Digital Commons Network^™

Subjective Stress In Icu Nurses, Jonathan Nix

Theses & ETDs

This study examined perceived stress levels in ICU nurses and compared them to stress levels commonly reported in the general working population. ICU nurses work in high-pressure environments that involve long shifts, critical patient care, repeated exposure to trauma, and high levels of responsibility, all of which can contribute to increased stress. Stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), along with one open-ended question asking participants to describe their biggest source of stress. Demographic variables including age, gender, education level, years in nursing, and hours worked were also analyzed. Results showed that most participants scored in the high …

Birth Control, Self-Efficacy, And Perseverance: State-Based Impacts Of Hormonal Contraceptive Use, Nya Jacobson

Theses & ETDs

Hormonal contraceptives (HC) are one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world. Over 300 million people worldwide have used HC at some point during their lives; in the U.S. alone, 64.9% of reproductive-age females currently use some form of HC. Nascent research has implicated the synthetic hormones that make up HC in the possible alteration of many state-based psychological processes. Two psychological factors that may be impacted by HC use – perseverance and self-efficacy – are necessary components of success in every facet of life. This study investigates the possibility of differences in self-efficacy and perseverance between different …

The Return To Autochthonous Law, Grant Christensen

University of Chicago Law Review

This Book Review examines the significance of Professor David E. Wilkins’s (Lumbee Nation) newest book Indigenous Governance: Clans, Constitutions, and Consent. It suggests that Wilkins has produced a critically important collection of primary sources related to the origins of tribal government and that his contribution could not come at a better time within the discipline of Indian Law.

This Book Review takes the position that Indian Law is seeing the emergence of a fourth wave of scholarship that recenters the conversation from tribal self-determination as a means of decolonization to one embracing the autochthonous powers of tribes themselves. It is …

Collage To Wallcovering: A Method To Sustain Memory In Memory Care Facilities, Mikala Sexton

Interior Design Undergraduate Honors Theses

As the aging population continues to grow, dementia and Alzheimer's have become increasingly relevant in healthcare. In the United States, memory care facilities, focusing on medical attention, often lack humane design, leaving the interiors to feel sterile and detached. This study explores collage as a method for developing a systematic approach to interior finishes of memory care facilities, specifically wallcoverings, making design accessible to memory care facilities while supporting the memory function of its residents.

This project utilizes qualitative and image-based methods, along with interviews, to inform the production of a collage and wallcovering. By analyzing pieces from a collage, …

You've Got It All Wrong: Constructions And Discussions About Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion On Reddit, Hailey I. Palomo

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection

Within the context of a particularly polarized time-period in the U.S., this project aims to better understand the public sphere’s ability to converse, debate, and rationalize beliefs in online discussion spaces that are designed to invite opposing viewpoints. Epistemic structures, feedback loops, and a growing animosity toward one’s political opponents have crafted an environment in which right-wing and left-wing individuals have developed incompatible constructions of reality, thus eliminating the possibility of compromise. As the public sphere attempts to engage in their civic duty to debate and come to a collective agreement, the hindering effects of polarization are visible though online …

Against General Law Constitutionalism, Joshua Macey, Ketan Ramakrishnan, Brian Richardson

University of Chicago Law Review

This Article considers how and under what circumstances the “general law,” a species of unwritten law grounded in legal customs and practices shared across different legal jurisdictions, might be used in modern constitutional interpretation. Constitutional originalists have increasingly argued that central provisions of the Constitution, such as the First and Second Amendments and the Fourteenth Amendment’s Privileges or Immunities Clause, incorporate various bodies of general law. This Article argues that, even if the Constitution did incorporate various bodies of general law, most of those bodies of law have now been emptied of content, and must remain empty without profound changes …

The Twelfth Amendment And The Era, Stephen E. Sachs

University of Chicago Law Review

How many amendments are in the Constitution? Americans should be able to know. But whether the Equal Rights Amendment is—right now—part of the Constitution remains controversial. Thirty-eight states have sought to ratify it, several of them after the seven-year deadline in the proposing resolution. Given President Joe Biden’s last-minute claim that the ERA is now the Twenty-Eighth Amendment, in a future administration this lingering debate could provoke a minor constitutional crisis.

Yet there may be a legal answer. Congress has long placed operative language in amendment resolutions that modifies the legal force of the proposed text—not only in the Bill …

Alaska Venture Fund Project Management Framework, Jacob Shercliffe,

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

This project seeks to design and implement a customized project management framework aimed at enhancing planning, execution, accountability, and documentation within Alaska Venture Fund (AVF), a small non-profit organization. Given that non-profits frequently function with limited resources and are staffed by individuals lacking technical expertise, a streamlined yet effective project management approach is essential to ensure the framework's usability and usefulness for program managers. Alaska Venture Fund has been struggling with implementation and execution of project ideas and goals. The framework seeks to help staff better understand how to carry work from the ideation phase through completion with a standard …

Quality Improvement Of Nutrition Screenings At North Star Behavioral Health, Amanda L. Barlow

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

This quality improvement project examined nutrition screening practices at North Star Behavioral Health (NSBH), a multi‑program facility serving pediatric, adolescent, and adult patients in Anchorage, Alaska. Initial review identified inconsistent nursing documentation, delayed registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) consults, and limited staff understanding of screening protocols. An interdisciplinary team implemented evidence‑based screening tools, revised policies, and delivered targeted education through orientation sessions and skills fairs. Evaluation demonstrated significant improvement in registered nurse (RN) knowledge of nutrition screening procedures (p = 0.0293). Recommendations include quarterly RN refresher training, routine chart audits, and integration of standardized screening protocols into paper and electronic medical …

Advancing Research Administration Through Generative Ai: Evaluating Structured Prompting For Compliance Workflows, Catherine A. Warden

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

This study examines how generative artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance in university-based research administration amid increasing federal oversight and workforce constraints. Baseline findings indicate that administrative burden is driven less by time and more by complexity, multi-source dependency, and workflow inefficiencies, particularly rework. Using a structured, mixed-methods approach, this research evaluates the application of large language models (LLMs)—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot—across core workflows, including funding opportunity analysis, award terms extraction, closeout requirements, and budget development. A controlled, iterative testing framework was implemented using standardized prompt structures, with outputs evaluated against human-prepared benchmarks for accuracy, …

Environmental Sustainability Assessment Of Field Phosphate Monitoring Methods For Creeks, Quintino Medi

All Theses

Creeks serve as conduits for water, nutrients, and contaminants to larger water bodies such as rivers and lakes, and their health is a key indicator of overall watershed water quality condition. Unlike rivers, creeks are under-monitored due to their small size, hydrological variability, and limited accessibility. Many technologies exist for monitoring phosphorus in surface waters. Technologies may be classified into two general categories: i) proxy real-time sensors, which record generic water quality parameters, and ii) chemical reagent-based assays, which quantify soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in batch samples. There is a lack of studies that compare the features and benefits of …

Interfacing Pre-Sampling Platforms With Icp-Ms For High Sensitivity Atomic Detection In Biological And Environmental Matrices, Cameron J. Stouffer

All Dissertations

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a widely employed technique in analytical chemistry for the detection of trace level (sub parts-per-trillion to parts-per-billion) atomic detection. Despite its usefulness in quantifying small quantities of analytes, there are many challenges that arise with the employment of this technique as matrix effects, lack of structural information, and difficulties with sample preparation can hinder the usefulness of the technique. The use of pre-sampling techniques to alleviate these limitations is therefore of great importance. No sampling technique is comprehensive, as sample types have different challenges. Therefore, pre-sampling methods need to be customized based on …

Physical And Optical Properties Of The Germanium-Arsenic-Selenium Glass Forming Region For Precision Glass Molding And Infrared Optics, Peter F. Wachtel Ii

All Dissertations

The growth and advancement of infrared optical systems for thermal imaging, multi-band imaging, hyperspectral imaging, medical diagnostics, and chemical sensing are pushing the material science community to better understand existing materials while also developing new materials. Additionally, the thermal imaging market continues to grow, and system designers are continually being asked to reduce size, weight, and power while reducing costs (SWaP-c). Market growth has shifted optics manufacturing towards higher volume processes such as precision glass molding, but this does require most materials to be recharacterized due to property changes resulting from the process. Affecting the SWaP-c requirements, manufacturing tolerances are …

A Study Of The Agricultural Industry In Belize And Associated Future Growth Opportunities, Henry J. Conner

Accounting Undergraduate Honors Theses

During the summer of 2025, I had the opportunity to complete an internship in Belize with Peacework. During my time there, I worked with the Ministry of Agriculture. This Thesis is a summary of my time there and a study of the agricultural industry in Belize. It explores topics like climate change, sustainable agriculture, and the economic impact of recent events and potential future events on Belize.

Reducing Textile Waste Through 3d Body Scanning Technology: A Comparative Study Of Traditional And Digital Apparel Design Methods, Anna Delap

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

The fashion industry generates a substantial amount of textile waste each year, highlighting the need to incorporate more sustainable methods in the design and production of apparel garments. Emerging technologies such as three-dimensional (3D) body scanning and digital design software present the potential to reduce the amount of waste generated during product development while also improving fit and customer satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of 3D body scanning to reduce waste in the apparel industry by comparing garment development using 3D digital design and traditional flat pattern design methods.

In this study, 3D body …

Erratum For "Soil Freezing Characteristic Surface For Partially Frozen Soils", Antai Dong, Xiong Zhang, Ming Xiao

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The following corrections should be made to "Soil Freezing Characteristic Surface for Partially Frozen Soils" by Antai Dong, Xiong Zhang, and Ming Xiao, https://doi.org/10.1061/JGGEFK.GTENG -13924: In the third sentence of the Abstract, the value for suction when completely dried is incorrect. It should be 106 kPa. The label at the end of the suction axes in Figs. 1(a) and 2 is similarly inaccurate. Corrected versions of Figs. 1 and 2 are provided herein. To preserve the published version of record, these details have been corrected only in this erratum. (Figure Presented)

Unmaking And Remaking Crimean Tatar Identity Stalin’S Deportation, Sürgün Stories, And The Claiming Of Indigeneity, Milo A. Clarkson

International Studies Honors Projects

The Crimean Tatars exist within a framework of historical and modern Russian settler colonial oppression. By examining their preferred form of identification, this thesis argues that claiming indigeneity holds promise for combating this colonial structure. Further, it identifies the construction of collective memories of the Sürgün (1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars) in virtual museum project Tamirlar’s oral histories as a form of discursive decolonization—the reclamation of cultural, linguistic, and historical representation and primacy on the land. Novel analysis of fifty interviews with Sürgün survivors preserves indigenous Crimean identity and challenges the retrospective settler colonial construction of Crimea as “Russian.”

Creating Supportive Environments For Children To Bloom: A Trauma-Informed Occupational Therapy Approach, Morgan Benson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

A significant number of children receiving occupational therapy services have histories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including neglect, abuse, frequent changes in caregiving environments, and exposure to chronic stressors. These experiences can strongly affect sensory processing, emotional regulation, behavior, and participation in meaningful daily occupations. These challenges are often made more complex by limited caregiver education, inconsistent access to trauma-informed resources, and differences in therapist confidence when addressing trauma in pediatric practice. Occupational therapy practitioners are well-positioned to support these needs through holistic, occupation-based, and client-centered care that considers sensory, emotional, environmental, and developmental factors. The purpose of this capstone …

Integrating Trauma-Informed Care Into Pediatric Occupational Therapy, Kylie H. Rodig

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project examined how trauma-informed care (TIC) and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) can be integrated into pediatric occupational therapy to better support children impacted by trauma. The project was guided by the question of how structured trauma-informed strategies, clinical tools, and caregiver education influence therapist understanding and application in practice.

A mixed-methods approach was used, incorporating TIC- and TBRI-informed interventions during pediatric treatment sessions, trauma-informed evaluations, and ongoing reflective practice. Data were gathered through pre- and post-surveys, informal staff feedback, and reflective logs to capture changes in knowledge, confidence, and clinical application over time.

Results showed clear improvements in …

Impact Of Ai-Assistance In Writing On Independent Writing Self-Efficacy, Kelsey Barendregt

Master of Education Program Theses

Students and educators alike are impacted by the release of ChatGPT, particularly in the humanities fields. This study aims to explore the impact human-centred AI use during the writing process has on student self-efficacy for independent writing, focusing on writing aesthetic texts while receiving writing support from ChatGPT. Writing programs should help students develop writing skills and self-efficacy, enabling them to complete writing tasks independently rather than becoming dependent on AI tools. Self-efficacy was explored through four categories: overall self-efficacy, ideation, conventions, and self-regulation. Results indicate that AI tools have a neutral effect on students’ overall self-efficacy for independent writing, …

Diving Into Commercial Banking: Internship Experience At Hilborn & Howell, Llc, Reid W. Finch

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper attempts to provide insight into the commercial banking industry through personal experience and the help of high-level lending professionals.

An Explanation Of Alternatives Within A Portfolio, Isaac J. Reitman

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis attempts to provide insight into the role of alternative investments within modern portfolio construction for accredited and institutional investors.

The asset classes discussed are as follows: private credit, private equity, venture capital, hedge funds, collectibles, and real estate.

Recursion, Regurgitation, And Regeneration: Testing Limits And Revealing Biases Of Generative Ai Models Through Multimodal Feedback Loops, William Donnell-Lonon

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Contemporary generative AI systems such as OpenAI's GPT-4o and DALL-E models embed complex priors about society, reality, and history shaped by training data distributions, social alignment procedures, legal constraints, and safety regulations. This study uses a "telephone game" methodology to investigate how embedded social, political, and visual biases propagate and reveal themselves through iterative multimodal generation loops, where image captioning and text-to-image models are chained in successive feedback cycles.

Using CLIP similarity metrics, facial recognition algorithms, semantic drift analysis, and qualitative content observations, I tested how image subject matter affects the rate and quality of semantic and visual shift, identity …

Escaping The Promotion Trap: A Machine Learning Framework For Brand Equity Preservation In Beverage Cpg, Lucas P. Jones

Data Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

When companies acquire beverage brands, they typically value them based on total sales revenue. This traditional approach treats all sales equally over time, whether they are driven by genuine consumer demand or temporary discounts. This is important because while promotions can boost short-term sales, they tend to erode brand value over long periods of time. The measurement problem extends to acquisitions, where buyers lack the tools to distinguish real consumer demand from artificial promotional inflation.

This thesis develops a framework to separate genuine baseline demand from promotional dependence using Nielsen scanner data covering 189 beverage brands across 188,304 weekly observations …

Campus Chronicle - 50th Anniversary Edition, Jayden Park, Andy Langager

Campus Chronicle

Celebrating 50 years!

The Outsider And The Enemy: Colin Wilson On Wyndham Lewis, Luke Gilfedder

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

The Unfairness Of Fairness: Legal Architecture For Polarized Media, Alim Ulbashev

Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review

No abstract provided.

Adsorption Of Pfas On Bridged Functionalized Organosilica Materials, Elisha Lawerh Kabutey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PFAS are hazardous contaminants that have a devastating impact on human health and the environment. Their hazardous nature has led to the development of various adsorption methods for removing these contaminants from water sources. In this study, functionalized organosilica materials were synthesized from bis[3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] amine using the sol-gel method. The surface amino groups of the organosilica were converted into amine hydrochloride groups. Their adsorption properties were evaluated using salts of perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and perfluorobutanesulfonic acid. Results showed excellent adsorption capacity of the materials. Adsorption of PFAS leads to particle agglomeration and flotation of the spent material. A column …

Does Self-Compassion Buffer Against The Potential Effects Of Perfectionism And Psychopathology On Non-Suicidal Self-Injury?, Natasha Bourgoin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

University students with increased rates of reported perfectionism, anxiety, and depression, are vulnerable to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, not all students with psychological distress engage in NSSI, suggesting protective factors may help to mitigate this risk. The present study examined the relation between perfectionism and NSSI, via the mediating effects of anxiety and depression, and the moderating role of self-compassion. Participants were 338 university students (67% female; 87% White) who completed several self-report measures. Students with greater perfectionism reported higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and, in turn, more NSSI engagement. Self-compassion and several self-compassionate domains attenuated connections between …

The Impact Of Quantum Computing And Distributed Ledger Technology On Accounting/Auditing/Finance Systems, Ulingeta O. L. Mbamba

Business Management Review

The integration of Quantum Computing (QC) and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is poised to fundamentally reshape modern accounting by transforming how financial data is processed, secured, and verified. QC, utilising qubits, will exponentially enhance data analytics, risk assessment, and real-time financial forecasting, accelerating complex auditing tasks far beyond the capabilities of classical systems. In parallel, DLT, such as blockchain, provides a decentralised, immutable record of transactions, significantly increasing transparency and trust. This synergy may enable real-time analysis, continuous auditing, and intelligent automation, converting traditional static, centralised processes into dynamic, transparent ecosystems. Together, this convergence may redefine accounting, auditing, and finance, …