Digital Commons Network^™

Specialized Insectivores Drive Differences In Avian Community Composition Between Primary And Secondary Forest In Central Africa, Eleanor M. Barrie, Billi A. Krochuk, Crinan Jarrett, Diogo F. Ferreira, Patricia F. Rodrigues, Susana Lin Mufumu, Silvestre Esteban Malanza, Agustin Ebana Nsue Akele, Cayetano Ebana Ebana Alene, Kristin Brzeski, Jacob C. Cooper, Jared Wolfe, Luke L. Powell

Michigan Tech Publications

The human population of sub-Saharan Africa is projected to triple by 2100, drastically increasing anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity. When rainforest is disturbed by anthropogenic drivers, species respond heterogeneously; these patterns have rarely been quantified for Congo rainforest fauna. Our objective was to understand how community composition changed with human disturbance—with particular interest in the guilds and species that indicate primary rainforest. At a long-term bird banding site on mainland Equatorial Guinea, we captured over 3200 birds across 6 field seasons in selectively logged secondary forest and in largely undisturbed primary forest. Our multivariate ordination indicated a significant split between primary …

Radiotherapy Promotes Cuproptosis And Synergizes With Cuproptosis Inducers To Overcome Tumor Radioresistance, Guang Lei, Mingchuang Sun, Jun Cheng, Rui Ye, Zhengze Lu, Amber Horbath, David Huo, Shengrong Wu, Anagha Alapati, Sadhna Aggarwal, Zhihao Xu, Chao Mao, Yuelong Yan, Jun Yao, Qidong Li, Xiong Chen, Hyemin Lee, Li Zhuang, Dadi Jiang, Apar Pataer, Jack A Roth, Nicholas Navin, Albert C Koong, Mingjian James You, Steven H Lin, Boyi Gan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cuproptosis is a recently identified form of copper-dependent cell death. Here, we reveal that radiotherapy (RT) induces cuproptosis in cancer cells, independent of apoptosis and ferroptosis, and depletes lipoylated proteins and iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins-both hallmarks of cuproptosis-in patient tumors. Mechanistically, RT elevates mitochondrial copper levels by upregulating copper transporter 1 (CTR1) and depleting mitochondrial glutathione, a copper chelator, thereby triggering cuproptosis. Integrated analyses of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) from radioresistant esophageal cancer cells and single-cell RNA-seq from esophageal tumors of patients unresponsive to RT link radioresistance to the downregulation of BTB and CNC homology 1 (BACH1). This downregulation de-represses the …

Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia Illucens, Larvae Meal Improves Intestinal Health And Growth Performance Of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis Niloticus, Juveniles, Sahya Maulu, Ben Eynon, Sherilyn Abarra, Mark Rawling, Daniel Merrifield

School of Biological and Marine Sciences

This study investigated the effects of dietary black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, Hermetia illucens, meal on growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal health, and immune response in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, juveniles. The fish (initial weight: 7.28 ± 0.09 g) were reared in a recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) and fed diets containing different levels of defatted BSF larvae meal: 0% (control diet), 20% (BSF20), and 40% (BSF40). At the end of the feeding trial, the final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly (p < 0.05) improved with increasing BSF meal inclusion levels in the diet. Histological analysis of the intestine revealed that mucosal fold length (MFL), muscularis thickness (MT), and goblet cell density (GCD) were significantly elevated by the BSF meal compared with the control. In addition, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and the enterocyte microvilli length were significantly elevated in BSF40-fed fish compared with the control. Gene expression analysis showed that intestinal chitin digestion-related (endochitinase A) and amino acid transporter (Slc6a18) genes were not significantly affected by the BSF meal. However, the expression of peptide transporter Slc15a1a was upregulated in the fish fed BSF40 compared to the control. Moreover, posterior intestine and head kidney cytokine (IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-10) gene expression levels were not significantly affected by the inclusion of the BSF meal. Therefore, these results suggest that the BSF meal up to a 40% inclusion level can be used as an alternative protein source in the diets of Nile tilapia juveniles to promote growth and intestinal health.

Current Cutting-Edge Omics Techniques On Musculoskeletal Tissues And Diseases, Xiaofei Li, Liang Fang, Sade W Clayton, Dakota R Kamm, Cuicui Wang, Farshid Guilak, Simon Y Tang, Gretchen A Meyer, Jie Shen, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, bone fracture, intervertebral disc degeneration, tendinopathy, and myopathy, are prevalent conditions that profoundly impact quality of life and place substantial economic burdens on healthcare systems. Traditional bulk transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have played a pivotal role in uncovering disease-associated alterations at the population level. However, these approaches are inherently limited in their ability to resolve cellular heterogeneity or to capture the spatial organization of cells within tissues, thus hindering a comprehensive understanding of the complex cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases. To address these limitations, advanced single-cell and spatial omics techniques …

Lrrc8 Channel Complexes Counterbalance Katp Channels To Mediate Swell-Secretion Coupling In Mouse Pancreatic Β Cells, Tarek Mohamed Abd El-Aziz, Chen Kang, Litao Xie, John D. Tranter, Sumit Patel, Rahul Chadda, Maria S. Remedi, Rajan Sah

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells is initiated by membrane potential depolarization, followed by activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels to trigger Ca2+-mediated insulin vesicle fusion with the β cell plasma membrane. Here, we show that β cell swelling associated with glucose metabolism was sensed by LRRC8 channel complexes and contributed to insulin secretion. Hypertonic perfusate (360-380 mOsm) dose dependently impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by counteracting β cell swelling. Hypotonic perfusate alone, independent of glucose stimulation or KATP channel closure, was sufficient to increase β cell intracellular Ca2+ and trigger insulin secretion. Inhibition of sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter-1 with bumetanide, which diminished the …

Directional Flocking And Structural Integration Of Flocculated Polyacrylate Superabsorbent Fibers In Multilayer Absorbent Articles, Hannah Langford Dr

Defensive Publications Series

This study presents advanced multilayer absorbent articles utilizing flocculated polyacrylate superabsorbent fibers (SAFs), electrostatically flocked to adhesive surfaces or backing layers. SAFs were deposited on an adhesive on the non-contact side of foam layers or directly onto adhesive-coated backing films to optimize fluid uptake, retention, and structural integrity while protecting sensitive tissue from direct exposure to the absorbent material. A secondary design pathway includes the integration of flocculated SAFs within the foam matrix during manufacture to enable internal directional wicking. These layered systems are enhanced through silicone contact films, hydrocolloids, barrier films, and optional antimicrobial elements. Results demonstrate significantly improved …

The Love With A Thousand Faces: Heroism As Embodied Love In Action, Scott T. Allison

Heroism Science

In this article, I argue that heroism is, at its core, embodied love in action -- a morally charged, physically grounded expression of care enacted through selfless deeds, courage, and commitment to others. Rather than reducing love to sentiment or an abstract ideal, I emphasize its embodied dimensions: love as a lived, relational force that motivates people to act bravely and altruistically, often at great personal cost. Drawing on psychological research in empathy, attachment, and prosocial motivation, I show how love undergirds moral courage by activating deep emotional bonds and transforming them into action-oriented commitments that transcend fear and self-interest. …

Effects Of Consuming Short-Form Videos On Young Adults’ Fine Motor Skills, Dragon Tanaghon Chew, Jerome Gabriel Gay, Hien Than, Zhi Qin Ko

Introduction to Research Methods RSCH 202

The composition of short-form video (SFV) consumption can affect cognitive abilities, including motor skills. This study addresses a potential concern due to the lack of data. By presenting two experimental designs, the study explores the impact of SFV consumption on the motor skills of young adults. The first experiment employs a between-subjects design, where 60 participants are randomly assigned to two groups, with one group exposed to 30 minutes of SFV content. The second experiment adopts a cross-sectional design based on self-reported historical SFV consumption, where motor skill is compared between groups with low (< 3 hours/day) and high (≥3 hours/day) SFV consumption. Typing performance is used as an indicator of motor skill for the first experiment and finger tapping test is used in the second. The results will compare pre- and post-intervention performance. The findings would enhance practical understanding and illustrate the relationship between social media and motor skills.

Key words: Short-form video, motor …

How Does Climate Change Affect The Bird Migration Season And Number Of Bird Strikes?, Moe Myint Paing Soe, Justin Yan Yu Koh, Hong Kai Immanuel Quek, Fonzie Rey Raymundo Torres

Introduction to Research Methods RSCH 202

While it is wildly accepted that climate change has led to a shift in bird migration seasons and patterns, how does this change affect the occurrence of strikes between birds and aircraft? Analysing bird strike data from the FAA's Wildlife Strike Database and average annual temperature variations in the United States, we seek to find out if climate change has had an impact on bird strikes between 1990 and 2015 using multiple linear regression. Understanding the wider effects of climate change on the daily operation of aircraft would highlight if there were a need to update wildlife hazard management methods, …

Simulation Of Multi-Receiver Solar Power Tower By Enhancement Of Solarpilot Software And A Review Of Absorber Coating Materials For The Receivers, Yasser Mirza Baig

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Central receiver concentrating solar power (CSP) towers offer significant potential for cost-effective renewable electricity but face increasing optical losses with larger heliostat fields. This thesis introduces enhancements to NREL’s SolarPILOT software through a Python-based API named CoPylot, which enables comprehensive optimization of heliostat field layouts for multi-receiver systems. The enhanced methodology incorporates per-heliostat ray tracing, receiver orientation optimization (tilt angle β), and an incidence-angle-dependent absorptance (α(θ)) model to evaluate optical performance, thermal losses, and techno-economic metrics within an integrated simulation framework.

A case study for Daggett, California demonstrates that transitioning from a baseline single-receiver system (180 m tower, 5×5 m …

Strange Bedfellows: Guardians For Fetuses And Future Generations, Celia Parry

Pace Environmental Law Review

In the 1970s, savvy anti-abortion lawyers began employing “fetal guardians” as a procedural mechanism to restrict abortion access. In Juliana v. United States, arguably the most important climate lawsuit from the past ten years, a “guardian for future generations” acted as a plaintiff. These forms of legal guardianship resemble each other because they both rely on property law precedent, invoke creative interpretations of guardianship, and represent future interests. This connection also presents a predicament for climate litigators and anti-abortion litigators, who don’t typically share the same agenda. To date, this intersection between fetal and future generation guardianship has not received …

A Versatile Platform For Designing And Fabricating Multi-Material Perfusable 3d Microvasculatures, Nathaniel Harris, Charles Miller, Min Zou

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Perfusable microvasculature is critical for advancing in vitro tissue models, particularly for neural applications where limited diffusion impairs organoid growth and fails to replicate neurovascular function. This study presents a versatile fabrication platform that integrates mesh-driven design, two-photon lithography (TPL), and modular interfacing to create multi-material, perfusable 3D microvasculatures. Various 2D and 3D capillary paths were test-printed using both polygonal and lattice support strategies. A double-layered capillary scaffold based on the Hilbert curve was used for comparative materials testing. Methods for printing rigid (OrmoComp), moderately stiff hydrogel (polyethylene glycol diacrylate, PEGDA 700), and soft elastomeric (photocurable polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS) materials were …

An Approach From The Plithogenic Dea To The Calculation Of The Efficiency Of A Pedagogical Strategy On Basic Digital Competencies In Students Of The Basic Education Program At The Bolivarian University Of Ecuador, Johanna Irene Escobar Jara

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

In the context of higher education, the evolution towards a full integration of digital technologies has been significant globally, but its effective implementation varies between different regions and institutions. In Latin America, the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has been uneven, despite efforts to incorporate digital tools into education. Significant gaps in infrastructure and teacher training persist, which limit educational quality and the full development of digital skills in students. This paper aims to measure the impact of implementing a pedagogical strategy on developing basic digital skills and how it im-proves the pedagogical skills and innovation capacity of …

Deciphering Purchase Decisions In Neuromarketing: A Systematic Review Of The Last Decade Using Neutrosophic Z Numbers, Eluard Alexander Mendoza Zenozain

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The contribution of this article is to a basic neuromarketing question: awareness of how / why we buy in an overstimulating external environment. More specifically, the question is how ambiguous perceptions and unclear responses influence buying behavior; something the traditional systems sought have not extensively explored. The contribution is made through a decade's systematic review of the literature and subsequent application of neutrosophic Z numbers to quasi-experimental findings. The literature es compiled through the neutrosophic Z system of assessment to reveal trends and tendencies reflecting certain and uncertain findings of consumer response to marketing persuasion. This matters because relative to …

Factors Associated With Applying To Graduate/Professional Degrees For Students Engaged In Undergraduate Research Experiences At Minority Serving Institutions, Lourdes E. Echegoyen, Kala M. Mehta, Karsten Hueffer, Jacob D. Kagey, Thomas E. Keller, Kathleen M. Morgan, Stephen B. Aley, Chi-Ah Chun, Payam Sheikhattari, Amy Wagler

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Introduction:

This study investigates the impact of undergraduate research experiences on applications to graduate and professional programs, particularly for underrepresented minority students at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

Methods:

The study analyzes data collected at 10 MSIs participating in the NIH BUILD program to understand the relationship between research participation (in formal programs vs. informal research), student demographics, science self-efficacy, GPA, and application to advanced degree programs.

Results:

Results indicate that undergraduate research participation, especially in formal programs for extended periods of time, positively influences applications to graduate/professional programs, with similar outcomes observed across underrepresented minority and non-minority students.Discussion

Findings indicate …

Quantile-Optimal Policy Learning Under Unmeasured Confounding, Zhongren Chen, Siyu Chen, Zhengling Qi, Xiaohong Chen, Zhuoran Yang

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

We study quantile-optimal policy learning where the goal is to find a policy whose reward distribution has the largest α-quantile for some α P p0, 1q. We focus on the offline setting whose generating process involves unobserved confounders. Such a problem suffers from three main challenges: (i) nonlinearity of the quantile objective as a functional of the reward distribution, (ii) unobserved confounding issue, and (iii) insufficient coverage of the offline dataset. To address these challenges, we propose a suite of causal-assisted policy learning methods that provably enjoy strong theoretical guarantees under mild conditions. In particular, to address (i) and (ii), …

Geothermal Energy And The Possibility Of Narrative Unity In Environmental And Energy Law, Jarrod Ingles

Pace Environmental Law Review

As the United States seeks to address concerns about climate change and energy affordability through the deployment of renewable energy and natural gas, the tensions between energy law and environmental law have come into sharper relief. These two related fields are converging as never before because solutions to rising energy costs and the “wicked problem” of climate change often pit the impulses of energy and environmental agencies against one another. Applying a narrative theory approach, I contend that energy law and environmental law will continue to be in tension because they are grounded in different narratives, which in turn communicate …

Comprehensive Insights Into The Cholesterol-Mediated Modulation Of Membrane Function Through Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Ehsaneh Khodadadi, Ehsan Khodadadi, Parth Chaturvedi, Mahmoud Moradi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cholesterol plays an essential role in biological membranes and is crucial for maintaining their stability and functionality. In addition to biological membranes, cholesterol is also used in various synthetic lipid-based structures such as liposomes, proteoliposomes, and nanodiscs. Cholesterol regulates membrane properties by influencing the density of lipids, phase separation into liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) areas, and stability of protein-membrane interactions. For planar bilayers, cholesterol thickens the membrane, decreases permeability, and brings lipids into well-ordered domains, thereby increasing membrane rigidity by condensing lipid packing, while maintaining lateral lipid mobility in disordered regions to preserve overall membrane fluidity. It modulates membrane …

Multi-Neutrosophic Ayni Method Based On Ancestral Logic And N-Alectic Reasoning For Ethical Ai And Sustainability, Maikel Y. Leyva Vázquez, Noel Batista Hernandez, Edwin Alberto Callejas, Florentin Smarandache

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article presents the Multi-Neutrosophic Ayni Method, a novel framework that integrates Latin American Indigenous philosophies with neutrosophic logic to guide ethical and sustainable AI development. Grounded in ancestral principles such as Ayni, Buen Vivir, In Lak’ech, ch’ixi, and nepantla, this approach models plural, ambiguous, and context-dependent ethical judgments through Multi-Neutrosophic Sets (MNS). A key contribution is the introduction of the Euclidean Multi-Neutrosophic Consensus Measure, which quantifies the degree of alignment among diverse stakeholders' evaluations without erasing epistemic differences. This measure enables the detection of convergence thresholds in intercultural deliberation, offering a rigorous yet flexible tool for decision-making. The method …

A Neutrosophic Multi-Objective Optimization Framework For Sustainable Design Of Water Supply Systems, Jesús Rafael Hechavarría Hernández, Maikel Yelandi Leyva Vázquez

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The study addresses the challenge of optimizing water supply systems (WSS) under conditions of uncertainty, variability, and multiple. In a context where sustainability is a key criterion, traditional Multiobjective optimization approaches are often insufficient to handle the imprecision and indeterminacy inherent in data and models. This work proposes a Neutrosophic Multi-Objective Model (NMM) that integrates Neutrosophic Logic to capture uncertainty in decision variables, objective functions, and constraints. Unlike conventional methods, NMM allows considering degrees of truth, indeterminacy, and falsity, offering a more robust and flexible framework for decision-making in WSS. The relevance of this study lies in its ability to …

A Neutrosophic Approach To Evaluating Self-Perceived Professional Competency In Dentistry Students And Graduates, Frederick Zevallos- Velasquez, Yessika Madelaine Abarca Arias, Juvita Dina Soto Hilario, Jairo Rafael Vidaurre Urrelo, Alejandro Chávez Paredes, Katia Medina-Calderon

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This article addresses a key issue in dental education: how recent graduates and final-year students at the Faculty of Dentistry of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) perceive their readiness for professional practice. The study explores these self-assessments amid uncertainty, especially due to disruptions in clinical training during health restrictions. Traditional methods often overlook the ambiguity present in human perceptions during crises. To fill this gap, the study applies neutrosophic Z numbers, a method that captures degrees of certainty, indeterminacy, and contradiction in responses. Five competency dimensions were evaluated, revealing overall confidence in professional preparation but significant uncertainty in …

Analysis Of Indicator Dynamics In Agricultural Sustainability Using Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps, Carlos Balmaseda -Espinosa, Oscar Caicedo- Camposano, Nadia Quevedo-Pinos, Dacil González-González

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Agricultural sustainability is a complex system influenced by interconnected environmental, economic, and sociocultural factors, whose relationships are often marked by uncertainty. This study addresses the interdependence of these factors using Neutrosophic Cognitive Maps (NCMs), a methodology capable of modeling causality in complex systems by incorporating degrees of truth, falsity, and indeterminacy. Twelve key indicators across the three dimensions of sustainability were selected, and an NCM was constructed based on expert criteria to visualize and analyze their dynamic interactions. Centrality analysis, following a de-neutrosophication process, revealed that sociocultural indicators, specifically the well-being of the agricultural community (X12) and the preservation of …

Nahp: Neutrosophic Hierarchical Analysis For Pest Prioritization In Plantain Cultivation, Marely Del Rosario Cruz Felipe, Víctor Noe Sánchez Carreno, Lorenzo Cevallos-Torres

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The following study addresses the impact of pests on plantain cultivation, recognizing them as a critical factor for both sustainability and productivity. Traditionally, decision-making in this context relies heavily on subjective and unstructured criteria, often leading to inaccurate prioritization of pest- and disease-related risks. This issue becomes even more pressing considering the growing global demand for plantains and the need to manage resources effectively, which calls for clear identification of intervention priorities. However, agricultural systems—characterized by ecological and social variability—often present incomplete, ambiguous, or contradictory information, making conventional multicriteria analysis insufficient. To address this challenge, this research introduces the Neutrosophic …

Computational Intelligence For Disease Diagnosis: An Approach Based On Neutrosophic Logic, Omar Mar Cornelio, Barbara Bron Fonseca

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Medical diagnosis faces significant challenges due to the inherent uncertainty and ambiguity of clinical data. In this context, this paper proposes a neutrosophic logic-based approach to disease diagnosis, with an emphasis on the detection of chronic kidney disease. The primary objective was to develop a computational method that adequately represents and manages uncertainty by transforming clinical attributes into neutrosophic structures composed of triplets (T: truth, I: indeterminacy, F: falsity). The implemented methodology included the collection and preprocessing of real clinical data extracted from the UCI repository (135 patients), the application of imputation and normalization techniques, the definition of diagnostic criteria, …

A Hybrid Neutrosophic And Machine Learning Model For Assessing Environmental Literacy In Biodiversity Conservation., Pablo Santiago López Freire, Jocelyn Estefanía Morocho Hidalgo, Leslye Pamela Calderón, Andy Stiwer Jhostin Quiroz

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

This study proposes the hybrid NEAML-BIOPASTAZA (Neutrosophic and Explainable Artificial Learning) mod-el for Biodiversity and Legal-Ecological Assessment in Pastaza, which integrates multivariate statistical analysis, neutrosophic logic, and supervised machine learning to assess the relationship between environmental literacy and the effectiveness of the legal framework for biodiversity conservation in the Pastaza canton. Using a data-base of 350 observations, exploratory factor analysis was applied to validate the latent structure of the "envi-ronmental literacy" construct, considering variables such as legal knowledge, biodiversity perception, commu-nity participation, and media exposure. To manage the uncertainty inherent in social responses, a neutrosophic model was implemented, capturing the …

Neutrosophic Sets And Systems, {Número Especial: Inteligencia Artificial, Neutrosofía Y Cosmovisiones Latinoamericanas: Hacia Un Futuro Sostenible (Taller – 18 Al 21 De Marzo De 2025, Universidad Tecnológica De El Salvador, San Salvador, El Salvador)}, Vol. 84, 2025, Florentin Smarandache, Maikel Leyva-Vázquez, Mohamed Abdel‑Basset

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Preface

Multi-Cohort Exploration Of Repetitive Element Transcription And Dna Methylation In Human Steatotic Liver Disease, Neil A. Youngson, Aikaterini Tourna, Timothy Chalmers, Kelly V. Prates, Josepmaria Argemi, Ramon Bataller, Koroush S. Haghighi, Lindsay E. Wu, Shilpa Chokshi, Peter Starkel, Patrick S. Western, Margaret J. Morris, Stephen M. Riordan

Peninsula Medical School

Transposable elements (TEs) make up around half of the human genome. Their transcription is repressed in most somatic cells to maintain genome integrity and function. The repression is chiefly maintained by a combination of epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. However, recent research suggests that liver steatosis is associated with extensive changes to the hepatocyte epigenome. Furthermore, studies in mice have reported diet- and drug-induced changes to TE transcript levels in liver. The confirmation of these effects in human liver has not previously been undertaken. Here, we examined TE transcription in liver tissue from three patient cohorts …

Orchestrating Complexity: The Art Of Virtual Leadership In System Modelling, Vijay Kumar Sonawane, Bipllab Roy, Purnendu Bikash Acharjee, Indu Pv

Northeast Journal of Complex Systems (NEJCS)

This paper explores the dynamics of virtual leadership within global remote work environments, focusing on the application of complex system modelling to understand and enhance leadership efficacy. The application of computational modelling has been a regular feature in economics, science and technology fields, however its application in virtual leadership with linkage to sport leadership appears to be a novel concept. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach, this paper incorporates Game Theory as a conceptual framework to make the leadership model more relevant and applicable that can offer simpler understanding of complex play of leadership drivers. The model incorporates five key leadership dimensional …

Friends Of The Inyo V. United States Forest Service, Sarah J. Leopard

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Friends of the Inyo v. United States Forest Service provides necessary guidance for categorical exclusion analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the United States Forest Service wrongfully construed NEPA as permissive of applying different categorical exclusions to various components of the same mining project until the project was excluded in its entirety from further environmental review. The Court’s holding establishes two essential rules for evaluating mining proposals on public lands: (1) a categorical exclusion, when applied under § 220.6, must cover the entire scope of a proposed project; and (2) the …

Influence Of Increasing Fires On Mixed Conifer Stand Dynamics In The U.S. Southwest, Simon D. Baker, Kristen M. Waring, David Auty, Nicholas Wilhelmi

Aspen Bibliography

(1) Stand-replacing fires may threaten the continued stability of mixed conifer forests in the U.S. Southwest. Increasing fire frequency and severity have made post-fire forest recovery trajectories uncertain for many coniferous species, potentially leading to long-term shifts in forest structure and composition. (2) The purpose of this study was to examine post-fire stand dynamics over a 10-year period, using a network of permanent plots established prior to wildfire events across Arizona and New Mexico. We assessed changes in over story composition, regeneration, and fuel loading across different fire severities. (3) High severity fire caused near-total over story mortality, with little …