Life Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Innovations In Wildlife Monitoring: Estimating Abundance And Inferring Parturition Of Ungulates With Technology, Elicia Cotcher

Theses and Dissertations

Enhancements in technology are creating opportunities for novel methods of wildlife monitoring. Traditional methods of wildlife monitoring are often costly or time-consuming, and new technological advancements such as remote cameras and GPS collars are creating opportunities for exploration as these technologies become more accessible and reliable. We sought to assess the efficacy of two novel methods of ungulate monitoring. The first is an abundance estimation method using remote cameras termed Instantaneous Sampling (IS). IS seeks to estimate abundance using time lapsed remote cameras on a population of unmarked individuals. Our goal was to compare IS estimations against the true observed …

Efficiency’S Role In Irrigation And Nitrogen Use, Matt Stockton, Shannon Sand

Cornhusker Economics

Summary

The WNIPI is a purely physical measure of I and N efficiency and was developed to determine efficiency winners in several TAPS contests. DRIN is a powerful tool in measuring the effectiveness of the dollars spent on I and N. It is a ratio of dollars returned as revenue in terms of dollars spent. The third measure, NRIN, is an overall measure of economic gain. It is the difference in money spent on I and N versus the revenue taken in and measures the volume of net returns. Both DRIN and the NRIN measure dollar effectiveness dependent on the …

Thinking Beyond Association Tests: Using Mathematical Models To Identify Genes Influencing Exceptional Longevity, Sandeep Acharya

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The main goal in the genetic study of trait biology is to identify genetic factors, such as variants and genes, that causally influence traits and to understand the downstream mechanisms through which they exert their effects. This dissertation improves our understanding of trait biology by building on widely applied omics-wide association studies (omics-WAS), such as GWAS and TWAS, and proposing methods that (1) combine association statistics from multiple omics modalities and (2) systematically incorporate prior knowledge from biological networks and functional annotations with omics-WAS summary statistics. First, we apply meta-analysis to integrate gene-level p-values from GWAS, TWAS, and rare-variant analyses …

Effects Of Hyperglycemia In Cognition And Sex, Erin E. Mcdonald

Senior Honors Theses

An empirical study tested the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive function in a hyperglycemic mouse model. Strong correlations between mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, neuropathologies like Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes suggest comorbid pathology. Considering the prevalence of both T1D and cognitive decline within the general population, the findings were relevant and aimed to identify early signs of cognitive decline in diabetic patients. Behavioral tests and immunohistochemical staining were utilized to determine the cognitive function of the mice, revealing decline or deterioration caused by hyperglycemia. Data gathered from the hyperglycemic or control mice were analyzed based …

The Employment Of Apoptosis In Embryonic Development, Hannah R. Fioramonti

Senior Honors Theses

Programmed cell death is necessary for the elimination of excess or damaged cells in all stages of life, but this is especially true during embryonic and fetal development of mammals. Beginning before implantation and continuing until birth, both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis are employed within mammalian embryos to ensure the viability of the organism, proper organ morphogenesis, integrity of the genetic material, and the high quality of the germ line. The formation of both transient and permanent ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal structures often involves apoptosis. In this review, a selection of apoptotic events within each germ layer and occurrences of …

Volume 16, Maggie Duncan, Madeline Little, Alicia Hoffman, Megan Livesay, Gabrielle Quaresma, Serenity Allen, Laina Pfountz, Ainslie Allred, Sabrina Robles, Nicholas J. Duellman, Trinity L. Deguzman, Melissa H. Savage, Margaret Dudley, Jocelyn Escobar, Olivia Hildreth, Olivia Hopkins, Benjamin Gettier, Lee Kassay, Jade Riddle, Ashley Seiders

Incite: The Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship

Introduction Dr. Amorette Barber, Director, Office of Student Research

From the Editor Dr. Hannah Dudley-Shotwell

Artist’s Statement Maggie Duncan

On Mentoring Dr. Lee Millar Bidwell

The Hujum Campaign in Uzbekistan and its Consequences by Madeline Little

Wet Cupping Compared to Dry Needling for Treatment of Patients with Low Back Pain: A Critically Appraised Topic by Alicia Hoffman and Megan Livesay

Optimization of eDNA Air Sampling Via 3D Printed Fan by Gabrielle Quaresma

Beyond the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Attrition and Retention by Serenity Allen and Laina Pfountz

The Treatment of Subacromial Impingement Syndrome with Platelet-Rich plasma Injections Verses …

Retrospective Analysis Of Cement Extravasation Rates In Vertebroplasty, Kyphoplasty, And Bone Tumor Radiofrequency Ablation, Soun Sheen, Prit Hasan, Xiaowen Sun, Jian Wang, Claudio Tatsui, Kent Nouri, Saba Javed

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Percutaneous vertebral augmentation techniques, including vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and bone tumor radiofrequency ablation (BT-RFA), are commonly used to treat painful vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). While generally safe and effective, they carry risks, including cement extravasation, which can lead to pulmonary embolism or spinal cord compression. This study aims to compare the rate of cement extravasation across different vertebral augmentation techniques and identify potential risk factors.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a comprehensive cancer center on 1002 procedure encounters in 888 patients who underwent vertebral augmentation for painful VCFs. Data were collected on patient demographics, fracture pathology, procedure …

Effects Of Novel Fire Regimes On Plant And Animal Communities, Ryan Pienaar

Theses and Dissertations

Human actions are threatening global biodiversity through changes to ecosystems to which species are not well adapted. One of the main pathways by which humans affect change is through altered disturbance regimes. This includes changes in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires. The impact of wildfires on native plant and animal communities varies across ecosystems as species in a community have adapted relatively predictable fire patterns over time. Changing fire patterns alters successional dynamics that can favor certain species over others and thus have a negative impact on biodiversity. This dissertation evaluates responses of different plant and animal species …

Examining The Effects Of Symbiotic State And Environmental Pollution On Wound Healing In Coral, Jonathan De Montagnac

College Honors Program

Understanding coral reef health requires comprehension of the biological processes that support live coral cover. Corals are frequently exposed to physical abrasion from various sources, thereby necessitating vital resources be directed towards wound recovery. For corals and other organisms that harbor photosynthetic symbionts, the balance between autotrophic versus heterotrophic energy contributions influences their fitness. Experimentally disentangling the individual effects of environmental stress and symbiotic state on coral health is difficult in most tropical corals due to the obligate nature of their symbiosis. However, determining how nutritional dynamics, environmental stressors, and health interact is crucial to understanding coral resilience. To examine …

A Natural Short Sleep Mutation Promotes Longevity Through Mitochondrial Respiration In Drosophila, Pritika Pandey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is an irreversible process characterized by progressive physiological decline and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Disruptions to the circadian clock—whether due to genetic mutations or behavioral factors—accelerate aging and age-related pathologies, highlighting a strong link between circadian regulation and longevity. However, certain individuals harbor a dec2^P384R mutation, which enables natural short sleep without the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation. This suggests that these individuals have evolved adaptations that activate pro-health pathways, allowing them to function optimally with reduced sleep. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, we developed a …

Exploring Ddr2’S Role In Caf Extracellular Matrix Production And Tumor Progression, Favour Ayomide Akinjiyan

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, …

Shelving Stigma: A Grocery Store Client Choice Pantry Model - A Solution To Food Insecurity In Young Adults Of Marginalized Communities While Eradicating The Stigmatization Of Food Pantry Services, Anna C. Buckley

Honors Theses

An increasing number of young adults, age 18 to 35, are becoming food insecure across America, but disproportionately in urban and people of color communities. However, food pantries have remained a social stigma causing food insecure persons to avoid using a food pantry for hunger relief. Research has shown that the grocery store model for food pantries is most beneficial for staff, while also minimizing the stigma and increasing accessibility for pantry clientele. The purpose of this program proposal is to highlight the feasibility of implementation of a client choice grocery store pantry model at the NY Common Pantry (NYCP) …

Passive Integrated Transponders: An Effective Marking Technique For Individual Identification Of Anaxyrus Fowleri?, Emily Haner

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

With the rise of fungal disease such as Chytridiomycosis causing massive population declines for many species of frogs and toads (order Anura), specific conservation strategies are needed now more than ever. In many cases, being able to mark and identify individuals is a necessary step in developing an effective conservation plan. Individual identification allows researchers to obtain accurate population estimates, which are needed to test the progress and validity of conservation management decisions. However, due to their unique life history, including cutaneous respiration, Anurans are among the most difficult wildlife species to effectively mark for individual identification. In a mesocosm …

Crossword: Test Your Biology!, Sukie Weinger

Osmosis Magazine

Biology themed Crossword Puzzle.

Intelligence Without An 'I': "I Think, Therefore I Am", Darshan Shah

Osmosis Magazine

From Billie Eilish hits to corny Pinterest tattoos, Rene Descartes’ famous dictum is embedded in modern Western consciousness. But, like all philosophy, it operates within a paradigm of assumptions about the world that remain open to challenge. Over centuries of Cartesian influence, these assumptions have become invisible in our philosophies and sciences, informing the very questions we ask about intelligence and where we search for it in the world.

Zealandan Interview With Dr.Kristine Grayson From Aotearoa New Zealand, Paxton Mills

Osmosis Magazine

ZealandDr. Kristine Grayson, Associate Professor of Biology, has been passionate about science and travel, particularly toAotearoa New Zealand, for some time.

The Undergraduate Research Experience At Ur, Eve Snyder

Osmosis Magazine

toAnyone who has attended the University of Richmond (UR)can attest to the unparalleled experience that is conducting research. Here, the focus is on nurturing well-versed scientists that are capable of critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and problem solving.

Campus As A Living Lab At Ur: What’S Working & What’S Next, Jack Dupuy

Osmosis Magazine

Living labs—real-world experimental environments where diverse stakeholders ranging from local communities and businesses to universities and governments can collaboratively develop, test, and refine solutions—have become an increasingly popular method for tackling complex societal challenges in areas such as energy, urban planning, and environmental sustainability. Unlike controlled laboratory settings, living labs leverage real-world conditions to test innovations in authentic contexts, fostering systemic change by aligning research with local needs.

Droughts, Destruction, And Displacement: How Climate Change Exacerbates Violence In The Sahel, Stevi Dugas

Osmosis Magazine

February 2023 through January 2024 marked the first 12- month period that global average temperatures exceeded the 1.5°C benchmark proposed in the Paris Climate Agreement, indicating early signs of coming dangerously close to exceeding a permanent 1.5°C increase in global average temperatures. Permanently exceeding the 1.5°C benchmark is expected to lead to increasingly frequent and dangerous extreme weather events such as droughts and wildfires, while also increasing the risk of climate tipping points such as collapse of coral reef systems (UN, n.d.). Though no place is safe from the effects of climate change, few places on Earth will be hit …

Monty Hall Problem: Will You Win A Car?, Tien Nguyen Chu

Osmosis Magazine

Suppose you’re on a game show. There are three closed doors. Behind one is a brand-new car; behind the other two, goats. You pick a door. The host, who knows what’s behind all the doors, opens one of the remaining doors to reveal a goat. Now you’re offered a choice: stick with your original door or switch to the other unopened one. What should you do? Will changing your choice increase your chances of winning the car - or or does it make no difference at all?

Myth Or Fact: Does Teethwhitening Really Work?, Garrett Mayover

Osmosis Magazine

Teeth whitening has rapidly gained popularity as one of the most sought-after dental cosmetic procedures today. Once an exclusive treatment performed primarily by dental professionals, it has now expanded into the mainstream market, with store shelves stocked full of “natural” alternatives and “affordable” whitening strips. But the pressing question remains: do these strips actually work, or are they just a marketing gimmick? This article aims to uncover the truth. We will first explorethe science behind teeth whitening and then delve into the effectiveness andpotential drawbacks of these popular over-the-counter products.

The Science Behind Covid Testing, Zion Kim

Osmosis Magazine

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared a COVID-19 pandemic (“CDC…”, 2024). We all remember the days we had to wear masks, shove cotton swabs into our noses and mouths, and quarantine ourselves from others after being infected by the COVID-19 virus. We take this test all the time and trust their accuracy, but we never stop to ask how they work. We all know that a double line indicates an infection of COVID-19, but why?

Arsenic & The Princess Bride: How Your Body Handles Poison, Martin Jara

Osmosis Magazine

It’s a simply iconic scene from a simply iconic movie; in the cult classic film The Princess Bride, the protagonist Westley faces off against the scoundrel Vizzini in a battle of wits to rescue his true love. The challenge is simple: each man is given a chalice, one of them containing poisonous iocane powder. Colorless, odorless, tasteless, and soluble in water, Vizzini must choose the unpoisoned chalice off wits alone. However, he chooses wrong, dying instantly.

Not Human Enough: The Origins Of The Uncanny Valley, Franklin Young

Osmosis Magazine

Why do we feel creeped out when we see something almost human—like a lifelike robot or a bad CGI character? This phenomenon, known as the uncanny valley, describes the uncomfortable emotional response humans experience when encountering entities that appear nearly, but not quite, human. First introduced by Japanese robotics professor Masahiro Mori in 1970, the concept suggests that as objects become more humanlike in appearance, our emotional response to them becomes increasingly positive —until reaching a point where subtle imperfections trigger strong feelings of revulsion.

The Neurobiology Of Schizophrenia: Reduced Brain Volume And Its Implications, Erlinda Sali

Osmosis Magazine

Schizophrenia is a neurological disorder that is highly complex and often misunderstood. Characterized by hallucinations and delusions, disorders of thought and speech, behavior, and emotions, schizophrenia is more complex than how the media portrays it.

Falling Out Of Balance: How Chemical Disequilibrium In Thebrain Leads To Alcohol Addiction, Zack Ruighaver

Osmosis Magazine

This article will explain how imbalances in two neurotransmitter systems in the brain –namely, glutamate and GABA – account for alcoholism at the molecular level.

Does Adhd Make You Smoke? Exploring Emerging Theories, Sam Chanenson

Osmosis Magazine

Here’s a troubling statistic: children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 2.5 times more likely than their non-ADHD peers to develop substance use disorder (SUD) and nicotine dependency. What’s more, people with ADHD are generally more likely to start smoking earlier in life, smoke more per day, and experience more significant withdrawal symptoms.

Letter From The Editor, Sam Chanenson

Osmosis Magazine

Letter from Sam Chanenson, Editor in Chief, Osmosis Science Magazine.

Osmosis Magazine - Science Magazine

Osmosis Magazine

• Explore the latest stories in STEM.
• Discover cutting-edge innovations shaping today & tomorrow
• Faculty Interview & UR Research Highlights

Cutting Waste In Tupper's Restaurant, Logan Salvator, Christien Merritt, Lily Amaral, Erik Dukes

Earth Day Symposium on Climate and Sustainablity

No abstract provided.