Ineligible Partners: Tribal Nations And Cooperative Federalism In The Historical Development Of National Forest Law And Policy, James H. Baker

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Lands within the National Forest System (NFS), like all federal public lands, are rooted in Aboriginal Title and were once exclusively inhabited by Indigenous peoples and communities. Through the process of treaty-making, the federal government amassed millions of acres of ceded Tribal lands, many of which are now managed by federal public land agencies, including 194 million acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). Several Tribes reserved various use and property rights on these lands that are protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Treaty and Supremacy Clauses. The federal government also has an overarching trust obligation to Tribes – a …

Cellphone Separation Modulates The Effects Of Working Memory Load On Ex-Gaussian Parameters Of Choice Reaction Time, Michael Gazzanigo, Alexa Quesnel, Catalina Roldan, Xiao Yang

Psychology Faculty Publications

Cognitive effects of cellphone dependency among young adults have garnered increasing research attention. While cellphones have been identified as a distractor in daily tasks, related psychological processes remain unclear. As a potential mechanism underlying those effects of cellphones, excessive working memory (WM) load has not yet been well examined. Our study investigated the effects of the mental representation of cellphone separation on WM. Seventy-five participants (M(age) = 21.3 years; 55 females, 20 males) were assigned into three groups: the cued separation, natural separation, or control group, and completed a block of choice reaction time (CRT) task, and a dual-task block: …

Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …

Exploring The Effects Of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Of The Right Inferior Frontal Gyrus On Inhibitory Control In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Colton Rippey

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Background: The right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) is implicated in stop signal reaction time (SSRT) performance – a common measure of inhibitory control – and emotional expression and control. Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit poorer stop SSRT performance, which is associated with rIFG hypoactivity. Neuromodulation of the rIFG with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can significantly improve inhibitory control and reduce fearful responding to threatening stimuli. Research has yet to test the effects of multifocal tDCS targeting the rIFG on inhibitory control or emotional reactivity in individuals with PTSD.

Methods: The current study aims to examine the impact …

Cultivating Community-University Partnerships Within The Chicago Region Food System, Hanan Abdillahi, Vivian Cossey, Tania Schusler, Kevin Erickson, Karen Schauwecker, Sarah Ku, Ray Dybzinski

School of Environmental Sustainability: Faculty Publications and Other Works

We interviewed 22 organizations in the Chicago Regional Food System to gain insights on their current initiatives, assets, challenges, future visions, and perceived roles of universities in advancing their work. We analyzed themes to report on strong consensus or varied perspectives related to this work. This report aims to advise Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability's future work and collaboration activities with Chicago Food System organizations.

Précis Of The Edge Of Sentience: Risk And Precaution In Humans, Other Animals, And Ai, Jonathan Birch

Animal Sentience

We often face grave practical decisions that seem to hinge on whether a system is sentient. This family of cases includes invertebrate animals, people who are unresponsive after brain injury, fetuses, neural organoids, and now AI technologies. We must decide what to do despite ongoing disagreement about the nature of sentience. In our state of uncertainty, we should pragmatically transform the question from “Is it sentient?” to “Is it a sentience candidate, an investigation priority, or neither?”. When a system is a sentience candidate, it is negligent to fail to consider precautions. We should instead evaluate precautions for their proportionality …

Endocrine Responses To Two Distinct Foraging Contexts In The Bonobo (Pan Paniscus), Lauren Mitchell

Master's Theses

In gregarious animals, a social structure characterized by female dominance is relatively rare. However, bonobos (Pan paniscus), one of the two species most closely related to humans, are characterized by partial female dominance, with females forming close social bonds. In contrast, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), a close relative of the bonobo, are characterized by strong male-male bonding and social dominance with female chimpanzees lacking close social bonds. There is a lack of consensus concerning the reasons for these behavioral differences in Pan, specifically, the physiological processes responsible for female dominance in bonobos. The role of hormones …

Becoming The Donkey Derby’S ‘Karen’: A Humane Educator’S Autoethnographic Journey Toward Anti-Speciesist Communication, Jesika Keener

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Language not only carries oppression as an educative force, but research indicates that language is inherently speciesist and highly pervasive (Ethical Globe, 2021; Guevara Labaca, 2017; Hamlett, 2024; Leach et al., 2023). However, the ontological commitment to speciesism is historically foundational, which makes the total eradication of speciesist communication only viable through an unemerged hypothetical future society (Kahn, 2011). For the possibilities of such a world to come into being, pivotal steps must first be taken to critically engage with the communicated forms of speciesism in order to better understand it and actively resist its reproduction—with the aspiration for this …

Efficacy Of Stress Acclimation Techniques In Coastal Wetland Plants (Spartina Alterniflora And S. Patens): Implications For Restoration And Nursery Production, Taylor M. Sloey, Kylie D. Gieser, Kaitlyn Pounders, Sofía E. Báez, Jennifer L. Whytlaw

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The implementation of coastal nature-based features, created wetlands, and wetland restoration has increased globally over recent years. Many of these projects have been successful in meeting their goals, however, when projects fail, it is often attributed to mortality of transplanted vegetation. Transplant mortality may be due to inappropriate timing, poor site selection, or abiotic stressors associated with transplant shock. Science-backed guidelines have been well established in many coastal regions regarding site specifications and species selection, but nursery practices for reducing transplant shock remain inconsistent. In this study, we tested a combination of four salinity acclimation treatments and two inundation acclimation …

Earth Observations Reveal Impacts Of Climate Variability On Maize Cropping Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa, Adomas Liepa, Michael Thiel, Hannes Taubenböck, Doris Klein, Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter, Marcell K. Peters, Sarah Schönbrodt-Stitt, Insa Otte, Tobias Landmann, Zeyaur R. Khan, Michael Ochieng Obondo, Frank Chidawanyika, Emily A. Martin, Tobias Ullmann

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In Kenya, climate variability and change threaten smallholder, rainfed farms, with crop failures, yield reductions, and pest infestations. Efficient agroecological strategies, such as Push-Pull intercropping, offer documented benefits including pest control, improved soil fertility, and water conservation compared to traditional maize monocropping. To date, no studies exist comparing traditional maize monocropping and Push-Pull intercropping using earth observation tools over several growing seasons in East Africa. Our research addresses this by harmonizing Landsat 7, 8, 9 with Sentinel-2 remote sensing time series from 2016 to 2023. Phenological metrics of 15 growing seasons are extracted based on a threshold method using the …

Annual Diversity Of Honey Bee Pollen Sources In Two Pumpkin Growing Landscapes, Machakos County, Kenya, Marystella W. Nang’Oni, Muo Kasina, Rebecca Karanja, Mary M. Guantai, Rahab N. Kinyanjui, Evanson R. Omuse, Michael H.G. Lattorff, Elfatih M. Abdel-Rahman, Marian Adan, Samira A. Mohamed, Thomas Dubois

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Multi-floral foraging sources for honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) have been threatened by landscape changes and unsustainable farming practices. In East Africa, the biodiversity of forage resources that could support honey bees, especially in agricultural lands, remains least explored. This study investigated pollen diversity for honey bees in Yatta and Masinga Sub-counties in Machakos County, Kenya. Honey bee hives were installed on eight pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne ex Lam) farms (one hive per farm) in two varying landscape vegetation classes (low and medium) based on normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Pollen traps were installed at the hive entrance and pollen …

Beyond Strong: A Phenomenology Of Women Executives And The Connection Between Leadership And Fitness, Nozomi Bullock

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Senior-level executive leaders’ work in a dynamic, competitive, 24/7 business environment can be physically rigorous, mentally demanding, and emotionally isolating. The same holds true for women pursuing senior-level leadership roles in corporate America. Women who achieve and succeed in such roles remain the minority: Outsiders in elite spaces who are held to higher standards and overly scrutinized. Among senior-level executive women leaders, those committed to a fitness and training regimen including weightlifting constitute an even smaller minority. Senior-level executive roles require stamina, resilience, and courage—qualities that make up the foundation of the mindset of fitness and strength training (Foyster et …

Foundation Models In Bioinformatics, Fei Guo, Renchu Guan, Yaohang Li, Qi Liu, Xiaowo Wang, Can Yang, Jianxin Wang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

With the adoption of foundation models (FMs), artificial intelligence (AI) has become increasingly significant in bioinformatics and has successfully addressed many historical challenges, such as pre-training frameworks, model evaluation and interpretability. FMs demonstrate notable proficiency in managing large-scale, unlabeled datasets, because experimental procedures are costly and labor intensive. In various downstream tasks, FMs have consistently achieved noteworthy results, demonstrating high levels of accuracy in representing biological entities. A new era in computational biology has been ushered in by the application of FMs, focusing on both general and specific biological issues. In this review, we introduce recent advancements in bioinformatics FMs …

Evaluating Lethal Coyote Management In The Chicago Metropolitan Area Using A Conflict Recurrence Metric, Jeffrey T. Schultz, Scott Beckerman, Robert Erickson, Danielle Montgomery, Stewart W. Breck

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–coyote (Canis latrans) conflict in urban environments is prevalent in cities throughout the United States. Urban areas commonly use nonlethal techniques to mitigate coyote-caused conflicts but will also incorporate selective removal of individual coyotes when conflicts persist. However, little research has evaluated these management strategies. This study analyzed coyote removal efforts conducted in the Chicago Metropolitan Area from 2010 to 2020. To evaluate the management actions, we used “time without incidence”—the time elapsing from an initial conflict until either a subsequent conflict occurred in the same area, or when the data collection period ended—as an index of effectiveness. …

The Intermediate And Remote Effects Of Acute Juvenile Stress Upon Auditory Fear Learning, Recognition Memory, And Anxiety Measures In A Rodent Model Of Ptsd, Laura J. Baron

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Abstract

Early-life stress is a risk factor for increased susceptibility to stress- and trauma-related disorders, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by exposure to trauma that results in exaggerated and extinction-resistant fear responses that persist for over a month. Understanding how the severity of early-life stressors in animal models impacts adult behavior, cognition, and underlying neurobiology could aid in the development of more effective PTSD treatments.

Various early-life stress models, especially in infant rats, have been used to induce stress and assess PTSD like-symptoms. Different stressors impact short- and long-term behavior, with some effects influenced by developmental timing …

Severe Aggression Among Zoo-Housed Coconut (Trichoglossus Haematodus) And Rainbow (Trichoglossus Moluccanus) Lorikeets: Wellbeing Considerations For Free-Flight Aviaries, Emily Simkins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As conservation and education institutions, modern zoos balance the needs of animals with the interests of visitors through several strategies which can increase animal wellbeing and improve visitor experience. Environmental enrichment is frequently employed to increase the suitability of anthropogenic environments for zoo-housed animals, such as through walkthrough habitats and free-flight aviaries. While habitats such as these are important for visitor experience and can be enriching to animals, there are also wellbeing considerations for these spaces. Walkthrough habitats can be a potential source of fear and stress for animals, as shown by increased frequencies of vigilance, undesirable behavior, and aggression. …

Sensory Evaluation And Consumer Acceptance Of A Protein Enriched Energy Bar, Brennah T. Groves

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

ABSTRACT

Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Acceptance of a Protein Enriched Energy Bar

Brennah Groves

This study evaluated the sensory properties and consumer acceptance of a protein enriched energy bar. The objectives of this study were to 1) formulate a high-protein energy bar containing at least 20 g of protein per 100 g serving, and 2) determine whether increasing the protein content in an energy bar would enhance the sensory evaluation and improve consumer acceptance among collegiate athletes. The control energy bar featured a shortbread base, date caramel with whey protein, a nougat layer, and a chocolate coating. Additional collagen protein …

Effects Of High-Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation On Impulse Control Disorders In Patients With Parkinson’S Disease On Dopamine Replacement Therapy, Katherine Muksuris

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder that causes motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and depression. The mainstay treatment for motor symptoms is dopamine replacement therapy (DRT). DRT takes the form of levodopa or dopamine receptor agonists (DAs) and can be associated with impulse control disorders (ICDs). Currently, the approach to mitigating these side effects is to decrease or stop DRT, which may cause motor symptoms to return, making the management of the disorder more difficult. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation treatment for multiple disorders, including its approved use for smoking cessation. It has also shown …

Neurobiological Variables Mediating The Relationship Between Breast Cancer And Sleep Disruption, Brittany Domenique Elliott

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Neurobiological Variables Mediating the Relationship between

Breast Cancer and Sleep Disruption

Brittany D. Elliott, MS

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy in women, with more than two million new cases diagnosed world-wide each year. Improvements in screening technology and diagnostics have increased survival rates, but cancer-associated sleep disruptions persist for the majority of breast cancer survivors well beyond the treatment period. In addition to reducing quality of life, reduced sleep quality is associated with greater incidences of affective dysfunction, reduced treatment efficiency, aggressive cancer progression, increased symptom severity, and increased mortality by all causes. Thus, identifying the variables …

Simulated Slot Machine Gambling In Relation To Sign-Tracking, Polina Krom

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The propensity to attribute incentive salience to reward-related cues, or sign-tracking (ST) has been linked to addiction in animal models and some initial human data. The current study explores the role of sign-tracking (ST), as a potential risk factor for problematic slot machine gambling, which abundantly features audiovisual reward-related cues, henceforth sensory features. A sample of healthy participants without gambling problems (n = 30) completed a Pavlovian-to-Instrumental Transfer (PIT) paradigm to assess ST propensity and played on a realistic slot machine simulator consisting of two versions: with sensory features (SF+) and without (SF-). Each game version had fixed bet sizes, …

Parting The Corn Rows: Nikita Khrushchev’S Visit To Iowa, 1959, Jordan Stiles

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On September 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Roswell Garst to inspect US hybrid corn and agricultural methods. Khrushchev’s initial reforms are discussed to show why Khrushchev sought agricultural knowledge abroad. The details of Khrushchev’s and Garst’s life regarding their work in agriculture are explored up to the visit. The visit would leave an indelible mark on the USSR and Iowa. Khrushchev and his successors would use Garst’s model for hybrid corn farming as the template for Soviet farming. Garst would use his limelight to catapult his corn diplomacy into action around the world. Lastly, the legacy of Khrushchev’s …

Investigating Dimensions Of Social Vulnerability To Wildfire: A Case Study Of Western Montana, Ella Brodowski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Communities across the US are facing increased wildfire risks due in part to historic fire suppression efforts, a warming climate, and an influx of people residing in wildland urban interface (WUI) landscapes. Because of these increasing risks, there have been growing concerns about the social factors that can increase individual and community vulnerability to wildfires. This research adds to the discussion of social vulnerability by examining how people living in a geographic area with heightened wildfire risk think about the ways in which people can be more or less vulnerable to wildfires. Using semi-structured interviews, round table discussions, and field …

Modeling Neighborhoods As Fuel For Wildfire, Bryce Alan Young

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Wildfire models drive billions of dollars in risk mitigation efforts. However, the modeling community currently lacks a representative fuelscape on which to base simulations of fire spread in the built environment and the wildland-urban interface (WUI) where vegetation and structures act together as fuel for wildfire. This thesis advances wildfire risk modeling by addressing the underdeveloped representation of the built environment in existing frameworks. By identifying inconsistencies in how structure and defensible space features are defined and used across empirical studies, predictive indices, and fire spread models, this research lays the groundwork for standardized modeling approaches and feature selection (Chapter …

What Are The Genetic Influences Of Alcohol Sensitivity And Alcohol Metabolism? A Narrative Review Of Human Studies, Erwin Murray, Karen G. Chartier Phd, Msw

Undergraduate Research Posters

Background: Alcohol sensitivity and alcohol metabolism are two phenotypes associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) influenced by genetics. This narrative review aims to answer “What are the genetic influences of alcohol sensitivity and alcohol metabolism?” to gain a better understanding of the genetic aspects of AUD.

Methods: A database search was performed in PubMed. Empirical human genetic studies published between 2009 and 2025 that focused on alcohol sensitivity (measured by the Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol scale) or alcohol-metabolizing genes were eligible for review. Studies were screened to determine inclusion for the current review.

Findings: Fifteen …

Griffin's Slow Burn Revolution In Philosophy And Comparative Cognition, Kristin Andrews

Animal Sentience

Ristau presents Griffin as launching a scientific revolution supported by philosophical insights. This commentary focuses on two points: Griffin as a scientific revolutionary, although the cognitive ethology revolution is not yet complete; and on the immense influence Griffin had, and continues to have, on philosophy.

Women's Involvement In Fisheries Co-Management Of The World's Largest Desert Lake, Turkana, Kenya, Maurice O. Ogoma, Judith C. Koskey

Journal of Bioresource Management

Despite their significant presence in the fisheries workforce, women's roles are often less recognized compared to men's. This study investigated the participation of women in beach management units (BMUs) and fisheries activities in Lake Turkana, the world’s largest permanent desert Lake. Data were collected from 200 women respondents across eight purposively sampled BMUs, focusing on gender representation, leadership roles, participation in fisheries activities, factors influencing participation, and strategies for promoting gender equity. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to provide an in-depth understanding of women's involvement in fisheries activities. Findings indicated that while gender representation aligned with Kenya's constitutional one-third gender …

Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Bsfl) Bioconversion For Circular Economy: A Study In Polaman Village, Siswo Sumardiono, Rizka Amalia, Syaikha Butsaina Dhiya’Ulhaq, Nurika Nazilatul Ilmi, Hermawan Dwi Ariyanto

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

Conventional organic waste management methods often lead to environmental degradation and underutilization of valuable resources. In rural areas, such as Polaman Village, limited awareness and inefficient disposal systems exacerbate these issues, thus necessitating innovative and sustainable solutions. This study explores black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion as a community-based solution for organic waste management, addresses environmental challenges, and promotes economic empowerment by converting waste into valuable by-products. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, beginning with baseline assessments of waste generation and existing management practices to identify community needs. Educational workshops and hands-on training sessions introduced BSFL bioconversion techniques to local …

Literacy Story Mapping: Empowering Bogoran Hamlet In Indonesia Through Among E3cho Program, Luky Tiasari, Shanta Rezkita, Vita Tri Wahyuni, Deyas Fito Nurochman, Annisa Hapsari, Dwi Setiawan

ASEAN Journal of Community Engagement

This paper outlines the implementation of Among Education, Environment, Economic, Culture, Healthy, and Outcome (Among E³CHO), a community engagement program in Bogoran Hamlet in Trirenggo Region of Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Among E³CHO initiative consists of multiple education, environment, economic, culture, and health engagement sessions aimed at generating a literacy story map, Peta Cerita Berliterasi, as an integrated outcome of community capacities. The program development followed community-based research methodologies, starting with the identification of challenges facing by the community using comprehensive questionnaires, followed by multiple community engagement programs. In the program, the health …

Foreword From Handling Editor - 13th Edition, Ahyahudin Sodri

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

We are delighted to present the 13th edition of JESSD, published in December 2024. We have selected ten of the best articles for this edition that related with topic of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development.

Spatial Segregation And Socioeconomic Disparities In Urban Land Use Patterns, Intan Lestari, Hayati Sari Hasibuan, Vevin Syoviawati Ardiwijaya

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Jakarta, a city that has continued to develop, is marked by the growth of population in Jakarta. This growth has been accompanied by an increasing demand for land, resulting in spatial segregation. Some areas have large expanses of land, while others are densely populated and cramped. The purpose of this study is to analyze spatial segregation in the Penjaringan and Pluit Subdistricts of North Jakarta. The research employs a qualitative descriptive analysis method, spatial analysis using Moran's and Getis-Ord Gi*, and a literature review enriched with interviews. The research findings indicate clear spatial segregation between Pluit and Penjaringan, divided into …