Digital Commons Network^™

Opendrop Software Development, Jiajun Guan

Electrical Engineering

To be able to transfer and mix solutions more efficiently and accurately during biology experiments, the Electrical Engineering department at Cal Poly University is planning to purchase or engineer the OpenDrop device. The OpenDrop device uses electro-wetting technology to control the movement of small droplets of water on a planar electrode array to transport and mix different solutions. This device is an open-source project and could be purchased online through the GaudiLab. The basic code of the system could be found in GitHub. With this code as a reference, the goal of this senior project is to develop the firmware, …

Forensic Pathologists As Expert Witnesses In Estimating Time Of Death, Corissa Sherman

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Changing The Outlook Toward The Problem Of Opioid Addiction: From “War On Drugs” To “Public Health Emergency”, Carola B. Marquez

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Neuroscience As A Basis For The Transformation Of Bifurcated Liability In Tort, Andrew Raimondi

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Protecting The Penitent While Considering Capta, Brian Kane

Student Works

No abstract provided.

The Free Exercise Clause And The Religious Exemption To Vaccinations: Why States Are Allowed To Implement Mandatory Vaccinations, Caroline Braga

Student Works

No abstract provided.

“Reject The Evidence Of Your Eyes And Ears” : Deepfakes And The Law Of Virtual Replicants, Elizabeth Caldera

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Civic Religion And Shifting Trajectories In Context Of Religious Symbols, Practices, And Prayer, Christopher Daniel Cardoso

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Teaching Religion In Public Schools, Jessica Blatt

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Why Was I Not Made Of Stone., Ian Callen

Graduate Thesis Collection

The original inspiration for this work came from Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame when Quasimodo asks the gargoyles on the cathedral “Why was I not made of stone like thee?” as he watches Esmerelda ride off. This piece is an attempt to express the aspect of the human state contained in Quasimodo’s words. I believe that this piece succeeds in communicating both the innate humanity in the futile search for a state of invulnerability and the intrinsic value and beauty of despair. It is neither optimistic or pessimistic but rides a fine line between the two without being …

The Effect Of Town Of Greece V. Galloway On The Use And Display Of Religious Symbols On Public Property, Harrison Colby

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Genetic Engineering, Lack Of Regulation In The United States Of America And Its Potentially Problematic Applications, Krizia Rivera

Student Works

No abstract provided.

Dissociation And Metacognition: A Mixed Methods Analysis, Richard E. Nalbandian

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Dissociation commonly occurs as a defense against trauma and can be understood as a breakdown in metacognition. The present research investigated the relationship between trauma, dissociation, and metacognition in subjects with PTSD, a trauma-related disorder. Specifically, we investigated a potential inverse relationship between metacognition and dissociation in participants who have undergone psychoanalytic therapy. Participants were patients admitted to the Austen Riggs Center, who consented to be a part of the Follow Along Study (FAS), a longitudinal investigation spanning 15 years. Quantitative and qualitative analyses examined differences in themes of dissociation across initial and follow-up-clinical interviews. Quantitatively, all subscales for metacognition …

Experiences Of Hope, Resilience And Spirituality In Kenyan Children And Adolescents, Anne King

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Resilience is a vital factor in overcoming adversity. The presence of hope and spiritual meaning have been demonstrated to contribute to resilience. Globally, there are millions of children and adolescents who have faced traumatic experiences including, but not limited to, the loss of their parents. The current study explored Kenyan children and adolescents’ experiences of resilience, hope and spirituality in the environment of a group home and school in Kenya. Mixed measures were utilized. Seventy-five participants ages 10-19 years old completed the quantitative measures including the CD-RISC, SEARS-C/A, the Children’s Hope scale, the Adult Hope scale, and a 1-item Spirituality …

The Law Of Enhanced Weathering For Carbon Dioxide Removal, Romany M. Webb

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Despite scientists’ dire warnings about the catastrophic impacts of climate change, the greenhouse gases that cause it continue to be emitted in substantial amounts. While there is no question that deep, across the board cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are essential, many scientists now agree that simply cutting future emissions will not be enough. It will also be necessary to remove previously-emitted greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This paper explores one greenhouse gas removal technique – enhanced weathering – which involves spreading finely ground silicate rocks or other materials with similar chemical composition over land or ocean waters. The materials …

Singing Out: Gala Choruses And Social Change, Heather Maclachlan

Books and Book Chapters by University of Dayton Faculty

Can you change the world through song? This appealing idea has long been the professed aim of singers who are part of choruses affiliated with the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA). Theses choruses first emerged in the 1970s, and grew out of a very American tradition of (often gender-segregated) choral singing that explicitly presents itself as a community-based activity. By taking a close look at these choruses and their mission, Heather MacLachlan unpacks the fascinating historical and cultural dynamics behind groups that seek to change society for the better by encouraging acceptance of LGBT-identified people and promoting diversity …

The Passing Scene Fall 2019 – Summer 2020, Frank Rohrbacher

Delaware Ornithologist

No abstract provided.

Imaginative Empathies: Exploring The Role Of Creative Writing In Developing Social Skills Of College Students With Autism, Rebekkah N. Richner

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Only one-third of students with autism who are enrolled in American universities go on to graduate (Cox & Williams, 2018; Newman et al., 2011; Wei et al., 2014). These students may be currently underserved by the writing curriculum of postsecondary institutions when it comes to facilitating social and personal development in college and beyond. This thesis begins with the hypothesis that creative writing classes already utilize pedagogical tools that could aid students with autism in strengthening their social skills, particularly through the more structured social environment of the creative writing workshop. This study examined a 200-level short story creative writing …

Review Of Comanche Jack Stilwell: Army Scout And Plainsman, By Clint E. Chambers And Paul H. Carlson, Thomas A. Britten

History Faculty Publications

The book’s primary aim is to provide a straightforward biography of Jack Stilwell (co-author Clint Chambers’s great-great-uncle) and to place his story within the context of western history during the last three decades of the nineteenth century. “Comanche Jack” left little written evidence behind for historians to peruse, but by diligently combing widely scattered army records, census rolls, court testimonies, and commentaries in newspapers and magazines, the authors succeed in providing both an interesting read and a balanced assessment of this rather remarkable individual.

The Mathematics Of The Astrolabe And Its History, Graziano Gentili, Luisa Simonutti, Daniele C. Struppa

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this article we trace the scientific and cultural history of the astrolabe, a mechanical instrument used in the past for astronomical measurements and navigational purposes. The story of the astrolabe is interesting from several points of view, since it intertwines mathematical developments, geographical explorations, changing worldviews, and different cultures and civilizations. In our explorations we move from the early understanding of the world due to the Greeks, to the loss of their work, its rediscovery, the reception of Arab thinkers in Western natural philosophy, and, finally, to the new European culture that emerged with the end of the Middle …

Culturally Responsive Care For American Indians And Alaskan Natives: An Online Training Module For Occupational Therapists, Dayton Bender, Penelope Yoosook

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The unique profession of occupational therapy (OT) values cultural aspects when working with clients, therefore it is crucial for practitioners to be aware of various cultural backgrounds to provide greater culturally sensitive and client-centered services. The objective of this scholarly project was to create an educational opportunity for occupational therapists (OTs) who work in communities with a notable population of American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) through the use of an e-learning module designed to increase culturally competent care. Currently, there is limited literature suggesting the existence of such educational materials regarding this population, including online learning modules. This project was the …

Occupational Therapy Best Practice Addressing Anxiety-Related Behaviors: Extending Strategies Into The Classroom, Hannah Burks, Kristen Kilian-Weides

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this project was to develop a product, created by occupational therapists, for teachers and support staff that offers behavioral management strategies for students demonstrating anxiety related behaviors in the classroom. Research conducted by Nash, Schlösser, and Scarr (2016) revealed that teachers reported feeling underprepared to not only identify anxiety presenting in the classroom, but also to manage these disruptive behaviors resulting from anxiety. Thus, the product, titled Tips for Teachers, was developed to address this need and to increase collaboration between occupational therapists, teachers, and support staff.

The hierarchical approach utilized in the current behavioral management system …

Exploring A Best-Practice Approach For Preventing Challenging Behavior In Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Mckenzie Ramsey Gehring, Kimberly Harmelink

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose This scholarly project was created to provide pediatric occupational therapists with a best-practice approach to address challenging behavior by focusing on its prevention while establishing consistency throughout the clinic.

Methodology An extensive literature review was performed using eight search databases and combinations of six primary search terms as well as original works by key scholars and researchers. The results of this literature review suggested the need for a best-practice approach to both protect occupational therapists and their clients during interventions related to challenging behavior and to provide guidance as to how to format a consistent approach toward challenging behavior …

Hand Therapy Outcomes: Therapists’ Perceptions Of Occupation-Based Interventions In Practice, Cheyenne Hanson, Molly Maudal

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: It is well known that hand therapists frequently use biomechanical-based interventions in their treatment of upper extremity injuries and pathologies. There is a push to return to the occupational therapy profession’s roots of occupation-based practice, which has recently been further reinforced with the introduction of the American Occupational Therapy’s (AOTA) Choosing WiselyⓇ Initiative (Gillen et al., 2019). Hand therapy is one area in which occupation-based practice could become more prevalent. This study will enhance the existing research on occupation-based hand therapy through the use of focus group interviews with occupational therapists who have a majority of their caseload classified …

Farmer And Rancher Suicide: Raising Awareness, Noelle Rivard, Krista Steinbeisser

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Suicide is death caused by self-directed, injurious behavior with the intent to die (National Institute of Mental Health [NIMH], 2019). This is a concerning public health issue, as it is the 10^th leading cause of death in the United States (U.S.) (Hedegaard, Curtin, & Warner, 2018). Suicide rates vary between different populations, with the occupational group of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry having a disproportionately higher suicide rate than the national average (Jared, 2019; Peterson et al., 2018). Farmers and ranchers in rural regions of the U.S. are not receiving appropriate mental health services due to a shortage of health …

Electrochemical Detection Of Neurotransmitters, Saikat Banerjee, Stephanie Mccracken, Md Faruk Hossain, Gymama Slaughter

Bioelectrics Publications

Neurotransmitters are important chemical messengers in the nervous system that play a crucial role in physiological and physical health. Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters have been correlated with physical, psychotic, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, addiction, depression, and schizophrenia. Although multiple neurotechnological approaches have been reported in the literature, the detection and monitoring of neurotransmitters in the brain remains a challenge and continues to garner significant attention. Neurotechnology that provides high-throughput, as well as fast and specific quantification of target analytes in the brain, without negatively impacting the implanted region is highly desired for the monitoring of the …

Electrotransfer Of Il-15/Il-15rα Complex For The Treatment Of Established Melanoma, Shawna A. Shirley, Cathryn G. Lundberg, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Gene electrotransfer (GET) is a safe, reliable, and effective method of delivering plasmid DNA (pDNA) to solid tumors. GET has been previously used to deliver interleukin-15 (IL-15) to mouse melanoma, resulting in long-term tumor regression and the survival of a percentage of treated animals after challenge. To enhance this effect, we evaluated modulating the expression levels of IL-15 and co-expressing its receptor, IL-15Rα. GET was used to deliver plasmids encoding IL-15 and IL-15Rα to established B16.F10 tumors on days 0, 4, and 7. Two delivery protocols that yielded different expression profiles were utilized. Mice that were tumor-free for 50 days …

Reevaluating Environmental Citizen Suits In Theory And Practice, David E. Adelman, Robert L. Glicksman

University of Colorado Law Review

Citizen suits are frequently cited as an essential legal innovation by virtue of their capacity to provide a backstop to lax or ideologically antagonistic administrations. Drawing on data from fifteen years of litigation under two prominent environmental statutes, we find little evidence that citizen suits effectively serve this role in practice. Instead, we find that limited resources and institutional barriers strictly limit the number of citizen suits filed annually against the federal government under two of the most litigated environmental statutes, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While our findings do not negate the …

Contingent Delisting, Justin R. Pidot

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Ecosystem Services And Federal Public Lands: A Quiet Revolution In Natural Resources Management, J.B. Ruhl, James Salzman

University of Colorado Law Review

The major federal public land management agencies (the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Park Service, Fish & Wildlife Service, and Department of Defense) have increasingly adopted a language that did not exist twentyfive years ago-the language of ecosystem services. Ecosystem services are the range of benefits that ecological resources provide to humans, from water purification and pollination to carbon sequestration and wildlife habitat. The scientific discipline advancing the ecosystem services framework arose in the mid-1990s and quickly became a central strategy for fusing ecology and economics research. Despite its ascendance in research communities, the recognition and conservation of ecosystem …