Digital Commons Network^™

Resilience By Design, Mckenzy Thoreson

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the development of a rapidly deployable modular shelter system designed to support post-disaster recovery efforts in vulnerable rural regions of Tennessee. Tennessee’s exposure to flooding, tornadoes, severe storms, and infrastructure vulnerability highlights the need for temporary housing solutions that extend beyond conventional trailer-based emergency shelters. Existing systems often lack climate responsiveness, accessibility, adaptability, and long-term sustainability. In response, this project proposes a compact modular housing system that integrates prefabricated construction, ADA accessibility standards, passive environmental strategies, and climate-responsive design principles tailored to Tennessee’s humid subtropical environment. The shelter incorporates operable windows, cross ventilation, daylighting strategies, elevated construction, …

From Radiance To Resonance: A Human-Centered City Between Geometry And Humanity: Reconciling Modernist Ideals With Human-Centered Design, Christen Zeetu Doe

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how architectural practice can shift from top-down, modernist planning paradigms toward an observational methodology grounded in lived experience. Engaging with the legacy of Le Corbusier’s Radiant City, it critiques the pursuit of universal order and efficiency that often suppresses the nuances of everyday life. Drawing from Georges Perec’s attentive documentation of mundane urban moments, the project develops a process of “moment mapping,” where spatial understanding emerges through observation rather than imposed form. These collected moments are then abstracted into architectural elevations and spatial constructs, translating temporal, sensory experiences into built form. The thesis is situated within a …

Threads Of Recovery: Transforming Youth Residential Treatment Centers, Kathryn Fitzsimmons

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architecture can support adolescent mental health treatment through the design of a residential treatment center for youth ages ten to eighteen experiencing mental health crises. In response to increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among adolescents, the project examines the relationship between the built environment and emotional well being. The research critiques the legacy of the troubled teen industry, where institutional architecture often reinforced isolation and control rather than healing. Drawing from environmental psychology and analysis, the project proposes an alternative campus centered on safety, reflection, and community. The design, titled Threads of Recovery, …

Implementation Of A Standardized Short Stay Pain Protocol To Reduce Pain In Short Term Care Facility, Maggie O'Brien, Kenzie Reuter, Holly Hansen, Elle Wichmann

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Pain is a common symptom across all areas of nursing care, yet it is often undertreated in skilled nursing facilities, particularly among residents receiving rehabilitation services. Pain in this population may result from a variety of causes, including musculoskeletal conditions, wounds and pressure injuries, neuropathic pain, and chronic illnesses. A review of Minimum Data Set (MDS) reports and resident pain reports from the short-term rehabilitation unit revealed a concern of disparity. Long-term care residents demonstrated strong quality indicator scores (9.21 out of 10), while short-term stay residents scored significantly lower (2.76 out of 10). This discrepancy raised concerns about pain …

Csbsju Ash Tree Maps, Trevor Barton

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Ash trees in MN are recently susceptible to the invasive species of Emerald Ash Borer. These insects burrow into native MN ash trees, lay their larvae, and significantly harm or kill the trees. MN native ash trees are not equipped to deal with this invasive species and rather need to be chemically treated to save the trees. These maps depict the GPS locations of the ash trees on CSBSJU campus proper. Trees were mapped by hand with a Garmin GPS device while size, health, and value to campus assessments were recorded to pair along with the maps in a separate …

Pennsylvania Licensed Clinical Social Workers’ Experiences With Medicare Insurance Plans Within Private Practice, Stevie N. Kioske

Social Work Doctoral Dissertations

Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) in private practice in Pennsylvania make critical decisions regarding the populations they serve and the type of insurance to be credentialed with. Current research shows there is minimal participation among Medicare insurance plans, both traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, with mental health practitioners and minimal research centers from the perspectives of LCSWs. The findings from a mixed-methods dissertation study that examines Pennsylvania LCSWs' experiences working with Medicare beneficiaries and the factors that influence the decision to accept or opt out of Medicare.

A self-administered questionnaire has been completed to obtain quantitative data and 92 …

Dental Rehabilitation Of Pediatric Patient With Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome: Case Report, Emma Kojima Dds, Robin Onikul, Neena Patel, Jenna Sparks, Amy Burleson

Posters

Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome, also known as Chondroectodermal dysplasia, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the EVC and EVC2 genes4. This syndrome is characterized by polydactyly of the hands, short limbs, ectodermal dysplasia, and congenital heart defects. Because Ellis–van Creveld syndrome affects all three embryonic layers, it presents with a range of oral manifestations, including absence of the mucobuccal fold, a serrated alveolar ridge, multiple labial frenula, abnormalities in tooth morphology, and congenitally missing teeth1. This report details a 20-month-old female who presented to the Children’s Mercy Dental Clinic in May 2019 for comprehensive dental care. The …

The Implications Of Music Therapy On The Human Mind, Mckayla Martin

Senior Honors Theses

Music therapy harnesses the power of music in clinical settings. It is primarily used to support mental health. Music affects areas such as anxiety, memory, and brain plasticity. Therapeutic music practices can reduce stress and anxiety, enhance specific types of long-term memory, and encourage neuroplasticity. It is an effective, non-invasive treatment for those experiencing mental distress. Ongoing research on the effectiveness of music therapy in clinical settings has the potential to significantly improve the treatment of mental illness, disorders, and disabilities.

Strategic Marketing Plan For An Ai-Powered Personalized Wellness Platform, David D. Dilts

Senior Honors Theses

Demand for personalized nutrition guidance is analyzed within the context of the expanding digital health and fitness sector. A review of current literature highlights major trends shaping the industry, including AI‑powered coaching, wearable integration, precision nutrition, and sustainability‑focused consumer behavior, as well as legal and ethical compliance. These insights inform the development of a strategic marketing plan for an AI‑powered wellness platform that unifies fitness, nutrition, genomics, and environmental impact scoring. The plan outlines target markets, competitive positioning, and product differentiation through adaptive personalization and ethical data practices. Findings suggest that combining AI, biometric data, and sustainable design can enhance …

Know Thy Enemy: Building A Command-And-Control Solution For Adversarial Emulation, Caleb J. Chen

Senior Honors Theses

Command and Control (C2) is a critical part of any cyberattack. It serves many purposes, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, data exfiltration, and malware deployment. Consequently, C2 frameworks play an important part in red team engagements and adversary emulation. However, many adversary emulation solutions focus on comprehensive testing through sequential technique execution instead of realistic chained and automated attacks. The proposed solution is Centurion, an open-source C2 framework that integrates MITRE's ATT&CK framework and several cybersecurity tools into modular playbooks for effective threat emulation. This paper provides background by defining key terms and concepts before delving into a …

Unveiling The Biochemical Pathway Responsible For Ankyloglossia (Tongue-Tie) By Tracking Enzymatic Activity Of Apoptosis Pathways, Becca Ringstad

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Ankyloglossia (Tongue-tie) is a condition that is caused by failed cellular degeneration leading to a short lingual frenulum. This short lingual frenulum tethers the tongue to the bottom palate of the mouth and leads to problems, including breastfeeding for infants, depriving them of important proteins that build the gut microbiome, strengthen the immune system, and fight off antigens. If left untreated, it leads to problems with speech articulation, airway development, and obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment involves a frenectomy, which is the release of the short lingual frenulum using surgical scissors or a laser. Ankyloglossia can occur with conditions such as …

Rhodium On Alumina Catalyzed Hydrodechlorination Of Trichlorethylene, Amber Krueger, Gage Mueller

Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day (2018-)

Chlorinated ethylenes are common groundwater contaminants that persist in the environment and pose significant risks to human health such as damage to the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and even increased risk of cancer. Catalytic dehydrochlorination has emerged as a promising strategy for detoxifying compounds such as trichloroethylene (TCE). This study investigates whether rhodium on alumina (Rh/Al₂O₃) in the presence of hydrogen gas can completely degrade TCE to non-toxic products without the accumulation of harmful chlorinated intermediates. While palladium catalysts have been widely studied for dehydrochlorination, the activity and mechanism of rhodium supported on alumina in aqueous systems remains less characterized. …

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling Of Counter-Current Flow In Channels Separated By A Membrane, Akram Mashhour Riziq Abdullah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Counter current flow in channels separated by membrane were studied in several published studies. The present study aims to numerically and analytically simulate and physically describe the distribution of pressure, volume flow rate and velocity in counter current flow module. Numerical simulation Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was performed by solving Navier-Stokes (N–S) equations in the channels and membrane pores (vertical channels) to determine pressure and velocity fields. An analytical solution one-dimensional (1-D) model was developed to simulate the flow in the channels and membrane pores by solving the continuity and Darcy’s Law to obtain pressure and volume flow rate. Accordingly, …

Piloting A Pediatric Screener For Assessing Emergent Literacy With Preschool Children, Nafia Sarhadi

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Not Just A Drink: The Cultural Evolution Of A Beverage Turned Lifestyle And Its Adaption To Spain, Ava Axtell

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

This research explores the rise of dirty soda in the United States and how a simple customizable beverage evolved into a cultural ritual shaped by social media, treat culture, and the lifestyle norms of the LDS community. It analyzes the cultural meaning behind Swig’s popularity, including how influencers and online aesthetics transformed the drink into a status symbol and daily indulgence. This study also compares U.S. and Spanish cultural values, including individualism, indulgence, and social rituals, to determine how Swig must adapt its product, branding, and store model for successful expansion into Spain. Findings reveal that while dirty soda thrives …

Two Glands, One Problem: Navigating Fertility Treatment In Concurrent Nonclassic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Paul Meram, Mary Show, Elliott Gappy, Ajaz Banka

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background: Nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NCCAH) caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency is generally a milder variant of congenital adrenal hyperplasia characterized by partial enzyme activity and variable increases in adrenal androgen levels. Patients presenting with such a condition may present in adolescence or adulthood with symptoms such as acne, hirsutism, irregular menses, and infertility. These symptoms often overlap with those of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), creating challenges in differentiation and management. It is critical to differentiate between PCOS and NCCAH in females of reproductive age, as hyperandrogenism treatment depends on the underlying cause, such as adrenal, ovarian, or a combination of …

The First Cut Is The Deepest: Understanding Learner Trauma In The Emergency Medicine Clerkship, Dimitrios Papanagnou, Leela Raj, Karen E. Watkins, Xiao C. Zhang, Andres Fernandez, Md, Victoria J. Marsick

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: As third-year medical students transition into high-stakes, high-stress clinical environments like the emergency department (ED), they may experience significant personal trauma. However, little is known about how this trauma is experienced early in their training - specifically during the transition from preclinical to clinical learning environments. This study addresses that gap by exploring third-year medical students' experiences of trauma during the emergency medicine (EM) clerkship through the lens of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and identifies workplace factors and intersectional demographics influencing these experiences.

METHODS: This qualitative study used the critical incident technique to explore emotionally-significant events encountered by third-year medical …

Lipid Deposition In Beef Cattle, Kyra L. Elliott

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Both the amount and types of lipid deposition in beef cattle are key determinants of carcass value and meat quality. Amounts of intramuscular, subcutaneous, and visceral fat influence carcass grading outcomes, palatability, and composition traits that are important to beef producers as well as consumers. The objectives of this thesis were to: 1) compare beef grading camera estimates of intramuscular fat to amounts of chemically extractable lipid, 2) characterize the lipidomes of beef intramuscular fat, subcutaneous fat, and lean muscle using shotgun lipidomics, and 3) identify and characterize a novel genetic variant in cattle that may have important implications for …

Characterization Of Activity Changes In Gilts During Estrus Using The NuTrack Livestock Monitoring System, Emily P. Aquino

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Early and accurate detection of estrus in replacement gilts is essential for reproductive success and to ensure efficient production. The objective of this study was to evaluate activity changes occurring relative to first estrus of gilts and subsequent cycles. At ~ 110 days of age, 112 gilts were randomly assigned to 14 pens and placed under continuous video monitoring until the end of the trial at ~ 200 days of age. Daily boar exposure (~ 10 minutes per day) began at ~ 122 days of age. During this period, recorded observations included vulva scores (based on swelling and redness), mounting …

Evaluation Of Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance Administration And Feed Access Time On Finishing Cattle Performance, Behavior, And Carcass Characteristics, Carsten L. Loseke

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Novel products and bunk management techniques may significantly influence economically relevant performance metrics of feedlot cattle. The objective of the first experiment was to evaluate maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (mBAS) administration on performance, carcass, health, and cortisol outcomes of yearling steers. Steers (n = 1,754, initial BW = 423 kg, SD = 25 kg) were received and assigned to pens for treatment allocation. Steers received either 10 mL of the mBAS or a mineral oil placebo at initial processing and reimplant. Hair samples were collected from a subset (n = 4 steers/pen) on d 0 and d 14. …

Integrating Growth Performance And Pathogen Detection To Investigate Disease Resilience In Commercial Swine, Emmalise Hope Marie Meyer

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Disease resilience is an important trait in commercial swine production, influencing both animal health and growth performance under natural disease challenge. The primary objective of this study was to integrate growth performance data with longitudinal pathogen detection to better understand factors contributing to disease resilience in commercial pigs. A population of 1,014 pigs across four batches was monitored from weaning through the grow-finish phase, with body weights collected to calculate average daily gain (ADG). Genome-wide association analyses were conducted using BayesC and BayesIM approaches to identify genomic regions associated with growth performance. Longitudinal pathogen surveillance was performed using pen-level oral …

Tail Biting In The Nursery: Evaluating Postural, Spatial, And Behavioral Differences Between Tail Biter And Victim Pigs, Storey L. Forster

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study examined behavioral differences among pigs classified as tail biters, victims, or neutral during the nursery period. A total of 192 undocked nursery pigs were assigned to eight pens and monitored for 30 days using the NUtrack system. Tail biting events were identified from video observations, and pigs contributing to the top 25% of observed tail biting activity were classified as tail biters. Based on weekly tail scoring, pigs assigned a maximum tail injury score ≥ 2 were classified as victims. All other pigs were considered neutral. A total of 700 tail biting events were observed. Thirty-eight pigs …

Exploring Policy Change To Support Early Diagnosis Of Congenital Heart Disease (Chd) In New Mexico, Kelsey Carson Leibenhaut

Doctor of Nursing Practice Posters and Presentations

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is not a new or rare problem; it has likely always been a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality and clocks in today as the most frequently occurring birth defect, affecting an estimated 1 in 100 newborns (CDC, 2025). Prior to the middle of the 20th century, there was little to be done about CHD, as no treatments existed. Everything changed with the advancement of options for surgical repair of CHDs, significantly prolonging lifespans and improving quality of life for affected individuals. Despite these incredible advancements, babies are born with CHD every day, leading to …

Bibliography For "Laugh Your Way Through May" Display, Annikah Carpio, Sally Park, Elaine Yeung

Library Displays and Bibliographies

A bibliography created to accompany a display about Mental Health Awareness Month during May 2026 at the Leatherby Libraries at Chapman University.

Enhanced Near-Surface Soil Labile Carbon And Microbial Indicators Under Cover Crops And Crop Diversification In Long-Term No-Till Systems, Sainfort Vital, Sutie Xu, Namrata Ghmire, Peter Sexton, Jixiang Wu, Christopher Graham, Lan Xu, Mengistu Geza

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

No-till systems improve soil functions and are widely adopted in South Dakota cropping systems. However, these cropping systems have become increasingly simplified due to reduced small grain adoption, potentially reducing carbon inputs and microbial diversity. Therefore, this study aimed to (i) quantify the effects of crop rotations and cover cropping on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and their labile fractions across the 0–80 cm soil profile, and (ii) assess how these management practices affect microbial properties in the topsoil (0–7.5 cm), using a long-term no-till (>30 years) field experiment in South Dakota. Main treatments included a corn …

Advancing Targeted Food Allergen Detection: Extraction Optimization And Sample Preparation Method Comparison Using Lc-Ms/Ms, Zhenhao Wang

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Accurate quantification of food allergens in processed foods by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) requires effective protein extraction and sample cleanup. However, no single sample preparation workflow has shown consistent performance across diverse food matrices. This study evaluated extraction buffer formulations and post-extraction cleanup strategies for quantification of milk, soy, and peanut allergens in multiple processed food matrices.

Six extraction buffers with varying combinations of SDS, urea, and thiourea alongside a common Tris-HCl/DTT/PVPP base were evaluated across five food matrices. No significant differences in extraction efficiency were observed among buffer formulations for nonfat dry milk (NFDM), non-roasted soy flour, peanut …

Preclinical Animal Modeling To Investigate Redox-Mediated Molecular Dysfunction In Traumatic Brain Injury, Brandon Z. Mcdonald

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Impacts associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) induce a multitude of neurological morbidities mediated by a spread of biochemical dysfunction. Redox stress is a significant contributor to TBI pathophysiology and several redox stress markers have substantial evidence to support their role in diagnosing preclinical and clinical TBI. However, there is a critical need to verify their translational utility through correlations with behavioral, imaging, and molecular modalities. In chapter two, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of an antioxidant treatment (NPC3) using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model of TBI. NPC3 alleviated glial expression and reactivity while influencing the expression of …

The "Evil Forest" As Threshold: A Computational Eco-Feminist Study Of The Forest In Nigerian Fantasy, Cynthia O. Mbagwu

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study examines the representation of the “evil forest” in Nnedi Okorafor’s Zahrah the Windseeker and Ukamaka Olisakwe’s Don’t Answer When They Call Your Name, arguing that the forest functions as a liminal threshold that catalyses female transformation. Combining close reading with computational tools like TF-IDF keyword extraction in Ruby and sentiment analysis using VADER, the project investigates how pre-colonial and colonial connotations of the “evil forest” are re-imagined in contemporary Nigerian fantasy fiction. By segmenting each narrative into pre-liminal, liminal, and post-liminal phases, the study tracks shifts in sentiment toward the forest and correlates them with thematic developments …

The Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference: Breaking Down Constructed Borderlands, Melissa Rios

Music ETDs

Despite its significant contribution to the educational mariachi movement in the United States, the history of the Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference (LCIMC), established in 1994, remains largely absent from existing scholarship. This study offers a historical account of mariachi music in Las Cruces and the development of the LCIMC, establishing a foundation for future research on mariachi music in the Mesilla Valley. Distinct from other mariachi conferences that emerged at the turn of the 21st century, the LCIMC was shaped by its location in a border city in New Mexico. Conceptualizing both physical borders and metaphorical border spaces as …

Getting Started With Orcid, Will White

PIE CHART

No abstract provided.