Digital Commons Network^™

Gleaning Rural Journalism: Rural Journalists' Agricultural And Environmental Reporting Utilizing Community Storytelling Networks☆, Jessica Walsh, Mildred F. Perreault, Greg Perreault, Ruth Moon

Faculty Publications

Environmental concerns are growing in parts of the rural United States as drinking water wells become contaminated with agrichemicals, and climate change impacts such as drought and extreme rain events disrupt farming practices. Analyzing in-depth interviews with 29 U.S. rural journalists, we explore the role rural journalists play when reporting on the environment as it relates to agricultural issues. Findings show that reporting about the environment—such as weather, climate change, water shortages, and droughts—appear in rural journalists' stories given those topics' relevance to their rural communities and the social systems forces exerting influence on journalists, yet rural journalists often do …

Reinforcement Learning-Based Optimal Control Of Uncertain Nonlinear Systems, Miguel Garcia, Wenjie Dong

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper considers the optimal control of a second-order nonlinear system with unknown dynamics. A new reinforcement learning based approach is proposed with the aid of direct adaptive control. By the new approach actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithms are proposed with three neural network approximation. Simulation results are presented to show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Artificial Intelligence, Machines, Devices, And Robots: Mobilizing Humanness And Intelligence In The American Techno-Landscape, Carlos A. Batres

Dissertations

This dissertation is an ethnographic inquiry of artificial intelligence (AI) in the techno-landscape of three major metropolitan areas in the United States. It traces the ways in which both experts and non-experts talk about their interactions with AI via machines, robots, and other devices, and how the ways in which people deal with AI-technologies have come to shape how we think about our own ways of going about doing things. The goal is to discern what the social ramifications of this technology may be as relationships and relations are formed betwixt and between people and artificially intelligent things.

Mutual Enjoyment: A Levinasian Conception Of Freedom, Aaron Darrisaw

Dissertations

Established scholars typically regard the philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas as one that offers a morally elevated, and even religious, sense to the meaning of ethics. He uses many descriptions to encapsulate his understanding of ethics, but a common shorthand is “the calling into question of freedom.” This dissertation aims to answer the following question: What becomes of freedom after it has been submitted to Levinas’s ethical critique? Engaging this question emphasizes the distinctively political significance of Levinas’s philosophy, a significance that is often regarded as lacking. However, my project treats freedom as a unique prism through which to interpret Levinas’s …

Local Government, Jacob Stalvey O'Neal, Russell A. Britt, Mathis L. Gales, Jennifer Dorminey Herzog, Nicholas A. Kinsley, M.Blake Walker

Mercer Law Review

As usual, the Survey saw multiple published cases involving the doctrine of sovereign immunity. Georgia courts clarified multiple sovereign immunity waivers, including waivers for injunctive and declaratory relief claims, waivers for nuisance claims, and waivers for claims involving negligent uses of government vehicles. This Article attempts to summarize the highlights and noteworthy cases.

Incorporating Families Experiencing Disabilities Into The Rhythm Of Small Groups At Saturn Road Church Of Christ, Robby John

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the critical gap in the inclusion of families experiencing disabilities within small groups at Saturn Road Church of Christ. The primary aim is to develop a curriculum that raises awareness among small group leaders about this significant issue. To provide a theological reflection on the necessity of such a venture, I explored the topic through the lens of four theological pillars: the image of God, the incarnation, ecclesiology, and eschatological hope. This exploration revealed several key themes that serve as foundational building blocks for the awareness curriculum. Ultimately, the final artifact is an awareness curriculum designed to …

The Reconciliation Roots Of Fourth Amendment Privacy, Sophia Z. Lee

University of Chicago Law Review

The Roberts Court has made protecting “the privacies of life” a catchphrase of Fourth Amendment law in the digital era. The time is thus ripe for revisiting the doctrinal and political roots of this newly influential quote from the Court’s 1886 decision Boyd v. United States. Existing scholarship views Boyd and its paean to privacy as an opening salvo in the Supreme Court’s turn-of-the-twentieth-century deregulatory jurisprudence (often associated with the Court’s most famous substantive due process decision, Lochner v. New York). Scholars also assume Boyd’s emphasis on privacy was in keeping with the Founders’ view of the Fourth Amendment.

This …

Contractual Commitments And The Right To Change Religions, Michael A. Helfand

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Feeding Habits And Malaria Parasite Infection Of Anopheles Mosquitoes In Selected Agroecological Areas Of Northwestern Ethiopia, Aklilu K. Belay, Abebe Asale, Catherine L. Sole, Abdullahi A. Yusuf, Baldwyn Torto, Clifford M. Mutero, David P. Tchouassi

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Surveillance of the host–anopheline mosquitoes’ interaction is important for assessing malaria transmission risk and guiding vector control. We assume that changes in malaria vector species’ feeding habits, as well as the surrounding environment, have a substantial impact on varied malaria transmission. In this study, we determined the vertebrate host feeding patterns of anopheline mosquitoes to characterize entomologic risk factors for malaria in Jabi Tehnan, Northwestern Ethiopia. Methods: Blood-fed anophelines surveyed during malaria surveillance in Jabi Tehnan district of northwestern Ethiopia were utilized in this study. They were collected using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light traps deployed …

Multimodal Interactions In Stomoxys Navigation Reveal Synergy Between Olfaction And Vision, Merid N. Getahun, Steve B.S. Baleba, John Ngiela, Peter Ahuya, Daniel Masiga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Stomoxys flies exhibit an attraction toward objects that offer no rewards, such as traps and targets devoid of blood or nectar incentives. This behavior provides an opportunity to develop effective tools for vector control and monitoring. However, for these systems to be sustainable and eco-friendly, the visual cues used must be specific to target vector(s). In this study, we modified the existing blue Vavoua trap, which was originally designed to attract biting flies, to create a deceptive host attraction system specifically biased toward attracting Stomoxys. Our research revealed that Stomoxys flies are attracted to various colors, with red proving to …

Effects Of Changing Farming Practices In African Agriculture, Todd S. Rosenstock, Peter Steward, Namita Joshi, Christine Lamanna, Nictor Namoi, Lolita Muller, Akinwale O. Akinleye, Erica Atieno, Patrick Bell, Clara Champalle, William English, Anna Sarah Eyrich, Angela Gitau, Dorcas Kagwiria, Hannah Kamau, Anna Madalinska, Lucas Manda, Scott Mcfatridge, Elijah Mumo, Alex Nduah, Babra Ombewa, Anatoli Poultouchidou, Janie Rioux, Meryl Richards, Julia Shuck, Helena Ström, Katherine Tully

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Information on the effects of changing agricultural management on crop and livestock performance is critical for developing evidence-based policies, investments, and programs. Evidence for Resilient Agriculture (ERA) v1.0.1 presents a dataset that harmonizes and aggregates 112,859 observations from 2,011 agricultural studies taken place in Africa between 1934 and 2018. The dataset includes information on the effect of 364 combinations of management practices and technologies on 87 environmental, social, and economic indicators of outcomes. Observations are geolocated and temporally tagged and thus can be linked to other datasets such as historical weather, soil properties, and road networks. ERA offers a new …

Unearthing Lactococcus Lactis And Scheffersomyeces Symbionts From Edible Wood-Boring Beetle Larvae As A Bio-Resource For Industrial Applications, Shadrack Kibet, Cynthia M. Mudalungu, Njogu M. Kimani, John Mark O. Makwatta, James Kabii, Subramanian Sevgan, Segenet Kelemu, Chrysantus M. Tanga

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: Gut microbiota have several advantages in influencing the host nutrition, metabolism, immunity and growth. However, the understanding of the gut microbiota in key edible wood-boring beetle larvae remain largely undefined. In the present study, the characteristics of the gut microbiota of two edible wood-boring species (Titocerus jaspideus and Passalus punctiger) from two indigenous forested areas were investigated. Results: Over 50% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) constituted of Firmicutes in T. jaspideus. The dominant phyla in both beetle species were Bacteroidota (4.20–19.79%) and Proteobacteria (15.10–23.90%). Lactococcus lactis was the most abundant and core prokaryote in the guts of T. jaspideus. …

Interactions Between Bacillus Thuringiensis And Selected Plant Extracts For Sustainable Management Of Phthorimaea Absoluta, Terry A. Ochieng, Komivi S. Akutse, Inusa J. Ajene, Dora C. Kilalo, Maina Muiru, Fathiya M. Khamis

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Phthorimaea absoluta is a global constraint to tomato production and can cause up to 100% yield loss. Farmers heavily rely on synthetic pesticides to manage this pest. However, these pesticides are detrimental to human, animal, and environmental health. Therefore, exploring eco-friendly, sustainable Integrated Pest Management approaches, including biopesticides as potential alternatives, is of paramount importance. In this context, the present study (i) evaluated the efficacy of 10 Bacillus thuringiensis isolates, neem, garlic, and fenugreek; (ii) assessed the interactions between the most potent plant extracts and B. thuringiensis isolates, and (iii) evaluated the gut microbial diversity due to the treatments for …

Make America Healthy: Reducing High Pharmaceutical Prices Without Reducing Innovation, Srividhya Ragavan

Faculty Scholarship

Cost of medication in the United States has historically remained one of the highest in the world. The conundrum that the United States has faced in balancing innovation with affordability of life-saving medications is palpable, especially when faced with the reality of patent monopolies conflicting with healthcare obligations. The result is an overflow of issues, which emphasize the need to delineate limits on innovation to balance pharmaceutical novelty with robust public health within the United States. This has increasingly shifted the focus of patent law into the realm of healthcare issues. Naturally, it leads to an inquiry about how best …

Evaluating The Roles Of Pollinators In Shaping The Floral Color Variation Of Phacelia Dubia, Katherine Riddle

All Theses

Floral color variation within a species is a common occurrence and its maintenance has been a long-standing question in evolutionary biology. Differences in flower color between populations can be shaped by pollinator-mediated selection. Pollinators can exhibit innate and learned preferences for color that may influence floral color variation. These preferences may be molded by the visual environment in which pollinators forage. Most current understanding of how pollinators shape floral color variation involves dramatic differences in dominant pollinators between populations (e.g., hawkmoth vs. bee) and most behavioral work utilized model pollinators like honeybee and bumble bee. However, less is known about …

Assessing The Potential For Photosynthetic Degradation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Marlow Thomas

All Theses

PFAS is a prevalent groundwater contaminant. It has been known to cause many health issues for humans and animals including cancer and several diseases. A main problem faced with PFAS is contamination in groundwater. Remediation strategies have been and continue to be researched to try to mitigate this issue. Current treatment strategies to mitigate PFAS include the use of granular activated carbon, ion exchange, chemical oxidation, and many hybrid treatments. There has not been one treatment technology to date that has prevailed as the best due to monetary and time constraints.

The main intention behind this research is to examine …

The Private Libraries Of Charleston, 1780-1860, Winter Hein

All Theses

The scope of this thesis examines the private libraries inventoried in Charleston, South Carolina. The thesis answers the question about the prevalence of private book collections and rooms called the “Library” between 1780 and 1860, as seen in probate inventories. Additionally, this thesis explores the character of the private collections during this study period in a case study manner. This includes the size of the collections, location (urban vs. rural), where collections are stored, and in which rooms they are found. Of the 4,476 Charleston County probate inventories between 1780 and 1860 available through FamilySearch online, a total of 903 …

Designing And Building An Action Figure Of Alexander The Great To Better Engage Young Learners In History, Patrick Sandoval

All Theses

This paper discusses creating an action figure of Alexander the Great as a means of garnering a child’s interest in a specific setting of human history. Physical mediums have merit as supplemental tools for traditional learning methods for children, with action figures providing an outlet for role-playing and enhanced engagement. Topics include the significance of Alexander the Great, as well as the process of creating an action figure of him using production methods of digital character sculpting and 3D printing. Its design takes inspiration from the Street Fighter series, Classical and Hellenistic Greek sculpture, and professional wrestling action figures.

Texas Panicum (Urochloa Texana (Buckley) R.D.Webster) Management In South Carolina Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.) Production, Alexis Clobas-Celiz

All Theses

Texas panicum (TP) is a persistent weed in South Carolina peanut fields, challenging growers with its season-long emergence and the limited availability of effective mid- to late-season herbicide options. Residual herbicides typically applied within 40 days of planting, fail to control late-emerging TP cohorts, making postemergence (POST) herbicides like clethodim and imazapic essential for managing this weed. Clethodim efficacy, however, depends on the TP growth stage and environmental conditions during application. To optimize control, this research evaluated clethodim applied at various TP growth stages (5 to 60 cm) and with different adjuvants. Clethodim was applied singly or in sequence, with …

Investigation Of Chondrogenesis, Myogenesis, And Osteogenesis After 2,4-Dtbp, 2-Bp, 4-Bp, 3,5-Dtbc Exposure In Zebrafish, Haley Brashears

All Theses

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are used in personal care products, food packaging, and water pipes, common SPAs include 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), 2-tert-butyl phenol (2-BP), and 4-tert-butyl phenol (4-BP). These compounds are detected in the environment and in human biological samples. 2,4-DTBP has been detected in cord plasma, placenta, and breast milk samples. This drives the concern regarding developmental toxicity. In human iPS cells 2,4-DTBP impairs differentiation into somites and osteoblasts. Other SPAs, like 2,6-di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene caused increased rates of malformations including yolk and pericardial edema, and spinal curvature in 5-day post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish. …

Toward Electrochemical Detection Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Enteritidis On Hydroponically Grown Green Onions (Allium Fistulosum L.), Lisseth Casso-Hartmann

All Theses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established standards during the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption as part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One of the main requirements for farmers is to detect environmental pathogens such as Salmonella enterica species in water and sprout samples. S. enterica is a bacterium of significant concern due to its pathogenicity and ability to survive and persist in diverse environmental conditions. S. enterica has been associated with recalls in ready-to-eat foods. Traditional detection methods include Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and plate counting, which …

Lateral Dispersal Of Adult Trichoptera: Flight Distance And Traveling Pattern, Peilin Tan

All Theses

Trichoptera species (caddisfly) are usually used as bio-indictors for surface water quality due to their sensitivity to environmental changes, and if assessing water quality with light-trapped adults, knowing their travelling patterns will improve the accuracy of such assessments. To investigate how far a caddisfly will migrate from their emerging stream, three streams in South Carolina with different widths (Wildcat Creek 1.2 m, Brasstown Creek 11.2 m and Chattooga River 26.95 m) were selected for this study with light traps placed at three distances (0 m, 50 m, 100 m) from the streams. How long and when? Both species richness and …

Avian Temporal Trends And Habitat Relations Within The South Atlantic Coastal Zone, Jordan Mccall

All Theses

Despite the significance of the Hobcaw Barony in a region historically known as a waterfowl hunting paradise, the long history of the Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science on Hobcaw Barony and the establishment of the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center at the Baruch Institute in 2014, no comprehensive study of waterbirds has occurred on site. Thus, basic information, such as the number of species present, relative abundance, migration chronology, and habitat use and selection, is lacking. This research aims to form a baseline of waterbird and wetland data on the Hobcaw Barony …

Environmental Light Controls The Daily Organization Of Breathing By Activating Brn3b-Expressing Intrinsically Photosensitive Retinal Ganglion Cells In Mice, Aaron A. Jones, Allison R. Spears, Deanna M. Arble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Rhythmic, daily fluctuations in minute ventilation are controlled by the endogenous circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). While light serves as a potent synchronizer for the SCN, it also influences physiology and behavior by activating Brn3b-expressing, intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). It is currently unclear the extent to which the external light environment shapes daily ventilatory patterns independent of the SCN. To determine the relative influence of environmental light versus circadian timing on the organization of daily rhythms in minute ventilation, we used whole-body plethysmography to measure the breathing of mice housed on a non-entraining T28 cycle …

Virtual Production In Unreal Engine 5: Tools For The Game And Film Industry, Hannah Hogan

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media Culminating Experience

Virtual Production (VP) blends both the game and film industries with the use of Unreal Engine. This thesis explores how Unreal Engine 5 (UE5) bridges the gap between these fields, providing powerful tools for both film projects and immersive experiences. The research examines UE5's capabilities, including real-time rendering, photorealistic environments, and immersive set design, and demonstrates how game and film production workflows intersect. This study focuses on three case studies highlighting how VP tools can be used in district ways: immersive gameplay, film production, and creating engaging video game trailers. Finally, this research explores the advantages of the diverse ways …

Towards Unified Multimodal Editing With Enhanced Knowledge Collaboration, Kaihang Pan, Zhaoyu Fan, Juncheng Li, Qifan Yu, Hao Fei, Siliang Tang, Richang Hong, Hanwang Zhang, Qianru Sun

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The swift advancement in Multimodal LLMs (MLLMs) also presents significant challenges for effective knowledge editing. Current methods, including intrinsic knowledge editing and external knowledge resorting, each possess strengths and weaknesses, struggling to balance the desired properties of reliability, generality, and locality when applied to MLLMs. In this paper, we propose UniKE, a novel multimodal editing method that establishes a unified perspective and paradigm for intrinsic knowledge editing and external knowledge resorting. Both types of knowledge are conceptualized as vectorized key-value memories, with the corresponding editing processes resembling the assimilation and accommodation phases of human cognition, conducted at the same semantic …

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum’S Effect On Gopher Tortoises Of South East Florida, Elena Tonkin

Harriet L Wilkes Honors College Theses 2020 - Present

Recent studies have revealed Anaplasma phagocytophilum as a new pathogen that has started to affect gopher tortoise populations throughout Florida. This study investigated how the pathogen, A. phagocytophilum, has potentially begun to spread amongst the gopher tortoises in the Abacoa Greenway and the Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP). To investigate these tortoises, blood samples were taken from multiple specimens from Range VI of the Greenway and FAUP. DNA isolated from these samples were then analyzed for the presence of A.phagocytophilum utilizing PCR and gel electrophoresis, followed by Sanger sequencing. This research demonstrated that A.phagocytophilum has not made its way …

The Restorative Design Scale (Rds) An Assessment Guide: Measuring The Potential For Mental Restoration In Urban Green Spaces, Corinne Bahr

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Mental health is a growing national priority, and green space has been proven to benefit mental health. There is a massive amount of recent research studying the influence of green space characteristics on mental health improvement and restoration. However, professional landscape architects, designers, and planners involved in creating physical spaces have not been able to assess and therefore prioritize mental health in their designs due to the sheer quantity of information that has not yet been synthesized and applied efficiently. The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) Assessment condenses this material into a scientifically inspired resource for professionals to easily understand and …

Teachers’ Life Experience Of Trauma And Its Impact In The Classroom, Casey Voelz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if teachers’ lived experiences of trauma impact practices, relationships, and responses to student behaviors in the classroom. The common themes could allow colleges, school districts, and school leaders to reflect, develop, or improve access to therapeutic interventions and teacher self-discovery in the areas of self-awareness, self-regulation, and emotional intelligence. This qualitative study involved obtaining data from the Indiana Department of Education. The Indiana Department of Education provided email addresses for superintendents for public schools in Indiana. Superintendents received an email requesting teacher participation. If approved, teachers received the ACE survey. From …

2024 Seeded Watermelon Cultivar Evaluation In Indiana, Wenjing Guan

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

The annual watermelon cultivar evaluation trial is conducted at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center (SWPAC) in Vincennes, Indiana. It evaluates yield, fruit quality, and overall plant performance of commercial watermelon cultivars and advanced breeding lines. Purdue Extension and seed companies financially support the trial. The 2024 seeded watermelon cultivar trial evaluated 15 cultivars.