis Of Pollution In Liverpool, Uk, Luke W. Lawson

Honors Theses

Within this experiment the different levels of pollution in areas around Liverpool were tested. These areas were Stanley Park, Lunt Meadows, and Woolton Road. At Stanley Park one of two transects had a geochemical analysis as well as magnetic measurements run to investigate source attribution within the urban environment resulting in data showing high variability in soil properties among the transect. With data supporting evidence of diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferromagnetic properties in soil along the same transect. At Lunt Meadows, through the use of XRF for soil samples and nitrate and phosphate testing for water samples, it was found that …

The Development Of A New Water-Soluble Zinc Porphyrin, Zntpp--5ap, For Photodynamic Therapy, Kaylee Johnson

Honors Theses

This research focuses on synthesizing a new water-soluble porphyrin with a zinc core that can be used as a photosensitizing agent in photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy is a process in which light is used to activate a photosensitizer to cause cell death. For this study, the porphyrin was synthesized by adding 5-amino-1-pentanol to the ZnTPPC. Once the porphyrin was synthesized it was purified using column chromatography through Sephadex LH-20 and G-50. The structure of the purified ZnTPP-5AP was then analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). Purity of the ZnTPP-5AP was tested using …

Developing Zntpp-4ab As A Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Kennedy Johnson

Honors Theses

Photodynamic therapy is a fairly new technique used in cancer treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer and light exposure to kill malignant cells. In this research, the use of ZnTPP-4AB as a photosensitizer and red light as a source of radiant light energy was explored in terms of cytotoxicity in the A549 lung cancer cell line. ZnTPP-4AB was synthesized by replacing the carbonyl functional groups on the ZnTPPC porphyrin with 4-amino-1-butanol. Following synthesis, the new porphyrin was purified through the use of Sephadex LH-20 and G-50 in column chromatography in order to remove impurities. To confirm the identity and …

Synthesis Of Zntpp-Il As A Potential Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Addison White

Honors Theses

Photodynamic Therapy is a new technique used in cancer treatment involving the use of a photosensitizer—a porphyrin—and light exposure to kill malignant cells. In this research, ZnTPP-IL was used as a photosensitizer with white light as a possible source of treatment of NIH 3T3 fibroblast and A549 lung cancer cell lines, with preliminary DNA testing on MYC-22 and G-quadruplex samples. ZnTPP-IL was synthesized by the reaction of the porphyrin ZnTPPC with isoleucinol. The new porphyrin was then purified by column chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 and G-50. ZnTPP-IL was characterized through NMR, IR, UV-vis, and fluorescence spectroscopies. The purity of the …

Tree Canopy Cover Influences Habitat Use Of Breeding Birds At Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Kaleigh Thomas

Honors Theses

Across the United States, bird populations have declined due to habitat loss. To better understand habitat use by birds, researchers observed populations at Jack Mountain Wildlife Management Area in southwest Arkansas. Students at Ouachita Baptist University surveyed 94 point count locations to estimate species diversity (total number of species observed) and species abundance (total number of individuals observed). At each point, students recorded the percentage of tree canopy cover, ground cover, midstory cover, and shrub cover. These variables were used as explanatory variables in multiple regression analyses to determine which variables were influential in explaining variation in species diversity and …

4-Week Neuromuscular Training Program On Peak External Power In The Back Squat In Division Ii Collegiate Athletes, Noah Smith

Honors Theses

Neuromuscular training has been shown to have many benefits to athletes ranging from increases in performance to decrease in injury risk by decreasing knee valgus in some athletes. The purpose of this study is to determine if neuromuscular training can influence power in athletes. It is hypothesized that with the intervention program there will be a significant increase in power in the sample. A 4-week neuromuscular training program was implemented with resistance trained athletes (Age: 20.13±.99 yrs., n=14). This training involved balance and plyometric exercises. A pretest and posttest consisted of 2 sets of 6 repetitions of a back squat …

Exploration Of Cytotoxicity Of _Rabidosa Rabida_ Venom On Invertebrate And Vertebrate Cell Cultures, Martina Gooden

Honors Theses

Venom has been observed in thousands of species across different taxa. It can be adapted for different purposes, including prey capture or predator defense. Venom is found almost universally in spiders, but there has been little exploration of spiders that are not medically significant. Rabidosa rabida, the rabid wolf spider, is a common species whose venom has not been adequately investigated. Previous studies indicate that they do not require venom to apprehend easy prey in a laboratory setting, raising a question as to what their venom is adapted to do. To evaluate its effect on mammalian cells, L929 murine fibroblasts …

A Dietary Variety: Analyzing The Impacts Of Diverse Vs Worm-Exclusive Diets On The Blanding’S Turtle (Emydoidea Blandingii), Caitlin F. Copenhaver

Honors Theses

The endangered Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a species with a generally diverse diet in their freshwater wetland habitats; they consume prey such as crayfish and snails. In captivity, these options often become more limited due to logistical reasons. As ex situ conservation efforts such as captive rearing and head-starting are becoming more popular for this species, it will be important to gain more insight on how these more limited diets might affect these turtles. This study describes a comparison between diets in six captive Blanding’s turtles from September to November of 2023, with three turtles receiving only …

The Use Of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor In Ligament And Tendon Repair, Caroline O'Connell

Honors Theses

The studies in this review have shown that VEGF increases tensile strength, decreases inflammation, and increases vascularization. In studies using exogenous VEGF, it was found that VEGF increases collagen type III fibers, which increases biomechanical strength, and improves graft revascularization. From the research, it can be concluded that endogenous injection of VEGF is more beneficial than exogenous due to endogenous not causing laxity of the connective tissue. VEGF is beneficial when compared to normal post-operative results due to it decreasing the duration of symptoms and decreasing healing time. Using VEGF injection treatments, patients can return to pre-injury activity at a …

Friedel–Crafts Addition Of Indoles To Nitrones And Alkylation Of Indoles, Benzofurans, And Benzothiophenes Promoted By Trimethylsilyl Trifluoromethanesulfonate, Helen Xia

Honors Theses

Modifying indoles, benzofurans, and benzothiophenes is of high importance in the scientific field. Indoles, benzofurans, and benzothiophenes have a diverse range of chemical activity, involved in many biologically-related interactions, and are found in many natural products. Therefore, being able to modify the substituents of indoles, benzofurans, and benzothiophenes in a controlled and efficient manner is pivotal to the innovations of the scientific field. Specifically, in the work described below, we developed Friedel–Crafts addition and alkylation on the 3-position of the indole with nitrones, and secondary acetates and tertiary alcohols, respectively. We also developed Friedel–Crafts alkylation of benzofurans at the 2-position …

Cd46 Isoforms And Viral Receptor For Adenovirus Type 64d, Corina Stasiak

Honors Theses

Adenovirus Type 64 (Ad.64) belongs to the adenovirus subgroup D, which causes epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC), otherwise known as viral pink eye. There is currently no known effective treatment for EKC. Membrane Cofactor Protein (CD46) is an integral membrane glycoprotein that, in previous studies, has been identified as a protein receptor for the closely related Ad.37. It has been determined that Ad.64 uses CD46 as a receptor on the cell surface in HeLa cells. CD46 is alternatively spliced when expressed to have different isoforms of interest, including the BC and C isoforms. Certain cell types, like A549 lung carcinoma cells, express …

Cd46 Is A Protein Receptor For Human Adenovirus Type 64, Alexander Michael Robertson

Honors Theses

Adenoviruses are important gene delivery vectors and causative agents for a variety of human diseases such as the common cold and gastrointestinal infections. Human adenovirus type 64 (Ad64; formerly 19c) and type 37 are associated with epidemic keratoconjunctivitis. Based upon its high homology and similar disease tropism to Ad37, we hypothesized that Ad64 would have the same protein receptor, CD46 (membrane cofactor protein), as Ad37. We show that a recombinant Ad64 containing an enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein transgene (Ad64.eGFP) enters Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing human CD46 (CHO-CD46) on the surface. Entry into human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cells is increased …

Development Of A Diaryl Oxazole-Based Cleavable Linker For Peptides, Evan Wolff

Honors Theses

The development of new cleavable linkers increases the diversity of compatible conditions for peptide discovery platforms. Potential applications for these linkers include high-throughput pharmaceutical candidate screening when utilized in Peptide Encoded Libraries (PELs). This thesis describes the development of a bifunctional diaryl oxazole-based cleavable linker that may be incorporated into compounds through Solid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS). This oxazole-based linker may be rapidly cleaved by cerium ammonium nitrate in aqueous conditions and is compatible with most natural amino acids and a variety of unnatural amino acids. This linker represents the first single-electron oxidant labile linker described to our knowledge and it …

Exercise As A Natural Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist To Treat Binge Drinking Withdrawal, Eleanor Wind

Honors Theses

Binge drinking is a major concern, especially among college students. Positive results have been demonstrated in clinical trials that utilized exercise to treat alcohol use disorder, but questions remain regarding the type of exercise and how it should be administered across ages and sexes. Studies using animal models have investigated the neurobiological mechanisms of this treatment to improve understanding of how to implement it. One of the mechanisms under investigation is the endogenous opioid system, specifically the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) subtype. Previous research has demonstrated that exercise treatment concurrent with ethanol exposure attenuated an ethanol-induced increase in KOR receptor …

The Complexity Behind The Genetics Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Júlia Braga Kenyon

Honors Theses

It is suggested that more than 600 genes are associated with ASD. Given the high number of potential ASD-linked genes and that the disorder is a complex spectrum, categorization of the ASD-linked genetic alterations will be useful in the attempt to determine a pattern that can ultimately assist in developing genetic risk factor analysis for the disorder. This thesis aims to analyze the possible cellular and molecular mechanisms that are impacted by such ASD-linked gene alterations and how they may give rise to ASD behaviors. By making this connection, this thesis aims to shine a light on the plausible cellular …

Acid Attack: How Escherichia Coli Strains Resist Acid Stress, Lindsey Miller

Honors Theses

The systems used by Escherichia coli to combat heightened levels of acidity within their environment are varied and complex. Four distinct systems used by E. coli to resist acid-induced stress were identified in 2004 by Foster (1), though six now are known today. These systems include the glucose-repressed, glutamate-dependent, arginine-dependent, lysine-dependent, ornithine-dependent, and serine-dependent acid resistance systems. Each system is also known by its corresponding abbreviation, AR1-AR6. What is known about each system varies due to identification date, complexity of the pathway, and amount of research completed. Within this paper, each system will be identified and the pathway defined, combining …

Hazards And Perceptions Of Cigarette And E-Cigarette Waste, Jossalyn Rogalski

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.