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The Impact of Selected Winter Cover Crops on Soybean and Corn Yield, Seed Quality, and Economic Returns
Get PDFCover crops are being used to reduce nutrient runoff from agricultural fields and to mitigate climate change. However, cover crops may reduce summer cash crop yields and affect seed quality early in adoption. Therefore, this study evaluated soybean and corn yield, seed quality, and a cost-benefit analysis following cover crops.
This study was conducted at the Illinois State University Research Farm and the Western Illinois University Research Farm to evaluate the impact of selected cover crops on soybean and corn yields and seed quality. The experimental design was a randomized block design replicated four times. Cover crop treatments consisted of a pea-crimson clover-tillage radish-oat mix (PCRO), wild pennycress (WPC), golden pennycress (GPC), cereal rye (CR), annual ryegrass (AR), and a winter fallow (reference) plot. The summer cash crop was soybeans in 2023 and corn in 2024.
Seed quality was determined using a Near Infrared (NIR) Spectrometer. Soybeans planted following CR, PCRO, and AR had a significant reduction in plant populations, but showed no significant differences in soybean yield. The winter cover crops had no significant impact on soybean seed quality. For corn, results showed that some of the cover crops negatively impacted yield, protein, oil, and starch while plant population was not affected.
Furthermore, this study evaluated the economic returns of including selected winter cover crops in a soybean-corn rotation using the cost-benefit analysis method. WPC and GPC were found to be profitable, while PCRO, AR, and CR were not profitable to include in the crop rotation
Exploring Nitrate Reduction in a Saturated Riparian Buffer Through a Three-Dimensional Reactive Contaminant Transport Model in an Agricultural Area, McClean County Central Illinois
Get PDFSaturated Riparian Buffers (SRBs) are engineered systems designed to remove nitrate and other pollutants from subsurface agricultural drainage water before it reaches a stream. This study utilizes a high-resolution coupled flow and reactive transport model to explore nitrate reduction and transformation in an SRB in glacial sediment. The influence of material heterogeneity on nitrate reduction and the effectiveness of the SRB was investigated. The study was conducted in an SRB located next to and receiving tile drainage water that ultimately drains into a 3rd order stream (T3 stream) in central Illinois, USA. A three-dimensional steady groundwater flow model was developed using MODFLOW-USG code to simulate the groundwater flow. The model consists of two layers: clay loam with organic topsoil and weathered diamicton, which consists of clays, sand, and gravel. The calibrated and validated root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) values were 0.33 and 0.35 m, respectively. The calibrated hydraulic conductivity for the weathered diamicton ranges from 0.2-16.8 m/day, confirming the existence of heterogeneity. The calibrated flow model was then converted into a transient MODFLOW-USG transport model to simulate advection, dispersion, and decay processes. Sensitivity analysis of the model suggests that recharge is the most sensitive parameter. Transient simulation from March 2021 to June 2021 shows significant (70-90%) NO₃-N reduction occurred in low hydraulic conductivity zones, while low to average (17-54%) reduction occurred in moderate-high hydraulic conductivity zones. The NO₃ load was estimated at 0.17 kg per day reaching the stream compared to the nitrate load of 5.14 kg/day received by the SRB from the distribution tile. About 4.90 kg/d of nitrate load was lost for the entire stress period, which accounts for 95% nitrate reduction, while a storage of 0.007 kg/day remained in the system, indicating the effectiveness of the saturated riparian buffer. This research provides insight into improving the design of SRBs by optimizing tile flow and redirecting tile flow to interact with low hydraulic conductivity zones. Thus, increasing SRB efficiencies in the reduction of NO₃⁻N contamination and ultimately improving stream health
Driving the Green Agenda: Examining Individual Preferences for Vehicle Emissions and Inspection Programs
Get PDFThis research paper examines the factors influencing individual preferences for vehicle emissions and inspection programs. Drawing on the Value-Belief-Norm theory and Rational Choice Theory, the study examines how environmental attitudes, concerns, and the cost of inspection programs shape an individual’s support. The study analyzed survey responses from 326 individuals at Illinois State University and found that individuals with greater environmental concern and belief in the effectiveness of emissions testing were more likely to support requiring annual vehicle emissions and inspection programs. Furthermore, funding the cost of vehicle emissions and inspections through state taxes, rather than requiring individual vehicle owners to pay directly, is associated with increased public support. Policymakers should, therefore, consider funding vehicle emissions and inspection programs through state taxes or providing subsidies to reduce the financial burden on individuals
Site-Specific Modification of Antibodies Utilizing Microbial Transglutaminase for Improved Immunoassay Performance
Get PDFImmobilization strategies used for fixing antibodies to solid phase surfaces significantly contribute to the antigen capture capacity and influences the performance and sensitivity of immunoassays. Traditional methodologies result in the random orientation and/or the weak attachment of immobilized antibodies. Different formats of immunoassays scope in applicability to many fields of research and everyday use. Improving the efficiency of immobilizing antibodies in immunoassays is a beneficial endeavor to increase assay sensitivity. Here, we investigated the use of enzyme-mediated conjugation of antibodies to facilitate a highly oriented immobilization. Microbial transglutaminase (mTG) catalyzes the covalent bond formation between a plethora of primary amine containing substrates to the side chain of glutamine residues found within a specific chemical environment. In regards to IgG antibody conjugation, mTG targets one specific glutamine residue, Q295, located on the Fc region away from the antigen binding sites. We explored site-specific biotinylation via mTG using an NH2-PEG4-Bt linker on a rat IgG1 anti-HRP antibody for directed and oriented immobilization to streptavidin functionalized surfaces. For immunoassay performance analysis, site-specific biotinylations were compared to random biotinylations achieved with an NHS-PEG4-Bt linker that conjugated to any primary amine accessible on the anti-HRP antibody surface. With optimized reaction conditions, mTG biotinylations were quantified as a ratio of approximately 1.9 biotins per antibody, with a theoretical maximum of 2, after removing a sterically hindering glycan at N297 with PNGase F enzymatic deglycosylation. Random biotinylations were quantified as a ratio of approximately 5 biotins per antibody where the randomness of conjugation was shown to not hinder the antigen binding event through localized surface plasmon resonance. The site-specific nature of mTG biotinylation to only the heavy chain of the IgG antibody was confirmed with Western blot analysis. Oriented immobilization provided a 3-fold increase in antigen binding capacity compared to random immobilization. This increase in orientation and loading capacity by site-specific biotinylation contributed to the immunoassay’s low detection limit of 9.3 pM HRP antigen and high sensitivity relative to other immunoassay performances achieved with random biotinylations, traditional ELISAs, and Fc binding orientation facilitators like protein G. Further investigations with the use of mTG mediated conjugation are being explored to demonstrate the enzyme’s universality to IgGs of different host species as well as subtypes. Additionally, biotinylation linkers are being optimized in terms of length with different PEG units to establish a maximum increase in antigen binding capacity and therefore improved immunoassay performance
Application of Floating Wetlands to Improve Urban Stream Quality
Get PDFUrban streams, impacted by urbanization, often exhibit degraded water quality due to elevated nutrient levels, a phenomenon known as urban stream syndrome. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a floating wetland (FW) system in reducing nitrate as nitrogen (NO₃-N) and phosphate (PO₄³⁻) concentrations in a side canal of the Chicago River’s North Branch, adjacent to Goose Island, Chicago, IL, from 2018 to 2023. Using a five-year dataset, including new sampling from May to December 2023, the research addresses two questions: (1) Do FWs lower NO₃-N and PO₄³⁻ concentrations in urban streams? and (2) Do FWs exhibit seasonal differences in nutrient reduction performance between growing (April–September) and dormant (October–March) seasons? Water samples were collected upstream and downstream of a 90 m² FW at surface and 0.3 m depths, analyzed via ion chromatography, and subjected to paired t-tests and two-way ANOVA. Results indicate significant reductions in NO₃-N (mean difference: 1.31 mg/L surface, 1.02 mg/L 0.3 m) and PO₄³⁻ (mean difference: 0.64 mg/L surface, 0.57 mg/L 0.3 m) downstream, with p-values \u3c 0.001 for most tests. No significant seasonal differences in reduction effectiveness were found (Location-Season interaction p \u3e 0.05), suggesting consistent year-round performance. The FW’s nutrient removal, driven by plant uptake, microbial denitrification, and sedimentation, offers a sustainable solution for mitigating nutrient pollution in urban streams, with implications for broader ecological restoration efforts
Naming My Selves: Psychotic Rhetorics and Nonbinary Reality
No full textThis thesis intervenes in common transgender narratives of self-becoming and critical disability studies rhetorics, with the critical intention of interrogating how these genric practices become entangled with hegemonic conventions around “reality” and the expected articulation of uncomplicated pride or well-being. Each chapter employs a mix of creative and critical forms following Gloria Anzaldúa’s practice of autohistoria-theoría, reflecting on the relationship between theory-writing and the theorist’s life, and specifically how transgender subjectivity and authority hinges on the manner and skill of the individual’s self-articulation. In this, the thesis is structured around a series of narrative “stages”: (1) the neurodivergent person as framed within psychiatric frameworks; (2) an introduction to the project and its major figures; (3) a series of personal and epistemic complications, and the author’s negotiations in the present; (4) a history with trans embodiment, as unearthed from the author’s archives; (5) a struggle against nihilism; (6) external constraints upon desired gendered expressions, and a reaffirmation of the author’s commitment to his own life
Generation of Family CEO and Outward FDI: An Examination of Indian Family Firms
Get PDFFamily firm research has upheld that generation of top family-based executives (including CEOs) plays a significant role in strategy development and governance. A key growth strategy undertaken by family firms around the world, including the Asia-Pacific region, is internationalization. But how generation of family CEO impacts family firm internationalization, particularly outward FDI (OFDI), remains largely overlooked. Drawing on the family firm and internationalization literature and utilizing the socioemotional wealth (SEW) logic, we examine in this study the influence that family CEO generation (founder versus later) has on family firm’s extent of OFDI. We also investigate the extent to which two important contingencies—family CEO’s international experience and firm’s business group affiliation—influence the relationship between CEO generation and extent of OFDI. We test our hypotheses using a longitudinal panel dataset of family firms from India. Our findings provide evidence that later generation CEO-led family firms, compared to those led by the founder CEOs, exhibit lower extent of OFDI. Our results further demonstrate that OFDI extent is greater in later generation CEO-led family firms when their CEOs possess international experience and when the firms are affiliated to business groups
Learning and Development Through the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Get PDFThis article focuses on learning that can facilitate the transition from being a scholarly teacher to becoming a scholar of teaching and learning, outlining the critical steps faculty can take to deepen their engagement with the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). It begins by distinguishing between scholarly teaching, which involves applying research-based strategies in the classroom, and being a SoTL scholar, which requires faculty to systematically investigate their own teaching practices and the learning outcomes of their students. The article explores various pathways through which course instructors can learn and engage with SoTL, such as attending workshops, collaborating with colleagues in interdisciplinary communities, or engaging with existing SoTL literature. It discusses how faculty can identify areas of inquiry in their teaching practice, collect and analyze data, and use this evidence to refine and transform their teaching methods. The article also highlights institutional support structures that can facilitate this transition, including mentorship, funding for SoTL research, and peer review opportunities. Through these approaches, faculty can develop a scholarly identity in teaching and contribute meaningfully to the field
Making Monsters: The Intersection of Black and Queer Characters in Vampire Fiction
Get PDFFor centuries we have looked at the vampire as a monster, one that skirts the line into acceptability not only because of the vampire\u27s motivations, but more importantly because our depictions of vampires make them desirable to us. This thesis explores the vampire archive, and the question of how the monstrosity of the vampire interacts with race, sexuality, and gender to further uphold notions of white supremacy. This thesis will look at the classic vampire canon set forth by Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu and two contemporary black vampire narratives: The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez and Fledgling by Octaiva E Butler, as well as iterations of Interview with the Vampire the first installment of Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles series. By examining these contemporary narratives, we can see a subversion of the white supremacist figuration of vampires, as the narratives work to hold up a mirror to white supremacist beliefs that have been set forth by dominant vampire narratives
Marks of Heritage: Chicana Tattoo Artists Navigating Gender, Culture, and Artistic Expression in Men\u27s Work
Get PDFArt, and tattoos especially, have been fundamental in creating and articulating an identity for Chicanos within the United States. Yet, for much of the history of Chicano style tattoos, Chicana/xs were not free to engage with them in the same way that Chicanos were. In many regards, their entrance into these spaces was restricted (Santos 2009). However, recently with the growing interest in tattoo art and career opportunities, the industry has expanded significantly, creating more opportunities for a broader range of individuals. This research aims to explore how young Chicana/x and Latina tattoo artists now accessing these spaces navigate and negotiate their identities within the context of the tattoo industry, which has historically been dominated by masculine and Eurocentric ideals. Specifically, I examine how Chicana/x and Latina artists interpret and incorporate their cultural identities into their artwork while addressing the unique challenges and opportunities they encounter as the tattoo industry undergoes rapid expansion. This study draws upon literature on Chicano style tattoos; Chicana/x, Latina, and Pachuca identities; and body modification as a form of bodily agency.
My work is anchored in two interconnected arguments. First, I critique the dominant narratives in tattoo literature that falsely position tattooing in the U.S. as a practice imported solely by (White) European sailors and traders from Polynesia (Lodder 2024; DeMello 2000; Gell 1993; Gilbert 2000; Steward 1990; Gathercole 1988; Kaeppler 1988; Sanders 1988). This Eurocentric origin story silences the deep and diverse histories of Indigenous tattooing practices, particularly those of the American Southwest. I argue that the literature purposefully neglects the deep history of native tattoos from the American Southwest and especially their gendered connotations, with many women of these tribes being the principal wearers and creators of these designs (Sinclair 1909; Loeb 1926; Krutak 2007). Their erasure from tattoo history not only distorts our understanding of the art form’s origins but also perpetuates a gendered myth—that tattooing is inherently masculine, an aspect overemphasized especially within Chicano style tradition. The consequence of this masculinization, deeply rooted in colonial ideology, continues to shape both academic literature and public perception, restricting the scope through which Chicana/xs and non-binary individuals can engage with and be recognized in tattoo culture. Perpetuating a whitewashed history of tattoos in the U.S., therefore, drafts a new narrative for what tattoos and tattooing traditions in the West mean: one that falsifies the idea of American tattoos as a singular tradition devoid of the hundreds of years of history that were amputated by colonialism.
Second, I focus on how Chicana/x and Latina tattoo artists today are actively reshaping this landscape. These artists are not merely participating in a tradition—they are, in many ways, transforming it. Through their work, they reclaim the symbols and aesthetics that were once used to marginalize their identities and recontextualize them as sources of connection, healing, and cultural pride. Their tattoos challenge dominant, Eurocentric definitions of “legitimate” art, interrogate classed notions of aesthetic value, and destabilize hierarchies that have long linked artistic prestige to Whiteness and institutional education (Bourdieu 1984). In doing so, they use tattooing as both a tool to navigate and overcome the economic constraints imposed by neo-colonial systems, and as a form of resistance against the structures that continue to dictate who has the authority to create art, whose art is legitimized, and which bodies are deemed worthy of carrying cultural memory. Their contributions also help to reveal the meaning of authenticity within Chicanx tattooing subculture and the significance of the “Chicana/x” designation within the tattooing industry.
Through ethnographic research, this study will incorporate first-hand accounts from Chicana/x tattoo artists, shedding light on how tattooing meaningfully reconnects Chicana/xs to their culture, how they carve out communities within these spaces, find healing, and define a sense of belonging for themselves. I also briefly uncover how these artists may engage in forms of resistance but how their agency is limited in part by the structure of the tattoo industry