Digital Commons Network^™

Leadership In Chaos: Law Enforcement Perspectives On Addressing The Missing Piece Of Nims, Joshua Pierce

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of law enforcement leaders regarding how to address the missing piece of the National Incident Management System (NIMS): the initial, chaotic phases of large-scale incidents. Specific elements investigated included the major challenges faced by incident commanders, the necessary knowledge and skills required, effective training models, the receptivity of the law enforcement community to new and/or additional training, any perceived implications for personnel, and evidence-based guidelines and recommendations from policymakers and leaders. Purposeful, convenience, and snowball sampling were used to select study participants. Study participants (n=20) were active, sworn law …

Ai In The Workplace: Understanding Role Ambiguity, Employee Motivation, And Learning Engagement, Sheena Leah Metzger

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into organizational processes has altered how work is performed and experienced by employees, yet empirical research examining the human implications of AI-driven change remains limited. This study examined the perceived impact of AI implementation on role ambiguity, employee motivation, and training engagement, and investigated the moderating role of perceived organizational support (POS). Grounded in Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) Theory and Organizational Support Theory (OST), the research examined how employees interpreted and responded to AI-related changes in their work environment.

The results offer valuable insights into a shifting perception of how employees experience technology in …

Gene Loss And Ecological Adaption In Honeybee Venom: Exploring The Apparent Absence Of Melittin In Apis Andreniformis, Grace Wong, Diya Patel, Rshubh Madabossi, Kayllee Reyes Lazo, Jovonne Grant, Isabella Garcia, Navi Gill Dhillon

Bioinformatics

Venom composition within the Apis genus varies due to ecological divergence. In Apis mellifera, melittin constitutes 40–60% of venom dry weight and functions as the primary cytolytic toxin. However, BLAST analyses failed to identify a detectable melittin homolog in Apis andreniformis, despite evidence of comparable venom potency. Using comparative genomics and literature-based venom analysis, we evaluated whether melittin is absent, highly diverged, or functionally replaced. Our findings suggest venom efficacy in A. andreniformis is maintained through enzymatic synergy involving phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), apamin, and antimicrobial peptides, supporting a distributed toxin model shaped by ecological pressures.

The Dna Control Panel: Identifying Conserved Regulatory Elements In Differentially Expressed Genes, Mahalaxmi Some, Eimaan Ahmad, Navi Gill Dhillon

Bioinformatics

Plant responses to heat stress involve changes in gene expression, and identifying conserved domains in promoters of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) is essential for understanding regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we analyzed 149 DEGs previously identified from transcriptomic analyses of two rice varieties, Cypress (heat-tolerant) and LaGrue (heat-sensitive), exposed to high night temperature ((HNT; 82.4 ± 1°F or 28 ± 1°C) (Kumar et al. 2022.Nature Scientific Reports DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs1832853/v1). Promoter sequences were analyzed using ElemeNT and MEME to identify core promoter motifs, their positions relative to the transcription start site (TSS), and statistical significance. Functional annotation revealed motif enrichment differences …

Comparative Genomics Across Ganoderma Species To Identify Secondary Metabolite Clusters With Cytotoxic Properties, Fatima Muhammad, Maya Pasapuleti, Navya Mysore, Emily Abraham, Rajendra P. Pangeni, Braham Dhillon, Navi Gill Dhillon

Bioinformatics

Fungi in the genus Ganoderma have been widely studied in Chinese culture for their medicinal properties and promoting overall health and longevity. Our prior work on eight Ganoderma species showed that they contain Secondary Metabolite Clusters (SMCs) that code for multiple terpenes, betalactones, and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). These compounds are well known for their cytotoxic and anticancer potential. Using the bioinformatics platform antiSMASH1, we previously identified and annotated the specific SMCs within these genomes that are predicted to produce such bioactive metabolites. To test the results obtained from the bioinformatics analysis, fungal extracts were prepared from …

Asymptotic Profiles And Disease Prevalence At The Steady State For An Sis Patch Model, Daozhou Gao, Xin Li

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Infected individuals often display mobility patterns that differ significantly from those of healthy individuals-traveling less frequently, covering shorter distances, visiting fewer destinations, and altering their timing and modes of movement. In this paper, to explore the influence of changes in travel frequency and destination on the spatial spread of infectious diseases, we propose a susceptible-infectious-susceptible patch model in which susceptible and infected populations have different dispersal rates and connectivity matrices. We first establish the threshold dynamics in terms of the basic reproduction number R-0 and show the existence and uniqueness of endemic equilibrium (EE) when R-0>1. Then we examine …

The Lives Of Fritz Haber And Of International Law: Entwined Tales Of Tragedy And Irony, Mark A. Drumbl, C. William Vardy

Scholarly Articles

This article recounts the life of international law through the story of a single individual. This is the narrative of biographical international law. The subject — equally protagonist and antagonist — of this article is Fritz Haber, a German-Jewish scientist born in 1868. Devoted to the Kaiser, Haber was declared a war criminal by the Allies following World War I for having been ‘the father’ of chemical warfare. Haber argued that chemical weapons were more humane than conventional weapons. While under this shadow, Haber also won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1920 for his pioneering work with ammonia …

Hazel A. Oxenford, Ph.D., Nancy Brown-Peterson

Miscellaneous Documents

No abstract provided.

Proteome-Based Identification And Validation Of Nxpe3 In Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, Najia Tabassum, Yamna Khurshid, Basir Syed, Aftab Ahmad, Sadia Muhammad, Rehan Imad, Talat Mirza

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background: Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (cALL) tends to metastasize to central nervous system. Treatment with antileukemic agents against CNS leukaemia is an essential component for cure in ALL. Hence, it is essential to identify biomarkers for CNS infiltration. Proteomics, supported by mass spectrometry, is the platform for exploring biomarkers in various biological samples, contributing to translational research. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the plasma proteome profile of children across different risk groups of cALL. Neurexophilin and PC-esterase family, member 3 (NXPE3), was validated. The protein-protein interactions (PPI) of NXPE3 were evaluated with bioinformatics analyses. Methods: Plasma …

Incarcerated Persons’ Day In The Sun: Why Prisoners Should Have A Right To Fresh Air And Direct Sunlight, David Gross

Indiana Journal of Law and Social Equality

One word sums up the current state of a prisoner’s rights to fresh air and direct sunlight: conditionality. Because the rights are conditional in the United States, the sword of litigation hangs above prisons while residents are subject to violations of their limited constitutional rights. International law and medical research respectively recognize the right to, and need for, outdoor recreation. However, the grueling deliberate indifference standard debilitates attempts to change this reality in the courthouse. Thus, the impetus of change must come from the expansion of statutory rights. The right to fresh air and direct sunlight can be energized …

Characterization Of Tomographic Piv System For Single-Phase Immersion Cooling Applications, Joel Joshua Oommen

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses

As the rapid expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure and High-Performance Computing (HPC) pushes power requirements to new heights, traditional air-cooling methods have become inadequate for modern server demands. Consequently, single-phase immersion cooling (SPIC) has emerged as one of the effective and sustainable alternatives, utilizing dielectric fluids to remove heat through direct contact with electronic components. Despite numerous thermal and reliability studies, the complex three-dimensional movement of buoyant thermal plumes around intricate component shapes are not yet fully understood in confined spaces.

This thesis provides a detailed characterization of Tomo-PIV and a component level experimental study of flow patterns in …

Multimodal Deep Learning For Biological Data Understanding, Saiyang Na

Computer Science and Engineering Dissertations

This dissertation presents three contributions to multimodal deep learning for biological data understanding, addressing the fundamental challenge of cross-modal alignment from two complementary perspectives: designing effective multimodal fusion methods for specific biomedical applications, and proposing a general framework for higher-order multimodal alignment that captures hierarchical structure in data.

First, we develop Cmai, a deep learning framework for B cell receptor (BCR) to antigen binding prediction that aligns BCR sequence information with antigen three-dimensional structures using contrastive learning. Cmai achieves an average AUROC of 0.907 across 17 antigens and 5 independent cohorts, and demonstrates clinical utility in predicting immune checkpoint inhibitor …

Using Herbarium Specimens To Morphologically Delineate Three Western Phlox Species, Jack David Hager, Meredith Zettlemoyer

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Western Phlox are incredibly diverse, found in a variety of habitats spanning lowland meadows to high alpine tundra. The genus contains around 65 unique species, often with overlapping trait variation that makes morphological and taxonomic delineation difficult. Phlox missoulensis, a cushion-forming species endemic to the Missoula Valley, inhabits lower-elevation, windy, arid ridgelines that mimic alpine conditions. Two nearby congeners, Phlox kelseyi and Phlox pulvinata, occupy partially overlapping ecological niches: P. kelseyi is found in wet meadows at similar elevations to P. missoulensis, while P. pulvinata is found in higher elevation environments. P. missoulensis exhibits morphological characteristics that are intermediate between …

Temporal Avoidance By Gray Foxes Reflects Growing Pressure From Expanding Coyotes In The Neotropics, Madison Odenbach

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are rapidly expanding their range towards South America, potentially threatening the world’s highest canid diversity residing on that continent. A better understanding of their interactions with native species is needed to anticipate potential competitive impacts. In Costa Rica, native gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) likely occupy a similar niche to the coyote newcomer, yet little data exists on their interactions in tropical ecosystems. We hypothesized the two species separate temporally to minimize the potential for competition in our study area, given preliminary data suggesting high spatial overlap (57.1% of coyote-detected sites overlap with fox-detected …

From Silos To Systems: A Conceptual Framework For Workforce Aligned Oral Health Education, Meghan Bastin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

In the current U.S. educational system, becoming a dentist follows a few prescriptive pathways.  Learners typically complete an undergraduate degree before entering time-intensive doctoral training.  This results in only 3-4 years of direct professional education embedded within an eight -year process, while learners accumulate significant financial investment in their education.  With the average cost of graduate-level dental education alone exceeding $300,000 and new federal borrowing limits likely to further constrain access, there is an opportunity to explore alternative ways of structuring oral health education.

This poster presents a conceptual, system-level framework that explores a perspective in which oral health education …

Table 3 - Gregoricka & Ullinger 2026, Lesley Gregoricka, Jaime Ullinger

Gregoricka et al. 2026 AJBA

No abstract provided.

Table 2 - Gregoricka & Ullinger 2026, Lesley Gregoricka, Jaime Ullinger

Gregoricka et al. 2026 AJBA

No abstract provided.

Table 1 - Gregoricka & Ullinger 2026, Lesley Gregoricka, Jaime Ullinger

Gregoricka et al. 2026 AJBA

No abstract provided.

Educational Efficacy Of Training Videos And Simulators For Teaching Basic Mouse Experimental Skills To Novice Veterinary Students., Atsushi Tsukamoto, Thum Su Zan, Makie Nitta, Hiromitsu Yoshida, Hirotaka Katahira, Yoshiharu Fujita, Satoshi Takagi, Shinichiro Nakamura

Faculty Research 2026

Alternative educational tools, such as training videos and simulators, are recommended in the education of laboratory animal science. However, evidence supporting their educational utility in the training of rodent experimental techniques remains limited. In this study, we assessed the utility of alternative educational tools in the practice of laboratory animal science for novice veterinary students. 149 students participated in a stepwise program beginning with lectures, followed by preparatory learning sessions using training videos and two types of mouse simulators (a silicone-based model and fabric toy mouse), and then hands-on training with live mice. The program covered basic techniques: habituation, restraint, …

Overcoming Egfr-Mediated Dendritic Cell Dysfunction To Enhance Anti-Tumor Immunity In Egfr-Mutant Nsclc By Precisely Targeting Cd73 With Ph-Responsive Nanocarriers., Xiaoling Shang, Xudong Geng, Zixu Wang, Shumin Yuan, Shanshan Ding, Ni Liu, Xinchun Ma, Xuan Sun, Huimin Wang, Ying Sun, Xun Qu, Guangwen Ren, Yong Qiang Li, Xiuwen Wang, Yanguo Liu

Faculty Research 2026

EGFR mutations remain a major challenge in immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with poor responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors driven by mechanisms associated with EGFR mutation-mediated tumor microenvironment (TME) modulation. This study reveals that EGFR mutations prominently impaired dendritic cell (DC) maturation, disrupting their capacity to effectively prime CD8+ T cells and thereby compromising anti-tumor immune responses. By application of clinical specimen analyses, multi-omics approaches, and in vivo mouse models, this work demonstrates that EGFR mutations elicited adenosine production through the ERK/c-Jun signaling axis in tumor cells, establishing an immunosuppressive TME that impeded maturation and antigen presentation of …

Metallothionein 1 Mediates Growth And Survival Of Dnmt3a;Npm1-Mutant Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Patricia A Colom Díaz, Jayna J Mistry, Kira Young, Chih-Hsing Chou, Nathan Boyer, Ross L Levine, Nathan Salomonis, H Leighton Grimes, Jennifer J. Trowbridge

Faculty Research 2026

No abstract provided.

Growth And Development Of Lettuce And Mizuna Under Urrm-Representative Conditions, Claudia Garrido-Ruiz, Bruce Bugbee, Juan D. González-Teruel, Alexandra Cartwright, Scott B. Jones

NASA

The Utah Reusable Root Module (URRM) is a zero-discharge plant growth system under development for operation in microgravity aboard the International Space Station. Qualification of the URRM requires defining expected crop performance under representative operating conditions to evaluate nominal biological behavior. This study presents experimental results documenting the growth of mizuna (Brassica rapa var. japonica) and Outredgeous lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under URRM-representative conditions defined by the use of a silicone rubber fringe top cover for root-zone containment. 

Ground-based experiments were conducted using the Greenhouse System, URRM Simulator – Replicate 1, and URRM Simulator – Replicate 2, …

Winter 2026, Humayun Islam

PMI Newsletter

No abstract provided.

2025-2026 Common Data Set, Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Common Data Sets

This document contains data compiled by the SWOSU Office of Institutional Research for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Integrating Domain Knowledge And Machine Learning In Rice Cultivation: A Case Study Of Algeria, Sara Faruqui, Jenna M. Handal, Navi Gill Dhillon

Bioinformatics

Research has highlighted Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a promising solution to mitigate the threat of food insecurity. Rice, a staple in the global diet, is particularly vulnerable to heat stress caused by climate change. The challenges of climate change, population growth, and increased famine risk may be alleviated through the implementation of AI models in rice cultivation. For decades, agricultural workers have faced the dilemma of needing to increase crop yields while dealing with dwindling resources and the need for more efficient practices. AI models, however, are limited by the quality and scope of the data they receive. Integrating domain …

Unveiling Microplastic Removal And Characteristics In Wastewater From Two Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities In Indonesia, Nurul Setiadewi, Prayatni Soewondo, Cynthia Henny

Applied Environmental Research

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered an entrance pathways for microplastic (MP) pollution in aquatic environments. This study reveals the removal and characteristics of MPs in wastewater from two municipal WWTPs in Indonesia. The influent contained 17.1 ± 5.65 particles L-1 (WWTP A) and 15.45 ± 4.31 particles L-1 (WWTP B), whereas the effluent contained 1.41 ± 0.01 and 1.5 ± 0.16 particles L-1. The removal efficiency was 91.75% for WWTP A and 90.32% for WWTP B, with no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). WWTP A employed advanced treatment units, whereas WWTP B used a conventional pond-based system. MPs were …

Untangling Ai Openness, Parth Nobel, Alan Rozenshtein, Chinmayi Sharma

Articles

The debate over AI openness—whether to make components of an artificial intelligence system available for public inspection and modification—forces policymakers to balance innovation, democratized access, safety, and national security. By inviting startups and researchers into the fold, it enables independent oversight and inclusive collaboration. But technology giants can also use it to entrench their own power, while adversaries can use it to shortcut years and billions of dollars in building systems, like China’s DeepSeek, that rival our own. How we govern AI openness today will shape the future of AI and America’s role in it.

Policymakers and scholars grasp the …

Nanocomposite Mediated Delivery Of 5-Fluorouracil Using Silver Nanoparticles To Promote Wound Healing, Kamal Nath Kasi

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Chronic wounds, particularly in diabetic patients, remain a significant clinical challenge due to the complex interaction of persistent infection, chronic inflammation, and impaired cellular regeneration. Conventional drug therapies often fail to achieve effective treatment due to rapid drug degradation, poor targeting, and localized toxicity. This study explores a nanotechnology-based approach by developing and evaluating 5-FU loaded AgNP (AgNP–5FU) as a controlled drug delivery system. AgNP (AgNP) were synthesized and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, particle size, and zeta potential analysis, while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis suggested possible interaction between 5-FU and the …

Development And In Vitro Characterization Of 5-Fluorouracil–Loaded Plga Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Delivery, Kavya Yandapalli

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a progressive metabolic disorder characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and chronic inflammation. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems offer a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The objective of this study is to formulate and characterize 5-FU–loaded PLGA nanoparticles and evaluate their in vitro performance. 5-FU–loaded PLGA nanoparticles were prepared using the double emulsion solvent evaporation method. The nanoparticles were characterized by particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential and SEM. Drug encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity and in vitro drug release studies were conducted. The formulated nanoparticles exhibited sizes within the …

Comparative Machine Learning Models For Disease Risk Prediction, Mercy Mawusi Agbley

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Accurate prediction of disease outcomes is crucial for improving clinical decision-making and enabling early intervention. This study compares the performance of various statistical and machine learning models for clinical risk prediction using two healthcare datasets: diabetic retinopathy and heart disease. The models assessed include Logistic Regression, LASSO, k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), Neural Networks, Random Forests, Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM), and a stacked ensemble model. Prior to modeling, datasets were split into train and test sets. Standardization was applied to numeric features whilst categorical features were one-hot encoded. These transformations were later applied to the test set. Principal …