Digital Commons Network^™

From Cork To Coasting: A Multi-Stage Ode Model Of Water-Rocket Flight, Viktoria Savatorova, Patryk Kustra, Ethan Dyer, Connor Carlson, Aleksei Talonov

CODEE Journal

Water rockets provide an affordable and engaging context for exploring applications of differential equations. Motivated by outreach activities conducted with undergraduate students, we develop a four-stage mathematical model of vertical water-rocket flight that is suitable for use in an ODE or mathematical modeling course. The model includes the cork-release phase, water-thrust propulsion, air-thrust propulsion with compressible and potentially choked flow, and the final ballistic stage with quadratic drag. While retaining key physical features, the model can be formulated as a system of ordinary differential equations that can be integrated numerically using tools familiar to students. We compare model predictions with …

Interview With Orca Winner John Hibbing, Political Science; How Political Attitudes Correlate With Physiological Traits, Mark A. Griep, John Hibbing

UNL ORCA Interview Series

Dr. John Hibbing was awarded the ORCA in 1993. John was born in 1953 in Paullina, Iowa. He earned a bachelor's in secondary education from Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, but then realized that teaching high school wasn't for him. Instead, he attended the University of Iowa, where he earned a master's and doctorate in political science. In 1981, he joined the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an assistant professor of political science and rose quickly through the ranks. Initially, he studied the reasons that members of the U.S. Congress retire. This led to a longer-term collaboration with Kevin Smith and …

Driving-Related Challenges For Autistic Youth, Jeong-Heun Kim

ETDs from 2020-2029

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face barriers to driving. Despite evidence that they have potential to drive safely, some unique challenges exist, manifested in a substantially lower licensure rate than typically developing (TD) peers and restricted driving patterns among this population. Therefore, the overarching goal of this dissertation project was to investigate driving-related challenges that young autistic people face. Both objective and subjective measures were used to comprehensively explore this research topic. The first two papers focused on investigating perceptual, cognitive, and behavioral factors underlying hazard response using data from a total of 34 licensed drivers (17 with …

A Pilot Study Of The Acute Effects Of Isometric Exercise And Aerobic Exercise For Improving Blood Pressure And Vascular Hemodynamics In Hypertensive Adults, Ayih Cedric Edoh

ETDs from 2020-2029

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most prevalent and modifiable risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Aerobic exercise is a well-known method to lower blood pressure (BP), but recently, isometric exercise has been purported to lower BP to a similar or greater extent. There is little known about the effects of isometric exercise on acute BP and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP). Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was to compare the effects of isometric and aerobic exercise on improving vascular hemodynamics and 24-hour ABP in hypertensive adults. METHODS: Seven participants (age 25-65 years) with a diagnosis of …

A Modular Saponin Adjuvant Platform: Development, Structure–Activity Relationships, And Applications, Di Bai

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT Saponin-based vaccine adjuvants have attracted considerable attention owing to the clinical success of QS-21, a potent immunostimulant capable of inducing balanced humoral and cellular immune responses, yet its widespread application is limited by supply constraints, chemical instability, and dose-dependent toxicity. To address these challenges, we previously developed two semisynthetic saponin adjuvants, VSA-1 and VSA-2, derived from abundant Momordica saponins through a single-step modification, which exhibit QS-21–comparable immunopotentiating activity with improved accessibility and stability. Here, we first performed a systematic structure–activity relationship (SAR) study of the VSA series using MS I as the lead scaffold. Modulation of the side-chain length …

Toothbrush Resistance Of Resin-Based Stain And Glaze Materials Applied To 3d-Printed Denture Resins, Panisa Homyai

ETDs from 2020-2029

Background: Three-dimensionally printed (3D-printed) dentures are commonly fabricated using a single tooth-colored resin, after which surface stain and glaze coatings are applied to reproduce gingival coloration, enhance the esthetic appearance and improve clinical longevity of characterized prostheses. However, daily oral hygiene procedures such as toothbrushing degrade surface coatings, leading to discoloration, increased plaque retention, and deterioration of esthetic appearance. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of stain timing and glaze application on the surface gloss and roughness of a three-dimensionally printed denture resin before and after simulated toothbrushing Methods: 80 disc-shaped specimens (12 mm in diameter and 3 mm in thickness) …

Bringing Clarity To Tutors' Work: Designing An Effective Writing Center Staff Handbook, Maria Bunting

ETDs from 2020-2029

Writing center literature often focuses on the documents used to justify a center’s role in the larger institution while largely ignoring internal documents that aid in training. By also answering Babcock & Thonus (2012) and Driscoll & Perdue (2014)’s call for more replicable, aggregable, and data-based (RAD) research in writing centers, this study addresses this literature gap by conducting a qualitative study about a newly-implemented handbook at a public R1 university. The author first includes a description of the collaborative document creation process before describing the empirical methods used to assess the handbook’s effectiveness. The findings illustrate how effective handbooks …

Holding The Dying: Worldview, Community, And The Practice Of End-Of-Life Doula Care, Amy J. Shields

ETDs from 2020-2029

As populations age and chronic illness increasingly characterizes the final stages of life in the United States, end-of-life doulas (EOLDs) have emerged as non-medical practitioners who support dying people and their families through education, companionship, advocacy, and ritualized care. Drawing on a thematic analysis of 18 semi-structured interviews with practicing EOLDs across the United States, this thesis examines how EOLDs conceptualize a “good death,” navigate emotionally intensive work, and sustain themselves in an unregulated and often marginal professional landscape. Situating EOLD practice within anthropological scholarship on death and dying, the study highlights the ways EOLDs challenge dominant biomedical narratives that …

Imc Partnerships Create Real-World Opportunities, Experience, Mackenzie Ross

University of Mississippi News

OXFORD, Miss. – Working with fashion brands to nonprofit organizations, students in the University of Mississippi's integrated marketing communications program are gaining real-world experience beyond the classroom.

Reading Between The Lines: An Exploration Of Censorship In United States Public School Libraries, Sally Anne Perz

ETDs from 2020-2029

Between 2021 and 2025, PEN America documented over 22,000 book bans across the United States (US). Yet, with only 451 districts banning out of over 13,000, 97% of US school districts are not engaging in banning. The 451 banning districts represent only 3% of US school districts. While most research examines individual stakeholders, such as librarians and teachers, this study focused on district and community data which do not change as fast as microsystem variables. Since banning occurs at the district level, understanding school district demographics and values may help situate the sociopolitical context of school board decisions to ban …

Evaluation Of Occupational Exposure To Noise And Respirable Particulate Matter In Dentistry, Kabe Fetner

ETDs from 2020-2029

Dental procedures can result in occupational exposures to both noise and particulate matter. Dental professionals routinely operate high-speed instruments and mechanical tools that may produce elevated sound levels and aerosolized particles during clinical treatment. Although these exposures are common in dental environments, limited data exist describing full-shift occupational exposure levels during routine dental procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to noise and respirable particulate matter (RPM) during routine dental procedures in a clinical setting. Area noise monitoring and real-time aerosol monitoring were conducted over six clinical days while common dental procedures were performed, including fillings, …

Teacher Culturally Sustaining Practices Supported By Generative Ai: Instrument Development, Guy Trainin, Azadeh Hassani, Shuling Yang

Research and Evaluation in Education, Technology, Art, and Design

Generative AI (GenAI) carries the dual potential to reproduce educational inequities and to expand opportunities for multilingual support, critical evaluation, and personalized learning. This paper reports the development and initial validation of an instrument measuring K-12 literacy teachers' perceptions of GenAI's capacity to support culturally sustaining pedagogy. Grounded in culturally sustaining pedagogy (CSP) and its asset-based commitments, the instrument operationalizes three constructs, namely academic success, cultural competence, and critical consciousness, across both teacher and student use. Items were drawn from the CSP literature and refined through cognitive interviews, then administered to 109 PK-12 language arts educators. Reliability was strong for …

Until The Cages Are Empty: Transgender Criminal Defense As A Necessary Tactic Of Prison-Industrial Complex Abolition, Lark Mulligan

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

This article is a practical guide in the fight to abolish the prison-industrial complex as well as institutionalized transphobia and cissexism. Focusing specifically on the practice area of criminal defense, this article proposes a model that must be replicated across jurisdictions wherever transgender people are criminalized. By instituting an interdisciplinary team approach that is non-hierarchical, strengths-based, trauma-informed, community focused, holistic, harm-reductionist, and abolitionist, practitioners will find their role in this movement as one of consensus building, knowledge sharing, community empowerment, institutional navigation, and access distribution. As discrimination and violence against trans people continues to rise, practitioners must learn to not …

Racial Privacy I: The Quest For Whiteness By European Immigrants In America, Najarian R. Peters

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

Privacy law scholars have disregarded and under-theorized racial privacy practices, meaning racial/ethnic passing, in the United States of America. This article is a defining first step in conceptualizing racial passing as an indispensable privacy protection practice, that affirmed the following individual and group privacy rights of European immigrants, who became White in America: (1) the right to be let alone, (2) the right to erasure of stigmatized racial identity, and inherent in that right, (3) the right to forget an assigned racial identity, burdened by socio-economic deprivation and predation. Whiteness was required to access citizenship for the vast majority of …

The Joy And Privilege Of Social Justice Lawyering: Fulfillment Through Integrating Work And Life, Ascanio Piomelli

UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Justice

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Poly-Β-Hydroxybutyrate And Its Biosynthesis In Priestia Endophytica Ucm B-5715, Alina Kharchuk, Maksym Kharchuk, Maksym Kharkhota, Sergiy Rogalsky, Oksana Tarasyuk, Oleksandr Kisten, Anastasiia Hubina, Illya Kapats, Liliia Avdieieva

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable biopolymers with promising applications in biotechnology and medicine; however, the diversity of their biosynthesis within the genus Priestia remains poorly characterized. Although Priestia species have been recognized as potential PHA producers, the detailed genomic architecture and physicochemical properties of the polymers synthesized by these bacteria, particularly in the type strain, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) produced by Priestia endophytica UCM B-5715 and to investigate the PHB biosynthetic genes across related strains.

Materials and methods: PHB granules were visualized and measured using fluorescence microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron …

Deep Seabed Mining And The Law Of The Sea: Strategic Competition, Institutional Failure, And The Third Age, Michael W. Lodge

International Law Studies

Edited and annotated speech by Michael Lodge, former Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (2017–2024), delivered at the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, on March 11, 2026.

Isolated Polyhydramnios: Diagnosis Should Be Made Based On Both Elevated Afi And Elevated Mvp, Alessandro Petrecca, Vivian Nguyen, Lauren Bracken, Federica Bellussi, Suneet Chauhan, Tullio Ghi, Vincenzo Berghella

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate which of the different sonographic definitions of isolated polyhydramnios (elevated amniotic fluid index [AFI] alone, elevated maximum vertical pocket [MVP] alone, or both elevated AFI and MVP) is best associated with adverse perinatal outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective case-control study included singleton pregnancies undergoing sonographic surveillance at a tertiary referral center between February 2021 and January 2026. Cases of isolated polyhydramnios identified during this time-period were compared with pregnancies with normal amniotic fluid volume from 2024. Polyhydramnios was categorized as elevated AFI only (AFI ≥24 cm), elevated MVP only (MVP ≥8 cm), or both elevated AFI and …

Plant Extract-Enriched Mineral Beverages: Effects Of Temperature And Ultrasound Processing On Bioactive Content, Eli̇f Feyza Topdaş, İsa Arslan Karakütük, Memnune Şengül

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Functional beverages derived from herbal extracts have potential health benefits. There is a growing interest in these beverages because they are a sustainable and health-promoting alternative to conventional flavored drinks. This study aimed to produce phenolic rich mineralized herbal beverages using lyophilized purple basil, lavender, and thyme extracts at two different concentrations (2% and 4%). Changes in the physicochemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity, color, and viscosity), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assays), and individual phenolic compounds were determined for beverages stored at 4, 25, and …

Ecological Risk Assessment Of Heavy Metal-Microplastic Interactions In Agricultural Soils Irrigated With Secondary Treated Wastewater, Senar Aydin, Osman Mücevher, Arzu Ulvi̇, Fatma Bedük, Özen Merken, Ci̇han Uzun, Mehmet Emi̇n Aydin

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The increased reuse of treated wastewater (TWW) for irrigation in arid and semiarid regions raises environmental concerns regarding microplastics (MPs), specifically their capacity to adsorb and transport heavy metals. This study assesses the quantity of MPs and associated metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Co) in agricultural soils irrigated with TWW in the Konya region of Türkiye. To this end, a total of 202 soil samples were collected from TWW-irrigated (180) and nonirrigated control fields (22) at two depths (0–10 and 10–20 cm). MPs were extracted from the samples using a density separation technique, identified microscopically, and analyzed for …

Influence Of Crop Diversification On Climate Change Mitigation And Business Profitability: A Study Of The Southern Marmara Region, Türkiye, Engi̇n Tolga Önder, Nuray Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Crop diversification strategies are being put forward to mitigate the negative effects of climate change associated with greenhouse gas emissions, and thus to ensure sustainable food production that is resilient to climate change and to reduce the risks faced by producers. By diversifying their agricultural products producers can insure themselves against the risks associated with climate variations, disease, and pests, contributing to both continuous food production and income flow. The present study investigates the effect of climate change on enterprise income in the Yenişehir district of Bursa province – a region noted for its intensive production of vegetables and other …

Effects Of Fenugreek And Shatavari On Vasomotor And Hormonal Balance In Ovariectomized Rats, Füsun Erten, Beşi̇r Er, Cemal Orhan, Abhijeet A. Morde, Muralidhara Padigaru, Kazi̇m Şahi̇n

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek, TFG) and Asparagus racemosus Willd. (shatavari, AR) have been extensively used in Ayurvedic, Unani, and traditional folk medicine to support women’s health. TFG seeds are traditionally employed as galactagogues and hormonal modulators, while AR roots are valued as rejuvenating tonics with phytoestrogenic activity, prescribed for menopausal complaints and reproductive well-being. Both plants also exhibit antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, suggesting their potential as safe, nonhormonal alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy. This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of TFG and AR, administered individually or in combination, on vasomotor symptoms, hormonal balance, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine markers in …

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Biology

No abstract provided.

Context-Dependent Regulation Of Six1 By Ets1 Within Emt-Associated Transcriptional Networks, İrem Yalim Camci

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process driving tumor plasticity, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Although E26 transformation-specific transcription factor 1 (ETS1) and Sine oculis homeobox homolog 1 (SIX1) are individually implicated in EMT-related transcriptional programs, the regulatory interplay and functional coordination of these proteins across tumor states remain unclear. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the mechanistic and clinical behavior of the ETS1–SIX1 axis, with a focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and aggressive endothelial-like cancer phenotypes.

Materials and methods: ETS1–SIX1 expression patterns were analyzed using real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in HCCderived cell lines and the endothelial-like SK-HEP-1 cell …

Small Rna Sequencing Identifies Tsrna-05020 As A Potential Regulator Of Cervical Cancer Progression, Cheng Peng, Cong Liang, Jie Liu, Yunlu Liu, Ping Liu

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Cervical cancer (CC) is a malignant gynecologic tumor. Small RNAs derived from tRNA (tsRNAs) have been reported to play regulatory roles in tumor progression and suppression. However, the functional role of tsRNAs in CC remains largely unclear.

Materials and methods: Small RNA sequencing was performed on normal, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and CC clinical cell samples to identify differentially expressed tsRNAs (DEtsRNAs). qRT-PCR was used to validate the selected DEtsRNAs. The effects of tsRNA-05020 on HeLa cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition were assessed.

Results: Compared with the normal group, 215 tsRNAs were significantly differentially expressed in CIN tissues, …

Retinoic Acid-Loaded Nanoparticles Enhance Macrophage-Mediated Control Of Leishmania Infantum, Zeynep İşlek, Merve Gündoğdu, Zeynep Di̇la Yüksel

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Visceral leishmaniasis, primarily caused by Leishmania infantum, remains a major global health challenge due to limitations in current chemotherapeutic options, including toxicity and emerging drug resistance. Host-directed therapeutic approaches are increasingly recognized as promising alternatives. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an immunomodulatory molecule with host-dependent effects on macrophage function; however, its therapeutic use is hindered by instability and poor solubility. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) offer a controlled and biocompatible delivery platform capable of enhancing intracellular drug accumulation.

Materials and methods: ATRA-loaded SLNs were prepared and characterized for size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology. Their antileishmanial activity was evaluated …

Nutrient Uptake Of Two Microalgae From Culture Medium Under Nickel Treatment, Di̇lara Erdaği, Büşranur Şeker, Celal Caner, Gi̇zem Çeti̇n, Hüseyi̇n Altundağ, Hati̇ce Tunca

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Phycoremediation is essential for purifying wastewater of heavy metals to ensure a sustainable environment, as these components can be detrimental to organisms upon entering the food chain. Among heavy metals, nickel is vital at low concentrations due to its presence in the active sites of many metalloenzymes in algae. However, at high concentrations, it disrupts the functioning of many metabolic reactions. This study examines the effects of nickel treatment on the uptake of macro- and micronutrients in medium by algae via ion exchange pathways or in competition with other metals. The study aims to determine the effects of nickel …

An In Vitro Mechanistic Study Of Cholinergic-Associated Mechanisms Relevant To Masld In Hepg2 Cells, Gamze Sönmez, Müslüm Gök, Suat Sari, Ebru Bodur

Turkish Journal of Biology

Background/aim: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the hepatic cholinergic axis are critical regulators of lipid metabolism and inflammatory signaling; however, their time-dependent interplay in hepatocytes remains incompletely understood. Clarifying how n-6 and n-3 PUFAs interact with cholinergic pathways may provide mechanistic insight into metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Materials and methods: HepG2 cells were used to examine the combined effects of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) overexpression and PUFA exposure. Cells were treated with linoleic acid (LA; n-6) or α-linolenic acid (α-LA; n-3) for 24 or 48 h. Gene expression analyses were performed to assess pathways involved in de novo lipogenesis, β-oxidation, …

Counterfactual Thinking And Aging: The Role Of Executive Function., Clare Walsh, Catherine Deeprose, Raluca A. Briazu, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

People frequently think about how events in the past might have happened differently and these thoughts play a central role in their cognitive, emotional and social functioning. Our study examined how these processes change with age. A group of 56 younger (mean age 22.34) and 50 older (mean age 71.96) adults completed tasks measuring the spontaneous generation of counterfactual thoughts, the generation of counterfactual thoughts when cued and the Counterfactual Inference Test which taps into the ease with which salient counterfactual thoughts come to mind. They also completed a Counterfactual Seeking Task to measure their motivation to seek out counterfactual …

Staff Education To Improve Evidence-Based Act Treatment Adherence Strategy, Folake Aloba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No abstract provided.