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Effects Of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) And Elevated Salinity On Growth, Reproduction, And Movement Of Physa Acuta, Juana Baudrix, Andrea Rizzo, Samuel Richardson, Jason Doll, Daniel Elias

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Freshwater ecosystems face increasing threats from pollutants such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and elevated salinity. This study examined the effects of PFOA (1.69 µg/L) and elevated salinity (2.5 g/L) on Physa acuta growth, reproduction, and movement over a 21-day exposure. Movement increased across treatments, and reproductive output also increased with salinity and salinity + PFOA, with increased egg sac production in the combined treatment (p < 0.05), while PFOA alone reduced total egg production. Growth was higher with PFOA but decreased in the salinity and salinity + PFOA treatments. Our results suggest that P. acuta increases reproductive output when exposed to combined stressors, prioritizing egg sac production at the cost of movement and growth. These trade-offs may influence P. acuta population dynamics and freshwater ecosystem processes. While this study provides insights into the effects of PFOA and salinity, further research is necessary to understand the long-term ecological consequences in field conditions.

Optimal Management Of Public Energy Communities: Investment Strategies And Welfare Maximization, Dirk Bergemann, Marina Bertolini, Marta Castellini, Michele Moretto, Sergio Vergalli

Cowles Foundation Discussion Papers

A municipality (social planner) is seeking to establish a renewable energy community paying the initial investment costs, while also identifying the optimal management framework. In this context, two distinct modes of governance are analyzed: the private and the public one. In the first case, a private (or profit) aggregator oversees the energy community with a monopolistic behavior, while in the other the aggregator is a public owned, or controlled, company following the social approach advocated by the promoter, i.e the municipality. In both scenarios, the effective functioning of the community requires the collection of private data on members’ energy consumption. …

Considerations In Using Heart Rate-Based Physical Activity Estimates From Consumer Wearables In Individuals With Varying Weight Status., Denver M Y Brown, David Wing, Christopher D. Pfledderer, Peter Stoepker, Stuart J. Fairclough, Jordan A. Carlson

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Although moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is a widely used construct in physical activity (PA) research, the lack of standardized assessment methods- particularly with the growing use of consumer-grade wearable activity trackers- poses challenges for comparability. Consumer-grade devices tend to rely on heart rate (HR)-based estimation methods to classify PA intensity, which contrasts with traditional research-grade accelerometers that use count- or raw-acceleration metrics. Comparability issues are particularly salient across individuals with varying weight status. In this commentary, we discuss systematic discrepancies between HR-based (relative intensity) and acceleration-based (absolute intensity) classifications of MVPA among individuals with differing weight statuses. Using Fitbit data …

“Silent Is Not Actually Silent”: An Investigation Of Toxicity On Bug Report Discussion, Mia Mohammad Imran, Jaydeb Sarker

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Toxicity in bug report discussions poses significant challenges to the collaborative dynamics of open-source software development. Bug reports are crucial for identifying and resolving defects, yet their inherently problem-focused nature and emotionally charged context make them susceptible to toxic interactions. This study explores toxicity in GitHub bug reports through a qualitative analysis of 203 bug threads, including 81 toxic ones. Our findings reveal that toxicity frequently arises from misaligned perceptions of bug severity and priority, unresolved frustrations with tools, and lapses in professional communication. These toxic interactions not only derail productive discussions but also reduce the likelihood of actionable outcomes, …

Llput: Investigating Large Language Models For Bug Report-Based Input Generation, Alif Al Hasan, Subarna Saha, Mia Mohammad Imran, Tarannum Shaila Zaman

Computer Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Failure-inducing inputs play a crucial role in diagnosing and analyzing software bugs. Bug reports typically contain these inputs, which developers extract to facilitate debugging. Since bug reports are written in natural language, prior research has leveraged various Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques for automated input extraction. With the advent of Large Language Models (LLMs), an important research question arises: how effectively can generative LLMs extract failure-inducing inputs from bug reports? In this paper, we propose LLPut, a technique to empirically evaluate the performance of three open-source generative LLMs-LLaMA, Qwen, and Qwen-Coder-in extracting relevant inputs from bug reports. We conduct an …

Understanding User Behaviors: Impact Of A 28-Day Intervention On Screen Time And Problematic Internet Use, Cade T. Campigli

Master's Theses

This thesis examines a 28-day self-monitoring intervention to reduce problematic internet use among undergraduate Instagram users. A quasi-experimental factorial mixed design with a repeated measures component was used, with participants split into an experimental group (daily Instagram screen time logging) and a control group (reporting Instagram interactions). Problematic Internet use was measured using the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2 (GPIUS2). Results showed no reduction in problematic internet use in the experimental group compared to the control, nor a correlation between screen time changes and problematic internet use. However, the experimental group showed a modest decrease in mean screen time …

Bold New Bioweapons: Part 2 — Bold Bolstering Of Deterrence And Defense, James Giordano

Strategic Insights

This commentary, Pt. 2 of the Bold New Bioweapons series, argues that modern biological threats demand a proactive transformation of deterrence and defense strategies. Building on earlier analysis of detection and attribution challenges, Dr. Giordano asserts that emerging life sciences and related technologies, such as synthetic biology, gene editing, and AI-driven bioengineering blur distinctions between legitimate research and weaponizable capabilities. This undermines traditional deterrence frameworks. To address these complexities, the article proposes adaptive, interoperable, and ethical approaches that integrate advanced biosurveillance, precision bioinformatics, AI-enabled threat modeling, and global collaborative governance. It emphasizes the need for robust international norms and resilient …

Business And Financial Management And Audit Control For Large Research Proposals, Purdue University Office Of Research And Partnerships

University General Facility Boilerplate Descriptions

Overview of the Purdue University business, financial, and human resources operations as evidence of support for faculty to manage externally funded research.

Constitutional Futurism As Pedagogy, Jeremiah Chin

Seattle University Law Review

Constitutional Law has transformed from a course on history to a discussion of current events. Cases like Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo reveal that the study of constitutional law is not a static, or even linear, discussion of constitutional text and history. Law is a shifting, changing enterprise that reflects social constructions of power, authority, and identity. How do we teach, learn, and understand constitutional law that is so laden with history, riddled with theories of consistency and adherence to precedent, but ultimately subject …

Distributional Records Of Blanding’S Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii) In Nebraska, Sam Thede, Dan Fogell, Keith Geluso

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a species of concern in North America as many populations have declined across its distribution. Environmental factors associated with alteration of natural ecosystems have played a role in declines leading to many isolated populations. Most populations exist in the Great Lakes region with a number of outlying populations, such as Nebraska. Understanding the current distribution of the species will facilitate regional management strategies to protect this species into the future. In Nebraska, Blanding’s Turtles were known from 23 counties prior to this study. Herein, we report on eight new county records, five (Blaine, …

Simulated Walleye Responses To Various Harvest Regulations In A Nebraska Reservoir, Mikael Ranta, Melissa Wuellner, Keith D. Koupal

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

Recreational fishing provides sociological and economic benefits, and fish populations are managed by state agencies to meet angler expectations. One of the most popular species in Midwest reservoirs are walleye (Sander vitreus), and most of these fisheries have established restrictions on the number and sizes of fish harvested. Regulations are set based on population structure and dynamics and management goals, but often agencies have incomplete information needed to establish regulations. Predictive models can provide insight on population responses and inform managers of the tradeoffs between angler restrictions and population sustainability. Lake McConaughy, Nebraska, supports a popular walleye fishery. …

Linguistic Identity: An Ostensive Definition, Kiesha Martin

Dissertations (1934 -)

This dissertation offers an ostensive definition of linguistic identity illustrated through historical and literary examples, lived experience, and even public policy. Linguistic identity consists of three parts: idiolect, dialect, and linguistic agency. The idiolect is a speaker’s personal identity. The dialect is a speaker’s social identity. Linguistic agency is the synthesis of both. This is an attempt to clarify the nature of the relationship between language and the self. Linguistic identity is an aspect of identity that has received scant attention in philosophy—even amidst the focus on language and linguistic analysis in this discipline. The objective is to bring linguistic …

Magnetic Macro Pendulum Design And Real-Time Control Application: Simulation And Experiment, Hüseyi̇n Yildiz, Serdar Yilmaz, Yasemi̇n Poyraz Koçak, Erol Uzal

Turkish Journal of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences

Over the last decade, the number of studies in the field of magnetic micro robots has significantly increased due to expectations of performing microsurgery, drug delivery, and similar medical procedures. Magnetic micro robots have advantages over other types of micro robots in terms of having independent designs for rotor and stator structures. Magnetic micro robots can be controlled by magnetic fields and can be programmed to move in certain directions and to perform various functions. This paper implements the computer-aided real-time control of a single-arm micro-pendulum structure to (eventually) perform cell manipulation tasks. The mechanical structure, mathematical model, control circuit …

Immunocytochemistry Evaluation Of Fibroblast Response To Garlic (Allium Sativum) Extract Targeting Mmp9: In Vitro And In Silico Approaches, Sri Suciati Ningsih, Endah Zuraidah, Supri Irianti Handayani, Ahmad Ali Irfan Ardiansyah, Ningrum Wahyuni

Indonesian Journal of Medical Chemistry and Bioinformatics

Background: Fibrosis involves excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) playing a critical role. Natural compounds targeting MMP-9 may offer therapeutic potential. Objective: This study evaluated the antifibrotic effect of Allium sativum extract on fibroblast cells through in vitro and in silico approaches targeting MMP-9. Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts were treated with A. sativum extract (25, 50, and 100 µg/mL) for 24 and 48 hours. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay. MMP-9 expression was analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry (ICC). Major garlic compounds were docked to MMP-9 using AutoDock Vina. Results: The 50 µg/mL …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Sequence Xn+2 = Xn + Imxn+1 Where X1 And X2 Are Orthogonal In C, Ryan Avallone, David Duncan, Ogul Duncan, Prashant Sansgiry

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Metabolic Consequences Of Sleep Disorders: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Their Role In Diabetes, Victoria S. Parma

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes continues to grow globally, and more strategies are needed to combat this public health problem. Considering the link between sleep problems and risk of type 2 diabetes, the objective of this review is to discuss the experimental and epidemiological evidence underlying the link between sleep disturbances (such as insomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea), and the development of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, which are impairments that can eventually result in type 2 diabetes. In order to explore this, PubMed and Google Scholar were utilized to find pertinent peer-reviewed publications, reviews, and …

Analysis Of A Saline Dust Storm From The Aralkum Desert – Part 2: Atmospheric Flow Precursors In The Euro-Atlantic Region, Xin Xi

Michigan Tech Publications

Wind-blown dust emissions from the man-made Aralkum Desert pose significant environment and human health risks across Central Asia. Yet, little is known about the atmospheric circulation patterns favoring dust outbreaks from the region. This study examines the role of upstream atmospheric blocking and recurrent transient Rossby wave packets (RWPs) in initiating a severe dust storm from the Aralkum Desert in May 2018. Results show that the dust event was triggered by an unusual early-summer cold air outbreak and attendant postfrontal northerly winds reaching 24–31 m/s. The compound cold air and dust outbreaks were preceded by repeated meridional flow amplification linked …

High Spatial Resolution Crop Type And Land Use Land Cover Classification Without Labels: A Framework Using Multi-Temporal Planetscope Images And Variational Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model, Minh Tri Le

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Previous studies often combined high spatial resolution data (e.g., PlanetScope) with wider spectral range data (e.g., Sentinel-2) and relied on supervised classification methods to produce land use and land cover (LULC) maps. This study proposed a new unsupervised framework to generate crop type and LULC maps at high spatial resolution (< 5 m) using available PlanetScope data solely without requiring ground truths. We used PlanetScope surface reflectance images and their derived spectral indices during growing seasons to create multi-temporal input features, which were fed into an unsupervised Variational Bayesian Gaussian Mixture Model (VBGMM). The VBGMM, unlike the traditional unsupervised classification methods, (1) first estimated optimal parameters that are most suitable based on the input features and then (2) assigned pixels to the cluster with maximum posteriori probability of a mixture of several Gaussian distributions. The crop type and LULC maps were then generated by labeling the derived clusters using the best possible assignment method, referring to the existing crop type or LULC products. We evaluated the produced PlanetScope-based crop type and LULC maps using true labels, corresponding reference maps, and other unsupervised classification methods. The results demonstrated the robustness and effectiveness of the proposed framework in mapping crop types and LULC at 3–5 m pixels across various ecosystems, climate zones, and human-managed landscapes. The spatial patterns of PlanetScope-based maps were (1) highly comparable with all the reference datasets at 10–30 m spatial resolution and (2) better than the traditional GMM and K-means clustering methods. The VBGMM produced classification maps with high confidence, yielding class probabilities above 0.9 for over 90 % of all study areas. The area percentage for all crop type and LULC classes agreed well with their reference maps, with R2 of 0.95 and RMSE of 1.04 %. The confusion matrices using true labels indicated that PlanetScope-based maps achieved a higher overall accuracy of 84 % than the supervised referenced maps of 81 %. Besides, the entropy comparison showed that our framework-based maps were better at capturing fine-scale features such as developed areas within cities that commonly mix with open space and vegetation, deforestation and cropland conversion in South America, smallholder croplands in Africa and Asia, and generating homogeneous crop fields in North America. This study further highlighted the potential for future research to implement our proposed framework to generate timely and extensive annotated datasets, which can be used for operationally training machine learning models to map crop types and LULC, track deforestation, detect wildfires, and delineate flooded areas at larger scales using medium/coarse Earth observations.

Factors Influencing Information And Accessibility Of Tuberculosis Prevention Services Among Nomadic Fulani And Host Communities, Nigeria, Abolaji Azeez, Kabiru Salami

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Despite efforts to curtail tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria, the country has not yet attained the global target. This study explored the dynamics of access to information about TB control and prevention among nomadic Fulani and their host communities. We used a mixed-methods approach and multistage sampling technique to recruit 812 respondents for the survey, and we conducted 18 in-depth interviews across six local government areas. The results indicated generally low access to TB information and services, with only 2% of nomadic Fulani engaging in TB prevention activities compared to 6.7% of host community members. Yoruba respondents had significantly higher odds …

Enhancing Public Transit By Integrating On-Demand And Fixed Route Transit Services: A Focus On Implementation, Adaption, Equity, And Acceptance, Avani Aravind

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

As cities seek to build inclusive, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems, the integration of on-demand mobility services with traditional fixed-route transit (FRT) offers a promising solution to enhance coverage and connectivity. However, challenges persist in evaluating the cost-effectiveness, accessibility, and user acceptance of such integrated systems. This dissertation presents a comprehensive, three-part framework that addresses these gaps by (1) developing a simulation-based, pre-implementation cost evaluation model, (2) assessing the accessibility and equity outcomes of integrated systems, and (3) exploring the effectiveness of behavioral nudges in influencing transit adoption. The first study introduces an agent-based simulation model to evaluate generalized system …

House Finches Lose Feeding Preferences During Infection: Behavioral Changes With Implications For Pathogen Spread, Francis Edward Tillman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Foraging is a fundamental behavior that animals use to acquire food resources. Because these resources are critical for survival and reproduction, animals are often thought to forage optimally, maximizing resource intake per unit of time. While the foraging behaviors of healthy animals often align with such predictions, we know little about how or if these predictions hold true in sick animals. This is especially relevant when considering sickness behaviors, or changes in behavior that accompany infection and frequently include lethargy and anorexia, both of which may alter foraging decisions or ability. Because food resources often cause animals to aggregate, a …

Do Mergers Drive Smbh-Galaxy Coevolution? Comparison Of Feeding And Feedback In Single And Dual Agn, Mason Ruby

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

While super massive black holes (SMBHs) are known to exist at the center of all massive galaxies, we have yet to understand the processes by which gas flows from kpc scales to within pcs of the SMBH, thereby accreting and triggering an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Additionally, while AGN-driven feedback in the form of kpc-scale winds and jets is induced to explain the observed excess quenching of star-formation, the mechanisms of AGN-driven feedback and its relevance compared to star-formation-driven feedback are not well understood. AGN feeding and feedback are instrumental to SMBH-galaxy coevolution, and determining the processes involved is imperative …

Urban Landscape Recovery And Lulc Analysis: A Deep Learning Approach To Post-Extreme Rainfall Impacts In Dubai, Xin Hong

All Works

From April 14 to 18, 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced its heaviest rainfall in 75 years, resulting in widespread flooding across multiple emirates, including Dubai. This study utilizes high-resolution PlanetScope imagery and a U-Net deep learning model to assess the flood impact and analyze post-rainfall recovery patterns in Dubai’s urban landscape. By integrating Sentinel-2derived land use and land cover (LULC) data to refine the training dataset, a high-accuracy U-Net model was developed through transfer learning that effectively classified pre- and post-rainfall LULC. Post-rainfall LULC change detections indicate that 23.8 km² of land was flooded, which is equivalent …

Representing Foreign Husbands: A Comparative Study Of Narrative Styles In My Neighbor, Charles, Fadhila Hasby

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study investigates the representation of foreign husbands in South Korean television by analyzing the reality TV show *My Neighbor, Charles*, which features intermarried couples of Korean women and foreign men. It examines the narrative patterns associated with white and non-white foreign husbands. Utilizing the three-act narrative structure theory as an analytical framework, Stuart Hall's concepts of representation and Dyer's work on Whiteness, this research reveals how Korean media, particularly television, reflects unbalanced and racially biased portrayals of foreign husbands. Such unequal representations not only illustrate the practice of racism within the Korean context but also shed light on how …

“Gue Lo”: Form Of Address As A Strategy For Negotiating Cultural Identity, Dwi Rahmawanto

International Review of Humanities Studies

This study examines the relationship between language choice, especially the use of the form of address gue lo, and the disclosure of the cultural identity of Javanese students at Universitas Indonesia. This study adopts a descriptive mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collected through a survey of 52 Javanese student respondents. The results indicate that most respondents used the form of address gue lo when interacting with peers from outside Java, whereas alternative forms were more commonly used with other Javanese students. Correlation tests revealed a negative relationship between the intensity of gue lo usage and the desire …

Advertising Appeals Through Instagram Caption Code Switching, Irma Aulia Irawan, Myrna Laksman-Huntley

International Review of Humanities Studies

The COVID-19 disease required everyone to go into lockdown. All activities and communications were carried out through mobile devices, driving online content consumption to double. The Instagram app, which is part of social media, increased its visits by 43 percent during the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. As users turn to social media, influencers are emerging as figures in shaping online interactions and trends. One of the popular French influencers is Léna Mahfouf (@lenamahfouf). As a global fashion influencer, Mahfouf often uses English transitions in her captions. This qualitative research will identify the types of code-switching found with Poplack's theory …

Effectiveness Of Vaginal Magnesium Sulfate On Pain And Labor Duration: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Somayeh Makvandi, Elham Manouchehri, Mahdieh Razi, Samaneh Alinejad Mofrad, Mona Larki

Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vaginal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) administration during labour. A comprehensive search was conducted across six databases up to 30 July 2024, and updated on 13 January 2025, with no restrictions on time, language, or geographical region. The risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADEpro. A total of seven randomised controlled trials were included. The meta-analysis demonstrated that topical magnesium sulfate significantly increased cervical dilatation by 2.27 cm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.98 to 2.56; PPP

Synthesizing Co-Reading Behaviors: Insights From Graduate Students’ Experience And A Rapid Scoping Review, Watcharasak Sudla, Wannee Kaemkate

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: Collaborative reading of research articles is essential for graduate students to develop academic reading skills through peer engagement in knowledge sharing, reflection, and feedback. However, limited information exists about the behaviors indicative of co-reading practices. This study aims to identify behavioral indicators and social participation in students’ co-reading of research articles.

Methods: In this study, we integrated key behavioral indicators of co-reading based on data from interviews with 23 graduate students and a rapid scoping review. The collected data were then subjected to content analysis and data visualization.

Results: The findings categorize individuals involved in co-reading into six groups: …

Effect Of Parental Support On Learning Engagement In Mathematics Online Learning Environment: The Mediating Role Of Online Self-Regulated Learning Strategies, Malathi Letchumanan, Sharifah Kartini Said Husain, Ahmad Fauzi Mohd Ayub

Higher Learning Research Communications

This study examines the effects of parental support on learning engagement and the mediating roles of self-regulated learning (SRL) in mathematics online learning environments. A sample of 112 undergraduate students from the mathematics departments of two public universities in Malaysia participated in the study. We analyzed the data using descriptive analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), and the study findings indicate that parental support significantly predicts online self-regulated learning (OSRL). In addition, OSRL is a significant predictor of students’ engagement. The results also suggest that OSRL fully mediates the relationship between parental support and learning engagement. However, …