Digital Commons Network^™

Classification Of Land Cover In Sentinel-2 Imagery Using Machine Learning Models, Ehsan Ali Al-Zubaidi, Mohammed Ridha Hammoodi, Ahmed Naser Alzurfi

Al-Bahir

Remote sensing data of medium resolution are commonly used to classify land cover, and machine learning (ML) models have taken on a central aspect in the necessary data analysis. Ordinarily, land cover is coded on a pixel basis on the basis of Digital Number (DN) values, which in turn are computed across several spectral bands. This paper is concerned with land cover mapping in Mosul, Iraq, based on satellite images captured by Sentinel-2. Two platforms featuring unsupervised classification algorithms were used, Google Earth Engine and ArcMap, making it possible to use K-means and X-means in Google Earth Engine and ISO …

The River Of Life In Flannery O'Connor's "The River", Abbi L. Peo

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the role of the River in “The River” by Flannery O’Connor.  O’Connor’s fiction consistently explores the workings of grace and “The River” is no exception. In the story, the River functions as a metaphor for Christ’s grace. Most literary critics focus on the disconcerting drowning of the young protagonist, Harry Ashfield, an example of O’Connor’s signature use of the grotesque to facilitate her characters’ encounters with grace. However, this emphasis on Harry often obscures the broader role of the River within the narrative. When the story’s analysis is limited to Harry’s death, critics overlook how the River …

Strain Gauge Analysis And Deformation Detection Of Maxillary Denture Bases Reinforced By Cad/Cam Milled Zirconia And Cobalt Chromium (Co-Cr) Frameworks: An In-Vitro Study, Maha Nagy Kamal, Marwa Ezzat Sabet, Ghada Mahmoud Elgindy, Hebatallah Tarek Mohamed

Dentistry

Background A lot of studies have demonstrated the increased hardness of the reinforced maxillary dentures. However, the amount of stress induced by different reinforcement materials under the reinforcement dentures and their effect on the underlying supporting tissues and on the deformation of the denture bases were questionable. This study was conducted to compare the stresses induced within the supporting oral tissues from maxillary denture bases reinforced with computer-aided designing/computer-aided manufacturing CAD/CAM zirconia framework or cobalt chrome (Co-Cr) framework, and to detect the deformation that occurred to these bases. Materials and methods Twenty-six maxillary complete dentures were fabricated and divided into …

Who Let The Werewolves Into The Manuscripts: Written And Pictorial Representations Of Werewolves In English Manuscripts, Allison Slowiak

LSU Master's Theses

The werewolf – a fictional figure that transforms from human to wolf – serves as a compelling example of how medieval thought shaped ideas about identity and transformation. The motif of the werewolf, present in a small corpus of works from the tenth through the fourteenth century, emerged to explore the limits of change while also comparing the likeness of humanity to its animal counterpart. This paper explores medieval literature - Beowulf, Bisclavret, Biclarel, and Melion – from both French or English descent to offer overlapping and contrasting thoughts about human likeness to wolves. The manuscripts - The Nowell Codex, …

Evaluative Expressions In Spanish Digital Discourse: A Sociopragmatic Study Of Vaya/Qué Constructions, Jason L. Meier

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines the sociopragmatic patterns of Spanish evaluative constructions involving qué/vaya in contemporary digital discourse. Drawing upon politeness and impoliteness frameworks by Penelope Brown and Stephen C. Levinson (1978, 1987) and Jonathan Culpeper (1996), this research observes how speakers deploy use these constructions within public discourse to negotiate stance. The data consists of posts from X (formerly Twitter) and comments from YouTube videos, selected to showcase naturally occurring instances of (im)politeness across social media. These constructions are key to determining how society navigates expression and form within public discourse. In addition to the modern findings, a focused analysis of …

Energetic Diversity In Retinal Ganglion Cells Is Modulated By Neuronal Activity And Correlates With Resilience To Degeneration, Zelun Wang, Christopher Zhao, Shelly Xu, Minglei Zhao, Sean Mccracken, Rajendra S Apte, Philip R Williams

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Neuronal function requires high energy expenditure that is likely customized to meet specific signaling demands. However, little is known about diversity of metabolic homeostasis among divergently-functioning types of neurons. To this end, we examined retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), a population of closely related, yet electrophysiologically distinct excitatory projection neurons. Using in vivo 2-photon imaging to measure ATP with single cell resolution, we identified differential homeostatic energy maintenance in the RGC population that correspond to distinct RGC types. In the presence of circuit activity, the most active RGC type (Alpha RGCs), had lower homeostatic ATP levels than other types and exhibited …

Stacks, Pamela C. (1950-2026), San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry Ph.D. 1979

University of California, San Diego, Revelle College, Biology A.B. 1972

Associations Between Caregiver-Provider Communication Quality And Unmet Care Needs Among Older Adults, Jiaming Liang, Rafael Samper-Ternent, Brian Downer, Zhigang Xie

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Unmet care needs (lack of assistance with daily activities) among older adults are common and linked to adverse health outcomes, greater healthcare utilization, and caregiver burden. While effective patient-provider communication is known to improve care quality, less is understood about the role of caregiver-provider communication, particularly across sociodemographic, health, and caregiving contexts. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of pooled 2021–2023 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) and National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) data, restricted to community-dwelling older adults (65 + years) who received assistance from caregivers due to difficulty with daily activities, and had at least …

Senior Recital: Joe Brackmann, Cello; March 27, 2026, Joe Brackmann, Momoko Gresham

School of Music Programs

This is the one hundred and twenty-fifth program of the 2025-2026 season.

Kemp Recital Hall

March 27, 2026

Friday Evening

7:30 p.m.

March 27, 2026 Ereporter, University Of Alabama At Birmingham

eReporter (campus newsletter)

No abstract provided.

Alteration Of Spinal Serotonin Receptors After Prenatal Hypoxia Ischemia In An Animal Model, Tracy Santos, Landon Genry, Emily Reedich, Elvia Mena Avila, Brendan Moline, Katharina Quinlan, Marin Manuel

Poster Presentations

Cerebral palsy often results from perinatal hypoxia-ischemia and is characterized by motor and sensory dysfunction associated with altered serotonergic signaling in the spinal cord. The 5-HT₇ receptor, a G-protein-coupled receptor implicated in both motor control and nociceptive modulation, may thus play a critical role in these post-injury changes. However, the regional and developmental patterns of expression of 5-HTR₇ following HI injury are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the expression of spinal 5-HTR₇ in a neonatal rabbit model of HI injury at P1, P5, and P8 using Western blot analyses normalized to total protein. Tissue was isolated from …

The George-Anne Inkwell Edition, Georgia Southern University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

Functional And Structural Basis Of A Hypermorphic Trpc3 Variant, Briar Bell, Angela M Jaramillo-Granada, Luis O Romero, Irene A Gutierrez, Venkata K P S Mallampalli, Guizhen Fan, Sameer Varma, Matthew L Baker, Irina I Serysheva, Valeria Vásquez, Julio F Cordero-Morales

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cerebellar ataxias are characterized by impaired motor coordination resulting from neuronal dysfunction within the cerebellum. The mechanisms underlying this pathology and its cerebellar-specific neurodegeneration remain unknown. We uncover how a gain-of-function canonical transient receptor potential member 3 (TRPC3) mutation, coupled with a cerebellum-specific isoform, stabilizes the channel’s open state, resists the leading inhibitor Pyr3, and drives calcium-dependent cell death. Restoring calcium homeostasis by expressing a Purkinje cell calcium pump improves cell viability. Transgenic expression of the TRPC3 hypermorphic variant in Caenorhabditis elegans induces neurodegeneration, confirming its pathogenicity across species. Cryo–electron microscopy and molecular simulations reveal the structural basis for the …

Mouse White Matter Matters: Cortical Origins And Spatial Organization Of Mouse White Matter Tracts, Sofia D Gordeev, Melissa Franch, Sarah R Heilbronner

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

White matter—the fundamental structure underlying network connectivity—lies at the heart of the brain’s computational power. White matter is organized into fiber tracts, or bundles, in both human and nonhuman primate brains. These bundles consist of long-range axonal projections with a set of shared origin and termination points and exhibit a predictable organization. However, the organization of white matter in the mouse brain remains relatively unknown. This knowledge gap is surprising given the central role of mice in neuroscience, with mouse brains serving as the dominant model for transgenics, in vivo calcium imaging, and circuit manipulation. To address this gap, we …

On The Concept Of Continuity In Bio-Art, Jie Xu

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art

As an innovative art phenomenon in the new century, bio-art has yet to receive in-depth academic exploration with regard to its presentations of the posthumanist view of “continuity” in life. First, the concept of continuity in bio-art is represented by life processes, inter-life, and Zoe. Second, practices in bio-art present a continuity between humans and non-humans, biological and digital entities, life and information, as well as living and non-living things, which redefines the essence of life and puts into practice a neo-vitalism. Third, the concept of continuity provides an ethical defense for the moral controversies triggered by bio-art. To spare …

Dangerous Or Neglected, Amanda Landaverde

Nebraska Journal on Advancing Justice

No abstract provided.

Diversity Is More Than Non-Discrimination: Groupthink In Higher Education, Adam Goldstein, Sean Stevens, Nathan Honeycutt

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

In this Article, we seek to advance three claims. First, intellectual diversity is an essential bulwark against groupthink. Second, conflating intellectual diversity and non-discrimination undermines both concepts. Third, intellectual diversity should be pursued for its own sake and recognized as a separate and important goal of higher education.

We begin by sharing a set of definitions to identify the problem more precisely. Next, we examine the stakes of groupthink setting in. Then, we will introduce some of FIRE’s research on campus climate, which suggests the presence of an existing monoculture. Through the lens of a case study at Harvard …

Free Speech, The University, And The Wrong Turn In The Road, Donald Downs

Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

(Excerpt)

I introduce this Article by examining the present state of campus free speech policy and politics. I pose questions raised by the demonstrations that erupted in the wake of the war between Israeli and Iranian proxies on October 7, 2023. I then present a skeletal model of the liberal university, followed by a discussion of how illiberal forms of free speech logic have influenced and shaped thinking in higher education and elsewhere since the 1960s. I conclude with a critique of higher education’s turn turning away from a liberal model of discourse.

Literature Reviews, Claire Stuyck

North American Bird Bander

No abstract provided.

The Human, Kaamilah Kabala

FUSION

“The Caterpillar” is a short story by American author Lydia Davis published in “The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis” in 2009. In the story, the narrator wakes up to find a caterpillar in her bed, and decides to take it outside instead of killing it. However, she loses it somewhere in a dark staircase along the way. At first she looks for it and spends her time thinking about it, but eventually she forgets about the caterpillar and moves on with her life.

This article a re-writing of the short story. The author took the story and wrote it from …

2025 Youth Transitions Advisory Council Annual Report, Tennessee. Commission On Children And Youth.

Youth Transitions Advisory Council

No abstract provided.

Assessing The Impact Of Lampenflora Growth On Invertebrate Distribution And Food Resource Use In Ryusen-Do Cave, Japan, Kazuhide Nakajima, Kanato Ando, Shuji Watanabe, Masuo Komukai

International Journal of Speleology

Subterranean spaces, such as caves with openings to the surface, represent unique environments characterized by limited resources derived from photosynthetic primary production. Consequently, organic inputs from organisms inhabiting above- and belowground habitats, such as bats, play a crucial role in maintaining cave ecosystems. However, in show caves converted into tourist attractions, environmental changes have progressed without sufficient ecological assessment. One important factor is the impact of photosynthetic organisms colonizing around artificial lights, known as lampenflora, on cave ecosystems. Lampenflora growth may influence invertebrate distribution and resource use; however, its impact on both aspects has been poorly evaluated. In this study, …

The Web Hunter: Gut Metabarcoding Of Thread Legged Assassin Bugs (Emesinae; Reduviidae), Julia Fordham, Samantha Standring

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Thread-legged assassin bugs (Emesine) have frequently been observed on Baguada giganteus spider webs and have specialized morphology thought to evolve from hunting spiders. There is little to no research regarding the diet preferences for the majority of Emesinae species, and it remains unclear to what extent their diet consists of spiders. This research project utilized gut metabarcoding techniques to better understand the dietary behaviors of four emesine species: Emesa annulata, Polauchenia schubarti, Tagalis dichroa, and Bagauda giganteus.

Nest-Site Selection Of Chukar (Alectoris Chukar) In Western Utah, Julyn S. Robinson, Jacob T. Barnes, Heather L. Talley, Randy T. Larsen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Fitness for species in arid systems is strongly influenced by reproductive success, particularly in ground nesting birds. Chukar (Alectoris chukar), an introduced and popular game bird throughout the west, provide recreational hunting and ecological value, yet the habitat features influencing their nest placement and nesting success remain poorly understood.

Muscle Transplants: Science Fiction Or Modern Medicine?, Erastus Evans, Mason Kephart, Benjamin Long, Jake Sorensen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

The loss of skeletal muscle from trauma or surgery results in limited regeneration and long-term dysfunction. Muscle transplants replenish lost cellular and structural tissue to improve healing and recovery of strength. Juvenile tissue offers a promising alternative to adult tissue due to the increased satellite cell and myofiber content.

Meta Analysis Of The Riverine Barrier Hypothesis In Mainland Southeast Asia, Gavin Kohl, Christian Furness, Eleanor Savage, Perry Van Wagoner, Randy Klabacka

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Understanding the drivers of biodiversification is an important objective in evolutionary biology

Yet much is still unknown regarding the mechanisms that drive biodiversity in species

Identifying barriers between lineages is a viable approach to discovering potential drivers

Genetic And Morphological Comparison Between Introduced And Native Populations Of Aspidocelis Neomexicanus, Sadie Hale, Jordan Kirk, Arianna Moore, Perry Van Wagoner, Vicente Fernández Lara, Angelina Romero, Dallin Matthews, Álvaro Osuna Jiménez, Reagan Mckee, Randy Klabacka

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

The introduction of non-native species to novel ecosystems can have negative impacts on the environment, economy, and human health.

Understanding the processes driving patterns in dispersion, establishment, and expansion of introduced species can illuminate strategies to reduce the occurrence of introduction and mitigate its effects.

The New Mexico Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is a parthenogenetic (asexually-reproducing) species of lizard in the family Teiidae.

The Story Behind The Waves: Effects Of Urbanization And Female Presence On Waving Behavior In Fiddler Crabs, Katelyn Hansen, Blaine Griffen

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2026

Animal communication plays a central role in survival and reproduction, allowing individuals to convey information about their quality, territory, and reproductive statuses. Because signaling behaviors are often energetically costly and are dependent on both social contexts and habitat, they are sensitive to environmental conditions. Previous research has shown that male sand fiddler crabs (Leptuca pugilator) produce two distinct wave types: D-waves (typically directed towards other males) and up-and-down waves (typically directed toward females), and that they also reduce their waving behavior under urban stress. Urbanization introduces stressors such as habitat alteration and increased disturbances that can change the frequency and …

Dairy And Food Science Student Newsletter, March 26, 2026, Department Of Dairy And Food Science

Dairy and Food Science Student Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Image Generation Tools For Teaching And Communication, Evan Rusch, Nat Gustafson-Sundell

Library Services Publications

Image generation tools can be very handy to create images suited to purpose quickly. We’ve previously presented to librarian audiences our experiments using image generation tools for data illustration – as a supplement to data visualization, such as charts. Recently, we were asked to consider how image generation tools could support open educational resource creation. Although we have tended to focus on data communication, our broad interest has been to explore visual metaphors as a means to capture interest and illuminate concepts. We will demonstrate tools, use cases, prompting, and illustration types. We’ll consider how images can be developed as …