Digital Commons Network^™

Ecological Dynamics In Beaver-Engineered Boreal Wetlands: Amphibian Phenology, Occupancy, And Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Communities, Talon Stammen

Theses and Dissertations

Boreal wetlands are ecologically rich yet vulnerable ecosystems shaped by hydrological dynamics, cold climate regimes, and landscape-scale disturbances. Among the most influential agents of change in these systems are beavers (Castor canadensis), whose engineering activities create a mosaic of lentic habitats at varying stages of ecological succession. This dissertation investigates the structure and dynamics of amphibian and aquatic macroinvertebrate communities across a beaver-influenced wetland landscape in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA.The first study (Chapter II) examines breeding phenology and detection patterns of boreal anurans using a combination of passive acoustic monitoring and visual encounter surveys at 25 wetlands over four …

Targeted Coaching In The Detroit Promise Path: A Thematic Network Analysis Of Current Challenges And Opportunities For Student Success, Maryse Danielle Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The Detroit Promise Program is one of the many college promise programs operating within the United States that offers full college tuition coverage to students within the city who meet certain residential criteria. Detroit’s population has one of the highest proportions of Black and first-generation students and the lowest average socioeconomic class in the country. From the time of the Promise Program’s launch until now it has seen minor improvements in college degree competition rates, but this rate is still low compared to the national average. The Detroit Promise Path, which is an off branch of the Detroit Promise Program, …

Zaasijiwan: An Indigenized Health Communication Framework For American Indian And Alaska Native Communities, Jennifer Wolf

Theses and Dissertations

The Zaasijiwan Framework represents an Indigenized health communication model developed to enhance the cultural relevance, trust, and effectiveness of public health messaging for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This qualitative study integrated Indigenous and Western public health knowledge to inform the development of the framework. A comprehensive literature review and two rounds of key informant interviews with health communication professionals informed the design of the framework. Findings emphasized the importance of community co-creation and strengths-based narratives, along with other framework elements, in overcoming medical mistrust and improving health outcomes. The final framework offers public health professionals, Tribal, and …

Poison! An Africana Legal Studies Investigation Into Enslaved Africans And Their Deadly Roots, Angi Porter

Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality

No abstract provided.

Comparative Analysis Of Lstm-Based And Traditional Hydrologic Models For River Discharge Prediction: A Case Study Of The Goose River, Adewale Ajao

Theses and Dissertations

Streamflow predictions are important in planning water resources and effective hydrological management. Physically based models such as the Hydrologic Engineering Center-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) have been used in the past for this purpose. Still, the use of machine learning models such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) has been proven to complement the use of traditional models. This study compares the reliability performances of HEC-HMS and LSTM models to predict the streamflow of Goose River Watershed in North Dakota. The objective of the research is to perform a comprehensive comparative analysis between the performance of HEC-HMS and LSTM models to predict …

Machine Learning-Guided Discovery Of Metal-Ligand Catalysts For Affordable Green Hydrogen Produced Via Proton Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers, Achouak Benarbia

Theses and Dissertations

The rising demand for clean and sustainable energy sources has underscored the critical role of hydrogen in the global energy transition. However, the widespread adoption of green hydrogen remains constrained by the high cost and scarcity of platinum-based electrocatalysts used in Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. This dependence inflates production costs and poses long-term risks related to supply security and scalability. While numerous studies have explored alternative materials, the discovery of efficient and stable non-platinum catalysts remains a major bottleneck due to the vastness of chemical space and the resource-intensive nature of experimental screening. To address this challenge, this study …

Enhancing Green Hydrogen Integration In Distributed Energy Systems, Solomon Evro

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates strategic integration of green hydrogen into Distributed Energy Systems (DES) as a means of addressing three closely related challenges: first, uncertainties in hydrogen supply due to renewables intermittency; second, non-existence of practical, scalable modeling solutions for early-phase DES planning involving Alkaline Water Electrolyzers; and third, a lack of sufficient policy frameworks facilitating mass deployment. Existing hydrogen production models are often too complex for effective use in DES and do not relate stack number, input power, and renewable resource fluctuation. To address this limitation, the paper introduces a new probabilistic electrolyzer sizing method based on cumulative distribution function …

Exploring Geothermal Energy Development In The Deep Reservoirs Of The Williston Basin: An Integrated Analysis Using Empirical, Probabilistic, Numerical Simulation And Machine Learning Techniques, Emmanuel Gyimah

Theses and Dissertations

Geothermal energy, a renewable, clean, and abundant energy source, is gaining global attention as a key contributor to the transition towards a low-carbon economy. However, uncertainties in reservoir characterization and development risks hinder its widespread adoption, particularly in the Williston Basin. This study focuses on the Williston Basin, particularly the Red River and Deadwood formations, to explore the potential of deep geothermal reservoirs in North Dakota. The study integrates a multi-disciplinary technique in empirical, probabilistic, numerical simulation, and machine learning to reduce uncertainties and risks associated with geothermal energy exploration and development. Probabilistic methods (Parametric and Monte Carlo), incorporating geo-statistics, …

When Fomo Meets The Keg: A Descriptive Case Study Of Binge Drinking In First-Year College Students At The University Of North Dakota, Angie Novak

Theses and Dissertations

Binge drinking among first-year college students is a persistent public health and academic issue, particularly during the transition to higher education. As students gain independence and navigate peer influence and campus norms, many perceive alcohol use as a central part of the college experience. This descriptive case study investigates the personal, environmental, and behavioral factors contributing to binge drinking among first-year students at the University of North Dakota (UND).The study, guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), explored how students adopt and reinforce drinking behaviors through peer modeling, social expectations, and institutional culture. Qualitative data was collected through individual interviews with …

All Set For Next Week: Reorienting Domesticity, Gendered Labor, And Collective Mourning, Kayla Lockwood

Graduate & Professional Student Association Research Forum

All Set for Next Week (2024) was a coffin‐shaped coffee table that formed the focal point of my Honey, I’m Home! Midway Exhibition—a core requirement for my advancement to candidacy, which I successfully completed. Revisiting the nostalgic domestic imagery of mid‐twentieth‐century sitcoms like The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy, this piece examined the precarious nature of home, shifts in gender roles, and the collective reshaping of mourning rituals during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Made from red oak, a wood historically linked to coffin‐making, the table evoked the memory of my grandfather’s passing while probing deeper questions surrounding inherited skill sets and …

Tax Education For Financial Empowerment, Job Buenrostro-Diaz

Second-Year Seminar Posters (COE 202)

Research Question: In what ways can understanding tax concepts help with financial literacy in improving money management decisions for lower income individuals?

This proposal outlines a strategy to increase quality education in middle to low income communities.

Changing Mindsets: Building Teacher Efficacy To Increase School Connectedness & Reduce Disruptive Behaviors, Laurie Lynn Bankowski

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods Improvement Science study examined how targeted professional development on developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations and academic mindset impacts teacher efficacy, student-teacher relationships, and disruptive behaviors in a middle school setting. Quantitative data from pre- and post-intervention Teacher Self-Efficacy Scales and discipline referrals were analyzed alongside qualitative data from journal reflections, empathy interviews, and student characteristic posters. Findings indicated a significant increase in teacher self-efficacy and a reduction in disruptive behaviors. Teachers reported improved confidence in managing behavior, greater use of proactive strategies, and stronger relationships with students. The convergence of quantitative and qualitative data suggests that when educators are …

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Among Critical Care Nurses Caring For Covid-19 Patients, Marwa Abdo

Nursing

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted global health, with a substantial number of severe cases requiring admission to isolated intensive care units (ICUs). This unprecedented situation exposed critical care nurses (CCNs) to a highly stressful traumatic environment, placing them at increased risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Early identification and intervention for PTSD are crucial to mitigate the negative consequences for nurses' well-being, job performance, and overall quality of life. Aim: This study aimed to assess post-traumatic stress disorder among CCNs caring for COVID-19 patients. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional design with a convenience sample of 109 CCNs …

Anemia In Pregnant Women: Findings From Kuwait Birth Cohort Study, Abdullah Al-Taiar, Ali H. Ziyab, Majeda S. Hammoud, Reem Al-Sabah, Saeed Akhtar

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background Anemia is the most common hematologic disorder in pregnancy, affecting over one-third of pregnant women globally. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia in pregnant women and its associated factors in the Kuwait Birth Cohort study.

Methods The Kuwait birth cohort (n = 1,108) was a prospective study in which pregnant women were recruited during their second or third trimester. Data were collected through personal interviews during antenatal care visits, including data on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Blood samples were analyzed under strict quality control to measure various laboratory indicators. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin (Hb) < 110 g/L. Predictors of anemia were categorized as underlying or direct factors, and logistic regression models were used to investigate their association with anemia.

Results …

Frailty And Sleep In Adult Survivors Of Childhood Cancer: A Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Report, Lauren C. Daniel, Margaret M. Lubas, Huiqi Wang, Mariana Szklo-Coxe, Kirsten K. Ness, Annalynn M. Williams, Daniel A. Mulrooney, Rebecca Howell, Wendy Leisenring, Yutaka Yasui, Leslie L. Robinson, Gregory T. Armstrong, Eric J. Chow, Kevin R. Krull, Tara M. Brinkman

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background

Young adult survivors of childhood cancer exhibit rates of frailty similar to adults several decades older without a cancer history. Frailty has been associated with sleep disturbances in non-cancer populations, but the relationship has not been examined in childhood cancer survivors who are known to exhibit elevated rates of sleep problems.

Aims

Examine associations between frailty and poor sleep quality in long-term survivors of childhood cancer.

Methods

This study utilized data from 9044 participants (> 5 years from diagnosis, M(age) = 40.8 years [SD = 9.5]) in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Survivors' frailty status, chronic health conditions (CHC), …

Analyzing The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Mortality Data Using Weekly Exceedance In Mortality Count And Weekly Change In Mortality Indicator: A Time Series Study, Aditya Chakraborty, Mohan D. Pant

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background and Aims

Cause-specific mortality (CSM) count prediction plays a vital role in the context of public health policy. In this study, we introduce a new analytical approach, which is divided into three phases to answer specific questions regarding CSM due to 14 specific causes by computing different simple, compound, and conditional probabilities.

Methods

A multivariate time series forecasting model was developed using the CDC weekly mortality count data. A binary data matrix was constructed for 14 causes of death (COD) as a function of weeks by combining the observed and forecasted mortalities. We introduced two new concepts: Weekly Exceedance …

A Modern Optimization Approach With Data-Driven Analytical Modeling For The Healthcare Business Segment (Hbs) From The S&P 500, Aditya Chakraborty, Chris Tsokos

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: The S&P consists of eleven business segments, which are classified according to the type of industry. The current study focuses on developing a non-linear analytical model for the Healthcare Business Segment (HBS) of the S&P 500, as a function of different economic & financial indicators. Materials and Methods: The analytical model used six financial indicators together with four economic indicators to predict the weekly average closing price (WCP) of HBS stocks. Johnson’s SB transformation corrected skewness, while desirability-based optimization identified indicator values maximizing WCP. The model’s performance and generalizability were validated through repeated 10-fold cross-validation. Results: All attributable contributors …

Pediatric Cancer Incidence, Temporal Trends, And Mortality In The United States By Health Disparities Indicators, Seer (1973-2014), Prachi P. Chavan, Laurens Holmes Jr.

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Pediatric cancer incidence has been increasing in the United States, despite improvement in pediatric cancer survival. This steady increase in incidence trends is not completely understood but maybe associated with social and environmental factors. In this study we aimed to assess the cumulative incidence, temporal trends, and mortality rates in pediatric cancer. Additionally, we examined sub-group variability in both incidence and mortality rates. Methods: Data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) −18 from 1973–2014 were used for the purpose of analysis in this study. Age-adjusted incidence rates were used to assess temporal trends in cancer among children aged < 1–19 years. Univariable and multivariable binomial regression models were used to examine the association between race and cancer mortality while adjusting for potential confounders. Results: There were 92,594 cancer diagnoses during this period. White children comprised 74,758, (80.7%), black children 10,030, (10.8%), and other races 6648, (7.2%). Overall the age-adjusted cumulative incidence was slightly higher among white children (16.4%) than black children (12.4%) and other (13.0%). Children aged 15–19 years and those in metropolitan regions were more likely to be diagnosed with pediatric cancer. Relative to females, males were 16% more likely to die from the disease [adjusted Risk Ratio (aRR): 1.16, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.09–1.22]. Additionally, compared to white children, black children had higher mortality rates [(aRR): 1.37, 99% CI: 1.23–1.52]. Conclusions: There is an increasing trend in pediatric cancer incidence; while white children have the highest incidence, black children and males indicated a survival disadvantage, indicative of racial and sex variability in overall pediatric cancer in the United States.

Psychometric Validation Of Eq-5d-5l In Individuals With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury In China, Haixia Xie, Qi Zhang, Rong Jin, Jianhui He, Xinxing Hu, Yixuan Zhang, Xiaoping Shao, Xiaohong Li, Hua Zhai, Fengshui Chang

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objectives

The EQ-5D is a brief measure for assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but chronic spinal cord injury (CSCI) related psychometric evaluation of the EQ-5D-5L has not been explored. We conducted a validation study on the Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L for individuals with CSCI in China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center. The floor and ceiling effects, internal consistency, test and retest reliability, discriminatory power (only for EQ-5D-5L), convergent validity (using Spearman correlation coefficients), and known-group validity of the EQ-5D-5L and visual analog scale (VAS) were analyzed.

Results

A total of 271 …

The Impact Of Technological Innovations On Consumer Behavior In E-Commerce: A Systematic Review, Yue Wang, Jianzheng Shi, Terence T. Ow, Jia Yun, Yuanyu Yang

Management Faculty Research and Publications

This study systematically reviews the literature on the impact of technological innovations in e-commerce on consumer behavior, using the SPAR-4-SLR methodology and TCCM framework. It consolidates research across various technologies, including websites, social media, live streaming, AR/VR, and AI. The analysis reveals a growing interest in this field post-2017, with a focus on websites and social media, but highlights a research gap in emerging technologies. Key theoretical frameworks are identified, emphasizing the need for integration to comprehensively understand consumer behavior. The review maps out antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes, stressing the importance of longitudinal studies and advanced analytics. This approach …

Predictors Of Donor-Site Wound Complications Following Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction, Soroush Ershadifar, Angela Colback, Ugur Nur Basmaci, Machelle Wilson, Andrew C Birkeland, Dustin A Silverman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objective: The fibula free flap (FFF) remains the workhorse flap for head and neck defects necessitating osteocutaneous reconstruction. Although lower extremity angiography, ultrasound (US), and other vascular studies are routinely used for fibula assessment and patient selection, predictors of donor-site morbidity following harvest remain poorly understood. We sought to investigate the factors associated with FFF donor-site complications.

Study design: Retrospective analysis of patients at a tertiary care center.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Methods: In total, 119 patients undergoing FFF reconstruction during the years 2012 to 2022 were included. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of soft-tissue donor-site …

The Caseload Chronicles: Investigating The Case Manager Role Through The Perspectives Of Current Special Education Teachers, Khalil Milad Abouhamad

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Teacher attrition and resulting shortages have become severely problematic across the United States. This is especially true within special education. This study employs role theory (Kahn et al., 1964) to isolate the case manager role carried by special education teachers, investigate it through the stories of current practitioners, and establish it within academia. Burnout theory (Maslach, 1993) provides a lens through which to evaluate the strain of working conditions surrounding the case manager role. Elements of narrative inquiry (Clandinin, 2006; Creswell & Guetterman, 2019) in the form of 1-1 interviews with current IEP case managers from across California provided the …

A Qualitative Inquiry Of Adult English Language Instructor Experiences Fostering Inclusion, Community Building, And Student Motivation, Kathrene Marie Razo

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

By Kathrene Marie Razo

University of the Pacific

2025

The central focus of this inquiry is on understanding adult English instructor experiences fostering inclusion, community building, and student motivation in the language classroom. In addition, it highlights contextual background relative to common life barriers faced by the adult English language learner population as they relate to an immigrant’s journey of establishing themselves in a new land.

Furthermore, this inquiry was prompted by a need to gain a clearer understanding of the best practices that are revealed by educators’ shared lived experiences to assist in the support of learners in …

Professional School Alumni Donor Motivations For Making Charitable Bequest Gifts To Their Alma Mater, James A. Dugoni Edd

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Professional School Alumni Donor Motivations for Making Charitable Bequest Gifts to Their Alma Mater

Abstract

By James A. Dugoni

University of the Pacific 2025

This study explored the reasons University of the Pacific (UOP) professional school alumni in the fields of dentistry, law, and pharmacy have chosen to make charitable bequest gifts to their alma mater. The study looked at their student, alumni, and donor experiences to determine the factors that motivated them to leave a charitable bequest gift. The study further analyzed how social exchange theory can explain their planned giving behaviors. This study contributes to the body of …

Gadd34 And Crep Regulation In The Unfolded Protein Response, Comparing Molecular Mechanisms In Humans And Zebrafish, Angela Adams

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

In eukaryotic cells, many newly synthesized proteins are sent to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of a cell to be folded into the proper conformation for functionality. When proteins get misfolded, or cannot be folded fast enough, these proteins accumulate in the ER which causes the cell to become stressed. This leads to a process known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR). Once UPR has been initiated, the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF2α) becomes phosphorylated to inhibit global protein synthesis within the cell, while simultaneously activating the expression of several genes to either aid in cell recovery or …

Mentors’ Experiences Supporting Beginning Teachers Of Students In High-Needs, Urban Schools, Guy Lamont Ollison

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Research has consistently demonstrated the positive impact of mentoring on beginning teachers. However, it has also been revealed that teachers serving students in highly-diverse, high-needs, urban, low-income schools often receive inadequate, inconsistent, and low-quality support. In fact, studies indicate that the overall quality of support provided to beginning teachers is closely linked to the income level of the student population they serve (Alkins et al., 2006; Mizrav & Lachlan-Hache, 2019). A lack of meaningful mentor support can negatively affect the learning outcomes of marginalized students of color.

The purpose of this basic qualitative study, guided by a phenomenological approach, was …

Understanding Self-Efficacy And Motivation In Elementary Teachers: The Influence And Support Of School Administrators, Maria Vigil

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Teachers’ attrition is commonly seen within the first five years in the profession. Various reasons exist as the cause for this decision including: low pay rates, lack of support and stress. With the important role educators hold, a clear understanding of their specific needs can help strengthen their abilities while remaining in the field. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to understand teachers’ perspectives of what influences their self-efficacy and motivation in order to promote strong work performance, effectiveness, increase teacher satisfaction and retention rates while highlighting the impact of support provided by school administrators. The research questions …

Effects Of Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy (Csht) On Aortic Reactivity And Metabolic Parameters In Gonadectomized Male And Female Rats, Rifat Ara Islam

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

With the rising awareness, the number of individuals identifying themselves as transgender in the US is increasing over the years. Cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) may alter cardiometabolic parameters leading to the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in transgender population. However, the underlying mechanisms of impaired cardiovascular functions in transgender female (male to female, MtF) or transgender male (female to male, FtM) individuals are not well documented. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2)- and testosterone propionate (Tes)-treatment on key cardiometabolic parameters and aortic reactivity in castrated (CAS) male and ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague Dawley (SD) …

Knocking On Resistance’S Door: Investigating The Spread And Drivers Of Kdr Mutations In Northern California Culex Tarsalis, Esther Blankenship-Cutshall

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Vector-borne diseases are an increasingly relevant threat to public health as climate change alters the ecology of vector populations in relation to humans. One key to combating vector-borne disease is using pyrethroid insecticides against mosquito populations. However, wild mosquito populations have exhibited resistance to those key pyrethroids. One resistance mechanism under investigation is the altering of the voltage-gated sodium channel, which is associated with the genetic mutations known as kdr. The prevalence and history of kdr mutations has been investigated in some populations of Culex pipiens, however, it is unknown in northern California Culex tarsalis populations. This study aims to …

From Street Codes To School Codes: Transformative Educational Intervention For Gang Affiliated Student. An Active Research Study, Alexandra Saldivar

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Gang-affiliated youth face significant challenges in educational and community settings, often resulting in lower graduation rates, limited career opportunities, and an increased risk for behavioral problems. While gang activity on school campuses has increased in recent years, there is limited research and little effort specifically tailored to meet the needs of this vulnerable population. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the WhyTry intervention, a resilience-focused program designed for at-risk populations, modified with additional counseling and a gang-intervention emphasis to address the unique challenges gang-affiliated students face. The study explores whether the modified WhyTry program can improve academic performance, …