Digital Commons Network^™

A Doubly Stochastic Model Of Government Interventions To Preserve Ecosystems Services In The Context Of Large-Scale Industrial Agriculture, Karma Brame, Wendy Calderon, Kaylee Clark, Josh Hiller, Natalia Negrete

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Deforestation, driven by industrial agriculture and cattle farming, has significantly impacted communities and ecosystems across the globe. In this paper, we develop a discrete-time Markov model to evaluate the effectiveness of market-based interventions, such as payments for ecosystem services (PES) and taxes, in addressing forest loss within the context of large-scale agriculture. Specifically, we focus on how commodity price variability influences deforestation decisions. To model these price fluctuations, we represent agricultural prices as geometric Brownian motion (GBM). By linking commodity price dynamics to land use transitions, our model aims to provide insight into how financial mechanisms can slow or stop …

Functionalized Nanodiamonds As Binding Platforms For Single-Stranded Dna, Mallory A. Chapman

Honors Theses

Nanodiamonds (NDs) offer a promising platform for biomolecular applications due to their stability, biocompatibility, and three-dimensional structure. This study focused on developing a nanodiamond–DNA complex in which streptavidin-functionalized NDs would form a protective shell around biotinylated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), creating a core–shell system like an “M&M” candy with DNA at the center and a protective coating on the outside. DNA has many uses in nanotechnology, including DNA origami, nanomachines, and drug delivery systems, but its degradation limits its practical use, making protective strategies essential.

ND–DNA conjugates were prepared using biotin–streptavidin interactions and analyzed using gel electrophoresis. Initial separation on agarose …

Great Graminoids! Quantifying Vegetation On Roan’S Western Balds Over The Last 80 Years (1936, 1956, 2016), James T. Donaldson

Faculty Open Access Works

PowerPoint originally presented at Friends of Roan Mountain Winter Naturalists' Rally 11 Feb. 2017.

Grant funding from Friends of Roan Mountain for resampling historic transects from Carvers Gap to Grassy Ridge. Revised 2021, 2022, & 2023 (technical features and diversity); edited for clarity 2026 (for written rather than oral presentation & added references slide).

Antibiotic Resistance Patterns In Bacterial Isolates From Mississippi Gulf Coastal Environments, Lawler F. Horn

Honors Theses

Coastal environments host diverse microbial communities that play essential ecological roles but may also serve as reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study investigated patterns of antibiotic resistance in microbial isolates collected from public beaches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. A total of 143 bacterial isolates exhibited growth and were included in antibiotic susceptibility screening. High levels of antibiotic resistance were observed, with 137 of 143 isolates showing growth on vancomycin, 124 on amoxicillin, and 102 on erythromycin. Resistance to kanamycin (19/143 isolates) and tetracycline (33/143) was less common. Multidrug resistance was widespread, with 101 isolates (70.6%) resistant to three or …

Faith, Science, And Choice: Vaccine Attitudes Among Religious University Students, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data comprise a Q-methodology study conducted at Brigham Young University among undergraduate students to determine vaccine attitudes in relation to religious and political ideologies. It includes raw sort data, templates for running Q-methodology, and interview transcripts.

Atomoxetine Enhances Specific Dimensions Of Cognitive Performance In A Rodent Strategy Shifting Assay, Jessica Ivanov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Title: Atomoxetine enhances specific dimensions of cognitive performance in a rodent strategy shifting assay

Authors: Jessica Ivanov, Christopher P. Knapp, Barry D. Waterhouse, Rachel L. Navarra

Objective: Cognitive flexibility, a domain of executive function, supports adaptive shifts in behavior in response to changing environmental demands and task contingencies. Deficits in this capacity are common to neuropsychiatric disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where improper regulation of the catecholamine transmitters dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) has been implicated. Atomoxetine (ATX), a selective NE transporter (NET) inhibitor, elevates levels of NE and DA in the …

Isolation And Quantification Of Rna From Extracellular Vesicles Derived From A549 Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells Using Ultracentrifugation, Yousef Dimian, Vanessa Pizutelli, Dimitri Pestov

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have gained attention as potential diagnostic tools due to their presence in body fluids and their ability to carry nucleic acids, including RNA. EV-derived RNA, particularly ribosomal RNA (rRNA), may reflect cellular stress and disease states, making it a promising biomarker1, 2. This project focuses on optimizing methods to isolate EVs and quantify their RNA content using human cell culture models. Differential ultracentrifugation was used to separate vesicle populations based on size, followed by RNA extraction and quantification using a high-sensitivity assay. Initial experiments using media from three 150 mm culture dishes yielded no detectable RNA, whereas …

Optimization Of Refolding, Purification, And Analytical Characterization Of Proinsulin(F25d) Soluble Antigen Array Immunotherapy, Abigail Richardson

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is characterized by autoreactive immune responses to insulin and its precursor, proinsulin. Soluble antigen arrays (SAgAs) displaying the metabolically inactive proinsulin variant, proinsulin(F25D), represent a promising antigen‑specific immunotherapy candidate for T1D. However, the production of these platforms is hindered by substantial practical challenges, including protein aggregation, inefficient refolding, and the lack of sensitive analytical tools to verify quality and dosage. This work establishes an integrated, scalable pipeline for the purification, conjugation, and quantification of a proinsulin(F25D) SAgA. First, we optimized the refolding of recombinant methionine-proinsulin(F25D) (M-PI(F25D)) from inclusion bodies using controlled buffer systems and created a …

Predicting And Decoding Allosteric Binding Sites Using Protein Language Models And Structure-Based Machine Learning: An Energy Landscape-Guided Explainable Ai Framework, Kamila Riedlová, Vít Skrhák, William G. Gatlin, Max Ludwick, Lucas Turano, Marian Novotný, David Hoksza, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Computational prediction of allosteric binding sites in protein structures remains a persistent challenge, as these regulatory pockets evade detection by both sequence-based and structure-based algorithms. Both computational and physical origins of this predictive asymmetry remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we systematically examine the determinants of binding site predictability using a dual framework that integrates a fine-tuned protein language model and the structure-based method P2Rank as complementary tools probing a diverse data set of 453 human kinases, together with a physics-based interpretability layer derived from energy landscape frustration analysis. Both predictors exhibit a sharp and reproducible dichotomy on protein kinases, …

Proteomics And Alkaloid Signature Of Narrow Leaf Lupin Leaves Reveal Key Enzymes In Quinolizidine Alkaloid Biosynthesis And Transportation, Tawfeek Khedr, Ling Ling Gao, Lars G. Kamphuis, Utpal Bose, Mitchell G. Nye-Wood, Angéla Juhász, Michelle L. Colgrave

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Quinolizidine alkaloids (QAs) are toxic secondary metabolites in narrow-leafed lupin that defend against herbivores but constrain food and feed use. We developed a single-sample multiomics workflow for simultaneous extraction and quantitative analysis of QAs and proteins from individual leaves using urea/thiourea/CHAPS extraction with acetone precipitation, validated for QA quantification by LC–MS/MS. Data-independent acquisition proteomics of eight lupin accessions (four bitter, four sweet) identified 4437 proteins, with 183 differing significantly between bitter and sweet groups. Bitter accessions were enriched in lysine biosynthesis and stress-response pathways, whereas sweet accessions showed enrichment in phenylpropanoid and other defense-related processes. Coexpression network analysis linked protein …

Herbularyo (Folk Healer): An Herbal Medicine Card Game, Maryjane T. Magsino, Inah Marie Q. Rivera, Armando M. Guidote, Genejane M. Adarlo

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Herbularyo, a card game teaching about herbal plants (HPs), was created and evaluated as a viable educational card game based on Tuomisto and Aksela’s criteria. A quasi-experiment was performed on 81 Grade 8 students from a private high school and 50 Grade 11 from a public high school. Independent t-test revealed that the control group (CG) and experimental group (EG) (p=0.386), and EG1 (played ≤5) and EG2 (played >5) (p=0.681) are not comparable with each other. Paired t-test showed EG performed better (p=0.001) than CG (p=0.901) whereas ANCOVA showed that playing Herbularyo improved students’ information retention (p=0.006). EG1 and EG2 …

The Meaning Of Physical Activity In The Context Of Health Sciences: A Concept Analysis, Martín G. Farinola

International Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Physical activity has been defined in numerous ways. Thus, this study aimed to conduct a concept analysis of the existing physical activity definitions in the health sciences literature to evaluate its conceptual precision and assess the need for a revised or novel concept better suited for this domain. The concept analysis was accomplished using tools derived from philosophical semantics. The analysis identified six definitions that explicitly state what physical activity is with sufficient clarity to allow for conceptual examination. The findings indicated that these definitions frequently merge the concept of physical activity with its contextual attributes. To address these semantic …

Injuries In Youth Football: A Two Year Descriptive Study Of Local South Carolina Football Leagues, Marie Morrissette, Dr. Jim Mensch, Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

There has been an increase in the media attention surrounding retired National Football League players and the lasting effects from previous injuries.  With more than 20 million children under the age of 17 participating in competitive sports, the attention in the lasting effects of injuries in professional players has trickled down to the youth level.  Of the approximately 20 million children participating in competitive sports, the largest portion of the participants is playing youth football.  The University of South Carolina Athletic Training Department is partaking in a multisite research study conducted by the Datalys Center to track the injuries of …

A Review Of Video Game Effects And Uses, David Corso

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Video games are versatile in their form and function. Whether they’re training doctors or offsetting Alzheimer’s disease, video games can exercise both mental and physical features, train specific skills for a number of jobs, educate players about events and phenomenon in our world, research and understand natural human processes, and they can be designed for a number of other purposes. Multiple studies have demonstrated the effects of video games on physiological and cognitive levels—positive, negative, and everything in between. This paper identifies various physical and psychological effects that video games produce, and it suggests ways in which video games can …

Developing Best Recommendations For Aerial Application And Chemigation Of Insecticides For Western Bean Cutworm (Striacosta Albicosta Smith) Management In Corn, Andrea Rilakovic

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith), is a univoltine moth in North America, recognized as an economic threat to both corn (Zea mays L.) and dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). In the Midwest of the United States, S. albicosta can cause severe damage by reducing the quantity and quality of corn ears through larval feeding. Currently, options for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins that can effectively control S. albicosta are limited, relying on only one Vip3A effective protein, while other growers use insecticide application via airplanes or center pivot irrigation systems, known as chemigation. Given the importance …

Examining The Influences Of Citizen Factors On The Co-Creation Behaviors Of Online Public Services In A Smart City, Ratih Dyah Kusumastuti, Nurmala Nurmala, Juliana Rouli

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

As smart cities increasingly rely on digital platforms to deliver public services, citizen participation becomes essential for ensuring effective and sustainable service delivery. However, limited research has examined which citizen-related factors drive co-creation behaviors in smart city contexts, particularly in emerging economies. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence the co-creation behaviors of online public services in five smart cities in Indonesia through the city’s digital platform and online social network (OSN). This study analyzes whether citizen factors, namely, perceived benefits over the city and OSN friends, trust in the city and OSN friends, and self-efficacy, affect co-creation …

Employing Zebrafish To Understand Genetic Drivers Of Epilepsy-Related Comorbid Behaviors, Chinwendu Ononuju, Kharma Hall, Olivia Beatty, Scott C. Baraban, Colleen Carpenter-Swanson

Biology Faculty Publications

Children with epilepsy frequently experience a range of significant comorbidities beyond seizures, such as motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and neurodevelopmental delays. In some cases, these comorbidities contribute more significantly to overall disease burden than the seizures themselves. To improve quality-of-life (QOL) for these children, treatment options should be selected that control seizures and ameliorate comorbidities. Unfortunately, such therapeutics remain largely elusive. Addressing this issue requires suitable preclinical models. Here we used CRISPR-generated zebrafish with single-gene mutations linked to pediatric epilepsy and applied clinically-relevant behavioral assays to study the effects of these mutations. Using high-throughput locomotion-based assays, we uncovered errors in …

Evaluation Of The Weed Control Efficacy And Potential Economic Returns Of An Autonomous Weeder In Vegetable Production Systems, Claire Plassmeyer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Vegetable production requires intensive weed management. Conventional producers rely on herbicide applications to manage weeds effectively at low costs; however, growers are under pressure to minimize chemical use due to environmental concerns and increased incidences of herbicide resistance. Non-conventional systems, including organic and sustainably focused small-scale production, rely primarily on cultural practices and physical weed control methods, which are labor-intensive and costly due to limited labor availability and rising wages. These concerns have prompted the development of autonomous weeding devices, such as unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) equipped with navigation sensors and implements to provide repeated, high-precision weed control. Compact devices …

Long Term Changes In Elk Group Size And Composition (2002-2023) In Relation To Wolf Hunting Sucess, Kennedy Price

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park exist within a predator-prey system shaped by long-term interactions with wolves (Canis lupus). This predator-prey system represents an important model for understanding how predation influences ungulate behavior and social organization. Predators affect prey behavior through direct and indirect interactions and may cause long-term changes. What this study strives to answer is if predator success can have long term effects on prey grouping behavior and age-sex structure. In a previous study, wolves were found to be most successful hunting medium sized group of elk (20-49 individuals) in Yellowstone National Park. …

Sequential Products Of Anaerobic Denitrification In Calcareous And Noncalcareous Soils By Use Of The Gas Chromatograph, Grant S. Cooper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The sequential products of anaerobic denitrification were determined on seven Western soils (four alkaline, two acid, and one neutral) by soil and gas analysis. The soils with 1% alfalfa and added KNO3 were incubated at moistures slightly greater than field capacity and with an atmosphere of He. The soils and gases were periodically analyzed and balance sheets prepared. The sequence of NO3-->NO2-->N2O-->N2 operated in all soils. The rates of nitrogen interchanges and maximal amounts of nitrate, N2O2 and N2 were determined. From this data it was postulated that the rate-limiting process for denitrification in acid soils is …

Mapping Spatial Variability For Precision Management In Utah’S Tart Cherry Orchards, Kurt T. Wedegaertner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Tart cherry orchards are a major part of the agricultural landscape in Utah, but producing cherries is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive. Orchard land is not uniform. Some parts of a field grow strong, healthy trees, while other parts struggle because of differences in soil, water, and landscape. Even though these differences exist, orchards are usually managed the same way everywhere. Over many years, this causes some trees to become much larger than others, making orchards harder to manage, less efficient to harvest and prune, and more costly to maintain.

This research focused on finding practical ways to measure these …

The Cobalt Curse: Cobalt’S Role And Risks, Marley Jackowitz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the hidden environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social costs of the cobalt supply chain. Fueled by the demand for battery technology and electric vehicles, cobalt has become an essential element to the green energy transition. With the largest share of global cobalt deposits, the Democratic Republic of the Congo bears a disproportionate share of the industry’s harms. Cobalt mining in the DRC is marked by environmentally degrading practices and inhumane working conditions, compromising Congolese health, safety, and well-being. Chapter 1 discusses the environmental impacts of DRC cobalt mining and its adverse effects on public health. Environmentally degrading mining …

Consumerism In The Digital Age: Environmental And Cultural Consequences, Danielle Andrea Montoya

Student Theses 2015-Present

Overconsumption has emerged as a significant environmental problem, characterized by persistent patterns of buying, using, and discarding goods at rates that exceed ecological limits. In the digital age, these patterns of consumption are reinforced by economic systems, technological advancements, and cultural norms that make constant consumption feel normal and convenient. While consumption is necessary for everyday life, consumption beyond basic needs contributes to increased waste, resource depletion, pollution, and climate change. Overconsumption is embedded in daily habits such as online shopping, food consumption, and frequent product replacement. Therefore, understanding and addressing overconsumption is crucial for achieving environmental sustainability and social …

Assessing The Impact Of Toxic Fescue Consumption During Gestation On Muscle Growth Gene Expression And Beef Color Quality Of The Offspring, Madison Blank

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Endophyte-infected tall, toxic fescue is the most common forage for beef cattle in the southeastern U.S. However, exposure to this forage causes detrimental effects on the health of gestating cattle. The exposure to toxic fescue during gestation has been shown to impact fetal development during pregnancy and their offspring’s subsequent growth. However, limited information is currently available on the impact of this exposure on the meat quality of the offspring. Our objective is to determine how the dam’s exposure to toxic fescue during gestation impacts the beef color and quality of the final offspring.

A total of 22 animals (11 …

Status Of The Potentially Invasive Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax Quadricarinatus), Margaret (Addie) Munn

Biology Theses

The introduction of invasive species, including crayfish, is common through aquaculture and aquarium trade pathways and is an important factor causing the decline and/or extinction of native species. Invasive species cause billions of dollars in damages annually and threaten almost half of the native species in the United States. Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Redclaws) are a species of large individuals that originated in Australia and New Guinea and have been introduced specifically for aquaculture and the aquarium trade. Redclaws are known to thrive in tropical and subtropical locations. They can tolerate high temperatures and low oxygen and are generalist omnivores that …

Reducing Textile Waste Through 3d Body Scanning Technology: A Comparative Study Of Traditional And Digital Apparel Design Methods, Anna Delap

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

The fashion industry generates a substantial amount of textile waste each year, highlighting the need to incorporate more sustainable methods in the design and production of apparel garments. Emerging technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and digital design software present the potential to reduce the amount of waste generated during product development while also improving fit and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of 3D body scanning to reduce waste in the apparel industry by comparing garment development using 3D digital design and traditional flat pattern design methods.

In this study, 3D body …

Soil Microbial Responses To Artifical Light At Night, Randall L. Walker

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Global change, driven by both natural processes and human activities, has significantly transformed ecosystems. Urbanization and artificial light at night (ALAN) are key contributors, disrupting natural light cycles and influencing biological rhythms, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. Thus far, there remains a gap in knowledge of how soil ecosystems are impacted by ALAN. This study uses a laboratory incubation to investigate the effects of ALAN on soil microbial communities and functions across urban and natural ecosystems. Briefly, soil was collected from eight sites around El Paso, Texas and neighboring New Mexico representing urban and rural light exposure. Soil was then subjected …

Comparing Awssi And Traditional Winter Metrics For Predicting Overwinter Survival Of Juvenile Walleye (Sander Vitreus), Camille N. Shifrin

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Winter conditions are an important driver of recruitment variability in freshwater fishes, yet winter severity is often characterized using single climate metrics. These simplified approaches may not capture the cumulative stress experienced by fishes during winter. The Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) integrates multiple components of winter climate and may therefore provide a more biologically relevant indicator of overwinter survival. In this study, we compared AWSSI with traditional winter severity metrics to explain interannual variation in overwinter survival of juvenile Walleye (Sander vitreus) in Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska. Model comparisons using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) indicated that …

Clawing Our Way To Inclusion: Identifying Minority Students’ Barriers To Entering The Veterinary Medicine Profession, Danielle Reeves

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Veterinary services are being utilized more each year as pet owners are increasingly viewing and treating their pets like family members. Due to this changing perspective, the veterinary profession has grown significantly. Yet, despite this change, there is a lack of ethnic/racial diversity within the veterinary field. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors and/or barriers associated with minority students' desire or lack of desire to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. This study used an online survey tool to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 423 undergraduate students at the University of Arkansas during the spring …

Ecological Responses To Living Shoreline Restoration, Aaron S. Bland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Coastal built communities and natural coastal ecosystems face similar and interrelated hazards: shoreline sediment erosion, shoreline retreat, and worsening storms, each of which is exacerbated by relative sea level rise. Living shorelines are coastal defense projects that incorporate natural habitats to provide more sustainable shoreline defense and improve the coastal ecosystem. Living shorelines have been widely adopted, but their performance has been highly variable, and the mechanisms of project success and failure are unclear. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to better understand the ecosystem responses to coastal restoration, focusing on the primary habitats of coastal salt marsh and …