Digital Commons Network^™

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 26 – Cripple Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 177 – North Alice Culvert, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Human Interpretable Grammar Encodes Multicellular Systems Biology Models To Democratize Virtual Cell Laboratories, Jeanette A I Johnson, Daniel R Bergman, Heber L Rocha, David L Zhou, Eric Cramer, Ian C Mclean, Yoseph W Dance, Max Booth, Zachary Nicholas, Tamara Lopez-Vidal, Atul Deshpande, Randy Heiland, Elmar Bucher, Fatemeh Shojaeian, Matthew Dunworth, André Forjaz, Michael Getz, Inês Godet, Furkan Kurtoglu, Melissa Lyman, John Metzcar, Jacob T Mitchell, Andrew Raddatz, Jacobo Solorzano, Aneequa Sundus, Yafei Wang, David G Denardo, Andrew J Ewald, Daniele M Gilkes, Luciane T Kagohara, Ashley L Kiemen, Elizabeth D Thompson, Denis Wirtz, Laura D Wood, Pei-Hsun Wu, Neeha Zaidi, Lei Zheng, Jacquelyn W Zimmerman, Jude M Phillip, Elizabeth M Jaffee, Joe W Gray, Lisa M Coussens, Young Hwan Chang, Laura M Heiser, Genevieve L Stein-O'Brien, Elana J Fertig, Paul Macklin

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cells interact as dynamically evolving ecosystems. While recent single-cell and spatial multi-omics technologies quantify individual cell characteristics, predicting their evolution requires mathematical modeling. We propose a conceptual framework-a cell behavior hypothesis grammar-that uses natural language statements (cell rules) to create mathematical models. This enables systematic integration of biological knowledge and multi-omics data to generate in silico models, enabling virtual "thought experiments" that test and expand our understanding of multicellular systems and generate new testable hypotheses. This paper motivates and describes the grammar, offers a reference implementation, and demonstrates its use in developing both de novo mechanistic models and those informed …

Reducing Residential Landscape Water Use In Utah: Technologies And Strategies, Maya Cottam, Kendall Becker, Katlyn Stemmler, Shital Poudyal, Wesley Crump, Lewis Kogan, Scott Hotaling

All Current Publications

Water conservation is a critical issue in Utah, and several actions are already underway to help lower residential landscape water use. Strategies include smart irrigation controllers, efficient sprinkler bodies and nozzles, drip irrigation systems, soil amendments that increase water-holding capacity, and drought-tolerant grass cultivars for lawns. While additional conservation efforts will be necessary to reach sustainable water management, statewide adoption of current programs can help reduce water use and loss.

Native Ticks As A Model For The Effectiveness Of Fire As A Tool For The Management Of Cattle Fever Ticks In South Texas, Lauren P. Maestas, Sarah E. Mays Maestas, Kathleen M. Yeater, Manuel Zavala, Reyes Garcia, John A. Goolsby

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

The species of cattle fever ticks (CFT) present in North America, Rhipicephalus (=Boophilus) annulatus, and R. microplus, remain an important agricultural and economic burden. The use of acaricides to control CFT has been a common practice over the past half century. However, alternative strategies for control are needed to improve the options for sustainable pest control. Fire is a tool to manage vegetation, and some evidence supports its potential for use to control ticks. We evaluated the effectiveness of fire as a management tool for ticks in South Texas. Our site was a 28.2-ha property in Cameron …

Phytochemical Analysis And Appraisal Of Antiproliferative Activity Of Magnolia Alejandrae, José E. Caballero-Chávez, Alma D. Paz-Gonzalez, Diana V. Navarrete-Carriola, Fabian E. Olazarán, María Miriam Estevez-Carmona, Benjamin Nogueda-Torres, Fernando Emiliano Jiménez-Mondragón, Melany X. Márquez-Aguilar, Carmen Michelle Pineda-Alcala, Debasish Bandyopadhyay

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Magnolia alejandrae is a tree endemic to Tamaulipas, Mexico, distributed in the forests of the Sierra Madre Oriental. Objective: Our objective was to analyze the secondary metabolite profile of different parts of M. alejandrae and evaluate their antiproliferative activity in vitro. Methods: Different extracts of leaf, bark, and fruit were obtained using conventional and unconventional extraction methods with solvents of different polarity. The extracts were analyzed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectra (UPLC-MS), and their antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines was determined. Results: The primary yields of the extracts obtained from M. alejandrae ranged from 8.32% to 36.19%. Three …

Β-Catenin Functions As A Molecular Adapter For Disordered Cbaf Interactions, Yuen San Chan, Qinyu Gao, Sarah A Robinson, Wenzhi Wang, Ruzena Filandrova, Lisa-Maria Weinhold, Mario Loeza Cabrera, Miao Zhang, Chandra Shekar R Ambati, Antonio M Lerario, Nagireddy Putluri, Katja Kiseljak-Vassiliades, Margaret E Wierman, Mouhammed Amir Habra, Gary D Hammer, Vaclav Veverka, Katerina Cermakova, H Courtney Hodges

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BAF (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodelers engage binding partners to generate site-specific DNA accessibility. However, the basis for interaction between BAF and divergent binding partners has remained unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that scaffold proteins augment BAF's binding repertoire by examining β-catenin (CTNNB1) and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1, NR5A1), a transcription factor central to steroid production in human cells. BAF inhibition rapidly opposed SF-1/β-catenin enhancer occupancy, impairing SF-1 target activation and SF-1/β-catenin autoregulation. These effects arise due to β-catenin's role as a molecular adapter between SF-1 and an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of the canonical BAF (cBAF) subunit ARID1A. In contrast …

Organizational Climate And Decision Aid Sustainability In Lupus Care: Mixed Methods Study, Aizhan Karabukayeva, Larry R Hearld, Nathan W Carroll, Reena Kelly, Jasvinder A Singh

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Digital decision aids (DAs) are increasingly used in health care to support shared decision-making and promote patient engagement. In the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex autoimmune disease characterized by diverse symptoms and uncertain prognoses, DAs offer guidance to patients in navigating treatment risks and benefits. Although numerous studies have examined the initial implementation of evidence-based tools, there is limited evidence on the organizational factors that influence their long-term sustainability in clinical practice. This gap is particularly salient for digital interventions, where integration into routine workflows and ongoing use require alignment with clinic readiness and culture. This …

Köppen-Geiger Climate Effects On F-15 Readiness Spares Package Parts, Maximus A. Fan

Theses and Dissertations

Readiness Spares Packages (RSP) are critical to deployed operations. Future demands of the Air Force require squadrons to operate in different climate environments from home stations. RSPs can sustain aircraft maintenance operations for up to 30 days. Currently, failure rates of parts within the RSP are assumed to be constant. This research aims to explore whether there is a difference in F-15 RSP failure rates when Koeppen climate classifications are taken into effect. The Koeppen-Geiger system classifies area climates based on the geography, elevation, and location. The history of operations and diversity of F-15 locations make the aircraft an ideal …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part Xliii. Lanzatus Fuscipalpis Sp. N. From Ethiopia (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

The rare Horn of Africa buthid genus Lanzatus Kovařík, 2001, known only from Somalia and Somaliland, is recorded for the first time from Ethiopia. We describe a new species Lanzatus fuscipalpis sp. n. fully illustrated with color photographs showing its morphology, habitus, hemispermatophore, and collection sites.

Textbooks: Required, Alternatives, Hybrid, Or Disappearance, William Saunders, Carlton Perkins, Michara Delaney-Fields

Southwestern Business Administration Journal

The conversations around transformational changes in higher education are centered around a myriad of issues. Technology, the lasting effects of the pandemic, student satisfaction and readiness for future employment requirements are a few of the leading concerns. However, one subject that is not receiving enough attention is the growing resistance and hesitation among college students to purchase textbooks. Although the movement has not reached the status of a full-blown protest or outright refusal, there is enough attention being brought to the subject that educators may want to be prepared for an eventual change. The need and requirement for textbooks in …

Unheard And Underserved: The Role Of Narratives And Shared Experiences Of Systemic Racism In The Black Community’S Engagement With Mental Health Services, Essence Jones

Master of Arts in Human Services

This research examines the intersection of systemic racism and mental healthcare in the Black community, focusing on the reluctance to engage with mainstream services. Grounded in historical analysis, the study traces how slavery, segregation, and discriminatory policies have shaped enduring mistrust toward mental health systems. Despite progress in health equity initiatives, cultural insensitivity, underrepresentation of Black providers, and ongoing structural barriers persist. Drawing from peer-reviewed literature, the work explores narratives and collective memories that influence perceptions of care, including the role of faith-based coping, stigma, and alternative healing practices. Special attention is given to the compounded effects of intersectional identities …

Ineffective Parenting, Alexis Rian

Master of Arts in Human Services

Ineffective parenting can lead to long-term, severe, and lasting consequences for children. Children depend heavily on their primary caregivers for safety and to have their basic needs met. However, not all parents demonstrate positive parenting styles, whether due to a lack of knowledge, limited capacity, or simply a lack of interest. Parenting styles fall into four categories: authoritarian, authoritative, permissive, and uninvolved. The type of parenting style a caregiver adopts can significantly influence the attachment style a child has with them. Four attachment styles that children have are insecure avoidant attachment, secure attachment, insecure resistant attachment, and disorganized attachment. Children …

Underlying Causes Linking Foster Care And The Criminal Justice System, Marcia D. Wheeler

Master of Arts in Human Services

This research expands on the ongoing statewide crisis within the foster care system that needs to be properly addressed to benefit future and current foster youth. Research has found a connection between foster care and prison, often referred as the “foster-care-to-prison-pipeline.” This study aimed to explore the impact of trauma experienced by current and former foster youth through a life course lens looking at crucial areas of development using a mixed methodology supported by theoretical theories that explored the connection between foster care and the criminal justice system. The results showed that current and former foster youth face many adversities …

Synergistic Cefiderocol-Containing Antibiotic Combinations Active Against Highly Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii Patient Isolates With Diverse Resistance Mechanisms, Justin Halim, Andrew P. Keane, Jeannete Bouzo, Tope Aderibigbe, Jessica A. Chicola, Katie T. Nolan, Keertana Jonnalagadda, Jason X. Tran, Valerie J. Carabetta

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii is a nosocomial pathogen known for rapidly developing resistance to nearly all antibiotics, including last-line agents. Cefiderocol, a novel siderophore cephalosporin, has shown in vitro activity against A. baumannii and is now used clinically, but resistance is emerging. Data on cefiderocol-based antibiotic combinations are limited.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the in vitro activity of cefiderocol alone and in combination with other antibiotics against XDR and PDR A. baumannii clinical isolates, and to explore resistance mechanisms underlying cefiderocol synergy.

METHODS: We tested 21 XDR/PDR clinical isolates and one NDM-1-producing strain using broth microdilution and checkerboard assays with cefiderocol and …

A Religious Etiology Of Genito-Pelvic Pain And Pain With Penetration, Emily L. Carlson

Theses and Graduate Projects

Pelvic pain during penetration (PPDP) has been described using various diagnostic terms, including vaginismus, dyspareunia, and vulvodynia. The most recent and comprehensive classification is Genito-pelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) which is characterized by psychological distress associated with pain during or in anticipation of vaginal penetration (DSM-5-TR; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2022). The etiology of PPDP is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and relational factors. Religious and cultural influences may play a significant role in shaping individuals’ experiences of sexual pain. This study investigated the etiology of PPDP in relation to the religious influences among women raised in Judeo-Christian …

Improving Student Success In 2nd Degree Bsn Students, Sharon Radzyminski, Eloisa G. Tamez, Jennifer Brewster, Leslie Kimberling Jones

School of Nursing Faculty Publications

Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs are designed to leverage a student’s prior academic achievements and professional experience, integrating them into the curriculum for their nursing degree. This allows students to receive credit for previous core courses and move through the nursing program at an accelerated rate. This, however, brings special challenges for both students and faculty. At our university we noticed the attrition rate of students in the second-degree BSN program was significantly higher than the traditional BSN program. Investigation into this issue revealed students in the Second-Degree Program had significant issues with role conflict, poor …

Menopause-Related Changes In Sleep And The Associations With Cardiometabolic Health: A Narrative Review, Joshua R. Sparks, Xuewen Wang Ph.D., Faha

Faculty Publications

This narrative review examines the complex relationship between sleep changes during the menopausal transition and cardiometabolic risks. The most common complaint about sleep is increased awakenings during sleep. Other complaints include having trouble falling asleep, waking up too early, insufficient and non-restorative sleep, and overall poor quality. Sleep determined using objective methods also indicates that greater awakenings after sleep onset are associated with the period of menopausal transition. Polysomnography recordings suggest physiological hyperarousal during sleep. Changes in other sleep metrics, such as sleep latency and sleep duration, are less consistent, and some studies suggest they may not worsen during the …

Dynamic Remodeling Of Centrioles And The Microtubule Cytoskeleton In The Lifecycle Of Chytrid Fungi, Alexandra F Long, Krishnakumar Vasudevan, Andrew Swafford, Claire M Venard, Jason E Stajich, Lillian K Fritz-Laylin, Jessica L Feldman, Tim Stearns

Biology Faculty Publications

Cell movement and division are complex behaviors driven by a dynamic internal cytoskeleton. The molecular components and principles of cytoskeletal assembly are well studied, but less is known about cytoskeletal remodeling events, including how centrioles transition from ciliary base to centrosome. Here we address this using the chytrid Rhizoclosmatium globosum, a zoosporic fungus which has centrioles and cilia, lost in most fungal lineages. Chytrids undergo reorganization of their microtubule cytoskeleton as they grow from zoospore to multinucleated coenocyte. We use evolutionary comparison, RNA sequencing, and expansion microscopy to understand this reorganization and further develop this organism as a model for …

Current Mechanobiological Pathways And Therapies Driving Spinal Health, Rahul Kumar, Kyle Sporn, Harlene Kaur, Akshay Khanna, Phani Paladugu, Nasif Zaman, Alireza Tavakkoli

SKMC Student Presentations and Publications

Spinal health depends on the dynamic interplay between mechanical forces, biochemical signaling, and cellular behavior. This review explores how key molecular pathways, including integrin, yeas-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), Piezo, and Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) with β-catenin, actively shape the structural and functional integrity of spinal tissues. These signaling mechanisms respond to physical cues and interact with inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), driving changes that lead to disc degeneration, vertebral fractures, spinal cord injury, and ligament failure. New research is emerging that shows scaffold designs that can …

Travel Professionals’ Successful Strategies For Implementing New Products, Mary Ashley Switzer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The rapid introduction of new and innovative travel products presents challenges for travel industry professionals striving to stay competitive in a dynamic marketplace. This is a significant concern for travel professionals and industry leaders, as effectively implementing strategies can improve client satisfaction and support sustained business growth. The purpose of this qualitative pragmatic inquiry study was to explore the strategies used by travel industry professionals to successfully implement new, innovative tourism products to gain a competitive advantage. Grounded by the Red Queen effect competitive advantage model, six U.S.-based travel professionals with 5 years of experience and at least $1 million …

Polymeric Nanocarriers Functionalized With Peptides For Improved Glioblastoma Targeting And Blood–Brain Barrier Permeability, Cristian Antonio Wieczorek Villas Boas, Aaron Priester, Buck E. Rogers, Anthony J. Convertine

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We report the synthesis of polymeric conjugates designed to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and selectively bind glioblastoma (GBM) cells through reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The resulting materials were engineered to contain peptide macromonomers for cell-specific targeting and integrated DOTA units to facilitate radiolabeling with copper-64 (⁶⁴Cu), yielding radiolabeled conjugates with greater than 95% radiochemical purity. In biodistribution assessments conducted in mice, C1C2 peptide-conjugated polymers showed significantly improved accumulation in brain tissue, supported by brain perfusion analyses confirming efficient BBB penetration. Additionally, flow cytometry evaluations demonstrated specific affinity of GBM-targeted polymer formulations toward U87 glioblastoma cells. …

Tmco1 As An Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Load-Activated Channel: Mechanisms And Disease Implications, Jingbo Wang, Panpan Zhu, Zhuohang Li, Xiaohui Su, Mingzhu Qi, Aimin Zhou, Xiangying Kong

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Calcium ions (Ca2+) play a vital role in many biological processes. Transmembrane and coiled-coil domain 1 (TMCO1) has been characterized as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein in recent years. It keeps the cytoplasm and ER's Ca2+ homeostasis stable by acting as a novel calcium channel. Studies from different laboratories have revealed that the mutation or deficiency of TMCO1 is closely correlated with several diseases, including cerebro-facio-thoracic dysplasia (CFTD), glaucoma, premature ovarian failure (POF), osteoporosis, and cancer. Here, we review the characteristics of TMCO1 and its involvement in related diseases, which may provide useful information for developing therapeutic strategies for …

Faculty Panel: Ideas For Introducing Your Syllabus, Liz Norell

Events

Spending the first day of class marching through the syllabus doesn’t exactly set the stage for an engaged classroom environment, but the information in the syllabus is important. Given that, what do we do instead? In this panel discussion, we’ll hear from several instructors about how they introduce the syllabus at the start of a new semester. Attendees will leave with multiple examples of how to engage students in a more interactive review of the syllabus that builds community and sets the tone for an engaged classroom environment.

Working Group Report: Developing A Playbook Of Equitable Grading Practices, Stephen H. Edwards, David L. Largent, Ben Schafer, Debarati Basu, Amy Csizmar Dalal, Dan Garcia, Brian Harrington, Kevin Lin, Dan S. Myers, Christian Roberson, Giulia Toti, Brett Wortzman

Faculty Publications

Traditional points-based grading can have negative impacts. As a result, many educators are experimenting with alternative grading practices that are more equitable for students. However, educators often face challenges in implementing equitable grading practices due to a lack of clear, practical descriptions of techniques and the fact that not all techniques are universally applicable. This working group addresses this problem using a three-pronged strategy: conducting a systematic literature review to gather documented techniques, compiling ''recipes'' or concrete descriptions of these techniques, and publishing them in an open-source, online ''playbook'' of equitable grading practices as a community resource for educators. This …

Magnetic Ordering And Dynamics In Assemblies Of Magnetite Nanoparticles Throughout The Superparamagnetic Transition, Johnathon Michael Rackham

Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic nanoparticles are used in nanotechnologies and biomedical applications, such as drug targeting, hyperthermia treatment, MRI contrasting agents, and bio-separation of compound solutions. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles stand to be effective in these roles due to the non-toxic nature of magnetite and its strong magnetization. To this end, a greater understanding of the magnetic behavior of the individual magnetite nanoparticles is needed when a collection of them is used. This research seeks to discover the local magnetic ordering and dynamics of fluctuations of ensembles of magnetite nanoparticles at various stages of the magnetization process, throughout the superparamagnetic blocking transitions, and for …

Parents’ Perceptions Of The Influence Of Interpersonal Trauma On Children’S Academic Achievement In Low Socioeconomic Families During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Brandi Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic intensified the challenges faced by families from low socioeconomic (SES) backgrounds regarding their children’s academic development. Students during this time experienced disruptions in their academic development, further hindering their educational progress. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore parents’ perceptions of how interpersonal trauma and SES challenges impacted their elementary-age children’s academic achievement during the pandemic. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory served as the theoretical foundation, offering a framework to understand how environmental factors shaped children’s experiences and academic development. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews with eight parents from low-SES backgrounds. Content analysis of …

The Meaning Of Academic Achievement For Fathers Of African American At-Risk Urban Female Youth, Shurise Telesford

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Family dynamics, parenting styles, and the impact of parental involvement on children have long been studied, with much of the focus traditionally placed on the mother-child relationship. This study shifted that focus to explore the perceptions of African American fathers of at-risk female youth regarding academic achievement. Using a generic qualitative approach and guided by Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, a theory emphasizing how the marginalized learn through critical awareness and collaboration, I sought to understand how these fathers view their daughters’ educational experiences and barriers to success. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with seven fathers living in urban …

Gendered Challenges In The Chinese Workplace : Examining Maternity Leave And Discrimination Against Working Mothers In Shenzhen, Tianyang Wen

Lingnan Theses (Doctoral degree)

Under the background that labor competition and the society progress become more in-tense, the dilemma of motherhood faced by working women has become increasingly prominent. This dissertation aims to explore gender challenges in the Chinese workplace, in particular the maternity leave system and its impact on discrimination against working mothers. Taking Shenzhen as an example, this study adopts qualitative research methods and systematically examines the challenges faced by working mothers in terms of maternity leave and employment discrimination through in-depth interviews with ten working mothers, seven human resource managers, three corporate employers and three in-depth interviewers. The study found that: …

Temporal Trends Of A Cellular Host Response Test For Sepsis And A Comparison With Selected Biomarkers Of Inflammation And Infection, Matthew S. Berlinger, Matt Sorrells, Christopher B. Thomas, Tonya Jagneaux, James E. Walker, Jennifer Daigle, Heather Quiriarte, Youyoung Kim, Guillaume Spielmann, Debbie Robertson, Susan Park Ochsner, Gideon Avornu, Katherine Fenstermacher, Elijah James Kurien, Camille King, Adenine Cembellin-Kao, Chase Yonamine, Querino Maia, Maciej Obrebski, David N. Hager, Roya Sheybani, Henry T.K. Tse, Ajay M. Shah, Robert Scoggins, Hollis R. O’Neal, Richard Rothman

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Sepsis, a condition characterized by immune dysregulation, is the leading cause of in-hospital mortality and requires rapid treatment. Assessing immune dysregulation has been challenging. The IntelliSep Index (ISI), a novel biomarker which leverages microfluidic deformability cytometry to assess immune activation, has been evaluated as a test for Emergency Department use but it is unclear how the signal evolves as patient condition evolves. In a 47-patient cohort with hospital stays ≤ 14 days, ISI provided a good indicator of disease progression by blinded physician review. ISI trends correlated with clinical improvement over time. During the first 12 h following presentation, ISI …