Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Evaluation Of Wireless Monitoring Systems For Touchless Respiratory Monitor Validation, Dustin Marquardt

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Touchless Respiratory Monitor (TRM) is a non-invasive system that uses contactless methods to measure respiratory rate and tidal volume. The main technologies employed are LiDAR for tidal volume measurement and a thermal camera for respiratory rate monitoring. These novel methods require validation against established techniques such as capnometry and respiratory inductance plethysmography. Commercial respiratory monitoring equipment is often expensive and dependent on proprietary software, creating barriers to widespread use. To address this, a custom, modular, and low-cost evaluation system was developed to streamline the validation of the TRM. The prototype system integrates a pulse oximeter, capnometer, spirometer, and respiratory …

Labram Ii Power Equation And Application To Model A Powder System, Layton Bertrand Bahnmiller

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

This thesis validates equations that predict power input with machine data for the LabRAM II resonant acoustic mixer (RAM), an industrial tool for mixing powders used in advanced manufacturing and other applications. While RAM offers unique advantages such as gentle mixing and adaptability for sensitive or heterogeneous blends, the manufacturer’s power equation lacked published experimental validation. To address this gap, a custom constantvolume calorimeter was designed to directly measure the energy imparted during RAM operation under controlled conditions. Finite element analysis and analytical heat transfer models ensured calorimeter assumptions were valid. Calorimetric experiments revealed that the vendor’s power input equation …

A Geological And Geochemical Study Of The Philipsburg Mining District, Granite County, Montana, Celine M. Beaucamp

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The Philipsburg district, renowned for its rich mining history, has contributed significantly to Montana's mineral production, ranking as the state's second-most productive district. Active from 1865 to the 1980s, it yielded an impressive array of Ag (50-60 million oz), with notable outputs of Au, Zn, Pb, Cu, and battery-grade MnO2. The district features Cordilleran polymetallic veins, some of which are along bedding in Mississippian and Devonian limestone, and others are steeply dipping quartz veins in silicate-rich sedimentary rocks and in the Philipsburg batholith. The veins exhibit a district-wide mineral zonation, marked by Cu- and Ag-rich ores near granite porphyries, with …

Aqueous Geochemistry Drives Microbial Cu, Fe, And Zn Uptake Rates In Yellowstone, A Continental Hydrothermal System, Eva Carolina Andrade-Barahona

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Microbial uptake of trace metal cofactors such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) is governed by biogeochemical processes in hydrothermal systems where metal bioavailability varies widely. In situ microbial metal uptake rates were quantified by applying metal stable isotope probing (MSIP) in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system across diverse geochemical conditions in hydrothermal springs. The findings in these studies revealed that pH exerts a dominant influence on microbial copper uptake rate, also enhanced by increased Cu²⁺ ion availability and dissolved oxygen. Microbial iron uptake, in contrast, displayed a broad tolerance to environmental variability, occurring across a pH range of …

Scaling Ai In Decision-Based Learning: A Data-Driven Evaluation For Resource Optimization, L. Ashley Schumacher

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

This project evaluated a AI Assistant built inside ChatGPT to support faculty in creating Decision-Based Learning (DBL) expert decision models in the Conate DBL software. The evaluation addressed a persistent training bottleneck: faculty experienced high cognitive load and significant time loss when navigating a documentation-heavy workflow that required repeated movement between training guides, ChatGPT, and the DBL platform, including extensive copy-and-paste steps. The AI Assistant was developed to replace much of the manual prompting process by providing structured protocols that guide model creation (e.g., exploring possible DBL models, creating paths, generating scenarios, and drafting learning modules) while faculty still build …

Process Intensification For Rare Earth Elements Adsorption By Resonant Vibratory Mixing (Rvm), Mehran Saddat

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Rare earth elements (REE) are crucial to the advancement of modern technologies. REE applications include electronics, defense systems, wind turbines, catalysts, magnets, and aircraft. Bastnasite, monazite, and xenotime are the primary resources, while the secondary resources, including coal ash, E-waste, and acid mine drainage, are for REE extraction. The primary processing techniques are chemical leaching, ion exchange, chemical precipitation, pyrometallurgy, solvent exchange, biosorption, and adsorption. Adsorption technique is simple, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly, with higher efficiency but at the cost of a longer mixing time. Therefore, there is a pressing need for an optimized mixing technique to improve the adsorption …

Structured Ai Conversations On Ethical Reasoning In Introductory Psychology, Brianna Mccartney

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This strategy integrated structured AI conversations using Perplexity into an introductory psychology course to strengthen students’ ethical reasoning. Guided prompts led students through analyzing historical unethical studies, applying APA and Belmont principles, and proposing ethical redesigns while receiving immediate feedback. The activity concluded with a final paper and AI acknowledgment, fostering both deeper ethical understanding and responsible use of AI in academic work.

Application Of Theoretical Frameworks To Maternal And Infant Nutrition Case Study Discussion Board, Tiffany Hylton

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

This assignment integrates AI into graduate-level maternal and infant nutrition coursework by requiring students to generate recommendations from an AI tool, then verify, analyze, and refine them using evidence-based resources and theoretical frameworks. The strategy emphasizes critical thinking, professional judgment, and ethical responsibility in applying AI within healthcare education.

Ai Research Project: Rhetorical Analysis Of Llm Output, Laura M. Dumin

Teaching Repository of AI-Infused Learning

Students are asked to work in teams to look at the output from an LLM and to identify patterns in how language is used and information is being presented.

Misconceptions About Nursing In High School Students Of Color: Promoting Diversity In Nursing, Veronnica D. Pham

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Equitable and culturally competent care can reduce health disparities among underserved populations; yet the nursing shortage the US faces does not allow for better patient outcomes. One barrier is how the profession can be negatively viewed among high school students of color.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify how perception of nursing affects a student’s career choice and what influences these perspectives. Three databases were utilized for this search: The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Scopus. Six articles were selected for this review. The following themes have been identified: misconceptions, …

Cv: Huma Zia (Criminal Justice, Paralegal Studies), Huma Zia

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Curricula Vitae

No abstract provided.

Developing An Ai-Assisted Grading System Using Large Language Models, Andrei Modiga

MS in Computer Science Project Reports

We present a grading system that accelerates evaluation of open-ended student work across scanned and digital workflows. The system crops answer regions from PDFs, assigns submissions via OCR on identity regions only, and groups answers by visual semantics using a vision LLM. Instructors review and edit groups, apply rubric items once per group, and export grades from an on-screen table. The solution integrates Ghostscript rasterization, PdfPig page orchestration, SkiaSharp region extraction, Tesseract identity OCR, and GPT-4o Vision for grouping. We detail the architecture, token-budgeted batching strategy, and persistence design, then describe testing results for grouping quality, time-on-task, and usability. The …

How To Describe A Massacre? A Collaborative Metadata Justice Project, Bailey Hoffner, Eugene Albin, Jennifer Watson, Jay Shorten, Jacquelyn Slater Reese, Todd Fuller, Karie Antell

Collaborative Librarianship

Throughout the summer of 2020 and into the following fall, a cross-unit working group at the University of Oklahoma Libraries (OU Libraries) collaborated to compile and submit a proposal to change the Library of Congress Subject Heading (LCSH) Tulsa Race Riot, Tulsa, Okla., 1921 to Tulsa Race Massacre, Tulsa, Okla., 1921. The working group members situated this project in the context of the metadata justice movement, which seeks to correct problematic descriptions. They also see this proposal as part of the broader work undertaken over many decades by Tulsa activists and community leaders. This successful proposal required working group …

Archivist, Subject Librarian, And Education Faculty Collaboration: Co-Instruction In History Of Education Classes, Laura Cameron, Kara Flynn

Collaborative Librarianship

In many academic libraries, primary source instruction happens in a vacuum, and students don’t always make connections between the skills they learn in a primary source instruction session and skills they may have already learned in information literacy-focused library instruction that they have participated in previous courses. This case study describes the design and objectives of an instructional partnership formed between an Education & Engagement Archivist, Education Librarian, and History of Education professor at a public, four-year university. The Education & Engagement Archivist and Education Librarian worked in tandem to develop interconnected lesson plans, allowing the Education & Engagement Archivist …

Welcoming New Leadership And Elevating Collaboration, Jesse Koennecke, Nina Mchale

Collaborative Librarianship

This editorial marks a pivotal transition for Collaborative Librarianship as Jesse Koennecke (Binghamton University Libraries) and Nina McHale (University of Denver Libraries) assume the role of co-editors, following the dedicated leadership of Chris Robinson-Nkongola and Carrie Forbes. The issue underscores the journal’s enduring mission to foster reflection, innovation, and connection within the library profession. Volume 15, Issue 1 highlights diverse examples of collaboration: the sustainability of Archives West through community-driven infrastructure; a metadata justice initiative addressing ethical challenges in descriptive practices; interdisciplinary co-instruction between archivists, librarians, and faculty; and creative engagement through showcasing student artwork in academic libraries. As an …

Enhancing Academic Efficiency Through Ability Grouping And Remedial Classes: The Cases Of India And Vietnam, Samwel Lwiza

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Improving the performance of academically weak students remains a major challenge in developing countries, particularly in the context of the ‘leave no one behind’ agenda. This study examines the roles of ability grouping and remedial classes in enhancing academic efficiency among students in India and Vietnam. Drawing data from 17,866 students in the 2016/17 Young Lives School Survey, this study estimated efficiency scores by using the order-alpha partial frontier approach, and their determinants were assessed through a bootstrap truncated regression model. The findings indicate that ability grouping increases students’ efficiency by 3%, whereas remedial classes decrease it by the same …

Determinants Of Farmers’ Choices Of Adaptation Strategies In Rural Semi-Arid Agricultural Communities Of Tanzania: A Case Study Of Mwanga And Same Districts In Kilimanjaro Region, Bahati Ally Magesa

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Climate change is a global phenomenon that poses a significant threat to agricultural farming and the livelihoods of farmers, particularly in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Since agriculture is the primary source of employment in the region, enhancing the sector’s adaptive capacity has become increasingly important. This paper examines the key determinants influencing farmers’ choices of adaptation strategies to climate change impacts in the Mwanga and Same Districts of Tanzania. A total of 200 farmers participated in a household survey conducted using a simple random sampling technique. A binary logistic regression model was employed to analyse the association between selected …

The Interplay Of Morphology, Syntax, And Semantics In Kuria Verb Extensions Within The Mara Region, Mary Charwi

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Verb extension morphological affixes that significantly alter verb meaning are a defining characteristic of Bantu languages. This paper investigates the morphosyntactic behaviour, semantic implications, and functional roles of extensions within Kuria, a Bantu language of Tanzania. The study adopts Hyman’s morphocentric approach, specifically the CARP template (Causative-Applicative-Reciprocal-Passive), as its foundational framework to test whether Kuria adheres to this pan-Bantu default ordering. The data were collected in Tarime District (2014-2015) using a mixed methods approach, comprising questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and video stimuli with 13 rural and urban speakers, and text analysis (the Kuria Bible). Through rigorous morphosyntactic parsing, the analysis reveals …

The Syntax And Semantics Of Reciprocal Constructions In Chibarwe: A Lexical Mapping Account, Tendai Chirimaunga

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Bantu languages have a robust structure, which is usually stated to be agglutinative, accommodates affixations of a wide range of morphemes both as prefixes (to the left of the root), as well suffixes (to the right of the root) before placing the terminal vowel. In their verbal morphology, the reciprocal is one of the many derivational affixes that have, however, not gained similar prominence as the study of the applicative and the causative construction. The thrust of this study is to investigate the syntax and semantics of reciprocal constructions in ChiBarwe, a marginalised cross-border language spoken in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. …

A Rodent Model Of Enhanced Anticipation Of Positive Events: Sex-Specific Modifications In Cognitive Bias And Emotional Resilience, Sarah C. Hartvigsen, Megan Hooper, Olivia Harding, Evelyn Barringer, Aditya Narayanan, Brendan Crockett, Yulia Shatalov, Paean Luby, Braden Wixted, Molly Kent, Kelly Lambert

Psychology Faculty Publications

While it is known that chronic unpredictable stress and negative events adversely affect neurobiological outcomes, much less is known regarding the neurobiological impact of positive emotions such as chronic anticipation of appetitive events. From a translational perspective, an enhanced understanding of the impact of extended exposure to positive emotions may provide novel insights into effective non-pharmacological, behavior-based approaches to enhance mental resilience. Here, we investigate a novel rodent model of chronic Unpredictable Positive Event Response (UPER) training in male and female Long Evans rats to examine behavioral, neural, and endocrine effects of enhanced anticipation of positive events. Rats were exposed …

Jmu Libraries Magazine: Volume 3, Jenne M. Klotz, Emily D. Blake, Kristen S. Shuyler

Faculty Scholarship

Volume 3 of the biennial JMU Libraries magazine, highlighting services, events, awards of the JMU Libraries.

Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Regulates Itam-Dependent Platelet Activation, Jehiel Abigail Ajanel Gomez

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Thromboembolic conditions are the leading cause of disability and death in the United States. Platelets play an important role in the pathophysiology of thrombus formation by aiding in the formation and stabilization of the clot. Central to platelet activation is cytoplasmic calcium, which increases after platelet activation through ITAM (Immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif) or GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) receptors. Platelet mitochondria rely on cytoplasmic calcium for mitochondrial calcium influx, which is critical for ATP formation and regulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. In other cells, mitochondrial calcium entry is regulated by the multimeric protein complex, mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). Deletion of …

The Diamond, December 12, 2025, Dordt University

Dordt Diamond

• Front Page: Dordt TPUSA Chapter Stuck in Approval Process; The Future of Christian Colleges in Light of Trinity's Closure; Hoyt Reinalda - A Life of Dedication and Improbability
• Feature: "Rivers in the Desert" - Dordt Student Releases Creation Care Podcast; The Dordt Barber Boom - Student Hair Cuts Surge; Dordt Places Second in Esteemed National Finance Competition; The Church and the Crescent - Understanding Islam; Student Visas - How Proposed Legislation May Affect International Students at Dordt; The Word Became Flesh - Music Department Presents "Historic" Choral Christmas Concert
• News: Celebrating the Retirement of Librarian Tricia Kok; …

The Cost Of Conviction: A Constructivist Analysis Of U.S. Interventions In Guatemala, 1954-1999, Savannah L. Sinor

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

The U.S. continuously intervened in Guatemalan domestic politics from 1954 to 1999 without achieving its stated goals of stability, democratization, or development. Although the threat of communism offered an initial justification for U.S. involvement, traditional geopolitical explanations failed to adequately account for the persistence of intervention.

Through the lens of constructivism, this research examines these interventions, with special attention paid to political, economic, and humanitarian factors. It focuses on the American identity as democratic, capitalist, and later, a protector of human rights, and how the need to protect and exhibit that identity motivated the U.S. to intervene. These identities and …

Improving Staff Satisfaction And Flu Vaccine Uptake Through Standardized Workflow Tools, Salma Adriana Blanco

Master's Projects and Capstones

Objective: Insufficient workflows can cause documentation to be confusing, which ultimately

limits staff engagement. This has led to staff dissatisfaction and a low vaccination uptake in

outpatient clinics. The implementation of a standardized workflow tool and proper staff

education and training can improve staff satisfaction and vaccination adherence, as indicated by

a review of literature. Aim: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to implement a

change in workflow in the electronic health record and staff training in an urban community

health clinic primarily serving low income and Latino patients. This intervention seeks to

increase medical assistant user satisfaction …

Exploring Decision-Making Experiences Of Social Workers Completing Involuntary Commitment First Evaluations For Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment, Jesse Brooke Creech

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing focus on the recovery, rights, and autonomy of individuals with serious mental illnesses has led to ongoing debate regarding the practice and legal regulation of involuntary commitment (IVC). To ensure ethical and appropriate patient care throughout this complex process, more knowledge is needed about social workers’ decision-making process regarding the use of IVC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the decision-making processes associated with IVC for inpatient psychiatric treatment in North Carolina using the biomedical ethics framework. More specifically, the study addressed how licensed social workers describe their experiences and decision-making processes when determining whether to …

Comparison Of The Combination Of Prp And Topical Minoxidil To Topical Minoxidil Alone On Androgenetic Alopecia, Leia Hyunyoung Son, Ashley Olivia Owens

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To assess the efficacy of combination therapy of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and topical 5% minoxidil compared to topical 5% minoxidil alone in androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: A PubMed search using the term “PRP hair” was conducted. The following criteria were used for the search: published in the last 10 years, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, free full text, and full text. Three articles that met these criteria were chosen for systematic review. Results: In all three studies, the combination of PRP with topical 5% minoxidil had increased hair density and higher patient satisfaction compared to topical minoxidil alone. Conclusion: …

Comparing Transcatheter Edge-To-Edge Repair (Mitraclip) To Surgical Approaches For Secondary Mitral Regurgitation, Iain Slater, Jordan Maddra

Physician Assistant Capstones, 2020-current

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes of surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) and TEER with MitraClip therapy in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation.

Methods: We performed a review of the literature of primary research comparing clinical outcomes of surgical mitral valve replacement (SMVR) and TEER with MitraClip therapy in patients with secondary mitral regurgitation. A preliminary search of the medical database PubMed was conducted in October 2024 using the terms mitral valve, secondary mitral regurgitation, transcatheter edge-to-edge repair, surgical candidacy, and comparative outcomes. Limits included “published in the last 15 years, humans, English, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies.”

Results: After …

Modern Technology Addiction: Developer Duty Of Care, Jonah Hampton

Honors College Theses

Technology addiction includes any frequent use of technology which interferes in the user’s life. The subject continues growth as an epidemic and research field, yet prior literature does not often analyze the role of technology developers. This study performs a literature and legal synthesis to evaluate user and company responsibility, implications of responsibility, and promising solutions. Post 2020 literature was selected for coverage on context, addictive features, effects, solutions, or perspectives on law. Legal examples from different addiction industries were also selected for analysis to understand previous precedents. The study found a pattern of addictive traits, persuasive design, and recurring …

Flooding Behavior Near The Us/Canada Border: Complications And Approaches, Maria T. Dodson

Honors College Theses

Flood forecasting remains a major challenge due to the nonlinear nature of hydrological systems and uncertainties in environmental data. This study aimed to address the prevalent challenges that arise from forecasting flooding behavior. To address the inherent complexity of hydrological forecasting, a machine learning framework was developed and trained on major contributing factors. To achieve an optimal balance between computational efficiency and predictive performance, a Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) was selected as the optimal machine learning model. As the chosen dataset, North American Land Data Assimilation System Phase 2 (NLDAS2), is known to have inaccuracies in the important feature Relative …