Digital Commons Network^™

Buffered Strength: A Narrative Review Of Beta-Alanine Supplementation In Weightlifting And Resistance Training, Ian Brunson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid synthesized endogenously through hepatic metabolism of uracil and obtained in small amounts from dietary sources. In skeletal muscle, beta-alanine combines with histidine to form carnosine, a dipeptide that functions as an intracellular buffer. Beta-alanine is commonly used as a dietary supplement and is frequently included in pre-workout formulations as an ergogenic aid for high-intensity exercise. Beta-alanine supplementation increases intramuscular carnosine concentrations, which may enhance intracellular buffering capacity by regulating hydrogen ion accumulation and delaying fatigue during intense activity.^1,2 Although much research has examined beta-alanine supplementation in endurance, sprinting, and repeated high-intensity exercise contexts …

Defining The Early Temporal Window Of Cerebellar Motor Memory Consolidation In Mice, Benji Nixon

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), a cerebellum-dependent reflex that stabilizes gaze during head movement, provides a powerful model for studying motor learning and memory consolidation. The time-dependent process by which short-term memories become stabilized for long-term storage and are gradually redistributed to other brain regions, enabling retention even after damage to the site of early learning. In mice, motor skill memory deficits can be observed as early as four hours post-training, highlighting that systems consolidation varies in timing and extent across reflexes. This thesis examines the time course of motor memory consolidation in the VOR by examining repeated trainings, presented to …

Using Deep Learning To Increase Eye-Tracking Robustness, Accuracy, And Precision In Virtual Reality, Kevin Barkevich

Theses

Algorithms for the estimation of gaze direction from mobile and videobased eye trackers typically involve tracking a feature of the eye that moves through the eye camera image in a way that covaries with the shifting gaze direction, such as the center or boundaries of the pupil. Tracking these features using traditional computer vision techniques can be difficult due to partial occlusion and environmental reflections. Although recent efforts to use machine learning (ML) for pupil tracking have demonstrated superior results when evaluated using standard measures of segmentation performance, little is known of how these networks may affect the quality of …

Garnet & Black Spring 2026, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Alternative Negotiators: Why It Is Important To Change The Negotiators Between Russia And Ukraine, Abraham Mandelbaum

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) Blog

Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, and especially after its full-scale invasion in 2022, repeated diplomatic efforts, primarily between the U.S. and Russia, and to a lesser extent between the U.S. and Ukraine, have failed to produce a lasting peace. For example, in 2025, President Vladimir Putin proposed a new round of ceasefire talks in Istanbul following the expiration of a unilateral three-day truce and renewed drone attacks on Kyiv. European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected the proposal, insisting that any negotiations must begin with an unconditional ceasefire. Since then, neither side has unconditionally surrendered.

The print …

Using Zines To Explore Oppression And Musical Gatekeeping In Music Therapy, Kendall Joplin

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

The purpose of this arts-based study was to investigate music therapists’ personal experiences and thoughts on whether the music therapy profession is engaging in oppressive practices and musical gatekeeping in education, training, and clinical practice. Seven participants engaged in either a focus group or individual interviews to discuss their experiences related to the topic, then created a zine article to artistically explore the topic. All participants’ articles were put together to form one full zine, which was sent to everyone for final comments and feedback. Transcripts from the focus group and interviews, the zine articles, and any comments provided about …

Burdigalian–Langhian Flora Of The Çan–Etili (Çanakkale) Basin, Compared With Those Of Western Türkiye, Sari̇ye Duygu Durak, Mehmet Serkan Akki̇raz

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

A palaeofloristic study was carried out on Lower–Middle Miocene deposits of western Türkiye (Çan–Etili Basin). The sediments of the Çan–Etili Basin, which were obtained from measured sections, were deposited in a continental environment. The palaeovegetation of the Çan–Etili Basin (Kazım Oğlak and Keçiağılı successions) during the Early–Middle Miocene was mainly made up of evergreen and deciduous mixed forests (Castanea–Castanopsis, Cyrillaceae–Clethraceae, Engelhardia, Quercus evergreen-type, Quercus deciduous-type), riparian vegetation with high quantities of Alnus and conifers such as Pinus haploxylon-type, Pinus diploxylon-type, and undifferentiated Pinaceae. The reconstructed palaeoclimate data from the palaeoflora (pollen and leaves) imply a warm and temperate climate, with …

Examining The Relationships Between Students’ Achievement Goals And Their Academic Achievement In An Oer-Based Course: A Person-Centered Approach, Hengtao Tang Ph.D., Yan Yang, Yu Bao

Faculty Publications

Open Educational Resources (OER) have emerged as a cost-effective alternative to traditional commercial textbooks in higher education, towards the goal of alleviating college students’ financial burden of educational expenses. However, mixed findings about the influences of the integration of OER on student learning are present. To address the gap, this study investigated whether student motivation in OER served as a latent factor that impacts their academic achievement in online asynchronous courses offered in public universities. Particularly, this study (N = 247) implemented an advanced person-centered approach—stepwise latent class analysis—to profile student achievement goals in an OER-based course and examined their …

The Echo: March 16, 2026, Taylor University

2025-2026 (Volume 113)

No abstract provided.

Review Of Belle Da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy, Raegan Stearns

LWLC Faculty Research

Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian’s Legacy is a 303-page catalog for the Morgan Library and Museum’s exhibition of the same name, which ran from October 25, 2024, through May 4, 2025. Both the catalog and exhibition explore the life and professional contributions of Belle da Costa Greene (1879–1950), the museum’s first director upon its establishment as a public institution in 1924.

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 …

Impact Of Urban Roadway Work Zones On Road Users And Other Stakeholders, Lyndsey Renee Harris

Lyles School of Civil Engineering Graduate Student Reports

As urban populations continue to rise at an unprecedented rate, the need for highly maintained infrastructure in cities -- buildings, utilities, and transportation networks -- has become increasingly critical. An urban work zone refers to a designated area within a city where roadway construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation activities are taking place. These zones are typically characterized by high traffic volumes, complex roadway networks, and proximity to residential, institutional, and commercial land uses. Urban work zones often involve lane closures, detours, reduced speed limits, and temporary traffic control measures to ensure safety for road workers and road users. Due to 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.

The Irrelevance Of Filing Speed: Evidence From A Regulatory Reporting Discontinuity, Bryson Mumford

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Does faster financial reporting increase firm value? I exploit the $700 million public float threshold in SEC Rule 12b-2, which imposes a 60-day Form 10-K filing deadline for large accelerated filers relative to 75 days for accelerated filers. Using a fuzzy regression discontinuity design, I show that crossing the threshold sharply increases the likelihood of Large Accelerated Filer status and reduces filing lags by approximately one week, with no evidence of concurrent changes in mandated audit quality. Despite this exogenous acceleration in information disclosure, I fail to reject the null hypothesis that there are no effects on firm valuation (Tobin’s …

Beyond The Flames: A Comparative Analysis Of Wildfire Preparedness And Relief In California, Ej Smith

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Wildfires in California have devastated homes and communities, with the 2024–2025 Los Angeles fires ranking among the deadliest in state history, killing 31 people and burning more than 37,000 acres across densely populated neighborhoods. In response to these fires, fire services, municipal governments, and nongovernmental organizations coordinated immediate relief efforts across multiple jurisdictions. This research uses a multiple-case study approach to examine the Eaton, Palisades, Line, and Bridge fires to identify practices that supported life safety and response effectiveness, as well as challenges that constrained response operations. Findings indicate that when environmental conditions exceeded suppression capacity, response outcomes within responder …

Innovating For Access: Ai-Enhanced Triage & Intake For Legal Services Organizations, Heidi Behnke

Duke Center on Law & Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers opportunities to meaningfully narrow the access to justice gap by improving the ability of Legal Services Organizations (LSOs) to connect individuals with pro se resources and more effectively connect with individuals who could not otherwise advocate for themselves. Some LSO early adopters have already developed or are in the process of developing such tools. Others are unsure where or how to start.

The results of semi-structured interviews of LSO staff, technology vendors, and leaders/experts in fall 2025 provide information that may assist LSOs in responsibly integrating AI-tools into their triage and intake systems. This paper includes …

Multi-Agent Llm For Reducing Unsheltered Homelessness, Shravya Kothapalli, Samhita Juloori, Vishvaas Vasudeva Rao, Joshna Medisetty, Ahmed Hambaba

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This project examines how data science and intelligent systems can enhance homelessness prevention efforts by facilitating early identification and optimized service delivery. Using a synthesized dataset reflective of Santa Clara County populations, we developed predictive models to assess risk factors associated with homelessness, such as rent burden, employment instability, eviction notices, and chronic health conditions. These models inform a multi-agent system recommending targeted interventions across medical, food, and job resources. Our system is designed to prioritize individuals most at risk and match them with appropriate services based on availability, proximity, and personal needs. By integrating geographic data and real-time service …

Strategic Parallels: How Historic Military Tactics Inform Modern Business Strategy, Eli S. Nelson

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The field of business strategy emerged out of military strategy during the mid- twentieth century. Despite this shared DNA, the connection between the two fields has been limited to broad conceptual comparisons and abstract motivational framing. No prior research has paired a specific military history case with a specific modern business case to analyze the parallels between these disciplines in detail.

This research addresses that gap by comparing the German Blitzkrieg campaign during the 1940 invasion of France and the transformation of Ryanair in the early 1990s. Despite being separated by fifty years and operating in completely different domains, the …

Improved Efficiencies With Virtual Wound Nurse Consults: An Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement Project, Brooke M. Mock Contreras

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Abstract

Background: Completing wound care consultations using digital technology is an uncommon practice in the acute care setting. Evidence suggests that virtual wound care consultations may decrease consultation completion times and improve departmental efficiency; however, evidence specific to the acute care setting remains limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice, quality improvement project was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of implementing virtual wound care consultation in the acute care setting to improve departmental efficiency. Efficiency was measured by calculating the total time elapsed between the consultation order and consultation completion.

Methods: Guided by the Model for Improvement and …

Pathogen Characteristics Are Key Determinants Of Distinct Host Response Phenotypes Of Sepsis, Rishi Chanderraj, Sunny S. Lou, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUNDSepsis encompasses considerable biological and clinical heterogeneity. Previously, 2 phenotypes ("hyperinflammatory" and "hypoinflammatory") have been consistently identified within sepsis via latent class analysis. These phenotypes differ in their biological features, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic responses to interventions. Prior studies of sepsis heterogeneity have focused primarily on the host response. Here, we investigate the potential influence of the causative pathogen on sepsis heterogeneity and pathobiology.METHODSWe performed a retrospective observational analysis of 8,280 critically ill patients with sepsis to identify associations between pathogen characteristics and the hyperinflammatory and hypoinflammatory patient phenotypes. We also performed controlled murine and swine modeling of sepsis and …

Clinical Practice Guideline By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society: 2026 Guideline Update On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela M Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Mark I Neuman, Samir S Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

As the first part of an update to the clinical practice guideline on the management of community-acquired pneumonia in infants and children older than 3 months of age, we present six updated recommendations. The updated recommendations span the characterization and management of pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. The panel's recommendations are based on evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

2026 Clinical Practice Guideline Update By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age: The Use Of Pleural Fluid Drainage Versus Observation, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela M Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Mark I Neuman, Samir S Shah

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This paper is part of a larger clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children, developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In this paper, the panel provides recommendations for pleural fluid drainage in children (3 months to 18 years) with parapneumonic effusion and empyema. The panel's recommendations are based upon evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

2026 Clinical Practice Guideline Update By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age: The Use Of Chest Ultrasound In Children With Parapneumonic Effusion, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela M Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Samir S Shah, Mark I Neuman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This paper is part of a larger clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children, developed by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In this paper, the panel provides recommendations for the role of chest ultrasound to evaluate parapneumonic effusion and empyema. The panel's recommendations are based upon evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

2026 Clinical Practice Guideline Update By The Infectious Diseases Society Of America And The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society On The Management Of Community-Acquired Pneumonia In Infants And Children Older Than 3 Months Of Age: The Use Of Pleural Fluid Drainage Compared To Surgical Debridement, Michael D Cabana, Claudia Espinosa, Todd A Florin, Jeffrey S Gerber, Michelle Gill, Debra L Palazzi, Mark Sawyer, Angela M Statile, Derek J Williams, Sheena Patel, Samir S Shah, Mark I Neuman

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

This paper is part of a larger clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of parapneumonic effusion and empyema in children, developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. In this paper, the panel provides recommendations on the choice of pleural fluid drainage by chest tube with fibrinolysis versus mechanical debridement. The panel's recommendations are based upon evidence derived from systematic literature reviews and adhere to a standardized methodology for rating the certainty of evidence and strength of recommendation according to the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) approach.

Obesity And Suicide Behavior In Young Latina Adults Of Mexican Heritage: The Mediating Influences Of Sleep Problems, Health Problems, And Dissatisfaction With Personal Appearance, Joseph D. Hovey, Liza Talavera-Garza, Glenn Gray, Isabella A. Cruz, Nadeen Salhadar, Monica E. Ochoa

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Although research findings have indicated that obesity is associated with suicide behavior, especially in females, scant research has examined mediators in this relationship. Moreover, although suicides have increased in young Latina adults in the United States, no published studies have examined obesity and suicide risk in young Latina adults. The present study thus examined the relationship of obesity to suicide behavior in young Latina adults and assessed sleep problems, health problems, and dissatisfaction with personal appearance as possible mediators. Participants were 401 female students of Mexican heritage from South Texas who completed the National College Health Assessment II, from which …

Ephemerality As Stigma In Algorithmic Contexts: Moderation And User-Driven Deletion Of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Content On Tiktok, Valerie Vera Lookingbill, Ehsan Mohammadi Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Social media increasingly serves as important spaces for mental health information seeking and peer support, especially for individuals facing barriers to traditional care. Although nonsuicidal self-injury is frequently discussed on social media, there is limited understanding of the factors that influence the visibility of this discourse. We analyzed 973 videos related to nonsuicidal self-injury on TikTok to examine the prevalence and characteristics of posts that become unavailable (i.e., ephemeral) over time, whether due to user deletion or platform removal. Videos that used addiction-related language, included trigger warnings, or depicted scars were significantly associated with ephemerality. These findings highlight how anticipated …

Masthead & Table Of Contents, Vol. 104, No. 3

Nebraska Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sticky Science In Court, H. A. Spitzer

Nebraska Law Review

Litigation routinely employs scientific evidence to aid judicial fact-finding and decision-making. This is especially important in areas like family law, where legal standards—such as the best interests of the child—often depend in part on scientific findings. Yet the legal system’s gatekeeping doctrines (Frye, Daubert, and Federal Rule of Evidence 702) apply primarily to expert testimony, leaving other pathways through which scientific evidence reaches courts largely unchecked. These other pathways include citations in briefs and opinions to non-peer-reviewed or non-scientific sources such as law reviews, treatises, and self-published materials, which often become outdated and are not well positioned …

Wcu Digital Commons Accessibility Implementation Plan, Julia Doelling

Policy Library

No abstract provided.