Digital Commons Network^™

Misapplication Of Inverse Condemnation Liability: A Legal Analysis Of The Application Of Inverse Condemnation Liability On Electrical Utilities, Nadra Mamou

UC Law Constitutional Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Factors That Predict Viewer Engagement During Educational Youtube Videos, Tyler Tarver

College of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine factors influencing user engagement when watching educational videos. Specifically, this study explored the extent to which video length and video style predict the percentage watch time, number of likes, number of comments, and number of shares of educational YouTube videos. The Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning served as the theoretical framework for this investigation. YouTube Creator Studio was used to select a convenience sample of 683 videos created between 2008 and 2021 and uploaded to the Tarver Academy YouTube channel. Simultaneous entry ordinary least square multiple regression and negative binomial regression models …

Investigating Microbial Metabolism Of Garcinia Mangostana By The Human Gut Bacterium Clostridium Sporogenes, Anna Liu

Honors Scholar Theses

The human gut microbiome is a burgeoning field of research due to recent recognition of its profound impact on the human hosts’ homeostasis, physiology and metabolism, and disease. Botanical natural products have been utilized for disease prevention and medical treatment since ancient times. Increased consumption of botanical natural products for their health benefits have led researchers to investigate interactions between the gut microbiome and botanical natural products. Garcinia mangostana, also known as mangosteen, is a fruit from Southeast Asia that is known for its health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and anticancer properties. Its benefits have been linked to bioactive …

On The Brink Of Transformation : Becoming Ones True Self, Jordan Lee Williams

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

It brings me great joy to share with you the story of my journey through Academia. This thesis will cover some of the milestones I’ve reached throughout my studies here at the University of Arkansas, which led me to be able to attain an MFA in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis. You’ll be granted an all access pass into some of the works I’ve been able to produce while studying here at the U of A Including my one person show, statement of artistry, a link to my website, and information on my career as a professional stand-up comedian

Olivia Johnson Honors Portfolio, Olivia Johnson

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Olivia Johnson's honors portfolio captured in May 2023.

Alleviating Power Line Congestion Through The Use Of A Renewable Generation, Adeiah James

All Theses

As the United States' energy demand has grown substantially within the past few decades, the reliability of its electric grids has become even more pertinent. With millions of customers relying on having consistent electric power to fulfill their daily routines and necessary operations, electric power transmission congestion, or the overloading of the electric power transmission network, can be very costly and detrimental to the reliability of the network and the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to identify and implement methods of optimally controlling the power flows to limit transmission line congestion.

Throughout recent decades, there has been an ever-increasing penetration …

Digital Twin Modeling And Optimal Control Of Soft-Bodied Robotics Using Reservoir Computing, Jovan Cain

All Theses

Soft-bodied robots have become increasingly popular due to their ability to per- form tasks that are difficult or impossible for traditional rigid robots. However, accurately modeling and controlling the movement and behavior of soft robots are very challenging due to their complex and dynamic nature. In recent years, Reservoir Computing has emerged as a promising approach to modeling and controlling soft robots. In this thesis, reservoir computing was used to create a digital twin of soft-bodied robots. Specifically, a digital twin of a spring-mass system was created using echo state network, a popular reservoir computing model. Furthermore, an optimal controller …

Geophysical, Archaeological, And Geospatial Investigations At Presidio Los Adaes, 18th Century Capital Of Spanish Texas, Robert Linam

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Presidio Los Adaes (16NA16), located in present day northwest Louisiana, served as the capital of Spanish Texas for much of the 18th century. Maps and historical documents provide architectural plans for the fort and other buildings on the site but differ in the size and location of several buildings. In 2009, a geophysical survey of the site with ground penetrating radar, magnetometry, electrical resistance, and electromagnetic induction showed good preservation of architectural foundations. Visual assessment of the maps and geophysical data, information from archaeological excavations, and spatial statistics suggests that the fort was originally built as specified by the architect, …

Use Of Space And Foraging Behavior Of Loggerhead Shrikes In Urban Areas, Katie Anne Maddox

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Loggerhead shrikes, Lanius ludovicianus, are a declining grassland songbird native to North America. Land-use change has been associated with the decline of grassland bird species. However, the process of urbanization creates novel short-grass habitats reminiscent of shrikes’ natural habitats. Loggerhead shrikes have been observed living in developed areas, particularly in Southeastern coastal states. Understanding the long-term impacts of urban-dwelling on loggerhead shrike populations is vital to identifying whether urban areas offer refuge or act as an ecological sink for shrike populations.

In chapter one, I quantified the use of space by shrikes in urban habitats within Horry County, South …

Deterrent Effects Of The Select Magnetic And Repellent Treated (Smarttm) Hooks And The Recently Developed "Smarter" Hooks On Sharks In Recreational Hook-And-Line And Longline Trials, Ryan Lowndes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As bycatch continues to impact global shark populations, there is a continuing need for effective bycatch reduction devices. Prior research has shown promise in exploiting sharks' electrosensory ability to this end. We tested the deterrent efficacy of the Select Magnetic and Repellant Treated (SMARTTM) and the newly developed "SMARTER" hooks in experimental longline and hook-and-line trials. Both are magnetized and contain an electropositive metal component made of magnesium (SMART) and a magnesium alloy designed to extend longevity (SMARTER). We deployed 127 longlines with SMART hooks, SMARTER hooks, controls, and procedural controls from 2021-2022 in Winyah Bay, South Carolina, and caught …

Comic-Based Characters As Moral Exemplars: An Ethical Examination, Jordan Vitiello

Philosophy Undergraduate Honors Theses

Comics and superheroes have long been a part of American culture. The narratives within these comics often focus on the battle between good and evil, which makes the works inherently philosophical. The aim of this paper was to discuss comic book narrative as philosophical thought experiments and characters within them as moral exemplars. For this paper, I used characters—superheroes, villains, and those in between—from Marvel and DC Comics. I begin by briefly discussing and defining fiction and fictional characters. Next, I apply the three branches of normative ethics to Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. The following sections address characters as …

Exploring The Role Of Microrna-1 (Mir-1) On Skeletal Muscle Hypertrophy, Shengyi Fei

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy is a complex process that involves a range of signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators. Many hormones and growth factors can activate key signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, and cAMP pathways, which play a crucial role in the regulation of muscle hypertrophy. In Chapter 1, we reviewed some of the hormones and growth factors known to be associated with skeletal muscle hypertrophy, as well as the function of these key signaling pathways, and revealed some unresolved issues. In Chapter 2, we explored the role of microRNA-1 (miR-1) in skeletal muscle hypertrophy and aimed to determine the …

Gene Expression Changes Linked To Phenylpropanoid-Based Resistance To Fusarium Head Blight Of Wheat, Shiv Singla

Department of Plant Pathology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fusarium graminearum is a devastating pathogen of wheat that causes Fusarium head blight (FHB) and contaminates the grain with the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Resistance to FHB is quantitative and it is important to identify additional genes conferring resistance against it. The goal of this thesis was to examine if the constitutive expression of two sorghum phenylpropanoid pathway genes, SbCCoAOMT (encoding caffeoyl-CoA O-methyltransferase) and SbC3’H (encoding p-coumarate 3-hydroxylase), in the moderately-susceptible spring wheat CB037 can provide Type-I and Type-II resistance to F. graminearum and determine the underlying mechanisms of the enhanced resistance. The constitutive expression lines (CCoAOMT413, CCoAOMT421, C3H112, …

Optimizing Soil Nutrient Management To Improve Dry Edible Bean Yield And Protein Quality, Emily Jundt

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Soil nutrient management is of the utmost importance to ensure crop yields are maximized to feed the world’s growing population. Micro and macronutrient deficiencies can be detrimental to plant growth and cause a drastic reduction in yield. Optimization of nutrient management needs extensive research. Nutrients such as nitrogen increase crop yield, even in legumes capable of using a large amount of nitrogen (N) via biological N fixation. Iron (Fe) fertilizers are also crucial for legumes as they are susceptible to Fe deficiency induced chlorosis.

Dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are leguminous plants and excellent dietary protein sources. Great …

The Last Drought Frontier: Building A Drought Index For The State Of Alaska, Olivia Campbell

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Drought is characterized by periods of below average precipitation. There are five major types of drought recognized in the literature: meteorological, hydrological, agricultural, socioeconomic, and ecological. A relatively new concept in the drought literature is “snow drought.” A key part of the definition of drought is that it is not always accompanied by extreme heat. This means drought can occur even in cold climates, cold seasons, and higher latitudes and altitudes, like Alaska. Drought is a natural part of climate variability, but Alaska’s climate is changing faster than any other state in the United States. Alaska is no stranger to …

The Role Of Gender And Curiosity On Transformational Leadership: A Mixed-Methods Study, Brooke Colleen Mott

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Environmental leaders are tasked with finding innovative solutions to dynamic environmental challenges. Leaders must gain and use new knowledge and experiences that motivate resolving gaps in one’s knowledge (i.e., curiosity) and thereby find forward-thinking solutions. Although curiosity is an integral part of human existence, it may be experienced in various ways. Studies have shown that men and women may possess different leadership styles. Nevertheless, the influence of curiosity on leadership between genders has not been as readily explored. Women exhibit unique characteristics for successful leadership in many contexts, but they are often underrepresented in natural resource management overall. Characteristics of …

A History Of The Representation Of Women In Clinical Trial: Implications For Modern Health Care, Madison Gulizia

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The male body is the medical baseline for all things regarding health care. Whether it is education or an actual trip to the doctor’s office, female bodies are still viewed as the “smaller male body.” The physiological differences in the male and female body range from the cellular level to whole body systems. These differences can mean millions of different things, depending on what avenue of discussion is taken. There are differences in the ways genes are expressed, leading to a variety in metabolic pathways, the digestive system, and the nervous system. A specific area that requires attention is the …

The Presence Of Childhood Obesity In Nebraska And The Physiological Repercussions Of The Disease, Madison R. Bezousek

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Childhood Obesity can cause lifelong repercussions in children and adults. There has been stigma around the causes of obesity and its relation to lifestyle choices, without consideration of the genetic and syndromic causes. In this literature review the causes of obesity were investigated, along with the effect on the physiological systems and the enviornmental factors that are continuing the obesity epidemic. Preventing and treating lifestyle obesity is something that is seen to have the greatest effect on youth, especially with intergenerational obesity. Nebraska schools have implemented programs to encourage healthy living, and ongoing research is being implemented to reduce the …

Kate Spade Strategic Analysis, Cydne Munson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Kate Spade is an American luxury handbag and accessory company. The company is best known for its fun yet timeless and functional designs and has been a highly regarded and recognized brand since its inception nearly thirty years ago. This report explores the history of the Kate Spade brand and its resources that contribute to competitive advantages in the industry. A Porter’s Five Forces analysis and a PESTEL analysis are used to examine Kate Spade’s external environment and the luxury handbag industry as a whole. Finally, potential future threats and strategies to counteract them are examined.

Innovation For The Air: A Brief History Of Worldwide Aviation, Lauren Plumley

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The purpose of this report is to present a brief but comprehensive overview of the variety of innovations related to aviation, and to discuss their impact on scientific progress over the course of human history. Relevant discoveries from the fields of physics and aerodynamics, and the numerous technologies built based upon these discoveries, are discussed over a period ranging from ancient times to the twenty-first century. The scope of this report is an overview of the development of powered and unpowered aircraft, including lighter-than-air, heavier-than-air, and aerospace technologies. Aviation developments were generally not limited to one specific country or person, …

Antimicrobial Resistance In Eskape Pathogens And Its Effect On Modern Medicine And Treatment, Cameran Runge

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Abstract

ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella

pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter

spp.) are seeing a growing resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics have played directly into the resistance observed, and the problem is growing exponentially. Antibiotic resistance is partially due to several intrinsic factors limiting the drug's uptake. These include efflux pumps, increased biofilm production, and reduced cell wall permeability in the resistant bacteria. ESKAPE pathogens also acquire resistance through horizontal gene transfer and plasmids. As antibiotics have become less effective, the bacteria can continue to thrive, leading to a detrimental …

A Review Of How Bioinformatics And Genome Sequencing Are Affecting Precision Medicine, Taylor S. Hickey

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Advancement in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics methods have been affecting biomedical research through precision medicine, especially in the area of cancer. Vaccine therapies can be developed using neoantigens that target specific mutations in tumors. The goals of this research are to identify mutations that lead to cancer and then define subpopulations in which patients can easily be identified. The future goal is to have targeted vaccines that are specific to each subpopulation ready to be used in treatment of their cancer. Limitations to reaching these goals have been due to tumor heterogeneity, cancer location, and difficulty in creating neoantigens for …

Evaluation Of Anaplasma Marginale Elisa Positive Cattle For Co-Infection With Ehrlichia Spp., Grayson Robbins

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Bovine Anaplasmosis is an infectious, hemolytic disease transmitted by the rickettsia parasite Anaplasma marginale in cattle. A. marginale parasitizes the red blood cells of an animal throughout their lifetime. The beef cattle industry is the fifth largest agricultural commodity in Arkansas, so potential economic losses due to bovine anaplasmosis is a critical issue. Previously tested beef cattle herds at the University of Arkansas’ Savoy and Batesville units have tested seropositive for A. marginale with low percent inhibitions; however, all seropositive animals tested negative for infection on DNA analysis. The objective of this study was to determine the current infection status …

Examining Transcriptional Regulators During Muscle Development In Drosophila Melanogaster, Chaamy Yapa

Student Theses and Dissertations

In Drosophila melanogaster embryos, a distinct approach to study the transcriptional regulation is to examine the larval somatic muscle development. Transcription factors are essential regulatory proteins that help to control gene expression and respond to signaling pathways and various cues. Today, there are at least twenty transcription factors that have been discovered to contribute to the development of the 30 distinct larval somatic muscles in each abdominal hemisegment of Drosophila melanogaster. Several studies have already been conducted on muscle regulatory transcription factors including midline and apterous. These transcription factors were shown to control the development of muscles through mutant …

Validating A New In Vivo Model To Study Als, Izabela J. Cimachowska

Student Theses and Dissertations

Buildup of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are well known characteristics of both sporadic and hereditary amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While both forms of the disease seem to arise from common cellular dysfunction, the genetic disease is studied to a much greater extent. Engineering novel animal models of the sporadic form of the disease is crucial for development of druggable targets to treat ALS and understand the underlying mechanisms. Interestingly, accumulation of oxidative stress by exacerbated emission of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from presynaptic mitochondria is a hallmark of both hereditary and sporadic ALS. Previous work by our laboratory showed …

A Comparative Analysis Of Human Insulin Versus Analog Insulin: Glycemic Control, Adherence, Utilization, And Cost-Effectiveness, Sohul Ahmed Shuvo

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Background: Despite being a lifesaving medicine for many patients with diabetes, insulin cost is growing out of reach for many. Of the two broad classes of insulin available in the US, analog insulin is newer, costlier, and more widely used than human insulin. The new mode of delivery with pen devices has shown promise in improving adherence and achieving glycemic control and gaining popularity. But comparing adherence to different insulins is challenging due to the lack of a validated insulin adherence method. Very little is known about the comparative benefits of different insulin types and different modes of delivery in …

Generation And Characterization Of Cyp2e1-Overexpressing Hepg2 Cells To Study The Role Of Cyp2e1 In Hepatic Hypoxia-Reoxygenation Injury, Nouf Alwadei, Mamunur Rashid, Devaraj Venkatapura Chandrashekar, Simin Rahighi, Jennifer Totonchy, Ajay Sharma, Reza Mehvar

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

The mechanisms of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which occurs during liver transplantation or surgery, are poorly understood. The purpose of the current study was to generate and characterize a HepG2 cell line with a stable overexpression of CYP2E1 to investigate the role of the enzyme in hypoxia/reperfusion (H/R) injury in an ex vivo setting. GFP-tagged CYP2E1 and control clones were developed, and their gene expression and protein levels of GFP and CYP2E1 were determined using RT-PCR and ELISA/Western blot analysis, respectively. Additionally, the CYP2E1 catalytic activity was determined by UPLC-MS/MS analysis of 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone formed from the chlorzoxazone substrate. The CYP2E1 …

Inhibition Of Kdm4 With Qc6352 To Target High-Risk Neuroblastoma, Ahmed M. Abuzaid

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a malignancy of improperly maturated nerve tissues of the sympathetic nervous system. It is the most diagnosed extracranial solid tumor of childhood, and it accounts for roughly up to 10% of all childhood malignancies and 15% of all childhood malignancy-related deaths. MYCN amplification, occurring in 20-25% of all NB patients and 50% of all high-risk NB patients, is the well-characterized genetic abnormality and is associated with ill-fated outcomes. Regrettably, in spite of the contemporary therapeutic advances and aggressive combinatorial treatments, the overall 5-year event-free survival rate is roughly 51% with a 5-year overall survival rate of nearly …

Studies Of Epigenetics And Properties Of B Cell Receptor In Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (Wm), Mona Karbalivand

Doctoral Dissertations

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent lymphoproliferative disorder with aberrant monoclonal immunoglobulin M (IgM) production that is associated with disease symptoms. Despite significant advances in our understanding of disease biology, the cell of origin remains largely unknown. Although WM therapy options have improved over the last decade, WM is still an incurable disease. Many studies have identified epigenetic dysregulation as a regulatory factor in WM malignancy. Here, we investigated the role of Mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1) histone methyltransferase in WM. We showed that MLL1 and its partner Menin are upregulated in WM patients. We also found that MLL1 knockdown and …

Gelatin-Based Microporous Injectable Hydrogels For In Situ Stem Cell Encapsulation, Seth David Edwards

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, I developed and investigated gelatin-based microporous injectable hydrogels for the encapsulation of stem cells for multiple applications in cell delivery. Utilizing microgels composed from a mixture of gelatin and modified gelatin, I demonstrated the utility of a dual crosslinking mechanism, which enabled rapid gelation and tissue adhesion with improved cytocompatibility. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in this hydrogel proliferated at a more rapid rate than in a nonporous counterpart, and showed increased immunomodulatory potential. Then, I investigated gelatin microporous hydrogel for the encapsulation of MSCs for bone tissue regeneration. Encapsulated cells more readily differentiated into osteoblasts (i.e. …