Life Sciences Commons^™

How To Face Conflict In Marriage And Emerge As A Stronger Couple, Taylor Lancaster

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

The Menstrual Cycle And Relationships, Anna Stewart

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Parental Media Moderation: How Parents Can Help Their Children Navigate Digital Media, Allison Rowberry

Family Perspectives

This essay explores the impact of electronic media on children’s behavior and the critical role of parental mediation in shaping media consumption. With nearly universal access to mobile and touchscreen technology among adolescents, excessive media use has become a pressing concern, often exceeding the recommended limits set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (e.g., Gentile et al., 2012). The literature review investigates three primary parental mediation styles: restrictive mediation, active mediation, and co-viewing, each with distinct implications for child development. Restrictive mediation sets limits on content and time, potentially fostering negative outcomes when autonomy is disregarded. Active mediation emphasizes open …

The Unicorn And Christ – Metamorphosis And Symbology, Luis Mendonça De Carvalho, Francisca Maria Fernandes, Maria Fátima Nunes, Ana Maria Costa, Paula Nozes, Ana Paula Figueira

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The unicorn is a legendary chimaera that, for centuries, has been present in the mindset of Euro-Mediterranean cultures. Although its morphological description changed, tradition identifies it as an animal like a horse, albeit smaller and with a spiralling horn on its head pointing forward. The unicorn has been known since Antiquity, with references by authors such as Ctesias and Pliny. However, its relevance for medieval Europeans began with the Biblical references to this animal in several Old Testament verses. These verses gave legitimacy to the unicorn, and it was accepted as a tangible animal. During the Middle Ages and early …

A Complete Transfer Learning-Based Pipeline For Discriminating Between Select Pathogenic Yeasts From Microscopy Photographs, Ryan A. Parker, Danielle S. Hannagan, Jan H. Strydom, Christopher J. Boon, Jessica Fussell, Chelbie A. Mitchell, Katie L. Moerschel, Aura G. Valter-Franco, Christopher Cornelison

Faculty Articles

Pathogenic yeasts are an increasing concern in healthcare, with species like Candida auris often displaying drug resistance and causing high mortality in immunocompromised patients. The need for rapid and accessible diagnostic methods for accurate yeast identification is critical, especially in resource-limited settings. This study presents a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based approach for classifying pathogenic yeast species from microscopy images. Using transfer learning, we trained the model to identify six yeast species from simple micrographs, achieving high classification accuracy (93.91% at the patch level, 99.09% at the whole image level) and low misclassification rates across species, with the best performing model. …

Traceable And Scalable Food Balance Sheets From Agricultural Commodity Supply And Utilization Accounts (2010–2022), Xin Zhao, Maksym Chepeliev, Neus Escobar, Matthew T. Binsted, Pralit Patel, Page Kyle, Marshall A. Wise

Department of Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The Food Balance Sheets (FBS), compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), serve as a cornerstone dataset for studies on agricultural development, food security, and dietary health, providing a broad overview of global and regional food systems. However, its limited transparency and scalability hinder its application in empirical analysis and multisector dynamic modeling. Here, we present a traceable Food Balance Sheets (T-FBS) dataset, developed from detailed Supply Utilization Accounts (SUA) using a novel Primary Commodity equivalent (PCe) aggregation approach. This framework enables the aggregation of commodity flows along supply chains while ensuring consistency and balance across multiple dimensions. The …

Nebraska Farm Finances In 2024: A Year Of Modest Recovery And Growing Financial Pressure, Tina N. Barrett

Cornhusker Economics

Nebraska Farm Finances in 2024: A Year of Modest Recovery and Growing Financial Pressure by Tina N. Barrett (Cornhusker Economics, May 21, 2025)

Section headers:

Net Income Recovery Falls Short of Historical Highs

Household Spending Steady Amid Income Fluctuations

Rising Debt and Shifting Balance Sheets

Liquidity Pressures Worsen

Interest Costs Add to Financial Strain

Capital Purchases Shift: Less Equipment, More Land

Crop Enterprise Analysis: Losses Mount Despite Input Savings

Crop Enterprise Analysis: Losses Mount Despite Input Savings

Comparing Performance Of Aquaponics Systems Using Different Designs And Fish Feeds, Cody G. Willmore

Biology Theses, Dissertations, and Student Creative Activity

Future food production requires sustainable approaches that used both land and water resources efficiently, while remaining economically viable. One approach is aquaponics, the practice which combines hydroponics and aquaculture, as a sustainable food producing system. Aquaponic systems are unique, as the system can be designed to reuse and repurpose locally sourced materials and resources to meet individual needs. However, productivity of these systems can be inefficient or inconsistent, impacting the viability of aquaponics. The first objective of my study was to compare how system design between a do-it yourself reclaimed-materials aquaponic system and a prefabricated aquaponic setup affects water quality …

To Diversify Or Not To Diversify: A Preliminary Report On Farmers’ Perspectives On Diversification In The U.S. Midwest, Lauren Asprooth, J. Gordon Arbuckle, Rebecca Traldi, Sarah P. Church, Kristin Floress, Benjamin M. Gramig, Andrew J. Margenot, Elizabeth Maynard, Aaron Thompson, Ariana P. Torres, Emily M. Usher, Ishraq Awashra, Katherine Pivaral, Finnleigh S, Woodings, Linda Stalker Prokopy

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

Diversifying the simplified landscape of corn and soybeans in the Midwest is an emerging priority in both the public and private sectors to reap a suite of climate, social, agronomic, and economic benefits. However, little research has documented the perspectives of farmers, the primary stakeholders in diversification efforts. This preliminary report uses newly collected survey data (n = 725) from farmers in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa to provide descriptive statistics and tests to understand what farmers in the region think about agricultural diversification, including their perspectives on its benefits, barriers, and opportunities. For the purposes of the …

Global Dna Methylation Differences Involving Germline Structural Variation Impact Gene Expression In Pediatric Brain Tumors, Fengju Chen, Yiqun Zhang, Wei Li, Fritz J Sedlazeck, Lanlan Shen, Chad J Creighton

Children’s Nutrition Research Center Staff Publications

The extent of genetic variation and its influence on gene expression across multiple tissue and cellular contexts is still being characterized, with germline Structural Variants (SVs) being historically understudied. DNA methylation also represents a component of normal germline variation across individuals. Here, we combine germline SVs (by short-read sequencing) with tumor DNA methylation across 1292 pediatric brain tumor patients. For thousands of methylation probes for CpG Islands (CGIs) or enhancers, rare and common SV breakpoints upstream or downstream associate with differential methylation in tumors spanning various histologic types, a significant subset involving genes with SV-associated differential expression. Cancer predisposition genes …

Simultaneous Targeting Of Tumor Cells And Tumor-Associated Macrophages To Reprogram Glioblastoma Using Trypsinized Extracellular Vesicles Carrying Tumor Suppressive Microrna, Grace H Nguyen, Minhye Noh, Jin Muk Kang, Alexandra A Miller, Minxin Huang, Jiyeon Kim, Jeong-Yeon Lee, Sangwoon Chung, Hongyu Wang, George A Calin, Cynthia Ju, Holger K Eltzschig, Yeshavanth Banasavadi-Siddegowda, Zhongming Zhao, Ji Young Yoo, Tae Jin Lee

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains difficult to treat due to poor drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-suppressive microRNAs (miRNAs) offer a promising strategy to reprogram both tumor cells and the TME, but inefficient delivery systems limit their clinical application. We previously reported that tumor-suppressive miR-138 regresses tumor growth in preclinical GBM models. Here, we demonstrate that trypsin digestion of extracellular vesicles (EVs) enhances labeling efficiency with folate (FA), enhancing selective targeting of folate receptor (FR)-positive GBM cells and enabling simultaneous targeting of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). FA-labeled trypsinized EVs (tEVs) loaded with miR-138 inhibit tumor growth, …

Correction: Targeting Of Epigenetic Co-Dependencies Enhances Anti-Aml Efficacy Of Menin Inhibitor In Aml With Mll1-R Or Mutant Npm1, Warren Fiskus, Christopher P Mill, Christine Birdwell, John A Davis, Kaberi Das, Steffen Boettcher, Tapan M Kadia, Courtney D Dinardo, Koichi Takahashi, Sanam Loghavi, Michael J Soth, Tim Heffernan, Gerard M Mcgeehan, Xinjia Ruan, Xiaoping Su, Christopher R Vakoc, Naval Daver, Kapil N Bhalla

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

In Vivo Crispr Activation Screen Identifies Acyl-Coa-Binding Protein As A Driver Of Bone Metastasis, Hongqi Teng, Qinglei Hang, Caishang Zheng, Yuelong Yan, Shaomin Liu, Yang Zhao, Yalan Deng, Litong Nie, Weiche Wu, Marisela Sheldon, Zachary Yu, Wei Shi, Jianxuan Gao, Chenling Meng, Consuelo Martinez, Jie Zhang, Fan Yao, Yutong Sun, Di Zhao, Boyi Gan, Tong Meng, Li Ma

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

One of the most common sites of cancer metastasis is to the bone. Bone metastasis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, and current therapeutic interventions remain largely palliative. Metastasizing tumor cells need to reprogram their metabolic states to adapt to the nutrient environment of distant organs; however, the role and translational relevance of lipid metabolism in bone metastasis remain unclear. Here, we used an in vivo CRISPR activation screening system coupled with positive selection to identify acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) binding protein (ACBP) as a bone metastasis driver. In nonmetastatic and weakly metastatic cancer cells, overexpression of wild-type ACBP, but …

Exposure To Second-Hand Smoke In Homes And Respiratory Symptoms Among Non-Smoking Adults In Depok, Indonesia 2025, Faraz Ali, Budi Hartono

Journal of Indonesian Health Policy and Administration

Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in the home environment has become a public health emergency, especially in countries with very high smoking rates, such as Indonesia. SHS exposure has already presented evidence of symptoms of the respiratory category, like a cough and shortness of breath. This study aimed to assess the association between exposure to SHS at home and the presence of respiratory symptoms among non-smoking adults in Depok, Indonesia. Convenience sampling was adopted for enrolling 108 non-smoking adults aged 18-30 who were jointly exposed to SHS in their homes for a cross-sectional study. Data aggregations of gatherings were performed using …

Investigating The Role Of Lysophosphatidic Acid Receptor 3 In Ocular Surface Ion Transport And Fluid Secretion, Ethan Lindgren

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease that drives tear film instability and hyperosmolarity, directly damaging the ocular surface epithelium. Lysophosphatidic acid receptor (LPAR) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) responsible for Ca²⁺ and cAMP mobilization via PLC and adenylyl cyclase activation, respectively. LPAR signaling is involved in cell proliferation and wound healing in human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) as well as in neuropathic pain. This study aims to investigate expression and functional roles of LPAR3 in ocular surface. Ocular surface potential difference (OSPD) and tear fluid volume measurements were performed in mice with topically applied LPAR modulators. …

Administering A Mitophagy Inducing Compound (Mic) To Suppress Neuropathology In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Zachary Mayeri

Natural Sciences and Mathematics | Biological Sciences Master's Theses

Despite FDA-approved amyloid-beta (Aβ) therapies in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Tau pathology remains untreated and is closely linked to cognitive decline. Mitophagy, the process of mitochondrial degradation, is vital for maintaining neuronal health, and its dysregulation is implicated in AD. Recently, our lab identified a mitophagy inducing compound (MIC) that extends the lifespan of C. elegans. We hypothesized that MIC would significantly mitigate neuropathology in an AD mouse model. In this study, aged 3x-Tg AD mice were fed an MIC-containing diet, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on hippocampal tissue to visualize Aβ and phospho-Tau (pTau) lesions. While MIC had little …

Ion-Dna Interactions As A Key Determinant Of Uracil Dna Glycosylase Activity., Sharon N Greenwood, Alexis N Dispensa, Matthew Wang, Justin R Bauer, Timothy D Vaden, Zhiwei Liu, Brian P Weiser

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Because of their ubiquitous presence, ions interact with numerous macromolecules in the cell and affect critical biological processes. Here, we discuss how cations including Mg²⁺ alter the enzymatic activity of a DNA glycosylase by tuning its affinity for DNA. The response of uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG2) to Mg²⁺ ions in solution is biphasic and paradoxical, where low concentrations of the ion stimulate the enzyme, but high concentrations inhibit the enzyme. We analyzed this phenomenon by modeling experimental data with a statistical framework that we empirically derived to understand molecular systems that display biphasic behaviors. Parameters from our statistical …

Assessment Of Pyriproxyfen 0.5% (Juvenile Hormone Analog) Against Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Larvae: A Multiscale Study From Laboratory To Field, Neetu Kachhwaha, Vinod Kumari, Rajbala Verma, Nirmala Sharma, Asif Khan, Mohit Singh, Sanyam Nimoria, Priyadarshini Sharma

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Vector control strategies increasingly focus on nonconventional chemicals with high insecticidal efficacy, persistence, and low toxicity to nontarget organisms. The present multiphase study, conducted in laboratory, semifield, and field conditions in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, evaluated the efficacy of pyriproxyfen (0.5%) (juvenile hormone analog) in controlling mosquito emergence. Laboratory bioassays demonstrated significant susceptibility of Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles, 1901 (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae, with the first and second instars exhibiting 100% mortality at 1 ppm and third and fourth instars showing emergence inhibition (IE) of 86.11% and 65.28%, respectively. Probit analysis determined lower LC₅₀, LC₉₀, and LC₉₉.₉ values for the first instar larvae …

Molecular Phylogeny And Population Structure Of Eurygaster Integriceps (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) In The Southeastern Anatolia Region Of Türkiye, Mehmet Sali̇h Özgökçe, Merve Doğaç, Hi̇lmi̇ Kara

Turkish Journal of Zoology

The aim of this study was to determine the identity and distribution of the sunn pest Eurygaster spp. and to quantify the population density in wheat fields across Southeastern Anatolia, Türkiye. A total of 309 samples were collected from 76 fields in 54 districts across all provinces within the study region, where wheat production is intensive. A combination of morphological and molecular techniques was employed to identify the collected specimens. Morphological identification was based on male genitalia, and PCR amplification of the COI mitochondrial gene region was used for DNA barcoding. Both morphological and molecular analyses confirmed that all collected …

Discrimination Of Sprat Species (Clupeonella Spp.) In The Caspian Sea And The Sea Of Marmara Using Otolith Shape Analysis, Mohammad Reza Shariati, Mohammad Sadegh Alavi-Yeganeh, Mehdi Ghanbarifardi, Gülşah Saç, Müfi̇t Özuluğ, Erdoğan Çi̇çek

Turkish Journal of Zoology

This study evaluates the discriminating power of sagittal otolith shape among three species of the genus Clupeonella endemic to the Caspian Sea (Clupeonella grimmi, Clupeonella caspia, and Clupeonella engrauliformis) and one species from the Sea of Marmara (Clupeonella Cultriventris). Identification of these species is challenging due to their morphological similarities, and the taxonomic validity of C. caspia and C. cultriventris remains ambiguous because of their resemblance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were utilized to examine the morphological characteristics of otoliths. Stereomicroscope images were used to calculate six shape indices: rectangularity, roundness, ellipticity, circularity, aspect ratio, and form factor. The outline …

A Singular Case Of Early-Stage Long-Distance Dispersal Of The Smooth Newt, Lissotriton Vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia, Caudata), Simone Costa, Francesco Paolo Faraone, Mario Lo Valvo

Turkish Journal of Zoology

To date, the global introduction of alien amphibians and reptiles has likely been facilitated by the expanding plant nursery trade. Here, we report in detail a singular case of unintentional introduction of Lissotriton vulgaris in Sicily. A newt in the final stages of its larval development was found in a private garden pond in north-western Sicily, where aquatic plants from a nursery in Veneto (northeastern Italy) had been introduced two months earlier. The analysis of the mithochondrial markers ND2 and ND4 revealed a shared haplotype between the Sicilian newt and a sample from Treviso, the province of the putative source. …

Protein Composition Of The Foam Nest Of Rhacophorus Reinwardtii (Schlegel, 1840) (Anura: Rhacophoridae), With Notes On Breeding Sites Characteristics And Biomedical Applications, Muhammad Asyraf Rijalullah, Nia Kurniawan, Nia Kurnianingsih

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rhacophorus reinwardtii is endemic to Java Island and is currently experiencing a population decline. Therefore, the sustainability of its offspring is important to prevent species extinction. Foam nest as a biosurfactant structure plays a crucial role as egg protection through major protein components function. However, studies on the functional proteins of rhacophoridae foam nests are limited. Thus, this study aims to uncover the protein-specific components and functions of the R. reinwardtii foam nest. Additionally, the characteristics of breeding sites, including abiotic factors, were also assessed. Total protein concentration of the R. reinwardtii foam nest was determined to be 747.7 μg/mL …

Factors Impacting The Variability Of Post-Fire Forest Regeneration In Central European Pine Plantations, Florent Jouy, Maren Schüle, Yojana Adhikari, Anja Binder, Danica Clerc, Werner Gerwin, Thilo Heinken, Thomas Raab, Frank Repmann, Susanne Rönnefarth, Marina Schirrmacher, Marie-Therese Schmehl, Jens Schröder, Pierre L. Ibisch

Aspen Bibliography

Fire is increasingly posing a risk to forests and plantations, even in the temperate latitudes of central Europe. Little is known about fire ecology in this region, and therefore, appropriate approaches for the management and reforestation of burned sites are mostly lacking. In a Scots pine plantation region in Brandenburg (northeast Germany), the early tree regeneration of two nearby areas that burned 1 year apart was investigated. We observed that 3 years after the fire events, the forest in one study area showed a relatively high regeneration with a mean density of 7765 saplings/ha, clearly dominated by European aspen (93%); …

Network Analysis Of Antimicrobial Resistance In Staphylococcus Aureus: Characterization Of Hub Genes And Their Functional Implications, Md Imran Hasan, Davida Smyth, Jeong Yang, Ashley Teufel

Masters Theses (Archived)

Antimicrobial resistance is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with S. aureus infections. In this study, we analyzed genes, molecular mechanisms, and pathways driving drug resistance in S. aureus using network analysis. Using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data and systems biology approaches, we identified 229 AMR-associated genes and constructed a protein-protein interaction network among these genes. Through network topology and functional enrichment analyses, we not only confirmed their association with resistance, but also highlighted the central roles of these genes in resistance pathways, such as efflux, target replacement, and target protection, which are directly linked to multiple drug …

Honey Bee & Reward Loss: A Deep Dive Into The Alarm Pheromone, Citlalli Guadarrama

Masters Theses (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Schoenoplectus Californicus In An Artificial System For E. Coli Removal, Kimia Ahmadiyehyazdi

Masters Theses (Archived)

Green technologies and nature-based solutions like constructed wetlands have be come more popular due to their environmentally friendly approach to remediation, low cost of construction, and maintenance. Also, they have shown efficiency in removing a wide range of contaminants. However, choosing a suitable aquatic plant for this system is one of the questions that should be answered wisely. Schoenoplectus californicus– Giant Bulrush is an aquatic plant that was tested in this controlled constructed wetland, and the final concentration of the targeted microbial contamination, which is E. coli, was reduced remarkably. Also, for this study, soil was removed from the …

Reproductive Natural History Of The American Grass Mantid, Thesprotia Graminis, Bridget N. Battaglia, Charles Watson

Masters Theses (Archived)

The American grass mantis, Thesprotia graminis, is an understudied mantis native to Texas, including the campus of Texas A&M-SA. Mantids are influential members of ecosystems as a major predator of small insects. Therefore, measuring elements of their natural history, such as maternal investment, timing of oviposition, and fecundity, will add to our understanding of this specie’s ecology in grassland communities. In controlled lab conditions, we measured the mass of every instar, mantids of both sexes, and the masses of oothecas (egg cases) pre- and post-hatch. Interestingly, we found that this species lays multiple, smaller oothecas throughout the reproductive season. …

Thermal Physiology Of The Giant Day Gecko, Phelsuma Grandis, Infinity Alvarez

Masters Theses (Archived)

Ectotherms rely on their environment to regulate and maintain their body temperature. For this reason, environmental fluctuations strongly impact their biology. Lizards are ectotherms that are suitable models to investigate thermal physiology. However, the bulk of this research has been studied using new world Anolis lizards. In this study, the giant day gecko, (P.grandis), native to Madagascar but invasive in Florida, was selected as a model for comparison. In our physiotype of P.grandis we included measurements such as metabolic rates, sprint speed at relevant temperatures, thermal preference, critical thermal minimum, and voluntary thermal maximum. Our findings showed that …

Impacts Of Land Development On Soil Microdiversity And Antibiotic Production, Dennis Guillen Castro, Robert Garcia, Jonathan Castro, Davida Smyth

Masters Theses (Archived)

The impact of land development on soil microbial diversity and antibiotic production is critical due to industrial expansion and the scarcity of effective antibiotics. Low Impact Development (LID) aims to preserve ecosystems, but its effectiveness in maintaining microbial diversity is uncertain. This study compares soil samples from nine sites: undisturbed (UD), residential (RD), and Madla Greenway (GW) within the VIDA development area and Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus. Isolated microbes were screened for antibiotic production and genetically characterized. Preliminary findings indicate that UD sites harbor greater microbial abundance, and a higher proportion of antibiotic-producing microbes compared to GW and RD …

An Aquatic Treadmill Alters Lower Limb Walking Dynamics In Typically Developing Children And Children With Cerebral Palsy, Oluwaseye P. Odanye, Joseph Harrington, Aaron Likens, David Kingston, Brian Knarr

Journal Articles

This block-randomized crossover study investigated how a speed-modulated aquatic treadmill (AT) impacts the walking biomechanics of pediatric gait. Eight cerebral palsy (CP) and fifteen typically developing (TD) children walked at normal, slow, and fast treadmill speeds in AT and dry treadmill (DT) conditions. The joint angles of participants were calculated from inertial measurement units to derive sample entropy (SE) measures that quantified the regularity or complexity of motion. A hierarchical statistical model revealed that the CP group had lower SE values for the hip, knee, and ankle joints in the AT and at slower than faster treadmill speeds. Only the …