Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Graded Amounts Of Nicotinic Acid On Cow Health, Colostrum Yield And Quality Of Prepartum Multiparous Jersey Cows And Growth In Their Subsequent Calves, Lydia Joy Valentine

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study evaluated the impact of graded amounts of nicotinic acid (NA) with a negative DCAD diet on cow health, colostrum composition and calf growth performance of Jersey cattle. We hypothesized that NA supplementation would increase IgG concentration of colostrum, increase calf intestinal absorption and growth and improve cow metabolic health. Thirty multiparous Jersey cows were blocked by calving date and assigned to either 0, 8 or 16 g/d of NA supplementation on top of the -40 mEq/kg DCAD dry cow diet. Blood samples were collected weekly for ketone analysis. Urine was collected three times weekly for pH, creatinine and …

Sik2 Inhibitor Grn-300 Enhances Sensitivity To Paclitaxel Treatment In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Marc A. Pina

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide, with approximately 15% classified as Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). TNBC lacks expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR), and does not overexpress HER-2, leaving patients without effective targeted therapies. As a result, treatment primarily relies on chemotherapy, most commonly paclitaxel, a taxane that stabilize microtubules, disrupts chromosome separation and induces apoptosis. However, TNBCs are an aggressive cancer subtype, and patients often will develop resistance after a few rounds of chemotherapy. This study addresses a critical unmet need for more effective TNBC therapies by targeting Salt-Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2), which …

Structure And Function Studies On Trna Splicing Endonuclease, Justin G. Underwood

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

A subset of eukaryotic pre-tRNAs have introns that must be spliced out to become mature molecules capable of functioning in translation. This essential processing step is performed by tRNA splicing endonuclease (TSEN), a highly conserved heterotetramer with two catalytic and two structural subunits. In addition to this conserved function, archaeal TSEN also processes pre-rRNA and yeast TSEN cleaves some mRNAs that encode mitochondrial proteins to initiate mRNA degradation. Interestingly, single amino acid mutations in TSEN cause the human Mendelian disease pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) by an unknown mechanism. Recently, several groups have determined the structure of human TSEN, revealing similarities and …

Host-Intrinsic Factors Determine Anti-Tumor Efficacy Of Exercise In Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Sumedha Pareek

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths with a low 5-year relative survival rate of approximately 13.3% for all stages combined. We have previously shown that exercise can improve quality of life and enhance functional capacity among patients with PDAC. Exercise induces a variety of changes in the tumor microenvironment with beneficial effects in several tumor types. However, our understanding of the clinical effects of exercise and the mechanisms that mediate anti-tumor effects are limited in pancreatic cancer.

In this project, using C57BL/6 mice from Taconic Biosciences (Tac) and Jackson Laboratories (Jax), we established a …

The (Re)New(Ed) Corporation: Foundation For A Stakeholder Regulatory Agenda, Gregory E. Louis

UC Law Business Journal

Amidst an emerging bipartisan consensus on greater corporate social accountability, America First has joined longstanding solicitude about the racial wealth gap. This Article offers yet another take on corporate purpose. As a project of recovering legal memory like Adrian Vermeule’s common good constitutionalism, it examines scholarship on the history of corporate purpose toward answering whether stakeholder capitalism should inform corporate regulation and, if so, how. It concludes from this history that the Anglo-American legal tradition clearly justifies regulators to hold business corporations accountable to the common good. But it also finds in this history a requirement that stakeholder capitalism be …

A Systems Approach To Shedding Sunlight On A.I. Black Boxes, Ran Xi

Hofstra Law Review

A substantial body of literature has emerged around concerns that machine learning and artificial intelligence systems are opaque, or "black boxes. " The black box nature ofA.I.-powered services and applications has resulted in alarming risks in social life, including insecurity, mistrust, lack of accountability, and exacerbated bias and discrimination. Despite the call to open the black boxes, corresponding legal and regulatory measures tend to run aground due to their infeasibility, inefficacy, and ambiguity. This Article offers a unique perspective on the A.I black box problem. Using systems theory as a heuristic tool, this Article views A.I. as a law-related system …

Nutrient Utilization Efficiency And Antioxidant Profile Of Bc2 Abaca (Musa Textilis Née) Hybrids, Roberto Barba Jr, Antonio Lalusin

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is an important fiber crop widely recognized for its superior tensile strength, yet its productivity remains constrained by nutrient inefficiency, poor cropping management, and climatic stresses under manual production systems. Efficient nutrient utilization and an understanding of antioxidant compositions are practically relevant to the productivity of the abaca fiber crop. However, despite the crop’s economic importance, limited studies have examined nutrient uptake dynamics and internal utilization efficiency related to fiber synthesis. This study aimed to demonstrate the nutrient utilization efficiency and antioxidant profiles of BC₂ abaca hybrids in relation to fiber yield and quality. Fiber …

Medicaid Reimbursement For Community Violence Intervention And Prevention (Cvi): A Multi-State Policy Implementation Case Study, Sheetal Ranjan, C. Clare Strange, Katheryne Pugliese

Department of Justice Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Violence has fluctuated in the United States in recent years. Additionally, policing practices have been challenged, especially in neighborhoods of color. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs have emerged as an effective policy to address violence through neighborhood-centered resources, trauma-informed care, and credible messengers, without full reliance on law enforcement officials. However, inconsistent funding challenges the feasibility and sustainability of these programs. In 2021 several states introduced policies to allocate Medicaid reimbursement for CVI services offering a promising solution to a more sustainable stream of funding. Methods: This study uses rigorous qualitative analysis to evaluate the implementation of Medicaid reimbursement …

Sustainability Policy Proposals For The Township Of Montclair, Nj, Fanny Lauby, Josemy Barrera Cabal, Aaron Chauhan, Chase Geer, Carlos Jimenez, Catherine Khitiri, Jonathan Lockette, Andrew Mapes, Coral Mejía, Jack Nacht, Gabriella O’Keefe, Refia Oral, Sanjeev Rao, Jacob Roby, Julnide Saint Juste, Fiona Slatina

Department of Political Science and Law Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This white paper was written as a course requirement for POLS 324 Advanced Public Policy Analysis at Montclair State University in fall 2025. In the course, students analyze public policy and examine current issues. Public policy analysis can be defined as the development and evaluation of policy solutions to public problems. The course's learning objectives include “critically evaluate the goals and assumptions of different policy proposals,” “create a policy proposal for a public problem,” and “evaluate the proposals developed by their peers.” For the fall 2025 iteration of the course, I invited two offices in the township of Montclair to …

Empowerment Through Creating An Adaptive Sports And Recreation Program For Persons With Disabilities, Sarah Kadri, Angela Labrie Blackwell

Fall 2025 OTD Capstone Symposium

Adaptive sports and recreation (ASR) refers to recreational and competitive physical activities modified to be inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities (PWD), adjusting equipment, rules, instruction, and environmental setup to support participation across a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. PWD often report feeling disempowered due to social stigma, inaccessible environments, and limited opportunities to make meaningful choices about leisure and community life. A lack of diverse and consistent ASR opportunities within communities collectively hinders participation and negatively impacts overall well-being. Utilizing the Person Environment Occupation Performance (PEOP) theoretical framework, this capstone project developed a 10-week swimming …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report- Liberty High School, Brittany N. Johnson

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This document documents the AGED 539 Internship in Agricultural Education and examines the Liberty High School–Brentwood FFA and Agriculture Department’s alignment with the three-component model of agricultural education: classroom instruction, FFA leadership development, and Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Grounded in experiential learning theory, the report reflects on program strengths, challenges, and growth across all twelve California Career Technical Education (CTE) Quality Criteria, supported by narrative reflection and evidence. The internship project focused on developing a formal FFA Program of Activities (POA) to improve chapter organization, goal-setting, and long-term sustainability. Overall, the project highlights intentional program planning and leadership development as …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

Resisting Facts Kills Jr, Maya Lakshmi Srinivasan, Special Collections, Fleet Library

12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest 2026

Entry for the 12th Baker & Whitehill Student Artists' Book Contest. Opening reception and award ceremony Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at 6:30pm, Fleet Library, 1st Floor Main Reading Room. Juror: Gabrielle Reed.

Happy Kids, Popular Kids? Life And School Satisfaction As Predictors Of Popularity In Early Adolescents, Chloe Mcbreen

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Sociometric popularity measures how well-liked a person is among peers. Life satisfaction has been positively related to self-perception and social functioning, whereas school satisfaction has been linked to stronger peer ties. This study examined how life and school satisfaction affected change in popularity over the course of a school year and how self-perception moderates said relationship. Participants included 182 fifth- and sixth-graders in Montreal, who completed 13 surveys over the school year. Popularity was measured via peer nominations at T1 and T13. Satisfaction variables and self-perception were measured via self-reports at T2 and T13, respectively. A hierarchical regression indicated that …

Provenance: The History Of Ownership Of A Valued Object Or Work Of Art Or Literature, James C. Schaap

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

Rapid Prototyping Of Low-Cost Sensor Systems Towards A Platform For Upper Limb Posture Estimation, Russell Rathbun

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Physical therapy requires patients to perform repeated actions to achieve meaningful results in rehabilitation. This thesis explores production methods and various sensor systems by utilizing rapid prototyping, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and capacitive sensor arrays (CSAs). CSAs can be made from a wide ar- ray of materials and techniques including 3d printing and laser ablation–to rapidly create CSAs that can be custom fit to enable proximity, force, and touch detection. IMU and CSA systems individually are able to track upper limb movements, ges- tures, and positions. This combination of sensors enables accurate upper limb pos- ture estimation of patients. This …

Does Digital Finance Foster Corporate Innovation? Evidence From China, Ning Gu, Ye Wang, Yu Liu, Chengbo Fu

Finance Faculty Publications

This study examines how digital finance foster corporate innovation. Unlike prior research focused on statistical associations, we investigate the underlying economic mechanisms driving that relationship. Using panel data of Chinese listed firms from 2013–2023, we show that digital finance stimulates corporate innovation through two primary channels. On the supply side, digital finance supports innovation by optimizing resource allocation, improving risk management, and providing high-quality information. On the demand side, digital finance stimulates the innovation needs of enterprises by improving their dynamic capabilities. Moreover, a favorable governance environment further amplifies these effects. Heterogeneity analysis reveals stronger impacts for large firms, firms …

Caring For Others And Self Care: Examining “Good” Care Among The Older Vietnamese Community In San José, California, Chloe Nguyen

Master's Theses

In this thesis, I present a study of the older Vietnamese community in San José, California. I explore the concept of "good" care through the anthropology of care, a conceptual framework that examines how care is understood and practiced across different cultural and social contexts. Using ethnographic methods, such as interviews and participant observation, I examine caregiving practices and experiences, as well as community members' perceptions of what constitutes "good" care. I draw on concepts of "good" care, reciprocal caregiving, and self-care to analyze themes that emerge from their caregiving practices and experiences. I also discuss caregiving at a distance …

Applying Entrustable Professional Activities Across Emergency Medicine Medical Education Fellowships: A Cross-Institutional Commentary, Carrie Maupin, Ambika Anand, Danielle Nesbit, Casey Morrone, Danielle Sultan

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Do Patient-Important Outcomes Differ By Care Setting? Findings From Semi-Structured Interviews With Individuals With Diabetes, Amy Cunningham, Alexzandra Gentsch, Pouya Arefi, Judd E. Hollander, Marianna D Lanoue, Amanda M. B. Doty, Geoffrey Mills, Brendan Carr, Kristin L. Rising

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

Background: Patient-important outcomes (PIOs) reflect patient values and preferences. Prior studies have elicited a variety of PIOs for diabetes. However, no studies have examined whether, or how, PIOs differ across diabetes care settings. The purpose of this study was to compare the frequencies of PIOs derived from patients with diabetes in primary care (PC), acute care (emergency department (ED)), and post-acute care (post-hospital discharge (PHD)) settings within a large delivery system. Methods: This study was an analysis of 89 interviews with patients in PC, ED, and PHD settings. Participants had moderately to poorly controlled diabetes, defined as follows: presented to …

A Content Analysis To Investigate The Evidence Of National And State Health And Physical Education Curriculum Standards In Illinois High Schools, Amber Lyn Stewart

Dissertations

Does curriculum in Illinois high schools have evidence of National and State Health and Physical Education Standards? This study consisted of a quantitative descriptive content analysis to examine the extent to which Illinois high school curriculum material included National and State physical education and health standards. The researcher utilized a rubric that was aligned to the three sets of standards: SHAPE America’s National Physical Education Standards; the National Health Education Standards; and the Illinois Learning Standards for Physical Development and Health. The primary aim was to thoroughly examine how the standards are currently integrated. Research Question 1 (RQ1) asked, “What …

Why The Triple Bottom Line Fails: Advancing The Jesuit Vision For Sustainability Education In Business, Trevor Zink, Melissa Fitzpatrick, Justin Nordin, Jeffrey S. Thies

Journal of Management for Global Sustainability

This paper critiques the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework as conceptually flawed and ethically insufficient for sustainability education in business. While the TBL aims to balance profit, people, and planet, its logic prioritizes profitability, rendering social and environmental goals conditional and marginal. We argue that this framing undermines critical thinking, moral imagination, and ecological literacy in business students—especially within Jesuit institutions, which are called to form conscientious leaders. Drawing on Jesuit educational tradition, we propose a reorientation of business purpose around economic sufficiency rather than profit maximization, guided by integral ecology and the common good. This shift invites a more …

Presenteeism Among Health Care Personnel With Covid-19, James C. Crosby, Eliezer Santos Leon, Brian Chinnock, Karisa K. Harland, Anusha Krishnadasan, Nicholas M. Mohr, Ian D. Plumb, Melissa Briggs Hagen, Kelli Wallace, David A. Talan, Anne Zepeski, Tracy Young, Howard A. Smithline, Lilly C. Lee, Stephen C. Lim, Gregory J. Moran, Mark T. Steele, David G. Beiser, John P. Haran, Peter C. Hou, Brett Faine, Utsav Nandi, Walter A. Schrading, Anne Chipman, Frank Lovecchio, Alysia Powers, Lisandra Uribe, Kavitha Pathmarajah, Dean M. Hashimoto, Chloe Namias, Efrat Kean, Elizabeth Krebs, Amy Stubbs, Sara Roy, Lucia Solis, Mary Mulrow, Nathan Graff, Jillian M Tozloski, William Mower, Jacqueline Caldera, Michelle Huber, Jacob Hampton, Abigail Lopes, Katherine Elkort, Stephanie A. Eucker, Carla Kingsbury, Jonathan Femling, Silas Bussmann, Jane Yee, Joseph Stuppy, Richard E. Rothman, Gaby Dashler, Marcel E. Curlin, Mastura Wahedi, Laurie Kemble

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Presenteeism-defined as continuing to work during an illness-poses a public health risk in the workplace and is especially hazardous within health care institutions where vulnerable patients may be exposed to nosocomial infections. Understanding the frequency and characteristics of health care personnel (HCP) who report presenteeism while ill with COVID-19 may help mitigate SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals and other health care institutions.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of presenteeism among HCP with symptomatic COVID-19, and to evaluate the demographic, occupational, and clinical factors associated with it.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This is an observational cohort study that uses data from …

Assessing U.S. Fatal & Nonfatal Injury Trends By Worker Age, Alexander Mcdaniel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Occupational injuries and fatalities in the United States have declined over time; however, meaningful differences by worker age remain a concern for employers and safety professionals. Younger workers often experience higher non-fatal injury rates due to limited experience and developing hazard-recognition skills, while older workers face increased risk of severe and fatal outcomes related to age-associated physical changes. The purpose of this study was to analyze long-term injury and fatality trends by age group and determine whether differences exist over time. National injury data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (1992–2023) and the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses …

A Model For Training Management System Implementation In Higher Education, David J. Rowe

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In an era where innovation and adaptability are critical to institutional success, the practical training and development of employees in higher education organizations have become essential. This study examined stakeholders’ perceptions of cloud-based Training Management System (TMS) implementation within California Higher Education systems, including both the California Community College (CCC) and the California State University (CSU). Although a TMS offers substantial benefits for administering training programs, large systems face challenges due to uneven adoption across campuses, leading to inefficiencies, regulatory non-compliance, and hindered workforce development. This research identified and evaluated technology, organizational, and environmental critical success factors influencing TMS implementation …

John Henryism And The African American Experience: An Exploration Of Risk And Protective Factors And Health Outcomes, Joseph L. Twitdy

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Racial discrimination has been tied to adverse mental and physical health outcomes among African Americans. In the face of this adversity, African Americans have developed strategies for coping with everyday experiences of discrimination. One such coping method is based on the concept of John Henryism. The folktale of John Henry tells the story of an African American steel-driver racing against a steam-powered drill to clear a path for trains through a mountain. Although John Henry wins the race, he later dies due to exhaustion, ultimately passing with his hammer in his hand. The psychological concept of John Henryism (JH) refers …

Comparing Profiles Of Impairment Among Children With Dmdd, Adhd, And Odd, Joanna Christmas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) has a high comorbidity rate with ADHD (Bruno et al., 2019), meaning that many children referred for ADHD evaluation may also meet criteria for DMDD. Additionally, the two disorders can have some similarity in how they present. Thus, clinicians who frequently assess children for ADHD could benefit from being aware of how measures commonly used in ADHD evaluations can also be useful in identifying characteristics of DMDD as well as patterns of impairment more specific to DMDD. The present study explored possible differences in parent and teacher ratings of child peer impairment as well as …

Educational Experiences And Educational Attainment Of Elementary Students From Low Socioeconomic Status Backgrounds: Sequential Mixed Methods Evidence From Texas, Morgann L. Hawkins

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds face significant challenges in their educational experiences and educational attainment, and this is due to barriers related to their identity and background, inadequate support systems, and a lack of understanding of the traumas they experience. This sequential mixed methods study contains the perceptions of teachers, teacher leaders, counselors, and campus leaders in four high-poverty elementary schools in one Texas school district about the educational experiences and educational attainment of students from low SES backgrounds. The informal literature review focused on six spaces: 1) child, family, and community; 2) students from low SES backgrounds; …

The Educational Experiences Of Low Socioeconomic, Hispanic, Emergent Bilingual, Elementary Students: A Sequential Mixed Methods Study From Texas, Kiley Schumacher

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The number of Hispanic students in Texas public schools has significantly increased over the past 20 years, yet their level of academic success continues to lag. Hispanic, emergent bilingual, low-socioeconomic, early elementary students face educational challenges related to barriers surrounding language and culture differences, limited resources, unmet needs, feelings of isolation, and an underprepared educational support system. This sequential mixed methods study reported on the perceptions of parents, teachers, and campus leaders in two Texas elementary schools regarding these students’ educational experiences. Guided by existence, relatedness, and growth theory, bioecological systems theory, and culturally responsive leadership theory, the study collected …

Glacial Deposits, Vol. 50, 2025, Illinois State University

Glacial Deposits

Newsletter of the Illinois State University Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment