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Thermal Performance And Specific Energy Consumption Of Traditional Tobacco Curing Barns In Tanzania, Seuri S. Kilakoi, Baraka Kichonge, Thomas Kivevele, Mtaki T. Maagi, Jacob B. Lisuma

Tanzania Journal of Science

Traditional tobacco curing barns remain the dominant technology in Tanzania due to their low construction cost and accessibility, particularly in major producing regions such as Tabora. However, their thermal inefficiency results in excessive firewood use and environmental degradation. This study presents a field-based performance evaluation of a traditional flue-curing barn at the Tobacco Research Institute of Tanzania. Environmental parameters and fuel consumption were monitored at 15- minute intervals throughout the yellowing, leaf drying, and stem drying stages. The curing process handled 429 kg of fresh tobacco using 1,016 kg of firewood, equivalent to 16,256 MJ of energy input. The specific …

A Phase 1, First-In-Human, Dose Escalation Study Of Jnj-80038114, A Psmaxcd3 Bispecific Antibody, In Participants With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer, Andrew Hudson, Anuradha Jayaram, Benjamin Garmezy, Nicholas Zorko, Kevin Zarrabi, Ligi Mathews, Brent Rupnow, Mengjie Li, Debopriya Ghosh, Karen Urtishak, Peter Francis, Sherry Wang, Edward Attiyeh, Johann De Bono

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has been identified as a therapeutic target for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). The recent success of radioligands targeting PSMA spurred development of new PSMA-targeting agents including immunotherapy. JNJ-80038114 is a bispecific antibody that binds PSMA on tumor cells and CD3 on T cells to induce anti-tumor activity.

METHODS: This was a phase 1, open-label, multicenter study of JNJ-80038114 in participants with mCRPC and ≥ 1 prior systemic therapy. JNJ-80038114 was administered subcutaneously every 3 weeks (Q3W), starting at 0.1 mg. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included pharmacokinetics (PK), immunogenicity, and prostate-specific antigen …

2026 Revised Draft Final Bpsou Backfill And Cover Material Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Proaftn Classifier With Ant Colony Algorithm: Enhanced Diabetes Detection Benchmarking, Feras Al-Obeidat

All Works

The increasing global prevalence of diabetes highlights the need for accurate diagnostic tools to improve early detection and effective treatment planning. Traditional classification models often struggle to achieve optimal performance due to limitations in parameter tuning and adaptability to complex datasets. To address these limitations, this article introduces PROAnt, an innovative learning approach designed to enhance the robustness and efficiency of the PROAFTN multicriteria classification method. PROAnt leverages the computational power of ant colony optimization (ACO) to dynamically fine-tune and optimize the key parameters, such as intervals and weights, at the core of the PROAFTN classification process. This learning methodology …

Affect Regulation In The Context Of Sexual And Gender Minority Stress: A Scoping Review Protocol, Daphne Y. Liu, Benjamin A. Swerdlow, Shao Yuan Chong, Nadia Kako, Alex Rubin, Nicholas S. Perry

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Objective

To provide a broad, comprehensive picture of affect regulation in the context of sexual and gender minority stress, this scoping review aims to identify and synthesize methods, methodologies, and available evidence pertinent to emotion regulation and coping in the context of minority stress among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people.

Introduction

SGM people face disproportionately high rates of mental health problems due to experiences of minority stress and lack of social safety. Theories and growing evidence suggest that affect regulation plays a critical role in SGM people’s well-being in the face of minority stress. Researchers have largely studied emotion …

Task-Optimized Brain Parcellations Reveal Latent Functional Organization For Enhanced Connectivity-Based Neuroimaging Classification, Andrew Hannum, Mario A. Lopez

Computer Science: Faculty Scholarship

Brain parcellation schemes are fundamental to neuroimaging, yet general-purpose atlases may obscure the specific functional architecture relevant to a given cognitive task or clinical condition. This reflects a growing consensus that the “optimal” brain map is context-dependent. Here, we introduce a novel framework that validates this principle by generating task-optimized human brain parcellation maps directly from supervised learning objectives. Our method defines functional parcels by grouping brain regions based on the similarity of their contributions to a classifier's decision boundary for a specific goal (e.g., cognitive state decoding or clinical group separation). This approach prioritizes a region's discriminative role over …

A Probabilistic Modeling Analysis Of The Longitudinal Immune Response To Infection And Vaccination Across Demographic Groups And Pulmonary Symptoms, James O'Hanlon, Kaitlyn Sullivan, Lyndsey M. Muehling, Glenda Canderan, Jie Sun, Judith A. Woodfolk, Jeffrey M. Wilson, Rayanne A. Luke

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Antibody and cytokine kinetics describe the dynamic response to immune events such as infection and vaccination. These dynamics are not fully understood, and mathematical characterization may help explain variability across demographic groups and pulmonary symptoms post-acute infection. We fit time-dependent probability models to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) data to obtain distributions of longitudinal antibody response and cytokine values. To assess differences between groups, an overlap metric is applied to the modeled response curves. Our antibody models suggest significant differences between male and female populations and demonstrate deficient antibody responses of less-healthy groups such as smokers. Our cytokine …

Optimal Intervention Strategies In Age-Structured Sirvd Model: Epidemiological And Economic Analysis Of Covid-19 In Korea, Joon Chun, Melisa Hendrata

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

This study employed an age-structured Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Vaccinated-Deceased (SIRVD) model to design optimal COVID‑19 intervention strategies by integrating epidemiological dynamics with economic costs. Using empirical data from South Korea, we estimated transmission parameters and analyzed quarantine-based non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) alongside targeted vaccination scenarios. Our results indicated that a stronger form of mild NPI (upper range of Level I), when combined with targeted vaccination that prioritized seniors, achieved substantial reductions in infection peaks and overall economic burden. These findings underscore the effectiveness of age-specific strategies in epidemic management and offer critical insights for policymakers seeking balanced, resource-efficient approaches.

2026 January - Tennessee Monthly Climate Report, Tennessee Climate Office, East Tennessee State University

Tennessee Climate Office Monthly Reports

Hi All,

The main weather and climate story of January 2026 was the major winter storm that impacted the state from Saturday, January 24 through Monday, January 26 with rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow, followed by extremely cold conditions. Winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories were in place across the state on Friday, January 23, as snow and sleet spread into Tennessee from the west in the overnight hours of Friday into Saturday. Most areas of the state saw an initial round of snow and sleet, before a layer of warm air aloft caused most locations to see …

Infinite Line, Infinite Knowledge: The 'Spera' And Organized Chaos In Lambert's Encyclopedia, The 'Liber Floridus', Ava Romano

Theses and Dissertations

The Liber Floridus is a medieval encyclopedia renowned for its program of circular diagrams, or sperae. Inside this manuscript of 190 chapters, these diagrams frame and embody written knowledge, revealing a connection between encyclopedism and life in the Benedictine monastery by creating a coherent visual organization of chapters.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final 2022 Unreclaimed Sites Sampling: Ur-06 Site Evaluation Summary Report (Dated December 10, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final 2022 Unreclaimed Sites Sampling: Ur-22 Site Evaluation Summary Report (Dated December 10, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Approval Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Revised Draft Final 2022 Unreclaimed Sites Sampling: Ur-12 Site Evaluation Summary Report (Dated December 9, 2025), Molly Roby

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Role Of Occupational Therapy In The Delivery Of Trauma-Informed Services To Hospital-Based Clients Ot, Frank Czuba

Journal of Applied Disciplines

Hospitalization can traumatize clients and impact overall health outcomes, leading to increased hospital readmission rates and resulting in a negative impact for both clients and providers. Limited information exists regarding how hospital-based occupational therapists evaluate and address trauma, even though incorporating trauma-informed principles into professional practice can enhance the occupational therapy process. The study explored the comprehension and perceived significance of trauma-informed tenets among occupational therapists delivering services in hospital-based settings. A quantitative research study with an exploratory design was implemented to explore how occupational therapists (OT) understand and utilize trauma-informed practices with their clients in a hospital setting. An …

A Review Study Of The Relationship Between Coal Fly Ash Characteristics And The Presence Of Rare Earth Metals From Steam Power Plants In Indonesia, Muhammad F. Shafiyurrahman, Shofa Rijalul Haq, Nurkhamim Nurkhamim, Ade Kurniawan, Rofa D Bulopa, Rizki Khoiriah Nasution

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The establishment of a coal mining downstream ecosystem focused on a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy is an important goal for many countries. One strategic step in achieving this goal is the utilization of coal fly ash (CFA) waste as a secondary source of rare earth elements (REE). The use of CFA provides a solution to the environmental and health challenges resulting from mining primary sources. Prior to developing REE extraction technology, CFA characterization must be conducted. Therefore, this study addresses the relationship between CFA characteristics and the presence of REE. Based on the ASTM C618-12 standard, CFA in Indonesia …

Integrated Optimization Of Underground Mine Ventilation Using Hardy Cross, Monte Carlo Simulations, And Machine Learning Techniques: A Step Toward Sustainable Mining, Hussein A. Saleem

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Underground mine ventilation is crucial for ensuring worker safety, air quality, and operational efficiency. Effective optimization of ventilation systems reduces energy consumption, enhances airflow distribution, and minimizes risks associated with harmful gases and fire hazards. This study proposed an integrated framework combining the Hardy Cross (HC) method, Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, and machine learning (ML) techniques to optimize the ventilation system at the Jabal Sayid mine in Saudi Arabia. The HC method was employed to provide deterministic baseline airflow calculations, while the MC simulations accounted for uncertainties in resistance values and environmental conditions, generating probabilistic distributions of key parameters. Among …

Assessment Of Heavy Metal Contamination In Surface Water Near Tailings Dam, Gera Techane Mengistu, Tesema Kebede, Enatfenta Melaku, Engdasew Temere

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Elevated levels of heavy metals in surface water can lead to the degradation of water quality, especially in mining areas where tailing dams are sources of heavy metal pollution. This study focuses on evaluating the concentrations of heavy metals in surface water near the Legadembi tailings dams. The mean concentrations (in µg/L) of various heavy metals including: arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), thallium (Tl), uranium (U), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), zinc (Zn), and zirconium (Zr) were determined: 79.7, 0.15, 162.3, 0.66, 18.1, 0.01, …

Intrinsically Safe Pneumatic Seismic Source For Controlled Rock Mass ,Monitoring And Imaging In Underground Mining, Przemysław Sierodzki, Leszek Remiorz, Mateusz Ćwiękała, Krzysztof Krawiec

Journal of Sustainable Mining

This article explores the technical principles of pneumatic seismic sources, focusing on their application in underground mining operations, including environments prone to fire hazards. It introduces an intrinsically safe pneumatic seismic source as a cost-effective solution for quasi-continuous seismic excitation, useful for detecting stress concentrations in mining settings. These stress concentrations are identified through anomalies in seismic wave velocity, which may indicate potentially hazardous deformations in the rock mass. The developed system enables fully remote operation from the surface and integrates with a seismic monitoring system to capture high-resolution waveforms. The study provides an overview of the pneumatic system’s technical …

Continuous Sorption Of Ionic Dyes Onto Nanoporous Faujasite Zeolite And The Regeneration Of The Adsorbent, Frederick O. Oshomogho, Miracle Aisosa Omorogieva

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This study evaluates the efficiency of synthesized faujasite zeolite in the continuous removal of methylene blue from water and tests the reusability of the regenerated adsorbent. Faujasite Zeolite was synthesized from locally available aluminosilicate clay in Edo State using standard methods documented in the literature. XRF analysis affirmed the elemental composition, showing high levels of silica and alumina, which increased its adsorption capacity. SEM images depicted a crystal-clear structure with an octahedral shape and visible micro-pores on the surface. TGA showed effective thermal stability below 300 ºC, with a 10% weight loss between 28.59 ºC and 300 ºC. BET analysis …

Assessment Of Outdoor Thermal Human Comfort Over Houche Al-Oumara, North Lebanon, Ali Adnan Shaar, Ismail Ibrahim Abbas, Mahmoud Ahmed Hewehy, El-Sayed Mohamed Abdel-Hamid Robaa, Mohammed Salah El-Din Mostafa

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This study examined thermal discomfort in Houche Al-Oumara between 1994 and 2021 using several discomfort indices and analyzing temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall data. The results showed that July and August recorded markedly higher mean temperatures than all other months, with July having the highest temperature overall. In contrast, January was identified as the coldest month. The study found a steady rise in mean air temperature from January to July, followed by a steady decline from July to December. Relative humidity showed the same pattern but in the opposite direction. Fewer than half of the residents experienced thermal discomfort during …

Ai In Society: A Regulatory Framework For Responsible Integration, Ziad Doughan, Sari Itani, Hadi Al Mubasher

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

This review paper studies the influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) on society in various categories in detail. AI and ML have developed rapidly in the past two decades, thus changing our lifestyles. These developments have various positive and negative impacts on society. This paper explores the many societal impacts of AI and ML, in economics, social aspects, ethics, and policy, shedding light on the opportunities and challenges that arise. An interdisciplinary insight is capable of understanding the challenges society faces when it uses AI and ML, locking opportunities that lie ahead and identifying promising paths towards …

Crystal Structure Of Methanococcus Jannaschii Dihydroorotase With Substrate Bound, Jacqueline Vitali, Jay C. Nix, Haley E. Newman, Michael J. Colaneri

Physics Faculty Publications

Here, we report the X-ray structural analysis of dihydroorotase from Methanococcus jannaschii co-crystallized with dihydroorotate at pH 6.5. The crystals are isomorphous with the crystals of the apoenzyme, with space group P3₂21 and unit-cell dimensions a = b = 111.4, c = 101.2 Å. The structure was refined to R = 0.169 and R_free = 0.186 at a resolution of 1.87 Å at room temperature. During crystallization the degradative reaction took place, and the electron density in the active site corresponds to the substrate carbamoyl aspartate. Carbamoyl aspartate interacts with the protein in the active site …

Genre Based Analysis Of Sustainability In Contemporary U.S. Film Production: Inception Or Illusion?, Tanner Ennis

Interdisciplinary Studies | Senior Theses

Anthropogenic activity is actively leading to environmental degradation, highlighting the need for large industries to take responsibility for their environmental impact, particularly the film industry. While sustainable practices in the film industry such as virtual production, recycling of set construction materials, or the use of renewable energy present opportunities to improve sustainability, there is still a substantial amount of progress to be made. For example, research has demonstrated that increases in production budget correlate with higher carbon dioxide emissions, with fuel, utilities, and travel acting as the top contributors (Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, 2022). Conversation among the scholarly community is centered …

Most Utahns Support Affirming Rights Of Great Salt Lake, Sarah A. Woodbury, Kirsten Vinyeta, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad, Darren Parry

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

A combination of water diversions and climate change-related shifts have led to record low water levels and increasing salinity at Great Salt Lake (GSL) (1, 2).  Low water levels not only impact those directly dependent on the lake—brine shrimpers and migratory birds, for example—but also the millions of individuals living along the Wasatch Front. Increasing toxic dust levels from exposed lakebed and potential shifts to snowpack in the region are of primary concern. Children and marginalized communities are especially vulnerable to the respiratory health impacts of toxic dust (3, 4). According to the 2023 Utah People & Environment Poll (UPEP), …

Aura: An Ai-Powered Multimodal Prototype For Adaptive Apraxia Of Speech Therapy And Communication Support, Omotayo Omoyemi, Rachel K. Johnson

Speech-Language Pathology Faculty Publications

Apraxia of Speech (AOS) is a motor speech disorder that significantly limits communication and requires intensive, long-term therapy. Access to consistent treatment is often constrained by shortages of speech-language pathologists, high costs, and limited opportunities for continuous monitoring outside clinical settings. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) provide new opportunities to support scalable and personalized speech therapy.

This paper presents AURA (Adaptive Understanding and Relearning Assistant for Apraxia), a multimodal AI framework designed to support speech therapy, progress monitoring, and communication for individuals with AOS. The system integrates speech analysis, machine learning–based error detection, reinforcement learning for adaptive therapy, and …

Setting The Recycling Narrative: A Thematic Analysis Of Recycling Webpages In The United States, Haley Nolde

Dissertations and Theses

Recycling is widely promoted in the United States as a central strategy for waste diversion and sustainable materials management, yet recycling outcomes remain inconsistent and public understanding is often fragmented. While substantial research examines recycling behavior, infrastructure, material science, and markets, less attention has been paid to how recycling itself is framed and communicated to the public. This thesis addresses that gap by examining narratives produced by recycling thought leader organizations (TLOs) in the United States. Using thematic analysis, this study analyzes publicly available recycling webpages from 99 TLOs, including state government agencies, state-level non-governmental organizations (NGOs), national and regional …

Deep Learning-Based Quantification Of Tall Fescue Abundance In Pastures, Rose E. Binkley, Samuel R. Revolinski, Echo Elizabeth Gotsick, Ray Smith, Zeya Wang, Katsutoshi Mizuta

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Accurate and rapid measurement of tall fescue abundance is essential for efficient forage management and mitigating livestock exposure to potential endophyte-related toxicity. Traditional visual estimation methods are labor-intensive and are subject to change depending on the observer doing the calculations, which limits their scalability and consistency. This study explores the application of deep learning techniques to automate and improve the classification of tall fescue abundance across pasture systems in Kentucky. Ground-truth abundance classes were evaluated using one of the traditional methods with occupancy grid and compared against estimates derived from red-green-blue images. Two convolutional neural network architectures, YouOnlyLookOnce (YOLO) and …

Part Ii: Industrial Information Integration Review 2020-2025, Jinzhi Li

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Industrial Information Integration Engineering (IIIE) has become increasingly essential for improving operational efficiency and harmonizing heterogeneous industrial systems through advanced digital integration approaches. Fueled by rapid advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies—including digital twins, artificial intelligence, immersive interfaces, and IoT infrastructures—IIIE is substantially transforming traditional enterprise architecture and integration frameworks. This systematic review synthesizes recent developments and emerging trends, with particular attention to the accelerating adoption of digital twins and the deepening convergence between operational technologies (OT) and information technologies (IT) across multiple sectors. While notable progress has been made, significant challenges persist, especially in developing resilient integration architectures and fully …

Examining The Association Between Ddt Exposure And Parkinson’S Disease, Hodges Mccathern

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, commonly known as DDT, was an organochlorine pesticide widely used in the mid-20th century. It is highly stable and resistant to degradation, leading to its long-term presence in the environment. This chemical bioaccumulates in ecosystems and in human tissue, particularly adipose tissue, raising concerns about chronic exposure. Emerging research links DDT exposure to adverse neurological outcomes, including increased risk for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease. Mechanistically, DDT and its metabolites may disrupt dopaminergic neurons, induce oxidative stress, and interfere with mitochondrial function, contributing to neurotoxicity. Understanding the environmental fate of DDT and its bioaccumulative properties is essential for …

When Words Flow Like Water: How The Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement Failed To Prevent Hydrogeologic Harm In Minnesota, Carly Gutzmann

Journal of Earth and Life Science

For the aquifers of Minnesota, the environmental impact statement (EIS) was a promise of protection that never left the page. An environmental impact statement is meant to be an aid in the decision making process in order to ensure that projects consider potential environmental harms that may occur. However, they are often used instead as another regulatory box to check, rather than as active considerations when planning. As such, a project plan can be flawed from the start—if project developers only consider environmental impacts after they have already put considerable time, effort, and funding into their project as-is, they may …