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Lipid Membranes-Mediated Self-Assembly Of Janus Polymer-Grafted Nanoparticles, Jordan Darling

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Recent studies have extensively explored the interactions between nanoparticles (NPs) and lipid membranes. The fluidity and elasticity of lipid membranes allow them to deform and conform to the surface of adhering nanoparticles, with the extent of deformation determined by the competition between adhesive interactions and the membrane’s curvature elasticity. An interesting consequence of these deformations is the emergence of long-range, membrane-curvature-mediated interactions between adhering NPs. Previous research have shown that surface modification of NPs into Janus nanoparticles, composed of one moiety that preferentially adheres to lipid membranes and the other that is hydrophilic and interacts repulsively with the membrane, can …

Homocysteine Thiolactone From Translation Proofreading Is An Endogenous Ligand For Cell-Cell Signaling By The Receptor Sdia, Lorenzo Eugenio Leiva, Roberto A. Zúñiga, Gregory J. Phillips, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Several widespread mechanisms enable cellular communication and coordinate the behavior of bacterial populations. The modules responsible for cellular communication are often found in matching pairs: an enzyme that synthesizes a signal molecule and a specific receptor that decodes it. A notable exception is Escherichia coli SdiA, a homolog of known N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) receptors, for which no corresponding AHL synthase exists. SdiA is an orphan receptor that enables cross-talk by sensing AHLs from other bacterial species. In this work, we investigated whether homocysteine thiolactone (HTL), an AHL-like molecule arising from a proofreading reaction of methionyl tRNA synthetase (MetRS) to correct …

Strong Job Markets Don’T Just Raise Pay, They Improve Job Quality, Brad J. Hershbein, Katherine Lim, Douglas Webber, Mike Zabek

Upjohn Institute Policy and Research Briefs

No abstract provided.

Fly Density At Trash Disposal Sites As An Environmental Bioindicator Using Fly Grill, Fly Spot Card, And Fly Sticky Paper, Tri Ilmanisa, Susi Soviana, Supriyono Supriyono

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

Flies are synanthropic insects of public health importance commonly found at trash disposal sites (TDS). Poor waste management promotes fly breeding, increases the risk of disease transmission, reflects low sanitation, and serves as an environmental bioindicator. Studies on flies at TDS in university campus environments in West Java, Indonesia, remain limited, particularly with respect to species composition, fly density, and the use of different density measurement methods. Fly density monitoring in Indonesia still relies on the fly grill method under Ministry of Health Regulation No. 2 of 2023, although alternative tools, such as fly spot cards and fly sticky paper …

Ohio Beef Quality Audit – 2021: Survey Of Carcass Characteristics Related To Quality Attributes And The Investigation Of Meat Processor Needs, Bo M. C. Garcia, Benjamin M. Bohrer, Stephen Boyles, Joy N. Rumble, Alejandro E. Relling, Lyda G. Garcia

Journal of Extension

While beef quality audits have been conducted on a national level in the United States every 5 years since 1991, state-level audits are uncommon. Our team believed that Ohio beef producers would benefit from a state-level audit, so in 2021 we developed and conducted an Ohio Beef Quality Audit, evaluating Ohio meat processing facilities and assessing Ohio meat processors' needs and views on factors that influence meat quality. This paper details the results of that audit, which demonstrated that Ohio beef quality was similar to national beef quality; our audit also highlighted the need to increase fundamental meat science education …

Extension's Role In Creating Wide Bridges Between Communities And Campus, Jentry Stoneman Barrett, Karly Black, Carrie L. Gottschalk

Journal of Extension

Cooperative Extension System educators empower their communities to meet the challenges they face by translating research-based work for the general public and then bringing that work to those who can put knowledge into practice. However, the assets and needs of communities are broader than those addressed by Extension. Often, the university can offer more resources when it has a mechanism to understand the community's assets and needs. This article details how Nebraska Extension has activated its Engagement Zone Coordinators and community network to provide more opportunities for faculty, staff, postdocs, and students to engage in community-based work.

Becoming Beyond Ready: Determining Staffing Levels For The 4-H Program To Achieve Opportunity For All Youth, Jeremy Elliott-Engel

Journal of Extension

4-H seeks to expand opportunity and access for all youth, yet little guidance exists regarding the staffing levels required to achieve that goal. In this commentary, I examine staffing ratios as a measure of organizational capacity and propose discussion of a framework based on the ratio of 4-H professionals to potential youth participants rather than current enrollment. I argue that staffing decisions should move beyond historical staffing patterns and budget constraints and should account for population size, density, and community characteristics. This framework is intended to stimulate discussion about strategic staffing approaches that support sustainability and/or growth of the 4-H …

Oral Testimony; Public Hearing On Proposed Regulations Reg-117270-25: Trump Accounts, Jin Huang

Center for Social Development Research

Regulations proposed in March 2026 by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service would provide guidance on enrollment for Trump Accounts. This Testimony presents a statement given on those proposals by Co-Director Jin Huang in a hearing before officials of the Treasury and IRS on July 16, 2026. In the statement, Huang discusses automatic enrollment and automatic deposits into Trump Accounts, state authority concerning enrollment provisions, and the exclusion of Trump Account assets from means tests in eligibility determinations for public benefits.

How Children Recognize Emotions: Familiarity, Emotional Information Processing, And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Katy Wagner Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The ability to identify facial emotional cues is an important nonverbal communicative skill that may be impaired in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), although prior research has produced inconsistent findings regarding the nature and extent of these impairments. The present study examined facial emotion recognition (FER) abilities in 105 children aged 3 to 8 years, including 32 children with ASD and 73 typically developing (TD) children. Relationships between FER performance and resting-state electroencephalographic (EEG) activity were explored in a smaller subsample. The study investigated effects of emotion type, facial familiarity, emotional intensity, and stimulus presentation format (dynamic versus static) …

Enhancement Of A Copolyester’S Impact Resistance Via Inorganic Reinforcement, David Felipe Gonzalez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPEEs) are widely used in engineering applications because of their flexibility, toughness, and chemical resistance. However, prolonged exposure to marine environments can reduce their mechanical performance through moisture-induced degradation. This research investigated the use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and APTES-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticles to improve the mechanical, thermal, and environmental durability of Hytrel 5556. Nanocomposites containing 1 wt.% and 2 wt.% TiO2 were fabricated through melt blending and compression molding. Mechanical properties were evaluated through tensile, compression, flexural, and impact testing, while thermal behavior was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Nanoparticle dispersion was examined using scanning …

Exploring The Role Of Novel Salmonella Toxins, Pltc And Pltab, By Molecular Cloning, Pilar Cerecedes, Noah Souza, Juliette Tinker

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Infections caused by Salmonella have a significant impact on the health of humans and livestock. Livestock infected with or carrying this bacterium pose a transmission risk to humans through contaminated meat, eggs, and dairy products, while infections in cattle negatively affect animal health and production. AB5-type toxins, made up of multiple subunits, are commonly found in gram-negative bacteria and are key virulence factors contributing to pathogenesis in eukaryotic hosts. Our lab is exploring Salmonella strains containing gene sequences indicating the presence of novel Typhi toxin-like proteins. These toxins include the PltC and pseudo A toxin subunits and the PltAB toxin. …

Parenting In The Digital Age: Urban Parents' Perspectives Of Children's Engagement With Xr And Ai Technologies, Tenneh Kanneh, Meherunnesa Tania, Samjhana Pokharel, Jerry Fails

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Extended Reality (XR), including Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality, together with rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence (AI), is creating immersive technologies with unprecedented and unpredictable implications for children. As these systems become more integrated into learning, play, and social environments, establishing ethical guidance before widespread adoption is essential. This project investigates two core questions: “What ethical concerns do stakeholders identify regarding children’s research and use of XR/AI?” and “How do these concerns vary across youth populations and contexts?” Using an anticipatory and participatory approach, I’m conducting a series of focus groups exploring potential future uses of XR/AI for children ages 5-12. …

Characterizing Mosquito Species To Understand Disease Ecology Of Gyrfalcons In Nome, Alaska, Zosha Kocemba, Annastasia Waters, Michael Henderson, Kara Beer, Travis Booms, Carly Tolle, Anna Grimstein, Stephanie J. Galla

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Climate change in the Arctic is accelerating more rapidly than the rest of the globe, changing the disease ecology within arctic systems. A prime example of this are disease carrying mosquitoes (Family: Culicidae) expanding their range and overlapping with different animal hosts. To better ascertain the changing disease ecology in the Arctic, methods to identify disease vectors—like mosquitoes—are needed to understand how this complex and shifting vector and host network will impact immunologically naive Arctic Gyrfalcons (Falco rusticolus). This ongoing study aims to identify mosquitoes collected from Gyrfalcon nests in Nome, Alaska to species level and to test …

Phenotypic Plasticity And Transpiration Patterns In Sagebrush Under Controlled Environmental Stress Conditions, Megan Marty, Paige Skinner, Peggy Martinez, Sven Buerki

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a shrub species native to the sagebrush steppe of western North America. Increasing drought and heat events, along with rising wildfire frequency, place significant stress on sagebrush populations and threaten their long‑term sustainability. Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an individual plant to modify its physiology during its lifetime in response to environmental stress, may help certain sagebrush genotypes to better tolerate these changing conditions. Phenotypic plasticity does not involve genetic change, although stress triggered physiological modifications may be inherited through epigenetic processes. Plasticity is not universal across sagebrush genotypes. The research in this lab …

Investigating Sodium Channels In Infantile Epilepsy, Madalynn Za, Rachel Grider, Olivia House, Soha Haniyyah, Daniela Francia, Colleen Murray, Lizbeth De La Cruz, James Groome

Idaho Conference on Undergraduate Research

Developmental epilepsy syndromes are severe neurological disorders that remain difficult to investigate. Many are caused by mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels, which alter channel function, disrupt neuronal excitability, and lead to abnormal electrical activity. Our research aims to develop a computational model that quantitatively predicts how sodium channel dysfunction contributes to epileptic activity in a noninvasive manner. To achieve this, we combine electrophysiological measurements of wild-type and mutant voltage-gated sodium channels obtained using the cut-open voltage-clamp technique in Xenopus oocytes expressing the corresponding channel mRNAs with immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy to optimize a primary-secondary antibody binding system and generate spatial …

Delivering Participatory Food Systems Research In Our Own Communities: Reflections About Co-Production By Community Food Researchers And Community Partners, Bramble Gardiner, Maria Roughton, Lisa Howard, Louise Hunt, Clare Pettinger, Nisa Unis

School of Health Professions

This article offers insights into delivering co-production in community settings, from the perspectives of engaged citizens and community partners. It adds to scholarship addressing epistemic justice issues that the experiences of engaged citizens are rarely explored.The engaged citizens are community collaborators in FoodSEqual (a UKRI-funded transdisciplinary project aiming to co-produce solutions to food system inequality in four UK locations). During FoodSEqual’s delivery, it became clear contextual factors and practical delivery varied. To support shared learning, an in-person reflective session was held using the ‘open space method’ (Involve, n.d) (participants: Community Food Researchers (CFRs) (n=14), community coordinators (n=6)). Four key themes …

Generative Ai In The Online Classroom: Lessons From A Plant Physiology Course, Dan Ye, Svoboda V. Pennisi, David Jespersen, Christy Rich

Michigan Tech Publications

Although the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in higher education is a reality, we are still in the early days of understanding how it can be used and applied in educational contexts. A significant gap remains in understanding its impacts within plant sciences, and in horticulture in particular. More research is needed to understand the overall impact of artificial intelligence on learning and teaching from educational perspectives, and to investigate how to integrate GenAI tools in education to ensure technology affects teaching and learning in a meaningful way on a broader scale. We investigated university students’ perceptions and uses …

Bridge Scour Analysis For Rocks: Classification, Method Selection, And Practical Case Studies, Darud E. Sheefa, Stanley Vitton, Zhen (Leo) Liu, Brian Barkdoll

Michigan Tech Publications

Despite the availability of several scour calculation methods, bridge scour analysis for scour susceptible rocks is much less understood than its counterpart for sands, because scour calculation equations were traditionally obtained using flume tests with sands. As a result, there are three major knowledge gaps in the bridge scour analysis for susceptible rocks: (1) a rock classification system is needed for scour considerations to serve as a pre-screening process before conventional scour analysis involving sampling, erodibility testing, and scour calculation, (2) there has been a lack of information to guide the scour analysis for rocks including detailed procedures, needed and …

The Perceived Professional Impact Of Exposure To Stress Experienced By Mental Health Therapists During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Bianca J. Reaves

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

COVID-19 changed the methods in which therapy was traditionally delivered. Mental health therapists switched from in-person to virtual sessions during the pandemic. There was a gap in research related to stress levels of mental health therapists in the telehealth field. Adaptations were made by mental health therapists to provide services and as a result virtual platforms were used to connect with the community served. This qualitative research study was an exploration of mental health therapists perceived responses to stress or burnout in relation to a global pandemic. The theoretical foundation used to assess perceived stress is the Stress Theory. The …

Clinical Practice Guideline To Improve Medication Adherence In Adults With Chronic Conditions In Outpatient Settings, Mulumbwa Chishimba

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Doctor of Nursing Practice project was conducted to develop and assess a clinical practice guideline (CPG) to enhance medication adherence among adult patients with chronic illnesses in an outpatient setting. Adverse health-related outcomes include worsening chronic illness and developing complications, frequent hospital admissions, and rising costs of healthcare services. While some interventions are recommended based on the available literature, most outpatient facilities do not have systematic practices for monitoring and enhancing medication adherence among patients with chronic conditions. The evidence-based question was: What evidence, based on content expert review using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II …

Bahamian Human Resource Practitioners' Perceptions Of Public Service Performance, Lanisha Tamar Rolle

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Strong, capable public service systems are essential to meeting society's needs, and perceptions of public-service performance indicate how people ultimately respond to and value public sector systems and performance. While the literature documented the perspectives of public service employees and citizens, and found that they generally believed that public service was inefficient and ineffective due to excessive bureaucracy, autocratic leadership, and political influence, little was known about the perspectives of other stakeholders who participate in or are affected by the public service performance process. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to bridge the knowledge gap by gathering Bahamian …

Gender Disparities In The United States Federal Government Stem Leadership, Naomi Hirose-Gormally

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Persistent gender disparities continue to limit women’s representation in senior science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) leadership roles within the United States federal government, particularly at the GS‑13, GS‑14, GS‑15, and subject matter expert/senior executive service (SME/SES) levels. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how women in senior STEM leadership experience and interpret gender disparities as they pursue and attain leadership positions. Data were collected through individual semi‑structured interviews with women serving in senior STEM leadership and analyzed inductively using phenomenological coding procedures to identify categories and themes that were grounded in participants’ lived experiences. …

Staff Education To Decrease Workplace Violence Through De-Escalation Training In The Emergency Department, Tyrani Anderson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Workplace violence remains a significant issue in healthcare settings, particularly in emergency departments where psychiatric patients may present with aggressive behaviors. Nurses and healthcare staff are frequently exposed to verbal threats, intimidation, and physical aggression, which negatively impact staff safety, job satisfaction, and patient care quality. Despite workplace violence prevention policies, gaps remain in staff preparedness when managing escalating patient behaviors. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to implement an evidence-based de-escalation training program to improve staff knowledge about managing aggressive psychiatric patients in the emergency department. The practice- focused question was: Can staff education on …

Examination Of Maternal Mortality, Mental Health Conditions, And Co-Occurring Factors, Laura Eileen Skaarer

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Maternal mortality (MM) continues to be a public health concern in the state of Arizona. There is little to no research investigating the relationship between MM and mental health conditions co-occurring with contributing factors among women who have died in Arizona while pregnant or within 1 year of the end of a pregnancy. The purposes of this quantitative study, guided by the three delays model (3DM), were to examine (a) MM and mental health conditions as the primary underlying cause of death; (b) MM and mental health conditions surrounding death; and (c) significant contributing factors (i.e., discrimination, knowledge, lack of …

Leadership Characteristics Driving Positive Patient Experience Outcomes In Behavioral Healthcare Organizations, Sophia Iovenitti

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patient experience is a key indicator of healthcare quality and performance; however, limited evidence exists regarding the specific leadership characteristics that influence patient experience outcomes in behavioral healthcare. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the leadership characteristics associated with positive patient experience outcomes, examine how leadership behaviors influence patient perceptions, and identify leadership development strategies to enhance patient experience. The study was guided by the Baldrige excellence framework and the Beryl Institute’s definition of patient experience. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with executive and operational leaders and triangulated with organizational artifacts, including aggregated patient …

An Exploration Of Factors Affecting Investments In Productivity Improvement, Gregory Springate

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Canada has exhibited lower productivity growth since 1990, resulting in substantially reduced gains in citizens’ standards of living despite the importance of sustainable productivity to economic prosperity. Understanding the primary factors that influence productivity growth is a critical concern for Canadian government leaders, as it is a key indicator of the nation’s economic vitality, competitiveness, and citizens’ quality of life. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the factors that influenced the investment in productivity improvement of organizations in the energy sector in the Edmonton region of Alberta, Canada. The COSO internal control framework guided this …

Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flash Following Intense Negative Return Stroke Observed With Bimap‐3d, Daniel P. Jensen, David M. Smith, Xuan-Min Shao, Jeff L. Lapierre, Jeffrey M. Chaffin

Faculty Publications

We report ground‐based observations of a terrestrial gamma‐ray flash (TGF) associated with a strong negative cloud‐to‐ground lightning strike (‐CG) which occurred near Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, USA. Gamma photons were detected by the Terrestrial High‐energy Observations of Radiation (THOR) instrument, developed at the University of California, Santa Cruz, which has been hosted at LANL since 2022. Simultaneous measurements were also made with the 3‐Dimensional Broadband Interferometric Mapping and Polarization (BIMAP‐3D) system, which includes 3D lightning mapping, two fast antennas, and an additional plastic scintillator. Additional field change waveforms were obtained from the Earth Networks Total Lightning …

Observations On Recurrent Loss In The Neural Network Model Of A Partial Differential Equation: The Advection–Diffusion Equation, Jonah A. Reeger

Faculty Publications

A growing body of literature has been leveraging techniques of machine learning (ML) to build novel approaches to approximating the solutions to partial differential equations. Noticeably absent from the literature is a systematic exploration of the stability of the solutions generated by these ML approaches. Here, a recurrent network is introduced that matches precisely the evaluation of a multi-step method paired with a collocation method for approximating spatial derivatives in the advection–diffusion equation. This allows for two things: (1) the use of traditional tools for analyzing the stability of a numerical method for solving PDEs and (2) bringing to bear …

Out Of This World: An Exoplanetary Workshop, Monica Storss, Bart Kuipers

ELO (un)supervised 2026

The workshop investigates how scientific constraints can productively defamiliarize human experience and create new frameworks for creativity and expression. Participants will produce original work while considering broader questions about environment, perception, and cultural formation in speculative contexts, and how the arts, sciences, and technology inform each other in relational multiplicities. This generative workshop explores how astronomical data from confirmed exoplanets can generate new poetic forms and linguistic constraints. Participants will examine how exoplanetary conditions can shape language, metaphor, and narrative structure. We'll develop from writing exercises that respond to non-terrestrial physical parameters: alternative light spectra, gravitational variations, and atmospheric compositions. …

Edit The Peeragogy Wikibook, Charles Danoff

ELO (un)supervised 2026

In this collaborative workshop participants will be introduced to wikis as a place for Electronic Literature. They will learn how to edit Wikipedia and its sister project Wikibooks. Then they will dive in to collaboratively edit the Peeragogy Handbook on Wikibooks.

Peeragogy is an approach to learning and working together on projects ranging from the mundane to the monumental. Peer learning and peer production are probably as old as humanity itself, but they take on new importance in our digital age.

We will end with an editathon where attendees will have the chance to share their own experiences with peeragogy …