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Brief Of The American Immigration Lawyers Association And Immigration Law Scholars As Amici Curiae In Support Of Respondents, Lindsay Nash

Amicus Briefs

Amicus curiae brief submitted by the American Immigration Lawyers Association and immigration law scholars in support of the respondents in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot before the Supreme Court of the United States. The brief argues that the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) statute strictly limits the Executive Branch's authority to terminate TPS designations and requires continuation of protection unless the statutory conditions justifying designation no longer exist. The amici further contend that TPS serves a critical humanitarian function by protecting individuals from removal, detention, and loss of work authorization while conditions in designated countries remain unsafe.

Real-Time Data Collection System For Low-Cost Diesel Emissions Monitoring, Zachary Driskill

Theses and Dissertations

Diesel trucks are a major source of pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) and NO$_x$. Roadside emissions monitoring can identify high-emitting diesel vehicles, but conventional sensing systems rely on expensive, complex sensing instruments that limit widespread deployment. Low-cost sensors offer increased scalability due to their small size, low cost, and low power consumption, but they have lower accuracy and slower response time. This thesis presents the design and evaluation of a low-cost roadside emissions monitoring system, establishing the foundation for a scalable and widely deployable alternative. We apply machine learning calibration to roadside emission monitoring to improve the usability of low-cost …

Syllabus: U.S.-Japan Space Security Cooperation, Alice Dell'era, Elisabeth H. Murray Ph.D.

Course Materials

This syllabus includes a course description and outlines the learning outcomes. It also provides a breakdown of the assignments and assessments, along with an overview of the course schedule.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes April 13, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 16, 2026
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Reports
• Strategic Enrollment Management Annual Report
• Student Success Annual Report
• Committee on Committees Annual Report
• Calendar Committee Annual Report
• Information
• Additional Business
• Adjourn: 4:30

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda April 13, 2026, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 16, 2026
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Reports
• Strategic Enrollment Management Annual Report
• Student Success Annual Report
• Committee on Committees Annual Report
• Calendar Committee Annual Report
• 4:00 Information
• EPC Report - April 2, 2026
• 4:15 Additional Business
• President-Elect
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Heavy Metal In Water Resources, Zuming Bi, Jeanne Sumrall

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Heavy metal pollution in surface water has posed a serious threat to human health. The goals of this research are to analyze the concentration and distribution of key heavy metals and compare the measured values with global standards. This study analyzed major heavy metals like Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Ag across several test points in Kansas and converted them to standard units mg/L. Based on the statistical graph, heavy metal iron and manganese levels are exceeded USEPA and WHO limits several times,  while other heavy metals stay in the safe range. The results indicate that the pollution in Kansas …

The Role Of Dna Exoneration In The Bloodsworth Case, John T. Brasfield

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

In the Kirk Bloodsworth case, a man was falsely convicted for the rape and murder of Dawn Hamilton. He spent eight years in prison after being convicted through witness testimony, where he learned about DNA profiling. After submitting a request to check his DNA against the DNA left at the scene, he was exonerated. Later, the DNA left at the scene was checked against a database and got a hit on a convicted rapist who had been charged shortly after Mr. Bloodsworth. If there had been the same access to DNA technology during the trial or if they had listened …

Key Biomechanical Predictors Of Driving Distance, Cooper M. Scheck, Justin L. Montney, David Fitzhugh, Helen Miles, Greg Kandt

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Abstract: This study investigated the key biomechanical factors that influence golf driving distance using 3D motion capture analysis. Nine swings from three golfers were analyzed using the Sportsbox Golf premium platform, allowing for detailed measurement of swing mechanics across nine phases of the golf swing. Variables included clubhead speed, X-Factor (torso–pelvis separation), body dimensions, and kinematic velocities.

Results showed that carry distance is most strongly associated with clubhead speed and X-Factor at impact, while X-Factor at the top of the backswing was not significantly related. Correlation and regression analyses indicated that a combination of body dimensions, swing speed, and impact …

Identifying Socio-Economic Areas Of Concern Towards Inclusion In Gis Hazard Management, Detroit, Michigan, Ernestina Osei

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

This study examines the spatial distribution of socio-economic vulnerability and access to emergency services in Detroit, Michigan, to identify areas of concern for hazard preparedness and urban resilience. While traditional hazard management strategies often prioritize physical infrastructure, this research emphasizes the importance of integrating social vulnerability factors into planning processes.

Socio-economic variables including poverty, unemployment, median household income, housing vacancy, and insurance coverage were obtained from the American Community Survey. These variables were normalized and combined to create a composite vulnerability index representing areas of heightened socio-economic risk. At the same time, proximity and accessibility to critical services such as …

Finding Her Voice: Communication Challenges And Strategies Among Young Women With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sydney Holthaus, Averi Yeo, Madison Walt, Ran An

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Background/Rationale

Research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has historically centered on males, leaving the communication experiences of autistic females underrepresented (Lai et al., 2015). Although autistic females make up a substantial portion of the autistic population in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023), far less is known about how communication differences affect their everyday lives. Diagnostic processes may also overlook communication-related signs in autistic women, particularly when masking or compensatory behaviors reduce the visibility of underlying pragmatic and social communication differences (Dean et al., 2017; Hull et al., 2020; Rynkiewicz et al., 2018). As a result, …

Moving Toward Better-Defined Research Support Roles: Piloting Postdoctoral Training For Research Development, Heather Siedhoff, Matt Easter, Katie Rieger, Alan Toigo, Erin Teeple, Heather N. Russell-Simmons, Charlene Emerson

Research Development Review: The NORDP Journal

Research development (RD) is gaining recognition as an attractive career field, but navigating the variability of RD across universities can be difficult for prospective professionals. The growth of RD highlights the need to better characterize the distribution of RD duties and develop new paradigms for training RD professionals. We conducted a survey-based institutional case study of 123 research support staff at the University of Missouri (MU) from Nov. 3 to Dec. 15, 2023 to characterize the distribution of RD and research administration (RA) responsibilities across individual positions and units. Survey data showed a wide range of job titles associated with …

A Systematic Review Of Factors Supporting Early-Career Grant Success For Faculty In Stem And Medicine, Melanie Bauer

Research Development Review: The NORDP Journal

This literature review examines the factors and interventions that support early-career success in grant-seeking and research for faculty in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as medical fields (collectively termed “STEMM”) at U.S. higher education institutions. Given the persistent and growing focus on securing external funding across colleges and universities, this investigation is valuable to both scholarly and practitioner audiences. Using a systematic and critical approach, this review summarizes the strengths and gaps of existing research. It highlights the limited focus of extant studies on grant seeking as distinct from publications when characterizing faculty productivity; calls for expanded …

Familybloom: Examining Ecologies Of Collaboration In Family-Centered Health Tracking, Lucas M. Silva, Aehong Min, Evropi Stefanidi, Franceli L. Cibrian, Jesus A. Beltran, Cassie Zeiler, Sabrina E. B. Schuck, Kimberley D. Lakes, Gillian R. Hayes, Daniel A. Epstein

Engineering Faculty Articles and Research

Family health informatics tools can help support well-being with shared data tracking. Prior work typically focused on shared data review, but often in specific moments, like bedtime, or centered on caregiving of children or elderly members. To investigate how tracking can support mutual health collaboration between family members pervasively across daily contexts, we designed and deployed FamilyBloom, a glanceable smartwatch and home display system for mood and goal tracking. Twelve families with both neurotypical and ADHD members used FamilyBloom for three months on average. Our findings reveal how family-centered tracking created collaboration opportunities and tensions across multiple ecological systems: individual …

Hidradenitis Supprativa: Communication Strategies To Improve Awareness And Reduce Stigma, Temilade Adewale

Theses

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition associated with significant physical and psychosocial burden. Despite increasing clinical recognition, patients frequently experience diagnostic delays, stigma, and inadequate communication with healthcare providers. The purpose of this study was to examine communication patterns surrounding HS and explore how these patterns relate to stigma, misinformation, and patient experiences. This study used a qualitative design incorporating a structured literature review and semi-structured interviews with 85 participants. The Narrative Paradigm guided analysis, focusing on how individuals construct meaning through their experiences and interactions. Thematic analysis identified key patterns in patient-provider communication, misinformation exposure, and …

Competition As A Solution To High Prices And Low Capacity In U.S. Healthcare: A Synthetic Control Analysis Of Certificate Of Need Repeal As A Lever For Hospital Market Reform, Eve Velasquez, Wyatt Greco

School of Public Policy Capstones

The U.S. healthcare system faces dual challenges: rising hospital prices and declining capacity. Between 2000 and 2024, average hospital expenses per adjusted inpatient day increased from approximately $1,000 to over $3,000, while hospital beds per capita declined from 3.11 to 2.45. This capstone evaluates three policy alternatives to address affordability and accessibility: restrictions on most-favored nation clauses in insurance-provider contracts, elimination of federal tax exemptions on employer-sponsored health insurance, and repeal of certificate of need (CON) laws. Through a comprehensive literature review and a synthetic control analysis of Indiana's 2019 nursing home CON reinstatement, we assess the empirical effects on …

Comparative Physicochemical Characterization Of Porcine, Fish, And Bovine Gelatin In Gummy Candies: Toward Halal Nutraceutical Development, Marlyn Dian Laksitorini, Cici Darsih, Nunung Yuniarti, Rumiyati Rumiyati, Mohammad Zainal Abidin

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research

Gummy candies have emerged as one of the most popular dosage forms for multivitamins and nutraceutical supplements, including those for brain health. Gelatin is the primary gelling agent used to achieve the gummy texture; however, the influence of different gelatin sources on the physicochemical properties of gummies has not been systematically examined. This study investigated the physicochemical characteristics of gummies prepared with porcine, bovine, and fish gelatin. The gummies were evaluated for mechanical properties (gumminess, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, adhesiveness, and stringiness), color, water activity, antioxidant activity, and protein content. Additionally, the effects of intentional adulteration—specifically the addition of porcine gelatin …

Groundwater Nitrate Contamination In Western Kansas, Sihui Wei

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Groundwater nitrate contamination is a significant environmental concern in agricultural regions of the United States. In Kansas, nitrate concentrations in some groundwater systems approach or exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maximum contaminant level of 10 mg/L. This study analyzes nitrate concentration data from groundwater samples in western Kansas, with a focus on the High Plains aquifer, where agricultural activity is intensive. Using data analysis and regression methods, spatial patterns in nitrate distribution were identified. Results indicate that nitrate concentrations vary across sampling locations, with higher levels generally associated with regions of intensive agricultural activity. Several sites approach or exceed …

From Experience To Impact: Engaging With The Idd Community, Annabelle Malsam, Braydon Peterson, Whitney Randall, Andrew Gannon

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Tigers for IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) is an event created and led by college students to provide an opportunity for collaboration between the campus and the IDD community. Volunteers were asked to complete a survey after the event to provide feedback on their experience. Survey results show that volunteering with the IDD community is an overall very positive experience for volunteers and creates opportunities for personal growth. Individuals who volunteer at similar events, such as Special Olympics events, are motivated to participate for reasons such as giving back to the community and doing something worthwhile. Hosting community events that …

Desialylation And Sialidase Secretion From Monocytes And Macrophages Upon Lps Activation, Yu Zhao, Majdi Aljohani, Morgan Pychowycz, Xue-Long Sun

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Introduction The cell surface expresses a dense layer of glycans often terminated with sialic acids (Sias), known as sialylation, which represents different cellular statuses. Meanwhile, the removal of Sias from the glycans catalyzed by sialidase (desialylation) is also involved in many biological processes, such as inflammatory responses. Previous studies demonstrated that desialylation is involved in LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In this report, we systematically profiled desialylation and sialidase activity, expression and secretion from monocytes and macrophages upon LPS activation.Methods THP-1 monocytes and THP-1 macrophages were activated by LPS (100 ng/mL) for 24 hours. The cellular Sia changes …

The Beatification Of Fulton Sheen, Stephanie Shreffler

Marian Library Blog Archive

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen — Catholic evangelist, media personality and Marian Library Medal recipient — will be beatified by the Catholic Church in September.

Mathematical Modeling, Analysis And Numerical Simulation Of Air Quality Using The Advection-Diffusion-Reaction Equation, Md Timorul Islam

Math Theses

In this thesis, we study an air quality model by using a nonlinear one-dimensional advection-diffusion-reaction system of partial differential equations for NO-NO2-O3 chemical cycle. The model incorporates advection, diffusion, chemical reactions, and source terms, and is formulated based on standard atmospheric chemistry.

We first develop numerical methods to approximate the solutions of the governing equations. Both explicit and implicit finite difference schemes are considered, and the implicit scheme provides approximations without any restrictions on the stability.

The model is then nondimensionalized to identify key parameter combinations governing the system. This leads us to a regime in which the transport and …

The Daily Gamecock: April 2026, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

2026

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of The Mediterranean Diet For Sustained Weight Maintenance Following Glp-1 Medication Discontinuation: A Longitudinal Prospective Study, Nitya Reddy, Josephine Thomas, Julie Salam

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are effective for short-term weight reduction in adults with obesity, yet weight regain is frequent after discontinued use of the medication. Identifying sustainable dietary approaches that support long-term weight maintenance is imperative. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with improving metabolic health and resistant weight control, suggesting it may be an effective strategy for the transition off GLP-1 therapy. Men and women ages 45-55 that are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and receiving GLP-1 receptor therapy are the targets of this study, specifically those who plan to discontinue medication within the next three months. On …

Oral Butyrate Supplementation In Patients With Als: Impact On Gut Microbiota And Disease Progression, Annabelle Keller, Kaydee Kinnett, Camaryn Barbanel, Trinity Blakeney

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor neuron loss. Emerging evidence suggests that alterations in gut microbiota—particularly reductions in butyrate-producing bacteria—may contribute to neuroinflammatory pathways involved in disease progression. Observational studies in patients with ALS and preclinical findings from transgenic mouse models demonstrate gut microbial dysbiosis, intestinal barrier dysfunction, and improved survival following butyrate supplementation, suggesting the potential role of butyrate availability in ALS pathophysiology. The present study investigates whether oral butyrate supplementation can modulate inflammatory responses, improve gut microbiota composition, and slow functional decline among patients with ALS. Participants will be recruited from …

When Bards Are Barred: The Poet-Lawreate And Advocacy Beyond The Law, Isabel Elsisi

English Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Mental Models Of Autonomy And Sentience Shape Reactions To Ai, Janet V.T. Pauketat, Daniel Burton Shank, Aikaterina Manoli, Jacy Reese Anthis

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Narratives about artificial intelligence (AI) entangle autonomy, the capacity to self-govern, with sentience, the capacity to sense and feel. AI agents that perform tasks autonomously and companions that recognize and express emotions may activate mental models of autonomy and sentience, respectively, provoking distinct reactions. To examine this possibility, we conducted three pilot studies (N = 374) and four preregistered vignette experiments describing an AI as autonomous, sentient, both, or neither (N = 2,702). Activating a mental model of sentience increased general mind perception (cognition and emotion) and moral consideration more than autonomy, but autonomy increased perceived threat more than sentience. …

Negotiating Digital Identities With Ai Companions: Motivations, Strategies, And Emotional Outcomes, Renkai Ma, Shuo Niu, Lingyao Li, Alexander Hirth, Ava Brehm, Rowajana Behterin Barbie

Computer Science

AI companions enable deep emotional relationships by engaging a user's sense of identity, but they also pose risks like unhealthy emotional dependence. Mitigating these risks requires first understanding the underlying process of identity construction and negotiation with AI companions. Focusing on Character.AI (C.AI), a popular AI companion, we conducted an LLM-assisted thematic analysis of 22,374 online discussions on its subreddit. Using Identity Negotiation Theory as an analytical lens, we identified a three-stage process: 1) five user motivations; 2) an identity negotiation process involving three communication expectations and four identity co-construction strategies; and 3) three emotional outcomes. Our findings surface the …

Creating Disability Story Videos With Generative Ai: Motivation, Expression, And Sharing, Shuo Niu, Dylan Clements, Hyungsin Kim

Computer Science

Generative AI (GenAI) is both promising and challenging in supporting people with disabilities (PwDs) in creating stories about disability. GenAI can reduce barriers to media production and inspire the creativity of PwDs, but it may also introduce biases and imperfections that hinder its adoption for personal expression. In this research, we examine how nine PwD from a disability advocacy group used GenAI to create videos sharing their disability experiences. Grounded in digital storytelling theory, we explore the motivations, expression, and sharing of PwD-created GenAI story videos. We conclude with a framework of momentous depiction, which highlights four core affordances of …

Three-Dimensional Imaging Of Neuronal Activation Patterns In Chronic Neuropathic Pain And Opioid Pharmacology, Madeline Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chronic neuropathic pain severely diminishes quality of life, yet the supraspinal neural circuits that sustain pain perception and mediate analgesic relief remain incompletely characterized. While peripheral and spinal pain pathways are well established, relatively few studies have mapped pain- or opioid-related neuronal activation across the entire brain. This dissertation employed activity-dependent genetic labeling (TRAP2/Ai9), whole-brain tissue clearing, light sheet microscopy, and graph-theoretic network analysis to characterize brain-wide activation patterns across chronic pain and analgesic conditions in mice.

In Chapter 1, we mapped supraspinal neuronal activation in a bilateral spared nerve injury model of chronic neuropathic pain. Although no individual region …

Characterizing User-Reported Risks Across Llm Chatbots, Lingyao Li, Renkai Ma, Zhaoqian Xue, Junjie Xiong

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

As Large Language Models (LLMs) become increasingly integral to daily life, users are engaging with multiple LLM chatbots for various needs; however, prior research on LLM risks often remains lab-based or focuses on single LLMs like ChatGPT or singular risks like privacy. To gain a multi-risk, cross-chatbot understanding of user experiences, we analyze Reddit discussions around seven major LLM chatbots using the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. We find that user-reported risks are unevenly distributed and chatbot-specific: ChatGPT is associated with safety and fairness concerns, Gemini with privacy, and Claude with security and resilience. Less frequent risks, such as explainability …