Digital Commons Network^™

Creatures Of Habit? Impact Of Chick Feeder Tray Location On Feed Consumption At 0-7 Days Of Age, Emily Kate Green

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Early chick nutrition is critical for establishing target growth performance characteristics in broiler chickens. This study evaluated factors within commercial broiler houses that potentially influence feed consumption during the first 7 days. Three trials were conducted in a 12.2 x 122 m commercial broiler house to assess the effects of house sectioning, spatial barriers, and feedline location. In Trial 1, a one-way experimental design was used in which the house was divided into four equal sections using migration fencing every 30.5 m. House sections served as a fixed factor. Feed was provided using chick trays placed beneath the feed line …

H.A.G.S., Erin Pinkham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

H.A.G.S (Have A Great Summer) The book transports the reader into a Y2K southern suburban landscape, influenced by Texas Megachurches, the height of the shopping mall era, and the upcoming and ever present loom of the internet. It narrates through this world by diving in and out of a younger and older voice. A voice that remains in the present tense as it searches through the speaker’s understanding and observance of the world around them and the danger looming over their young girl body. This book looks to uncover these moments where we as young girls might better understand why …

Advancing Apparel Education Through 3d Simulation In Vstitcher: Confidence, Competence, And Career Readiness In Higher Education, Jonah Diniakos Graham

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rapid adoption of 3D garment simulation in the apparel industry has created new demands of higher education to better prepare students with both technical proficiency and confidence within digital design platforms to better enable them for many career avenues. This study examines the integration of Browzwear’s VStitcher in an undergraduate apparel production course, addressing the need to assess both competence and self-confidence in digital garment construction while also fostering broader career readiness competencies. Guided by a combination of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (SEVT), the study emphasizes the role of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the shaping …

Dutiful Wife, Grieving Mother: Examining Medieval Joban Allusion Through A Matricentric Affective Lens, Morgan Lee

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses concepts of matricentrism and affect to examine the legacy of Job and its frequent medieval allusions in stories featuring grieving mothers. It specifically analyzes how, in order to be considered noble, steadfast sufferers, women were expected to relinquish their maternal grief and adopt a stoic affect. This was often to the benefit of or in the direct service of their husbands. The analysis covers three women in particular: Job’s wife (who is examined through the medieval commentary written about her), Prudence from Chaucer’s "Tale of Melibee," and Griselda from Chaucer’s "Clerk’s Tale." This thesis utilizes medieval conduct …

Deciphering Chemomechanical Couplings In Proteins Using Molecular Dynamics And Enhanced Sampling Techniques, Matthew Brownd

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proteins function through a complex interplay between chemical interactions and mechanical motions across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Understanding how ligand binding, conformational dynamics, and structural flexibility collectively regulate protein function remains one of the central challenges in molecular biophysics. This dissertation presents a computational investigation into chemomechanical coupling in three distinct classes of biomolecular systems using all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and enhanced sampling methods, with particular emphasis on free-energy calculations and long-timescale conformational analysis. The first part of this work focuses on ligand binding in hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels, which regulate rhythmic electrical activity in the heart …

Wildflower Season: A Semi-Somnolescent Retrospective, Connor Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

I came to graduate school under the impression that I would be working on my own. I believed the process of playwriting to be an individualistic pursuit, where my plays came from my mind and my mind alone. Instead, through the process of writing my thesis play, Wildflower Season, and its subsequent production as part of the ArkType New Play Festival, I discovered that writing a play was a collective endeavor, and that one of the great pleasures the theatre has to offer is creating it with a group of other people.

Writing Through The Plague: Memory, Trauma, And Survival In Arabic And English Narrative, Zainab Abbood Jawhar Aldaoseri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how Arabic and English literary and intellectual traditions responded to the Black Death as a shared yet differently articulated experience of collective trauma. Drawing on trauma theory, particularly the work of Cathy Caruth and Dominick LaCapra, it analyzes how plague narratives function as cultural mechanisms for processing mass suffering. Through a comparative study of Arabic historiographical, theological, medical, and poetic texts alongside English allegorical, mystical, autobiographical, and satirical writings, this project argues that both traditions developed distinct narrative strategies to render the trauma of plague intelligible. Arabic plague literature, represented by figures such as Ibn Khaldūn, Ibn …

Analyzing The Effects Of Message Testing On The Public's Opinion About Gene Editing In Agriculture And Medicine, Luke Sanford Wimpy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This paper will present results from the final survey of a multi-stage project examining factors that influence opinions about gene editing in agriculture and medicine. In this final survey, 3,200 U.S. respondents were recruited and randomized to view one of eight videos that communicated the safety of gene editing to determine which factors are most influential in changing opinions. The eight videos were designed based on data collected from focus groups and three previous surveys in this multi-stage project. The eight videos varied by three attributes: messenger, message, and application. The messenger in the videos was either a researcher or …

Consumer Perceptions Of Fda Front-Of-Package Nutrition Labeling, Madison Price

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a front-of-package nutrition labeling (FOPL) rule in early 2025 to help consumers more quickly and easily compare the nutritional quality of packaged foods (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2025). FOPL is gaining attention as a way to encourage healthier eating habits and consumer choices, but there is still debate over which label format works best. The objective of this study was to examine consumer perceptions, understanding, and trust of FDA FOPL, and to determine how these labels impact purchasing behavior and nutritional decision-making. Data were collected via an online Qualtrics survey distributed …

Grazed Pasture Effects On Greenhouse Gas Emissions In The Ozark Highlands, Tyler Buchanan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In the United States (US), grazinglands serve as the main foundation for the livestock industry, and, in Arkansas specifically, pastures are essential for rotational grazing and dairy operations. Climate change is increasingly becoming a concern in the agriculture industry, largely caused by anthropogenic activities increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, at least partly due to the nutrient recycling that occurs from animal manure additions in grazinglands. Therefore, quantifying GHG emissions from pastures is essential to better understanding the impacts of grazing on the environment. The objective of this study was to quantify and evaluate the potential effects of …

Dissecting The Complex Genomic Landscape Underlying Oxidative Stress Resistance Using Natural Variation In Yeast, Sonali Lakshika Anne Lenaduwe

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stress is experienced across the tree of life. Survival in fluctuating environments depends on a robust genetic architecture. This dissertation examines the genetic and metabolic determinants underlying one such adaptive response: cross-protection. Leveraging natural variation in the stress responses of budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, I examine the genetic variation contributing to ethanol-induced cross-protection against oxidative stress. Acquired stress resistance, in which mild pre-exposure improves survival to subsequent stresses, is prevalent across diverse organisms and can involve both same-stress and cross-protection. Using high-throughput bulk segregant analysis (BSA-seq) and advanced intercross mapping populations derived from natural yeast isolates, I identify quantitative trait …

The Effects Of Vocational Self-Concept Crystallization And Career Choice On Crop Farming Apprenticeship Completers: An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis, Stormy Zane Speaks

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Across the United States, a farmer shortage threatens the future of food production as the population continues to grow. However, farming apprenticeship programs may be a solution to this crisis. This study addressed a gap in research regarding the career decision-making processes of farm apprenticeship completers. Specifically, this study sought to identify whether farm apprenticeship completion resulted in greater vocational self-concept crystallization as well as farming as a career choice. Due to the lack of research, an exploratory qualitative research design was most suitable for this study. Donald Super’s self-concept development theory was the theoretical framework. Self-concept development theory was …

Silent Sky: Exploring The Universe Of Theatre Through A Directorial Lens, Sarah Behrend-Wilcox

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis documents the directorial process of a production of Lauren Gunderson’s Silent Sky, produced by the University of Arkansas Department of Theatre. This document follows the director’s journey from initial script analysis through closing night, with an emphasis on the successes and challenges found in mounting this fully realized, artistically unified production. The central argument of this thesis is that through careful documentation of a single production, it is possible to identify both successful strategies and areas for growth in the collaborative process. This thesis is organized in four chapters: The Big Bang, The Matter, The Dark Matter, and …

“Blessed Solace”: Playing The Stoically Vulnerable Marmee, Marjorie Joann Gast

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I will explain my journey bringing a well-known literary character, Marmee March from Little Women: The Broadway Musical, to life on stage. This thesis will also discuss the development of my original one-person show Pearl, its drafts and iterations, and the intended future expansion of the piece. Finally, I will include my statement of artistry, production programs, posters, and photographs; website link, headshot, and resume.

Through The Looking-Glass: A Process Of Trust And Discovery, Selena Mykenzie Gordon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the process of joy, trust, and discovery I have cultivated as a professional actor and its application in various productions. I will examine my role as Sabine in Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers at TheatreSquared in Fall of 2025, as well as the role of Alice in my One Person Show, titled Curiouser, developed in Spring of 2024. Included in this document is my artistic statement, my one-person show script, production posters and programs, production photos, website link, headshot and resume, my character analysis of Sabine, One-Person Show class writing prompts, and proof of permission for use …

Learning At Lunch: A Qualitative Examination Of Lunchtime Discourse In Preschool Classrooms, Savanna Lynn Gragg

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods study examined how preschool teachers understand and use mealtime as an opportunity for children’s learning and connection. The project explored teachers’ beliefs, observed mealtime practices, and used collaborative video reflection to examine how teachers’ perspectives and behaviors evolved over time. Over five weeks, mealtimes were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed alongside reflection sessions with the teacher. Using the Arkansas Child Development Early Learning Standards (CDELS) as a developmental lens, each mealtime interaction was coded for learning opportunities across domains such as language, literacy, social-emotional growth, and self-help skills. Findings indicated that as the teacher engaged in video-supported reflection, mealtime …

Rationalizing The Despicable: Creating Talthybius In Euripides’ The Trojan Women, P Rob Brown

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A reflection on my personal work and development as an actor and performer over the three years of this program, specifically focusing on the work of creating the character of Talthybius in Euripides’ The Trojan Women.

Assessing The Potential Of Taming Chicken Gut Commensal Bacteria Using Random Transposon Mutagenesis, Arjun Chapagain

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The chicken gut microbiome comprises hundreds of bacterial species whose functional roles remain largely unknown, in part because the tools needed to experimentally manipulate these organisms in their native community context have not been systematically developed or validated. This dissertation addresses the gap through three connected research chapters that progressively build a framework for transposon-based genetic delivery in the chicken cecal microbiome, moving from community-wide accessibility mapping to vector optimization to library preparation refinement. In Chapter 2, we established the community-level insertion landscape in chicken cecal metagenome using Himar transposon delivery via RP4 conjugation and aligned Tn-seq reads to a …

The Biased Divide: Perceptions And Challenges Of Esports Within Universities, Alexzandra O'Neal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how institutional framing and student motivations influence the development and perception of collegiate Esports programs within higher education. The research explores how Esports is positioned as either a legitimate academic and competitive pursuit or a low-priority extracurricular activity, and how these perceptions impact program growth and student experience. This non-traditional thesis is presented as a documentary film utilizing a qualitative, semi-structured interview methodology. Data were collected through interviews with students, faculty, and program leaders, focusing on a comparative analysis between University of Oklahoma and University of Arkansas. Findings indicate that institutional support and framing play a significant …

Safety And Efficacy Of Individualised Exercise And Nad+ Precursor Supplementation In Patients With Friedreich’S Ataxia In The Usa: A Single-Centre, 2 × 2 Factorial, Randomised Controlled Trial, Kimberly Lin, Anna Bucha, Kara Mcsweeney, Kristin Wade, Antoneta Karaj, Jaclyn Tamaroff, Shannon O'Malley, Nicole Chung, Nicolette Cilenti, Julianne Wanner, Gabriel Adzika, Clementina Mesaros, Ian Blair, Teerapat Rojsajjakul, Suraj Serai, Jennifer Farmer, Kyle Bryant, Yingying Lu, Michael Harhay, David Weber, Stephen Paridon, Erin Seifert, Mary Putt, Payman Zamani, Joseph Baur, David Lynch, Shana Mccormack

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND:Friedreich's ataxia is a rare, chronic, progressive, neurodegenerative condition affecting multiple organ systems, including neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and endocrine systems, and is marked by low cardiopulmonary fitness. We tested the effect of exercise and NAD⁺ precursor supplementation with nicotinamide riboside, which have each shown benefits in animal and early clinical studies, on cardiopulmonary fitness in individuals with Friedreich's ataxia.

METHODS: This 12-week, outpatient, phase 2, single-site (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA), randomised, 2 × 2 factorial clinical trial recruited individuals aged 10–40 years with an ejection fraction of 45% or greater who were able to exercise. A …

May 2026 Library News, University Libraries

Library News

No abstract provided.

Clear-Air Turbulence Climatology And Trends, Liam Rodgers, Mark Sinclair

Publications

Clear‑air turbulence (CAT) is a major aviation hazard that occurs near airline cruising altitudes in both cloud and cloud‑free environments. Its lack of a distinct visual signature makes detection and avoidance difficult. CAT is associated with wind shear near jet streams, gravity waves, and Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and may be further enhanced by climate change. This study examines the climatology, spatial distribution, seasonal variability, and trends of CAT over the contiguous United States.

Pilot Reports (PIREPs) from 2001–2025 between 100 and 400 hPa are analyzed alongside jet stream, shear, and stability diagnostics derived from NCEP–NCAR Reanalysis data. Proxies such as inverse …

An Analysis Of The Rapid Intensification Of Hurricane Milton, Ayden Rodriguez, Mark Sinclair

Publications

Hurricane Milton (October 2024) provides a compelling case study of a multiscale pathway to rapid intensification (RI), highlighting the alignment of synoptic preconditioning, favorable environmental conditions, and rapid inner-core structural evolution. The storm originated from the interaction of multiple tropical waves embedded within a low-level trough associated with the Central American Gyre, which enhanced low-level vorticity and moisture convergence prior to development. Upon entering the Gulf of Mexico, Milton encountered an environment characterized by anomalously warm sea surface temperatures, high ocean heat content, and weak vertical wind shear, enabling steady intensification and the onset of explosive RI that exceeded conventional …

A Climatology Of Sudden Stratospheric Warmings And Their Tropospheric Response, Joe Lovelien, Mark Sinclair

Publications

Sudden Stratospheric Warmings (SSWs) are major disruptions of the wintertime polar vortex that can significantly influence surface weather, including cold air outbreaks (CAOs) across the midlatitudes. This study presents a climatology of SSWs from 1948-2024 using NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data and examines their temporal distribution, relationships with large-scale climate variability, and impacts on surface temperatures in the United States. SSWs are identified using previously published definitions based on the reversal of zonal-mean winds at 60°N and 10 hPa. A total of 44 SSW events were identified, with a strong seasonal preference for January through March. Some decadal variability is observed, though …

リアホナからの知恵の凝集オーディオ深堀シリーズ, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

本資料は、教会誌『リアホナ』の4,000件以上の記事を分析する過程で、GeminiのNotebookLMを活用して生成された3６の対話形式の要約（Audio Overview）です。AIの特性上、一部に読み間違いが含まれていますが、多様な角度から日常の疑問や微妙な心理に寄り添う構成となっており、繰り返し聴くことで重要な教訓を、一人の人が考えうるレベルをはるかに超えて、さまざまな角度から考えることができ、これまで心理的に障害になっていたことを乗り越える具体的なヒントがふんだんに語られています。自然と身につきます。最大限に活用するために、まずはいくつかのバージョンに触れ、その中から自分に合うポイントを1つ選び、数週間かけて習慣化することを目指してください。一度にすべてを実践しようとせず、一つひとつを生活に馴染ませていくことが、最終的には知的・霊的な生産性を飛躍させる鍵となります。

Evaluating The Impact Of The Rejuvenation Project In Local Church Communities, Caleb Stayton

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Conversations That Matter : Discerning And Responding To Prevenient Grace In Evangelistic Practice Among Australian Nazarenes, Richard H. Giesken

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Gdpr-Compliant Fatca Structure?, Michael Hatfield

Articles

A 2025 Belgian Data Protection Authority (DPA) decision and ensuing preliminary questions referred by the Belgian Market Court to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) highlights the tension between the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) structure in Europe. The FATCA structure relies on intergovernmental agreements (FATCA IGAs) between the US and EU Member States. Under these agreements, Member State tax authorities transfer personal data of their citizens and residents to the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It may be determined that these transfers violate some or all of …

The Neo-Monastic Invitation : A Rule For Church Multiplication In South Georgia, Andrew Robert Anderson

ATS Dissertations

No abstract provided.

2026 Nsu Graduate Commencement Program, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

May 5, 2026

• Shepard Broad College of Law

May 8, 2026

• Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy
• College of Dental Medicine
• College of Optometry

May 8, 2026

• College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity
• College of Psychology
• H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship

May 13, 2026

• Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

• Halmos College of Arts and Sciences and the Guy Harvey Oceanographic Research Center

May 13, 2026

• Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine and Dr. Pallavi Patel School of Health Sciences

May 14, 2026

• Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of …

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