Digital Commons Network^™

Biochar-Based Materials As Remediation Strategy In Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil And Water: Performances, Mechanisms, And Environmental Impact, Zhuo Wei, Yi Wei, Yang Liu, Shuai Niu, Yaxi Xu, Jong Hwan Park, Jim J. Wang

Faculty Publications

Petroleum contamination is considered as a major risk to the health of humans and environment. Biochars as low-cost and eco-friendly carbon materials, have been widely used for the removal of petroleum hydrocarbon in the environment. The purpose of this paper is to review the performance, mechanisms, and potential environmental toxicity of biochar, modified biochar and its integration use with other materials in petroleum contaminated soil and water. Specifically, the use of biochar in oil-contaminated water and soil as well as the factors that could influence the removal ability of biochar were systematically evaluated. In addition, the modification and integrated use …

Impact Ipsa Loquitur: A Reverse Hand Rule For Consumer Finance, Edward Janger, Susan Block-Lieb

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Ecological Niche Modeling Of Endemic Texas Crayfish Species Under Current Conditions, Sarah A. Burgett

Biology Theses

Crayfish play many important roles in freshwater ecosystems such as ecosystem engineering, bioindicator, and food resource. Even though they are important to ecosystems, they are highly understudied. There has been previous work done on ecological niche modeling on Texas crayfish species, but this study takes it a step further by combining soil, climate, and hydrology variables to model the ecological niches of three endemic species: Procambarus texanus, Procambarus nueces, and Procambarus fayettei. Ecological niche models were created for the three species of interest using the program Maxent. I found that P. texanus and P. fayettei have indistinguishable …

Graduate Studies Newsletter (Spring 2024), Csusb - Office Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Safeguarding Wetlands Post-Sackett V. Epa: Protecting Indigenous Territories And Environmental Health, Anna J. Mahler, Emily Richardson

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

The Clean Water Act (CWA) has been a tool for federally recognized tribes to protect the waters within their borders and sacred lands that exist outside the borders of the tribe. Sackett v. EPA limited the scope of the CWA to cover only wetlands that have a continuous surface connection. This restricts the ability of Tribes to protect important waters. The Sackett decision decreases the nation’s ability to protect the chemical, physical, and biological aspects of the waters. This paper explores past legislative remedies and proposes federal wetland protection.

Truth Anti-Smoking Campaign: Messaging Characteristics And The Use Of Fear, Erin Caine

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

truth® (“truth”) is an anti-smoking campaign that was created to fight against the tobacco industry by showcasing the various health, social, and economic effects of smoking so that young people can make healthy and educated decisions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the campaign’s rhetorical messaging through a qualitative content analysis across all their social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube). Specifically, this study identifies common themes, characteristics, and fear appeal elements used in truth’s messaging. Results of this study indicate that truth’s social media posts adhere to many of the themes and characteristics that were identified …

The Right To Sit In West Virginia, Leif Olson

West Virginia Law Review

In 1901, West Virginia guaranteed that women working outside the home would have a place to sit down at their workplace. In 2023, despite that law, no worker in West Virginia is functionally required to be given a chair. This Note explores the use of seating laws to prevent the modern and historic workplace issue of prolonged standing, or when an employee is required to stand in one place for too long at one time. Prolonged standing in the workplace is an ergonomics problem, a medical concern, and a labor issue. The pain, discomfort, and long-term chronic disease caused by …

The Evolvement Of Breast Cancer Therapies: What We Have Done And Where All These Head Off, Ika Nurlaila, Sabar Pambudi

Saudi Medical Journal

Although, from a therapeutic standpoint, breast cancer (BC) is considerably well-characterized, it still leaves puzzling spots. The Her-2+/PR+/ER+ BC can benefit from the mainstays of anticancer therapy and immunotherapy and overall have a better prognosis. Triple-negative BC, due to the concomitant absence of Her-2/PR/ER receptors, is more challenging and necessitates different strategies. It has been learned that the mainstay anti-BC therapies were initially designed to demolish as many cancer cells as they possibly could. However, the number of reports on the adverse effects of these mainstay therapies has recently been increasing. It underpins efforts to reshape such therapies into much …

Reflections Of A Non-Abolitionist Admirer Of The Police Abolition Movement, Corey Stoughton

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

To acknowledge that the abolition movement made reform better is not to reduce the movement to that purpose. For the non-abolitionist, the end of reform is better policing. For the abolitionist, reform is at best “a strategy or tactic toward transformation,” meaning contesting and ultimately eliminating policing. These are not compatible visions. But even if the collaboration between holders of these visions is just a tactical alliance, it is a tactical alliance that is producing good results. Perhaps those good results will lay a foundation for abolition, or perhaps they will seed in abolitionists’ fertile imaginations a positive vision of …

Battle Of The Lands: The Creation Of Land Grant Institutions And Hbcus – Fostering A Still Separate And Still Unequal Higher Education System, Jasmine Cooper

Washington and Lee Journal of Civil Rights and Social Justice

In HBCU culture, the Battle of the Bands is a competition between school marching bands to determine the “best of the best”. It is a cultural celebration that symbolizes friendly competition and showcases students’ pride in their school. Unfortunately, since their inception, Historically Black Colleges, and Universities (“HBCUs”) have been battling for legitimacy in America’s higher education system. From the beginning, HBCUs were often the only place African Americans could receive an education. Today, HBCUs are known for creating some of the most successful Black graduates and serve as a safe haven for Black students seeking an education in an …

Analyzing Pelvic Asymmetry By Sex And Ancestry: Insights From An Osteological Collection, Bryan O Ren, Robert W Goldberg, Karen D Standefer, Jason R Teplensky, Joseph P Drain, Conor F Mccarthy, John G Birch, Raymond W Liu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction: Pelvic asymmetry has been noted in pelvic imaging, and might influence the development of various spinal pathologies, most notably scoliosis. There is a limited understanding of the relationship between pelvic asymmetry and sex and ancestry, and limited use of 3D modeling. The purpose of this study was to identify pelvic asymmetry and morphology differences between sex and ancestry utilizing 3D modeling on young adults in an osteological collection.

Methods: Thirty-three osteological pelvic specimens aged 18-25 years (average age 21.4 ± 2.0 years) were scanned to create virtual 3D models for analysis. Pelvic asymmetry and morphology were measured and compared …

Esg: More Than Just “Big” Business, Emma Elizabeth (Bessie) Antin Daschbach

North Carolina Journal of International Law

No abstract provided.

Unl Emeriti And Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2024

UNL Emeriti and Retirees Association: Newsletters and Other Materials

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Emeriti and Retirees Association Newsletter, Spring 2024

Effect Of Downregulating Lactate Dehydrogenase In Alzheimer’S Disease Using A Drosophila Model, Hannah Higgins

Honors Theses

According to the CDC, approximately 5.8 million Americans suffered from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in 2020. AD is characterized by progressive memory loss and typically develops after the age of 60. There are many studies that suggest different causes of Alzheimer’s such as oxidative damage, amyloid plaque buildup, and metabolic dysfunction. Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme that is found in many tissues within the body and functions within cellular metabolism. The enzyme catalyzes the reversible reaction that converts lactate to pyruvate coupled with the reduction of NAD+ to NADH. Pyruvate is then used in the Krebs cycle to create ATP. …

Shipwrecked Spaceship With Undersea Overgrowth And Dynamic Weather System, Konstantine Soldatos

Art Theses and Dissertations

This artifact depicts an underwater overgrowth scene featuring coral, barnacles, sea urchins, and various sea-life enveloping the iconic Slave-1 ship from Star Wars. The ship exhibits visible damage to its hull and substructures, resulting from missile impacts and prolonged decay subsequent to a crash landing in the ocean. Consequently, remnants of destroyed substructures are interspersed with coral growth, transforming the ship into an artificial reef. The artifact comprises four distinct scenes: an initial pristine underwater environment teeming with flourishing kelp, vibrant sea life, and animated corals; a subsequent chaotic scene depicting a vortex that evacuates the water from the environment; …

Sci-Fi Character Creation With Focus On Multi-Limb Rigging And Visual Effects, Haoxiang Sun

Art Theses and Dissertations

This artifact is a Sci-Fi Character Creation that was created in Unreal Engine 5 with an emphasis on multi-limb rigging and visual effects. The idea generation phase of the thesis project focused on the rigging of a sophisticated character model and the production of special effects for this character. The character's artwork is stylized and made of clean materials.

Mistick Speaks: A Collection Of Tribune Review Columns, 2019-2023, Joseph Sabino Mistick

Law Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter Volume 5 | Issue 1, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) Coral Reef Conservation Program

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Is It Hot Here? How Increased Water Temperature Impacts Tunicates On A Physiological Level, Melanie Burley

Inquiry Journal Spring 2024

When you think of marine species that live in the Gulf of Maine, a tiny invertebrate attached to the side of a dock may not be the first one that comes to mind. However, tunicates have a powerful influence on other species within their environment. This is especially true in the Gulf of Maine, where they have been found on the side of boat docks, tangled up on lobster traps, and attached to oyster and mussel beds.

Increasing amounts of certain invasive species of tunicates can negatively impact the organisms around them. Tunicates can have a drastic impact on local …

Rodent-Mediated Seed Limitation Affects Woody Seedling Establishment More Than Invasive Shrubs And Downed Woody Debris, Brian M. Connolly, Chad Zirbel, John L. Orrock

Biology Faculty Scholarship

Seedling establishment is crucial for the development of self-regenerating tree populations. Determinants of tree establishment vary widely and may compound in their effects. Using a factorial experiment, we manipulated invasive shrubs, downed woody debris (DWD), and rodent access to evaluate factors limiting the establishment of six woody species (five native trees, one invasive shrub). Our results suggest these factors independently contribute to tree seedling establishment. Exclusion of rodents increased establishment threefold. Invasive shrub removal (Elaeagnus umbellata; Lonicera maackii) and the presence of DWD promoted establishment of two native trees (Pinus strobus; Sassafras albidum). Notably, …

Children Seen But Not Heard, Stacey B. Steinberg

UF Law Faculty Publications

Children are expected to abide by the will of their parents. In the last 200 years, American jurisprudence has given parents the ability to control their children’s upbringing with few exceptions. The principle governing this norm is that parents know best and will use their better knowledge to protect their children’s welfare.

The COVID-19 pandemic, public school rules, and children’s privacy laws offer modern examples of regulations in which the interests of parents and children may not align. Minors may want access to vaccines, despite a parent’s refusal to sign a consent form. Minors may want to talk to their …

Winners And Losers: Emotional Shifts Across Elections Are Conveyed By A Politician’S Smile, Carl Senior, Patrick A. Stewart, Erik Bucy, Nick Lee

Political Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

The human smile can convey both rewarding and affiliative social intent and thus has significant utility in politics, where the ability to bond with and reassure voters is vital to electoral success. We examine experimental evidence from the 2019 UK general election to investigate the influence of a politician’s reward or affiliative smile on voter emotions. It was hypothesised that the winner’s affiliative smile would engender positive affect across all partisan groups compared to the winner’s reward smile display. Participants from a nationally representative sample were shown campaign footage containing both types of smiles from the leaders of the main …

Parasite Diversity Of The King Cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah), Indian Rat Snake (Ptyas Mucosa), And Spectacled Cobra (Naja Naja), Bailey Tator

ALL - Honors Theses

Thus far, there has been little research on the parasitic biodiversity in wild reptiles, particularly in India. Research has been done on the parasite diversity of certain species, such as the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) and the Spectacled cobra (Naja naja), however these samples were purely from captive animals (Rajesh, 2015). This gap in knowledge is important to address because of how critical parasites are to the ecosystem and understanding their host population (Hudson, 2006). Parasites are some of the most biodiverse organisms, yet there is little work done to describe them in biodiversity hotspots such as the Western Ghats …

Phantasma, Grace Wright

ALL - Honors Theses

This project, titled Phantasma, can be described as a queer retelling of Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in which Brutus is the central focus. It will interrogate the question of what draws readers back to that fateful day at the Roman Senate time and time again. It will also question what drew Shakespeare and his audience to it, as well as deconstruct the nuances of his recreation. The narrative will be greatly influenced by the structure of Shakespeare’s play, but will take on new forms as scenes are added in places where Brutus would ordinarily be “offstage”. Using queer theory as well …

‘Making Of A Woman Minister’ Rev. Annis Ford Eastman And Elmira, New York, Mary Lemak

ALL - Honors Theses

This paper explores the life and career of one of the United States’ first female ministers, Rev. Annis Ford Eastman (1852-1910). Remembered today as being the author of Mark Twain’s eulogy and as the mother of American writer Max Eastman and co-author of the Equal Rights Amendment Crystal Eastman, the Reverend Eastman had a career that was exceptional in its own right. Reverend Eastman was ordained when it was practically unheard of for a woman to preach. Not only was she ordained but she was invited to speak at national conferences and was frequently published in religious and civic journals. …

Limb Stiffness Increases With Hopping Frequency And Sprinting Speed In Elite Sprinters, Laurent Dorvilier

ALL - Honors Theses

During sprinting and hopping, the lower limbs act as a mechanical spring as it compresses and recoils to store and release elastic potential energy during each step. This is important because for individuals such as high performing sprinters, the stiffer the spring acting limb is, the more efficient it will be for the sprinter to maintain maximal velocity and optimal performance. The basis of this experiment lies in the fact that the mechanics of the lower limbs are modeled using to the mechanics of a spring, therefore, to calculate an approximate limb stiffness, Hooke’s Law can be used. Hooke’s Law …

A Multi-Ancestry Genetic Study Of Pain Intensity In 598,339 Veterans., Sylvanus Toikumo, Rachel Vickers-Smith, Zeal Jinwala, Heng Xu, Divya Saini, Emily E Hartwell, Mirko Pavicic, Kyle A Sullivan, Ke Xu, Daniel A Jacobson, Joel Gelernter, Christopher T Rentsch, Million Veteran Program, Eli Stahl, Martin Cheatle, Hang Zhou, Stephen G Waxman, Amy C Justice, Rachel L Kember, Henry R Kranzler

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Chronic pain is a common problem, with more than one-fifth of adult Americans reporting pain daily or on most days. It adversely affects the quality of life and imposes substantial personal and economic costs. Efforts to treat chronic pain using opioids had a central role in precipitating the opioid crisis. Despite an estimated heritability of 25-50%, the genetic architecture of chronic pain is not well-characterized, in part because studies have largely been limited to samples of European ancestry. To help address this knowledge gap, we conducted a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of pain intensity in 598,339 participants in the Million Veteran Program, …

Beneath The Waves, Meredith Bol

Interior Design Capstones

In an age marked by technological advancements and a growing need for meaningful human-nature connections, aquariums and conservation programs stand as unique platforms for enhancing both education and human wellbeing. This design will dive into the conceptualization of interactive exhibits within aquariums, focusing on their potential to enrich visitor experiences and contribute to human wellbeing. By blending innovative technology, immersive environments, and educational narratives, aquariums can transform into dynamic spaces that not only showcase marine diversity but also actively engage visitors through these elements.

Intellectual: The aquarium space is meticulously designed to cater to varying intellectual levels, achieved through a …

From Healing To Happiness, Lauren Hannah

Interior Design Capstones

Animal shelters play a crucial role in providing care and rehabilitation for stray or abandoned dogs. However, there is a growing understanding that rethinking the conventional role of animal shelters can lead to significant improvements in the lives of dogs through specialized behavioral therapy and rehabilitation programs. By implementing these programs, shelters have the potential to regenerate and transform dogs’ lives, enabling them to overcome behavioral challenges and increasing their chances of finding loving adoptive homes.

The focus of these initiatives is to heal and nurture the dogs’ behaviors, addressing underlying issues that may have contributed to their arrival in …

Anti-Predator Behavior In Response To Conspecific Visual, Olfactory, And Damage Cues In Three-Spined Sticklebacks, Claire E. Vanmeter

Honors Theses

Predation is a major source of mortality for prey, which creates a selective pressure to avoid predators whenever possible. By using alarm cues produced by conspecifics, individuals can be alerted of nearby predators without coming into direct contact with them. However, whether individuals can distinguish between different conspecific cues or whether some cues might indicate a more severe predation threat than others is not known. Studied was the three-spined stickleback’s ability to distinguish between environmental cues by exposing conspecifics to four different treatments in a randomized order: 1) Control (control olfactory cues with an unexposed demonstrator), 2) Visual Only (control …