Individual Differences Provide A Nuanced Understanding Of The Contributions Of Age, Experience, And Level Played To Superior Perceptual-Cognitive-Motor Skill, Khaya Morris-Binelli, Minerva A. Westbrook, Benjamin Piggott, Sean Müller, Paola Chivers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Theories of expertise either predict superior performance is due to monotonic and progressive exposure to a domain task or due to non-linear exposure to a domain. The aim of this study was to explore the predictions of these theories by use of an individual differences approach to investigate how age, experience, and level played within a sample of athletes with high expertise contributes to superior perceptual-cognitive-motor skill. Twenty-seven players sampled from junior rugby union high-performance pathways and professional rugby union teams in Australia completed an in-situ perceptual-cognitive-motor test involving four attackers and three defenders. Participants were presented with scenarios representative …

Protocol For An Integrative Meta-Analysis Of The Application Of Machine Learning Algorithms In The Prediction Of Chronic Disease Risks And Outcomes, Ebenezer Afrifa-Yamoah, Emmanuel Peprah-Yamoah, Enoch Odame Anto, Victor Opoku-Yamoah, Eric Adua

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Precise risk prediction of chronic diseases is essential for effective preventive care and management. Machine learning (ML) is a promising avenue to enhance chronic disease risk prediction; however, a comprehensive assessment of ML performance across various chronic diseases, populations, and health settings is needed. Methods: This meta-analysis aims to synthesize evidence on the performance of ML techniques for predicting the risks and outcomes of chronic diseases. A literature search was conducted through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Medline, and Embase. Studies applying ML techniques to predict chronic disease risks or outcomes and reporting performance metrics were included. …

Signs Of Democratic Resilience Following Aotearoa New Zealand’S March 15th Mosque Attacks, Claire Fitzpatrick, Emily Beausoleil

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Political responses to extremist attacks and other forms of social trauma might be deemed ‘resilient’ insofar as they restore order and security but can undermine democratic ideals and practices. This article offers an evaluative framework for democratic resilience to make sense of public discourse in the aftermath of extremist attacks. We argue that a democratically resilient response entails five necessary dimensions, each of which is required for dialogue across difference capable of ‘working through’ social trauma within the democratic polity. We then apply this framework to analyse the March 15 2019 mosque attacks in Aotearoa New Zealand, using mixed methods …

The Somatechnics Of Journalism: Applying An Embodied Perspective To Enduring Issues In Journalism Studies, Laura Glitsos, Mark Deuze

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research applies Somatechnics to the study of journalism and contributes to an emergent epistemological “bodily turn” in the discipline of Journalism Studies. This is a turn toward the body, embodied experience, and the inevitable emotionality of journalism and the journalist as brought forth by Chantal Francoeur and Belinda Middleweek, among others. We invite journalism scholars (and practitioners) to understand journalists’ bodies as sophisticated organic technologies—and to subsequently understand how those bodies are further transmogrified by, and collapsed into, the ever-changing world of news media. We deploy a process of retheorising as a qualitative method in which researchers apply new …

Training Load Influences Gut Microbiome Of Highly Trained Rowing Athletes, B. Charlesson, J. Jones, C. Abbiss, P. Peeling, S. Watts, C. T. Christophersen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Despite the importance of the gut microbiome on physical performance and health, little is known on the impact of training on an athlete’s gut health. Objective: This study investigates the effect of training load on markers of gut health. Methods: Whole stool (24 h) samples were collected from 23 highly trained rowers (mean ± SD; age 19.2 ± 1.1 y; weight 80.1 ± 11.4 kg; height 1.83 ± 0.09 m) following periods of high (HT) and low training load (LT). The microbiome and short-chain fatty acid concentrations were characterized from the whole stool samples. Three-day weighted food records were …

Empowerment Through Choice: The Interplay Of Choice And Control After Spinal Cord Or Brain Injury, Gisela Van Kessel, Shylie Mackintosh, Carolyn M. Murray, Michelle Guerin, Caroline Elizabeth Fryer, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To gain knowledge of the early phase post-injury experiences related to choice and control for individuals living with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury, as well as their caregivers. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to understand the experiences of individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and their caregivers in the early phase post-injury, focusing on the aspects of choice and control. Nine individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and four of their caregivers participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews, and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes …

Changes In Peripapillary Perfusion And Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer In Diabetic Iraqi Patients, Rand Abdulghani, Najah Mohammed

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of acquired blindness through retinal microvascular and neurodegenerative changes. Studying peripapillary vascular density (PPVD) through Optical coherence tomography and angiography (OCT & OCTA) imaging can offer insight into the effect of these changes and aid in management.Aim of the study: To assess the correlation between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (PRNFL) thickness and peripapillary region perfusion through vascular density in various stages of diabetic retinopathy.Patients and methods: This is a comparative case–control study. Participants underwent an optic nerve head OCT and OCTA to measure PRNFL thickness, and peripapillary vascular density (PPVD) using …

Evaluation Of The Immunohistochemical Expression Of Cyclin D1 In Colorectal Carcinoma, Maab Hameed, Nadwa Alazzo

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Cyclin D1, a main regulatory protein in the cell cycle, is encoded by the CCND1 gene, located on chromosome 11q13, and over-expression of this protein interrupts normal cell cycle control, hence encouraging the development and progression of cancer. The up-regulation of cyclin D1 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis and metastases of colorectal cancer, and appears to be a useful prognostic marker for colorectal cancer.Objective: To evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of Cyclin D1 in colorectal carcinoma cases. To assess its association with other clinicopathological features.Patients and method: In this prospective and retrospective case series study, fifty cases of …

Soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1(Svacm-1) In Hemophilic Arthropathy, Shahad Abdulrahman, Abeer Ahmed

Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Background: Hemophilic arthropathy is the most common chronic complication in individuals with hemophilia, leading to significant joint damage and reduced quality of life. It shares inflammatory characteristics with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), prompting interest in biomarkers like soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), which is known to be elevated in RA and other inflammatory conditions. This study aimed to explore the clinical relevance of sVCAM-1 as a potential biomarker in hemophilic arthropathy. Aims: To estimate plasma levels of sVCAM-1 in hemophilia patients compared to healthy controls. To compare sVCAM-1 levels between hemophilia patients with and without arthropathy. To correlate sVCAM-1 levels …

Mr Ng Leung-Sing, Sbs, Jp 吳亮星先生, Sbs, Jp

Honorary Fellowship 榮譽院士

No abstract provided.

A Review Of The Summer Treatment Program (Stp) For Youth With Callous-Unemotional (Cu) Traits: Moving Past The “Untreatable” Hypothesis, Daniel A. Waschbusch, Pevitr S. Bansal, Michael T. Willoughby

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Youth with both callous-unemotional (CU) traits and conduct problems (CP) present a significant challenge for treatment due to their disruptive and aggressive behaviors. While traditional interventions often show significant but insufficiently positive effects, the Summer Treatment Program (STP), an intensive behavior therapy program, has shown promise in addressing these challenges. This review examines the existing research on the STP’s effectiveness for youth with CP and CU (CPCU), highlighting its potential to improve behavioral outcomes and treatment response. However, limitations such as small sample sizes, lack of long-term follow-up, and potential iatrogenic effects are also acknowledged. The review then proposes several …

Disentangling The Association Between Cognitive Flexibility And Anxiety In Autistic Youth: Real-World Flexibility Versus Performance-Based Task Switching, Farah Mahmud, Erin Kang, Rachel G. Mcdonald, Drew Wallace, Carrie Masia Warner

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Introduction: Anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among autistic youth yet remain under-recognized and undertreated, in part, due to a limited conceptual understanding of autistic cognition. Emerging evidence suggests that autistic differences in cognitive flexibility (CF) may be associated with a greater likelihood of developing and maintaining anxiety symptoms, relative to non-autistic youth. However, further work is needed to elucidate mechanisms of anxiety vulnerability that could inform potential targets for anxiety treatment in autistic youth. The current study aims to examine the associations between CF and anxiety in this population. Given the complexity of CF as a multifaceted construct, we used …

Impact Of Computer-Mediated Versus Face-To-Face Motivational-Type Interviews On Participants’ Language And Subsequent Cannabis Use: Randomized Controlled Trial, Karla D. Llanes, Jon Amastae, Paul C. Amrhein, Nadra Lisha, Katherina Arteaga, Eugene Lopez, Roberto A. Moran, Lawrence D. Cohn

Department of Psychology Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) is frequently used to facilitate behavior change. The use of change talk during motivational interviews can predict subsequent behavior change. However, no studies have compared the information obtained from traditional face-to-face motivational interviews and computer-mediated motivational interviews or resulted in the same amount of behavior change. Objective: This study aimed to investigate if face-to-face motivational-type interviews (MTIs) and computer-mediated MTIs elicit the same amount of “change talk” and behavior change when young adults discuss their ambivalence about using marijuana. Methods: A total of 150 users, including frequent marijuana users, occasional marijuana users, and non–marijuana users, participated …

The San Francisco Bay Area’S Vulnerability To Sea Level Rise: Integrating Community Engagement And Equity Into Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning, Isabella Marie Carreon

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis examines the San Francisco Bay Area’s vulnerability to sea-level rise (SLR), highlighting the importance of equity and community engagement in adaptation planning. The study integrates geospatial data and qualitative community input using a GIS Story Map to identify Points of Interest (POIs)—such as schools, hospitals, and public transportation routes—and assess SLR vulnerabilities across social, economic, geographic, and contamination dimensions. Case studies, such as the Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan, demonstrate the limitations of large-scale policies in accommodating diverse communities and highlight the effectiveness of community-driven strategies. The thesis also explores innovative approaches to community engagement in educational settings and …

“Regression To The Mean”: The Confluence Of Eugenics And Statistics In The 19th And 20th Centuries, Emrys G. King

Pomona Senior Theses

The work of this thesis is twofold — first, qualitatively characterizing the confluence between the British eugenics and statistics movements in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and second, quantitatively analyzing the effect of this foundation on pedagogical materials in the growing field of statistics between 1880 and 1970. Towards the first goal, the history of the method of least squares, state statistics, and positive and negative eugenics are outlined, followed by a close reading of the foundational texts authored by Francis Galton and Karl Pearson that introduced linear regression. Towards the latter goal, English-language statistics textbooks published between …

From Feedlot To Floor Vote: ​​How Animal Agribusiness Wields Power To Capture The American State, Hannah Hughes

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis examines how large-scale animal agriculture operations exercise disproportionate political influence to shape regulatory policy in their favor, often at the expense of environmental protection and public health. Through analysis of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), this study demonstrates how the animal agribusiness industry has systematically captured regulatory processes at federal, state, and local levels. The research traces industrial animal agriculture's development in the 21st century and its environmental consequences. The analysis reveals significant gaps in federal oversight, examining how the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act have proven inadequate in regulating CAFO operations. At the state level, …

Biomechanics Of The Atherosclerotic Lipidome: (Un)Expected Statin Interactions And Membrane Remodelling, Ethan M. Fong

Pomona Senior Theses

Statins interact with lipid membranes in ways that shape their pharmacokinetics, off-target effects, and pleiotropic actions, yet these interactions' mechanical and biophysical consequences remain poorly understood. This thesis employs a combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR), quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D), and rheological modelling to characterize how representative statins intercalate within biomimetic supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) of healthy and diseased composition. SPR reveals that lipophilic statins exhibit higher apparent affinities and slower dissociation kinetics, especially in cholesterol- and anionic lipid-rich membranes. QCM-D analyses demonstrate that statins alter membrane mass, dissipation, and interfacial stiffness in a statin- and membrane-dependent …

Behavior Or Diagnosis? Comparing Explicit And Implicit Biases Of School-Based Professionals Towards Adhd And Asd, Vincent Rutherford

Pomona Senior Theses

Previous research shows bias against people with ADHD and ASD both in and outside of the classroom and demonstrates that access to a diagnosis impacts educator’s beliefs about a child. ADHD and ASD have a high level of diagnostic co-occurrence, as well as symptom overlap beneath the clinical threshold. The current study uses a vignette-length description of a student, an explicit bias questionnaire, and an Implicit Association Test to assess the relationship between implicit and explicit bias, as well as how educator bias is impacted by the diagnosis they have access to. Results suggest no statistically significant differences between explicit …

January 2025 News, Office Of Sustainability

Office of Sustainability Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Ultra-Processed Food Intake And Dietary Intake Behaviors In Young Adults, Alexandra Black Larcom

Open Access Dissertations

Ultra-processed food (UPF) intake has been positively associated with adverse health outcomes and poor diet quality (DQ). UPFs tend to be of lower nutritional quality (NQ) than less processed foods, though NQ varies widely within each category of food processing. Young adults are the highest consumers of UPF, but UPF intake and related behaviors have not been examined in college students, a key subset of young adults. UPF overconsumption at meals has been proposed as a mechanism for the association between UPF intake, poor DQ, and adverse health outcomes, though no existing studies have considered NQ. Further, consumer understanding of …

Assessing Distribution And Density Changes Of The Ecosystem Engineers, Rockweed And Kelp, In Narragansett Bay, Ri, Rebecca Venezia

Open Access Dissertations

Climate change and anthropogenic stressors in marine costal habitats include increased sea surface temperatures (SST) and precipitation. The impacts of these stressors can affect ecosystem engineer species, which create three-dimensional habitat space in and provide various ecosystem services that modify and maintain ecosystem resources. In Narragansett Bay, RI, USA there is anecdotal evidence that the habitat forming species of kelp, Saccharina latissima, and rockweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus spp, are changing but few long-term studies have been conducted to verify this. We compared the historical studies from the 1960s to 2010s on seaweeds in Narraganset Bay to modern SCUBA …

Microplastics Detection, Characterization, And Cytotoxicity Evaluation Via Lab-On-Chip, Liyuan Gong

Open Access Dissertations

Microplastics (MPs) pose a growing challenge to the ecological system, prompting increasing research efforts in diverse directions. Accurate characterization of MPs is essential for understanding their properties, relying on efficient sampling and detection techniques. Additionally, studying the cytotoxic effects of MPs is critical for evaluating their impact on biological systems. Lab-on-chip (LoC) systems offer significant advantages for precise particle manipulation and compatibility with advanced analytical instrumentation, making them valuable for MP detection and characterization. Microfluidic-based on-chip cell-culturing systems provide a controllable, physiologically relevant microenvironment for more realistic in vitro tissue modeling. By leveraging advanced LoC concepts and integrating state-of-the-art machine …

Analysis Of Early Interventions To Retain Underrepresented Students In Computer Science, Michael Conti

Open Access Dissertations

Computer science, like many STEM disciplines, faces persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining women and individuals from racially and ethnically minoritized backgrounds. This study examines whether targeted interventions can produce sustained improvements in academic performance and sense of belonging among these underrepresented groups. By analyzing longitudinal data, this research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions in promoting equity and persistence in computer science education.

Using An Ecological And Cultural Lens To Examine The 1st Year Persistence And Science Identity Development Of At-Risk Biology Students Experiencing Multiple Equity-Minded High Impact Practices, Aura Fajardo Grandidge

Open Access Dissertations

In this study, I used an ecological and a cultural perspective to examine the first-year experiences of two cohorts of biology students exposed to multiple equity-minded High Impact Practices (HIPs) designed to promote their persistence and science identity development.

In chapter 1, I applied Graham et al.’s Persistence Framework (2013) and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory (1977) to investigate the bridges and barriers to persistence that biology students face while experiencing either an equity minded learning community, a first-year seminar, a course-based research experience, and/or an active learning introductory biology course. Using a mixed methods approach that focused on phenomenology, I …

The Chemical Ecology Of A Caribbean Boulder Coral During Restoration And The Interplay Between Fish Predation And Microbiome Variation, Catherine E. Raker

Open Access Dissertations

Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet. In recent decades, however, climate change and other global threats have caused severe declines in live coral cover worldwide. Coral propagation, or “gardening,” is a popular strategy to attempt to restore healthy corals to degraded reefs. Slow-growing boulder corals are often restored using microfragmentation, where cutting coral colonies into roughly 1 cm² fragments can increase their growth rates up to 5x. However, extreme early mortality of fragments has been observed in the field, which has been at least partially attributed to predation. It has been …

Identifying Optimal Temperature Ranges That Support Juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus Tshawytscha) Growth In The Klamath Basin, Isabelle Shirah

IdeaFest 2025

This project looks at yearly temperature ranges and growth metrics for fish sampled at three sites along the Klamath basin.

James' Fabulous Mobile Dog Food Pantry: A Grassroots Initiative!, James Brother

IdeaFest 2025

I developed a mobile dog food pantry to meet the needs of unsheltered pets across Humboldt County. Using donations from various sources and implementing similar models used by local nonprofits, I developed access to pet food in areas with an unmet need.

A Picc Dislodgement And Securement Solution, Judah O’Shaughnessy

IdeaFest 2025

This research project introduces a quality improvement initiative aimed at reducing or eliminating the risks associated with peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dislodgement. While PICCs are a valuable and useful tool at providing safe and effective intravenous medication administration, they do have the vulnerability of dislodgement which can have catastrophic consequences resulting in patient harm or death. Nurse-led implementation of the subcutaneously anchored securement system and interventions at the patient, department, and policy level can reduce or eliminate PICC dislodgement and the risk associated with inadequate PICC securement.

Alcohol Use Disorder In Humboldt, Emily Monahan

IdeaFest 2025

Residents of Humboldt County have a higher-than-average incidence of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) when compared to the rest of California and the US. Local youth report drinking alcohol at a younger age, and more frequently than average. Alcohol related hospital admissions are frequent for those who have AUD. Addressing the problem starts at early intervention in adolescents and continues through adulthood. Humboldt county lacks resources for those suffering from AUD and a specialized detox facility would decrease the amount of hospital admissions for alcohol related diagnoses. Making these resources and facilities available to Humboldt County residents could help reduce Alcohol …

Fawn Awareness - A Health Education Initiative, Jessica De Laguna

IdeaFest 2025

"Fawn Awareness" is a year-long health education initiative highlighting the often-overlooked fourth stress response: Fawn, or the “Submit” response. Seen across the animal kingdom, submission can be just as vital for survival as fight, flight, or freeze. In humans, Fawn often develops in childhood as a way to maintain a sense of security with inconsistent caregivers, later manifesting as difficulty setting boundaries and chronic people-pleasing. This project includes a YouTube video, news article, and research paper featuring expert insight and real-life anecdotes to raise awareness and promote mental health through understanding this misidentified trauma response.