Digital Commons Network^™

Comparison Of Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.) Cultigens In A Controlled Environment Vertical Farm, Sarah R. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

Vertical farming is the production of plants in a completely controlled, enclosed environment and represents an advanced, sustainable method to grow basil and other leafy crops. Vertical farming offers 365 days of continual production, using minimal input and efficient, low water usage. For this study we compared five different basil cultivars side-by-side under the same growing conditions in a controlled environment. The basil cultivars compared were, Sweet Thai, Genovese, Holy, Cinnamon, and Greek basils. During growth, data was collected three times for each cultivar including plant length, internode length, number of nodes, number of leaves per stem, SPAD (Soil Plant …

Reconceptualizing Instructional Supervision For Stem Education In The Digital Age, Armen Alvarez

Theses and Dissertations

This conceptual thesis reconceptualizes instructional supervision for AI-enabled STEM teaching in the Digital Age. Traditional supervision models, including clinical, developmental, and cognitive coaching, emphasize human-centered observation and feedback but lack guidance for supervising AI-mediated instruction, interpreting algorithmic outputs, and addressing neurodiverse learner variability. Using integrative literature review methodology, this thesis synthesizes scholarship across five theoretical foundations: epistemic perspectives, the neurodiversity paradigm, Universal Design for Learning, human-centered AI and educational leadership, and supervision literature.

The resulting conceptual framework organizes supervisory attention into four interconnected domains:

• human-centered AI use in teaching and assessment,
• neurodiversity- and UDL-informed pedagogy,
• relational and compassionate classroom climate, …

Effects Of Interpersonal Emotion Regulation Strategies On Job Attitudes And Well-Being, Kara Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

Interpersonal emotion regulation involves using social interactions to influence their own or another’s emotions (Gross, 1998). Although previous research has examined the relationships between intrapersonal emotion regulation and workplace outcomes, there is a lack of research on interpersonal emotion regulation in the workplace context. The current study extends this research by examining the relationships between interpersonal emotion regulation strategies, co-rumination, well-being, and job satisfaction, and examines which interpersonal emotion regulation strategies are better predictors of the outcome variables than others. Positive correlations between interpersonal emotion regulation strategies and well-being and between co-rumination and well-being were found. Perspective taking and enhancing …

Exploring The Role Of Racial Microaggressions And Campus Climate In Fostering Sense Of Belonging For Black Latiné College Students, Lourdes D. Concepción Cabán

Theses and Dissertations

Racial microaggressions are subtle verbal or nonverbal behaviors that convey hostility and exclusion toward People of Color (Sue et al., 2007). These acts negatively impact the well-being, perceptions of inclusivity, and sense of belonging of marginalized groups in higher education (Solórzano & Pérez Huber, 2020). Black Latiné college students face unique challenges at the intersection of anti-Blackness and racialized Latinidad, compounding the effects of racial microaggressions in historically white institutions (Torres et al., 2012). I conducted a study with 77 Black Latiné undergraduate students from Midwestern universities to examine the relation between racial microaggressions, perceptions of campus climate, and sense …

Tensions And Possibilities: A Study Of International Graduate Students' Encounters With Critical Pedagogy In The United States, Munchuree Kaosayapandhu

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the question, “How do international graduate students experience and negotiate their encounters with critical pedagogy across time and educational contexts?” The research was motivated by the researcher’s own experience in encountering critical pedagogy and prior studies focusing on critical pedagogy from the teacher perspective. This left a gap in understanding the student experience. The research used the phenomenology paradigm. The participants included six international graduate students in education studies programs. Using the phenomenological interview approach, each participant was asked over a series of three interviews about past experiences of education, their initial encounters with critical pedagogy and …

Strike And Error: Assessing The Skill Level Of Crafters Using Lithic Blade Cores, Charles Roelant

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to ascertain whether or not the skill level of crafters can be assessed by the errors visible on the Hopewell cores used to make stone blades. This assessment was carried out using four points of focus; core shape, blade length, stepping mistakes and termination errors. This assessment was carried out on twenty-nine cores from the Crane site and nineteen cores from Mound house. Total error rates were used to assign cores to three different skill levels, experienced, intermediate, and novice. The assessment of these blade cores illustrates that skill can be observed, and that …

Learning Sustainability Under Tension: Experiential Learning And Reflexive Sensemaking In A Place-Based Simulation, Moon Kyung Cho, Nereu F. Kock, Nargis Sultana

Business Faculty Publications

This study examines how sustainability judgment develops in place-based experiential learning as learners navigate tensions between financial performance and environmental responsibility. Using a team-based, technology-enabled business simulation situated in a place-based context, participants managed a simulated company over eight quarters and subsequently reconsidered their decisions from the perspective of external auditors. The findings show that sustainability judgment developed iteratively through experience, reflection, and sensemaking. Participants distinguished sustainability practices according to their strategic and integrative potential and increasingly recognized that sustainability investments could support operational efficiency, innovation, and long-term financial viability rather than necessarily conflict with financial objectives. Place directed attention …

Simulated Oral Environment Affects Zirconia Aging And Mechanical Strength, Danyal A. Siddiqui, Smriti G. Natarajan, Bhuvana L. Chandrashekar, Danieli C. Rodrigues

School of Podiatric Medicine Publications

Background: Zirconia is an emerging alternative to titanium for dental implant systems. However, zirconia surfaces can deteriorate under aqueous conditions, thereby compromising mechanical performance. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of biological exposure or aging simulating the oral cavity on the surface integrity and mechanical strength of surface-treated zirconia.

Methods: Partially yttria- or magnesia-stabilized zirconia specimens were polished, acid-etched, or sandblasted. Zirconia disks were exposed to mammalian cells or bacteria. Surface degradation via tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation was assessed by Raman microscopy. Zirconia bars were subjected to accelerated aging by exposure to autoclave steam. Surface morphology was …

The Law And Economics Of Resilience, Doni Bloomfield, Jeff Gordon

Faculty Scholarship

The field of law and economics has long studied externalities, the costs and benefits actors create and yet fail to internalize. But scholars have largely overlooked a set of externalities that lead firms across the economy to systematically underinvest in resilience, with macroeconomically harmful consequences. In this Article, we address this gap with a theory of the law and economics of resilience, by which we mean the ability of markets to reliably and optimally meet demand for goods and services without extreme price fluctuations. 

We argue that corporate resilience is determined by a conflict between two basic forces: the resilience …

If I Only Had The Words (To Tell You): Billy Joel Lyrics In Legal And Medical Scholarship, Seuli Bose Brill, Christian H. Brill

Touro Law Review

Law and medicine are often considered to be among the least accessible professions, partly because of the heavy use of non colloquial jargon. This article examines more than 150 instances in which Billy Joel’s lyrics have been used to improve the accessibility of legal and medical scholarship. Legal and medical professionals have used the words of the “Piano Man” to discuss a variety of topics—everything from civil procedure to property rights and the COVID-19 pandemic to colorectal surgery. Nontraditional communications techniques of this type do not just contribute to the body of legal and medical scholarship; they also help professionals …

Unprecedented Leadership For Unprecedented Times: The Ethical Imperative For Transformational Change In American Higher Education, Andrés Acebo

Touro Law Review

Many eras quietly yield to another while its institutions continue speaking the language of a world that no longer exists. Such moments expose the widening distance between inherited assumptions and emerging realities, between institutional memory and societal need, between what once served the public well and what the future now requires. American higher education has arrived at such a moment. For more than a decade, its challenges have been described through the language of crisis. The prevailing literature has documented enrollment decline, demographic transformation, fiscal instability, technological disruption, political polarization, declining public confidence, and institutional fragility with increasing sophistication. Yet …

Bi-Level Optimization Of Peer-To-Peer Trading In A Decentralized Energy Market, Marshal Miezah

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Distributed power generation based on rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems integrated with battery storage emerges as a promising pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and im- proving flexibility in modern power systems. This study develops a bi-level optimization model to examine how prosumers maximize profit through peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading with consumers and the grid, and how consumers minimize cost by leveraging P2P trading. The bi-level problem is reformulated as a single-level mixed-integer programming (MIP) model using Karush- Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions to improve tractability and preserve market-clearing behavior. For the model validation and case study development, prosumer and consumer data are …

Retirement As A Psychosocial Transition: A Social Determinants Of Mental Health Framework For Counseling Practice, Janelle L. Jones, Lauren Robins, Melanie Calhoun, Aaliyah Bond-Richardson, Latesha S. Holloman, Zoe N. Stuckey

Adultspan Journal

Retirement is commonly framed as a normative and voluntary developmental milestone; however, access to a psychologically healthy retirement is unevenly shaped by social, economic, and structural conditions. This conceptual article applies a social determinants of mental health (SDMH) framework to retirement, conceptualizing it as a complex psychosocial transition involving identity change, shifts in purpose and meaning, relational adjustment, and emotional variability. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship, the manuscript examines how socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, gendered work histories, caregiving responsibilities, health status, and access to benefits influence both the ability to retire and the experience of retirement itself. Particular attention is …

Evaluating Supplementation Strategies Using Precision Livestock Technologies And Energy Based Models In Developing Beef Heifers Grazing Dormant Rangeland, Kali-Jo Bentz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Replacement beef heifer development in extensive grazing systems is challenged by variation in forage quality, supplement intake, and animal behavior, all of which influence the ability to achieve targeted growth prior to breeding. Precision livestock technologies (PLT) enable continuous monitoring of individual animal performance, while energy-based nutritional models support individualized supplementation. However, their application under extensive grazing conditions remains poorly understood. Therefore, the objectives of this thesis were to (1) evaluate heifer utilization of multiple precision livestock technologies and their relationship with animal performance and (2) evaluate the accuracy of an individualized energy-based supplementation model by comparing predicted supplement allotments …

Comparing Perceived Ideal Protein Intake In Plant-Based Versus Meat-Based Diet Consumers, Gysel Avendano, Saya Iwanaga

Loma Linda University Research Reports

High-protein diets have gained significant popularity in both social media and public discussion and more recently, a significant rise in protein consumption has been observed. Existing research has reported differences in actual protein intake across dietary patterns, with animal-based diets generally associated with higher total protein intake compared to plant-based diets. This growing focus on protein raises important questions about perceived ideal protein intake and the factors that shape it.

The primary objective is to compare perceived ideal protein intake among Southern California adults consuming meat-based versus plant-based diets. Additionally, we explored the influence of protein-related knowledge, beliefs, values, information …

On Burden Of Diseases, Prevention, Medical Research And Health Service Delivery: Grampian Case Study, Seshadri S. Vasan, Sudarshan Anand, Miae Lee, Nicholas C. Fluck

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Burden of diseases measured as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 100,000 people can be mined from public domain data, when they are made available by population health surveillance systems. This can be analysed to allow insightful comparisons with the national average, and to understand differences in trends between the sexes, age groups, time periods, geographic regions, and sub-regions. In this illustrative case study, we have analysed the Scottish burden of disease database to understand what ailed the population of the Grampian region before the COVID-19 pandemic. We have identified that selected cancers, ischaemic heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias …

Extending Social Penetration Theory To Online Brand Communities: The Impact Of Perceived Identifiability On Relational Development And Perceived Enjoyment, Stephanie Meek, Claire Lambert, Laureane Du Plessis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Online brand communities (OBCs) rely on members forming relationships, yet many platforms normalise anonymity. Drawing on Social Penetration Theory (SPT), this study examines whether feeling recognisable to other members (perceived identifiability) shapes relational outcomes and enjoyment in consumer-initiated OBCs. Survey data from 307 members were analysed using structural equation modelling and multi-group analysis. Perceived identifiability significantly increased members’ network ties and sense of belonging but did not directly enhance perceived enjoyment. Instead, belonging mediated the link from identifiability to enjoyment, and network ties strengthened belonging, yielding a serial indirect pathway from identifiability to enjoyment. Comparing lurkers and posters showed that …

How Expert Designers Foster Expertise: A Study Of Professional Visual Communication Practice, Grant Ellmers, Marius Foley, Juliana Peloche

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While design expertise has been widely studied across domains such as industrial design, engineering and architecture, visual communication design has received limited attention. Earlier research examined novice designers’ development of reflective capability, and its link to expertise progression. This study extends that work by investigating how expertise manifests and is fostered among experienced designers within visual communication design practice. Through in-depth interviews with five experienced designers (20–35 years’ industry experience), this qualitative case study employed thematic analysis grounded in Schön’s reflective-practice theory and Lawson and Dorst’s (2013) design-expertise model. This approach enabled close examination of how reflective processes, mentoring structures …

Mobility Of Hydrophilic And Hydrophobic Nanoparticles In Carbonate Reservoirs: Application To Subsurface Projects, Zain Ul Abedin Arain, Sarmad Al-Anssari, Muhammad Ali, Faisal Ur Rahman Awan, Alireza Keshavarz, Jitendra Sangwai, Mohammad Sarmadivaleh, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been suggested for subsurface projects, including enhanced oil recovery (EOR), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and hydrogen storage, due to their small size, high surface energy, controlled surface properties, and significant effects on the underground formation properties. Silica is an excellent NP that efficiently modifies the surface properties of subsurface formations for incremental oil recovery and to derisk carbon and hydrogen leaks. However, the retention of injected NPs in a narrow area near the injection inlet can limit a project’s feasibility. In the present study, hydrophobic (hybrid) NPs were produced via silanization of silica NPs, and the …

Strengthening Ocean Literacy: Marine Science Education And Training To Ensure Australia's Blue Future, Prue Francis, Rachel Kelly, Louise Swanson, Tanveer M. Adyel, Benjamin Arthur, Kirsten Benkendorff, Melanie J. Bishop, Helen Bostock, Marnie L. Campbell, Emma Church, Corrine Condie, Vaibhavi Dwivedi, Michelle Dyer, Matthew England, Liam Fullbrook, Charlie Huveneers, Malcolm Johnson, Brianna Le Busque, Rebecca R. Mcintosh, Amelie Meyer, Benjamin Mos, Jana Mrazova, Allyson O'Brien, Gretta T. Pecl, Amandine Schaeffer, Rebecca J. Shellock, Grant A. Smith, Scott Smithers, Ana Vila-Concejo, Graham Wood

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This white paper sets out a national vision for advancing ocean literacy in Australia and outlines the role of marine science in fostering an informed, engaged society capable of addressing the challenges and opportunities of our changing oceans. As environmental pressures intensify, and marine resource demands increase, Australians’ capacity to engage with ocean issues, understand risks and opportunities, and participate in marine decision-making has never been more urgent. Marine science will play a central role in building ocean literacy by delivering credible, actionable science, and strengthening education and training systems that enhance understanding of, and connection to, the ocean. Our …

Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic Syndrome Through The Lens Of Gut‑Derived Uremic Toxins, Chudan Xu, Matthew Snelson, Francine Z. Marques

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Cardiovascular–Kidney–Metabolic (CKM) syndrome represents a complex, interconnected cluster of cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. These conditions share overlapping metabolic, inflammatory, and vascular pathways, with the gut microbiome increasingly recognised as a key contributor and common underlying risk factor. Uremic toxins, traditionally considered waste products of host and microbial metabolism, are now recognised as active mediators of tissue damage across the CKM spectrum, particularly in the context of impaired renal function. Their production and accumulation are amplified by disrupted intestinal barrier integrity, chronic inflammation, and reduced renal clearance, collectively driving systemic …

Design And Technology Pre-Service Teachers’ University Course Lived Experiences In Western Australia, Carol K. Puddicombe, Nicola F. Johnson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Design and Technology (D&T) education, historically rooted in industrial and manual arts, now integrates design-focused thinking with the practical processes of prototyping and making. Drawing on a doctoral study, this article examines the university course experiences of ten pre-service D&T teachers in Western Australia and how these shaped emerging beliefs and professional identities. Using an interpretivist framework and interpretative phenomenological analysis, interviews with ten final-year pre-service teachers were analysed. Five interrelated themes are examined in this article: knowledgeable lecturers, hands-on practical learning, curriculum breadth, peers, and internal concerns. The findings highlight the importance of current, school-connected lecturers; structured learning that …

Dropouts And Refusers: Clinicians’ Insights And Initiatives Into Reducing Treatment Attrition Amongst Young People Who Sexually Offend, James L. Finney, Natalie Gately, Suzanne Rock, Jocelyn Jones

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sexual offending by young people causes significant harm to victims, families and communities. Treatment engagement and completion are therefore important for reducing future harm; however, young people who drop out of, or refuse to engage in, treatment present a unique challenge for clinicians and justice systems. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) ecological systems theory, this study explored clinicians’ perspectives on the barriers to treatment engagement and completion for young people who have sexually offended in the Australian context. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians who provided or facilitated treatment for young people who had sexually offended (N = 22). Two major …

Effect Of Molybdenum Content On The Microstructure And Tribological Properties Of Ti-Nb-Cu Alloys Produced By Lpbf Additive Manufacturing, Lei Qin, Shengfeng Zhou, Jianbo Jin, Huan Yang, Kunmao Li, Cheng Deng, Yujie Yuan, Seyed Reza Elmi Hosseini, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Obtaining excellent wear resistance is critical for titanium alloys used as orthopedic implants. In this study, the β-type Ti-35Nb-5Cu- x Mo alloys (Ti355 x , x = 0, 1, 2, and 4 wt%) were fabricated by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method. In the meantime, the influence mechanism of Mo content on the microstructure and tribological properties was systematically investigated. The results show that all the LPBF-produced Ti355 x alloys exhibit a bimodal columnar-equiaxed grain structure, with Mo refining columnar grains and suppressing the α″ phase formation. Moreover, increasing the Mo content reduced the relative density, while enhancing the …

Machine-Learning-Guided Design Of A Biomedical High-Entropy Alloy For Additive Manufacturing: Cast-State Benchmark And Preliminary Lpbf Feasibility Assessment, Deyu Jiang, Lai Chang Zhang, Kuaishe Wang, Wen Wang, Chenyuan Zhu, Yuanfei Fu, Kai Wang, Wei Zhai, Ching Chiuan Yen, Weijie Lu, Di Zhang, Liqiang Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Additive manufacturing of biomedical high-entropy alloys (BioHEAs) demands a combination of low elastic modulus, high strength, and damage tolerance, yet composition discovery remains largely empirical. Here, we establish a machine-learning framework that couples virtual screening with physical prototyping to link composition, deformation mechanism, and properties. Ensemble models for strength, elongation, and modulus were applied to screen Ti–Zr–Nb–Ta–Mo-centered quinary-to-septenary spaces (∼15 million compositions), revealing discrete performance islands anchored by a Ti–Zr backbone. A Zr-rich BCC alloy (Zr₃₉.₃Ti₁₉.₅Nb₁₇.₉Ta₁₆.₈Mo₆.₅) was identified and validated. In the as-cast state, it delivers ∼1.0 GPa yield strength, 22.3% elongation, and an 88 GPa elastic modulus; ductility originates …

Multi-Objective Hydro-Thermal Optimization Of Spiral Conformal Cooling Channels Using A Kriging-Cfd Framework, Soroush Masoudi, Barun K. Das, Majid Tolouei-Rad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study presents a surrogate-based computational framework for the thermo-hydraulic optimization of spiral conformal cooling channels (CCCs) used in injection moulding applications. Sixteen design configurations were generated using Latin Hypercube Sampling and evaluated through CFD simulations to determine cooling time and pressure drop. Based on the simulation data, a Universal Kriging surrogate model was developed to describe the nonlinear relationships between channel diameter, helix pitch, channel-to-surface distance, and the resulting thermo-fluid performance. The predictive capability of the surrogate model was evaluated using leave-one-out cross-validation. The model showed excellent agreement for pressure drop prediction (R² ≈ 0.99) and good predictive accuracy …

Numerical Investigation Of The Influence Of Fiber Content On The Shear Performance Of Uhpc Deep Beams Reinforced With Hybrid Steel And Synthetic Fibers, Hossein Mirzaaghabeik, Sanjay Kumar Shukla, Nuha S. Mashaan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigates the shear performance of ultra-high-performance concrete deep beams (UHPC-DBs) reinforced with hybrid fibers comprising 5D steel fibers and Forta-Ferro (FF) synthetic fibers. UHPC-DBs are widely used in bridges, piles, and transfer girders because of their high load-bearing capacity. Although fiber content strongly influences shear behavior, the contribution of synthetic fibers in hybrid systems remains insufficiently understood. To address this gap, finite element analysis based on the concrete damage plasticity (CDP) model was developed in ABAQUS and validated using experimental results from five previously tested UHPC-DBs with different fiber contents. Load–deflection response, crack patterns, shear capacity, mid-span deflection, …

Optimizing Subgroup Selection In Petrochemical Industries: A Robust Data Envelopment Analysis Approach For Uncertainty Management, Sadegh Niroomand, Hilda Saleh, Morteza Shafiee, Dragan Pamucar, Ali Mahmoodirad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study addresses the critical challenge faced by organizations in selecting an optimal subgroup of decision-making units (DMUs). Such a selection procedure can significantly influence efficiency, profitability, and strategic development. Recognizing the limitations of existing methods in handling inexact data and incorporating managerial preferences, this study proposes a novel framework that integrates data envelopment analysis (DEA) with binary linear programming models. The model applies belief-degree–based representations of uncertainty to capture imprecise inputs and outputs. For this model, two solution approaches—namely, chance-constrained programming and expected value approaches—were developed. These approaches are suitable for real-world applications using standard optimization software. The effectiveness …

Precarity On The Move: The Relative Economic Precarity Of Mobile Youth Moving To Australia, Lara Mckenzie, Anita Harris, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Analyses of precarity often focus on how insecure employment, careers, finances, and geographies influence people’s lives for the worse, with young people understood as especially precarious in their economic stability and transitions to adulthood. This article analyses accounts of precarity amongst middling transnationally mobile youth, drawing from 24 semi-structured interviews incoming to Australia, and longitudinal survey data. We show that experiences of economic precarity are impacted by their access to work, government support, ability to access or sustain visas, and access to support from family and partners. By drawing on migration scholars’ observations that transnational mobility can be privileged and …

Supporting Displaced Students With Disabilities In Post-Secondary Education: An International Scoping Review, Tetiana Bogachenko, Jia Xu, Larysa Klymanska, Nadia Chubko

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Students with disabilities who are forced to leave their homes due to armed conflict, persecution, environmental crises, or other forms of involuntary displacement, within their country or internationally, face compounded barriers to accessing and succeeding in post-secondary education. Yet, their experiences, educational trajectories, and the supports available to them remain underexplored. This scoping review examines existing empirical research on the experiences of students with disabilities in post-secondary education who come from forced migration backgrounds. By addressing the intersection of disability, displacement, and post-secondary education, this review highlights the unique challenges faced by this population as well as supports identified as …