Digital Commons Network^™

Research Status And Application Of Plant Protein Amyloid Fibrils, Wang Pengwei, Chen Jun, Wang Haoqiang, Shuai Xixiang, Dai Taotao

Food and Machinery

Most natural plant proteins have dense spherical structures, reducing their functionality and accessibility to proteases, which limits their application in the food industry to some extent. The preparation of plant protein amyloid fibrils with high aspect ratio and excellent interfacial properties through acid-heat-induced self-assembly can significantly improve the physicochemical properties, nutritional value, and functional characteristics of plant proteins. This study reviews the formation mechanism and preparation methods of acid-heat-induced self-assembly of plant protein amyloid fibrils, summarizes the relationship between their structure and properties, discusses the application directions of plant protein amyloid fibrils, and looks forward to their future research directions.

Research Progress On Nutritional Components, Bioactive Properties, And Application Of Chlorella Vulgaris In Food, Xu Bingzheng, Xu Zongxi, Zhang Jian, Liang Rongrong, Liang Yusi

Food and Machinery

Chlorella vulgaris, a green microalga, is widely recognized in the food industry for its outstanding nutritional value. This review systematically summarizes the diverse nutritional components enriched in this microalga, including proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, pigments, and minerals, as well as the various bioactivities conferred by these components, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antibacterial and antiviral, anticancer, detoxifying, adjuvant antidiabetic, antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, antidepressant, and prebiotic activities. Additionally, the research progress of C.vulgaris in food applications is elaborated, and the current challenges in its commercialization are discussed, including the technological gap in large-scale production that coordinates nutritional composition and low-cost …

Western Watersheds Project V. Schultz, Cv 22-149-M-Dlc-Kld, 2025 Lx 449507, 2025 Wl 2410283 (D. Mont. Mar. 27, 2025), Luke A. Zagar

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Western Watersheds Project v. Schultz delineates what the Forest Service is required to consider for revising Allotment Management Plans as prescribed by NEPA. Environmental plaintiffs sued, arguing that the Forest Service’s reliance on an older baseline assessment was arbitrary and capricious and that the revised AMP failed to consider major impacts on the grizzly bear population. The District of Montana held that the reliance on an older baseline assessment was acceptable but simultaneously found the AMP to be arbitrary and capricious under the “hard look” standard.

Unleashing Consultation: Tohono O’Odham Nation V. Department Of Interior And The Case For Reforming The National Historic Preservation Act, Elizabeth Tobey

Public Land & Resources Law Review

The Ninth Circuit’s 2025 decision in Tohono O’odham Nation v. Department of Interior highlights an ongoing failure by federal land management agencies to consult meaningfully with tribal nations as mandated by the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. This article argues that the NHPA’s framework for tribal consultation enables federal land management agencies to sidestep meaningful engagement with tribes, undermining both cultural resource protection and the federal Indian trust responsibility. To address these deficiencies—particularly in the context of renewable energy development on federal public lands, directly at issue in Tohono O’odham Nation—this article proposes amendments to the NHPA informed by …

Short-Term Legume Cover Crops Following Maize Only Marginally Impact Winter Cereals Under Conservation Tillage Management, Arun D. Jani, John E. Erickson, Ramon G. Leon, C. Wesley Wood, Diane Rowland, Heather A. Enloe, Michael J. Mulvaney

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Context: Warm-season legume cover crops in subtropical environments provide many agroecosystem services but have not been widely adopted because their use usually entails replacing cash crops. Planting short-term legume cover crops following maize (Zea mays L.) to replenish soil nitrogen (N) pools for cool-season cash crops, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), is an innovative approach for integrating legumes into subtropical cereal cropping systems that has not been widely investigated.

Objectives: A maize – legume cover crop – wheat cropping sequence under conservation tillage management was investigated with the following objectives: 1. Evaluate the performance of short-term cowpea [Vigna unguiculata …

A Descriptive Analysis Of Plant Leaf Disease Detection Using Machine Learning And Deep Learning Models: A Systematic Review, Arzoo Chamoli, Anuj Kumar

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Plant leaf disease detection (PLDD) is a growing active research area with burgeoning practical applications across various sectors such as agricultural monitoring, food security, and environmental conservation. Accurate segmentation and classification of plant leaf diseases remains a key challenge in the field of plant leaf disease prediction. The challenge demands automated methods for the plant disease identification because it needs to develop better crop management systems, which will boost agricultural production. In this article, we provide a systematic review of various machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) methods extensively used for PLDD. The review strategy follows a formal protocol, …

Complex-Valued Convolutional Neural Network With Time-Frequency Representation For Electrocardiogram-Based Arrhythmia Detection, Kajeeth Kumar Gurusamy, Muthurajkumar Sannasy

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

This research proposes an end-to-end procedure for arrhythmia detection based on electrocardiogram (ECG) signals using complex-valued convolutional neural network (CVCNN) incorporated with time-frequency representation. The proposed model leverages complex numbers to capture amplitude and phase information that enhances the ability of the model for detecting time-frequency variation in cardiac signals. First, signal preprocessing techniques---including normalization, wavelet denoising, and R-peak detection---are applied. Subsequently, the model extracts complex features from raw ECG data by employing the Hilbert transform to derive the analytic signal and the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) to generate a time–frequency representation. The proposed CVCNN framework effectively learns spatial-temporal features …

Harnessing Mechanobiology Of Resident Stem Cells To Refine Cell Based Therapeutics, Dakota R. Kamm

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are resident cells residing with many adult tissues such as adipose tissue and bone marrow that have the potency for multiple lineage differentiation as well as the capacity to secrete a litany of beneficial factors to maintain homeostasis and promote tissue repair. Since 1995, MSCs have been used therapeutically to treat a variety of conditions from osteoarthritis to heart disease to muscle pathologies. Great leaps have been made in improving MSC-based therapies through optimization of culture methods and select enrichment of cellular subpopulations. More recently, the physical microenvironment of tissue in vivo and culture conditions in …

Improving The Assessment And Treatment Of People With Low Back Pain, Kayla Krueger

WUSM Theses and Dissertations – All Programs

Low back pain (LBP) is a significant and continually growing public health problem. While some people recover from an initial episode, a proportion will develop chronic or recurrent LBP that limits their ability to perform daily functional activities. The variable and often function-limiting course of LBP underscores the clear need for improved methods of assessment and treatment. One way to improve the assessment and treatment of LBP is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of factors that contribute to LBP. In this dissertation, we investigated two categories of factors that may contribute to a person’s LBP: (1) spinal movement impairments …

Sing Without Even Light - How The Arts Inform And Enhance Learning, Creativity, Imagination, And Wellbeing In Elementary Classrooms In Kajiado, Kenya: Discovering Creative Confidence, Lindsay L. Stewart

Educational Studies Dissertations

Creativity and imagination can be felt, described, seen, and measured. In this study, this is achieved through a reflective process and awareness of creative practice and its potential. The process can aid and increase understanding of self, cognitive and creative process, social-emotional interactions, agency, and action, and reveals an individual’s developmental level of creative confidence.

A gap exists in student and teacher voice regarding their creative awareness and confidence. This study reveals how 29 children ages 8-15 and 14 teachers from Kajiado, Kenya, describe creativity and imagination, supporting both learning and wellbeing.

The study applies an Arts-Based Research approach, primarily …

Nurtured Meaning: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study Of The Tree Of Life In Contemporary Women's Art, Christina A. Defilipp

Educational Studies Dissertations

The Tree of Life has historically flourished across cultures as an archetypal image of interconnection, regeneration, and continuity. In the Anthropocene, however, its symbolic vitality is reframed by the realities of environmental crisis. This study investigates how contemporary women artists across the globe sustain and reinterpret the Tree of Life’s meaning to express themes of ecological, spiritual, and cultural relevance. Employing a qualitative design grounded in hermeneutic phenomenology, the study analyzes publicly available artworks and published reflections, including interviews, catalog essays, and artist statements. A purposive sample of twenty women artists from diverse cultural traditions forms the dataset, each represented …

Exploring The Biological Basis For Exercise Neuroprotection In Parkinson’S Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Exercise And Physical Activity On Inflammatory Cytokines And Neurotrophins, Leah Isabelle P. Alegre, Jacob M. Brewer, Adeline Florschutz, Kate E. Hamiltonthompson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regular exercise and physical therapy are known to increase production of neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These changes combine to theoretically protect and slow the progressive loss of neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise and physical activity on various anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophins in people with PD (PwP). This was a cross-sectional design involving PwP (n=37), aged 43-85 years, who participated in two 30-minute bouts of exercise (with brief rest breaks during and pre/post blood draws) separated by a week. Measures collected prior …

Effect Of An Exercise Protocol On Balance In Adults With Down Syndrome, Juan Bernal, Natalie Sato

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Purpose/Hypothesis: Down syndrome (Ds) is a complex genetic condition that can impact multiple systems of the body, including functional balance. Ds-specific impairments such as muscle hypotonia, ligamentous laxity, and decreased muscle strength, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle can result in poor motor control, altered proprioceptive function, static and dynamic instability. Visual and vestibular impairments are also common in this population, increasing fall risk and fear of falling, and discouraging participation in physical activity. The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of a physical therapy-based exercise program on the functional balance of adults with Ds.

Number of Subjects: …

Tumor Implantation Site Of Syngeneic Oral Cancer Models Differentially Induces Site-Dependent Local And Systemic Immunosuppression, Andrea H Molina, Gemalene M Sunga, Shawn Nguyen, Neeraja Dharmaraj, Ratna Veeramachaneni, Roberto Rangel, Jeffrey N Myers, Jeffrey D Hartgerink, Andrew G Sikora, Simon Young

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: Preclinical studies of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) commonly use subcutaneous heterotopic (flank) tumor models for simplicity; however, orthotopic models may better reflect the native tumor environment. Direct comparisons of the tumor immune microenvironments (TIME) and tumor-draining lymph nodes (tdLNs) between these models remain limited. Better understanding of site-specific immune differences could improve model selection and interpretation of translational HNSCC studies.

Methods: ROC1 tumors were established in murine heterotopic and orthotopic sites, followed by assessment of tumor growth kinetics, survival, and the tumor microenvironment. Immune composition of tumors, blood, tdLNs, and spleen was evaluated at three tumor …

Comprehensive Study Of The Durability And Protective Measures Of Cross-Laminated Timber, Samuel Gray Shumate

Theses and Dissertations

The growing use of cross-laminated timber (CLT) in sustainable construction necessitates improved protection against biological deterioration. This study evaluates the fungal resistance of Southern Pine CLT fabricated from lumber pre-treated with micronized copper azole (MCA). Panels were produced under industrial pressing conditions, and durability was assessed using a modified American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) E10-22 soil block test against four brown-rot fungi. Results showed significant decay reduction for Coniophora puteana and Neolentinus lepideus, while protection was less effective against Gloeophyllum trabeum and Rhodonia placenta. Findings indicate that pre-treatment enhances preservative distribution but does not fully prevent decay in high-hazard environments. …

Nesting Ecology And Responses To Snag Resource Fluctuations Of Red-Headed Woodpeckers In Working Pine Forests, Zoe Elise Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Southeastern working pine forests provide opportunities for sustainable management that balance conservation and economic objectives. Red-headed woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), as primary cavity excavators, play a disproportionate role in forest ecosystems, making them an ideal focal species for evaluating management strategies. From 2024-2025, we monitored 103 nesting attempts in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) forests of Mississippi and Alabama, assessing nest site selection and survival. Nests were concentrated in early successional stands, with selection favoring taller snags with advanced decay characteristics, greater understory cover, and north-to-west cavity orientation. Nest survival increased with reduced cavity accessibility. Simulation models of varying snag retention levels …

A Cradle To Grave Life Cycle Assessment Of Captured Landfill Methane Abatement Strategies, Joshua Caleb Richard

Theses and Dissertations

Landfill methane mitigation strategies are commonly evaluated using percentage-based leakage assumptions and linear scaling models. These approaches may misrepresent system performance at varying throughput levels and real-world operating scenarios. This thesis develops a system-level life cycle assessment framework that incorporates both fixed infrastructure losses and employs sensitivity analysis to more accurately characterize emissions from landfill gas management pathways. Three scenarios are evaluated: methane capture and flare, methane capture and combustion for electricity generation, and methane upgrading with pipeline injection as renewable natural gas. Results demonstrate that emissions models over- dependance on static factors may inadvertently lead to under-reporting and provide …

Exploring The Effect Of Students' Exclusionary Discipline On Their Academic Achievement In A Rural High School., Danya Turner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent to which exclusionary discipline practices, specifically in-school suspension and out-of-school suspension, are associated with academic achievement among high school students. More specifically, the study investigated the relationship between students’ exclusionary discipline days and performance on Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) assessments in Algebra I, Biology, English II, and U.S. History. The study was guided by the Opportunity to Learn (OTL) framework, which emphasizes the importance of access to instructional time for student academic success. Archival discipline and assessment data were collected from a rural public high school in east-central …

Effects Of Melatonin Supplementation On Exercise Induced Stress In Horses, Hannah Clark Valigura

Theses and Dissertations

Exercise is a necessary component of athletic conditioning but imposes substantial physiological stress on horses, resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, muscle damage, and thermal strain that can impair performance and recovery. Melatonin, a neurohormone with potent antioxidant and thermoregulatory properties, has been proposed as a novel nutritional strategy to mitigate these effects. This dissertation aimed to (1) characterize serum melatonin concentrations following oral supplementation, (2) evaluate the effects of melatonin on oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle damage biomarkers after exercise, and (3) examine its influence on physiological parameters during exercise under warm weather conditions. Across a series of controlled experiments …

Tracing Hazing Across Adolescence: Examining How Prior Hazing Experiences Shape Hazing Motivation And Tolerance Among Newly Initiated Ifc Fraternity Members, John Michael Vanhorn

Theses and Dissertations

Hazing remains pervasive and underreported, disproportionately affecting adolescent and emerging adult men, particularly within athletic teams and fraternity contexts. Although hazing is most often studied within collegiate organizations, many students encounter hazing behaviors prior to college, yet little is known about how these early experiences shape later hazing perceptions, motivations, tolerance, and masculine norms. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) model, this dissertation conceptualizes hazing as a developmental process shaped by repeated social interactions, individual characteristics, contextual environments, and time across adolescence and emerging adulthood. Using a two-paper approach with a quantitative, longitudinal survey design, study 1 examined fraternity new members’ …

Delayed Timing Of Spring Application Of Nitrogen In Corn, Elizabeth Mae Worley

Theses and Dissertations

Application timing of nitrogen (N) fertilizer within the corn growing season can be crucial to crop nutrient uptake and availability. A lack of region-specific timing recommendations may result in inefficient fertilizer use and inconsistent yield responses. The objectives of this study were to determine how late in the growing season a first and second N fertilizer application can be pushed until corn yield is impacted and investigate whether Growing Degree Days (GDDs) should be used as better estimate of timing for N application than calendar date or growth stage. First applications were able to be delayed until V4-V6 growth stages …

Oxidized Lipids Are Inflammatory Danger Signals. The Hydrolytic Enzyme Carboxylesterase 1 Regulates Their Metabolic Fate, Thereby Shaping Macrophage Phenotype., Oluwabori Adekanye

Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages originate from hematopoietic progenitors they are immune cells, part of innate immunity. They patrol tissues to identify damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from microorganisms. Macrophage pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) detect these signals, and respond by secreting lipid mediators, cytokines, and chemokines, thereby initiating the inflammatory response. Carboxylesterases (CES) belong to the α/β-hydrolase fold family of proteins and catalyze the hydrolysis of ester-containing substrates into alcohols and carboxylic acids. CES1 is one of the six CES identified in the human genome. They are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and cytosol of cells, primarily expressed in …

Improving Durability And Structural Integrity Of Southern Pine And Sweetgum Through Fabrication, Treatment, And Mechanical Testing., Ershad Ahmmed

Theses and Dissertations

This research integrates material modification, preservative performance, and engineered fabrication to enhance the long-term durability and structural reliability of southern pine and sweetgum for outdoor and structural applications. The first project investigates the effects of simulated checks and splits on the strength and stiffness of southern pine fence posts. By introducing controlled defects and conducting mechanical testing, the study quantifies reductions in load-carrying capacity and evaluates how defect severity influences structural performance. The results provide insight into service life prediction and grading considerations for in-ground applications. The second project evaluates water ingress behavior in creosote-treated sweetgum using wetting angle measurements …

Machine Learning-Based Decision Support Models With Applications In Postsecondary Education, Marco Paolo Anglesio

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the deployment of machine learning methodologies in an industrial engineering framework for the development of advanced decision support systems in the context of enrollment management. Drawing on techniques from educational data mining, the research addresses three key phases in the lifecycle of traditional and non-traditional students. First, it analyzes student retention using predictive classification models designed to identify individuals at elevated risk of attrition. Second, it employs temporal convolutional networks for time series forecasting, estimating aggregate enrollment levels over highly variable, finite planning horizons on the basis of partially observed data and using an asymmetric loss function. …

Cytokinins, Gibberellins, And Ethylene On Plant Form And Flowering In Streptocarpus, Rachel Bobo

Theses and Dissertations

Plant form and flowering of Streptocarpus x hybridus Ladyslippers® ‘Grape Ice’ and ‘Deep Blue Vein’ were examined in response to exogenous application of ethephon [(2-chloroethyl) phosphonic acid], gibberellin 3 (GA3), benzyladenine (BA), and growth retardants ancymidol and chlormequat chloride. 750 mg L-1 ethephon applied at 3 weeks post-transplant (WPT) is effective in chemically pinching premature floral buds, delaying flowering by up to 10 days without restricting final plant size. Early applications of GA3 and BA hasten flowering by up to 10 days. GA3 and BA also interacted to promote floral development when applied early in the production cycle; increasing flower …

Assessing Differences In The Frequency And Severity Of Osteoarthritis On The Mandibular Condyles Between Males And Females At Tell Abraq, Brittany C. Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Tell Abraq, a Bronze and Iron Age site in the United Arab Emirates, was a center of trade and cultural expansion during the Umm an-Nar period (2700–2100 BCE). Its multichambered tombs contain large, commingled burials, reflecting increasing sedentism and agricultural practices. This study examines mandibular osteoarthritis (OA) to explore lived experience and biomechanical stress. A total of 138 adult mandibles were analyzed for sex and OA severity. Results show generally mild and infrequent OA, though preservation limited analysis. Sex estimates suggested more gracile morphologies than previously identified. No strong sex-based differences in OA were observed. Overall, findings highlight the impact …

Characterization Of Water Quality In The Mississippi Sound Using In-Situ And Satellite Observations, William Elliott Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi Sound is a highly productive estuary facing increasing pressures from natural disasters, oil spills, freshwater inflows, and coastal urbanization, yet it remains insufficiently monitored. In this study, key water quality parameters were quantified at 25 stations across the Mississippi Sound from 2024-2025 and integrated with Sentinel-3 satellite imagery retrievals to generate monthly turbidity maps from 2016-2025. Peak turbidity (~10 FNU) and TSS (~20 mg/L), reduced Secchi depth (~100 cm) and conductivity (~20,000 μS/cm), were observed from late winter to early summer; these conditions varied in fall and early spring. Colored dissolved organic matter was moderate, while chlorophyll-a and …

The Development And Evaluation Of An Automated Tactical Tillage Tool To Identify And Control Weeds In Row-Crop Production Systems Using Vision-Based Machine Learning., Clara Anne Cobb

Theses and Dissertations

Controlling in-field weeds in row-crop production systems is vital to the success of the operation. To control weeds, most producers use combinations of weed control strategies, including tillage and herbicide applications. Cotton production operations across the country have been trending toward conservation tillage practices in an effort to minimize soil disruption and maintain crop residues on the soil surface. This practice, in addition to the adoption of herbicide-tolerant cotton varieties, has encouraged more use of chemical herbicides. The overuse of these herbicides has resulted in an increase in herbicide-resistant weeds, making weed control difficult for farmers. This research aimed to …

From Miocene Origins To Ecological Diversification: Unraveling Evolutionary Dynamics Of North American Asters (Symphyotrichum), Sushil Dahal

Theses and Dissertations

Symphyotrichum, a plant genus traditionally treated within the genus Aster L., comprises >100 species of annual or perennial plants in the Compositae family Asteraceae. One of the most diverse genera in the southeastern US flora, the genus extends across the Americas, the Caribbean as well as eastern Eurasia. Despite its presence across the major American biomes and with distinctive floristic characteristics, several question regarding Symphyotrichum remains obscure. This research project focuses on exploring diverse aspects of Symphyotrichum systematics, biogeography and evolution. I tested three main hypotheses: (1a) Symphyotrichum originated ancestrally across Mexico and eastern North America in the Miocene ( …

Assessing Biotic And Abiotic Drivers Of Hybridization And Species Delimitation In A Highly Reticulate Syngameon, Nicholas John Engle-Wrye

Theses and Dissertations

Hybridization, or the flow of genetic materials between varieties or species, shapes evolution by generating novel genotypes, altering allele frequencies, and driving diversification. Yet, the rate at which hybridization occurs is heterogeneous across the tree of life and the ecological and evolutionary factors that govern its occurrence remain poorly understood. This dissertation examines how conserved biotic and abiotic niches influence hybridization and uses integrative methods to delimit species boundaries within Heuchera (Saxifragaceae), a genus notable for widespread interspecific gene flow and cryptic morphological diversity. Results reveal that hybridization is most frequent where pre- and postzygotic barriers are weak, as with …