Digital Commons Network^™

Universal Classroom Design, Michelle Dodson Landry

Women’s Leadership

This research seeks to bridge the gap between K–12 inclusion practices and the realities of higher education by exploring how universal design, institutional support, and educators’ belief systems can create more inclusive environments and support students to have higher grades and more intrinsic mastery of the subject matter. It is not enough to mandate inclusion; we must actively build systems that support all learners, regardless of whether their disability is visible, diagnosed, or self-identified. This study looked at the efficacy of universal classroom design in raising the median grade in a course. The median grade in this course has historically …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report – Kerman High School, Anne Dykstra

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project reviewed the agricultural education program at Kerman High School. The report highlights both program strengths and areas requiring further development, including student retention, pathways, and facility improvements. Based on the findings, the research identified additional course offerings and curriculum updates to enable the program to improve in the coming years.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report – San Marcos High School, Stephanie Navarrete

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The supporting documents include information to prove that San Marcos High School is meeting the requirements. This document also provides an overview of San Marcos High School agriculture program.

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report- El Capitan High School, David Reyes

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This graduate internship portfolio demonstrates the development and implementation of a comprehensive agricultural education program at El Capitan High School. It includes evidence of meeting California Agriculture Education standards through classroom instruction, SAE supervision, and FFA leadership activities. The document showcases key program components such as course outlines, advisory committee materials, program plans, recruitment efforts, budget processes, and professional development. A major focus of the internship was creating structured curriculum resources including pacing guides for the introductory agriculture course to strengthen instructional continuity and student engagement. Through program organization, collaboration, and leadership development, this internship highlights meaningful progress in advancing …

Organizational Diagnosis Toolkit, Ann Marie Lindley, Catherine Nolan, Connie L. Halvorsen, Franki C. Hand, Isys S. Mccormack, Jennifer A. Hance, Jess Beutler, Kelsey Spaulding Caras, Sara German Jimenez, Stephanie Graves

Capstone Projects

The complexity of organizations requires organizational diagnosis to be an iterative process tailored to the context, needs, and uniqueness of each organization. This toolkit is designed to walk a consultant or leader through a structured diagnostic approach and the various resources that can be leveraged along the way. It is organized into four sections: foundational diagnostic frameworks and models, practical consulting, case-study application, and reflection and learning. It was created by students in the Western Michigan University Organizational Change Leadership masters and doctoral programs as part of the course OCL 6460, "Organizational Diagnosis and Consulting," under the supervision of Professor …

Water Rights Accounting And Distribution In Utah, Sarah Null, Bethany Neilson, Eileen Lukens, Eryn Turney, Utah Division Of Water Rights

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

This white paper summarizes how the Utah Division of Water Rights (WRi) administers water rights through the coordinated processes of water distribution and accounting. Water distribution involves apportioning divertible flow in river systems by adjusting diversions and reservoir storage. To account for and distribute water effectively, WRi must first determine the amount of water available for diversion each day, then prioritize water rights when water supply is insufficient to satisfy all demands. WRi has developed specialized tools and models to support this process.

This paper was developed through a collaboration between WRi and Utah State University to produce a report …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report- Bear Creek High School Agriculture Department, Fatima E. Castellanos

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This report provides an evaluation of the Bear Creek High School Agriculture Program. The analysis highlights both program strengths and areas requiring further development, including SAE participation, pathway coherence, and student retention. Overall, the findings demonstrate that intentional planning and strong community partnerships contribute significantly to the program’s effectiveness and continued growth.

Implementing The Steadi Fall Risk Screening Initiative Within A Primary Care Setting To Improve Patient Safety, Haleigh Marie Brown

Doctoral Projects

Falls among older adults are a significant public health issue and the leading cause of injury-related illness and death in people aged 65 and older. While evidence-based guidelines exist and awareness of fall risks has increased, many primary care settings do not use standardized fall risk screening protocols. This gap results in missed opportunities for early identification and prevention. To address this need, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2019) created the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) Toolkit, which offers healthcare providers a structured approach to assess, manage, and reduce fall risk.

This doctoral project aims …

Point-Of-Care Gastric Ultrasound For Preoperative Assessment Of Gastric Contents: An Objective Structured Clinical Examination, Joshua Mann, Michael Sykes

Doctoral Projects

Pulmonary aspiration remains a leading cause of anesthesia-related mortality. The current nil per os (NPO) guidelines are proving unreliable in the presence of delayed gastric emptying due to comorbidities and the increasing use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. Gastric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use provides a non-invasive, evidence-based, and cost-effective approach to assess gastric content and volume directly. However, limited formal training exists for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), and this lack of training contributes to the lack of its utilization. This doctoral project evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention that incorporated a didactic lecture as well as a hands-on …

Generating Predictive Gene Expression Signatures For Alzheimer's Disease Using Postmortem Brain Tissue, Ashley Duche

Pharmaceutical Sciences (PhD) Dissertations

Background: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau protein aggregates. These pathological features develop in specific brain regions, but why some areas are more vulnerable to early AD-related changes remains unclear. To address this, predictive gene expression signatures were developed to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying regional susceptibility to AD pathology.

Methods: This was performed using postmortem brain (PMB) tissue from participants in the Religious Orders Study and Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP), Mayo Clinic, and Mount Sinai Brain Bank (MSBB) to generate gene expression signatures from six brain …

Fisheries Research Report No. 362: Characterising Essential Benthic Habitats And Environmental Drivers Of Fishery Recruitment In The Exmouth Gulf Prawn Managed Fishery, Scott Evans, Nick Konzewitsch, Rachel Marks, Renae Hovey, Gary A. Kendrick, Lynda M. Bellchambers

Fisheries Research Reports

Fisheries management relies on the development and evolution of effective assessment and monitoring techniques that are applicable in a range of fishery contexts (Fletcher et al., 2016; L. M. Robinson et al., 2021). The assessment of fish habitats and environmental drivers that influence recruitment is central to sustainable fisheries management (de Lestang et al., 2010; Galindo-Cortes et al., 2010; Gao & Wang, 2021). Western Australia conducts robust fishery-specific monitoring and assessment programs to ensure the sustainable use of its aquatic resources (Newman et al., 2023). However, few long-term datasets exist that directly monitor critical fish habitats and environmental conditions that …

(R2084) Clarification Of Mathematical Criteria For Conservative Forces And Vector Fields With A Point Singularity In Engineering Studies, Nelli Aleksandrova

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The paper deals with a comprehensive analysis of existing mathematical criteria for conservative vector fields including algebraic and geometrical interpretation of Extended Green’s Theorem. Special attention is devoted to the fields containing a point singularity, which represents the primary challenge both in teaching Calculus and in carrying out scientific research in general in computer engineering. Examples of real-world physical fields such as gravitational, electric and magnetic ones are used to appreciate the proposed clarification while teaching various interchangeable disciplines such as mathematics, physics and engineering. Other examples from scientific research literature are provided as well to support the necessity of …

(R2122) Analysis Of Halo Orbits In The Elliptical R3bp With Mass Variation, Majhar Ali, Abdullah .

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

The elliptic restricted three-body problem investigates the motion behaviour of the variable mass infinitesimal body under the gravitational forces of the radiated oblate primary and dipole secondary. The equations of motion of the infinitesimal body are determined using Jeans law and Meshcherskii space time transformations. Using the Lindstedt-Poincaré method, we perform the solutions of the equations of motion. With the use of these solutions and the equations of motion, we numerically illustrate the time series, phase spaces, projections and the Halo orbits.

Behind Closed Doors, Beyond The Cell: Supporting Children Of Incarcerated Parents, Averi R. Amaro

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

This study examines the overlooked population of children affected by parental incarceration and evaluates intervention programs designed to support them. Grounded in Labeling Theory (Becker, 1963), Self-Fulfilling Prophecy (Merton, 1948), and the Restorative Justice framework (Zehr, 2002), this study explores how stigma, expectation, and repair shape the outcomes for the youth affected by parental incarceration. Drawing from qualitative and quantitative research, it analyzes the emotional, social, and educational effects of incarceration on families, identifying protective factors such as attachment, mentoring, and community support that mitigate delinquency risks. Program evaluations of Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, Parenting Inside Out, Project Avary, and …

Community Health Promoters’ Experiences In Mitigation Of Cardiovascular Diseases In Lari Sub-County - Kiambu County, Kenya, Emily Njeri Muchina

MSc in Advanced Practice Nursing

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a rising public health issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, where there is an escalation of their deaths and preventable risk factors. Community health promoters (CHPs) have a crucial role in the prevention of CVDs. Yet, low knowledge of CVD prevention and low detection of CVD risk factors characterise most underserved communities in Kenya. Little has been documented about CHPs' experiences in mitigating CVDs despite the presence of multilevel barriers and facilitators that can shape their experiences.

Aim: To gain an in-depth insight into the experiences of CHPs in mitigating CVD …

The Influence Of Reactive Iron On Organic Carbon Preservation In Sediment Of The Mississippi River-Influenced Shelf, Manab Kumar Dutta, Neha A. Ghaisas, Kanchan Maiti

Faculty Publications

Reactive iron is a key driver of organic carbon preservation in marine sediments, but its participation in organic carbon remineralization complicates efforts to mechanistically constrain its role in preservation. To address this, we investigated the dual role of iron in the Mississippi River-influenced shelf sediment during low discharge (August 2016) and high discharge (May 2017). Duplicate sediment cores (30 cm depth) were collected from two stations; one core served as a natural reference, while the other was used for an incubation experiment. In the natural cores, reactive iron concentrations in the upper 9 cm were lower in August 2016 than …

Hurricanes And Human Health In Louisiana: Insights From Hurricanes Laura, Delta, And Ida, Shobha Kumari Yadav, Robert V. Rohli, M. E. Betsy Garrison, Elisabeth Ponce-Garcia, Nazla Bushra, Charleen Mcneill

Faculty Publications

Louisiana is one of the most disaster-prone states, with hurricanes ranking among the most destructive hazards. Hurricanes impede sustainability by straining hospital infrastructure, overwhelming emergency departments, and disrupting continuity of care. Louisiana’s healthcare system, characterized by high uninsured rates, limited rural access, and notable racial and socioeconomic disparities, is particularly vulnerable during disasters. This research explores trends of mental and respiratory health in Louisiana surrounding Hurricanes Laura (2020), Delta (2020), and Ida (2021). Analysis reveals a substantial increase in admissions after landfall of all three storms, with mental health conditions showing a larger surge than respiratory ones in already-vulnerable communities. …

On The Calculation Of Carbon And Nutrient Transport To The Oceans, Chunyan Li, John R. White

Faculty Publications

Correct estimations of sediment, carbon, and nutrient fluxes are crucial for understanding the impacts of land use, environmental change, and climate change. However, limited measurements—often restricted to surface data or aliased data, i.e., data without repeated observations throughout a tidal cycle—can lead to significant errors in transport calculations, particularly when different water masses interact. To address this issue, our study employed repeated, cross-sectional (cross-channel and through the vertical) measurements of water velocity and concentrations of sediment, carbon, and nutrients over the course of a tidal cycle. We observed substantial intra-tidal, lateral, and vertical variations in concentrations and fluxes, spanning orders …

The Banner - V. 160, No. 10 - (December 2025), Christian Reformed Church In North America

The Banner

No abstract provided.

Pymelt-Px: A Python Script For Modeling Melting Of A Pyroxenite-Peridotite Bilithological Mantle, Ana L. Jimenez Bustos

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The study of oceanic crust formation is a fundamental building block in our understanding of the processes of planetary formation, necessitating an understanding of the melt generation processes that help form oceanic crust. To aid in this purpose, we present pyMeltPX: a bilithological pyroxenite-peridotite mantle modeling script. Although the mantle is primarily comprised of peridotite, pyroxenite is a minor but ubiquitous feature of the mantle and can contribute a disproportionate amount of melt to crustal generation in mid-ocean ridge and ocean island basalt settings. Our model, pyMeltPX, is a python coded, extensible tool based on the Excel calculator by Lambart …

The Autonomy Default Paradigm In Contract Law, Hanoch Dagan, Michael Heller

UC Law Journal

You can scribble an agreement on a napkin or hire lawyers to negotiate a hundred-page contract. Either way, most of your contractual obligations will not be in your document. They will be in the background rules contract law applies absent your express agreement. Justifying these defaults is a core task of contract theory; getting them right is a core task of contract law.

This Article introduces the autonomy default paradigm, a conceptually coherent and normatively attractive account of contract law defaults. We show that defaults are justified to the extent they enhance our autonomy, understood as self-determination. They vindicate our …

Electrophysiological Localization And Prognostic Indicators In Radial Neuropathy Presenting As Wrist Drop: A Three-Year Retrospective Observational Study, Assad Ullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Saad Ali, Sadiq Ali Shah

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

Background and Objective:

Radial neuropathy is a common cause of wrist drop, and accurate lesion localization is essential for appropriate

management and prognostication. The objective of this study was to analyze electrophysiological localization patterns

of radial nerve lesions presenting as wrist drop and to assess whether earlier referral for electrophysiological evaluation

was associated with recovery outcomes.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, a tertiary care setting, over

a three-year period (January 2022–December 2024). Adult patients with wrist drop and electrophysiological confirmed

radial neuropathy were included. Nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography were used to …

Corrigendum: Correction Of Second Author’S Name And Affiliation In “Chorea As A Rare Manifestation Of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report”, Editor Pjns

Pakistan Journal of Neurological Sciences (PJNS)

No abstract provided.

2025 December 1 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Face Synthesis Methods And Their Influence On Human Perception, Maha Habib Almaimani

All Dissertations

Synthetic faces (e.g., computer-generated characters) have been increasingly utilized across various fields, including entertainment, healthcare, and education. Perceptual studies are often conducted to understand how synthetic faces are perceived by humans, aiming to enhance both quality and user experience in these domains. Over the years, numerous methods have been developed to create synthetic faces, ranging from traditional techniques such as image composites, Active Appearance Models, and 3D Morphable Models to more recent machine-learning-based frameworks like Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs).

Despite the growing adoption of synthetic face generation and the variety of algorithms available for their creation, …

Gender And Consensus On The Courts, Kaleigh A. Ruiz

Michigan Journal of Gender & Law

During group deliberation, women tend to be the harbingers of compromise, vying for consensus on even the most contentious topics. However, women cannot succeed in this endeavor if gender bias prevents their voices from being heard. In federal courts, collaboration is essential to reaching the simple majority needed to resolve a case. While the courts already function under norms of collegiality during deliberations, the practice of writing a separate opinion to acknowledge disagreement with a majority opinion remains relatively common. In this Article, I test two competing theories as to the effects of women judges on consensus. On one hand, …

Expanderizing Higher-Order Random Walks, Vedat Levi Alev, Shravas Rao

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study a variant of the down-up (also known as the Glauber dynamics) and up-down walks over an 𝑛-partite simplicial complex, which we call expanderized higher-order random walks—where the sequence of updated coordinates corresponds to the sequence of vertices visited by a random walk over an auxiliary expander graph 𝐻. When 𝐻 is the clique with self-loops on [𝑛], this random walk reduces to the usual down-up walk, and when 𝐻 is the directed cycle on [𝑛], this random walk reduces to the well-known systematic scan Glauber dynamics. We show that whenever the usual higher-order random walks satisfy a log-Sobolev …

Authoring Culture: The Foundations Of Twenty-First Century Writing Suggested Assignment, Columbia College Chicago

Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing

A suggested classroom assignment to accompany the Genre and Ethos chapters in Authoring Culture: Foundations of Twenty-First Century Writing .

Response: Foreign Affairs Prosecutions And Cybercrime, Mailyn Fidler

Law Faculty Scholarship

A response to Professor Steven Koh's new article on how the U.S. makes global criminal justice policy. Prof. Fidler examines what a decade of cybercrime indictments reveals about America's approach to prosecuting foreign hackers. Three things stand out: * Beyond Attribution - These indictments aren't just about naming and shaming, or about the typical dimensions of criminal alw. They're sophisticated foreign policy tools that coordinate and moderate international sanctions and global norms. * Intertwined with Cooperation - The indictments alternately create space for and slow the tempo of international cooperation on this issue, according to U.S. interests. * Power Projection …

From Static Prediction To Mindful Machines: A Paradigm Shift In Distributed Ai Systems, Rao Mikkilineni, W. Patrick Kelly

Barowsky School of Business | Faculty Scholarship

A special class of complex adaptive systems—biological and social—thrive not by passively accumulating patterns, but by engineering coherence, i.e., the deliberate alignment of prior knowledge, real-time updates, and teleonomic purposes. By contrast, today’s AI stacks—Large Language Models (LLMs) wrapped in agentic toolchains—remain rooted in a Turing-paradigm architecture: statistical world models (opaque weights) bolted onto brittle, imperative workflows. They excel at pattern completion, but they externalize governance, memory, and purpose, thereby accumulating coherence debt—a structural fragility manifested as hallucinations, shallow and siloed memory, ad hoc guardrails, and costly human oversight. The shortcoming of current AI relative to human-like intelligence is therefore …