Digital Commons Network^™

Alfred Russel Wallace Notes 35. Natural Selection By Evolution., Charles H. Smith

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Alfred Russel Wallace (1823?1913) is remembered, with Charles Darwin, as the co-originator of the concept of evolution by natural selection. But Wallace’s framing of the idea increasingly became one in which natural selection itself was regarded as a law of nature, not a theory per se.

Collaborative Ai: Oer Materials For Exploring Ai As A Partner Rather Than A Tool, David Smith

Open Educational Resources

The Collaborative AI Open Educational Resource (OER) explores how artificial intelligence can act as a creative and analytical collaborator rather than a tool. Centered on the Balanced Blended Space (BBS) framework and the philosophy of the Center for Holistic Integration (CHI), the OER includes curriculum materials, theoretical models, and live research environments. It offers an interesting approach to blending physical, virtual, and conceptual spaces through shared human–AI agency and invites ongoing participation in interdisciplinary meta-projects.

March 2025 Library & Learning Newsletter, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Library & Learning Dean’S Office Communications Team

Library & Learning Newsletters

PDF version of the March 2025 (Volume 3, Issue 5) Library & Learning Newsletter.

Ml-Urinequant: A Machine Learning Program For Identifying And Quantifying Mouse Urine On Absorbent Paper., Warren G Hill, Bryce Maciver, Gary Churchill, Mariana G Deoliveira, Mark L Zeidel, Marcelo Cicconet

Faculty Research 2025

The void spot assay has gained popularity as a way of assessing functional bladder voiding parameters in mice, but analyzing the size and distribution of urine spot patterns on filter paper with software remains problematic due to inter-laboratory differences in image contrast and resolution quality and non-void artifacts. We have developed a machine learning algorithm based on Region-based Convolutional Neural Networks (Mask-RCNN) that was trained in object recognition to detect and quantitate urine spots across a broad range of sizes-ML-UrineQuant. The model proved extremely accurate at identifying urine spots in a wide variety of illumination and contrast settings. The overwhelming …

Predicting The Impact Of Rare Variants On Rna Splicing In Cagi6., Jenny Lord, Carolina Jaramillo Oquendo, Htoo A Wai, Andrew G L Douglas, David J Bunyan, Yaqiong Wang, Zhiqiang Hu, Zishuo Zeng, Daniel Danis, Panagiotis Katsonis, Amanda Williams, Olivier Lichtarge, Yuchen Chang, Richard D Bagnall, Stephen M Mount, Brynja Matthiasardottir, Chiaofeng Lin, Thomas Van Overeem Hansen, Raphael Leman, Alexandra Martins, Claude Houdayer, Sophie Krieger, Constantina Bakolitsa, Yisu Peng, Akash Kamandula, Predrag Radivojac, Diana Baralle

Faculty Research 2025

Variants which disrupt splicing are a frequent cause of rare disease that have been under-ascertained clinically. Accurate and efficient methods to predict a variant's impact on splicing are needed to interpret the growing number of variants of unknown significance (VUS) identified by exome and genome sequencing. Here, we present the results of the CAGI6 Splicing VUS challenge, which invited predictions of the splicing impact of 56 variants ascertained clinically and functionally validated to determine splicing impact. The performance of 12 prediction methods, along with SpliceAI and CADD, was compared on the 56 functionally validated variants. The maximum accuracy achieved was …

Cascades, A Novel Sox2 Super-Enhancer-Associated Long Noncoding Rna, Regulates Cancer Stem Cell Specification And Differentiation In Glioblastoma., Uswa Shahzad, Marina Nikolopoulos, Christopher Li, Michael Johnston, Jenny J Wang, Nesrin Sabha, Frederick S Varn, Alexandra Riemenschneider, Stacey Krumholtz, Pranathi Meda Krishnamurthy, Christian A Smith, Jason Karamchandani, Jonathan K Watts, Roel G W Verhaak, Marco Gallo, James T Rutka, Sunit Das

Faculty Research 2025

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with a median survival of just over 1 year. The failure of available treatments to achieve remission in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) has been attributed to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are thought to play a central role in tumor development and progression and serve as a treatment-resistant cell repository capable of driving tumor recurrence. In fact, the property of "stemness" itself may be responsible for treatment resistance. In this study, we identify a novel long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), cancer stem cell-associated distal enhancer of SOX2 …

Melanocortin 4 Receptor-Dependent Mechanism Of Acth In Preventing Anxiety-Like Behaviors And Normalizing Astrocyte Proteins After Early Life Seizures., Mohamed R Khalife, Colin Villarin, Juan Manuel Ruiz, Sam A Mcclelland, Khalil Abed Rabbo, J Matthew Mahoney, Rod C Scott, Amanda E Hernan

Faculty Research 2025

Epilepsy, affecting millions globally, often leads to significant cognitive and psychiatric comorbidities, particularly in children. Anxiety and depression are particularly prevalent, with roughly a quarter of pediatric epilepsy patients having a comorbid diagnosis. Current treatments inadequately address these issues. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), a melanocortin peptide, has shown promise in mitigating deficits after early-life seizures (ELS), potentially through mechanisms beyond its canonical action on the melanocortin 2 receptor. This study explores the hypothesis that recurrent ELS is associated with long-term anxiety and that treatment with ACTH can prevent this anxiety through a mechanism that involves the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in …

Real-Time Prediction Of Dynamical Systems Using A Hybrid Analog Computer: Network Traffic Modeling, Majd Zuhair Tahat

Doctoral Dissertations

As the number of online users grows exponentially, the number and severity of cyber threats escalate, urgently requiring advancements in real-time network modeling and response. Swiftly predicting and analyzing network traffic is crucial for effective network monitoring and control, preventing cyber breaches, and maintaining healthy network functionality. This research presents a novel approach to real-time modeling based on analyzing evolving properties and patterns in a dynamical network system using a hybrid analog-digital computer. An analog computer was utilized as a co-processor to compute differential equations that model the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) window size. A comparative analysis was conducted between …

A Human-In-The-Loop Framework For Scalable And Interpretable Event Triaging In Large-Scale Systems, Ibrahim Khaled Al-Agha

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive and scalable framework for real-time fault detection and event triage in industrial systems, addressing critical challenges such as class imbalance, ambiguous feature boundaries, and the prioritization of complex, high-dimensional event data. The proposed framework integrates advanced methodologies, including micro-batch processing, retrospective divergence-based event detection (DB-RED), association rule mining (ARM), clustering, and Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST) for conflict resolution. Together, these components enable the systematic stratification of events into actionable priority levels, ensuring robust and interpretable decision-making in real-time environments. DB-RED forms the cornerstone of the framework, leveraging KL-divergence and PE-divergence metrics to detect subtle and transient …

A Preliminary Report Of The Carotenoid Assessment In Adults 50 Years Of Age And Older In Louisiana, Mary-Catherine Feazell

Master's Theses

Fruits and vegetables are at the core of a healthy, balanced diet. They assist in preventing the development of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer (Fadnes, et al., 2022). Aging is a natural biological process followed by disease, cognitive impairment, and a natural decline of the body’s ability to perform at its best. The older adult population is currently the fastest-growing population globally (El-Shebiney et al., 2022). Vitamin A is crucial for several parts of the body to function correctly. Despite the positive effects of Vitamin A on the body, the recommended dietary intake is not …

Understanding Brand Perception And Purchase Drivers Among Engaged Stakeholders For Products Developed At The University Of The Philippines Los Baños, Emil John C. Cabrera, Eunice Dianne Y. Algar, Cathrene P. Amante, Rainielle Kyle M. Guison

Asia-Pacific Intellectual Property Management and Innovation Book Series

Branding for universities is a relatively new concept, particularly as they position themselves to be an “entrepreneurial university.” This model necessitates a proactive approach to intellectual property (IP) management and technology transfer. Recent studies on university branding focus on higher educational institutions (HEIs) and how branding supports the development of their distinct identities and reputation. However, research on the perception of university-developed products, particularly in the context of the Philippines, is still limited. This study, therefore, examined the brand perceptions and purchase drivers of engaged stakeholders towards University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB)-developed products to evaluate the effectiveness of …

Lshe/Cse And Srh Linkages: The Role Of Health Care Providers, Population Council

Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Choices

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Immersive Virtual Reality Gameplay In Environmental Attitude Change: The Case Of Abandoned Offshore Oil Platforms In Santa Barbara, Arun Prasad Srinivasan Manoharan

Master's Theses

Public perception plays an important role in shaping conservation policies and decisions, especially in contested environmental spaces. Offshore oil platforms, historically viewed as environmental hazards, have been found to serve as marine habitats that support diverse marine life. However, public perception remains largely negative, influenced by concerns over pollution from past oil spill accidents. Traditional environmental education methods, such as lectures and documentaries, often fail to engage audiences effectively or shift entrenched opinions. This study explores the efficacy of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) gameplay in changing environmental attitudes, specifically in the context of abandoned offshore oil platforms in Santa Barbara, …

Defining Transcriptional Signatures Of Susceptibility For Ceftriaxone And Tetracycline In Neisseria Gonorrhoeae, Sanjana Logu

Theses

Resistance to antibiotics is the ability of bacteria to survive in spite of the administration of drugs designated to kill them; and overuse of antibiotics over the past decades has led to a vast increase in resistance. Most infections are treated empirically, such that patients are given a recommended course of antibiotics, however these infections are not frequently tested for their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles (i.e., tested only in the case of treatment failure). This can lead to inappropriate prescription which can increase the selective pressure of antibiotics on other bacterial members of our microbiomes. Susceptibility testing would help determine the …

Preparation Of Eco-Friendly Nanocatalyst Calcium Oxide (Cao) For Oily Wastewater Treatment By Advanced Oxidation Process, Eman Khader, Thamer Mohammed, Talib Albayati, Sohrab Zendehboudi

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

In the present work, a novel eco-friendly nanocatalyst (NC) calcium oxide (CaO) is synthesized from the waste of tomato plants by physical method for the degradation of oil in oily wastewater by photocatalytic technology as a sophisticated oxidation process. The characterization of NC prepared is described by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, which illustrated that the NC prepared possessed a nanoscale size and a cubic crystal structure. The activity of NC in the photodegradation process is evaluated using …

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy: Principles And Advanced Applications, Rajaa Ketan, Muayyed Zoory, Haidar Mohamad

Journal of Applied Sciences and Nanotechnology

A spectroscopic technique such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is used to analyze various materials, including solids, liquids and gases. The advantages of this technique include rapid analysis, no prior sample preparation, low cost and the ability to generate qualitative and quantitative analytical data for any sample. There are numerous applications for LIBS in various fields, including environmental monitoring, quality in industry, the food sector and archeology, medicine (pharmaceuticals), biology (bones, nails, hair, blood and skin) and cosmetics, which is one of the main concerns of the World Health Organization due to its significant impact on health. In this review, …

Among-Population Variation In Telomere Regulatory Proteins And Their Potential Role As Hidden Drivers Of Intraspecific Variation In Life History, Sarah E. Wolf, Mary J. Woodruff, David A. Chang Van Oordt, Ethan D. Clotfelter, Daniel A. Cristol, Elizabeth P. Derryberry, Stephen M. Ferguson, Mark T. Stanback, Conor C. Taff, Maren N. Vitousek, David F. Westneat, Kimberly A. Rosvall

Biology Faculty Publications

Biologists aim to explain patterns of growth, reproduction and ageing that characterize life histories, yet we are just beginning to understand the proximate mechanisms that generate this diversity. Existing research in this area has focused on telomeres but has generally overlooked the telomere's most direct mediator, the shelterin protein complex. Shelterin proteins physically interact with the telomere to shape its shortening and repair. They also regulate metabolism and immune function, suggesting a potential role in life history variation in the wild. However, research on shelterin proteins is uncommon outside of biomolecular work. Intraspecific analyses can play an important role in …

Macroevolutionary Inference Of Complex Modes Of Chromosomal Speciation In A Cosmopolitan Plant Lineage, Carrie M. Tribble, José Ignacio Márquez-Corro, Michael R. May, Andrew L. Hipp, Marcial Escudero, Rosana Zenil-Ferguson

Biology Faculty Publications

The effects of single chromosome number change—dysploidy – mediating diversification remain poorly understood. Dysploidy modifies recombination rates, linkage, or reproductive isolation, especially for one-fifth of all eukaryote lineages with holocentric chromosomes. Dysploidy effects on diversification have not been estimated because modeling chromosome numbers linked to diversification with heterogeneity along phylogenies is quantitatively challenging. We propose a new state-dependent diversification model of chromosome evolution that links diversification rates to dysploidy rates considering heterogeneity and differentiates between anagenetic and cladogenetic changes. We apply this model to Carex (Cyperaceae), a cosmopolitan flowering plant clade with holocentric chromosomes. We recover two distinct modes of …

Scaling Covid-19 Rates With Population Size In The United States, Austin R. Cruz, Brian J. Enquist, Joseph R. Burger

Biology Faculty Publications

Using county-level data from the United States, we assessed allometric scaling relationships of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, deaths and age structure within and across the first four major waves of the pandemic (wild-type, alpha, delta, omicron). Results generally indicate that the burden of cases disproportionately impacted larger-sized counties, while the burden of deaths disproportionately impacted smaller counties. This may be partially due to multiple interacting social mechanisms, including a higher proportion of older adults who live in smaller counties. Moreover, these likely social mechanisms interacting with vaccinations and virus waves created a dynamic pattern whereby the rate and magnitude of …

The Biphasic Effect Of Lipopolysaccharide On Membrane Potential, Maria E. Hadjisavva, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from certain strains of Gram-negative bacteria can induce a rapid (<1 s) hyperpolarization of membrane potential, followed by a gradual depolarization exceeding the initial resting membrane potential. Through overexpression of a Drosophila ORK1 two-pore-domain K⁺ channel (K2P) in larval muscles and altering the external concentrations of K⁺ and Na⁺ ions, it is clear that the hyperpolarization is due to activating K2P channels and the depolarization is due to promoting an inward Na⁺ leak. When the external Na⁺ concentration is negligible, the LPS-delayed depolarization is dampened. The hyperpolarization induced by LPS can exceed −100 mV when external K⁺ and Na⁺ concentrations are lowered. These results indicate direct action by LPS on ion channels independently of immune …

Wright State University's Celebration Of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities From Thursday, March 13, 2025, Wright State University

Celebration of Undergraduate & Graduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Abstract Books

The student abstract booklet is a compilation of abstracts from students' oral and poster presentations at Wright State University's Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship & Creative Activities on March 13, 2025.

Cold Chain Logistics Optimization: Integrating Iot And Data Analytics To Reduce Post-Harvest Loss In The United States Perishable Food Supply Chain: A Case Study Of Dole Food Company, Sarah Onyeche Usoro, Elizabeth Ramatu Galadima, Onyeche Helen Adogwa

Student Publications

Food spoilage in the United States is not simply a logistical inconvenience. It is one of the most underappreciated sources of economic and environmental waste in the country's food system. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meat are routinely lost during storage and transport not because operators lack the will to prevent it, but because conventional cold chain management has historically lacked the tools to detect and respond to deteriorating conditions before damage becomes irreversible. This paper examines how the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) sensing networks and data analytics platforms is reshaping what cold chain operators can know, predict, …

Workforce Forecasting For State Transportation Agencies: A Machine Learning Approach, Adedolapo Ogungbire, Suman Kumar Mitra

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

A decline in the number of construction engineers and inspectors at state transportation agencies (STAs) to manage the ever-increasing lane miles has emphasized the importance of workforce planning in these agencies. Forecasting workforce requirements is crucial for effective planning in any industry or agency. This study developed machine learning (ML) models to estimate the person-hour requirements of STAs at the project level. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) was used as a case study, using its employee and project details data between 2012 and 2021. ML regression models ranging from linear, tree ensembles, kernel-based, and neural network-based models were …

Crystal Structure And Hirshfeld-Surface Analysis Of The Pesticide Etoxazole, Chaluvarangaiah Sowbhagya, Thaluru M.Mohan Kumar, Hemmige S. Yathirajan, Sean Parkin

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Etoxazole (C21H23F2NO2), systematic name 4-(4-tert-butyl-2-ethoxyphenyl)-2- (2,6-difluorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazole, is a fluorinated insecticide and acaricide that inhibits chitin biosynthesis, disrupting insect development by preventing proper exoskeleton formation. Widely used in agriculture since 1998, it is readily absorbed by plant tissues and translocates within leaves. Metabolic studies have identified several oxidative degradation products, while toxicological assessments have examined potential effects, including oxidative stress. This study presents a detailed crystallographic and Hirshfeld surface analysis of etoxazole. The molecule consists of a central dihydro-oxazole ring flanked by 2,6-difluorophenyl and 4-tert-butyl-2-ethoxyphenyl groups, each twisted relative to the oxazole core. The dihydro-oxazole ring is nearly planar, with the …

Experiences Among Parents Caring For Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis At A Tertiary Referral Hospital In Kenya, Hassan Silim, Susan Wamithi, Roselyter Riang’A, Angela Migowa

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood. Despite the availability of effective treatment strategies such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), JIA is reported to have a negative impact on the quality of life of the patients and their caregivers. Ascertaining the perceptions of the parents will help facilitate more effective management strategies and improve outcomes for these patients. This study aimed to ascertain parental experiences and perceptions of caring for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: This was a single-center facility-based qualitative study. An in-depth interview guide was used to collect …

A Wave-Optics Bsdf For Correlated Scatterers, Ruomai Yang

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

In this project, we present a wave optics bidirectional scattering distribution function(BSDF) for the material with a collection of scatterers, such as certain fabrics with pores or foggy glass, where the corona effect can be observed under strong light sources. This effect arises from the diffraction of individual scatterers and the interference between them. To describe this effect, we treat each scatterer as an aperture to calculate diffraction, while using a pair correlation function to represent their spatial relationships and calculate the interference. This two-level decomposition allows us to derive a BSDF that can control both the individual diffraction function …

"Insanity" As An American Empire: The Canton Insane Asylum For American Indians, 1902-1934, Thanh Chi Nguyen

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This graduate thesis involves a retelling of the history of the now defunct Canton Insane Asylum, built in the early 20th century located in Canton, South Dakota. It was America’s first federal psychiatric facility dedicated exclusively for American Indians. The Canton Insane Asylum for American Indians is a touchstone whose microhistory reflects larger political and economic sentiments in both the state of South Dakota and in the United States writ large. Conceiving South Dakota, as first and foremost a white settler society erected on land forcibly wrested from American Indian people, the asylum played an important economic development role and …

Ethiopia Humanitarian Violence Against Children And Youth Survey, 2024: Summary Report, Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Yadeta Dessie, Francis Obare, George Odwe, Dagim Habteyesus, Bonnie Wandera, Peter Kisaakye, Stephen Kizito, Stella Muthuri, Gloria Seruwagi, Et Al., Chi-Chi Undie

Humanitarian Task Force

Violence Against Children (VAC) refers to all forms of abuse or maltreatment of people under the age of 18 years. The Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS), led by national governments with technical assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the Together for Girls partnership, have documented the magnitude and prevalence of physical, emotional, and sexual violence against children in more than 20 low- and middle-income countries, with a view to informing national prevention and response programs. Despite the precedent for understanding the extent of VAC from the perspectives of adolescents and …

Realistic Bionic Arm Development For Transradial Amputation, Bailey A. Wall, Lilly Noel Curdy, Ruthie Mccall, Courtney Mahoney, Andres Trejo

Biomedical Engineering

The VeraLimb realistic bionic arm is intended for use by individuals with a trans-radial amputation or congenital limb deficiency below the elbow to provide functional hand and arm movements. This advanced prosthetic device is designed to mimic a biological hand's natural motion, dexterity, control, and aesthetic, giving the user a higher sense of restored limb functionality. It offers an experience that closely restores motor function in a way that resembles having a natural hand rather than interacting with a mechanical device. The VeraLimb is suitable for daily activities, allowing users to grasp, manipulate, and interact with objects. It is designed …

Digital Inclusion And Systemic Barriers: The Role Of Technology In Shaping The Participation Of Women Of Color In Hybrid Workspaces, Sanket Patole, Rob E. Carpenter, Rochell Mcwhorter

Human Resource Development Faculty Publications and Presentations

The rise of hybrid and remote work models, facilitated by digital technologies, has been widely regarded as a means of enhancing workforce diversity and inclusion. However, this study critically examines how these digital workplaces simultaneously reinforce systemic inequalities, particularly for women of color. Drawing on digital divide theory and intersectionality theory, this research explores the ways in which women of color navigate technological barriers, algorithmic bias, and workplace surveillance while developing adaptive strategies to assert their authority in digital spaces. Through a qualitative, interpretivist approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 women of color working in hybrid and remote …