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Insurance Under Fire: Assessing How California’S Insurance Industry Is Tackling The Wildfire Crisis And What’S Next, Mackenzie Paskerian

UC Law Journal

California is currently facing an insurance crisis. The increased impact of climate change, including extreme droughts and wildfires, poses new risks to the insurance industry, especially when it comes to homeowner’s insurance. Insurance providers have limited their homeowner coverage, with many companies leaving the state entirely due to the undervaluation of climate risk in the policies they provide. A so-called “climate insurance bubble” is already beginning to burst. The state’s last-resort public insurance program, the FAIR Plan, has expanded rapidly to fill in for the lack of insurance providers in the state. But because FAIR Plan policies are expensive and …

Locomotion And Balance Control In A Biped Robot With Continuum Legs And A Kangaroo-Inspired Tail, Gavin A. Platt

All Theses

This thesis work presents the design, testing, and validation of a continuum-legged biped robot equipped with a kangaroo inspired tail for enhanced stability and adaptability. Unlike traditional rigid link robots, this one expands on soft-legged robots and utilizes tendon-driven continuum robots to mimic octopus and kangaroo behavior for locomotion. The robot uses a hierarchical hybrid control framework to implement walking, obstacle avoidance, vaulting, and push recovery behaviors. To test the performance of the robot four sets of experiments were conducted to validate these systems and evaluate how they performed. The results demonstrate stable walking with rhythmic tail load transfer, effective …

What Should A Constitutional Law Casebook Be?, William Funk

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

What is the purpose of a “casebook”? It is not a “hornbook,” designed to summarize or explain the law in a specific area, generally aimed at law students or lawyers to provide a straightforward statement of the law. It is not a “treatise,” a comprehensive, systematic exposition of the law in a particular field, involving an in-depth analysis and interpretation of the law. And it is not a “study aid,” supplementary material designed to help students do better in their classes. It is the book used by professors in their classes. For professors of constitutional law, it is a tool …

Third-Person Direct-Object Anaphora In Translation From English Into Brazilian Portuguese: A Corpus-Based Study Of Juvenile Texts Reflecting Orality, Marcella Cascione Cerqueira Netto

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The third-person accusative clitics in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) are virtually extinct in spoken language and informal writing, although formal texts and contexts still retain them. Speakers often mark third-person direct objects using the stigmatized full pronouns (syncretic with the nominative forms), null objects, or full noun phrases (NPs), also referred to as lexical NPs. The realization of these forms is not arbitrary; it is influenced by the semantic properties of the referents, particularly animacy (mainly humanness) and specificity. Animate referents [+animate] tend to be realized with overt pronouns, whereas inanimate [–animate] ones tend to be used with null objects. This …

Exploring The Relationship Between Exercise, Social Support, And Mental Health, Emma Anderson

Honors Theses

This study explored the relationship between exercise, social support, and mental health in college students. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress are prevalent among college students. The two components that are experimented with for their potential in decreasing the effects of negative mental health are exercise and social support. This project executed a cross-sectional design by surveying three groups of college students: cycle class participants, independent exercisers, and non-active students. The recruitment process for the three groups of participants were key in measuring the physical activity levels. The participants were individually asked if they completed a specific …

Weathering Of Black Doulas In Hospitals: Challenges And Opportunities, Denise Elaine Bolds

Education Doctoral

Black maternal health continues to face significant disparities in the United States, highlighting the crucial role of Black Doulas in promoting birth equity (Declercq & Zephyrin, 2020; K. Taylor et al., 2023). This qualitative, phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 10 certified Black Doulas working in hospital settings nationwide. Guided by the weathering hypothesis (Geronimus, 1992, /2023), critical race feminist theory (Wing, 2020), Black feminist theory (Collins, 2000), Sojourner syndrome (Bailey, 2017), and the looking-glass self (Cooley, 1902), the study examined how systemic racism, occupational challenges, and advocacy fatigue intersect to shape their professional experiences.

Using semi-structured interviews, participants …

Influence Of Produced Water Runoff On Surface Water: A Statistical Analysis Of Water Quality In Petronilla Creek, Joshua Sierra

Water Resources Science and Technology Theses and Graduate Research Reports (Archived)

This case study research investigates the potential influence of produced water (PW), a byproduct of oil and gas (O&G) activities, on surface water quality. The study involved two sites along Petronila creek, located in Nueces County, with historical oil and gas presence. Data from nearby monitoring stations containing various water quality parameters typically associated with produced water, including total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride (Cl), sulfate (SO4), and specific conductance was used to perform a statistical analysis of spatial and temporal trends. Spatial comparisons were made between both sites and upstream, tributary, and downstream roles to test for variances in water …

Evaluating Nutrient Uptake Efficiency Of Texas Native Plants In Simulated Constructed Wetland Systems, Angelica Canizalez

Water Resources Science and Technology Theses and Graduate Research Reports (Archived)

Nutrient enrichment from wastewater effluent and runoff is a major driver of eutrophication in freshwater systems, increasing the need for effective and ecologically beneficial treatment strategies. Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer a nature-based solution for reducing nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) while simultaneously supporting habitat and biodiversity. However, most CW research has focused on traditional species such as cattails and bulrushes, with limited quantitative data on the performance of Texas native plants. This study evaluated the nutrient uptake potential and stress tolerance of two Texas native species—buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) and Maximilian sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)—in simulated, recirculating wetland systems.

Increasing Soil Health In Zero-Grade, Flood-Irrigated Rice In Eastern Arkansas, Hannah Elizabeth Vickmark

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to build and maintain soil health and sequester soil C, many producers and researchers are turning towards regenerative management practices in agricultural systems, such as reduced tillage or no-tillage (NT), the implementation of winter cover crops (CC), and the use of organic or green manures, such as biochar. However, little research is being conducted on the long-term soil health and agronomic benefits of these practices in a flood-irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) production system. Three replications of seven treatment combinations were applied to 6.1 x 30.5 m rice plots. Baseline soil health properties were quantified at six …

Public Perceptions Of Sexual And Dating Violence: How Attitudes On Sexual Education, Pornography, And Masculinity Relate To Rape Myth Acceptance, Bailey Lane Saldana

Dissertations

Rape myths are false beliefs that explain sexual violence, and uphold current beliefs on sexual violence (Payne, Lonsway, & Fitzgerald, 1999). These myths can be learned and reinforced through a variety of sources, including formal school-based sexual education programs, pornography consumption, and peers. Through two studies, sexual education and rape myth were examined. In the first study, an exploratory content analysis of state sexual education guidelines was completed to better understand what information and guidance is provided by states to those providing sexual education. In the second study, a sample of 420 U.S. adults completed a factorial survey experiment wherein …

"Gross Normality" And "Marked Deviation": A Qualitative Study Of Disability Theory In Three Periods Of Sociological Literature, Kelsey Sullivan

Masters Theses

In the 20th century, three theoretical perspectives concurrently dominated sociological discussions of disability. Functionalism and Talcott Parsons argued for a pathologized framework in the form of a “sick role” occupied by disabled people. Interactionism and Erving Goffman emphasized the stigmas faced by individual disabled people, and the ripple-effects of those stigmas. Finally, disabled activists, inspired by social constructionism, championed the social model of disability. This model purported that disability is a social condition, resulting from systemic barriers imposed upon people who do not fit the mental or physiological norm. This project, through a content analysis of 30 historical journal articles, …

...Of Cabbages And Kings, Fall 2025, Emeriti Society, University Of The Pacific

Emeriti Newsletter: "...Of Cabbages and Kings"

"...Of Cabbages and Kings" is the newsletter of the University of the Pacific Emeriti Society. Read more about the Emeriti Society of Pacific by clicking here.

The Fate Of Meaning In An Age Of Machines: A Nietzschean Warning On Artificial Intelligence, Graham Johnston

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Artificial intelligence is quickly taking precedent in lives all over the world. It has emerged as one of the most controversial inventions of the 21st century, and represents a larger digital shift that is being taken among first world society. As our lives shift into unprecedented digitized territory, new technology brings more questions than answers, but there seems to be no slowing down despite patches of uncertainty. AI brings new forms of innovation to the table that drastically change the way humans interact with productivity as a whole. When these factors are observed from a philosophical lens, patterns arise that …

A Faith-Based Approach To Mental Health Challenges, Patrick Leblanc

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This project sheds light on mental health issues within the Black community and the need for faith communities to intentionally address mental health issues in communities of color. Black men are oppressed by an interplay of cultural, historical, societal, and economic factors that impact their well-being. Racial discrimination and oppression are non-medical drivers exacerbating mental health disorders among Black men. The influences of culture and faith fabricate barriers to help-seeking behavior, and mistaken perceptions of masculinity cause many men to suffer in silence. To begin erasing derogatory perceptions of mental health disorders, faith communities need to increase mental health …

Student Perceptions Of The Impact Of Faculty Race And Gender On Their Sense Of Connectedness, Engagement, And Persistence, Sherrie Y. Fuller

Dissertations

This quantitative study examined how faculty demographic characteristics, specifically race and gender, influence undergraduate students’ perceptions of connectedness, engagement, and persistence at a public Midwestern university. Guided by Tinto’s Model of Student Integration (1975, 1993, 2012), the research explored whether perceived alignment between student and faculty identities contributes to students’ sense of belonging and motivation to persist toward degree completion. Data were collected from 100 undergraduate participants representing diverse racial, gender, and academic backgrounds. Participants completed a researcher-developed survey instrument utilizing a four-point Likert scale to measure connectedness, engagement, and persistence.

Patch Mow Grazing: Investigating The Effects Of Mowing On Forage Nutritive Value, The Biomass–Nutritive Value Relationship, And Herbivore Selection, Trace R. Stauble

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Herbivore foraging behavior plays a critical role in shaping grassland structural heterogeneity, with selection often driven by forage biomass and nutritive value. Currently, it is thought that herbivores primarily select areas that are greater in nutritive value, and low in biomass. More specifically, disturbances like fire and grazing have been thoroughly studied showing that recently burned and grazed areas are not only higher in nutritive value but disproportionately selected by herbivores in comparison to undisturbed areas. However, most studies address only narrow ranges of defoliation, comparing intensely defoliated sites (< 10 cm) to those that are either not defoliated or have experienced a much longer time since defoliation, thereby decreasing grazing pressure as biomass increases. However, one of the most widely used methods of defoliation in grasslands, mowing, hasn’t been thoroughly studied for its effects on nutritive value, and how it impacts herbivore selection. Our study aimed to (1) evaluate how mowing treatments—i.e., short (5 cm), medium (18 cm), and tall (>30 cm, unmown)—affect nutritive value and herbivore selection, (2) assess …

Cover Crop Influence On Arthropod Biodiversity And Soil–Water Dynamics In A Semi-Arid Maize–Soybean Sequence Of The Nebraska High Plains, Carlos Eduardo De Oliveira Martins

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With the expansion of cover crop (CC) use in semi-arid regions, producers in the Nebraska High Plains are increasingly interested in understanding how CCs influence both beneficial arthropods and soil-water within maize-soybean (Zea mays L., Glycine max [L.] Merr.) rotations. Integrating CCs in these systems can enhance soil water availability and beneficial insect activity, but potential trade-offs include higher early-season water use by CCs and the risk of increasing potential pest populations. This thesis addresses these questions through two complementary studies conducted under field conditions near Brule, Nebraska. The first study evaluated the effects of a multi-species CC mixture …

Post-Fire Soil Health Assessment Of The Grasslands And Woodlands In The Semi-Arid Nebraska Sandhills, Stephanie M. Lugo

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grasslands in the Nebraska Sandhills are shaped by natural wildfires, which help maintain the structure and function of native grasslands. In recent decades, afforestation with ponderosa pine and eastern redcedar has introduced new woodlands that altered the region’s fire dynamics and raised important questions about the effects of wildfire on different vegetation types. As wildfires become more frequent, understanding their impacts on soil health in grasslands and woodlands becomes increasingly important. This study examines the short-term effects of the 2022 Bovee Fire on physical, chemical, and biological soil properties in native grasslands and ponderosa pine and eastern redcedar afforested woodlands. …

Improving The Effectiveness Of The Teacher Professional Learning Communities In Secondary Education, Oscar A. Urieta

Education Theses and Dissertations

This Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice investigated how to enhance the relevance, effectiveness, and teacher ownership of grade-level Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) at a university-affiliated charter school in East Texas. Despite the district’s strong STEM and Project-Based Learning (PBL) emphasis, 60% of high school teachers reported that PLCs felt irrelevant, administratively driven, or misaligned with their daily instructional needs. Using Improvement Science methodologies, including Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles, root-cause analysis, a driver diagram, and embedded collaborative structures, this study implemented targeted interventions aimed at shifting teacher perceptions and strengthening PLC practices. Interventions centered on aligning PLC agendas with PBL, implementing structured …

Ending The Cycle: A New Approach To Decriminalize Mental Illness, Paige E. Kohn

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

Today, America faces a health paradox: the nation’s largest jails are the nation’s largest psychiatric institutions. In a criminal justice system designed for punishment, solutions like mental health units or mental health courts try to address this contradiction. Yet, if mental illness is a health issue, and not a criminal issue, then increased investments in the criminal justice system seem misplaced. Instead, a more promising approach is to stop the mentally ill from entering the criminal justice system at all.

This article presents just that: a new approach to decriminalize mental illness. Viewed under an overarching “health justice” lens, the …

Reframing Fitness And Nutrition For Women: Understanding Hormonal And Metabolic Differences, Brooke J. Luecke

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores how women can consider approaching fitness, nutrition, and recovery based on the physiological differences between men and women. While much of the existing fitness and nutrition research has been based on male participants generalized to women, this paper aims to woman-centric, tailored recommendations. By focusing on hormonal cycles, metabolism, and muscle physiology, my paper will suggest a need for women to adjust their exercise and dietary practices for optimal health outcomes, including fat loss and raised energy levels. My suggestions in this paper are supported by the latest research, including Dr. Stacy Sims' insights on female health, …

Impact Of Equipment Type On Measured Particle Size Of Civil Engineering Materials, Tanner Turben, Tasnimul R. Ferdous, Andrew Braham, Wen Zhang

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Particle size analysis (PSA) captures the size distribution of finely graded materials with particles generally smaller than 1000 microns. Many civil engineering materials do not leverage PSA for material specifications or acceptance despite the insight into material performance and quality gained through understanding the particle size. The objectives of this study are to compare PSA measurement principles by testing 13 civil engineering materials by laser diffraction, Coulter counter, and microscopy. Asphalt emulsions, cementitious materials, sands, clays, and biological samples were selected to represent a wide set of interests and shapes. It was found that between laser diffraction and Coulter counter …

Supporting Student Success Through Emergency Food Assistance At Csumb, Axel C. Amaro

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Food insecurity among college students is an urgent social justice issue that limits equal access to food and well-being. This capstone project was conducted through the Basic Needs organization at California State University Monterey Bay. The purpose of this project was to reduce food insecurity by implementing an external resource within Basic Needs that distributes emergency food packages to students experiencing high levels of need. Utilizing data from the Hub membership direct outreach tracker, a CHHS intern collaborated with an MSW intern and professional staff to assemble tailored food packages using items donated from Trader Joe's and Safeway. The project …

Bridging The Digital Divide: Educating Older Adults To Recognize And Prevent Scams, Isabella S. Chan

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The older adult community, especially those 60 years and older, is a frequent target of scams and financial exploitation. When an individual is scammed, and with the likelihood of older adults choosing not to report, many do not recover their money (CFPB 2022). Social isolation and cognitive decline are significant factors that increase an older adult’s susceptibility to scams; however, digital literacy and their lack of understanding of technology are also obstacles to detecting a scammer’s deception. In response to these concerns, I created an hour-long presentation to educate and bring awareness to older adults about scams and how to …

Impact Of Polystyrene Nanoplastics On Oncogenic Signaling Pathways In Prostate Cells, Luis Alfonso Adel-Alvarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PC) remains the most prevalent malignant disease among the male population worldwide, with a dramatic increase observed in the European Union from the 1980s to the 2000s. The etiology of PC is attributed to both hereditary factors and environmental pollutants. Among these, endocrine disruptors and polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) interact with the prostate gland via the circulatory system, inducing intense oxidative stress. This study aims to characterize, for the first time, the pathobiological effects of PSNPs in both non-malignant (RWPE1) and malignant (22RV1) prostate cell lines. The objective was to elucidate the mechanisms by which environmental pollutants, such as …

Enduring Efffects Of Juvenile Fluoxetine Exposure On Serotonin Transporter Expression Within The Hippocampus And Prefrontal Cortex Of Male C57bl/6 Mice, Daniel Eduardo Calvo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Prescription rates of fluoxetine, the most dispensed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, have been rising among the juvenile population. Since adolescence is a critical developmental period in which the brain undergoes pruning, chronic increases in serotonin levels may lead to long-term neurobiological changes in brain regions responsible for emotional regulation. Thus, using mice as a model system, this thesis evaluated how adolescent fluoxetine exposure (AFE) influences the expression of serotonin transporters (SERT) in the adult hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. To do this, postnatal day (PD)-35 male C57BL/6 mice were administered with fluoxetine (250 mg/l in their drinking water) for 15 consecutive …

Dolphins ‘Orient-Against-Current’: Foraging In Dredged Channels, Eliza M.M. Mills, Sarah Piwetz, Dara N. Orbach

Marine Science

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) are opportunistic foragers with global distributions that utilize diverse feeding tactics based on environmental factors, habitat features, prey behavior, group dynamics, and genetics. We describe a unique foraging tactic regularly observed in the confluence of dredged shipping channels with high anthropogenic disturbance, and explore potential abiotic (temporal, tidal, habitat) drivers of the behavior. A shore-based digital theodolite was used from 2021 to 2022 to observe common bottlenose dolphins (T. truncatus) foraging within a current in a technique we term Orient-Against-Current (OAC). During OAC, dolphins position themselves facing into the flow of a current, swimming at a …

Age, Growth, Diet And Reproduction Of African Pompano (Alectis Ciliaris), Clinton J. Moran, Jonathan Tucker, Callie H. Crawford

Biology

Understanding the life history traits of ecologically and economically important fish species is critical for effective management. This study provides the first detailed analysis of age, growth, diet and reproductive characteristics of African pompano (Alectis ciliaris) from the southeastern United States, expanding upon prior work from the Western Arabian Gulf. A total of 54 specimens were collected off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina when they were available during the 2024 fishing season (May–October). Age was determined via otolith sectioning, and growth was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function (L∞ = 96.61 cm, K = 0.689, t0 = …

Fisheries Research Report No. 363 : South-West Freshwater Angling: Estimates Of Participation, Effort And Catch For 2024/25, Claire B. Smallwood, Karina L. Ryan, Eva Lai

Fisheries Research Reports

South-West Freshwater Angling (SWFA) in Western Australia is a licensed fishery primarily targeting the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) and Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), which are stocked in selected dams and rivers, as well as the introduced Redfin Perch (Perca fluviatilis) and the native Freshwater Cobbler (Tandanus bostocki). Since 2000/01, annual phone-recall surveys have been undertaken using the SWFA licence database as the sampling frame. This monitoring provides information to understand the fishery and support future management decisions. For the first time, data are reported by basin for different waterbody types (public dams, rivers) as well as for specific key fishing …

Losing Control: Evaluative Access And The Limits Of Attributability In Angela Smith’S Theory Of Moral Responsibility, Henry Kissam

Honors Theses

The unwilling addict agent archetype–who wholeheartedly resolves to abstain from taking a drug but takes it regardless–is important to moral responsibility theorists for many reasons, but two in particular stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. The first is the frequency with which the archetype must be reckoned with through our everyday practices of moral assessment. It is not an idle thought experiment, pushing nothing but the theoretical limits of a particular theory. It is a near-ubiquitous presence in real, practical moral assessment. The second reason is a consequence of the first. Because we deal with the archetype frequently, we morally assess …