Digital Commons Network^™

Consumer Perceptions Of Farmers Market Performance: A Comparative Analysis Across States And Age Groups, Azita Varziri, Timothy A. Woods, Shuoli Zhao

Agricultural Economics Faculty Publications

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has invested in direct-to-consumer initiatives to expand local food consumption and enhance farmers market opportunities. To evaluate the effectiveness of these efforts, this study employs a sample-selected ordered probit model to analyze consumer perceptions of farmers market performance across four states in the Southeast United States. Specifically, we examine differences in awareness and performance of product quality, diversity, and market infrastructure. Awareness and perceptions vary significantly by age, other demographics, and state. These insights provide market organizers and policymakers with data-driven strategies to tailor marketing efforts and improve engagement across diverse consumer segments.

Investigation Of Factors Influencing Electric Vehicle Adoption In Indonesia: Ev Owners’ Perspectives, Desrina Yusi Irawatia, Nur Aini Masruroh, Nur Mayke Eka Normasari

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Electric vehicle (EV) uptake in Indonesia remains markedly below policy benchmarks. This study applies the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology version 3 (UTAUT3), an extension of UTAUT2 that incorporates personal innovativeness as an additional construct to examine its impact on both behavioral intention and actual EV adoption within the Indonesian context. Unlike studies that typically survey the general public, this study focuses on actual EV users and owners, providing more representative and responsive insights into real-world EV usage. A total of 208 respondents participated, with 135 from the Jabodetabek area and 73 from Surabaya. The UTAUT3 framework …

Evaluation Of Peptides And Peptide–Doxorubicin Conjugates Designed And Synthesized For Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Cell-Surface Receptors, Shih-Jing (Jane) Yao

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

A significant problem faced in oncology is the lack of chemotherapeutic agents that are tumor site-specific, resulting in reduced therapeutic efficacy and unintended infliction of harm to surrounding healthy tissues and cells that often lead to serious side effects. Current strategies being explored to circumvent this issue aim to refine delivery of  chemotherapeutic agents specifically to tumor sites, which may be achieved via conjugation of these agents to biomarker-specific ligands. This forms the foundation of ligand-targeted drug delivery. Among different breast cancers, treatment of the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype has been particularly challenging, largely due to the absence of …

Evaluation Of Pulmonary Toxicity To Inhaled Erbium Oxide Nanoparticles In Golden Syrian Hamsters, Randy Liang

Theses and Dissertations

Erbium oxide nanoparticles (Er2O3 NPs) are used in various products from simple pottery to semiconductors and such usage leads to an elevated risk of accidental occupational exposure. In the present study, the pulmonary toxicity of Er2O3 NPs was assessed by examining tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from the lungs of Golden Syrian Hamsters following inhalation exposure. The study’s goal was to determine the severity and mechanism of toxicity upon exposure to inhaled Er2O3 NPs. Animals were divided into 4 groups all being exposed for 4 hours a day for 8 days: Group-1: room air, Group-2: vehicle control (water), Group-3: …

Evaluation Of The Mechanism Of Cell Death After Exposure To Amorphous Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles In Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells And Golden Syrian Hamsters, Rachel P. Renda

Theses and Dissertations

Amorphous Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are widely used in the industrial processes, chemical, and cosmetics industries. Amorphous SiO2 NPs are abundant in the earth’s crust and can be released into the air through industrial and manufacturing activities. Such particles are overlooked and not as commonly studied when compared to their crystalline counterpart. Amorphous SiO2 NPs are pulmonary toxicants; however, the mechanism of toxicity is uncertain. In the current study, toxicity was assessed using both in vitro and in vivo systems to understand a possible mechanism of cell death. Rat Pleural Mesothelial Cells (RPMCs) were exposed to 50-800 μg/ml SiO2 …

The Yeast Checkpoint Kinase Mec1p Functions In Transcription Termination By Facilitating Recruitment Of Pcf11p And Regulating The Torpedo Exonuclease Rat1p, Riddhi Patel

Theses and Dissertations

My dissertation includes two projects, centered on transcription regulation by checkpoint kinases of the DNA damage response (DDR). The first project focused on the role of checkpoint kinase Mec1p in transcription termination and regulation of the torpedo exonuclease Rat1p. Termination, closely linked with pre-mRNA 3’ processing, dissociates RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) from DNA and releases the nascent RNA transcript. Efficient termination is required for maintaining a pool of RNAPII that is available for re-entry into new transcription cycle. Previous results showed that inactivation of Mec1p in the absence of exogenous genotoxic stress downregulates the efficiency of transcription termination. This study …

Protecting Wetlands In The State Of Texas: Assessing Gaps In Regulations, Knowledge, And Professional Roles And Responsibilities, Grace A. Moy

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Wetlands rank among earth's most productive ecosystems, providing crucial ecological services such as hydrological regulation, water purification, and habitat support (US EPA, 2015). In Texas, however, rapid urbanization, inconsistent policy enforcement, and the absence of statewide protection frameworks of hastened wetland degradation (Brody & Kang, 2011). Without a robust state regulatory framework (Environmental Law Institute [ELI], 2020), these ecosystems face increasing threats from development and hydrological disturbances.

This thesis aims to identify regulatory and knowledge deficiencies that influence Texas’ current wetland protection status and to offer targeted professional recommendations for landscape architecture professionals to address these shortcomings in future public …

From Sediment To Mangrove: Tissue-Specific Metal Accumulation In Red Mangroves Of Southeastern Florida, Sophie Welch

Honors Theses

Coastal wetlands near industrialized waterways face increasingly heavy‐metal contamination, posing risks to benthic communities and food webs. Mangroves can influence metal cycling through sediment trapping, root‐zone sequestration, and internal physiological regulation, yet their effectiveness in urbanized systems remains debated. This study quantified concentrations of 17 heavy metals in sediments and mangrove tissues from four sites near Port Everglades, Florida, examined tissue‐specific partitioning, spatial and temporal contamination patterns, and examined the mangroves’ role in mediating metal loads. Ecological risk metrics identified STB as a contaminant hotspot with exceedances of TEL values across multiple elements (Ni, Pb, and Zn) as well as …

The Effect Of Different Nutrient Concentrations For Hydroponically Grown Pothos, Keaton Roether

A with Honors Projects

An experiment where Pothos plants are grown in three different solutions of water, NPK diluted into water, tap water, and distilled water. Data is recorded for multiple weeks and is then compiled into a comprehensible lab report of a minimum of 1000 words with graphs and data.

Ion-Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors For Toxic Metal-Ion Detection In Water: Coordination Chemistry, Transduction Strategies, And Environmental Applications, Ghita Yammouri, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Toxic metal contamination in aquatic environments remains a persistent threat to human health and ecosystems. Yet, the high cost, infrastructure demands, and centralized nature of conventional analytical methods constrain routine monitoring. Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs), a subclass of molecularly imprinted polymers, have emerged as promising synthetic recognition materials for metal-ion sensing because they generate coordination-defined binding sites with high selectivity, chemical stability, low cost, and reusability. This review summarizes recent advances in Ion-imprinted polymer (IIP)-based sensing technologies for toxic metal-ion detection in water from 2016 to 2026. It examines the fundamental recognition chemistry of IIPs, major synthesis strategies used to generate …

Forage News [2026-02], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Long Acting Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists Reverse Diabetic Nephropathy And Liver Steatosis In Murine Models Of Diabetes And Are Associated With Protection In Retrospective Human Studies, Brennan Winkler

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affects 13.9% of men and 14.3% of women worldwide, a total of approximately 828 million people. Patients with diabetes are at risk of several complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN) and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These diseases eventually lead to end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and liver failure requiring dialysis and organ transplantation. In addition, diabetes exacerbates disease severity of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common potentially lethal genetic disease to affect humans with a prevalence of 1 in 500-1000. Therefore, a therapeutic approach that can attenuate organ damage and restore function in patients with DM, …

Impact Of Storage And Cooking Temperature On Listeria Innocua Growth In Plant-Based And Beef Proteins, Esther Vanoverbeke, Oliver Munezero, Gary A. Sullivan, Samodha C. Fernando

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes and other Listeria spp., is a food-borne illness, that accounts for 260 deaths annually. The objective of this study was to identify how storage method and cooking temperature impacts Listeria innocua growth in ground beef and plant-based protein patties. Patties (162 ground beef; 162 plant-based) were used in 3 replications. For each replication, patties were either inoculated (1×108 CFU) or not inoculated and stored for 26 hr at refrigeration, freezer, or room temperature. Three patties per storage method were cooked to either 145°F or 165°F and were plated before/after cooking. Nine patties …

Further Investigation Of The Effect Of Estrogen On Candida Albicans Filament Growth On Different Liquid Media, Authors

Biology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Phosphorylation Study Of Serine-8 And 26 In Two Fragments Of Amyloid Beta, A Peptide Involved In Alzheimer's Disease And Cancer, Colby J. Merrill

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Both cancer and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affect many people in the United States and impact the families of patients suffering from these challenging illnesses. Recently, it has been reported that these two diseases share several key pathophysiological features, and an inverse relationship exists between them. These diseases share several biochemical modulators, most notably the amyloid-beta protein, which affects tissues in both AD and cancer by misfolding and aggregating. Phosphorylation is believed to regulate the aggregation and toxicity of amyloid-beta by altering the protein's shape and charge, thereby changing its interactions with cells. Phosphorylation can also toggle some proteins on and …

Forage News [2026-03], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Hfpo-Da Aquatic Toxicity And Bioaccumulation, Bailey Dawn Rappold

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected globally in environmental media and biota. Legacy compounds PFOA and PFOS have been observed to be toxic and bioaccumulative in low doses and have been removed from production and industrial processes. Replacement PFAS chemicals are less understood and present a gap in current knowledge in their toxicological effects. This research utilized extended chronic toxicity studies to assess the impacts of HFPO-DA, a short chain replacement PFAS, on the standard aquatic toxicology organism Pimephales promelas. Organisms were exposed for 29 to 30 days at environmentally relevant concentrations of the toxicant, 7.8125 ng/L …

Practical Considerations For Conducting Canine Behavioral Science, Lucrezia Lonardo, Madeline H. Pelgrim, Jeffrey R. Stevens

Jeffrey Stevens Publications

Research on behavior in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) has increased rapidly recently due to the interest in them as pets, working dogs, and model species for understanding evolution, domestication, and even human health. This interest in canine behavioral science has resulted in the creation of dozens of dog lab worldwide, with more starting every year. Our aim here is to review practical issues that potential dog researchers might consider when deciding how to set up a dog lab and conduct research in canine behavioral science. We hope that this can offer a path forward in promoting high-quality, cutting-edge …

Integrated Management Of Diplodia Ear Rot And A Comparison Of Stenocarpella Species Affecting Corn, Luke C. Warner

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Corn is a globally important crop used for food, feed, and ethanol production, but often the grain quality is threatened by Diplodia ear rot, caused by Stenocarpella maydis and Stenocarpella macrospora. Effective management of Diplodia ear rot is difficult to achieve. This study evaluated the efficacy of foliar fungicides, including products listed by the Organic Material Research Institute (OMRI), against S. maydis in vitro and in field settings, as well as comparingthe aggressiveness of the two causal pathogens of Diplodia ear rot. The in vitro assays indicated a wide variation in sensitivity of S. maydis to the fungicide active ingredients, …

Planaria Dugesia Japonica As A Model Organism For Measuring The Toxicity Of Environmental Contaminants Per- And Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas), Caitlyn Rodeo

Behavioral Neuroscience Honors Papers

A group of synthetic chemicals, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the environment and have significant detrimental effects on physiology and behavior. Planaria have recently increased in popularity as a model for toxicology and regeneration research. These organisms possess a primitive centralized nervous system that is thought to be more similar to the vertebrate brain than to other invertebrate brains in terms of structure and function, and possesses the same neuronal subpopulations and neurotransmitters as the mammalian brain. While other studies have investigated the behavioral effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on planaria, there is …

Growth And Development Of Lettuce And Mizuna Under Urrm-Representative Conditions, Claudia Garrido-Ruiz, Bruce Bugbee, Juan D. González-Teruel, Alexandra Cartwright, Scott B. Jones

NASA

The Utah Reusable Root Module (URRM) is a zero-discharge plant growth system under development for operation in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Qualification of the URRM requires defining expected crop performance under representative operating conditions to evaluate nominal biological behavior. This study presents experimental results documenting the growth of mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica) and Outredgeous lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under URRM-representative conditions defined by the use of a silicone rubber fringe top cover for root-zone containment. 

Ground-based experiments were conducted using the Greenhouse System, URRM Simulator – Replicate 1, and URRM Simulator – Replicate 2, …

Winter 2026, Humayun Islam

PMI Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Influences On Student College-Major Decision And Satisfaction Rate Among Students In The School Of Agriculture, Danielle Shafer

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence students to choose agriculture majors and agriculture careers and measure the level of satisfaction with their major based on these influences. There are many factors that influence students to choose a major in college and college-major satisfaction. These influences and satisfaction with major may have an impact on a student’s decision to choose a college career path. Some of the influences mentioned in studies are family, friends, educators, extension programs, clubs, financial, and recruitment efforts. The degree to which each of these influence students may depend on the …

Development Of The Core Lit Apparatus For Seaweed Hatcheries (Clash) Bioreactor Using A Germplasm Approach, Phillip O. Tahimic

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In comparison to the Asian aquaculture industry, the United States has minimal seaweed production. There are several drivers of the limited industry in the US, such as regulatory constraints and limited market demand, but the ability to scale is a considerable barrier to commercialization. One possible solution is the development of land-based systems that integrate bioreactors, which utilize fewer resources and do not wholly rely on an oceanic flow-through system. This study assessed the application of a modular bioreactor, known as Core Lit Apparatus for Seaweed Hatcheries (CLASH), as a nursery system and open-source project designed to expand land-based seaweed …

Metabolic Reprogramming Following Mitochondrial Transfer Between Idh2-Mutant Chondrosarcoma Cells And A Normal B-Cell Line, Caleb Wyckoff, Christopher Osgood, Ellen Jing, Michael Stacey

Bioelectrics Publications

Background/Objectives: Chondrosarcoma, glioblastoma, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and cholangiocarcinoma cancers all contain mutations in the gene isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2). The mutant IDH2 enzyme metabolizes alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG) into the potent oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D2HG) in the mitochondria of these cancers, leading to altered cellular metabolism. Emerging evidence suggests that mitochondrial transfer between cancer and recipient cells represents an important form of intercellular communication that may influence cellular metabolism. The presence of intercellular TNTs between IDH2-mutant chondrosarcoma cells motivated an investigation into mitochondria-associated physiological changes occurring during an intercellular exchange with immune cells. A mitochondrial transfer is a two-way …

Bacterial Community Function In Pitcher Plant Leaves As An Experimental And Mathematical Model Of Functional Dynamics, Amelia Jackson

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This work looks at two different sites with differing abiotic factors in measures of altitude, temperature and precipitation. The site with higher altitude, larger temperature range, and lower precipitation, located in Plumas National Forest (Quincy, CA), had a flat BEF trend that suggests functional redundancy The site with lower altitude, more moderate temperatures, and higher precipitation located in Six Rivers National Forest (Gasquet, CA), also had a flat BEF trend. These abiotic factors could correlate to the significantly different bacterial compositions between sites. The second portion of this work is modeling the host antagonist relationship between Eyxra moths and their …

Seasonal And Lunar Patterns Of Peach Blossom Jellyfish (Craspedacusta Sowerbii) In Michigan, Claire Kozal

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The peach blossom jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii) is the only freshwater medusa found in the United States, yet its distribution, abundance, and mechanisms of dispersal remain poorly understood. Given its uncertain status, understanding the ecology of this species is a priority. To characterize population dynamics during the medusa season, surface water temperature and medusa abundance were surveyed at six inland lakes in Michigan. Occurrence records of C. sowerbii in Michigan were then used to compare co-occurrence patterns with nine aquatic invasives as a window into potential dispersal mechanisms and to create a regional ecological niche model. Medusae were observed in one …

Dietary Intake And Predictors Of Healthy Eating In Midwestern American College Students: An Observational Study †, Anna Peluso Simonson, Jacquelyn N. Zera, Gregory S. Farnell

2026 Faculty Bibliography

College students often maintain poor dietary habits, notably low fruit and vegetable intake. Commonbarriers include limited time, cost, and lack of nutritional knowledge. This study examined dietary behaviors, barriers, and factors influencing Healthy Eating Scores (HES) amongcollege students. Participants (N = 224; age = 20.3 ± 2.5 years, BMI = 23.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2, 78.9% female, and 91.3% white) completed an online survey. Results indicate meat overconsumption with underconsumption of water, fruits, and vegetables. Limited time and healthy options were the primary perceived barriers. Tests of between-subject effects identified gender (F = 4.38, p = 0.04) and living situation (F …

The Effect Of Second-Order Slip In Hydromagnetic Eyring-Powell Flow: A Bvp4c Study, Ch. Maheswari, B. Naga Lakshmi, G. Dharmaiah, R. Mohana Ramana, B. Reddappa

Mansoura Engineering Journal

The steady-state Eyring–Powell boundary layer fluid flow past a moving surface is examined, considering various parameter implications. These include the wall mass transfer parameter (0.5  C   2.0), the magnetic field parameter (5  Mn 20), the velocity ratio parameter (0.1  λ1  0.7), Eyring-Powell fluid parameters (0.5 K 2 & 0.1 E 0.4), as well as the first-order velocity slip (0.1 γ 1.1) and second-order velocity slip (0.1 δ  0.4). By employing appropriate similarity transformations, the PDEs are reduced to a set of non-linear ODEs, which are subsequently solved using the bvp4c numerical technique and, an implication of key factors on shear …

A Hybrid Geoid Model For The Perlis Region, Malaysia Based On Cadastral Reference Marks And A Geometric Approach, Muhammad Aiman Haiqal Abdul Malek, Muhammad Faiz Pa’Suya, Ramazan Alpay Abbak, Ami Hassan Md Din, Noorfatekah Talib

Mansoura Engineering Journal

This study presents the development of a high-resolution local geoid model for the Perlis region, Malaysia, using a geometric approach that integrates GNSS-levelling benchmarks with Cadastral Reference Mark (CRM) data. A total of 38 GNSS-levelling benchmarks were used as reference points, while 3,725 CRMs were incorporated to significantly enhance spatial coverage for geoid modelling. Orthometric heights at the CRM points were first determined by transferring heights from the reference benchmarks using gravimetric geoid information. Subsequently, geometric geoid heights were computed from the differences between ellipsoidal and orthometric heights. Five interpolation techniques were evaluated to generate the geometric geoid surface, namely …