Digital Commons Network^™

Persistence And Quality Of Vegetation Cover In Expired Conservation Reserve Program Fields, Mark W. Vandever, Kenneth Elgersma, Sarah K. Carter, Ai Wen, Justin L. Welty, Robert S. Arkle, Timothy J. Assal, David S. Pilliod, David M. Mushet, Rich Iovanna

Faculty Publications

For nearly 40 years, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has implemented practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators on highly erodible cropland in the United States. However, an approximately 40,470 ha (10 million acres) decline in enrolled CRP land over the last decade has greatly reduced the program's environmental benefits. We sought to assess the program's enduring benefits in the central and western United States by (1) determining the proportion of fields that persist in CRP cover after contracts expired, (2) identifying the type of agricultural production that CRP fields shift to …

The Exoskeleton Of Environmental Law: Why The Breadth, Depth And Longevity Of Environmental Law Matters For Judicial Review, Sanne H. Knudsen

Articles

Environmental law is pragmatic, inevitable, and intentional. In the aggregate, the numerous federal environmental statutes are not simply a patchwork of ad hoc responses or momentary political breakthroughs to isolated public health problems and resource concerns. Together, they are a group of repeated, legislatively-backed commitments to embrace self-restraint for self-preservation.

Self-restraint and discipline are the essence of environmental law. Indeed, if one studies the patterns and repeated choices in environmental law 's many statutory texts, one can start to appreciate environmental law 's indispensable role in society: it serves as an enduring "exoskeleton," a sort of protective armor created over …

Novel Approaches To Compute Manifold Operators With The Radial Basis Functions Method, Jacob James Blazejewski

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The bulk of this dissertation is mainly composed of four chapters, which are organized as follows: Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the Radial Basis Functions (RBF) method by briefly outlining its historical developments and reviewing the RBF interpolation and the RBF-Finite Difference (FD) methodologies, and their advantages/disadvantages. Chapter 2 describes the Orthogonal Gradients (OGr) method and the Fast OGr method and how these can be used to compute differential operators restricted to hypersurfaces and space curves ($\Gamma$) embedded in R3. We will highlight a challenge of pairing Fast OGr with RBF-FD on nearly flat local clusters and how to …

Establishing Degradation Of The C. Elegans Dream Complex In The Germline, Christina M. Boody

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The highly conserved Dp, Rb, E2F, and MuvB (DREAM) complex is responsible for the transcriptional repression of cell cycle genes. The DREAM complex has been extensively studied in somatic (non-reproductive) cells, but there is a gap in knowledge regarding how the DREAM complex may function in germ (reproductive) cells. To demonstrate loss-of-function of DREAM in the germline, we used the auxin-inducible degron (AID) system to establish degradation of LIN-54, a subunit of DREAM’s MuvB subcomplex, and the Retinoblastoma-like pocket protein LIN-35 in C. elegans. Using transgenic lines that express the Arabidopsis thaliana TIR1 E3 ubiquitin ligase ubiquitously through all …

Mixing, Metabolism, And Climate Change: A Modeling Case Study Of A Shallow Hypereutrophic, Polymictic Lake, Benjamin C. Reuss

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Globally, lakes are sites of significant carbon cycling, respiring an estimated 0.07 to 0.15 Pg as CO2 and sequestering 0.03 to 0.07 Pg C in sediments annually. These processes can be affected by nutrient availability, with seasonal mixing regulating nutrient transport in monomictic and dimictic systems. However, the effect of intermittent mixing on ecosystem production in polymictic systems has been much less studied. The timing and frequency of lake mixing are expected to be altered by climate change, which has the potential to impact nutrient transport. The first chapter of this thesis introduces lake mixing dynamics and indices of mixing. …

Uhplc/Ft-Ms Non-Targeted Screening Approach For Biomass Burning Organic Aerosol And Liquid Smoke As Biomass Burning Organic Aerosol Surrogate, D.M.R. Thusitha Dinusha Kumarihami Divisekara

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Biomass combustion contributes a large amount of aerosol particles to the atmosphere impacting the climate system and human health. Identifying the molecular composition of biomass burning organic aerosol (BBOA) is challenging because of its complex nature. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometric non-targeted screening (NTS) methods provide a comprehensive analysis. However, the instrumentation and data analysis are challenging due to the extreme complexity of environmental samples. In the first part of this study, we implemented a new LC/FT-MS data processing approach by combining existing open-source data processing tools, MZmine2.53 and MFAssignR. The method's validity was checked using the standard polyacrylic acid (PAA) …

The Art And Science Of Wood: From Pyrography To Termites And Wood Decomposition, Joanna D. Walitalo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Wood is vital to many natural ecosystems, as it provides energy, nutrients, and habitat for organisms from the micro- to the macro- scale. Wood is also critical to humans for similar reasons, and can be an important medium of art and education. This dissertation addresses three diverse aspects of wood with the contexts of science, art, and education. First, we explored the impact of timber harvest techniques and site preparation on microbial wood decay and subterranean termite responses on a forest-stand scale. The amount of coarse woody debris removed post-harvest, coupled with the location and species of the test wood …

Two Research Perspectives On Sugar Maple Canopy Dieback In The Upper Great Lakes: A Decade Of Herbaceous Community Responses And A Survey Of Michigan Forest Managers, Manuel Eduardo Anderson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Sugar maple canopy dieback has been reported in the upper Great Lakes since the mid-2000s. This thesis builds on research conducted to determine some of the underlying causes of canopy dieback, which include invasive earthworm impacts, with a view toward adaptations in management of northern hardwood forests in our region. The first chapter reports a study of understory communities in a subsection of forest health monitoring plots located in four national forests near Lake Superior. Based on plot assessments from 2010 and 2021, responses of plant community composition and traits to earthworm impacts and sugar maple canopy dieback were explored. …

2023-2024 Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook, Morehead State University. Nursing Department.

Nursing Department Publications Archive

2023-2024 Undergraduate Student Handbook of the Department of Nursing at Morehead State University.

Effect Of Low-Level Laser On Miniscrew Displacement During Canine Retraction: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, Aly Osman, Nadia El Harouni, Mohamed Shokry

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Background: Anchorage is an important consideration for successful orthodontic treatment. Skeletal anchorage by miniscrews provided better anchorage control then the ordinary extra-oral and intra-oral appliances. However, the stability of the miniscrews is still questionable since they might move under orthodontic loading.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Low Level Laser on the miniscrew displacement when subjected to orthodontic force during canine retraction using CBCT.

Methods: Twelve patients who required bilateral extraction of upper first premolar and absolute anchorage were recruited from the outpatient clinics of the Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of …

Efficiency Of Hyaluronic Acid Versus Red Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (I-Prf) In Treatment Of Stage Iii Periodontitis: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial, Toleen Mazloum, Ghanem Abdullah, Ghassan Amhaz, Nayer Aboelsaad

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: This study aims to compare clinical efficacy of red injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) and hyaluronic acid (HA) as adjuncts to professional mechanical plaque removal (PMPR) in non-surgical management of stage III periodontitis.

Methods: 75 patients were split into groups: group one (G1) received HA, group two (G2) received red i-PRF, and group three (G3), received only PMPR. Periodontal evaluation was done at baseline, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks following treatment.

Results: The plaque index, gingival index, and bleeding on probing were significantly improved in all groups. Moreover, the probing depth in all three groups displayed lower …

Leukocytic Platelet Rich Fibrin (L-Prf) Versus Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft (Sctg) Using Tunneling Technique In Treatment Of Gingival Recession: Randomized Controlled Clinical Study, Joulia Jouni, Ahmed Bader, Nayer Aboelsaad

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Gingival recession is a problem encountered daily in clinical practice, its etiology is often a multifactorial one. Surgical treatment is the only method to reverse this condition.

Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of leukocytic platelet rich fibrins (L-PRF) versus subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) in the management of recession defects Miller’s class I or II (RT1) using the tunnel technique (TUN). Methods: 20 systemically healthy patients were allocated randomly to TUN with L-PRF (group A), and TUN with SCTG (group B). Probing depth, clinical attachment level, recession depth, width of keratinized tissue, gingival thickness, and recession esthetic …

Influence Of The Margin Design On The Fracture Resistance Of Implant Supported Monolithic Zirconia Crowns: An In Vitro Study, Camille Haddad, Ryan Harouny, Karim Corbani, Lara Nasr, Ronn Tassidis

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: The purpose of this in vitro study was to test the influence of the margin design of implant supported monolithic zirconia crowns and test if monolithic zirconia crowns with extra fine finish line thickness cemented on zirconia implant abutments can bare the maximum masticatory forces on molars and hence be used in the posterior region.

Methods: Fourteen identical monolithic zirconia crowns cemented on zirconia implant abutments mounted on titanium bases and fixed on implant replicas embedded in PMMA resin were divided into two groups: group I designed with a 0.5 mm CFL (CFL) and group II with …

Assessment Of Mandibular Cortical Bone Thickness For Miniscrew Placement In Relation To The Vertical Facial Patterns Using Cbct: A Cross-Sectional Study, Rima Daoui, Aly Osman

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: The need of more anchorage in the orthodontic daily practice has introduced the use of temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Cortical bone thickness has been one of the major factors on the success rate of the stability of TADs. Different vertical dimension patterns can be found among orthodontic patients with potentially variable cortical bone thickness.

Aim of the study: to assess the cortical bone thickness in the posterior region of the mandible in relation to different vertical facial patterns using Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to evaluate the progressive change in the thickness of cortical bone from 4,6 …

Effect Of Supportive Periodontal Therapy On Tooth Loss In Regular And Irregular Compliant Smokers And Non-Smokers: A Retrospective Cohort Study With A Follow-Up Up To 50 Years, Jean-Marie Megarbane, Roudy Khayat, Carole Chakar, Nadim Mokbel

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: The aim of this study is to compare retrospectively tooth loss (TL) rates in two cohorts, regular vs irregular compliant individuals, and smokers vs non-smokers, with a follow-up up to 50 years.

Methods: Chart data were collected from 192 patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) after non-surgical and/or surgical periodontal treatment for 10 - 50 (mean 24.89 ± 10.23) years. Patients were categorized as RC (attending regularly to their scheduled SPT with maximum delay of 6 months), and IC (patients missed at least one of the recall visits but continued to come on an irregular basis with …

Bioactivity And Ph Of Nano-White Mta Versus Neomta Plus® And Mta Angelus® As Root Repair Materials: An In Vitro Study, Rana Elkhashab, Abeer Mahran, Mahmoud Mohamed Badr, Ashraf Abu-Seida

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Objective: This study compared the bioactivity and pH of Nano-white mineral trioxide aggregate (NWMTA), Neo-mineral trioxide aggregate plus (NeoMTA Plus), and Mineral trioxide aggregate angelus (MTA-A) as root repair materials.

Methods: A total of 60 discs made from the three materials (20 discs each) were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These discs were packed into plastic molds and allowed to set before testing. For bioactivity study, ten discs of each material were immersed in Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for 28 days, and analyzed with scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX). Ten discs of each …

Clinical And Radiographic Evaluation Of Bone Remodeling Around Implants Placed In Horizontally Augmented Bone: A Pilot Study, Nadim El Khoury, Menassa Gabriel, Carole Chakar, Abdel Rahman Kassir, Nada Naaman

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: Marginal bone loss after implant placement is one of the most used criteria to assess the success of osseointegrated implants over time. The type of implant connection and implant surface type are reported to have an influence on bone remodeling around the placed implants. This study aimed to evaluate marginal bone loss around two implant systems with different connections and surfaces in horizontally augmented sites.

Methods: This randomized control pilot study included 8 implants placed in 3 patients who needed implant placement in previously horizontally grafted sites. The placed implants were divided into two groups: group 1 …

Impact Of Contracted Endodontic Access Cavity Designs On Root Canal Disinfection Using Diode Laser: An In-Vitro Study, Mohamed El-Tayeb, Mohamed Nabeel

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Introduction: New approaches for minimal invasive endodontic access cavity designs had been introduced for preserving the structural integrity of the offending tooth. Diode laser has been now widely used in root canal disinfection and showing highly promising results.

Aim: to evaluate the impact of contracted endodontic access cavity designs on root canal disinfection using diode laser.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-four intact freshly extracted human mandibular first molars were selected for the use in this study. Only the mesial roots of the selected samples were included in this study. Samples were randomly divided into three equal groups (n=18) according …

Aloe Vera In Dentistry: Current Status And Future Prospects, Ashraf Abu-Seida, Heba Seif

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

This review declares the chemical composition, pharmacological actions, clinical applications, adverse reactions and future prospects of Aloe vera (AV) in the field of dentistry. Literature pertinent to Aloe vera in dental practice was explored in databases like PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. The relevant literature was reviewed and critically appraised in this review. Aloe vera is a miracle plant that has been applied as herbal therapy for thousands of years due to its multiple health benefits. In dental practice, AV has different applications and it attracts the attention of researchers due to its natural origin, low cytotoxicity, and various biological …

Nanoparticles In Dentistry: A Review, Pallavi Nambiar, Priyanka Paul Madhu, Amit Reche, Shambhavi Subodh Moharil

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Nanotechnology finds frequent application in everyday life, particularly in the field of medicine. Due to the capabilities of nanotechnology, examining and manipulating atoms, chemical bonds , and molecules between substances is a relatively straightforward task. When applied in the field of dentistry it is referred to as “nano dentistry”. Nanoparticles which are believed to possess superior efficacy, find significant usage in dentistry, primarily in the prevention and treatment of oral disorders, as well as the maintenance of good oral health and hygiene. Nanoparticles possess distinct characteristics such as their surface to volume ratio, antimicrobial activity, physical, mechanical and biological properties, …

Rehabilitation Of A Patient With Single Complete Tooth-Supported Overdenture Against The Unmodified Natural Dentition Using Functionally Generated Path Technique: A Case Report, Akanksha Shinde, Nilesh Bulbule, Varun Bhatt, Gayathri Balachandran, Amit Jagtap

International Arab Journal of Dentistry

Meyer’s proposed chew-in technique also called functionally generated path (FGP) technique, is indicated for the restoration of an edentulous arch that is opposed by natural teeth as it does seem to provide the most accurate method of recording occlusal patterns, also help to minimize the effects of negative factors, and to overcome the deficiencies of articulators. As stated by Rudd and Morrow, this technique is especially suitable for tooth-supported complete dentures, due to inherent stability of tooth-supported record bases helps in recording jaw relationships accurately. Whenever a single complete denture is opposed by natural dentition, problems observed are abrasion of …

Deciphering The Salivary Microbiome In Crohn’S Disease Patients With Different Factors Contributing To Dysbiosis, Hala Elzayat

Theses

Crohn’s Disease (CD) is a chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), common in the UAE. Microbiota is necessary to maintain a balanced gut environment which is essential for good health. Dysbiosis can predispose to many diseases including CD. The oral cavity has the second largest and most diverse microbiota after the gut harboring over 700 species of bacteria. This study aims to investigate the alterations in the salivary microbiome in patients with CD compared to Healthy controls (HC). It also aims to compare CD patients for salivary microbiome complexity and diversity according to different factors that can contribute to dysbiosis, including …

Investigating The Role Of Lim Kinase In Embryonic Development, Nehul Dharmesh Tanna

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

Cellular communication is important in embryonic development. It facilitates timely migration and maturation of cells to produce a fully functional organism using cell signaling pathways. These pathways involve receptors, ligands, and intracellular enzymes to produce different effects in the cell. One such pathway, the EphA4 signaling pathway, is involved in altering the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. LIM kinases (LIMKs) are enzymes that regulate important components of the cytoskeleton. We hypothesized involvement of LIMKs in the EphA4 pathway and investigated their involvement in X. laevis embryonic development as a first step toward evaluating this hypothesis. We mutated LIMK genes in frog …

Urban/Rural Differences In Food Security In America’S East North Central Region, Eva Marie Long

Senior Honors Theses and Projects

The literature on food insecurity in America is extensive, but there is still a lack of understanding of urban/rural differences. Food insecure populations in urban communities undoubtedly experience different and unique challenges to food access than food insecure populations in rural areas. While urban households may face a lack of options for fresh produce, rural households may find that they live an inaccessible distance from the nearest grocer. Through analysis of the Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey and Food Security Supplement, this project seeks to discover common, underlying variables in food-insecure communities in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in America’s East …

Opportunities And Challenges In Augmenting Honey Bee Forage Resources With Pasture Legumes In Southern Australia, M. Kratz, M. Brown, M. T. Newell, R. C. Hayes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

More than 80% of Australian honey is produced from native tree and shrub species. However, with increasing demands on public lands along with production risks posed by drought, floods and wildfires, there is a need to identify alternative forage resources to augment Australian honey production. With over 30 pasture legumes now available for agriculture in southern Australia, opportunity exists to increase the utilisation of some species with co-benefits to multiple production industries. However, there is little understanding of the potential value of most pasture legumes for honey production, and side by side comparisons are complicated by factors such as differences …

Data Curation For Modeling Tall Fescue Biomass Dynamics With Dssat-Csm, M. B. Hanson, P. D. Alderman, T. J. Butler, A. Caldeira Rocateli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

While models for predicting forage production are available to aid management decisions for some forage crops, there is limited research for a yield model designed specifically for tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus). Therefore, our objective was to adapt an existing perennial forage model, the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer Cropping Systems Model (DSSAT-CSM) for predicting forage biomass of tall fescue in the southern Great Plains. To evaluate model performance, there must first be a high level of data manipulation and cleaning. In this project, a cohesive dataset combining biomass, weather, soil, and management data were structured into DSSAT …

Can Changing Breeding Structure Serve As A Climate Adaptation Strategy? Evidence From A Comparative Study Of China And Mongolia, Y. Zhang, Z. Huang, J. Wang, Y. Huang, T. Hao, G. Xu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Under the influence of climate change, the vulnerability of grassland ecosystems in the Mongolian Plateau has increased. Correspondingly, herdsmen need to adopt more livelihood adaptation strategies to cope with changes in climate and grassland environment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of breeding structure on grassland quality in Mongolian plateau. We select 20 border provinces/banners of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for research, and combined statistical data with remote sensing data of 2007-2016. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is used to quantify the grassland vegetation quality. Results show that there are differences in livestock …

Sleep Training, Day Care, And Swim Lessons: Skeptical Theism And The Parent-Child Analogy, Dolores G. Morris

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Arvin M. Gouw, Brian Patrick Green, And Ted Peters, Eds., Religious Transhumanism And Its Critics, Jason T. Eberl

Faith and Philosophy: Journal of the Society of Christian Philosophers

No abstract provided.

Mapping Genetic Variation In Arabidopsis In Response To Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Azoarcus Olearius Dqs-4t, Fernanda Plucani Do Amaral, Juexin Wang, Jacob Williams, Thalita R. Tuleski, Trupti Joshi, Marco A. R. Ferreira, Gary Stacey

Biomedical Sciences

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can enhance plant health by facilitating nutrient uptake, nitrogen fixation, protection from pathogens, stress tolerance and/or boosting plant productivity. The genetic determinants that drive the plant–bacteria association remain understudied. To identify genetic loci highly correlated with traits responsive to PGPB, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using an Arabidopsis thaliana population treated with Azoarcus olearius DQS-4^T. Phenotypically, the 305 Arabidopsis accessions tested responded differently to bacterial treatment by improving, inhibiting, or not affecting root system or shoot traits. GWA mapping analysis identified several predicted loci associated with primary root length or root fresh …