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Commencement Program (Fall 2025), Csusb

CSUSB Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Constitutional Law—Prepared For What? Oregon Officials Granted Immunity After Failing To Prioritize Inmates In Covid-19 Vaccines—Maney V. Brown, 91 F.4th 1296 (9th Cir. 2024), Emily Riccio

Suffolk Journal of Trial and Appellate Advocacy

No abstract provided.

Plasmonic Nanopore Sensing For The Characterization Of Viruses And Biomolecules, Scott Renkes

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

The rapid advancement of nanomedicine has enabled increasingly precise nanotherapeutic platforms, including targeted nanoparticles, monoclonal antibodies, and viral gene delivery vectors. As these technologies mature, quality control and analytical characterization have emerged as critical bottlenecks, particularly in systems where functional outcomes depend on one-to-one molecular or particle–biological interactions. Conventional ensemble-averaged techniques obscure heterogeneity that is often central to therapeutic efficacy, safety, and manufacturability. A prominent example is adeno-associated virus (AAV)–based gene therapy, where production yields heterogeneous populations of empty, partially loaded, and fully loaded capsids. Genome fill percentage and integrity directly influence therapeutic efficacy and dosing accuracy, while limited understanding …

Gc-Ms, Gc-Fid, And Icp-Oes Analysis Of Produced Water: Characterization, Method Comparison And Environmental Implications, Anush Pabley

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

This thesis presents a comprehensive analytical investigation of produced water samples from various oil and gas extraction sites using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Produced water, a significant byproduct of hydrocarbon extraction, contains complex mixtures of organic and inorganic compounds that present analytical challenges and environmental concerns. This research focuses on comparing analytical methodologies, identifying chemical constituents, and evaluating the performance of these techniques against established reference data.

The study analyzed multiple produced water samples for organic compounds using EPA Methods 8260 and 8270, and for elemental composition …

Next-Gen Device For Uniform Cellular Migration Assay Execution, Nicholas M. Bittner

Theses and Dissertations

Cellular migration assays, particularly scratch assays, are pivotal in biomedical research for cell motility, wound healing, and metastasis. However, conventional scratch assays suffer from variability due to operator dependence, non-uniform scratch geometry, and a modified microenvironment that impacts reproducibility. This thesis presents the development and validation of a low-cost, 3D-printed device designed to standardize cellular migration assays. The device utilizes a spring mechanism and a biocompatible elastomer to create a uniform cellular exclusion zone without harming the surrounding cells. Through iterative prototyping and testing with MCF10A cell lines, the device demonstrated a significantly lower average standard deviation of length compared …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Additive Manufactured Functional Composites For Biomedical Applications, Alexander Thorne

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the synthesis and characterization of 3D printed polymer composites, with engineered porosity and both natural and synthetic additives, using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and selective laser sintering (SLS) for potential biomedical applications. The structural, mechanical, tribological, and surface behavior of these composites were evaluated with respect to their suitability for orthopedic load-bearing implants and scaffolds. In the first phase, PEEK-based composites reinforced with 10 or 20 wt% carbon fibers or 20 wt% E-glass fibers were fabricated using FDM with varying infill densities of 30-100% to introduce porosity. Results revealed that loading additives, infill densities, and porosity play …

Collaborative Governance And Hydrosocial Territorialization: Reaching Consensus On Salmon Restoration Goals In The Columbia River Basin, Thien-Kim Bui, Rebecca Mclain

Geography Faculty Publications and Presentations

Across the Cascadia bioregion, salmon and steelhead are ecological and cultural keystone species that contribute to and illustrate riverine health. Due to complex social, economic, and ecological relations over the past 150 years, many Columbia River Basin salmon and steelhead populations are now listed as threatened or endangered in the United States. This research uses the 2017–2020 Columbia Basin Partnership Task Force as a case study to understand how this collaborative governance effort of sovereign entities and nonsovereign stakeholders navigated competing water claims to reach consensus on aspirational qualitative and quantitative goals for salmon and steelhead restoration. Using semistructured interviews …

The Bridge-Builder Project: Social Justice Bridge-Builder- A Model For Addressing Racial Justice, Marguerite Williams

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Bridge-Builder Project demonstrates that social justice is based on God’s Character, God’s Covenant, and God’s Call. God consistently addressed inequities affecting the oppressed, the orphaned, the imprisoned, and the widowed. Social justice has been associated with political parties; however, it is clearly reflected in God’s view of humanity. For the Christian, our frame of reference begins with God. Scripture offers a clear framework. That framework begins with understanding humanity through the lens of the One who made us – God. God created each diverse human being in His Image—Imago Dei. Based on this premise, God values humanity and that …

Leveraging Distributed Semantics From Deep Learning Architectures For Literature-Based Discovery, Clint A. Cuffy

Theses and Dissertations

Literature-based discovery (LBD) is a scientific process that introduces methods to automatically identify novel insights between non-interacting sets of literature. To date, numerous statistical and machine learning-based methods have been applied in the biomedical domain to find treatments for diseases such as Raynaud's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. However, the lack of standardized practices and creation of bespoke methodologies produces a scenario where the adoption of LBD remains challenging in real-world systems. Our work addresses these concerns through the improvement of five critical areas: 1) error propagation within LBD's a priori dependent tasks, 2) exploring the integration of modern …

Beyond Homogeneity: Exploring Causal Heterogeneity In Psychopathology, Philip B. Vinh

Theses and Dissertations

Traditional models in psychiatric research often impose assumptions of causal homogeneity, treating population-level associations as reflective of uniform underlying mechanisms. This dissertation challenges that assumption by introducing statistical and machine learning frameworks designed to detect and model causal heterogeneity in the development of psychopathology. Central to this approach is the advancement of finite mixture structural equation modeling (FM-SEM) to identify latent subgroups characterized by distinct, and sometimes opposing, causal pathways.

The dissertation comprises three integrated empirical studies. The first introduces mixDoC, a finite mixture extension of the classical Direction of Causation (DoC) model applied to twin data, enabling the detection …

Persistence Of Southwestern White Pine (Pinus Strobiformis) In An Ever-Changing Environment, Shruti Shrivastava

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Local adaptation is known to occur in multiple tree species, with climate as a main force for it occurring, indicating adaptation and changes occurring in spatially and temporally changing climates. With increased climate change, the question now is what future persistence may appear as, and by what magnitude trait mismatch may occur. This is observed in southwestern white pine (Pinus strobiformis) for drought-response traits: resistance (RT), recovery (RC), and resilience (RS). Using previously collected data, the genetic and phenotypic diversity were analyzed. Using that information, the trait values for individuals where only genetic data was known was …

Diversification Of Avifauna In The Darién Highland Region: Ecological Niche Modeling, Phylogeography And Morphology To Explore Speciation In The Montane Species Myadestes Coloratus, Chlorospingus Tacarcunae And Margarornis Bellulus., Jorge L. Garzon Vasquez Mrs

Theses and Dissertations

Montane regions in the Neotropics are hotspots of endemism and biodiversity, yet their species are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and geographic isolation. This thesis investigates the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of three bird species endemic to the Darién Highlands of eastern Panama: Myadestes coloratus, Chlorospingus tacarcunae, and Margarornis bellulus. Through an integrative approach combining ecological niche modeling, morphometric analysis, and genomic data from ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and mitochondrial DNA, the study explores the historical biogeography, current distribution patterns, population structure, and phenotypic differentiation of these montane taxa. Ecological niche models revealed that suitable habitat …

Mctr3 Mitigates Cigarette Smoke-Induced Pulmonary Inflammation And Damage, Yu Par Aung Myo

Theses and Dissertations

Smoking is deleterious to our lungs and can precipitate in a multitude of diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is primarily caused by smoking cigarettes and is a major public health issue. Current therapies only treat symptoms without halting or reversing disease progression, thus highlighting a large unmet need to develop new therapies. We address this gap by investigating maresin conjugate in tissue regeneration 3 (MCTR3) which is a newly discovered specialized pro-resoling mediator (SPM) that has the novel property of promoting tissue repair and regeneration in addition to being anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving. For the first time, we …

The Role Of Context Sensitivity On The Association Between Racial Discrimination And Emotional Dysfunction Among Black American Adolescents, Summer C. Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Black adolescents are at an increased risk of experiencing racial discrimination due to a developmental period marked by increased time away from parents and caregivers and increased time with peers (Fisher et al., 2000). Empirical research has shown that Black adolescents’ experiences of racial discrimination are associated with emotion dysfunction (Benner et al., 2018; Seaton et al., 2009; Sellers et al., 2006). Although previous research has identified racial factors such as racial socialization and racial identity as protective factors by reducing the impact of racial discrimination on Black adolescents’ emotion dysfunction (Gibson et al., 2021; Neblett et al., 2008), we …

Modeling The Impacts Of The Current And Projected Temperatures On Spongy Moth Population Dynamics, Adrienne B. Spring

Theses and Dissertations

The spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) is an invasive forest pest that has caused significant ecological damage across the United States. Its invasion front is shaped by a number of factors, including temperature in both the northern and southern regions. With ongoing climate change, areas that were previously uninhabitable may become increasingly favorable for moth population establishment and expansion, while other areas may experience thermal stress limiting persistence. This study develops a temperature-driven population model to analyze how temperature affects the spongy moth population dynamics along the invasion front. This model incorporates temperature effects on fecundity, stage-specific survival rates, …

Plza Rna Chaperone Activity In Borreliella Burgdorferi Is Modulated By C-Di-Gmp, Dhara T. Patel

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease (LD) is the most common arthropod-borne disease in North America and is caused by the spirochete, Borreliella burgdorferi. LD spirochetes are maintained in an enzootic cycle of Ixodes species ticks and a vertebrate reservoir. The secondary messenger molecule c-di-GMP plays a crucial role in adaptive responses during the enzootic cycle. PlzA is the sole c-di-GMP-binding protein identified to date that is encoded by all Borreliella burgdorferi isolates. PlzA has both c-di-GMP-dependent and c-di-GMP-independent functions and is required to complete the enzootic cycle. The full range of PlzA regulatory activities has yet to be fully defined. We determined …

Tate Speech: Radicalizing Rhetoric And Multi-Level Marketing Recruitment Strategies In The Manosphere, Carey J. Priebe

Theses and Dissertations

My study aims to uncover the discursive elements behind the gendered recruitment strategies that influencers in the manosphere use to pipeline men and boys into their multi-level marketing (MLM) companies. In the manosphere, male supremacy is presented as desirable and subversive, and MLMs take advantage of emotional and economic instability. My study examines the Twitter (X) account of the popular manosphere influencer Andrew Tate as I trace his rhetoric along a three-pronged gendered recruitment framework, a framework originally developed around women selling essential oils online and funneling their followers into radical alt-right politics. What are the similarities and differences in …

Functional Analysis Of Ligand Binding Domain 2 Of Outer Surface Protein C Of Borreliella Burgdorferi, Gavin Z. Chambers

Theses and Dissertations

Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borreliella burgdorferi, is the most common vector-borne infection in North America. A critical determinant of early mammalian infection is outer surface protein C (OspC), a highly variable lipoprotein that is indispensable for spirochete survival but whose precise function remains unresolved. OspC has been proposed to mediate diverse roles, including complement evasion, adhesion, tissue dissemination, and antiphagocytic activity, supporting the view that it is a multifunctional virulence factor. Structural studies have identified two putative ligand-binding domains (LBD1 and LBD2), with LBD2 forming a solvent-exposed crown at the membrane-distal end of the OspC dimer.

To …

Evaluating Spatiotemporal Vegetation Index Variation To Detect Salt Marsh Dieback On The Georgia Coast, Emmanuella Bosompemaa Obeng

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Salt marshes, essential for coastal protection and carbon sequestration, are increasingly vulnerable to dieback events, threatening ecosystem resilience and vital services. Detecting these shifts early is essential for timely intervention. However, few studies have applied Early Warning Signals (EWS) to coastal marsh systems. Most EWS research has focused on lakes, forests, or climate tipping points, with limited application to salt marsh dieback in the southeastern U.S. Site-specific, long-term spatial analyses are also lacking, as prior work often examines short time frames or single disturbance events. This study investigates the spatiotemporal patterns of salt marsh dieback on the Georgia coast from …

Effects Of Increased Temperatures And Migratory Status On Passerine Chick Rearing Phenology And Caterpillar Prey Synchrony, Marissa Calvert

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Many species across the globe have been observed to shift the seasonal timing of life history events in response to climate change-induced shifts in their local environments. However, individual species vary greatly in the direction and magnitude of these phenological shifts. Variation in phenological responsiveness to climate change among interacting species can lead to phenological asynchrony, with potential consequences for survival and population health. In years with increased spring temperatures, the timing of passerine chick rearing and of caterpillar activity may shift earlier or later in the year. Differences in the magnitude and/or direction of phenological shifts among passerines and …

Nap-Trap Reveals 5'Utr-Mediated Translation Regulation During Zebrafish Development, Ethan C. Strayer

Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations

The cis-regulatory elements encoded in an mRNA determine its stability and translational output. While there has been a considerable effort to understand the factors driving mRNA stability, the regulatory frameworks governing translational control remain more elusive. We have developed a novel massively parallel reporter assay (MPRA) to measure mRNA translation, named Nascent Peptide Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (NaP-TRAP). NaP-TRAP measures translation in a frame-specific manner through the immunocapture of epitope tagged nascent peptides of reporter mRNAs. We benchmark NaP-TRAP to polysome profiling and use it to quantify Kozak strength and the regulatory landscapes of 5’ UTRs in the developing zebrafish …

Design And Fabrication Of An Integrated Solar Still And Uv/Pasteurization System For Domestic Use, Majid H. Ali, D A. Al-Saadi, V V. Ostrikov

Babylonian Journal of Mechanical Engineering

Water, that miraculous liquid, is the fundamental foundation upon which life on Earth is based. The first human civilizations were founded on water, and wherever water is found, civilization is found. Given the increasing population, rising living standards, and developments that have led to increased water pollution and limited water resources, and given the expected rise in fuel and electricity prices in the future, and to rationalize electricity consumption, the use of solar energy is an effective solution for desalination and sterilization of water.In this research, a solar-powered desalination and sterilization system was designed and manufactured to make water potable. …

Teacher Practice Improvement Tool: A Summary Of The Underpinning Research, Fabienne Van Der Kleij, Marijne Medhurst, Michelle Lasen, Christina Rogers, Pauline Taylor-Guy

School and system improvement

In 2025, ACER published the Teacher Practice Improvement Tool (TPIT), as part of its family of improvement tools. A comprehensive review of international research was undertaken to inform the development of the TPIT, which resulted in the inductive development of five inter-related domains that holistically capture the practices of highly effective teachers. This document summarises the research evidence underpinning each of the five domains of the TPIT, drawing on a review of 102 studies. While recognising the interconnections between domains, it presents a structured narrative of key evidence and research-informed considerations for each domain. This summary offers a high-level overview …

Factors Controlling Protein Metabolism And Growth In The Common Limpet Patella Vulgata, Ignacio Alvarez-Cienfuegos

School of Biological and Marine Sciences Theses

The intertidal environment is a complex and highly dynamic ecosystem shaped by the interaction of strong abiotic and biotic factors. Organisms living in this habitat present marked physiological and behavioural adaptations to cope with extreme and fluctuating conditions, which make this ecosystem the perfect natural laboratory to analyse the effects of biological interactions and physical stressors in ectotherm protein metabolism and growth in the field. Patella vulgata’s ability to maintain aerobic metabolism out of the water, its homing behaviour, its high abundance, and wide geographical distribution facilitates the study of ectothermic physiological processes in the field. Despite the importance of …

Application Of Biosynthesized Nanoparticles In Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery: Main Mechanisms, Recent Advances, Challenges, And Opportunities, Godfrey Osemudiamhen Eseigbe, Sunday Sunday Ikiensikimama

All Rsif Scholars' Publications

Nanoparticles are increasingly used in chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) due to their ability to improve oil recovery by altering reservoir rock and fluid properties. These nanoparticles, which have unique physical and chemical traits, can be synthesized chemically or biologically. Biological synthesis, involving fungi, bacteria, algae, yeast, or plant materials are more stable, efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. With rising global energy demand and a shift towards greener solutions, the focus has moved from hazardous chemical synthesis to green synthesis for CEOR. Although some research exists on green nanoparticles for oil recovery, a comprehensive review of these studies and the …

Empowering Future Physicians: The Role Of Structural Competency Education To Improve Patient Care And Prevent Burnout, Audrey Shawley, Emily Gault, Ann Yacoubian, Grace Kooi, Minna Yoshikawa, Madison Boudreaux, Abdul Zia, Kathy Jo Carstarphen

Health Professions Education

Purpose. Medical education falls short of training students to understand and act upon systems that shape patients’ health. Physicians consistently report the importance of addressing social issues in medicine, while at the same time express a lack of confidence in their ability to meet their patients' social and emotional needs, leading to burnout in the face of these challenges.

Method. We implemented a six-week structural competency curriculum with 120 fourth-year medical students at The University of Queensland Medical School - Ochsner Clinical School (UQ-OCS) in New Orleans, LA, from January to November 2021. We assessed knowledge, attitude, awareness, and …

Influence Of Clinical Supervision And Ethical Sensitivity On The Compassion Competence Of Nursing Students, Ejercito Mangawa Balay-Odao, Joseph Almazan, Jennifer Mesde, Junel Bryan Bajet, Nahed Alquwez, Cherryl Codiase Danglipen, Jonas Preposi Cruz

Health Professions Education

Introduction: Clinical supervision is an essential component of nursing education. Ethical sensitivity and compassion competence are critical components to develop among nursing students to ensure patient-centered nursing care.

Aim: This study aimed to determine clinical supervision, ethical sensitivity, and compassion competence among student nurses and its influencing factors. Also, it determined the influence of clinical supervision and ethical sensitivity on compassion competence.

Method: This study utilized a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional correlation design. Data were collected from 452 nursing students from August 2022 to January 2023 using convenient sampling. The "Clinical Supervision Evaluation Questionnaire," the "Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students," …

Health Promotion, A Missing Piece In Medical Education: Descriptive Analysis Of Medical Programs In Colombia, Erwin Hernando Hernandez Rincon, Juan Gabriel García Manrique, Daniela Barros Toro, Juanita Henao Girard

Health Professions Education

Background: Health promotion is a critical tool in training future health professionals, particularly in countries like Colombia, where structural inequalities impact public health outcomes. However, the integration of health promotion strategies into medical education programs remains inconsistent and underexplored. Objective: To describe the status of incorporating health promotion and health education elements in the curricula of medical schools in Colombia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study covered the 63 active medical schools registered in the National Higher Education Information System (SNIES for its acronym in Spanish) until December 2024. The information available on the websites of each faculty was …

Chatgpt Use In Active Learning Among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Study., Asma Bouriami, Kamal Takhdat, Sana Barkatou, Abdelmounaim Manoussi, Jaouad Chouikh, Samia Boussaa, Ahmed Rhassane El Adib

Health Professions Education

Purpose: Active pedagogy offers interesting potential for teaching and learning, especially when combined with artificial intelligence tools. The aim of this study is to investigate students' knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and experiences regarding the use of ChatGPT within active learning methodologies.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was conducted using a questionnaire with 913 nursing students from four public higher nursing institutes.

Results: Overall, the majority of participants have a low to medium level of knowledge, even though 79.4% of them use ChatGPT. In fact, Participants use ChatGPT mainly for problem-based learning, and project-based learning. In addition, men students are 1.55 more …

The Correlation Between Working From Home And Depression, Anxiety & Stress And The Moderating Effect Of Parenting, Lauren H. Marshall

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the impact of working from home on depression, anxiety and stress and whether parenting has a moderating role in its impact. The number of individuals working from home increased dramatically because of the pandemic and many individuals continue to work from home despite the absence of government-issued lockdowns and the diminishing threat of the COVID-19 virus. Earlier pre-pandemic research supports several positive work-related outcomes of working from home; however, little consideration has been given to the long-term impact of this major change in the way we work on individual’s mental health. Social isolation, an increase in sedentary …