Digital Commons Network^™

Pitch Modeling And Control Of Subcarangiform Robotic Fish, Margaret Grace Enderle

Master's Theses and Capstones

The development of biomimetic robotic fish has been an ongoing research topic for the last 30 years. Here, researchers have explored biomimetic propulsion and maneuverability mechanisms, studied energy efficiency in comparison to live fish, and developed autonomous control algorithms for these extremely nonlinear systems. This work studies a multi-linkage, single-actuator propelled biomimetic robotic fish, the Ghost Uncrewed Performance Platform Submersible (GUPPS), developed at the University of New Hampshire. A set of symmetrically driven, static pectoral fins are added to the original platform to enable diving and surfacing capabilities by controlling the vehicle Angle of Attack (AoA) through pitch and yaw …

Go The Distance: Student Workers & Repository Impact, Jessea Young

Librarian Publications & Presentations

Have you often dreamed of a fully staffed scholarly communications team? If you're like me—the only full-time employee managing the institutional repository (IR) and research information management system (RIMS)—this great, warm place is just a dream. This lightning talk shares how strategic hiring and training of undergraduate student workers can help bridge the gap. At Loyola Marymount University, students support scholarly communications services by assisting in the management of our RIMS, Scholars @ LMU, and IR, Digital Commons @ LMU. During the hiring process, students complete an attention-to-detail assessment, helping both the librarian and the student understand the expectations and …

Week Of December 1, 2025, Student Life

College, School and Department Newsletters, Magazines, and Journals

Your weekly hub for events, resources and updates

User Evaluation Of A Virtual Patient For Philippine Medical Education, Ma. Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Samantha Castaneda, James Alvir Maclin V. Alaan, Paolo Santino P. Caoile

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

Caladrius is a virtual patient system designed for use in Philippine medical schools. It responds to the need for medical interview training, for greater variety in teaching-learning strategies, and for culturally appropriate technologies. It has two versions: a text-only version whose interface is similar to a chat interface, and an audio version that accepts speech input and responds with speech output. In a prior test of Caladrius, users requested improved audio response time and the inclusion of different patient personalities. A subsequent version of Caladrius was created to comply with these requests. As much of the lag was attributable to …

The Effect Of Exercise On Dynamic Balance And Walking Endurance In Patients With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Connor Gibson

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects 2-3 million people worldwide, with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) accounting for 75% of new cases. Exercise has been proposed to alleviate symptoms and enhance quality of life. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of exercise on dynamic balance and walking endurance in RRMS patients.

Methodology: A comprehensive PubMed search identified exercise interventions that specifically measured walking endurance via the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and dynamic balance through the timed up-and-go (TUG) test. Mean and standard deviation values at baseline and post-intervention were extracted for analysis. For subgroup comparisons, interventions were classified as either lower …

Assessing Cognitive Performance And Comfort Under Simulated Mri Noise And Its Association With Autistic Like Traits, Jasmin Woodhouse

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners produce noise levels between 65 and 130 decibels. This noise, alongside the broader sensory environment of the MRI, poses challenges for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Noise exposure has been shown to impair task performance, increase errors, and affect brain activity. ASD traits are associated with decreased sound tolerance, including hyperacusis, misophonia, and phonophobia. In ASD, noisy environments disrupt inferior frontal gyrus function, impairing task response and brain connectivity. Given this, it’s crucial to understand how these sensory challenges specifically affect ASD experience and performance during MRI procedures. This study assesses cognitive performance and …

A Generational Analysis Of Psychological Motivators Influencing Seafarer Retention, Perisah Tahanci

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Seafarer retention is a growing concern amid increasing global demand for skilled maritime officers. This study investigates the generational differences in psychological motivators influencing seafarer retention, where ‘psychological motivators’ encompass the cognitive factors, including mental and physical wellbeing, work-life balance, compensation, working conditions, and external factors, that shape retention intentions. A cross-sectional survey (n=214) combined quantitative and qualitative analyses to systematically assess how the perceived importance and experience of these factors vary across Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers.

The findings reveal that significant generational differences exist across most factors, particularly in work-life balance and mental wellbeing, in …

Examining The Correlation Between The Competing Values Framework And Other Scales Of Measure, Jesina Mistry

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Organisational culture is widely acknowledged as a critical determinant of performance and employee engagement, yet debates persist regarding how best to conceptualise and measure it. This study examines the construct validity of two widely used diagnostic tools: the Competing Values Framework (CVF) and the Organisational Culture Inventory (OCI). While the CVF has achieved broad application across sectors, questions remain regarding its empirical grounding and cross-cultural relevance. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, this research investigates the degree of convergence between CVF and OCI dimensions within a diverse UK-based sample spanning multiple industries and job levels. In addition, it incorporates three underexplored …

Quantification Of Trace Metal(Loids) In The River Seaton, Cornwall, Uk And The Influence Of The South Caradon Mine On Ecological Risk, Bjorn Piñol

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Freshwater quality is critical to the health of aquatic ecosystems and human water security, yet anthropogenic activities, such as historic mining, continue to degrade aquatic systems. While extensive research has examined metal contamination in major rivers like the River Tamar, smaller tributaries affected by legacy mining remain understudied. This study investigates trace metal contamination and its controlling factors in the River Seaton, Cornwall, a small river influenced by historic mining from the South Caradon Mine. Water samples collected from four study sites along the river gradient and a reference site at Siblyback Lake were subjected to ICP-MS analysis and physico-chemical …

Assessing Overtopping Hazard To The Dawlish Railway Line: Integrating Wave Propagation Models For Coastal Metocean Condition Analysis, Matthew R. Owen

The Plymouth Student Scientist

With rising sea levels and increasingly frequent and intense storms due to climate change, coastal communities and structures are at an increasing risk of overtopping occurring. This study investigates the coastal metocean conditions responsible for overtopping at coastal defences, using Delft3D to model these processes with Dawlish as the case study site. Wave propagation models were employed to simulate metocean conditions from December 2021 to March 2022 to compare inshore wave conditions, alongside water level and wind parameters, with observed overtopping data from the WireWall system installed on top of the seawall, next to the railway line. The results indicate …

From Sea To Shore: Wind-Driven Aerosolization Of Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins In Qingdao, China, During The Winter Of 2019, Madeleine K. Martin

The Plymouth Student Scientist

In Qingdao, China, harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a known hazard to coastal communities. Aerosolization is a mechanism by which HAB toxins can be transported from the sea surface into the air when wind speeds exceed 5 m/s. Previous studies have analysed the composition of aerosolized marine biotoxins (AMBs) in the breathable air surrounding Qingdao, but the role of the onshore winds in transporting them there would benefit from further research. Ciguatoxin is one such AMB, and this study analyses the role of onshore winds in aerosolizing and transporting toxins inland from a ciguatoxin bloom in Aoshan Bay, Qingdao during …

Comparing The Effect Of Marine Aquarium Salts And Sodium Chloride On Vicia Faba Stress Response, Bethany Smerdon

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Soil salinity is a major abiotic stressor limiting agricultural productivity. Many salt stress studies rely solely on sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions, despite not accurately representing natural saline conditions. This study investigated the stress response of Vicia faba to NaCl and marine aquarium salt (MAS) solutions to assess the impact of a more complex ionic composition on plant physiology. Plants were cultivated in a controlled greenhouse and treated with either NaCl, MAS, or rainwater (control) for up to 55 days. Growth parameters, water status, proline accumulation, chlorophyll content, and root nodule weight were measured to evaluate stress responses. The results indicate …

Assessing Jasmonic Acid Seed Priming In Brassica Napus: Impacts On Aphid Herbivory Resistance And Seedling Fitness Trade-Offs, Daisy Stradling

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Jasmonic acid (JA) is a key phytohormone involved in plant defence, offering a potential sustainable alternative to conventional chemical pesticides. While JA seed priming has been explored as a strategy to enhance herbivore resistance in certain plant families, its potential fitness trade-offs remain poorly understood. This study investigates the effects of JA seed priming on Brassica napus (oilseed rape), a key agricultural crop, focusing on seedling fitness and resistance to Brevicoryne brassicae (mealy cabbage aphid), a major agricultural pest. To assess potential fitness trade-offs, seeds were primed with 75 µM JA, and multiple seedling fitness parameters were measured. Germination monitoring …

The Lived Experience Of Uk Students Transitioning To University With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, Emelia C. Steel

The Plymouth Student Scientist

Transitioning from secondary school to university is a high-risk period for managing type 1 diabetes among UK students. Canadian research identified limited systemic support during this period. However, there is a lack of qualitative insight into how students navigate this transition in the UK, where healthcare and education systems differ. This study addressed that gap through semi-structured interviews to understand what makes this transition particularly challenging and what support students would find most helpful. A purposive sample comprised seven participants aged 19–29 from four UK universities. Thematic analysis, guided by Braun and Clarke’s (2022) six-phase framework, identified three superordinate themes: …

The Influence Of Trauma-Informed Self-Care Practices On Compassion Fatigue, Secondary Traumatic Stress, And Burnout Among Educators, Giitoun Belinda Martin

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Educators play a pivotal role in supporting students who have experienced trauma, yet the emotional toll of this work is often underestimated. This mixed-methods study examined the influence of trauma-informed self-care (TISC) practices on compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout among K–12 educators in a large southeastern Tennessee district, including Priority Schools serving high-poverty communities. A total of 157 educators were surveyed, while 32 educators participated in focus groups to provide deeper insight into self-care supports. Quantitative analyses revealed that higher levels of TISC engagement were significantly associated with increased compassion satisfaction and personal accomplishment, and …

A Question To Query Llm As A Pipeline Replacement In Knowledge Graph Question Answering Systems, Major Schwartz

Masters Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Knowledge Graph Question Answering (KGQA) pipelines commonly depend on separate entity and relation predictors before querying the graph, which introduces engineering complexity and costly inference passes over large vocabularies. This thesis presents a drop-in replacement for those modules: a fine-tuned large language model (LLM) that translates a natural-language question directly into an executable SPARQL query. We fine-tune instruction-tuned backbones, Llama-3.1-8B-Instruct and Mistral-7B-Instruct, on paired (question, gold SPARQL) examples, which are formatted through chat templates. As a result, the models can perform single-step query generation. The training and inference pipeline includes a lightweight post-processor that corrects tokenizer-induced spacing artifacts in generated …

Influence Of Peer-Led Team Learning In Students’ Chemistry Self-Efficacy, And Academic Achievement In General Chemistry Courses, Hector Leal

Theses and Dissertations

One of the most perplexing issues facing peer cooperative learning is dealing with student motivation and goal orientation. Sometimes the students who could most benefit from the positive effects of peer learning are the ones least likely to participate due to fear of exposing their academic weaknesses to others or even to themselves (Arendale, 2020). Exploring the complexity of student motivation is being carefully studied amongst elementary and secondary education student populations. However, this important construct is often ignored in the study of postsecondary education in general, and the provision of learning assistance, particularly at the college level. My purpose …

Exploring Factors That Contribute To The Success Of Latina Superintendents In South Texas, Juanita D. Ybarra-Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID 19 pandemic brought forth many new challenges to the K-12 public schools. Superintendent turnover rates reached concerning levels in Texas and nationwide. This study explored the relationships between Latina superintendent’s success and the superintendents’ experiences with the school board, the community, their own health and safety and experiences related to maintaining superintendents’ role. Success is defined as a participant who acquired the superintendent role and maintained it for at least three years. Participants in this study were selected from Hispanic female superintendents within the Region One Education Service Center (ESC) in South Texas who had acquired and remained …

Voices Of Resistance: Multilingual Identity Formation Through Translanguaging In Dual Language Bilingual Education, Fernando W. Milmo

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored how students navigated their evolving multicultural and multilingual identities in a setting with varying emphases on English and Spanish in the context of a fourth-grade dual language classroom where the teacher employed translanguaging pedagogy. This study is grounded in a theoretical framework that integrates decolonial, raciolinguistic, and translanguaging perspectives. The study examined students' perceptions of linguistic hierarchies and the ways they utilized their full linguistic repertoires to negotiate meaning, identity, and a sense of belonging. This study included pláticas as a culturally grounded narrative method, classroom observations, and interviews, and used a qualitative case study …

Deep Community Engagement: Faculty Responsiveness Perspectives At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Joseph Coppola

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, narrative inquiry investigates how experienced faculty members embody and enact responsive pedagogical practices at a community college Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). Despite generational poverty and low degree attainment among Latine students, institutions face mounting pressure from deficit-mindedness and political mandates that threaten educational equity and resources for HSIs. This research sought to answer: How do community college faculty teaching at a Hispanic Serving Institution exhibit attributes of responsiveness?

The theoretical framework utilized the core tenets of Paulo Freire’s critical pedagogy and integrated models from Gloria Ladson-Billings (culturally relevant pedagogy), Geneva Gay (culturally responsive teaching), Django Paris (culturally sustaining pedagogy), …

Factors Influencing Teacher Professional Autonomy And Career Satisfaction: The Effects Of Unrealistic Professional Expectations Surrounding Student-Centered And Technology Implementation Tropes, Karla Gabriela Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

The research problem is to investigate to what extent unrealistic professional expectations stemming from a predominant emphasis on the tropes of student-centeredness and technology integration impact teachers’ experiences of professional autonomy and career satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to find out what factors impact teacher autonomy and career satisfaction while also considering how teachers can be effectively supported to improve these areas. Utilizing a narrative inquiry approach, this qualitative study will be held in the Rio Grande Valley and will analyze interviews of both current teachers and teachers who have recently left the profession. Therefore, this study will …

A Qualitative Case Study: Exploring Distributed Leadership In Instructional Leadership Teams, Martha Reyna Perez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the role of distributed leadership within Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) at the elementary level, using Beckhard’s (1972) GRPI framework— Goals, Roles, Processes, and Interpersonal Relationships—as a lens. Conducted as a qualitative case study at Rio Vista Elementary in Lone Star Independent School District, the research examined how ILTs functioned in the context of post-pandemic education, focusing on collaboration between administrators and teacher leaders. Guided by Spillane’s (2006) distributed leadership theory, the study addressed three questions: the lived experiences of ILT members, shifts in teacher leadership and organizational conditions, and perceived impacts on student outcomes. Findings showed that …

A Qualitative Case Study: Exploring Distributed Leadership In Instructional Leadership Teams, Martha Reyna Perez

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the role of distributed leadership within Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) at the elementary level, using Beckhard’s (1972) GRPI framework— Goals, Roles, Processes, and Interpersonal Relationships—as a lens. Conducted as a qualitative case study at Rio Vista Elementary in Lone Star Independent School District, the research examined how ILTs functioned in the context of post-pandemic education, focusing on collaboration between administrators and teacher leaders. Guided by Spillane’s (2006) distributed leadership theory, the study addressed three questions: the lived experiences of ILT members, shifts in teacher leadership and organizational conditions, and perceived impacts on student outcomes. Findings showed that …

Hispanic Academic Leadership In The Health And Human Services, Gabriela Elizabeth Rangel

Theses and Dissertations

In the United States, there are 63.7 million Hispanics (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023), making them the largest racial or ethnic minority in the country. National data from 2019 indicates that only 6% of tenured faculty in the U.S. were Hispanic, highlighting a significant underrepresentation of leaders in academia (NCES, 2024). This study employed a phenomenological approach with purposeful sampling, utilizing semi-structured interviews with ten participants who had leadership experience in academia within Health and Human Services (H&HS). The interviews served to explore various aspects, such as what were their aspirations to become leaders, their perceptions of the characteristics and qualities …

Educators’ Perceptions Of Mental Health Services For Middle School Students In A South Texas District, Norma Araceli Cabrera

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study is to examine teachers' and administrators' perceptions of school-based mental health services in one school district in South Texas. Within-case sampling was utilized to select the participants. The study examines educators' perceptions of the availability and effectiveness of mental health services for middle school students. Middle school is a period of intense social development, during which students strive to navigate peer relationships. Middle school children, aged 12-14, also undergo emotional development as they manage intense emotions, develop self-awareness, and learn to cope with stressors related to school, friends, and self-identity. Studies found that …

The Lived Experiences Of School Counselors, Job Burnout, And The Blurred Lines Of The Profession, Cecilia Angelica Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological qualitative study explores the lived experiences of school counselors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on job burnout, role ambiguity, and the blurred lines of the profession. Through semi-structured interviews with practicing school counselors, the study identifies common themes including role overload, manifestations of burnout, coping and resilience strategies, and the impact of administrative support. Findings highlight the systemic factors contributing to counselor stress and the importance of self-care, peer collaboration, and role clarity for counselor well-being and student outcomes.

Cyberbullying And Mental Health Issues Among University Students, Brandi N. Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

According to the CDC (2024), bullying can lead to social and emotional distress, self-harm, and death. Bullying can also increase the risk for depression, anxiety, and poor academic achievement. The increased use of social media and the rise in cyberbullying (CB) and related mental health concerns among emerging adults is highly disconcerting, especially given their propensity for mental health problems. The purpose of this study is to increase the understanding of young university students’ perceptions about CB victimization and whether CB affects their mental health. A cross-sectional research design was used to conduct the study. In this study the number …

The Influence Mechanism Of Chief Sustainability Officers On Firm Sustainability Performance, Taiwo Abraham

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) human capital configurations influence organizational sustainability performance through a configurational approach. Drawing on Upper Echelons and Human Capital theories, the study conceptualizes CSO human capital as encompassing both general (GHC) and sustainability-specific (SHC) dimensions that interact with job functions and governance mechanisms to shape outcomes. The theoretical framework proposes that SHC primarily influences non-financial sustainability performance (nfSP), while GHC drives financial sustainability performance (fSP). Champion functions moderate the SHC-nfSP relationship, while Ambassador functions moderate the GHC-fSP relationship. Firm sustainability governance further enhances these relationships and creates pathways for SHC to influence financial …

Navigating Cultural And Professional Identities: A Study Of Hispanic Women's Experiences In Aerospace Internship Programs, Jennifer Becerra

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study investigated how Hispanic women navigated cultural identity and professional development during National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) internship programs, examining the role of culturally responsive mentoring in supporting retention. The research question was, How do Hispanic women in aerospace-internship programs navigate the intersection of cultural identity and professional development as they transition from academic science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs to aerospace careers, and what role does culturally responsive mentoring play in supporting their retention?

Using Anzaldúa’s nepantla concept, Duncan-Andrade’s critical-hope theory, and Ladson-Billings’ culturally relevant pedagogy as theoretical frameworks, in this study, I employed semistructured …

Collective Agency And Community Resilience Among Farmworkers In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Angel Velazquez

Theses and Dissertations

This research assesses how farmworkers in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas use everyday practices to build resilience and adapt to changes in their lives. I apply two interconnected theories, White’s (2017, 2019) framework of collective agency and community resilience and Castro and Sen’s (2022) framework of everyday adaptation actions, to study these practices. I conducted 19 semi-structured interviews with Latino farmworkers and professionals who work with local farmworker organizations in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) of Texas. Interview transcripts were analyzed to determine if and how Latino farmworkers in the RGV can work towards community resilience and implement …