Life Sciences Commons^™

Using L1-Magic For Feature Enhancement And Reduced Redundancy In Hyperspectral Data, Ashley Alfred

Mathematics Dissertations

Hyperspectral imaging offers detailed spectral information, but achieving high spatial resolution typically requires large and expensive equipment. This study explores an alternative approach: enhancing low-quality hyperspectral bands using an L1-norm minimization technique known as L1-magic. The goal is to improve the utility of low-cost hardware by preserving discriminative features, promoting sparsity, and reducing spectral redundancy. We apply L1-magic to enhance low-quality bands and hypothesize that this method selectively amplifies key features while suppressing redundant information. Experimental results indicate that the enhanced bands approach the quality of high-resolution data, enabling robust feature extraction without reliance on high-end hyperspectral cameras.

Understanding Motor Competence In Autism And Developmental Coordination Disorder: From Everyday Performance To Underlying Postural Control Mechanisms, Crystal E. Alvarez

Kinesiology Dissertations

Motor competence plays a foundational role in children’s participation, physical activity, adaptive behavior, and overall quality of life. Although motor difficulties are highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder (autism) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD), these challenges are frequently under-identified and insufficiently characterized, particularly in autistic populations. Existing research demonstrates substantial overlap in motor challenges across autism and DCD; however, relatively little work has integrated caregiver perceptions, standardized motor assessment, and mechanistic postural control measures within the same investigation. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation was to examine motor competence and postural control in autistic children, children with DCD, and neurotypical …

Extending The Fruiting Season With Container Grown Primocane-Fruiting Blackberries Grown In A High-Tunnel, Edwin James Tucker Iii

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Blackberry production has become an important part of many small fruit orchard operations because they’re easy to grow, produce a large crop, and sell well at market. The current blackberry season in Missouri extends from mid-June to mid-August, depending on the cultivar chosen. This fruiting season is common for floricane-fruiting blackberry cultivars (cultivars that fruit on one-year old canes). Primocane-fruiting blackberry, or blackberries that fruit on current season growth, have the potential to further extend the harvest season of blackberry into September and October especially if grown in a high-tunnel. This study had two objectives. The first objective was to …

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (Pfos)-Induced Disruption Of Mitochondrial Activity And Cell Adhesion In Liver Cells, Phuong Dam Nam Tran

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent environmental pollutant associated with potential hepatoxic effects and other health risks. Despite its widespread distribution, the mechanisms underlying its toxicities remain to be fully understood. To investigate PFOS toxicology, my study utilized HepG2 and THLE-2 human hepatic cell models to replicate conditions reflecting PFOS accumulation in the liver. Cell viability, cell stress, and cell death assays were conducted to assess the toxicological influence of the chemical on both cell lines. Total RNA extraction was performed, followed by cDNA sequencing, and RT-qPCR. The XTT viability assay revealed a dose-dependent decrease in number of viable cells …

Development Of A Python Pipeline For The Inference Of Selection In Human Genomes And Applications To Adh1b*2, Aine Macdermott

Honors Theses

Human evolutionary genomics provides an avenue to understand how genetic variation has been impacted by the environmental pressures of the past, revealing how selective pressures impacted past populations and contributed to present-day biological diversity. In this thesis, I describe the construction of a Python-based computational pipeline designed to automate and integrate multiple analyses of positive selection across worldwide population datasets, including derived allele frequency calculation, haplotype-based tests of selection, RELATE-based genealogical inference, and CLUES2-based temporal modeling. By automating file preparation, format conversion, job submission, result aggregation, model comparison, and visualization, this pipeline streamlines the data interpretation process, and shifts focus …

Exploring Phosphoregulation Of Myo3a Using Quantitative Fluorescence Image Analysis In Cos7 Cells, Vu Hao Minh Nguyen Phan

Honors Theses

Myosin 3A (MYO3A) is an unconventional myosin involved in the formation and maintenance of hair-cell stereocilia of the sensory epithelia in the inner ear. The kinase domain has been implicated in phosphoregulation of MYO3A activity through intermolecular autophosphorylation. Previous studies using mass spectrometry identified two potential phosphorylation sites in the motor domain. To investigate the regulatory roles of these sites, we generated glutamic acid point mutations in our mchr-MYO3AΔK construct to mimic phosphorylation and assayed the constructs for their ability to tip-localize and influence filopodial density via transfection into COS7 cells. The phosphomimic constructs were less able to generate filopodia …

Field-Scale Evaluation Of Satellite- Derived Vegetation Indices And Image Timing For In-Season Nitrogen Management In Corn, Ana Morales-Ona, Katsutoshi Mizuta, James J. Camberato, Robert Nielsen, Yuxin Miao, Davide Cammarano, German Mandrini, Daniel Quinn

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Traditional methods to determine the agronomic optimum nitrogen rate (AONR) for corn (Zea mays L.) rely on grain yield data, limiting in-season decision-making for nitrogen (N) management. Vegetation indices (VIs) derived from satellite imagery can serve as proxies for grain yield and help estimate in-season AONR, enabling timely sidedress applications. This study aimed to (1) quantify how VI–yield relationships vary during the vegetative period across fields with different tillage systems and crop residue; (2) determine whether VI–N response curves can be used to estimate AONR (AONRvi); and (3) assess the accuracy of AONRvi relative to yield-based AONR (AONRy). …

Ovipositional Behavior Of The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres Cingulata) On Stems Of Mockernut Hickory (Carya Tomentosa) In Arkansas, R. Tumlison, L. Serviss

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

The Twig Girdler (Cerambycidae: Oncideres cingulata) is a long-horned beetle that girdles stems of certain species of trees to prepare a habitat for its offspring. The stems eventually die, break, and fall from the tree, but the beetle usually had already laid its eggs within the stems. Eggs are laid singly, almost always at growth rings or leaf bases. Because the space for the young to develop is finite, laying too many eggs could cause reproductive failure and too few eggs would be suboptimal. We hypothesized that the female laying eggs should be able to evaluate the stem and …

Bulletin 4936: Guidelines To Importing And Keeping Regulated Animals In Western Australia, Win Kirkpatrick

Bulletins 4000 -

Updated:

• January 2026 after a review of permit keeping conditions.
• December 2025 for transfer of restricted keeping bird permit business to DPIRD.

Introduced, exotic or alien animals are species that have been brought to a country or location where they do not occur naturally. (Hereafter referred to as introduced species). Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians that are introduced or relocated to new areas often cause problems to agriculture, the environment and the community. Problems occur when introduced species:

• damage agricultural crops
• displace and compete with native animals and plants
• carry disease or parasites
• damage property
• cause land degradation
• have a …

The Rna-Binding Protein Pumilio Limits Polymodal Noiception In Drosophila Larvae, Sara Palega, Hannah Davenport, Rebeccah K. Stewart, Jessica Horton, Andrew Bellemer

Microbiology & Molecular Cell Biology Faculty Publications

Nociception is the process by which the nervous system detects and processes information about potentially harmful environmental stimuli to generate behavioral and physiological responses. The process of nociception undergoes plasticity in response to injury, inflammation, and infection to shape the sensitivity of nociceptive circuits and the behavioral responses they control. We are increasingly aware that post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression shapes the sensitivity and plasticity of nociceptive sensory neurons and nociceptive behavior. In Drosophila, the Pumilio RNA-binding protein interacts with diverse target mRNAs to regulate their abundance and translation in a wide range of contexts including the establishment of …

Sae For All: Curriculum Guide, Emily Carpenter

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is a critical component of agricultural education, designed to provide students with hands-on learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. The SAE for All model ensures that every student participates in meaningful experiential learning tailored to their interests and career goals. By integrating SAE into the curriculum, students develop technical skills, career readiness competencies, and an understanding of real-world agricultural applications. This guide includes a teaching plan and a comprehensive set of assignments.

Biological Dental Hygiene: Principles, Educational Pathways, And Clinical Practice Considerations, Tara Newcomb

Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications

Dental hygiene practice is rapidly evolving in response to emerging evidence on the oral–systemic health connection, advances in preventive technologies, and increased emphasis on individualized, minimally invasive care. A commitment to lifelong learning and continuing professional development is essential for maintaining clinical competence and integrating new scientific knowledge into practice. Biological dental hygiene has emerged as a complementary framework that emphasizes whole-body health, biocompatibility, reduction of toxic exposures, and prevention-centered care. This approach expands traditional dental hygiene practice by incorporating enhanced risk assessment, salivary diagnostics, targeted preventive strategies, as well as patient education focused on nutrition, inflammation reduction, and systemic …

Joint Associations Of Meditation And Physical Activity With Depression And Anxiety Symptoms In Us Adults: Nhis 2022, Yubing Wang

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Objectives

Physical activity and meditation may each relate to mental health, but their joint associations in U.S. adults are unclear. We examined the separate and joint associations of any past-year meditation and meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines with depression and anxiety symptoms.

Method

We analyzed data from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey Sample Adult file (n = 24,927). Exposures were meeting PA guidelines, any past-year meditation, and their four-level combination (Neither, PA only, Meditation only, Both). Outcomes were moderate-to-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-8/GAD-7 >= 10). Survey-weighted modified Poisson models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs), with interaction, sensitivity, and post …

Integrating Self-Determination Theory And Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Promoting Youth Development Among Campers With Type 1 Diabetes, Eddie Hill, Bethany Arrington, Taylor Harvey, Alexis Barmoh, Rowan Williams, Laura Hill

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

The purpose of this cohort study was to evaluate participants’ general self-management and experiences of autonomy while attending diabetes camp using quantitative and qualitative data collection. Through a partnership, an outdoor diabetes camp was designed to assist youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in their management. The REACH Teen program conducted a week-long summer camp for youth with T1D. The study was designed through Outcome-Focused Programming grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to meet campers’ needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Campers participated in outdoor activities and diabetes education designed to increase healthy behaviors. Twenty-three campers completed a 24-item pre- and …

The Effects Of Physical Activity Timing And Adherence To Physical Activity Guidelines On Sleep In Children With Adhd, Xiao Liang, Mengping Zhao, Li Su, Justin A. Haegele, Richard H. Xu, Jingjing Li, Andy Choi-Yeung Tse, Shirley X. Li

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

Regular physical activity (PA) has been shown to benefit sleep. However, the effects of PA timing and adherence to the WHO's recommended 60-min moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) guideline on sleep are unclear, especially for children with ADHD who often experience sleep problems. This study examined whether timing of MVPA influenced objectively measured sleep, including sleep latency (SL), sleep efficiency (SE), total sleep time (TST), and wake after sleep onset (WASO), among children with ADHD. This cross-sectional study involved 253 children with ADHD (Mage = 8.60 ± 1.31 years, 81% boys). MVPA timing was categorized as more than 8 h before …

Exploring The Relationships Between Social Influence, Vaping Behaviors, And Susceptibility Across Grade Levels In Kentucky, Raphael Adesiyan, Odunayo O. Omotilewa, Saber Feizy, Melinda J. Ickes

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study explored the relationships between social influence, vaping behavior, and susceptibility across different grade levels.   Design: The study design was cross-sectional. Data were collected from middle and high school students who voluntarily participated between September 2022 and April 2023.   Sample: A convenience sample of students in 6^th to 12^th grades in Kentucky (N = 4677).   Measures: Demographic information, including age, grade level, school location, and race/ethnicity, was collected. The outcome variables included social influence, susceptibility, and vaping behavior.   Analysis: Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between social influence, vaping behavior, and susceptibility.   Results: …

Chinese Athletes’ And Parents’ Motivations For U.S. Collegiate Sports Participation, Wenting Sun, Russell D. Ravert, Simran Kaur Sethi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

To gain an understanding of international student recruitment and retention in collegiate athletics, this study examines the motivations and decision-making processes of Chinese high school athletes and their parents in pursuing U.S. collegiate sport opportunities. Using the push–pull framework and an ecological perspective, it explores how individual aspirations, family priorities, institutional resources, and national policies shape transnational mobility. Semistructured focus group discussions with 10 athletes and eight parents revealed six key motivational themes and highlighted the influence of recent collegiate sport-related policy changes in China. The findings suggest that while both groups value U.S. sport pathways, athletes and parents may …

Use Of Enterococcus Faecalis And Cetylpyridinium Chloride In Altering Canine Mouth Microbiome, Quigley D. Espinola, Scarlet Renner, Curtis Cline, Sofia Lopez-Orenday, Alex Yasumatsu

Humboldt Journal of Microbiology

Like most mammals, canines have copious amounts of bacteria in their oral cavity. While some of these bacteria are beneficial and even necessary to their health, overgrowth of harmful bacterial strains can lead to plaque buildup and gum disease. To combat plaque and bacteria, several products are marketed towards canines. In this study, we aim to explore how the microbiome of the canine mouth is affected by a potential probiotic, Enterococcus faecalis, and an antimicrobial water additive found in dog mouthwash products, Cetylpyridinium chloride monohydrate (CCM). We hypothesized that both would be successful in their ability to decrease harmful bacteria. …

Western Massasauga (Sistrurus Tergeminus): A Species Conservation Assessment For The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, Colleen Rothe-Groleau, Melissa J. Panella

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Publications

The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project recognizes the western massasauga (Sistrurus tergeminus) as a Tier I at-risk species. Provided are some general management recommendations regarding western massasaugas. Conservation practitioners will need to use professional judgment to make specific management decisions based on objectives, location, and a multitude of variables. This resource was designed to share available knowledge of this at-risk species that will aid in the decision-making process or in identifying research needs to benefit the species.

Criteria for selection as Tier I: State listed, G3

Estimated Population in NE: 1,000–2,500

Estimate based on: Field surveys

Trends since 2005 …

Typology And Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Illegal Fishing Activities In The Philippines: Implications For Fisheries Management, Marlowe O. Acevedo, Tzu-Yun Ching, Chih-Shin Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity is a global threat and continues to undermine the effectiveness of fisheries regulations and management measures. However, the extent of illegal fishing in Philippine waters remains unclear. This study aims to identify the types of illegal fishing in Philippine waters and analyzed their temporal and spatial patterns. Data were obtained from the records of the Philippine Coast Guards (PCG) and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies from 2015 to 2020. A total of 602 apprehensions were recorded, resulting in 813 violations, of which 630 cases were fishery violations. Most of the watercrafts involved in the …

Balancing Inquiry Based Learning And Direct Instruction, Sharon Liu , '26

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Managing The Legacy Of Historical Land Use In Central Appalachia: Soil Health, Carbon Storage, And Restoration Across Disturbed Ecosystems, Kyra R. Dukich

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Historical mining, intensive timber harvesting, agriculture, and atmospheric acid deposition have left lasting impacts on soil health throughout the Central Appalachian region, reducing soil productivity, carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience. This thesis evaluated restoration strategies across two long-term research systems in West Virginia to determine how land-use history and soil amendments influence soil health, carbon dynamics, and ecosystem recovery. The first study examined reclaimed mine lands and marginal agricultural soils planted with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) or willow (Salix spp.) and treated with biochar or inorganic fertilizer. Soil greenhouse gas production, aggregate stability, total soil C:N, pH, and soil organic matter …

Examining Drivers Of Brook Trout (Salvelinus Fontinalis) Fecundity And Recruitment In Central Appalachian Headwater Streams, Emilee Esther Briggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The persistence of fish populations depends on the repeated production and survival of new year classes, also referred to as recruitment. Recruitment is broadly defined as the number of individuals in a fish population or stock that survive to a specific stage. However, the broader recruitment process reflects the cumulative outcome of many earlier life stages, including egg survival, fry emergence, and survival through the recruitment period. As a result, recruitment can vary substantially among years and populations, producing strong or weak year classes that influence population abundance and persistence. Understanding why recruitment varies is therefore central to fisheries ecology …

Ornithine Metabolism In Retinal Pigment Epithelium And Retina And Implications In Gyrate Atrophy, Artjola Puja

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) is a mitochondrial enzyme that regulates ornithine metabolism by converting ornithine to pyrroline-5-carboxylate, a precursor for proline and glutamate synthesis. Deficiency of OAT causes systemic ornithine accumulation and leads to gyrate atrophy (GA) of the choroid and retina, a hereditary disorder characterized by progressive chorioretinal degeneration and irreversible vision loss. Chorioretinal atrophy typically starts at the mid-peripheral retina and progresses toward the macula. Although elevated ornithine is considered toxic to the eye, how ornithine is metabolized in ocular tissues and why OAT deficiency causes selective, region-specific vulnerability remain unclear. We combined ex vivo and in vivo stable …

Surrogate-Based Approaches For Evaluating Post-Harvest Food Safety Interventions In Fresh Produce, Md Shafiul Islam Rion

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Pathogenic bacteria are still a threat to human beings worldwide as their presence is often unknown even if they are already present in fresh produces. This in turn resulted in several outbreaks and recalls across the United States. This dissertation investigated the survival of pathogenic bacteria and their potential non-pathogenic surrogates after antimicrobial interventions in different modes of applications on the surface of cantaloupes, butternut squash, and fresh cilantro. In the first study, peroxyacetic acid (PAA) was applied in three separate doses on nalidixic acid resistant Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecium, and Listeria innocua inoculated cantaloupe surfaces …

Exploring The Application Of Wastewater Monitoring To Determine The Prevalence And Diversity Of Influenza On The Campus Of West Virginia University, Lakyn Renee Sanders

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Influenza viruses (IV) affect populations globally, with the World Health Organization (WHO) estimating that IV are responsible for an estimated 3-5 million infections and 290,000 – 650,000 deaths annually^1–3. More specifically, the 2019-2020 IV season is associated with an estimated 38 million illnesses and 22,000 deaths in the United States alone⁴. IV are rapidly spread between individuals through direct contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, or aerosolized virus particles². Traditional IV infection monitoring relies on clinical screening of patients presenting influenza-like symptoms, commonly through the use of multi-target panel tests such as the BioFire …

Preliminary Analysis Of Soil Volatile Organic Compounds As Soil Health Indicators, Thorne Taul

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Over the past decade, soil health (SH) has gained popularity due to the novelty of sustainable soil use related to human wellbeing. Soil health describes the overall quality of soil and its capacity to function over time. As interest in SH grows, researchers continue to explore new soil health indicators that can improve knowledge on how soil health is assessed and managed. Some indicators directly reflect soil health status, and some indirectly relate to processes and functions occurring within the soil. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are naturally occurring compounds that play a role in multiple soil processes. They are associated …

The Role Of Temperature And Carbon Source In Nutrient Acquisition For Peptidoglycan Synthesis In A Gfp-Expressing Borreliella Burgdorferi, Barrett-Anne Conner Briggs

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States with an estimated yearly incidence rate of more than 300,000 cases. Borreliella burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease, is transmitted by the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis tick and can cause debilitating pathologies affecting numerous body systems. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, joint pain, and a characteristic bull’s eye rash (erythema migrans) at the site of the tick bite. The timely and appropriate use of antibiotics effectively treats early Lyme disease; however, uncomfortable side effects reduce treatment compliance. If left untreated, long-term complications can arise including facial …

Reducing Inorganic Phosphorus In Poultry Diets: Nutritional Constraints And Strategies For Successful Implementation, Elizabeth Ann Lynch

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Applied poultry nutrition and feed manufacture science can be described as a “three-legged stool” supported by pellet quality, feed hygienics, and nutrient availability, where imbalance in any one component can compromise overall bird performance. The research presented herein primarily addresses feed hygienics and nutrient availability, with pellet quality serving as an underlying theme, to better understand how processing conditions and dietary formulation influence performance and nutrient utilization.

In Chapter 2, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hygienizer retention time on bacterial reduction during feed manufacture using Enterococcus faecium as a Salmonella surrogate. Pellet mill motor …

Using Side Looking Hydroacoustics And Community Size Spectra To Assess Invasive Carp’S Impact On Fish Assemblage Integrity, Daniel Jacob Bryan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Often accounting for over half of total fish biomass, invasive silver carp have dramatically reshaped the ecosystem of the Mississippi River and its tributaries. These high silver carp densities have been shown to affect native fish body condition, abundance, and community structure, highlighting the need for efficient methods to quantify silver carp’s effect on the native fish assemblage. Community size spectra (CSS) is a metric that quantifies fish assemblage body size structure based on the decrease in fish abundance with increasing size. To estimate silver carp’s effects on CSS in the Ohio River, side looking hydroacoustic monitoring was used alongside …