Digital Commons Network^™

Differential Effects Of Growing-Season Climate Anomalies On New England Crop Yields: A 1990-2024 Comparative Analysis Of Heat-Tolerant And Heat-Sensitive Crops, Rhea Shirodkar

Honors Theses and Capstones

As rising temperatures and variable precipitation effects are becoming increasingly prevalent in New England, as does the need to consider how these climate change-induced weather patterns affect the region's agricultural productivity and food system stability. Using annual crop yield data from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) and growing-season climate anomaly data from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), this study examines how growing-season temperature and precipitation anomalies affect seven major New England crop yields (tomatoes, potatoes, sweet corn, cranberries, carrots, lettuce (head), and apples) over a 34-year period from 1990 to 2024. …

Investigating Microbe-Mediated Temperature Tolerance In Lemna Minor, Matthew Thomas Farbaniec

Honors Theses and Capstones

Temperature limits plant growth and survival more than many other environmental variables, and increases in the frequency of extreme hot or cold weather events pose significant challenges for plant growth and crop yields. Previous studies have shown that bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms associated with plants ( i.e., the plant microbiome) can influence host response to temperature stress. These same microbes have their own temperature tolerances. We investigated whether microbial temperature tolerance correlates with plant resilience using an aquatic plant model, Lemna minor, and isolates derived from its microbiome. Microbial isolates were assessed at −10°C, 4°C, and 32°C for …

Stress And Reward Interactions In Substance Use Disorder: An Evolutionary Mismatch Framework, Nicholas L. Castrucci

Honors Theses and Capstones

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health concern characterized by compulsive substance use despite adverse consequences. While contemporary models emphasize biological, psychological, and environmental contributors, stress- and reward-related systems are often examined in isolation. This review integrates these systems within an evolutionary mismatch framework to examine how chronic stress exposure and repeated substance use increase vulnerability to addiction. Stress and reward systems are evolutionarily conserved but may become chronically dysregulated under modern conditions characterized by persistent psychosocial stressors and highly potent rewarding stimuli. This is associated with converging neuroadaptations across stress and reward circuitry, resulting in altered affective …

Examining The Effectiveness Of Housing First Models On Transitional-Aged Youth Experiencing Homelessness: A Systematized Review, Cadyn Golisano

Honors Theses and Capstones

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this review is to examine the outcomes of Housing First (HF) programs or models for transitional-age youth (TAY) experiencing homelessness. Specifically, this review aims to synthesize existing evidence on how Housing First influences housing stability and over-all wellbeing for young adults ages 18-25. By evaluating the effectiveness of these programs within this specific population, the review seeks to identify key benefits, limitations, and gaps in the current literature to inform future practice, policy, and research. The following research question was utilized to guide this paper: How do Housing First principals and interventions impact housing stability …

Does Volunteering Give An Extra Health Boost? Volunteering And Hypertension Risk Among Insured And Uninsured U.S. Adults In Late Midlife, Byeongju Ryu, Seoyoun Kim, Koichiro Shiba, Cal J. Halvorsen

Brown School Faculty Publications

Introduction: Hypertension is a major predictor of cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death in the U.S. Growing evidence suggests that formal volunteering in later life may reduce hypertension risk; however, it remains unclear whether these benefits extend to adults in late midlife and whether they differ by health insurance status.

Methods: This prospective cohort study analyzed data from the 2012–2018 Health and Retirement Study. The analytic sample included 4,169 respondents between the ages of 50 and 64. Because blood pressure was measured in half the sample in alternating waves, data were pooled across waves. To address selection into volunteering, …

Outcomes And Implications Of Patients Included Vs. Excluded For Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation After Initial Activation, Kevin George, Joshua B. Wiener, Michael Zacharias, Frank Forde, Yasir Abu-Omar, Colin Mccloskey

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe the implementation of a new Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR) program in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. We also provide a novel comparison of outcomes between patients cannulated vs excluded from cannulation for ECPR after initial field activation.

METHODS: A prospective observational study of ECPR activations between September 2021 and February 2025. Patients meeting initial eligibility criteria for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA)-namely based on age, bystander-CPR, and initial shockable rhythm-were transported to the emergency department where the ECPR team completed cannulation based on further biochemical criteria. Medical records were used to collect data after …

“We're Just Glorified Babysitters.” : Early Years Educators' Perspective On Learning And Expertism, Hayley Fisher

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences Theses

This qualitative study explores early years educators’ perceptions of learning and expertise, emphasising how they experience, develop, and articulate their professional knowledge in early childhood education. Based on ten in-depth semi-structured interviews, it critically examines the often complex and conflicting ways educators view their roles, identities, and professional development. The research is rooted in adult learning theories, including Knowles’ (1972) andragogy, Kolb’s (1984) experiential learning model, and Mezirow’s (1997) transformative learning theory, alongside Eraut’s (1994) work on professional knowledge and expertise, which highlights the relational, practice-based, and social dimensions of knowledge formation. Through thematic analysis, four key themes emerged: expertee-ism, …

Improving Evacuation Effectiveness On Cruise And Large Passenger Ships : An Analysis Of Human Factors, Safety Culture, And Behavioral Dynamics, Antonios Andreadakis

World Maritime University Ph.D. Dissertations

Maritime trade has long constituted a central pillar of economic development, supporting global commerce and cultural exchange. Nevertheless, the maritime environment is inherently hazardous and therefore the protection of human life has consistently constituted and will continue to remain a central priority (Casson, 1995). An instrumental turning point in maritime safety occurred after the sinking of Titanic in 1912, which prompted in 1914 an International Conference dedicated to the protection of human life at sea; which ultimately led to the adoption of the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (Dalaklis, 2017). This Convention introduced internationally imposed safety …

การเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการบังคับใช้กฎหมายของเจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจ ต่อกลุ่มเด็กและเยาวชนที่ก่ออาชญากรรมรุนแรงในพื้นที่กรุงเทพมหานคร, ชัญญรัชต์ จรัสพัชรนนท์, กัญญ์ฐิตา ศรีภา, ธีรวุฒิ นิลเพ็ชร์

Journal of Social Sciences

ในปัจจุบัน สถานการณ์อาชญากรรมรุนแรงที่กระทำโดยเด็กและเยาวชนมีแนวโน้มทวีความรุนแรงและเพิ่มสูงขึ้นอย่างต่อเนื่อง โดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งในเขตกรุงเทพมหานคร ซึ่งนับเป็นพื้นที่ที่มีอัตราการก่ออาชญากรรมในระดับสูง การวิจัยครั้งนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาบทบาทและหน้าที่ของเจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจในกระบวนการบังคับใช้กฎหมาย รวมถึงปัญหาและอุปสรรคที่เกิดขึ้นในการปฏิบัติงาน ตลอดจนแนวทางการเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการบังคับใช้กฎหมายต่อกลุ่มเด็กและเยาวชนผู้กระทำความผิดในคดีอาชญากรรมรุนแรง การวิจัยครั้งนี้ใช้ระเบียบวิธีวิจัยเชิงคุณภาพ (Qualitative research) โดยมีเครื่องมือหลักในการเก็บรวบรวมข้อมูล ได้แก่ การสัมภาษณ์เชิงลึก (In-depth interview) กับผู้ให้ข้อมูลสำคัญ (Key informants) จำนวนทั้งสิ้น 13 คน ประกอบด้วย เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจ นักจิตวิทยา นักสังคมสงเคราะห์ และพนักงานอัยการ

ผลการวิจัยพบว่า เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจมีบทบาทครอบคลุมกระบวนการทุกขั้นตอน ได้แก่ การป้องกันการกระทำความผิดผ่านโครงการและกิจกรรมเชิงรุก การจับกุมโดยใช้มาตรการที่เหมาะสมกับสภาพจิตใจและพัฒนาการของเด็ก การควบคุมตัวในสถานที่แยกจากผู้กระทำความผิดที่เป็นผู้ใหญ่ และการสอบสวนแบบสหวิชาชีพร่วมกับนักจิตวิทยา นักสังคมสงเคราะห์ และพนักงานอัยการ อย่างไรก็ตาม การวิจัยพบปัญหาสำคัญหลายประการ อาทิ ช่องว่างของบทบัญญัติทางกฎหมายที่เปิดโอกาสให้ผู้ใหญ่แสวงหาประโยชน์จากเด็กและเยาวชน ความซับซ้อนของกระบวนการและข้อจำกัดด้านระยะเวลา การขาดสมรรถนะและความเชี่ยวชาญของบุคลากร ภาวะการขาดแคลนกำลังพลเฉพาะทาง เป็นต้น

Strategic Engagement And Legal Pluralism : Navigating Knowledge And Expertise In Mining Disputes, Sara K. Phillips

Journal of Social Sciences

This article explores how community and civil society actors in mining conflicts strategically engage with legal and technical vocabularies to assert legitimacy, contest exclusion, and influence mining governance. Drawing on an empirical case study of Thailand’s Chatree gold mine, the article analyzes how affected groups navigate overlapping normative systems, such as state law, transnational norms, and technocratic discourses, through informal learning and strategic appropriation of expert language. Framed through the conceptual lens of legal pluralism, the study highlights how actors interpret and mobilize diverse normative orders to articulate grievances, shape narratives, and attempt to gain access to decision-making spaces. These …

Technology, Capabilities, And Power In The Indian Political Economy: A History Of Growth Without Development, Apremeya Sudarshan

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Economics Of Marriage, Sofia Vuong

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Librarians' Hopes And Fears: Perspectives On Emerging Technologies In Library Works, Oghap Kim

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Seasonal Patterns Of Tick Abundance Along Trail Edges And Paths In A Restored Prairie Complex, Mackenzie Milbourn

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Charging The Corridors: A Distance-Weighted Difference-In-Differences Analysis Of Nevi Interstate Fast-Charging Deployment, Gasoline Consumption, And Air Quality Across California Counties, Khoi Van

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Food Sovereignty In Urban And Ex-Urban Communities, Ravyn Jones

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Micro-Moments In Acl Injury: Analysis Of The Posture Of The Lower Leg During Change Of Direction, Joseph Reed Nobili

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Automatic Speech Recognition Live Captions In Synchronous In-Person Learning Environments: A Study On Accuracy Rate, Krista M. Rey

Doctor of Education (EdD)

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy rate of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) live captions in an in-person synchronous classroom setting and the perceptions of participants experiencing them. The reduction in the workforce of Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) captioners, improvements in ASR, and previous studies suggesting benefits for all learners have left educators, institutions, and policymakers wondering if ASR live captions can ethically meet accessibility requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and also benefit typically hearing and English Language Learners (ELL). Two general undergraduate education classes were selected to evaluate the accuracy rate of …

How Oregon School District Staffing Allocation Proportions Relate To Student Achievement As Measured By Essa-Aligned Key Indicators On The Oregon School Report Cards, David M. Wallace

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Grounded in the Educational Production Function framework and Oregon’s ESSA-aligned accountability system, this study examined the relationship between district-level staffing allocation proportions and student achievement outcomes. Within the constrained, zero-sum context of school district budgeting, the study examined whether the proportional distribution of personnel expenditures among certified, classified, and administrative staff was associated with differences in third grade English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency, eighth grade mathematics proficiency, attendance, and on-time graduation. Using an unbalanced panel of 519 district-year observations from Oregon public school districts (2021–2024), multiple regression models controlled for student poverty, disability status, and English learner enrollment. The findings …

People's Upr Written Record, Sarah Dávila A., Lauren E. Bartlett

Faculty White Papers

No abstract provided.

The Intersection Of Bias And Practice: Understanding How Adult Beliefs And Ppt Expertise Affect Self-Contained Placement Recommendations In Special Education, Amy M. Martino

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

This mixed-methods Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) examined high rates of segregation for students receiving special education services in an urban district in central Connecticut. A root cause analysis, supported by a review of existing literature, guided the need for intervention given the widening gap between academic achievement and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to their peers at the secondary level. Using an improvement science framework within a convergent mixed-methods design, this study investigated the implementation of a six-week professional learning intervention for high school administrators. The professional learning focused on the facilitation of Planning and …

Altered Mental Status Due To Amantadine Withdrawal: A Case Report, Nicole J. Asal, Elisa Piraino, Cristina Hamacher, Husam Abu Nejm

Pharmacy Practice and Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background and Clinical Significance: Withdrawal symptoms from an abrupt discontinuation or rapid dose reduction in amantadine has been documented as early as 1987. Symptoms can align with several diagnoses, including but not limited to infection, fever, worsening of Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and an altered mental status. In the case described, the timely diagnosis of amantadine withdrawal was delayed due to its nonspecific presentation. Case Presentation: A man in his 60s presented with lethargy, confusion, and delayed responses. His past medical history included parkinsonism, a seizure, type 2 diabetes, and schizoaffective disorder. Outpatient medications included amantadine, benztropine, divalproex, levetiracetam, …

Striving For Greater Equity And Access For Neurodivergent College Music Students, Rhoda Bernard

Faculty Works

An increasing number of neurodivergent individuals are enrolling in colleges and universities, where they often encounter a wide range of challenges, such as ableist attitudes, policies, and practices, emotional distress, and academic struggles. This Commentary examines issues of equity and access for neurodivergent higher education music students through discussion and analysis of two initiatives at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The recommendations of neurodivergent researchers and neurodivergent higher education community members are employed as a critical lens for these initiatives, and as a framework for the field.

Chanticleer | January 2026, Jacksonville State University

Chanticleer

No abstract provided.

Guidelines For Standard Basic Notations In Applied Statistics, Abhaya Indrayan, Shivani Saini Ms

COBRA Preprint Series

Whereas some statistical notations are standard and uniformly used by different workers, many are not. Varying notations lead to confusion among the readers, particularly those engaged with applied statistics material, such as medical professionals. This communication proposes that all basic notations be standardized so that the same notations are consistently used by different authors, in different books, journals, and articles for the benefit of those who are not rigorously trained statisticians. Guidelines for such standard notations are also provided. The lead must be taken by statisticians.

Chanticleer | Spring 2026 [Digitized Print Edition], Jacksonville State University

Chanticleer

No abstract provided.

Lockstepping Structure, Darrell A.H. Miller

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

The new judicial federalism is now entering its early middle age. As it has matured—moving from rights to structure—it has become more complicated in its application. For if one were to take arguments about state experimentation and interpretive flexibility to their logical conclusion, there is no reason state legislative, executive, and judicial powers should stay in lanes demarcated by federal constitutional law. Easily amended state constitutions and elected judges support theories of judicial function more akin to statewide legislative policymakers than passive judicial magistrates. Positive rights in state constitutions would seem to demand recalibration of the rules of standing and …

Editor's Note: Economic Resilience In Contested, Noisy, And High-Pressure Environments, Marites Tiongco

DLSU Business & Economics Review

No abstract provided.

Health Insurance As A Mediator Of Neighborhood Deprivation And Pediatric Cancer Survival: An Analysis Of State Cancer Registry Data, Emma Hymel, Cheng Zheng, Jenna Allison, Kendra L. Ratnapradipa, Edward S. Peters, Sarah H. Nash, Mei-Chin Hsieh, Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Journal Articles: Epidemiology

INTRODUCTION: To develop interventions to reduce neighborhood-level disparities in pediatric cancer outcomes, it is necessary to understand their underlying mechanisms. It has been suggested that individual-level health insurance is a mediator of neighborhood deprivation and pediatric cancer survival.

METHODS: This study was a population-based longitudinal study of children with cancer from 2000 to 2020 in the Iowa Cancer Registry and Louisiana Tumor Registry. Neighborhood deprivation was measured using the Area Deprivation Index. Log-binomial regression models were used to identify predictors of health insurance status at diagnosis. Cox regression models were used to assess the association between health insurance status at …

Techne 2024-2025, Elena M’Bouroukounda, Jieun Yang

TECHNE

This edition of TECHNE focuses on spotlighting students’ work through the use of whitespace. Its format allows images to stand alone and shine, while also being in harmony with the work that surrounds it. Through space, our students’ intentions breathe freely. Briana Carrasco, Editor-in-Chief, B.Arch Class of 2026.