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No abstract provided.

Thermal Imaging Drones: A "Cool" Solution To Incorporating Climate Resiliency In Restoration Design, Amy D. Van Riessen

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

Coldwater fish species, such as salmonids, are highly sensitive to elevated summer water temperatures. However, they can persist in thermally stressful environments by seeking out cold-water refugia (CWR). CWR can include areas where groundwater seeps and springs introduce cooler water into the stream system. These microhabitats are critical for survival during peak temperature periods.

To enhance climate resiliency in restoration planning, the North Clackamas Watersheds Council has integrated thermal imaging drone technology to identify cold-water inputs within project areas. By pinpointing these thermal anomalies, restoration designs can strategically incorporate features such as pools and large wood structures near seeps and …

Handwritten Histories: Exploring Identity Through Personal Correspondence, Savana Hauck

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

This project examines handwritten correspondence as a site of gendered and sexual self-discovery, intimacy, and historical continuity. Developed for HIST 2708W - Gender, Women, and Sexuality in Modern Europe - , it centers on a collection of contemporary “snail mail” letters written in response to reflective prompts about participants’ lived experiences of gender and sexuality. These personal narratives are presented in a physical, scrapbook-style format that emphasizes slowness, care, and trust as methodological and ethical practices.

By placing these contemporary letters in dialogue with historical examples of correspondence—including an 1882 letter sent to German psychiatrist Richard von Krafft-Ebing, the intimate …

The Creation And Performance Of Eulogy, Evan Anderson

Scholarly Horizons: University of Minnesota, Morris Undergraduate Journal

In completion of my senior project for my theatre arts degree at the University of Minnesota Morris, I wrote, composed, and directed Eulogy, performing with myself as Mark, Olivia Emmrich as Amelia, Savana Hauck as the Reverend, and Jennie Odello as the pianist. The following will explore my artistic process: highlighting how I chose my topic, my playwriting and composing process, collaborating with my colleagues, our rehearsal process, the performance, and my reflection on my project.

The Vortex–Acoustic Bio‑Refinery (Vabr): A Modular Low‑Pressure System For Converting Sewage Sludge Into Astm‑Compliant Biodiesel, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Vortex–Acoustic Bio‑Refinery (VABR) is a conceptual modular system designed to convert municipal sewage sludge into ASTM‑compliant biodiesel using a combination of vortex‑based solids concentration, dual‑frequency acoustic processing, and catalyst‑assisted chemical transformation. The invention proposes a low‑pressure, low‑temperature alternative to high‑pressure hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), with the goal of reducing mechanical complexity, improving operator safety, and enabling decentralized deployment at wastewater treatment facilities. The VABR concept integrates fluid‑dynamic separation, acoustic disruption of organic structures, and catalyst‑supported biodiesel‑compatible reactions. This disclosure outlines the scientific principles, conceptual system architecture, and potential advantages of the VABR compared to existing waste‑to‑fuel technologies. It is released …

The Marine‑Duo V26‑M System For Organic Mineralized Fertilizer Production From Marine Biomass Waste Streams, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

The Marine‑Duo V26‑M System is an open, modular, and real‑world‑viable process for converting marine biomass waste streams into a stabilized, mineral‑rich organic fertilizer pellet. The system integrates maceration, hydrodynamic cavitation, indirect thermal drying, and controlled pelletization to produce a slow‑release, carbon‑dense fertilizer containing organically bound nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and a broad spectrum of marine‑derived micronutrients. The process preserves natural biostimulants such as chitin and alginates, which support soil structure, moisture retention, and plant immune responses. This disclosure provides a complete conceptual blueprint of the system architecture, chemical composition, agronomic benefits, and environmental rationale to ensure the invention remains freely available …

Gci Universal Acoustic Access Platform (Uaap V1.0): Modular System For Acoustic Access Research Using Phantom Models, Michael Victor Caldwell Mr.

Defensive Publications Series

This disclosure describes the GCI Universal Acoustic Access Platform (UAAP v1.0), a modular research system designed to evaluate acoustic access strategies using phantoms and non‑biological analogs. The platform integrates:

1. Acoustic Window Modules that explore impedance‑matching concepts using gels, water layers, and controlled aerosol layers;

2. An Active Organ‑on‑Chip Laboratory using low‑absorption polymer microfluidics and vortex‑enhanced flow channels; and

3. A Smart Beam Tracker that predicts phantom motion and adjusts transducer alignment in real time.

The UAAP platform enables engineers and researchers to study acoustic transmission through bone‑like materials, air‑gap phantoms, and tissue‑mimicking gels. This disclosure provides system architecture, materials, phantom …

Using Passive Camera Monitoring To Investigate Northern Red-Legged Frog Use Of A New Road Undercrossing Structure, Alyson W. Yates, Catherine De Rivera, Susan Barnes, Rachel Wheat, Justine Brumm

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

Northern Red-legged Frogs (Rana aurora) make seasonal movements between lentic waters and adjacent upland forests to meet their life history requirements. This movement behavior makes the species particularly vulnerable to landscape fragmentation by roads, where traffic can cause large mortality events during the breeding period. To mitigate R. aurora mortality on U.S. Route 30 near Burlington, Oregon, an under-road wildlife crossing structure was installed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and other partners in late 2024, reconnecting a forested public recreation area with protected wetland habitat in the floodplain of the Willamette River.

We used two specialized optical …

Exploring The Genetic Origins Of Pacific Salmon And Steelhead Trout That Use The Habitats Of The Willamette River And Its Tributary Streams In The City Of Portland, Oregon., Melissa Brown

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

The lower Willamette River is Endangered Species Act (ESA)-designated critical habitat for five listed salmon and trout populations in the Columbia River basin. These five genetic stocks of fish comprise the majority of salmon and trout identified using habitat in the region that extends into the City of Portland.

It is well understood that migratory fish from other watersheds throughout the Columbia Basin may use habitat found in Portland. It is unclear where those fish originate, whether in Portland or in other watersheds outside the city, without genetic analysis. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the federal agency tasked with …

Proceedings Of The 24th Annual Urban Ecology & Conservation Symposium March 16, 2026, Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium Of Portland/Vancouver

Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver

These proceedings document the agenda and abstracts for presentations and posters from the 24th annual conference organized by the Urban Ecosystem Research Consortium of Portland/Vancouver (UERC) which occurred on March 16, 2026. The UERC is a consortium of people from various universities and colleges, state and federal agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations and independent professionals interested in supporting urban ecosystem research and creating an information-sharing network of people that collect and use ecological data in the Portland/Vancouver area. The annual conference has an open call for abstracts. The UERC organizing committee selects the final oral and poster presentations, along with …

Improving Properties Of Titanium Alloy Substrate By Composite Coatings Using Electrostatic Dry Spray, Rusul S. Hadi, Mohanad N. Al-Shroofy, Hanaa A. Al-Kaisy

Engineering and Technology Journal

This work investigates the development of polymer-based bio-composite-coated layers on a Ti-6Al-4V substrate via electrostatic spray deposition. The coatings were created using varying compositions, including (Pure PLA, 3, 6, and 9) wt.% of silver(Ag) combined with (100,97, 94, and 91) wt.% of PLA powder. Additionally, similar percentages of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) were mixed with (3 and 6) wt.% of silver powder(97 and 94)wt.% of Polylactic acid (PLA) powder. The surface morphology of the coated layers was analyzed using FTIR and SEM/EDS techniques, ion-releasethese show the release of Ti, Al, and V ions decreased, representing a significant enhancement in …

An Exploration Into Network Analyses Of Motor Behavior, Brain-Computer Interface Control, Arousal States, And An Ischemic Lesion Model, Shashank Anand

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Network-level modelling of neural function incorporates activity in specific brain regions along with a measure of the interactions between these regions (“connectivity”). Connectivity can be assessed through several means, for example through tractography (structural connectivity) or correlated temporal evolution of neural activity (functional connectivity). These analyses have provided valuable insight into several aspects of brain function, such as top-down control, memory, and navigation. This work focuses on studying neural activity within and between several brain regions across different brain states: namely, during motor actions, sensory perception, brain-computer interface engagement, task-free fluctuations in arousal state, and ischemic injury. High gamma (70-170 …

On Sovereignty, Outer Space, And Taxation, Erika I. Scuderi

Nebraska Law Review

This Article offers a comprehensive framework for States’ taxing powers in outer space. Beginning with an analysis of the legal status of airspace and outer space, the study addresses the taxation of commercial space activities, where traditional fiscal approaches of residence-based and source-based taxation break down. The discussion ultimately centers on Article VIII of the Outer Space Treaty, on which basis the present Article proposes the “Tax Jurisdiction by Registration Principle,” arguing that the act of registering a space object provides a legal basis for taxing income derived from its use. In doing so, the Article provides for a potential …

Let Them All Grow: Protecting Nebraska's Intersex Youth From Medical Intervention, Jori Peters

Nebraska Law Review

The Nebraska Legislature passed the Let Them Grow Act on May 22, 2023, which prohibits minors from receiving gender-affirming care in Nebraska. This Note argues that the Act violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because it exempts intersex children—those born with ambiguous sex characteristics—from protections against unnecessary, irreversible, and nonconsensual medical procedures, while the Act protects those born with clearly male and female sex characteristics. This Note clarifies the distinction between the issues faced by intersex individuals and transgender individuals, and highlights the psychological and physical harms of early sex assignment surgeries. Further, this Note outlines the …

Involving Interpol: Interpol’S Meddling In International Parental Kidnapping And International Custody Dispute Cases Through Red And Yellow Notices, Chandler Gallucci

Child and Family Law Journal

As the world grows more interconnected through globalization, the opportunity for international parental kidnapping has increased. International parental kidnapping occurs when a parent or guardian wrongfully removes and retains a child from their habitual residency, even with the existence of a custody agreement. This article examines the role of the International Criminal Police Organization (“Interpol”) and how their use of Red and Yellow Notices can meddle in international custody disputes. Interpol consists of 196 member states, each of which is connected through Interpol’s database. Interpol links local law enforcement agencies in each of the member states. A Red Notice is …

Gender Ideology Curriculum In Florida Schools: Parental Rights And Educator Strain, Kimberly Mack

Child and Family Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Numerical Study Of Porosity Effects On Temperature And Fluid Flow In Black Sea Gas Hydrates, Bahar Güvem, Doğa Doğan

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

Numerical temperature and fluid flow simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to investigate the influence of porosity variations on the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer. The study was carried out in the Black Sea region, where the gas hydrate deposits are of particular interest due to their potential for energy resources. The simulations explored various porosity levels within the hydrate layer to observe their effect on thermal behavior and fluid dynamics. The results revealed that porosity plays a significant role in modulating the temperature distribution within the gas hydrate layer, with lower porosity models exhibiting higher temperatures compared …

Development Of Addie-Based Transformative Learning Technology Textbooks Oriented Towards Stylistic Analysis Of Novels For Pbsi Students: Testing Validity, Practicality, And Effectiveness, Ariesty Fujiastuti, Denik Wirawati

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The rapid advancement of digital technology over the past decade has significantly reshaped the higher education landscape, requiring students to develop critical, reflective, and adaptive thinking skills aligned with transformative learning principles. Despite this shift, the implementation of technology-supported transformative learning remains constrained by the limited availability of instructional resources that systematically integrate cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of learning transformation. Addressing this gap, this study aimed to develop a Transformative Learning Technology textbook grounded in the ADDIE instructional design model and oriented toward stylistic analysis of novels. The textbook was designed to serve as a systematic, relevant, and practical …

Integrative Multiomic Classification Reveals Distinct Origins And Evolutionary Trajectories Of Thymic Epithelial Tumors., Seongyeol Park, Kijong Yi, Jieun Lee, Myung Jin Yang, Joo-Hye Song, Joonoh Lim, Taewoo Kim, Seokhwi Kim, Su Yeon Kim, Hyung-Don Kim, Yoon Ho Kim, Sae Bom Lee, Yoo Jin Jung, Hansol Park, Jake June-Koo Lee, Yohan An, Jeonghwan Youk, Kwon Joong Na, Samina Park, Hyun Joo Lee, In Kyu Park, Chang Hyun Kang, Eui-Cheol Shin, Tae Min Kim, Won Do Heo, Charles Lee, Gou Young Koh, Sung-Yup Cho, Young Seok Ju, Young Tae Kim

Faculty Research 2026

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET), comprising various histologic types of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, originate from thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Each histologic type is typically associated with a distinct immune cell composition and clinical manifestation. A better understanding of the cellular origins and molecular pathways underlying this heterogeneity is needed to improve patient stratification and treatment. In this study, we conducted an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 124 thymomas and 13 thymic carcinomas, including 20 newly sequenced cases, combined with 117 cases from publicly available datasets. Single-cell transcriptomic data from murine thymic tissues across developmental stages were incorporated to further …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUND. Gut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.

METHODS. In a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were …

Short-Term Sleep Restriction In Humans Alters Diurnal Circulating Metabolite Profiles, Including Those Of Microbial Origin., Vanessa A Leone, Katya Frazier, Manpreet Kaur, Evan A Chrisler, Ashley M Sidebottom, Ethan Tai, Vilinh Tran, Shuzhao Li, Eugene B Chang, Dean P Jones, Eve Van Cauter, Erin C Hanlon

Faculty Research 2026

BACKGROUNDGut microbes and their metabolites contribute to the host circulating metabolome and exhibit diurnal variation influenced by sleep-wake cycles and meal timing. Sleep deprivation alters the rhythmic circulating metabolome, but its impact on microbial metabolites remains unclear. We tested whether 24-hour circulating metabolite profiles, including those of microbial origin, differ under normal (habitual) versus short-term restricted sleep.METHODSIn a randomized crossover design, 9 healthy adults completed 2 in-lab 24-hour blood sampling sessions (q120): one following 3 nights of normal sleep (8.5 hours/night), the other following 3 nights of sleep restriction (4.5 hours/night). Meal timing and caloric intake were held constant. Serum …

Integrative Multiomic Classification Reveals Distinct Origins And Evolutionary Trajectories Of Thymic Epithelial Tumors., Seongyeol Park, Kijong Yi, Jieun Lee, Myung Jin Yang, Joo-Hye Song, Joonoh Lim, Taewoo Kim, Seokhwi Kim, Su Yeon Kim, Hyung-Don Kim, Yoon Ho Kim, Sae Bom Lee, Yoo Jin Jung, Hansol Park, Jake June-Koo Lee, Yohan An, Jeonghwan Youk, Kwon Joong Na, Samina Park, Hyun Joo Lee, In Kyu Park, Chang Hyun Kang, Eui-Cheol Shin, Tae Min Kim, Won Do Heo, Charles Lee, Gou Young Koh, Sung-Yup Cho, Young Seok Ju, Young Tae Kim

Faculty Research 2026

Thymic epithelial tumors (TET), comprising various histologic types of thymomas and thymic carcinomas, originate from thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Each histologic type is typically associated with a distinct immune cell composition and clinical manifestation. A better understanding of the cellular origins and molecular pathways underlying this heterogeneity is needed to improve patient stratification and treatment. In this study, we conducted an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 124 thymomas and 13 thymic carcinomas, including 20 newly sequenced cases, combined with 117 cases from publicly available datasets. Single-cell transcriptomic data from murine thymic tissues across developmental stages were incorporated to further …

Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale (Acanthococcus Lagerstroemiae) And Sooty Mold (Capnodium Sp.) Decrease Bloom And Fruit Number In ‘Natchez’ Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Xfauriei ‘Natchez’), Derald A. Harp, Beatriz Ruiz, Kara Bailey, Pedro Castillo, Phoebe Alvarez

Faculty Publications

Crepe myrtle bark scale (CMBS) (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae) is an important pest of crepe myrtle in Texas, and infestations are accompanied by excessive growth of sooty mold (SM) that will cover stems, and, in severe cases, leaves. These combine to create significant stress on the plant, and anecdotal evidence suggests a decrease in bloom number under heavy infestation. In an existing planting of 24 ‘Natchez’ crepe myrtle in four blocks, three trees were randomly chosen in each block and treated with either a dinotefuran (year 1) or imidicloprid (year 2) drench. The three remaining trees were untreated. In February of year …

Flexible Modeling Of Non-Gaussian Longitudinal Data: Some Approaches Using Copula, Subhajit Chattopadhyay

Doctoral Theses

Longitudinal data are common in medical and biological sciences, where measurements are gathered from subjects over time to explore relationships with explanatory variables (covariates) and to uncover the underlying mechanisms of dependence among these measurements. The responses observed at each instance can be either discrete or continuous. One of the primary challenges in longitudinal data analysis lies in the non-Gaussian nature of the response variables. As a result, there are relatively few multivariate models in the literature that effectively address the specific characteristics observed in such datasets. In this dissertation, we address four problems concerning longitudinal data analysis by developing …

The Dual-Specificity Phosphatase Jsp1 Regulates Neutrophil Adhesion Via Integrin-Src Signaling In Vascular Inflammation, Li Li

BCES: Faculty Publications

The c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating the innate immune response. Immune signaling is governed by the coordinated activity of protein kinases counter-balanced by protein phosphatases; however, the importance of the latter family of enzymes is less well understood. c-JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK)-stimulatory phosphatase 1 (JSP1, also known as DUSP22) has been implicated as a positive regulator of JNK signaling, yet its role in innate immunity is not clear. Using a mouse model of the local Shwartzman reaction, we show that JSP1 is essential for LPS-TNF-alpha-induced vascular injury. JSP1-knockout mice exhibited reduced vascular hemorrhage. …

The Echo: March 16, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Nonlinear Bivariate Associations And Mononuclear Cell‐Type‐Specific Expression Level Differences In The Sting Signalling Pathway, David Kaplan

Faculty Scholarship

Understanding intracellular signalling pathways is crucial since they regulate essential functional activities. Bivariate relationships have been useful in delineating these pathways in clinical samples. In our previous studies, we have found many linear associations between pathway components, and we have interpreted these correlations as rheostatic regulators. Increases in an upstream component are correlated with a commensurate downstream increase. Here, we report a quantitative analysis of molecules in the STING pathway by assessing the variance in human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-type-specific molecular expression from patients with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The induction of the type I interferon track by this pathway …

On The Generality Of Ground, Hannah M. Kunkel

Undergraduate Honors Theses

It is widely held that true grounding claims are general. That is, individual grounding facts are subsumable under general patterns or principles of ground. In this paper, I advocate a novel position in the theory of ground on which particular grounding facts do not generalize to yield patterns of ground. This is not an argument for grounding pluralism, but is analogous to particularist views in metaethics which hold that moral principles are not general, but particular. If true, particularism about ground dissolves a serious challenge to the theory of ground, Louis deRosset's connection problem for non-reductivism. However, rejecting the generality …

Understanding The Revolutionary Mother Through Emotive Expression In The Works Of Gioconda Belli, Brianna J. Stecher

Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis examines the struggle to reconcile the roles of the revolutionary mother as perceived in the emotive expression that the Nicaraguan author Gioconda Belli presents in her poetry. In her writings, Belli illustrates how the perceived responsibilities of a revolutionary woman to her country and her children come into conflict with one another. Furthermore, she showcases the emotions that a woman experiences in seeking to eliminate discord between her responsibilities while she finds a balance. Belli’s incorporation of her personal experience battling to balance these roles further strengthens her presentation of the revolutionary woman’s emotional conflict. The myriad of …

Ifnγ-Induced Antigen Loss In Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T Cell Therapy, Miao Cao, Jasmine Alvarez, Ramkrishna Mitra, Michael Xu, Trevor R. Baybutt, Zhengyang Sun, Oluwatobiloba Taylor, Allison Doermann, Ross E Staudt, Scott A. Waldman, Adam E. Snook

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cell therapies (CARTs) have revolutionized the treatment of blood cancers. Yet none have been successful for "solid" tumors, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths. Guanylyl cyclase C (GUCY2C) has emerged as a clinical-stage target for CART and bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapies in CRC. IFNγ has been canonically recognized as beneficial for the effector functions of T cells by enhancing antigen processing and HLA presentation and is essential for CART targeting of solid malignancies by inducing adhesion molecule expression for synapse stabilization.

METHODS: Using

RESULTS: We identified …