Digital Commons Network^™

58(3) Front Matter

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

(How) Is Plea Bargaining Justified?, Palma Paciocco

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Rights, Contract, And Consideration In The Civil Law And Common Law Traditions, Stéphane Sérafin

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Some Conditions Apply: Domesticating Aboriginal Title, Kerry Wilkins

UBC Law Review

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Pv Solar Array Design By Analysis Of The Industrial And Training Assessment Center (Itac) Database, Angel Samuel Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Since 2017, the Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) at UTRGV has included photovoltaic (PV) system evaluations in its industrial energy assessments. A review of these reports showed inconsistencies in PV system design, including variations in sizing methods, performance assumptions, and application of NEC requirements. To address these issues, this thesis develops a standardized and NEC-compliant methodology for designing PV systems, incorporating demand-based sizing, solar-geometry principles, and electrical calculations guided by NEC Articles 690 and 705.

This thesis focuses on demand-based PV system sizing and incorporates NEC-guided electrical design to ensure technical compliance and safety. System performance is evaluated using …

The Unilateral Neuromuscular Effects Of Cross Education Eccentric-Focused Isokinetic Strength Training With Blood Flow Restriction In Sedentary And Recreationally Active Males, Bryan Mixumi

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if BFR unilateral training protocols can elicit the same or greater cross-education effect as observed with HIGH protocols.

RESULTS: Significant time main effects and trained vs. untrained interactions revealed both training groups improved in isometric and isokinetic strength, work and power across limbs (P < 0.05). EMG analyses showed significant increases in vastus lateralis activation, with limb-specific neural adaptations but no group differences (P < 0.05) suggesting potential cross-education influence in the lower musculature.

CONCLUSION: With lower workloads, the BFR training protocols produced improvements in isometrics and isokinetic strength, work, power, and EMG that were comparable to those of the HIGH group across the trained and untrained limbs. The magnitude and limb-specific patterns varied across isometric, isokinetic, and EMG variables, but …

Performance Assessment Of Reconditioned Freight Rail Bearings Using Eddy Current Array For Enhanced Nondestructive Inspection, Eduardo Miranda

Theses and Dissertations

In North America, freight bearings removed from service must undergo a reconditioning process in accordance with Association of American Railroads recommended guidelines before reuse, with approximately 80% having been reconditioned at least once. This process includes bearing inspection, where repairable defects may be refurbished and returned to service with an extended performance range of 50,000 to 250,000 miles. Motivated by this extensive range in performance, researchers at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety, in collaboration with MxV Rail, utilized a nondestructive evaluation method to enhance the reconditioning inspection process. An Eddy Current Array (ECA) was applied to bearing cup …

Modern Water And Sediment Transport Patterns In Alluvial Ridge Basins Of The Rio Grande Delta, South Texas, Usa, Waqid Nabi

Theses and Dissertations

Alluvial ridge (AR) basins are shallow, marine-influenced depressions within river deltas, yet their flow and sediment dynamics remain poorly understood. This study examines hydrodynamics and sediment transport patterns in the Bahia Grande Complex, which are AR basins of the Rio Grande Delta, using tilt current meters, water-level and turbidity loggers, and suspended and bed-sediment sampling. The AR basins function as wind-dominated, microtidal environments, where pre-existing basin geometry and hydrodynamic forcings control water flow and sediment distribution patterns. Seasonal wind patterns and storms modulate water levels and flow connectivity. Substrate patterns reflect frequent resuspension in the shallow northern basin, maintaining coarse …

Hiring Expectations For New And Future Workers In Animal Genetics Careers, Meghan C. Wulster-Radcliffe, James N. Macleod, Robert J. Coleman, John S. Radcliffe, Rebekah B. Epps, Carol D. Hanley, Cheyenne S. Summers, Steven A. Zinn, Sarah A. Reed

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

To better align educational outcomes with workforce demands in animal and equine genetics, this study surveyed 65 industry professionals on entry-level competencies, hiring trends, and graduate preparedness of undergraduate students. The survey assessed employer ratings on the importance and perceived proficiency of seven core competencies: critical thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, professionalism, career/self-development, and equity/inclusion, as well as technical knowledge and broader skills relevant to animal breeding and genetics. Results revealed oral communication, teamwork, and work ethic were rated as the most critical transferable skills, though notable proficiency gaps persist, particularly in leadership and professionalism. Foundational technical knowledge in genetics, molecular …

Integrating Eem Fluorescence Spectroscopy With Machine And Deep Learning Models For Multi-Output Prediction Of Fish Freshness, Yanwei Fan, Zengtao Ji, Chuanheng Sun, Daming Xu, Xinting Yang, Ce Shi, Hongbing Fan

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

A precise and real-time assessment of the freshness of aquatic products during storage can effectively reduce economic losses and food safety problems. This study developed a novel multi-output freshness monitoring model integrating excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy with two machine learning (ML) and one deep learning (DL) approach to simultaneously predict freshness indices and classify freshness stages. We Utilized bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) andrainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), to predict TVB-N, K value, and TVC freshness indices via PCA-RF regression, achieving R² = 0.85-0.98 and RMSE = 0.23-3.63 significantly outperforming PARAFAC-SVR/RF and PCA-SVR; classify freshness into fresh, sub_fresh, and rot stages …

Protein Structural Modeling Explains Rapid Oxidation In Poultry And Fish Myoglobins Compared To Livestock Myoglobins, Greeshma Sreejesh, Surendranath P. Suman, Gretchen G. Mafi, Morgan M. Pfeiffer, Ranjith Ramanathan

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: This study aimed to investigate rapid oxidation in poultry and fish myoglobin compared to livestock myoglobin using protein structural differences and bioinformatics tools. Methods: Myoglobins from beef (Bos taurus), bison (Bos bison), sheep (Ovis aries), goat (Capra hircus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), pork (Sus scrofa), chicken (Gallus gallus), turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were analyzed to understand differences in structure and function that may influence oxidative behavior. Results: Fish and poultry had shorter or absent D-helix in their myoglobin structure than other species. Tilapia showed the largest heme cavity surface area, indicating significant …

Seasonal And Diurnal Variation In Forage Nutritive Value Of Cool-Season Grasses As Predicted By Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (Nirs), Ann Marie C. Riley, Isabelle A. Kagan, Brittany E. Davis, Laurie M. Lawrence, Chris D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

A better understanding of seasonal and diurnal variation in forage nutritive value may help to maximize protein intake and digestibility for grazing livestock. Forage nutritive value was evaluated in four cool-season grasses common to Kentucky pastures: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.; OG), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. ssp. perenne; PRG), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.; KBG), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.; TF]. In 2015 and 2017, 10 cool-season grass cultivars representing four species, planted in quadruplicate (40 plots) in central Kentucky, were maintained vegetatively with 2–4 week mowing and sampled in the morning and the afternoon at the same …

Temporal Endocrine And Hematological Consequences Of Biological Extremes In Porcine Birth Weight, Alyssa A. Smith, Dayeon Jeon, Kaylyn Rudy, Sarah Innis, J. Scott Radcliffe, J. Alex Pasternak

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

To characterize the potential long-term impact of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), we assessed the endocrine and hematological consequences of IUGR at birth and in the early postnatal period. Piglets (n = 911) were collected pre-suckling, weighed, and blood sampled, with rectal temperatures assessed two hours later, and sampling repeated at 20 days of age (D20). A subset of piglets was classified as IUGR (n = 92) or large for gestational age (LGA; n = 92) based on birthweight. At birth, IUGR piglets had decreased T3 and T4 relative to LGA, which may be associated with concomitantly decreased rectal temperatures. T4 …

Career Readiness Competencies Among First-Generation Undecided Students And Their Parents In The United States, Nicole M. Kotlan, Evan W. Faidley

Journal of Global Education and Research

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between first-generation status and the value of career readiness competencies of first-generation undecided students (n = 106) and their parents (n = 178), explored through social cognitive career theory and Bourdieu’s theory of habitus and social and cultural capital. A non-experimental design using a non-random sample revealed, through an independent t-test, statistically significant differences in global/intercultural competency among students based on their first-generation status. The results of a multiple linear regression analysis suggest that parents’ values are associated with students’ values and professionalism/work ethic; however, no relationship was …

A Secret Society Of Readers: College-Age Mentors’ Literacy Experiences With Young Adolescent Mentees, Lindsay Persohn, Dulcey B. Hunter, Chelsea Rivera, Karyn Z. Mendez, Cheryl R. Ellerbrock, Lucy Monette

Journal of Global Education and Research

This study occurred within Year One and Year Two of an ongoing literacy initiative designed to build reader identities among underserved middle school students. Using a near-peer mentoring model, mentees were paired with college-student mentors to interact weekly around books and reading. Reader interests and identities are influenced by affective and relational approaches through mentored reading experiences and a variety of texts. This qualitative case study (n = 11 of 24 Year One and n = 13 of 37 Year Two mentors) aimed to identify the ways mentor/mentee relationships affect reader interests, attitudes, and skills, and to evaluate the …

Exploring The Foundational Pillars Of The International Baccalaureate (Ib) Through Pre-Service Teacher Experiences During B.Ed. Practica, Cody Alderson, Mark Hirschkorn

Journal of Global Education and Research

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is experiencing rapid growth, resulting in demand for IB teachers in both public and independent schools. Since teaching IB requires specific knowledge of the language and pedagogy of the IB programmes, initial teacher education programs are well-positioned to prepare pre-service teachers to teach IB. This paper shares the results of a study conducted following the completion of an IB Educator Certificate by pre-service teachers attending a Canadian initial teacher education program, where their experiences during practica in mostly public IB schools were reflected upon and documented in relation to IB philosophy. Several themes were identified and …

Examining Grade 10 Students’ Ict Utilization In Bhutan, Gembo Tshering, Thinley Phuntsho

Journal of Global Education and Research

In today’s educational landscape, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) presents immense potential for reshaping pedagogical practices and equipping students with essential skills for the digital era. This study delves into assessing Grade 10 students’ ICT proficiency in Bhutan, a nation renowned for its dedication to Gross National Happiness (GNH) and sustainable development. The study also explores affective factors, including attitudes and confidence. Despite strides in promoting digital literacy and widening access to ICT resources, challenges persist in ensuring equitable access and meaningful utilization of technology, particularly at the secondary education level. Through a thorough analysis of survey data collected from …

Internationalization Of Indian Higher Education: Mapping The Origins And Academic Choices Of International Students, Sanjeev Kumar Jha

Journal of Global Education and Research

This study explores the geographical origins, academic preferences, and key factors influencing the enrollment of international students in Indian higher education institutions. Drawing on primary data from interviews with 25 international students and secondary data from All India Survey on Higher Education reports, it provides an in-depth analysis of student mobility trends and factors shaping their choices. The results indicate that the international student enrollment is significantly below the Indian government’s target of 500,000 by 2024. Students come from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nigeria, with Karnataka and Punjab emerging as the most preferred states within India. Engineering, particularly …

Uncertainty Estimation For Graph-Based Learning In Digital Pathology, Saba Heidari Gheshlaghi, Nasim Yahyasoltani, Masoud Ganji

Computer Science Faculty Research and Publications

High-resolution digital scans of pathology slides, known as whole slide images (WSIs), have detailed spatial and contextual information for diagnosing cancer. However, the classification performance of WSIs by deep learning models is typically compromised by data with a different distribution, known as out-of-distribution (OOD), resulting in unreliable predictions. Therefore, having a reliable predictive uncertainty estimation is crucial for clinical adoption. This article comprehensively studies graph-based uncertainty estimation for WSI classification using two cutting-edge graph neural network (GNN) architectures: 1) graph attention networks (GAT); and 2) GraphSAGE. In this work, we introduce the first unified multihead GNN framework that leverages GraphSAGE …

From Student Project To Research Agenda: How Libraries Facilitate Gis Education And Collaboration, Charidy Paige, Jeanine Finn

Library Staff Publications and Research

Geographic information systems (GIS) have been a tool and methodology deeply
intertwined with academic libraries since the initial efforts of ARL and ESRI to support the development of map librarians into geospatial data experts in the early 1990s.
Although GIS in libraries has been a source of successful collaborations, the demands are often overwhelming for library staff. Over time, the scale, formats, and methods of data sharing have evolved significantly, requiring skills beyond many traditional library competencies.

Examining The Relationship Between Title 14 Code Of Federal Regulations (Cfr) Part 147 Maintenance School Aviation Maintenance Technician (Amt) Instructor Experience And Instructor Pass Rates For Airmen Certification Standards (Acs) Element Subject Areas, Richard Lyman Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) instructor experience and student pass rates in 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance schools. Data were collected from February to August 2025 using purposive and snowball sampling, which yielded 67 complete responses. Instructor experience, measured in months of A&P-rated maintenance work prior to teaching, ranged from 1 to 684 months (M = 253.54, SD = 197.97). Student pass rates, defined as the proportion of students passing ACS element subject area courses, ranged from .52 to 1.00 (M = .95, SD = .07). Most instructors were male, White, over 50 …

The Transition Zone Hypothesis On Biodiversity Of The Indian River Lagoon System, Florida, Richard L. Turner

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Indian River Lagoon System (IRL) is regarded as having a high level of biodiversity. The level of biodiversity is often attributed in part to the 2-degree latitudinal span (251 km) of the IRL and to its position in a transitional zone between tropical and temperate biotic provinces. This hypothesis was tested for submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) based on a recent treatise (Littler, Littler, and Hanisak, 2008). Five of seven species of seagrass are tropical, and two have either a broad or very narrow latitudinal distribution; the transition-zone hypothesis does not hold for seagrasses. Most macroalgae (131 spp.) are tropical/subtropical; …

Evaluation Of Ramp Instead Of Forage During Grain Adaptation And Different Sorghum Varieties On Enteric Methane Production From Cattle, Jack T. Fort

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of RAMP (Cargill Corn Milling, Blair, Nebraska) compared with traditional forage-based adaptations on methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, performance, and carcass characteristics. Experiment 1, 64 yearling British × Continental steers (initial BW = 423 ± 6 kg) were adapted using 100% RAMP (RAMP) or a traditional forage diet (CON; 43% forage) before transitioning 22 d to a common finishing diet containing 65.6% steam-flaked corn. Emissions were measured in paired replications using a two-chamber indirect calorimetry barn. During adaptation RAMP did not affect CH₄ production (g/d; …

Impact Of Constant Versus Variable Inclusions Of Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles On Feedlot Cattle Performance And Carcass Characteristics And Impact Of The Frequency Of Varying Modified Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusions In Feedlot Diets On Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Feeding Behavior, And Ruminal Ph Of Finishing Steers, Paige M. Madison

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Inconsistent availability or supply of distillers grains (DGS) can cause more variation in DGS inclusions throughout the feeding period. Two feedlot experiments evaluated the effects of varying inclusions of modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) in feedlot diets. Beef steers (n = 400; initial BW = 287) were used in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial experiment with treatments including: control with no MDGS compared to 2 inclusions (10% and 25%) of MDGS diet inclusions fed consistently or variably. No interactions were observed between MDGS consistency and inclusion for any performance or carcass characteristics (P > 0.10), so …

Integrating Innovative Sensing And Ground Measurements For Forage Mass Estimation In Rye Pasture, Pedro Henrique Jota Fernandes

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The United States beef industry relies on forages to provide up to 80% of total lifetime dry matter intake, making accurate forage mass estimation essential for determining stocking rates, improving grazing efficiency, and supporting economic sustainability. Traditional methods to quantify forage mass, however, are time-consuming and labor-intensive. This thesis presents research efforts to achieve accurate forage mass estimation in cereal rye pasture by integrating novel sensing technologies.

Chapter 1 reviews the importance and evolution of forage mass estimation methods, from destructive clipping to indirect approaches based on canopy measurements. It then introduces remote sensing, from proximal tools to drone- and …

Investigation Of Changes In Exotic Bird Serum Vitamin D Levels Between Indoor And Outdoor Housing, Alexander J. Marley

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is directly related to sunlight and is involved in multiple physiological processes including calcium metabolism, feather quality, and chick development. Most vertebrate species are capable of both absorption of exogenous vitamin D and internal synthesis of vitamin D, with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), being more accessible and bioactive in bird species. In exotic bird species, dietary requirements for vitamin D3 are largely unknown, and the ability to maintain adequate serum concentrations of vitamin D3 metabolites without direct sunlight exposure also requires evaluation. Concerns arise in situations where individuals may be housed indoors for extended …

Llm-Driven Semantic Explanations For Soil Moisture Prediction Models, Bamory Ahmed Toru Koné, Khouloud Boukadi, Rima Grati, Emna Ben Abdallah, Massimo Mecella

All Works

Efficient soil moisture prediction is crucial for sustainable agricultural practices, especially in the face of climate change and increasing water scarcity. However, the adoption of machine learning (ML) models in this context is frequently limited by their lack of interpretability, particularly among non-expert users such as farmers. This study proposes a novel approach to soil moisture prediction that combines high predictive performance with enhanced explainability. We propose a framework that leverages large language models (LLMs) to generate textual explanations based on a proposed irrigation and soil moisture ontology, thus making the model's predictions more understandable to farmers. The ontology formalizes …

Atheist Values And The Religious Other: Negotiating Morality In Indonesia, Malaysia, And The Philippines, Timo Duile, Prince Kennex R. Aldama

Antropologi Indonesia

As being religious is often seen in religious societies as a precondition for having values, atheists often face prejudice as they are seen as people without values. However, as they conceptualize and construct their values with and against the religious other, they are part of society as an arena in which what counts as values is constantly negotiated. Drawing on David Graeber’s concept of society as an arena for the realization of value production, this article sheds light on the values of atheists in religious plural societies in Southeast Asia, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It analyzes how atheism …

Advancing Environmental Sustainability In The Uae: The Interplay Of Women’S Empowerment, Financial Development, And Natural Resource Management, Suzanna Elmassah, Eslam A. Hassanein

All Works

This study addresses a critical gap in the literature by exploring the intricate relationships between women’s empowerment, financial development, and natural resource management within the context of environmental sustainability in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Utilizing the Women, Business, and Law Index to quantify women’s socioeconomic empowerment alongside the ecological footprint as a metric for environmental sustainability, this study employs an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to analyze data from 1990 to 2021. The findings reveal that women’s empowerment exerts a significant positive effect on environmental sustainability in both the short and long term. While financial development and natural resource …

Genomic And Functional Characterisation Of Endophytic Bacterium Bacillus Cereus Strain E1 Alleviating Salt Stress And Enhancing Tomato Physiology And Spectral Indices, Balamurugan Sadaiappan, Tanveer Alam Khan, Qurban Ali, Sulamita Santos Correa, Mahideen Afridi, Soumaya Tounsi Hammami, Munawwar Ali Khan, Sunil Mundra

All Works

Mangroves in arid environments represent unique ecological niches that support a diverse range of microorganisms. Endophytic bacteria residing within host plants play a crucial role in promoting plant growth by enhancing pathogen resistance and alleviating environmental stress. Identifying novel stress-tolerant strains, specific to arid environments, is essential for expanding the repertoire of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB). In this study, we investigated the saline tolerance of the endophytic bacterium strain E1, previously isolated from the root of Avicenna marina (grey mangrove). Whole-genome sequence (WGS), phylogenetics and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis were performed. The strain exhibited high salinity tolerance, growing in …